I love podcasts.
They are the perfect way to consume information, stories, and discussion in a variety of situations. Taking a long drive? Knitting for a few hours? Cleaning up? Podcasts serve as a wonderful companion while you’re doing a lot of activities.
Wait – do administrative podcasts actually exist?
Yes! They do. The trick is, they aren’t easy to find in podcasts apps (trust me, I tried). You will have better results searching in a browser for them and then subscribing through your podcast app.
An administrative podcast can be a great resource for those who are interested or are currently in the administrative support profession. Podcasts can be a useful source of information about the industry, what to expect, and how to succeed.
Podcasts for administrative professionals serve as a helpful and convenient way to feel more connected to other admins without having to “do” anything or than listen. Most importantly, if you’re a solo admin, podcasts can be a way to increase the sense of community and belonging. Just like the theme of Team: Solo Admin is to create a sense of community with each other, podcasts are a great way to do the same.
And it is for that reason I started searching for podcasts that focus on the administrative experience.
What I Look For in an Administrative Podcast
What you and I look for in a podcast might be very different. But, I look for podcasts that have relatable topics, a positive tone, realistic message and tone (no matter how hard the topic).
I also appreciate profanity. To me, profanity is a love language. It gives me the impression of genuine passion and sincerity. When the gloves come off, I’m fully engaged.
Talking about both the positives and the negatives can help us build and grow as a community.
For an administrative podcast, I also try to find podcasters who aren’t afraid to talk about the negatives of our profession because that is precisely why it’s important to share our experiences.
When I listen to podcasts, I want to feel like I’m hanging out with a friend or a wonderful storyteller. I want to have fun or really relate to the material I’m taking in.
There are so many things to talk about pertaining to the admin professional. To me, when I feel like the podcaster sincerely appreciates and understands the nuances of our world, it’s a uniting feeling. It helps me feel less alone. It makes me feel like she could be on my team, and that is important to me.
So what should you look for in a podcast?
Not All Administrative Podcasts are Right For You – That’s okay.
In my search to find podcasts for admins, I found some that didn’t resonate with me for a variety of reasons. For example, I might have disagreed with their opinions, or didn’t like their presentation style.
And that’s okay.
Fortunately, there are a multiple podcasts out there, so check them all out. Find out which ones resonate with you.
Listening to a podcast shouldn’t be a chore. It should be an activity that intrigues, connects, entertains, and/or engages you. If you find yourself laughing or talking back to the podcaster, that’s a good sign!
Conversely, if a podcaster or podcast episode angers, stresses, or pisses you off, it might not be for you (unless you’re a masochist). It’s entirely up to you. Whether you want to give another episode or two a chance just to be sure is your call, but don’t feel like you have to.
My Administrative Podcast Pick
I have been listening to many different types of podcasts for years now, but I recently starting finding podcasts that are great for administrative professionals.
The first one I found is called “Have a Seat…Conversations with Women in the Workplace,” and it has just about everything I could ask for in a podcast. The podcaster, Debra Coleman, is positive, forward thinking, encouraging, uplifting, funny, and doesn’t bullshit—just like me!
When I found Debra’s podcast, she instantly impressed me with her episodes. She genuinely seems to enjoy making her podcast. It’s like sunshine bursting into your ears, and I am here👏 for👏 it👏. Haha. She just has a great enthusiasm that is undeniable, and I really enjoyed listening to her.
Not to mention, she’s not afraid to use profanity in her episodes, which brings me a lot of joy. I genuinely feel like she’s not afraid to talk about anything, and just truly wants to get to the heart of the matter.
Her podcast covers ALL women in the workplace, in all fields, and I found most of her episodes completely relatable to my thoughts and experiences. Which isn’t surprising because
- She is an executive assistant.
- The administrative field is a female-dominated (her podcast centers on women in the workplace).
- Women often have many simultaneous jobs in addition to being an admin (ie: mom, business owner, trainer, etc) that she highlights and I find relevant.
My Podcast Episodes
With that, I am thrilled to announce that I recently was a guest on the “Have a Seat…Conversations with Women in the Workplace” podcast with Debra.
We originally recorded one session, but Debra, in all her podcast-y glory, broke it into two parts!
Thank you so much Debra for geeking out with me on admin life! I had a blast!
Part 1:
In this episode, Debra and I dove into my post, “What I Realized After Years of Being an Administrative Support Professional,“ in more detail. I hope you enjoy!
Part 2:
In this episode, Debra included a segment that was removed from the first episode about how our hobbies can help us be better admins.
Conclusion
Podcasts are wonderful because they are convenient, can cover a wide range of topics, and don’t take a lot of work to take in. If you haven’t tried podcasts before, you can start your journey by thinking about what interests you.
Chances are, there’s a podcast for it! Try out a couple to see if you find one that you like!
If you’re an administrative professional, I plan to cover more administrative podcasts that I think suits today’s administrative professional. There are a lot of amazing admin podcasters out there, and I aim to find them!
I hope you all enjoyed this post, and will check out Debra’s podcast, Have a Seat…Conversations with Women in the Workplace to check out all of her other amazing and hilarious episodes!
