7 entertainment podcast recommendations for after work
Podcasts are enjoying ever-increasing popularity. It is simply pleasant to engage a different sense after a workday that, for many, is dominated by staring at a monitor. By now, there is also a flood of different podcasts in Germany. From topics such as health, nutrition, sports & fitness, relaxation, current affairs, or even interesting interview formats, pretty much every area of life is covered. There are podcasts for minimalists and everything related to sustainable living. Athletes and nutrition enthusiasts have claimed their niches, political, contemporary, and philosophical topics are discussed, one's own love life or that of others, gossip about royalty and celebrities is delivered. The popular magazines and news outlets all have their own podcast formats up and running, and so much more.
In another post, I already introduced you to a few fitness podcasts worth listening to. And today is about podcasts that are primarily meant to entertain you. Which are funny or just plain interesting, and that you can basically listen to anywhere: on the treadmill, while taking a walk or jogging, doing housework, or on the couch. They are interesting and worth listening to for a wide variety of reasons, but feel free to see for yourself!
Podcast recommendations on mental health
1. "Meditation, Coaching & Life" with Michael "Curse" Kurth
I'm not really into rap, so it completely passed me by for a long time that the rapper Curse—whose real name is Michael Kurth—has also been running his own podcast since 2017. Since he is also a Buddhist and a systemic coach, and blessed with a brilliant speaking voice to boot, it's really fun listening to his thoughts on a wide variety of topics. He gives you food for thought and small but effective strategies on how to move through life with more clarity, ease, and relaxation.
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Where to find the “Meditation, Coaching & Life” podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer
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Recommended episode: Just pick a topic that interests you and give it a listen.
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Length: Most episodes are between 10 and 40 minutes long, with interviews sometimes running longer.
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Special feature: His wonderful, almost hypnotically soft voice and the sense of calm that rubs off on you just through the way he speaks.
2. "Auf einen Espresso mit Lars Amend"
At some point, I read an article that also featured Lars Amend. I think that was around the time his book 'Dieses bescheuerte Herz' was made into a movie. Since then, I've been subscribed to his Magic Monday newsletter, where every Monday he briefly shares his thoughts, questions, and little nuggets of wisdom with his readers. Lars has also been hosting his own small but mighty podcast since 2019. He asks genuinely smart questions about life itself, but also aims to motivate, bring happiness, and simply share an espresso with his listeners. It's well worth a listen – a clear recommendation from me!
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Where to find the “Auf einen Espresso mit Lars Amend” podcast: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audio Now
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Listening tip: Episode 21 "And suddenly the world stands still". In these nearly four minutes, you get a good impression of how Lars Amend shares his thoughts on the topic of Corona, almost poetically.
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Length: Between 10 and 50 minutes for regular episodes, interviews sometimes longer.
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Special feature: The man is a philosopher, a philosopher of life. It's worth engaging with his thoughts, reflecting along with him, and perhaps rethinking a few things in your own life based on his inspiring ideas.
3. 'Strengthen Your Stress Competence' by Jacob Drachenberg
Jacob is a former professional water polo player, psychologist, stress management trainer, speaker, and I've been listening to his podcast since 2016. His core thesis is: it's not important how you get rid of stress, but how you handle it. What's fascinating about this native Berliner is that he himself periodically struggles with depression while, at the same time, sharing his thoughts and knowledge on stress competence, anxiety, and uncertainties in an absolutely authentic and smart way throughout his podcast episodes. I love listening to it over and over, and it never gets boring. A quick side tip: incidentally, his online program "Strengthen Your Stress Competence" is covered by most health insurance funds in Germany.
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Where to find the “Stärke Deine Stresskompetenz” podcast: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audio Now
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Listening tip: Episode 182: "My depression 2020, thank you for your support".
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Length: Most are between 20 and 40 minutes, interviews are often longer.
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Special feature: Suitable for anyone who has ever dealt with professional or personal stress. So basically for everyone!
Podcast recommendations for meditation & mindfulness
4. 'The 7Mind Podcast with René Träder'
Since 2017, the creators of the 7Mind meditation app have also been releasing podcast episodes hosted by psychologist and journalist René Träder. In a very engaging way, René shares small prompts for thought on how to bring more mindfulness into your everyday life. He has a pleasant voice and regularly invites fascinating interview guests onto the show. They talk about happiness, routines, healthy time management, and many other topics designed to bring more mindfulness and calm into your daily routine. Give it a listen if the subject interests you.
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Where to find the “7Mind Podcast mit René Träder”: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer
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Recommended episode: The episode “Achtsam Sport machen” from August 2, 2020.
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Length: Usually between 20 and 35 minutes, interviews are often a bit longer.
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Special feature: Pleasant stories, thoughts, and practical tips on the topic of mindfulness and serenity. And after all, we could all use that!
5. 'Meditation für jeden Tag' with Paulina Thurm
If you ever need a brief, effective break, the guided meditations by Paulina Thurm are a wonderful companion. Since 2019, her podcast has built up a library of over 120 meditations covering a wide range of topics. All you need is a quiet spot for about 10 to 20 minutes where you can listen to Paulina's soothing voice. It's like a mini-getaway from the often hectic daily routine that you should definitely treat yourself to. There's virtually no chatter before or after the meditation (except for the intro, of course, which every podcast has). You can fully focus on her pleasant voice.
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Where to find the “Meditation für jeden Tag” podcast: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify
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Recommended episode: The episode “Achtsam Sport machen” from August 2, 2020.
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Length: The episodes last between 10 and 25 minutes.
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Special feature: No interviews with guests, just pure meditations on specific topics such as happiness, contentment, finding peace, but also meditations on body topics such as tension, headaches, or falling asleep easily.
Podcast recommendations for infotainment
6. 'Steingarts Morning Briefing – Der Podcast'
Gabor Steingart is a long-time journalist and author who dedicates his daily (!) podcast to current political and economic affairs. It features interviews and numerous concise, bite-sized reports on a wide variety of topics from his colleagues on the ThePioneer editorial team. Interesting and diverse.
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Where to find “Steingarts Morning Briefing – Der Podcast”: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify
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Recommended episode: Episode 138 “Rüdiger May: Wie Boxen uns das Leben erklärt” and “Kinder zuerst” from February 9, 2021.
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Length: Either crisp, short episodes of 5 to 6 minutes or slightly longer interviews around 30 minutes.
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Special feature: Highly varied, each episode often briefly highlights several completely different, up-to-the-minute topics from all news areas. Easy to understand and informative.
7. 'Reisen Reisen' – The Podcast with Jochen Schliemann and Michael Dietz
It's an absolute joy to listen to these two friends and travel companions talk about their journeys. And Jochen and Michael have a lot to tell—a whole lot. It is captivating across the board; they describe the country, the people, and their experiences with the local culture so vividly that you can picture it right before your mind's eye. Both report on their travels for the radio station 1Live. Jochen is a presenter and Michael is a music and travel reporter as well as an author. Most episodes run over an hour, but not a single minute is boring. They whisk you away to each travel destination, and sometimes you feel like you were right there with them. A fantastic podcast that takes you to foreign lands and leaves you eager to visit the place they're talking about.
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Where to find the “Reisen Reisen” podcast: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer
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Recommended episode: “Sweden” from June 7, 2019. As a Sweden fan, I can 100 percent confirm all their perceptions and impressions of the country.
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Length: Usually around 60 minutes.
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Special feature: The two are funny and really great observers. They paint vivid pictures of the country and its people for you as a listener, making you want to set off immediately. You can simply feel their passion for traveling. Far away from mass tourism and sightseeing highlights, they visit the small places. The spots where you truly learn something about the country and its people.
I hope you have a lot of fun discovering these entertainment podcast recommendations and enjoy listening! You might already be familiar with one or two of them, but hopefully there's some fresh inspiration in store for you.
