Five of The Best Short-Form Podcasts: They Value Your Time

 I love short-form podcasts. You can listen to a lot of them in a short period of time and learn a lot, or just be entertained. Some podcasts drag on for over an hour to two hours. Have they ever heard of the EDIT button? 

I can listen to these short-form podcasts while I'm making coffee, or toasting my Dave's killer whole-grains and seeds bread, or even brushing my teeth, which done right should take about two minutes. (Note: I learned that from a short-form podcast.)

So here are five short-form podcasts you might enjoy. If you don't, you've only invested a few minutes of your time. Think of it this way. There are so many commercials that run during movies on broadcast TV that you could finish any of these podcasts in that time, with spare seconds left over to break out the chip bags.

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 Arielle Nissenblatt and Ned Donovan introduced their podcast and YouTube show, "Arielle and Ned's Daily Tips That May Or May Not Help You" in December 2023.

This new podcast shows off podcasting at its most flexible, fun, and informative. It's a podcast that is less than two minutes in length, offering life hacks and lessons of high or no value, and is fun to listen to. 

Hosted by Arielle Nissenblatt and Ned Donovan, the show touches on various aspects of life. From personal hygiene and car maintenance to uncovering the best music gems and mastering the art of waking up early.

"We wanted to create a show that feels like a daily dose of inspiration and entertainment. Life is full of challenges, big and small, and we believe that sharing practical tips – no matter how quirky or unexpected – can make a positive impact on our listeners' and viewers’ lives," says Arielle Nissenblatt, co-host of the show.

Arielle Nissenblatt is the founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective, a podcast recommendation newsletter. She is on the community team at Descript, an AI-powered video and audio editing software service. She hosts two other podcasts, Trailer Park: The Podcast Trailer Podcast and Feedback with EarBuds.

Actor and multi-hyphenate creator Ned Donovan, the other half of this duo, adds, "Arielle and I are people who love trying new things and optimizing our lives. We’re taking that passion and bringing it to audiences in a quick, digestible, fun format to add a little spice to your day."

Since December, I've learned about speeding up my phone's responsiveness when using public Wi-Fi from the March 15th show. Lose your car in a parking lot? The hosts have a tip that can save you anguish and embarrassment from wandering around the lot or garage.

Do you have stinky shoes? Arielle and Ned will answer in two minutes on their January 31st show.

Check out Arielle and Ned's Daily Tips That May Or May Not Help You. Every morning before school or work, you can get a daily dose of
tips, laughter, and unexpected discoveries. All in two minutes. Hey, your toaster takes longer than that to brown your 100% sprouted rye bread.
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  5 Minute Biographies is a short-form podcast that can offer listeners brief biographies of famous people without reading a 600-page book by Ron Chernow or listening to a two-hour podcast.

 Each week, the podcast aims to bring you interesting information about fascinating people in about five minutes in the form of short biographies, which can also be read on their website. 

Here's what host Anthony Davis says: "For a long time now, I have listened to podcasts whilst driving from place to place for my job. Invariably, when I arrive at my destination, I have to pause the podcast and finish listening to it on my way home.

"I have always been a fan of history and biographies, and there are a number of other podcasts and websites out there that cater to my interests. However, as I mentioned above, some of these podcasts can be over an hour in length, and when it comes to reading a page on a website, I tend to do it in only five- or ten-minute spurts. I don’t have time to sit in front of a computer for hours reading biographies.

"So, I searched around for a podcast that would provide me with short bursts of information, but I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted, so I thought I may as well have a go at creating what I was looking for, and 5-minute biographies was born."

Recent biographical subjects include Emmeline Pankhurst, a leader of the women's suffrage movement, mysterious movie star Greta Garbo, race car driver Niki Lauda, King Of Soul Sam Cooke, and Joan of Arc.
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 One Minute Podcast Tips is designed for people who want to be better podcasters. Considering that millions are either podcasting now or have tried their hand at podcasting, that's a potentially large and motivated audience. 

Host Danny Brown makes good on his promise to help people "be a better podcaster in just a minute a week."

 Brown is the Head of Podcaster Support and Experience at Captivate.fm, "the world's only growth-oriented podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetization platform for the serious indie podcaster."

Brown knows his stuff and his tips range from creating a newsletter to a decision on WAV files or MP3 files.  Brown discusses the best audio editing software for beginners and a topic for experienced podcasters like using a shock mount for your microphone.

Check out One Minute Podcast Tips for expert help with your podcast.

 Danny Brown is one of the most knowledgeable people in the field. Plus, he's from Canada, where podcasting is booming.

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 Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic is a weekly, five-minute podcast for kids about making and keeping friends. Each episode features an audio recording of a question about friendship from a kid, plus a practical and thought-provoking answer.

Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, also known as Dr. Friendtastic, is an author and clinical psychologist based in Princeton, NJ, and a trusted expert on children's feelings and friendships.

I'm not the least bit embarrassed to confess that I listen to this podcast for tips about friendship. In episode 29, Abby, 9, wants to know the difference between friendly and unfriendly teasing. I'm a lot older than Abby, I still don't know the answer. 

 Dr. Moore is a terrific host whose voice exudes empathy and understanding. In episode 13, Dr. Moore tackles a question from Mara, 9, who's dealing with an octopus friend. You know, a friend who doesn't want her to have other friends. Dr. Moore sticks the landing on this one.

This is one of the best kids podcasts in the audio verse, and it seems ideal for parents and kids to listen together and discuss the issues on each episode. 

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  NPR News Now is a news program that is updated hourly by National Public Radio. It's a simple yet effective format. It's a five-minute news program updated hourly. No muss. No fuss. No partisan misinformation.

Today, with all the partisan news and 24/7 news channels that try to hawk opinion as news to fill all the time, NPR News Now is a refreshing drink of fair and objective news. 

NPR has many of the best correspondents and is an exceptional news-gathering organization. Unlike some news channels, which are organized under the Entertainment division of their network to protect them from lawsuits, NPR reports on what's happening that day with a minimum of editorial comment. Thank goodness.