She Strengthens

Staying Curious: A Path to Personal Growth

As we navigate adulthood, it’s easy to fall into a routine of consuming media that doesn’t challenge us or stimulate our minds. I recently realized that I wasn’t making enough of an effort to seek out new ideas and perspectives, unlike when I was in college. To combat this, I reached out to my community for suggestions on movies, music, books, podcasts, and more that could help me grow as a person.

Diverse Voices, Engaged Minds

Being exposed to diverse voices, experiences, and insights is crucial for personal growth. It’s what makes us more engaged, thoughtful, and empathetic humans. With this in mind, I’d like to share 11 community-sourced recommendations that can help you shake up your media routine.

Podcasts for the Curious

• NPR Podcasts: Invisibilia, This American Life, and Serial are must-listens. Invisibilia offers a unique blend of personal stories and scientific research, while This American Life shares captivating stories about people’s lives. Serial, a spin-off of This American Life, delves into one true story per season.
• Dear Hank and John: This hilarious podcast features John and Hank Green discussing life, answering questions, and sharing personal anecdotes.
• Minimalism for the Rest of Us: Although no longer releasing new episodes, the backlist is still worth exploring. Each episode is thought-provoking, educational, and humorous.
• Buzzfeed’s Another Round: This podcast tackles tough topics like race and depression with humor and joy.
• TANIS: A spooky yet engaging podcast that’s perfect for those who enjoy a good scare.
• The Happier Podcast with Gretchen Rubin: Focuses on finding joy in everyday moments and offers practical life hacks.
• Call Your Girlfriend: Two long-distance besties discuss feminism, politics, and more.

Books and More

• Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple: A captivating novel that explores a girl’s search for her missing mother.
• Death, Sex and Money Podcast from WNYC: Explores personal stories and topics related to death, sex, or money, offering unique perspectives and stimulating conversation.
• The Economist app: An excellent resource for staying informed about current events, with a British accent to boot!
• Public Library Card and Bookriot.com: A winning combination for discovering new books and exploring diverse genres and subjects.

These recommendations offer a great starting point for shaking up your media routine and staying curious. By seeking out new ideas and perspectives, we can continue to grow and evolve as individuals.