Le15's Pooja Dhingra's Top-10 Podcast Recommendations for Self-Quarantine Season

Efforts to evade the coronavirus scare has had most people work from home and self-quarantined. While a practical lack of structure to one’s day can cause some initial disorientation, the very lack of options that used to be available to one to fill their hours makes the free-flowing time seem boring and cumbersome. Podcasts are excellent for days when you just want to relax or learn something new whilst cutting on extra screen-time. Perfectly mobile, podcasts are literally your friend for every moment, and who better than a podcast host and a celebrity renowned for filling one with endorphins to suggest the best podcasts for you?

Pooja Dhingra is an Indian celebrity pastry chef and owner of the Le15 Patisserie chain. She also runs a very successful podcast called ‘NoSugarCoat’ that brings to light the stories behind restaurant walls and kitchen doors. Every episode of her podcast features a conversation with a personality from the food industry as they take us through their stories and spill the beans on what goes behind the restaurant kitchen door. A podcast aficionado, Mumbai-based Chef Dhingra had released a list of her favourite podcasts early last year. Brilliantly diverse, the selection, ranging from subjects like money, sex and women’s health to motivation and meditation, has got you covered for every mood and every subject you would like to think and know about.

Homegrown was able to seek Chef Dhingra’s permission to republish her blog-post on our platform. You can find the original blog-post here.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m obsessed with podcasts. I listen to at least 1 a day (and 2-3 if I’m stuck in that awful Lower Parel jam). It started with me reading about a podcast called ‘Making Oprah’. And YOU know much I love Oprah. I even dedicated my last book to her (can we please pray that she somehow sees it?). I feel like someday I want to be in that position where I can be in a red dress and scream “YOU GET A CAR’’ to hundreds of people and just spread that kind of joy and happiness (well, maybe not a car. But you get my drift).

Anyway, I read about ‘Making Oprah’ and I wanted to listen to it. And once I heard it, I got sucked into this world. I found a podcast for every topic possible. I learned French with the help of them, I learned about leadership, entrepreneurship and even started meditating with them. Last year I decided to start my own show called #NoSugarCoat and I had the best time during the whole process – researching topics, interviewing some incredible people and putting together a plan to launch it. If you haven’t heard the series yet (shame on you) you can check this link to get all the shows (https://maedinindia.fanlink.to/nsc).

People always ask me for podcast recommendations and here are 10 I’m currently in love with:

1. The Tim Ferris Show

All conversations are long-form and I love that about them. I love the questions Tim asks his guests and I feel like I learn something new from each episode. My favourite episode is the one with Naval Ravikanth. Naval breaks everything down so logically that I found myself going ‘Oh! Why didn’t I think of that’

2. Super Soul Conversations with Oprah

Every time I feel like I’m stuck with a thought or I’m confused with a decision, an episode from this series just manages to speak to me. It could be about building trust, finding your purpose or how to deal with money. Surprisingly, one of my favourite conversations was the one Oprah had with Bradley Cooper. It was so raw, so honest and I just wanted to hug Bradley after listening to it (I mean, I always want to hug Bradley Cooper. But more after this episode).

3. Ted Radio Hour

I love how Guy Raz explores different topics and talks to a series of experts in each episode. Each episode is gripping and a great ‘AHA’ moment. One of my favourite episodes is Decoding our Emotions.

4. The Rich Dad Radio Show

I love Robert Kiyosaki’s energy. For someone just figuring the financial world, this podcast is GREAT. Its challenges conventional wisdom on finance and the economy. My favourite episode so far is – Find out what to teach your kids about money.

5. How I Built This With Guy Raz

As an entrepreneur, I truly enjoy listening to this show. I love stories and I love stories of how companies are built. I often talk about how being an entrepreneur is lonely and this show somehow makes me feel like I’m not alone. I love so many episodes – Whole Foods Market, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, LARABAR, Warby Parker, LinkedIn, Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s to name a few. The episode that I thought was super interesting was Burt’s Bees. Roxanne Quimby was so unlike any other founder. The episode almost felt like Guy Raz was a bit uncomfortable because she wasn’t giving him elaborated answers. I loved the tension and I loved how to the point she was through the interview ( I also LOVE Burt’s Bees and if you ever want to gift me something, please get me their lip balm. Thaaaaanks)

6. On Purpose With Jay Shetty

I discovered this one quite recently and have been hooked. Jay’s podcast is around fascinating conversations with some incredible people. My favourite episode so far is with Lily Singh.

7. Masters of Scale With Reid Hoffman

Oh man, I truly love this show. I love the production, I love Reid’s narration skills and I love the topics he covers. Favourite episodes include Danny Meyer, How To Build Your Company To Last and The Big Pivot.

8. Meditation Minis

A super simple guided meditation with Chel Hamilton. Each meditation is less than 15 minutes and perfect for when you’re stuck in traffic. I usually listen to one before I sleep or just after a workout to cool down.

9. She Says She’s Fine

Dr Munjaal Kapadia is my gynaecologist and he’s one of the most incredible people I know. I LOVE that he’s doing this podcast because it’s addressing so many issues that as an Indian woman, you don’t know where to go to get answers. He has genuine, open and real conversations with guests covering periods, IVF, sex, abuse, miscarriages and more. Please do yourself a favour and listen to this one!

10. Business Wars

I LOVE this show so much. It picks 2 rival companies and really goes behind the scenes to show what drives these companies, their leaders and investors. I also love the production on this one – it’s fast-paced and a very easy listen. Nike vs Adidas has been my favourite episode so far.

I usually listen to these podcasts on Apple Podcasts or Overcast. I hope you enjoyed my recommendations and start listening to these shows.

Xx

Pooja