Life is full of ups and downs, moments where we thrive, and periods when we struggle to stay afloat. There are a lot of self-help resources, but it’s not always one-size-fits-all. Below we put together our favorite self-help podcasts that target advice in different ways to help you find what works for you.
Life Kit
NPR is known for outstanding podcasts, and Life Kit is no exception. The podcast covers a wide range of topics straightforwardly and aims to share tried-and-true advice that may help you achieve your goals. Topics include “How to Redefine Yourself,” “Saying Goodbye to Someone You Love,” and “How to Negotiate Medical Bills.” Each episode is no longer than 20 minutes.
Terrible, Thanks for Asking
Author Nora McInerny, host of Terrible, Thanks for Asking, created the podcast to broach people’s feelings. More often than not, when someone asks you how you’re doing, you often say, “I’m fine” or “Doing well” and don’t share what is truly going on in your life. McInerny’s podcast doesn’t teach you how to take steps toward change like a traditional self-help podcast or book; instead, it relies on guests’ narratives and life experiences and how they persevered.
The Happiness Lab
Dr. Laurie Santos, professor of psychology at Yale, hosts The Happiness Lab, a podcast about improving college students’ mental health. The podcast vibe is akin to NPR’s TED Talks in tone and style. Dr. Santos makes topics directed at college students relevant to people of all ages and walks of life and provides guidance on how to approach them. Subjects include “Why We Are Mean to Ourselves” and “Eating Intuitively.”
Pulling the Thread with Elise Loehnen
You might have seen Elise Loehnen on Netflix’s The Goop Lab, a show about alternative wellness therapies. Her podcast, Pulling the Thread, delves into spiritualism, philosophy, and psychology. In each episode, she discusses topics such as anger and unhealthy relationships with writers or thinkers who are knowledgeable in the subjects.
Help Me Be Me
With about 200 episodes, Help Me Be Me comes from the perspective that many self-help books and podcasts are overwhelming instead of helpful and lead to feeling incapable or disillusioned. Hosted by Sarah May Bates, the podcast is described as a “self-help podcast for people who hate self-help.” Topics include “Fully Tapping Into Your Creative Voice” and “Self-Regulation.”