My New Obsession Right Now – and a new recipe

Recently, a friend of mine posted on Facebook that she was looking for some new suggestions for Podcasts to listen to on her commute to work. I’ve never really been into podcasts (other than occasionally listening to a sermon or speaker when I’ve missed at church). I haven’t taken advantage of all they have to offer, and quite frankly, sort of thought they were a waste of time.

Somehow, I was interested enough to look at her list of comments of what people suggested, and I found quite a few that sounded really good and wrote a few down.  Then, the next day, I received an email from Real Simple boasting about their new podcasts too. I was definitely intrigued and decided to give the ole’ podcast a try. I have a pretty lengthy commute to and from work, and spend quite a bit of my workday driving around to client’s homes, so I spend a lot of time in the car, so it only made sense.

I… am… addicted! Seriously, I can’t stop! It’s bad, and I’m sure if my husband hears one more time, “so today, on this podcast”, he’s going to ban me from talking at all when I get home. I’ve figured out a way to discreetly mention things in conversations so to make it sound like I’d been talking to a good friend and they just happened to be talking about that really great interview with Matt Damon, not that it was because I was listening to a podcast again. I even recently got him to admit he now also listens and likes the Relevant Podcast.  But really, they are so interesting, make you think, and often make you laugh (or cry) all at the same time. I often find that I don’t want to get out of the car when I get to my destination because I’m in a really good spot on the podcast.

Here are a few of my favorites that I’ve found so far:

• Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey – Let me just tell you, I LOVE Jamie Ivey. I’ve been binge listening to all of her old episodes, and I just can’t get enough.  The first one I found was because she was interviewing my favorite author, Shauna Niequist. When I first turned it on, I thought it might be a bit boring, but it quickly picked up, and I really like the flow of the conversations. She is so good at getting conversation flowing. You feel like you’re sitting in the room with them listening in. I don’t always know the names of the people she’s interviewing, but have found that I enjoy those oftentimes more than the interviews with the people I am familiar with. It’s inspiring and challenging even just in simple conversations. I also love that she always asks what books people are reading and what their favorite three things they love are. It provides lots of good ideas and reads. I seriously keep a running list of books/recommendations in my phone that people are talking about.

• America’s Test Kitchen – Christopher Kimble has a dry sense of humor, but it’s enough to keep things interesting. I really love the caller questions, and feel like I learn so much from their special guests and taste test spots. Recently, I was able to (sort of) answer someone’s question about why their cookies were flat because they had just addressed this issue on the podcast. They also hit on topics like the addiction to sugar that our nation’s food manufacturer’s are causing – it’s enough to make you want to clean out your pantry. This is a good one!

• Relevant podcast – Hilarious! Enough said. It’s really just so so funny, and Shauna Niequist (see above) is often one of the hosts, so it’s a win-win. This one is lengthy, but you find yourself cracking up with their banter that before you know it, it’s over. They carry over jokes and stories from week to week, so you feel like you’re in on a little secret when you listen. They also interview authors, musicians, or people fighting social justices around the globe. Definitely one not to miss!

• Real Simple: Things Cooks Know – This is a short one, but fun one. It’s filled with quick facts and lots of good ideas. I find myself jotting down notes to try – my most recent one being a strawberry slab pie and cold brew iced coffee made in a French press (it was delish!).

• Popcast: Oh my! I’m a little embarrassed to admit this one, because it’s just pure entertainment, and seriously, you will just laugh so hard. You find yourself completely agreeing or adamantly claiming they have no idea what they are talking about. Jamie and Knox have a great chemistry, and it makes me laugh. One of my favorites so far has been “Is Taylor Swift the Antichrist?”. Yep… they went there. So far, I think I’m Team Knox.

• Off Camera with Sam Jones – uh, yes please! Sam interviews some of the most famous movie stars out there, one on one, and asks some of the most personal and amazing questions. It’s intimate, and revealing, and amazing. It’s slightly R-rated (i.e. more than one cuss word allowed), but if you can get past that, it’s really just so interesting.

Anyone else totally late to the game of podcasts like me? What are you currently listening to? Send me your current faves?

Okay, so now for the recipe. It’s been so long since I’ve posted one, did you forget that I still do that sort of thing?

I recently got an Energy Bite in one of the kids meals that I bought for Luke when we were out one day. He wolfed it down, and I thought… this is a fantastic snack idea. They are so super easy to whip together, and they make for the perfect after-nap toddler (and adult) snack. I often pack them in my lunch and eat them at that 3:00pm time when I’m super hungry, feeling the need for more coffee, and realize I have several hours till dinner still. They hit the spot. As you can see, I get lots of help from this guy these days… mostly in the licking and eating department, but I wouldn’t trade it. It’s also one of the reasons I don’t have as many pictures and probably as many recipes any more. haha.

Here’s the lineup: