Top Podcast and Albums in 2013: Keeping the Cook Smarts Kitchen Productive, Energetic, and Fun

In this last year, I have probably spent more hours in the kitchen than in all my previous years combined. This was a lot of alone time, and for an extrovert this wasn’t always easy. I’m hoping that next year I’ll be able to hire a sous chef or a production assistant to help me with recipe testing, photo taking, video filming and of course, to gab to. Until then I’ll just have to rely on what got me through this year: a lot of content and music.

Today, there are no cooking tips – just a round-up of my favorite podcasts and albums from the year that made my time in the kitchen so much more productive, energetic, and fun. I hope it’ll inspire you to find some fun new media to keep you company in the kitchen in 2014.

Top 10 Podcasts (in no particular order):

1. Andrew Warner’s interview of Julie Clark, creator of Baby Einstein on Mixergy: For any parent that has used a Baby Einstein product or for any mom that has a great product idea, you’ll be incredibly inspired by Julie Clark’s story.

2. Charlie Rose’s interview of Jeff Bezos on 60 Minutes: Whether you love or hate Amazon, Jeff Bezos is a true visionary. Loved this behind-the-scenes look at Amazon and the drones that might be delivering our packages in a few years.

3. The Last T-Shirt in Colombia on Planet Money: The entire Planet Money T-Shirt Project is well worth a listen. It gives you a true appreciation of our globalized world and all the hands that have touched that basic tee you’re wearing. This episode in Colombia was especially great for the teamwork and women it highlights.

4. First Day Squirrel Cop on This American Life: This is an oldie but a goodie, and it’ll just make you laugh. We’ve all had a first day fiasco, and I’m sure it’s not as bad as this cop’s first day on the job.

5. Russ Roberts’ interview of Doug Lemov on Teaching on Econ Talk: I believe that all of us have the opportunity to be educators, and I love Doug Lemov’s tips on how to become a better teacher. I truly support his mission in improving American schools by changing the way teachers teach.

6. 23 Weeks 6 days on Radio Lab: This story interviews a set of parents whose baby was born at 23 weeks 6 days. It is heart wrenching, and I admit to shedding a few tears while listening to it.

7. A Backstage Pass to the Inner Workings of My Business by Amy Porterfield: Whenever I need to learn a new skill to grow Cook Smarts, the first place I turn to are business podcasts. I discovered Amy Porterfield’s podcast and business while searching for Facebook marketing tips. If you’re starting a business, I highly recommend her content and this episode gives a very detailed look at how she runs her business.

8. The Seven Things You’re Not Supposed to Talk About on This American Life: The mother on this podcast is such a curmudgeon that you just have to laugh. Plus a few of the stories are pretty funny as well.

9. ‘Never Say Goodbye’: A Love and Life Kept Vivid on StoryCorps: My husband and I sat around listening to this one on a Friday night. It’s a beautiful touching story of love.

10. The Real Economy of Fantasy Sports on Planet Money: I love watching a good football game but do not partake in fantasy football. After listening to this podcast, I’m glad that my husband doesn’t either. It’s fascinating how crazy it is!

Top 5 albums I had on repeat in Spotify (again in no particular order). I’m no music critic, so no blurbs but just to warn you, most of this music is ‘bust-a-movable’, so just make sure to practice kitchen safety if you plan on dancing.

1. Days are Gone – Haim

2. This is . . . Icona Pop – Icona Pop

3. Wake Me Up – Aloe Blacc

4. 4 – Beyonce (Saw Queen Bey in concert this year – Life changing)

5. The Heist – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Do you listen to podcasts? I’d love some of your recommendations to add to my Instacast (the iPhone app I use) for 2014. Let me know in the comments and please do share any high-energy music too.

I hope some of these podcasts and a few of these tunes keep you entertained and pumped in the kitchen for 2014!