Spring break is here, and honestly, how fun is it to actually have spring breaks again? I might just have to take them with me into the real world after graduation. But luckily (or unluckily), that’s still two years away.
If you’ve already listened to any of these episodes—or decide to check them out after reading—drop your thoughts in the comments. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
1. The Martha Stewart Podcast: Playing a Boss with Kate Hudson
How did I not know Martha Stewart had a podcast? This episode popped up on my IG, and obviously, I had to listen—because ever since watching her documentary, I’ve been obsessed with Martha. Plus, I’m currently deep into bingeing Running Point (ICYMI: this show is all about Jeanie Buss, the powerhouse behind the LA Lakers, who inherited the team from her father).
This episode is truly just girl talk. Still laughing at Kate thinking Martha has a cook (she does not) and Martha’s take on how weird the Oscars movies were this year. Oh, and apparently, Matthew McConaughey scares her.
If you’re curious: Martha is currently restoring a pond on her property for her world collection of geese, while Kate reflects on her early career, going from 200 Cigarettes straight into Almost Famous. She also talks about how starting a business helped her take back her power, and how she’s embraced life with three kids and three baby daddies. Kate is just an effortlessly cool girl.
Before this episode, I knew shockingly little about Anna Wintour for how much of an icon she is. She’s run Vogue for the past 35 years and is the epitome of power and influence. But what makes her fascinating is that she’s extended her power beyond Vogue itself—using platforms like the Met Gala to cement her cultural dominance.
Her philosophy? “I just have to make sure things are done right.”
TL;DR:
Her business meetings last exactly two minutes. The first 60 seconds are guaranteed; the second minute is just a courtesy
Like father, like daughter—she inherited both her best and worst traits from her dad, a newspaper editor himself
She never just wants to look good—she wants to be the best-dressed person in the room (me too, Anna)
She’s disciplined to the extreme. She’s hard on others, but hardest on herself (an example of this: she eats fewer than 60 carbs a day)
She makes fast, decisive decisions—no second-guessing (goals!)
She’s a voracious reader who consumes information constantly
This episode was based on Anna: The Biography by Amy Odell, and yes—I’ll be reading that next.
3. Fed Up!
Not to rehash if you lived through this in 2020 in NYC like I did, but we covered the Tanya Zuckerbrot x Emily Gellis case in my Mass Media Law class at HLS this week, so I decided to re-listen to the Fed Up podcast.
Everything beyond the first episode is behind a paywall (and I draw the line at paying for podcasts), but if you want a glimpse into one of the biggest health & wellness dramas of our time, the first episode is worth a listen. In short: Tanya Zuckerbrot created the F-Factor diet and made millions, while followers of the diet were allegedly getting sick, hospitalized, and in some cases, dying.
And if you’re wondering—there’s no update. These two are still fighting it out in court. When there is one, you’ll hear it here first.
4. It’s Me, Tinx: Office Hours with Ed Elson
Ed Elson, co-host of Prof G Markets, sat down with Tinx for a conversation that was less about markets and more about the state of Gen Z—how we live, how we connect (or don’t), and why loneliness is becoming a defining issue of our time.
According to Ed, the numbers speak for themselves:
The average person spends 109 days a year on their phone and 105 days sleeping, leaving just 151 days for actually living
Even worse, 12% of Americans report having zero close friends, up from just 3% in 1990
The challenge:
Throw two parties a year
Don’t flake on your friends (I need to be better at this)
Be on time
The dilemma for our generation? Some companies even require employees to spend eight hours a day on their phones. In a world where success is tied to being chronically online, you have to ask—if you’re not keeping up with trends from six hours ago, are you already behind?
5. On Purpose by Jay Shetty: Bryan Johnson
This episode is a little out there, but if you’re even slightly interested in longevity and extending both your lifespan and healthspan, it’s worth a listen. Bryan Johnson has designed his entire life around optimizing his body—he even calls himself the world’s best sleeper. Honestly, I’m jealous. As someone who loves sleep (tune in Wednesday for all my tips & tricks), I was soaking this up.
He also dives into how he’s actively aging backwards (and tracking it), why he eats his last meal at 1:30pm, and how he predicts the world will advance in ways we can’t even imagine within the next five years.
While some of his habits are extreme, this episode convinced me to fully eliminate plastic water bottles. Plastic is everywhere, but this is one simple way to reduce the microplastics in my body. Who’s with me? And if you ever see me with a plastic water bottle in hand, hold me accountable.
6. The Mel Robbins Podcast: If You’re Feeling Uncertain & Anxious, You Need To Hear This
Mel Robbins is the moment right now, and in this episode, she sits down with Dr. Julie Smith, a clinical psychologist, to talk about something we all deal with—chronic comparison. Specifically, the kind that hits hardest: comparing yourself to close friends.
Key takeaways:
Pay attention to how you talk to yourself. Speak to yourself the way you’d speak to a friend. A simple shift? Try saying, “I did the best with what I knew at the time.”
When uncertainty feels overwhelming, narrow your focus. Instead of spiraling about the unknown, just focus on the next few steps ahead
This episode is a great reminder that perspective is everything—and that the way we talk to ourselves matters.
In addition to these podcasts, I start my mornings with The Daily and The Journal while getting ready. It’s my favorite way to know what’s going on in the world.
Until Wednesday,
Taylor
P.S. I’m curious—do you prefer Spotify or Apple Podcasts? I find myself listening to certain shows on each platform, even though they’re available on both… Am I the only one who does this, or is anyone else with me?
In the middle of watching Running Point too and now I need to listen to the Martha episode (didn’t know she had a podcast)! Also just started reading Let Them on my last flight. Loving it!
LOVED that tinx episode - I made Charlie listen to it too