My Personal Podcast Process

Podcasts are a fantastic way to fit education and inspiration into your day.  Podcasts can be as little as 5, 10, or 15 minutes long, while others can go an hour or more. But just like your DVR, you can pause and come back to them.

If you have an iPhone, you already have a podcast player, and you can search iTunes and subscribe to your favorites. But there are other apps as well including Overcast for iPhone/iOS, and Stitcher, Pocket Casts and Google Play for Android.

I like to listen to podcasts while I’m in the car or on a plane. I also listen to them while I’m working out and even doing work around the house.  They’re perfect to fit into your day at any point when you are doing a task that doesn’t require your full attention.

What To Look For In a Good Postcast

For me, a good podcast should hit most, if not all, of the following:

  • Inspiring

  • Actionable

  • Informational

  • Interesting

  • Entertaining

I’ve chosen my top podcasts for coaches based on the fact that they hit all of these criteria: they inspire me to do and be more in my life and business, they include actionable tips and information I can actually put to use, they share valuable information I might have to pay for somewhere else, and they are interesting enough to hold my attention.

1. The Rising Coaches Elite Podcast

Did you know the guys at Rising Coaches Elite have a podcast? And it has to be number one on this list, right! You can review and listen again to some of the speakers from the conference. There are also great interviews with coaches at all levels of the game, sharing insight into their career journeys.

2. Be Contagious Leadership Experience with Coach Hernando Planells

A speaker at the 2017 Rising Coaches Elite conference, Hernando is the dynamic Associate Women’s Head Coach at Duke. Hernando’s podcast is about more than basketball. 

3. That Bracket Show

I was excited to connect with Leigh Stein at the conference. Leigh’s father was a founder of Five Star Camp, which Leigh later led himself. It’s where I grew up learning the game. Leigh is very insightful on the business of sports and basketball. His podcast is a great listen come March Madness time.

4. Beyond the Whistle with Odell McCants

This is a shameless plug for my own podcast. Beyond The Whistle is a mix of my interviews with coaches and sports leaders and my own tips and advice on career and personal development.

5. Pure Sweat Basketball Show

The Pure Sweat Basketball Show provides nuggets of professional development, leadership and motivation coaches at all levels of the game can gain from. One of the top skills coaches and motivational speakers in basketball, host Alan Stein’s passion comes through in every episode.

6. The College Recruiting Weekly Podcast

Recruiting is the lifeblood of every program. And it’s never too early to work on being a great recruiter, regardless of where you are in your career. Host Dan Tudor shares how to apply the skills and fundamentals of professional selling to the athletic recruiting process. 

7. The Hardwood Hustle

Co-hosts Adam Bradley and TJ Rosene go beyond Xs and Os to discuss the complex topics of managing teams and programs as well as personal and professional development.   

8. Coaching U Podcast

This podcast is an extension of the Coaching U education and training program. Coach Brendan Suhr moves the lessons off of the court and into your earbuds with interviews of coaches on their career journeys, coaching philosophies and challenges they have overcome.  

9. Conversations With Coach George Raveling

Coach Raveling is considered by most as the godfather of college basketball coaching. On his podcast, Coach Raveling shares lessons for personal and professional growth through his conversations with other coaches.  

10. 1 Question

1 Question features interviews with athletic administrators on the issues and challenges they are facing in their athletic departments. It’s a great listen for insight into what’s top of mind of athletic administrators.  

Download this podcast playlist by clicking here: My 10 Favorite Podcasts for Rising Coaches

Do you have a favorite podcast not on this list? Hit me up on Twitter at @odellmccants and let me know your favorites.

Odell Smooth(99x150)About the  Author: Odell McCants is President of McCants Sports. A former athlete agent, Odell now specializes in helping colleges, universities, professional teams and leagues identify, recruit and retain top sports executive talent. Odell is also founder of the McCants Sports Institute which provides professional development and leadership training and consulting to sports business professionals.