8 Informative Podcasts For Young Professionals

I used to be a podcast hater. I thought my attention span was too short to get anything from them. Ultimately, I felt like reading books and articles was a far better way to get information and learn. Surprise— I was wrong. 

Of course, I still jam out to my '80s playlist in the car on the way to work or class in the mornings, but now there are a few great podcasts I make sure to listen to each week. I've been feeling noticeably more confident about my finances, my grasp on current events, and my career goals ever since I converted and became a devoted podcast listener. 

 Here are a few of the best informative podcasts out there for professional young adults.

 1. Skimm This

I'm a big fan of The Skimm's daily newsletters, and I also really enjoy their weekly podcast. Skimm This puts out a new episode each Friday that covers the most important and relevant current events from the past week. 

Keeping up with the news can be overwhelming, but this podcast makes it so much more manageable. Each episode is around 20 minutes long, so it's super easy to work it into your schedule. 

Here are a few recent episodes:

• “Back to School: C for Confusion”
• “March, March: How The Fight For Suffrage Still Lives On”
• “A Tale of Two Housing Markets”

If you're looking for a way to stay current on what's happening in the world, Skimm This is a great place to start. 

2. Listen, Money Matters

Money stresses me out, and I'm not alone, according to my friends and colleagues. Listen, Money Matters is a weekly personal finance podcast covering pretty much every money-related topic you can think of. The overall goal of this podcast is to help you “free your inner financial badass.”

Each episode is around 45 minutes long, so you can listen to this one on your commute or while you're working out.

Here are a few of the most recent episodes:

• “How Female Breadwinners (Really) Make It Work”
• “The Modern Payday Loan”
• “5 Questions: Time Shares, F*** You Money and Peer to Peer Lending”

There are also some great articles and courses on the site to provide you with even more info about tackling your finances. 

Check out Listen, Money Matters, if you're tired of being stressed and scared every time you log in to check your bank account balance. 

3. How To Be Awesome At Your Job

Everyone wants to be awesome at their job, right? This podcast aims to help you do just that. 

Pete Mockaitis, a professional business consultant and career coach, hosts this podcast weekly. Each episode is around 45 minutes long, and the topics covered fall into categories like productivity, communication, and career management. 

I love that the site includes a breakdown of each episode that gives you background info about the guest speakers and tells you what you can expect to learn from listening. Additional resources to help you learn even more about each topic are also provided. 

Here are some of the most recent episodes:

• “Closing the Seven Power Gaps that Limit Your Career with Kathy Caprino”
• “Easing the Anxiety of Workplace Conflict with Liz Kislik”
• “How to Turn No Into Yes: Powerful Negotiation Questions with Alex Carter”

If you're a 20-something, or someone of any age, looking to boost your career game, I highly suggest checking out How to Be Awesome at Your Job.

4. Stuff Mom Never Told You

This bi-weekly podcast is an offshoot of How Stuff Works that's perfect for millennial women or anyone who wants to learn more about the ins and outs of feminism and social issues. I love that this podcast covers topics that are well-researched and relevant to pretty much everyone's lives today. 

There are episode formats and lengths available that suit all attention spans and schedules. The episodes range anywhere from 15 minutes to almost two hours, depending on the subject matter. 

Here are a few recent episodes: 

• “The Women of the United States Postal Service”
• “Monday Mini: Rejection Tactics”
• “Feminist Movie Friday: A League of Their Own”

If you're a millennial woman who wants to know what's going on in the world as it relates to females, Stuff Mom Never Told You is the perfect podcast for you. 

5. Working

This weekly podcast from Slate features interviews with Americans who have fantastic jobs, particularly in creative fields. Like a lot of the other podcasts on this list, each episode is around 45 minutes long. 

This is an excellent podcast for anyone who has no clue which career they want to pursue. It could definitely provide some inspiration and solid career advice. It's also just interesting to hear about the amazing jobs other people have. 

Here are a few of the most recent episodes: 

• “Jordan Peele's Film Composer Is Terrified of Scary Movies”
• “How Editor Tracy Sherrod Is Amplifying Black Authors”
• “How Curator Sheena Wagstaff Chooses Art for the Met”

Working is a great podcast for college students, young professionals, seasoned career experts, and everyone in between. 

6. Stuff You Should Know

If you're a trivia junkie like I am, this is the podcast for you. Stuff You Should Know is another offshoot of How Stuff Works. Each 45-minute episode covers a random topic that is both relevant and extremely interesting. 

There are also “Short Stuff” episodes published every now and then that cover a cool topic in 15 minutes or so. 

Here are some of the most recent episodes: 

• “SYSK Selects: How Police Chases Work”
• “How the Escape from Alcatraz Worked”
• “Short Stuff: The Great American Coin Shortage of 2020” 

Check out Stuff You Should Know if you're someone who wants to know a little bit of something about everything. 

7. Secrets of Wealthy Women

This podcast is published by The Wall Street Journal each Wednesday. It's hosted by Veronica Dagher, a senior wealth management reporter for WSJ. Veronica knows her stuff, and she interviews some of the most influential and successful women in business in each episode. 

I'd highly suggest this podcast to any young professional woman looking to take charge of their finances and grow in their career field. The episodes are relatively short, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes, so they're easy to work into your schedule. 

Here are some recent episodes: 

• “Angela Yee: Mastering the Side Hustle”
• “Marla Beck: How Covid-19 is Changing the Beauty Business”
• “Vanessa Williams: Defying Other People's Expectations”

Secrets of Wealthy Women is a must for professional women who want to learn from and be inspired by other women. 

8. The GenTwenty Podcast

This weekly podcast helps millennials who aren't so sure about #adulting. Nicole and Marina host this podcast. They are best friends who will make you feel like you're chatting together over coffee every time you listen to a new episode. 

This podcast is perfect for 20-somethings looking for advice on finances, careers, relationships, and honestly, a little bit of everything else. 

Here are a few recent episodes: 

• “Dream or Scheme: The Truth About MLMs”
• “Why We Need To Set Boundaries”
• “Bucket List: 30 Things to Try Before You Turn 30”

If you're confused about life and feel like you need a friend who understands, make sure to check out The GenTwenty Podcast. 

Conclusion: There Are Tons Of Excellent Podcasts Out There For Young Professionals

If you take some time out of your week to listen to one (or a few) of these podcasts, I bet you'll feel more informed and confident in yourself than ever. What are your favorite podcasts? I'd love to know!