17 Podcasts Worth Taking the 'Longer Way to Get There' Just So You Can Listen Podcasting as a medium allows someone to dive in deep on a specific theme or topic. What's your favorite topic?

By Jess Ekstrom

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Okay, I'll admit it. I sometimes look forward to sitting in traffic or taking a longer commute when I'm into a really good podcast. I once drove five hours and then slowly rolled into my destination because I still had ten more minutes on a podcast I wanted to finish (you can't continue your life when you're just about to find out who did it in a crime podcast!).

Related: How to Start a Podcast With Almost No Money

The beautiful thing about podcasts is the variety of content out there. Whether you're in the mood to laugh, be inspired, learn new business techniques or solve a crime, there's a podcast out there for you.

I love helping women get a microphone in their hands through professional speaking, but podcasting is a different medium: It allows someone to dive in deep on a specific theme or topic and have her own creative free rein to cut it however she'd like, whether that means short, snackable 15-minute episodes or more intensive hour-to-two hourlong episodes. Regardless of the length, in today's digital world, the power of real conversations that podcasts offer, together with authenticity and transparency, is more important than ever.

That said, no matter what kind of mood you're in or what you're looking for, there are some amazing female podcasters out there serving up exactly what you need; and all you need to do is hit "play."

I've rounded up some of my favorites and asked around for recommendations. Grab your headphones and enjoy!

Related: 4 Podcasts That Will Help Boost Your Self-Confidence

For when you need an extra pep in your step…

Happier with Gretchen Rubin, by Panoply

Cultivate Your Life with Lara Casey, by Lara Casey

Earn Your Happy, by Lori Harder

And Especially You, by Hello Sunshine

RISE Podcast, by Rachel Hollis

Do It Scared with Ruth Soukup, by Ruth Soukup

Raise Your Hand Say Yes, by Tiffany Han

For when you want to launch or scale your business…

WorkParty with Jaclyn Johnson, by Dear Media

Don't Keep Your Day Job, by Cathy Heller

Being Boss with Kathleen Shannon & Emily Thompson, by Being Boss

The Goal Digger Podcast, by Jenna Kutcher

Christy Wright's Business Boutique, by Ramsey Solutions

For when you want to focus on your well-being…

Thrive Global Podcast with Arianna Huffington, by iHeartRadio

Love & Light Live, by Ashley Leavy

Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations, by Oprah

Over It & On With It, by Christine Hassler

Nourishing Women Podcast, by Meg Dixon and Victoria Myers

Related: 5 Social Media Podcasts to Take Your Marketing Skills to the Next Level

Jess Ekstrom

CEO and Founder of HeadbandsOfHope.com, Speaker and Author.

Jessica Ekstrom founded Headbands of Hope when she was a senior in college in 2012. She created the company to bring joy back to kids who have lost their hair and help fund childhood cancer research. Headbands of Hope has given tens of thousands of dollars to childhood cancer research and has donated headbands to every children's hospital in the United States.

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