Podcasts. Life-changing or not?

Have podcasts changed your life like they have mine? I honestly wonder what my life was like before I had a continuous story playing in my surroundings. I listen to them while I drive, while I clean, while I get ready in the mornings… Has it become an issue? I don’t think so.

If you’re new to the podcast world, get ready. Absolutely any topic is covered by somebody - some considerably better than others. Take your time, find your poison, and grab those headphones. What even is Netflix anymore?

Here’s some of our picks!

1. Sword & Scale. If you’re fan of true crime stories, definitely take some time to check this podcast out. It features a variety of narrated true crime stories intertwined with interviews with criminals, witnesses, victims, authors, 911 call audio, witness testimony, trial audio, & interrogation tapes. Warning: Do not listen before bed or while home alone - The stories are very creepy and very real.

2. Terrible, Thanks for Asking. You know how every day someone asks "how are you?" And even if you’re totally dying inside, you just say "fine," so everyone can go about their day? This show is the opposite of that. Hosted by author Nora McInerny, this is a funny/sad/uncomfortable podcast about talking honestly about our pain, our awkwardness, and being human.

3. Night Vale. A podcast presented as a radio show for the fictional town of Night Vale, reporting on the strange events that occur within it. The series was created in 2012 by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. If you like a good story time session, this will be your jam.

4. True Crime All The Time. Another crime podcast. What can I say, I have a type. This podcast is put on by a duo, Mike & Gibby. There back and forth banter randomly throughout the episodes always makes me smile, giving a little break from the true crime stories they are telling. Great voices, great story tellers, and seem like genuinely great guys.

5. Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People. One phone call. One hour. No names. No holds barred. That’s the premise behind Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, hosted by comedian Chris Gethard. Every week, Chris opens the phone line to one anonymous caller, and he can’t hang up first, no matter what. From shocking confessions and family secrets to philosophical discussions and shameless self-promotion, anything can and will happen!

These are some top picks to check out. If you’re a podcast listener, comment below with any recommendations! We’re always on the hunt. If anyone else is like me, I binge podcasts episodes like it’s my job.

-SSDGM ;)

The Fresh Perspective

Let’s just be NICE.

A New Year can be looked at as a way to start fresh or gain a new outlook. Sometimes, all the things that are happening in this world can really start to weigh you down. They can make you feel like there's few good, genuinely nice people left. BUT, let me stop you there! Take a minute to think about how many amazing people that are in your life, or people you've spent time with throughout your life. Or even how many times a stranger has done something so small, but made you smile.

Let's make a point of being nice, friendly people. If something happens to you where you feel angry, take a minute to think about it and realize it's not worth wasting your energy over. For example, how many times when driving do you feel anger creep up on you when someone cuts you off or is driving 20 kms under the speed limit? (Or, is that just me...). It's not worth wasting energy on things you cannot control. Maybe that driver is having a bad day. You just never know what's going on in someone else's life. Being nice to that stranger, friend, family member, may just make the biggest difference in their day.

A new thing I am looking forward to trying out is random acts of kindness. I want to buy the coffees for the car behind me in a drive thru, send flowers to my mom just to say thank you, I want to donate to a shelter and help those in need.

Let’s make the world a better place, one random act of kindness at a time!

-that’s the fresh perspective…