Is “ed-spiritional” a word? Because it perfectly describes the class of podcasts pulling top-tier rankings as of late. Doctors off the cuff, scientists uncensored, and surprising sides of celebrities current and former — listeners can’t get enough of these juicy conversations that educate as they motivate. Pop in your earbuds and have a journal ready. These are the best in podcasts for self-development.
Learn to be happy from someone with a Ph.D. in it! Dr. Laurie Santos is the most popular Yale professor in 300 years and wants you to understand the choices you make the way a winemaker understands grapes. Dr. Laurie explores pivotal questions about beliefs, experiences, and the “glitches” that keep us from enjoying what we have with guests like Malala Yousafzi, sex and relationship experts, economists, scientists, and more. Now in its sixth season, “The Happiness Lab” presents pearls of joy from ancient spiritual sects all the way up to modern memes. Start listening and repair your relationship with happiness.
Genuine, authentic, heart-to-heart talks between three genuinely best buddies, that’s what you get with “SmartLess,” the brainchild of comedic co-hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes. Each episode, one of the trio brings a mystery guest to join in the discourse, and these funnymen have been in show business a very long time. You never know who’ll pop in. Learn to laugh, argue, and agree to disagree on hot topics like Craigslist, decluttering, car breakdowns, veganism, and cancellation excuses. “SmartLess” offers a smiley, low-stakes way to drop your fear of social faux-pas with your favorite celebrities.
Rich Roll dramatically transformed his own life, and he wants to help anyone with the desire to do the same. He went from an unhealthy existence fueled by drugs and alcohol to one of purposeful, vegan living fueled by plants and ultra-endurance competitions. In his early 40s he became the first vegan to complete the 320 mile Ultraman event. Through conversations with forward thinkers, innovators, and advocates across all aspects of the wellness field, Rich hopes to inspire and empower listeners to become the most authentic version of themselves. His guests span the gamut of artists and actors, business leaders, spiritual gurus, and so much more.
The path to joy is one of many twists and turns. “The Better Place Project” is here to help you find your favorite route, whatever that looks like. Spirituality meets science meets sensation as host Steve Norris breeches topics like enneagrams, the benefits of sleeping naked, our addiction to cars, divorce, and ayahuasca. You’ll hear from meditation masters, superhuman rock climbers, new age shamen, poets, and plant gurus. Steve’s “Feel Good Fridays” features a short, uplifting tale to end your week with a smile.
Dan Harris’s mental health journey got 100% more serious after suffering a panic attack live on national television. The practices he’s acquired since are distilled into “Ten Percent Happier,” a podcast that treats happiness like any other muscle that must be strengthened and conditioned. The show’s success has expanded the brand into a series of online courses and meditation libraries. Jump into this season for conversations on topics like karma and reincarnation, our social media impulses, and eating out of boredom.
Episode Length: roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes each
Glennon Doyle, wife Abby, and sister Amanda are three American sweethearts in one incredibly gratifying podcast that finally gives you permission to say, “This is freaking hard!” No sugarcoating, no sweeping it under the rug, it’s just pure, unadulterated adulting. Whether you’re hearing Alanis Morrissett talk about being an extremely sensitive person, or accompanying the trio as they adventure through Mexico and medical diagnoses, you’ll learn to give yourself some credit, because life is hard. But you, too, can do hard things.
Episode Length: Roughly 1 hour each
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