Outside observers will probably note that I'm a pretty quiet person. But this brain of mine? ALWAYS chattering. I'm constantly thinking about a million and six things, and the subject matter of those things tends to change quite frequently, depending on how I'm feeling. I am naturally curious, and that curiosity extends to many different areas. So what better way to quiet my chattering brain AND satisfy my curiosity than with podcasts! 

Podcasts are a great way to spend otherwise passive time (when my mind could be choosing to do things like hyper-focus or worry or wander) focusing that energy on something interesting, educational, inspirational or funny. 

So here are seven of my favorite podcasts for all the feels and all the topics your brain might want to explore: 

When you're feeling...

...like you need to get your shit together.

The Lively Show 

When I lived in Chicago, I met host Jess Lively briefly while my company was helping her with some video work. She is seriously a ray of sunshine. She's all about living with intention and re-framing your approach to reaching your goals. It's hard not to be inspired by her awesome energy and positivity. Her podcast covers a variety of topics including business and career, money, style and design, wellness, love and relationships. 

...unmotivated.

Girl Boss Radio

Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso hosts this podcast, a spinoff from her New York Times Best Seller, #GIRLBOSS. She chats with all kinds of influential women and asks their best advice for any #girlboss struggling to get started, find her way or make her mark on the world.

If you need inspiration and motivation from some serious badass women, this one's for you. Guests include: Founders and CEOs (yes, all women) of companies like: Poo-Pourri, Design*Sponge, Brit + Co, Bumble, LearnVest, and more.

...down the dumps.

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin is the author of New York Times Best Sellers The Happiness Project, Happier at Home and Better than Before, which all focus on making small changes and implementing better habits in order to optimize happiness and productivity in our daily lives. 

The podcast consists of casual conversations with her sister, Elizabeth, as they discuss good habits, answer questions and give tips on the many ways we can bring more happines into our lives one small step at a time. 

...like you need a laugh.

WTF with Marc Maron

If you have a favorite person in the world of comedy, chances are they've talked with Marc Maron on the WTF podcast before. I mean, look at this guest list. This is one of my go-tos for when my brain doesn't really have an agenda and I just want to hear interesting conversations. 

Marc's no-bullshit attitude allows for some amazing moments - some awkward, some hilarious and everything in between. The conversations with his guests never fail to provide comedy, but often more surprisingly the episodes get really...real, which makes listening to your idols even more relatable.

...inquisitive.

Invisibilia

NPR's Invisibilia is about the "invisible forces" that shape human behavior and society. Think: the science behind the "fake it 'til you make it" strategy, how the clothes we wear can shape us in more prominent ways than we think or why humans feel the need to categorize, well, everything. 

This podcast is great for when I want to learn something new. The episodes' subjects are things I would rarely think about on my own, but are so interesting to learn about - and really make you think about human behavior on a broad level. 

...sad because you finished binging "Making a Murderer" and need more true crime in your life.

Sword and Scale

This true crime podcast delves deep into real crime stories, most of which I would categorize as "disturbing" - to say the least. With a tagline like, "the show that reveals that the worst monsters are real," think of this as your Dateline of podcasts if it were on HBO instead of basic cable. 

Memorable episode topics include: the Craigslist Killer, and that kid from Florida (no offense, but OBVIOUSLY) who killed his parents and had a party right afterwards while their bodies were still in the house. 

It's not for the faint of heart, but this one really makes you think about the sometimes shocking and fascinating nature of humanity. Listen at your own risk, and maybe don't tell all your friends (or write in a blog post) that it's one of your favs.  

BONUS!

Criminal

Criminal is also a true crime podcast, so if you feel like your delicate sensibilities might not want to handle Sword and Scale, this one might be a better fit. This podcast deals with a vast range of criminal activity - not just the disturbing stuff - including things like: the legal gray area of tiger ownership across the United States, or, testing the limits of free speech by giving the finger to every cop you see. 

The variety of topics covered make you think about crime in ways you might not have before, and the short (15 - 30 minute) length make for easy listening. 

SO! There you have it. Hopefully you can find a podcast or two on this list that will spark your interest. Podcasts are quickly becoming one of the most popular mediums for entertainment, and there are always new options to explore that you can tailor to ALL your feels.

Check out Buzzfeed's List for some recommendations for 2017! #trypod