Podcasts You Need #1: Q&D Tips

I love the podcasts from Quick and Dirty Tips. I subscribe to several and really enjoy all of them. Here is a rundown of the ones to which I subscribe, followed by a general comment about the entire group.

1. Get it Done Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Work Less and Do More. This may sound like a “lazy man’s” podcast, but it really is not. While the podcast is more for those who are in the business world, the tips are universal. Each episode deals with items such as organization (so needed by me!), delegation, and contacts. If you can listen with your particular line of work in mind, you will find this podcast to be extremely helpful. Stever, the host, is also quite witty, which makes it easy to listen to.

2. Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. Each episode is basically a short English lesson on one very focused topic. I like that. English is a very difficult language to grasp, so these lessons help those of us who have the “basics” down, but need help with the “finer points.” I also find the tips, while focused on the writing world, help with sermon preparation and delivery. I use full-sentence outlines; therefore, if the grammar is good on paper, it will be good in speech! This is the only Q&D Tips podcast that is done twice each week. The others are weekly.

3. Make-it-Green Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for an Earth Friendly Life. I’m not a tree-hugger, but I do try to take certain little steps to help our environment. These tips are not from a “environmental nut,” either. The tips are simple and are things that nearly every person can do. Also, if you follow some of the tips, you may just save yourself some money, and that’s always a plus.

4. Modern Manners Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Polite Life. These short podcasts are simple manner’s lessons covering nearly every aspect of life. So far, I have listened to podcasts ranging from bike riding rules to sportsmanship to ordering wine (although I don’t think that’ll ever need to be put into practice in my lifetime!). I like this podcast because it’s just a good reminder. Overall, I have also found it to be the shortest on average of these podcasts.

5. Money Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life. Right now, Andrew Horowitz is guest-hosting this blog (and has been for about 6 weeks), so the information is more “investment-based.” (Horowitz hosts another podcast called “The Disciplined Investor.”) Usually, though, this podcast deals with general money issues. It is done in very simple language, and I appreciate that.

There are other Q&D Tips podcasts (there are 10 total, for your information), but I don’t listen to those, since they are not in my areas of interest. However, there is a new one I have not listened to yet, and, so, was not included in this review. It is Mighty Mommy’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Practical Parenting.

However, the five to which I listen are wonderful. They are clean and truly helpful. And, when the title says “Quick,” they mean it. So far, I have listened to about 35 episodes combined, and none has been 10 minutes long. Most are between 5 and 6 minutes, but are packed with information. You truly must listen to these podcasts to gain information from them.

I highly recommend them all to you. To learn more, visit the Quick and Dirty Tips website by clicking here. You may also go to iTunes and search for “Quick and Dirty Tips.” All 10 podcasts will be available for free there.