This is going to be a series of posts about tidying up the general clutter in digital life. It’s very much the “One day” category of decluttering. “One day I will look/listen/read this thing” but you never do and it just builds up and up! This second post is about podcasts.
This may seem like a minor thing to tidy up, but a huge list of podcasts “I have to listen to” causes me anxiety as I’m never going to get around to listening to them all.
I use a podcast app called Overcast. There are currently 48 podcasts that I’m subscribed to or have not deleted (to remind me to look for other episodes later). I only every listen to 4 or 5 podcasts every week. I may listen to multipe episodes of the same podcast if a number are released in the same week. Right now the ones I regularly listen to are – BBC Rugby Union, 5 live Boxing with Costello and Bunce, The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Rich Roll Podcast and Don’t Tell me the Score.
Because of the cluttered list, I miss podcasts I want to listen to. An example of this is Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review. It then transpires that I don’t go to the cinema as much as I like, as I have no idea whats on. I know this is not the only reason, but is a small part of it.
Some podcasts I have are seasonal, such as The Move (Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France podcast), 5 live Sport Specials (for 6 Nations Rugby time)
I have specific episodes of podcasts I want to listen to, but don’t want to listen to other episodes. An example of this is the Phoebe Waller-Bridge (writer of amazing BBC’s Fleabag and Killing Zoe) episode of How to Fail with Elizabeth Day.
Some are subscribed to, but awaiting the new season like the recently binged Season 3 of Serial. Season 3 is truly excellent, shocking and scary. It’s about the US Justice system. After the ground breaking Season 1 and disappointing second season it’s a true return to form and essential listening.
I have many “self improvement” podcasts that I now feel I no longer need, or have heard it all before. Its also a way of procrastinating and not actually doing that thing I need to be doing.
What to do
Only subscribe to podcasts that you really want to listen to or are awaiting new seasons.
Delete podcasts you have not listened to and have been sat on your phone for months or years.
If you really think you’ll get to them or don’t want to forget about them. List them on a word document and place in an obvious place on your desktop.
The Result
A little less anxiety about podcasts you never going to get around to. A tidy podcast app with only podcasts that you really want to listen to and that you never miss.