Podcast Recommendation: Make Me Smart
Let me set the scene. It's 7 am. I'm driving West on a nearly deserted Massachusetts Turnpike heading to work. Because I was considered an "essential employee" and provided onsite operations leadership, I was on my way to the office. There were almost no other cars on the road. I had a LOT on my mind. I needed to keep my team's morale up and keep people safe. I had to assist another leader in showing a group of sixteen and seventeen-year-olds about proper mask usage, something they probably weren't thinking much about in the months prior. I had to help procure PPE. The list went on.
It was mid-spring, 2020. We ALL know what was going on then. The pandemic was hitting hard, and it was a scary and overwhelming time. I was looking for information, a way to keep up on what was happening as a first in 100-year pandemic swept our globe.
Enter Make Me Smart, which had just begun doing daily short episodes to keep up with the news and make sense of what was going on. The previously once-weekly podcast, launched in 2017 and hosted by Kai Ryssdal and Molly Wood, was one of those lifelines that I looked forward to every weekday morning. They didn’t always have the answers, but they were measured, well researched, and, sometimes most importantly, human. Both Kai and Molly had moments of sadness, grief, and anger during the height of the pandemic, and hearing their emotions truly helped me handle mine. Additionally, both found time for moments of levity and even humor (Banana Pants! Hollowed out shell Thursday If you know, you know).
My favorite feature right now is Economics on Tap, something they do on Friday to unwind a little. The hosts have a drink of their choice, and the show is usually lighter. It feels like getting a drink with colleagues or friends at the end of a hard week. The Friday show used to be live-streamed on Youtube but hasn't happened lately. Nevertheless, it was a fun watch, so I hope they bring that back.
Molly did leave the show at the end of November and is now working with the VC firm Launch. However, she is still podcasting, so we can continue to enjoy her perspective.
I enjoy the Make Me Smart newsletter too. It’s delivered Friday morning and provides more insight and feedback from listeners. If you like newsletters, it’s worth checking out too.
Is there a podcast you enjoy? Let me know.