Months — maybe years ago at this point, time doesn’t make sense to me anymore — my friends mocked me because I would start far too many conversations with, “I was watching this documentary…” and then I would begin a diatribe about whatever topic I had just learned about.

Throughout the pandemic, I’ve found myself listening to hours of podcasts, and now relating conversations back to stories I’ve heard on podcasts. *Spoiler Alert: It’s all Armchair Expert and in real life I talk about Dax and Monica like we’re friends. I love them. I started to like Armchair Expert because it was interesting hearing celebrities be vulnerable, but I’m now in love with the show because they bring on really compelling authors, doctors and experts in a variety of fields to tell compelling personal narratives related to their subject matter expertise.

Here are bits I’ve found most interesting lately while listening to Armchair Expert

And no pressure, but please enjoy this list extra because it took me decades of transcribing my favorite quotes for accuracy. Then, after linking all the title of the podcasts out to their specific episode, I figured out how to recast and embed just the portion I want to share with you (so please use whichever option tickles your fancy).

George Saunders on Armchair Expert

George Saunders is an author, which meant I was very into this episode. I loved hearing about his process, the way he views the world and about perceptions. It also tied in very closely to a training I was doing at work. It was about fostering an outward mindset, where you basically spend three days working to reframe your world to be more ‘out-of-the-box.’ It really reminded me that so often, what context I add to a situation might not exist, and often I’m not the center of the universe (no matter how much I want to be).

George’s quote about how life gets kind of weird when our delusions meet with other people’s delusions, it reinforced that training to really think about how much time we spend in our own heads, constructing a narrative that is likely not a reality for anyone else. We spend so much time in our own perceptions and as the central character in our story, that it’s really important to sometimes take a step back from that and break out from your own constructed reality.

Ibram X. Kendi on Armchair Expert

I have really appreciated that Armchair Expert has made a continued commitment to bring in Black voices, and loved heard from Ibram X. Kendi, who is an author and historian. I was shocked when he began discussing how white men’s fear of minorities, paired with slackening gun laws, created an unintended outcome of a rising suicide rate.

It’s a truly fascinating, sad and terrible fact that I’ve thought a lot about since hearing it. While I think we should all agree racism is bad without needing to demonstrate how it’s bad for everyone and not just those being prejudiced against, I had never considered how racism really is an occurrence where absolutely no one wins, not even the perpetrator.

Michael Eric Dyson on Armchair Expert

Michael Eric Dyson was a perfect podcast guest. He was so easy to listen to, and meshes together his professor and preacher background into a really compelling episode. When I heard him bring up the example I quoted above, I immediately had to relisten. I won’t talk politics at all, but this example really illuminated to me a powerful example of resisting cancel culture. I can’t imagine how difficult it was to resist cancelling him, but it really demonstrates that by giving people the opportunity to recover from a mistake, they can learn and do better for those who show grace.

Erin Meyer on Armchair Expert

Erin Meyer is an author and professor who discussed culture in the workplace. With all eyes on how all companies focus on diversity, inclusion and equity, I really enjoyed all of the examples in this episode. If you work in a corporate job that works in global markets, dare I say it this episode is a must listen!

The meeting example resonate with me so much because I often find myself doing that in school. I want the teacher to know I’m listening (slash I want the participation grade). I find myself thinking of something to say, instead of listening or speaking only when I actually have something valuable to say.

Another example in this episode that I thought was really interesting was about eye contact. Something that seems so universal is actually used very differently.

I could endlessly keep going on Armchair episodes I think you should listen to, but if these are not to your taste…

Here are a few other podcasts I like:

• Crime Junkie: It can be a bit scripted at times, but quick, easy episodes to get your murder stories quota in.

• Life is Short: Very similar to Armchair! Justin Long talks to celebrities about life and it is an easy listen.

• Unwanted: This show is very off from my normal listening patterns, but I heard about it on Armchair, so gave it a listen. It’s a fiction podcast featuring Lamorne Morris (Winston from New Girl).

What shows have you been listening to lately? Drop your suggestions in the comments for me!