17 Podcasts to Change Your Life
For over a decade, podcasts have been an outlet of information, opinions and unanswered questions. While the topic and format of each podcast is unique, their accessibility is uniform. You may tune in on your way to work, when you’re at the gym or getting things done around the house. Podcasts have made it easy to absorb new information wherever you go.
Take advantage of the simplicity of podcasts — they’re a great tool in your quest for self-improvement. Whether you are looking to learn more about your finances or find a little inner peace through meditation, there is a podcast out there to help you change your life and become a better version of yourself!
Finance
- If you’re a novice investor, get your toes wet with this podcast. Brian Bain tackles the multifaceted topic of investing in a way that anyone can understand. The podcast features interviews from professionals for a well-rounded learning experience.
- Do you ever feel like your money is controlling you and not the other way around? Check out Dave Ramsey, a businessman and author of several best sellers. His weekly show covers a lot of the basics of money management, including budgeting strategies, ways to alleviate your debt and how to build wealth.
- Taking a lighter approach to financial challenges, Stacking Benjamins is hosted by former financial advisor Joe Saul-Sehy. Saul-Sehy is an open, funny and honest host who encourages lively discussion with his guests. Stacking Benjamins is for those who aren’t afraid to be honest about money and are ready to dive into some of the gritty nuances of finance. There is a Stacking 101 Benjamins course available for those who are newer to personal finance strategies.
Money Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life
- If the length of a typical podcast turns you away, Laura Adam’s budget-centered show may be for you. Each episode is 12 minutes or less, but they still manage to hit home with some great ideas about personal finance that will point you in the right direction. Because the lessons are so short, they’re also easy to put into practice quickly.
- While this podcast is far from finance-based, it discusses how to work with what you have or less than what you have — quite a useful skill for any savvy budgeter. Hosts Josh Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of this show both left six-figure corporate jobs in order to pursue a more minimal lifestyle and focus on what truly matters in life. While an occasional podcast will center on money or debt, the real focus here is being rich with life.
Health
- David Madow, athlete and lifestyle specialist, hosts this weekly podcast that offers practical advice about exercise, eating, happiness, stress and more. Madow has made quite a journey himself and uses his experience to encourage others to make healthy changes to improve their life.
- If you ever need a dose of reality, tune into Heather Robison’s podcast, where the journey of weight loss is never sugarcoated. Over the course of five years, Robinson has lost over 170 pounds and gained quite the following along the way. She shares tips for sustainable and realistic weight loss, strategies for overcoming binges or low motivation, and more.
- The “Urban Monk” Pedram Shojai hosts a weekly podcast that aims to make the connection between eastern practices and western life. Shojai, a former microbiology student turned Qi Gong Master, addresses a variety of problems that commonly surface in our plugged-in, on-the-go society, providing practical solutions and describing how to find more peaceful living among the chaos.
- There are many benefits of meditation, but if you’ve never done it before, it’s hard to know how to focus your mind or set aside the time for yourself. Change that with Tara Brach’s weekly set of podcasts: one guided meditation, one study on emotional healing and one on spiritual awakening. Brach’s Vipassana meditation lasts for 30 minutes, a perfect way to wind down before bed or de-stress after work.
- Your diet is the most important component to a healthy, balanced life. If you’re not much of a cook, you could seriously hinder any progress you make. Instead, get to know your way around the kitchen with this bi-weekly podcast. Chef Kathy Maister teaches simple cooking techniques. Apply them to one of her many health-conscious recipes.
Education
- Mike Pesca, a New York City journalist, hosts Slate Magazine’s daily podcast, covering the latest in news and pop culture. Keeping up on current events isn’t always entertaining, but Pesca keeps you up-to-date on what’s important in a funny, easily digestible way. Experts are regularly interviewed for a fresh perspective on the issues. The Gist airs Monday through Friday.
- A behind-the-scenes investigation into art, culture and other media-related topics. Host Sean Rameswaram chats with comedians, musicians and the like to learn more about the why and how behind accepted norms. Sideshow provides great insight and interesting histories into subjects you think you know.
The Podcast History of Our World
- Perhaps you slept through most of your history classes in high school or simply didn’t retain many of the twists and turns of the complicated past of our society (or the rest of the world’s). Maybe you just love history — no matter your reason, The Podcast History of Our World is a great place to dive back in. While there hasn’t been a new episode since 2015, the episodes are timeless.
Life Skills
- Do you feel isolated in a group of friends or disconnected with your co-workers? If so, you could potentially benefit from an improvement in your people skills. Try The Art of Charm, hosted by Jordan Harbinger, a weekly podcast that promises to teach you how to be charismatic in any situation, improve your career track by becoming a “super-connector” and improve your personal relationships.
- Mustering up the motivation to accomplish your goals is half the battle. Get a little boost from Scott Smith, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. His podcast is all about what makes you happy, ways to reduce stress and how to get inspired. Smith’s perspective is unique and funny, encouraging you not only to listen more, but providing the tools to translate that motivation into your daily life.
- Named for the Latin phrase meaning “all the invisible things,” Invisibilia explores the prominent things that shape our behavior, like emotions, assumptions and thoughts. As co-hosts Alix Spiegel and LuLu Miller dissect these invisible forces, the listener is encouraged to reflect on their own lives and mull over what inner transformation truly is (and how we can get the outside to match).
- Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin co-host this weekly podcast on productivity, communication and the tools to improve on both in and out of the workplace. If you’re interested in getting things done more efficiently and without as much stress or frustration attached, these hour-long (sometimes two-hours-long) sessions are for you!