Self-help podcasts are audio and video shows about personal growth, psychology, health, relationships, mindfulness and productivity. The best are hosted by psychologists, doctors, researchers, coaches and authors, and feature interviews with leading experts. Most are free to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and other apps.
Last updated: 10 November 2026
Reading time: about 7 minutes
How we wrote this article: this article was written by Saj Ali. Each podcast was checked on Apple Podcasts in November 2026 to confirm it exists and is still publishing, apart from one archive show that is marked. Podcasts are grouped by topic and chosen for quality, expertise and practical value.
Top picks in brief
- Motivation. The Mel Robbins Podcast, On Purpose with Jay Shetty and The School of Greatness.
- Psychology. Hidden Brain, The Happiness Lab and Speaking of Psychology.
- Health. Huberman Lab and Feel Better, Live More.
- Relationships. Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel.
- Mindfulness. 10% Happier and Tara Brach.
Contents
- Why Listen to Self-Help Podcasts?
- Best for Motivation and Mindset
- Best for Psychology and the Science of Happiness
- Best for Health and Performance
- Best for Relationships
- Best for Mindfulness and Meditation
- Best for Productivity and Learning
- Is Listening as Good as Reading?
- How to Get More From Podcasts
- More Ways to Learn
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
- Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
- Sources
Why Listen to Self-Help Podcasts?
Podcasts fit into the gaps of a busy day: the commute, the gym, cooking or a walk. They also let you hear ideas directly from experts in long, relaxed conversations that go deeper than a short video or article.
Good self-help podcasts can help you:
- Learn the latest research on health, habits and happiness.
- Hear real stories of change and recovery.
- Discover books, tools and teachers to explore further.
- Stay motivated with a regular dose of encouragement.
We checked every podcast below on Apple Podcasts in November 2026. All are free to listen to, and most are also on Spotify and YouTube.
Best for Motivation and Mindset
| Podcast | Host | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The Mel Robbins Podcast | Mel Robbins | Practical, research-backed advice on confidence, habits, relationships and change |
| On Purpose with Jay Shetty | Jay Shetty | Purpose, relationships and mindset, with interviews and solo episodes |
| The School of Greatness | Lewis Howes | Interviews with high achievers on success, health and emotional growth |
| The Mindset Mentor | Rob Dial | Short, motivating episodes on mindset and habits |
| The Daily Stoic | Ryan Holiday | Daily lessons from Stoic philosophy for modern life |
Best for Psychology and the Science of Happiness
| Podcast | Host | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden Brain | Shankar Vedantam | The unseen patterns that shape human behaviour, emotions and relationships |
| The Happiness Lab | Dr Laurie Santos | The science of happiness from the Yale professor behind the university’s most popular course |
| Speaking of Psychology | American Psychological Association | Psychologists explain their research in plain language |
| ReThinking | Adam Grant | Conversations with interesting thinkers on work, ideas and change |
| Human Potential Lab | Dr Scott Barry Kaufman | Creativity, self-actualisation and positive psychology |
| Therapy for Black Girls | Dr Joy Harden Bradford | Mental health and personal development from a licensed psychologist |
Why listen: these shows translate research into ideas you can use. Pair them with our guides to emotional intelligence and self-compassion.
Best for Health and Performance
| Podcast | Host | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Huberman Lab | Dr Andrew Huberman | Science-based tools for sleep, focus, stress and performance from a Stanford neuroscientist |
| Feel Better, Live More | Dr Rangan Chatterjee | Simple, practical health and happiness advice from a family doctor |
| The Rich Roll Podcast | Rich Roll | Long conversations on health, recovery and purpose |
| The Diary Of A CEO | Steven Bartlett | In-depth interviews with experts on health, psychology and business |
Why listen: clear explanations of how sleep, food, movement and stress affect your mind. See our guide to how to lower cortisol.
Best for Relationships
| Podcast | Host | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Where Should We Begin? | Esther Perel | Real, anonymous couples therapy sessions with the renowned psychotherapist |
| We Can Do Hard Things | Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle | Honest conversations on relationships, family and self-acceptance |
| Unlocking Us (archive) | Brené Brown | Courage, vulnerability and connection; the back catalogue remains available |
Why listen: hearing others work through relationship challenges can help you see your own more clearly. See our guide to improving communication in relationships.
Best for Mindfulness and Meditation
| Podcast | Host | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 10% Happier with Dan Harris | Dan Harris | Meditation and mental health for busy, curious beginners, with leading teachers |
| Tara Brach | Tara Brach | Weekly talks and guided meditations from a psychologist and meditation teacher |
Why listen: guided meditations and teachings you can use anywhere. See our meditation guide.
Best for Productivity and Learning
| Podcast | Host | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The Tim Ferriss Show | Tim Ferriss | Routines and tools of world-class performers |
| The Jordan Harbinger Show | Jordan Harbinger | Interviews with experts on skills, psychology and life lessons |
| Modern Wisdom | Chris Williamson | Conversations on psychology, habits and society |
| Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal | Ali Abdaal | Productivity, creativity and building a meaningful life |
| The Life Coach School Podcast | Brooke Hicks | Thought work and coaching tools for managing your mind |
Why listen: practical systems for getting more done with less stress. Pair them with our Atomic Habits summary.
Is Listening as Good as Reading?
Many people wonder whether they learn as much from listening as from reading. In one study, adults were randomly assigned to listen to an audiobook, read the same text as an e-book, or do both at once. Comprehension was similar across all three groups, and people’s preferred learning style made no difference to how much they understood (Rogowsky et al., 2015).
That means podcasts and audiobooks can be a real learning tool, not just entertainment. A few habits make listening more effective:
| Habit | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Listen without multitasking for complex topics | Attention is the main limit on what you remember |
| Take a quick note after each episode | Writing helps move ideas into memory |
| Re-listen to the best episodes | Repetition strengthens learning |
| Act on one idea within a day | Using an idea is the best way to keep it |
Podcasts also let you hear tone, warmth and humour that print can miss, which is part of why many listeners feel a personal connection with their favourite hosts.
How to Get More From Podcasts
- Pick two or three shows. Too many subscriptions leads to skimming.
- Listen actively. Pause to note one idea worth trying.
- Use speed controls. Many people listen at 1.25x to fit more in, but slow down for complex ideas.
- Search by topic. Most apps let you search episodes, such as “sleep” or “anxiety”, across shows.
- Follow up. If a guest helps you, read their book or try their tool.
- Share and discuss. Talking about an episode with a friend helps the ideas stick.
| If you want to… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Feel motivated | The Mel Robbins Podcast |
| Understand yourself | Hidden Brain |
| Be happier | The Happiness Lab |
| Sleep and focus better | Huberman Lab |
| Improve relationships | Where Should We Begin? |
| Start meditating | 10% Happier |
More Ways to Learn
| Format | Guide |
|---|---|
| Books | Best self-help books |
| Videos | Best self-help YouTube channels |
| Short videos | Best self-help TikTok accounts |
| Flow and focus | Flow state podcasts and videos |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best self-help podcast?
Popular choices include The Mel Robbins Podcast, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Hidden Brain, The Happiness Lab and Huberman Lab. The best one depends on your goal.
Are self-help podcasts free?
Yes. All the podcasts in this list are free on Apple Podcasts, and most are also on Spotify and YouTube.
What is a good podcast for anxiety?
Therapy for Black Girls, 10% Happier, Tara Brach and Feel Better, Live More all cover anxiety and stress with practical tools.
What podcast teaches the science of happiness?
The Happiness Lab, hosted by Yale professor Dr Laurie Santos, explores research on what makes people happier.
What is a good relationship podcast?
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel shares real, anonymous couples therapy sessions.
How were these podcasts checked?
Each podcast was looked up on Apple Podcasts in November 2026 to confirm it exists and is still publishing.
Key Takeaways
- Self-help podcasts are a free, flexible way to learn from experts.
- The Mel Robbins Podcast and On Purpose lead for motivation.
- Hidden Brain and The Happiness Lab explain the psychology of wellbeing.
- Huberman Lab and Feel Better, Live More focus on health.
- Pick two or three shows and turn one idea per episode into action.
Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
Use these pages alongside this one:
- Best Self-Help YouTube Channels – top creators on video
- Best Self-Help TikTok Accounts – short-form growth content
- Best Self-Help Books – the essential reading list
- Flow State Podcasts and Videos – learn to get into the zone
- The Success Principles Summary – Jack Canfield’s key ideas
- Motivation – finding and keeping your drive
- Browse all self-help techniques – compare every method on Self Help Supermarket.
Sources
- Apple Podcasts listings for each podcast, checked November 2026. https://podcasts.apple.com/
- Rogowsky, B. A., Calhoun, B. M., and Tallal, P. (2015). Matching learning style to instructional method: Effects on comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 107(1), 64–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037478
Self Help Supermarket guides are for general information and are not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.