Introducing Nicole from Podcastmaniac.com! Nicole has been addicted to podcasts since 2013. She can often be seen walking around with an iPhone in her pocket and a headphone in one ear. She started her blog, Podcast Maniac, to share her love of podcasts and podcast recommendations with others. Her favorite shows are Death, Sex & Money and The West Wing Weekly.
In this guest post, Nicole reviews five podcasts (and their specific episodes!), which she thinks dental students, and any other students in professional/graduate school may benefit from greatly. Thanks, Nicole, for providing such great insight that may benefit students in areas of stress, productivity, saving money, and more!
5 Helpful Podcasts for Balancing Life & Dental School
Work/life balance. It’s the buzz phrase of the past few years. And for good reason. We all know we need balance, but most of us don’t know how to achieve it. This is incredibly true for most dental and medical school students, whose work is being a student.
When you live and breathe studying for your career, it can be hard to justify taking a break, even for the essential stuff (family, friends, paying bills, getting a haircut). You tell yourself that you should be prepping for a test, reading the latest industry trends, or networking online.
Balancing your dental studies with normal, everyday stuff can be tremendously challenging. This is when you can turn to podcasts. Or rather, turn on a podcast.
Some podcasts are pure entertainment, and sometimes that’s just what you need to unplug from your studies. On the flip side, there are lots of informational podcasts that are packed full of tips and tricks to help you balance all that life throws at you.
Whether you’re looking for motivation to study or exercise, help with saving or making money, advice on long-distance relationships, or how to be more productive everyday – there’s a podcast for you.
5 Podcasts for Achieving a Successful Work/Life Balance
Here are five podcasts—and recommended episodes of each—that can help you find your work/life balance. The next time you need a break, turn on one of these shows and absorb the tips and tricks that can help you juggle everything that life and school is throwing at you.
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Happier in Hollywood
This podcast, which is hosted by two women who are television writers in Los Angeles, is all about surviving and thriving in life and work. It’s a little serious, a little funny, and a lot insightful. It has nothing to do with dentistry, which you might find refreshing!
Whether you’re in your first year of school, or you’ve just graduated and are starting a new job, every episode of Happier in Hollywood provides a little gem of knowledge that can help you put your struggles into perspective and discover a path to the other side.
Episodes to try:
Episode 2 – Burnout!
Episode 5 – Release the Banana!
Episode 6 – ‘Kill the Crock’ and Other Life Mantras
Happier in Hollywood: http://happierinhollywood.com/
College Info Geek Podcast
You might be familiar with College Info Geek’s uber-popular YouTube channel of the same name. The geek, aka Thomas Frank, identifies the best studying hacks, productivity tools, and lifestyle habits to help you succeed in college.
Whereas the YouTube videos have a broad appeal, the CIG podcast is co-hosted by Frank’s buddy, and is best-suited to guys. If you cruised through your undergrad program without having to really “study” or take major exams, this podcast will help you learn skills and hacks for saving time and relieving the pressures of dental school.
Episodes to try:
Episode 155: The Productivity Project
Episode 165: How to Balance Work and School (this one is a given!)
Episode 151: Mixing Paper and Digital Note-Taking Systems
College Info Geek: https://collegeinfogeek.com/cast/
Money Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life
This is one of the best podcasts for financial advice, no matter what stage of life or school you’re in. Episodes of the Money Girl podcast are short, easy to understand, and cover a wide range of money related issues, including student loan debt.
You’ll love how Money Girl, aka Laura Adams, takes a detailed look at money-related questions (how to pay less for essentials like car insurance, or saving for retirement while paying down student loans) and tells you exactly what to do and how to do it.
Episodes to try:
Episode 486 – The Ultimate Guide to Using a Balance Transfer Credit Card
Episode 479 – Money-Saving Hacks to Beat the System
Episode 448 – 6 Options to Get a Loan with Bad Credit
Money Girl: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/money-girl
The Savvy Psychologist
Being stressed or overwhelmed can cause you to lose perspective on even the most common, everyday problems and situations. When you’re ready to throw your study guide across the room, turn on The Savvy Psychologist.
Episodes of TSP are usually under 15 minutes and can really bring you back to Earth (and sanity). It’s a must-listen for dental students who need a dose of digital therapy.
Episodes to try first:
Episode 153 – 3 Toxic Thinking Habits That Feed Your Insecurity
Episode 156 – Why We Choke Under Pressure
Episode 139 – 5 Ways to Overcome Fear of Failure
The Savvy Psychologist: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/savvy-psychologist
DTR
DTR stands for “Define The Relationship”; as in, romantic relationship. Because you have to balance that, too! This podcast is all about using Tinder to find love. If online dating is your main method for meeting ‘the one”, then you’ve got to listen to this podcast.
DTR can help you improve your Tinder profile so you’ll get more right swipes, as well as figure out why you’re swiping on all the wrong people. Some of the audio is so cringe-worthy, even your friends who have steady significant others will find this entertaining!
Episodes to try:
All of them.
There are only 6 episodes, so start with Episode 1 and listen in order. You won’t regret it.
DTR: http://creative.gimletmedia.com/shows/dtr/
Download. Listen. Repeat.
If you’re new to podcasts, or if you’ve never listened to informational podcasts, give these recommendations a try. Balancing dental school and your other responsibilities won’t get any easier if you don’t find new tricks or systems, and these podcasts provide just that. If nothing else, your Tinder profile will thank you!
–Nicole
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Podcast_Maniac
Good to know about Nicole from Podcastmaniac.com .. It’s an interesting way to present your ideas …. Even can hear them on the way .. The advice and ideas are cool
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I’m all about podcasts these days. This is right up my alley. I’m definitely in need of balance at the moment. I pinned this for future reference, thanks!
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Thank you! Podcasts are definitely great tools, and there are so many wonderful and diverse ones out there. Pretty much any topic you can imagine! 🙂
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Work life balance is the most difficult and if one is able to do it..nothing like that! The podcasts look great. Thanks for sharing
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These look like some amazing podcasts & I’m gonna join some for sure. It has been challenging managing work-life balance so much.. I keep answering that to myself but then I’m not so sure how did it fare in managing it!
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These are great podcast selections! I enjoy listening to them as I often get ideas and inspirations. Life balance is such an important topic and it’s great that you are sharing ideas on how to maintain one.
Mae | http://www.thegospelofbeauty.org
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I suppose balancing your studies or work with normal, everyday stuff can be tremendously challenging in any case and a good balance is key for a happy daily life. It’s so tricky though, I know Im so guilty of not managing that area, that great
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I haven’t listened to podcasts in forever! I really should start again. These sound fabulous, thank you. I think I’d really enjoy that Hollywood one.
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Hi Amber! Nicole here (post author) If you like the Happier In Hollywood podcast, also try out I Hate My Boss – it’s not 100% how it sounds, but definitely great for current or future work situations!
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