Podcasts are great to listen to before or after bed, while you are cooking, when you want to relax, and while you are commuting. We spend a lot of time looking at screens for school and for entertainment, so podcasts are a great way to help you take your eyes off that screen from time to time. They provide a ton of knowledge from experts and people just like you. Here are four podcasts you can listen to to find motivation and self-discipline for school and to learn about the ins and outs of university from current and former students.
I have listened to podcasts since I was in high school because I commuted almost every day. I was no longer bored walking and standing in the bus. When I entered UBC, I tuned into university and productivity-focussed podcasts to learn as much as I could about university and how to do well.
1. in[Tuition]
Where to Listen: PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
in[Tuition] is made for students by students at UBC. Whether you are an incoming first year or or a fourth year student shy of graduating, you will be able to learn from your fellow students’ experiences of balancing school and extracurriculars or relate to their stories of midterm and exam season stress. The hosts at Chapman Learning Commons ask the real questions, like “Do I belong?” “Is Student Health a Myth?” and “[Academic] Integrity: Who Gives a $@%#?”
2. The Inforium (formerly College Info Geek)
Where to Listen: Podcast Website, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
Hosts Thomas Frank and Martin Boehme give you advice and tips that will stick with you forever, from establishing proper morning routines to learning how to live independently. They cover topics all university students should know, such as how to build a good relationship with your professors, how to avoid burnout, and more!
In my first years at UBC, I loved listening to their university experiences and how they built up habits to achieve the success that they have now. The most notable episode I remember was on part-time jobs, in which Thomas recommended a variety of jobs, including a job giving out campus tours because it would help me become better at public speaking. I ended up attending the UBC Toastmasters club to improve and even landed a job as a museum guide in the area. Being on the lookout for opportunities on and off-campus really gave me work experience I value even now as a soon-to-be-graduating student.
3. I’m In My Twenties?!
Where to Listen: Podcast Website, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify
My colleague Tiffany recommended this podcast and it was a breath of fresh air to listen to a fellow UBC student raised in Vancouver. Meg Kuang tells relatable stories of being a woman in the tech industry, being single, and finding it difficult to find a job after graduation. She is one of the few women in the podcast industry who talk about establishing a career during their youth. Her guests feature amazing UBC students who talk about their experiences, including their ups and downs, in university and in life. If you would like inspiration, I recommend Episode 28: How To Be Fearlessly Yourself: Overcoming Mental Barriers & Chasing Your Dreams (Apple/Spotify).
4. The Mindset Mentor
Where to Listen: Podcast Website, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify
Mindset Mentor Rob Dahl has been publishing podcasts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the past six years! His podcasts are motivational for when you are stuck in a rut at school. Whenever I don’t feel motivated enough, I play one of his 20-30-minute podcast episodes and I learn that I need to learn to build discipline. My favourite podcasts were on finding work that you truly love (Apple/Spotify) and how to quickly get out of a rut (Apple/Spotify).
Check out these four podcasts on your favourite podcast-listening platform! Out of these four, I hope there is one that is able to teach you something new about navigating university or one that can give you tips and motivation on how to approach your studies and career, just as they have done for me.