Our Dreams In Progress

Welcome to my personal space, where I write through change, learning, and healing in real time. Written by a 45-year-old mother of three, learning AI, online systems, and how to stay sane and healthy, one honest step at a time.

How I Started Listening to Podcasts as a Busy Mom

Elle Suhardi

October 3, 2025

My Journey to $100k

This post is part of my *Diary of a First $100K” an open journal where I document the real journey of building my first digital business from scratch. Each entry shares the wins, the setbacks, the tools I try, and the lessons I learn as I aim for a $100K milestone.

I’ll be honest

I wasn’t always a podcast listener. For years, I just listened to music or the local radio station during my school runs. (Yes, I still sometimes tune into our local station. Does that show my age in my 40s? Probably!) Podcasts just felt like something “younger” people did, and I didn’t think I had the time or need for them.

The Disney Podcast That Changed Everything

In early 2022, after Covid travel restrictions were lifted, I started planning a Disney World holiday. A little backstory here: my parents had a timeshare in Orlando in the 90s, so growing up, we went almost every other year. Those memories are some of my most treasured.

When I had the chance to go on vacation with my own little family to Disney World for the first time in 2018, it felt like a homecoming. I made a goal to take my kids back annually, so naturally, I wanted to prepare properly. That’s when I stumbled on a Disney planning podcast.

And I got hooked.

I subscribed to a few and started listening on my school runs. Suddenly, instead of just background music, I was getting up-to-date tips on rides, food, and park changes. It was fun, informative, and made me even more excited for our trip. I found myself actually looking forward to those short drives because they felt productive and uplifting.

Expanding My Podcast Horizons

After that Disney revelation, I naturally started discovering more content that caught my interest.

I added some mommy podcasts to my rotation because let’s face it, we all need that validation that we’re not the only ones struggling with the mental load of parenthood. Especially since we had our youngest as a surprise addition to our family in 2021. It honestly felt like starting all over again, having a baby at 41!

I also explored travel-focused shows, dreaming about future adventures and picking up tips for family travel.

At one point, I even asked my cousins for suggestions. They swore by true crime podcasts, but I quickly figured out that wasn’t for me. I prefer content that lifts me up rather than keeps me up at night wondering if I double-locked the doors.

The mommy and productivity podcasts, though, were genuinely helpful during that phase of my life. They gave me practical tips for managing household chaos, insights into child development, and most importantly, the reassurance that other moms were going through similar challenges. There’s something comforting about hearing other women talk honestly about the struggles and joys of motherhood while you’re picking up Lego and Jellycat toys off the floor for the hundredth time.

The Business Pivot

By early this year, when I started taking my online business journey seriously, everything shifted.

I researched entrepreneurship podcasts and made a conscious decision to replace most of the Disney content with business-focused shows. It wasn’t easy those Disney podcasts had become like comfort food for my ears but I knew I needed to feed my mind with content that would directly support my new goals.

Now, the ones I listen to most are the ones that help me learn about entrepreneurship, productivity, and mindset the ones I share in my “Favorite Podcasts” post. They’ve given me invaluable insights and help me stay up to date with the fast-changing world of social media trends and AI, which is essential for my digital business journey.

Still, I haven’t let go of the Disney podcasts entirely. I treat myself to one every other week as a pick-me-up a little mental vacation that reminds me of my goal to bring my family back to Disney World soon.

When I Listen

Here’s how I’ve carved out time to make podcasts a part of my life:

School Runs and Errands:

Or basically any car journey. What used to be radio time is now learning time. Even 15–20 minutes can spark new ideas.

Workouts at Home:

I do YouTube walking or rebounding workouts, watching the video on my TV while listening to a podcast with one earbud. That’s 45 minutes of exercise and growth combined.

Chores:

Cooking, folding laundry, tidying up podcasts turn routine tasks into moments of inspiration.

Waiting for the Kids:

Whether it’s swimming lessons or ballet class, I alternate between podcasts and catching up on my reading list.

This has become one of my best hacks. I don’t have to “make time” for learning because I’ve woven it into parts of my day that were already happening.

Looking Back

What started as a fun way to plan a vacation has turned into one of the most important habits in my business journey. Podcasts have filled the quiet spaces of my day with voices that challenge me, comfort me, and guide me forward.

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have time for podcasts,” maybe start with your school run, a workout, or even folding laundry. You’ll be surprised how much those little pockets of time can add up.

In my next entry, I’ll share the five podcasts that inspire me most as I build my digital business.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How did you first get into podcasts?

A. I first discovered podcasts in 2022 while planning a Disney World trip. A Disney planning podcast hooked me instantly, and from there, I explored mommy, travel, and eventually business podcasts.

2. How do you make time to listen to podcasts as a busy mom?

A. I integrate podcasts into everyday routines like school runs, workouts, chores, and waiting for my kids during activities.

3. Do you still listen to Disney podcasts now?

A. Yes, but only occasionally. I treat them like a pick-me-up, listening every couple of weeks to remind myself of my family’s Disney World dream.

4. Which types of podcasts do you listen to most now?

A. These days, I focus on business, entrepreneurship, and productivity podcasts to support my digital business journey.

5. What’s your best tip for someone who thinks they don’t have time for podcasts?

A. Start small. Use short pockets of time like a 15-minute school run, folding laundry, or a workout. Those little moments add up quickly.

Subscribe Our Newsletter

Sign up today and get the Canva Course Starter Pack Freebie, plus access to my free newsletter filled with tips and inspiration. You can unsubscribe anytime, and you’ll find all the details in our Privacy Policy.