Fortunately, there’s a simple — and enjoyable — solution that’s just a click away: podcasts. In the last few years, podcasts have grown in popularity as listeners realize how they can liven up a daily commute, workout or morning routine. And as their popularity has grown, so too has the range of topics covered by these modern radio shows.

Podcasts for accountants and bookkeepers run the gamut from informative and authoritative to creative and humorous. Whether you want to keep up with professional trends, explore a new part of the financial services industry, research a career move, or simply liven up your commute, there’s a show out there for you. When you’re ready to dive in, here are eight awesome accounting podcasts for you to try.

Planet Money (National Public Radio)

Launched during the financial crisis of 2008, Planet Money brings experts and luminaries from across industries together in an attempt to make sense of what’s going on with the economy. Known for its creative and entertaining content, this award-winning podcast investigates current events to expose the bigger picture. Planet Money is sponsored by National Public Radio and co-hosted by various NPR journalists including Alicia Chang, Joseph Goldstein, and financial author Cardiff Garcia. Recent episodes feature an exploration of how stolen money moves around the globe, a rethinking of modern monetary theory, and informal discussions with employees of the Central Bank.

Life in Accounting: The Where Accountants Go Podcast (Mark Goldman, CPA)

When you listen to this podcast, you’ll hear from the most influential names in the business. This interview-style show features accountants and financial professionals from a variety of fields, offering an inside look into the many career channels available. Recent guests include a forensic accounting expert, an analyzer with the FBI, accountants at a thriving new firm, and more. If you’re curious about branching out into other areas of your field, Life In Accounting won’t disappoint. Podcast host, CPA, and author Mark Goldman has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, and the podcast has more than 100 episodes you can download.

CPA Conversations Podcast (Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants)

Don’t have time to keep up with the latest tech, news, and regulations? Tune in to CPA Conversations for updates and in-depth looks into trending news, technology developments, and other hot topics in the accounting field. Recent episodes focus on topics like using the cloud, the benefits of well-designed enterprise risk management systems, the implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and how recent court decisions can impact your job. In 2018, special guests have included journalists, IRS leadership, and influential financial professionals. The podcast is hosted by Bill Hayes, Pennsylvania CPA Journal Managing Editor, and sponsored by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Freakonomics Radio (Dubner Productions and Stitcher)

Based on Stephen Dubner’s uber-best-selling book, Freakonomics Radio is just as creative as its namesake. When you listen to this podcast, you may find yourself listening to the head of the World Trade Organization vent about trade tariffs, a conversation about the meaning of success with an Olympic gold medalist, or a first-hand exploration of why it’s so hard to succeed at opening a restaurant. With more than 300 episodes stretching back to 2010, you never know what you’ll find when you delve into this outside-the-box look at economics and culture.

Grow My Accounting Practice: Tips for Accountants & Bookkeepers to Grow Their Business (Mike Michalowicz)

As its title indicates, this podcast is all about how to grow your accountancy or bookkeeping practice. What sets this podcast apart is its dual focus on both the steps you need to follow to help your practice thrive and the theory underlying these steps. Grow My Accounting Practice is hosted by Mike Michalowicz, an entrepreneur and business author. He also brings in experts in areas such as marketing, sales, and HR to help accounting professionals create successful practices. Recent episodes include a deep dive into how improving customer service can help your bottom line and how to grow your business using webinars.

The Abacus Show (Bob the CPA)

Listen to top accounting professionals, thought leaders, and educators from around the globe. While no longer releasing new episodes, The Abacus Show offers entertaining interviews and discussions to help financial professionals take their careers to the next level. Host Bob the CPA covers topics like making the most of professional organization memberships, how to work in emerging industries such as marijuana, and how to learn from others’ mistakes. Whether you want to learn about going digital, new job opportunities, or going back to school — here you’ll always find candid career advice in an engaging format.

Accounting Today Podcast (Accounting Today)

The world of accounting moves quickly, thanks to ever-changing regulations and trends. Keep up with the latest news with the Accounting Today podcast. Hosted by Daniel Hood, editor of Accounting Today and Tax Pro Today, this show will help you dive into topics like taxes, auditing standards, and mergers and acquisitions. Previous episodes include a discussion of recent changes at the Auditing Standards Board, a look at how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has set off a global tax conflict, and an analysis of trends in mergers and acquisitions. Hood brings experts from various fields onto the show to offer deeper insight into the complex issues affecting accountants today.

Accountants Doing Cool Sh*t: Interviews with Accountants From Around the World (Lifestyle Accountant)

Brought to you by Lifestyle Accountant, Accountants Doing Cool Sh*t isn’t just a podcast — it’s also a worldwide networking group. Although new episodes haven’t been released recently, this fun show is still worth a listen. Hosted by Matt Roberge and featuring special guests like Guy Pearson, Andrew Argue and Chris Hooper, this show is about accounting professionals who are using their skills in innovative and creative ways. Previous topics include how to make yourself successful by making yourself obsolete and the steps to take if you’re just not happy in your position.

If you’re ready to liven up your daily commute, why not give one of these accounting podcasts a listen? Not only will you stay up-to-date in your field and access helpful career advice — but you’ll be entertained to boot. It’s a win-win-win for busy accountants and bookkeepers everywhere.

The post Listen Up! 8 Awesome Podcasts for Accountants and Bookkeepers appeared first on Method.

For those wanting to improve their sales performance, finding a great sales podcast shouldn’t be a challenge. In fact, you may have the opposite problem! With such a wide range of sales podcasts available for free, narrowing down the options can be tricky. However, the key is to choose shows which offer actionable strategies that you can apply to your own process. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the best podcasts for sales representatives.

Sales Hacks for Startup Hustlers (Steli Efti)

As the CEO of Close, Steli Efti has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of Silicon Valley sales teams over the course of his career. Throughout the years, he has coached teams on how to improve their results in one of the most competitive and fast-evolving markets in the world. In “The Ultimate Sales Hustle Podcast”, Efti shares the same tips and insights with his listeners, allowing them to maximize their own sales results. He also shares stories from his time working in Silicon Valley that are intended to both entertain and inspire.

B2B Growth Show (James Carbary)

Specific tactics and strategies are required to sell products or services to other businesses rather than consumers. This means you should aim to listen to podcasts focused on B2B sales rather than B2C sales. “B2B Growth Show” is dedicated to providing professionals in B2B companies with effective strategies to achieve explosive growth. The show discusses tactics for finding new clients, effectively pitching your product to business executives and more. For professionals looking to ramp up their sales process, this one is definitely worth listening to.

Sales Gravy (Jeb Blount)

For those who simply don’t have time to listen to an hour-long podcast, “Sales Gravy” is a great compromise. Most episodes of this podcast average around five minutes in length. Don’t let the short time fool you, though; Jeb Blount – who is the author of the book “People Buy You” – has a knack for fitting more valuable information into a five-minute segment than many podcasts can fit into an entire hour. With topics ranging from building trust to using a CRM, each episode of “Sales Gravy” focuses on a specific sales strategy or tactic that you can quickly digest and put to use right away.

The Salesman Podcast (Will Barron)

Psychology plays a profound role in sales, and this is the primary focus of “The Salesman Podcast”. On this show, you’ll learn how psychological principles pertaining to body language, influence, and much more can be used during an in-person sales pitch in order to help you close the deal. “The Salesman Podcast” features a wide range of guests, from thought leaders in sales to FBI agents. Plus, new episodes are uploaded almost daily. If you’re looking for a steady stream of sales inspiration, this is one podcast you should definitely subscribe to.

The Sales Babble Podcast (Pat Helmers)

“The Sales Babble Podcast” is a podcast aimed at salespeople in small to medium-sized businesses. It features clear and easy-to-understand language, and Pat Helmers attempts to break down even complex sales topics into terms that anyone can digest regardless of their sales experience. Of course, that’s not to say that the strategies and techniques outlined in “The Sales Babble Podcast” (such as “Three Step Process to Narrow Your Sales Focus” and “How to Read a Buyer’s Personality”) aren’t applicable to seasoned sales professionals. Chances are there’s still plenty you can learn from this podcast, even if you’re already an expert in the field.

The Advanced Selling Podcast (Bryan Neale and Bill Caskey)

As the name suggests, “The Advanced Selling Podcast” focuses on more advanced selling techniques that you can implement into your own role. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, from lead generation to overcoming objections to communicating value to your customer. As an added benefit, the podcast has its own app that lets you submit questions directly to the hosts. You’ll also gain access to supplementary sales materials, including PDF documents and bonus audio and video content.

The Social Selling Podcast (Martin Brossman, Greg Hyer, and Elyse Archer)

Social media is a powerful tool for salespeople to connect with their customers. However, it can also create tons of confusion if you aren’t sure how to use it effectively. “The Social Selling Podcast” helps to clear up that confusion by teaching salespeople how to take advantage of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. Sample episodes include “Successful Social Selling is Personal” and “Social Selling vs. Social Commerce.” If you want to ramp up your social media skill set and leverage social platforms to increase your sales, this podcast is well worth listening to.

Conclusion

Tuning into a sales podcast is a simple and convenient way to enhance your commute to work each day. Instead of staring out the window, why not learn new skills from some of the best in the business? While the sales podcasts outlined above are some of the most informative on the internet, there are plenty of other high-quality options to consider. As long as you choose a podcast that resonates with you, you’ll be taking a beneficial step towards boosting your career.

The post 7 Essential Podcasts for Sales Reps appeared first on Method.