Everyone needs a little motivation at one point or another. Whether you're going through a breakup or a rough transition or looking to improve your health, change your habits, or jumpstart a new career, these podcasts can give you the boost you need. This list of the very best motivational podcasts covers a range of self-improvement topics, from mindfulness and spirituality to fitness and personal growth. Get ready to be inspired, turn over a new leaf, and live your best life! Here are the best motivational podcasts out there, separated into a few of the categories where a little inspiration goes a long way.
Finding Happiness
If you've ever found yourself wondering if you really know what it takes to live a happy and fulfilling life, then this podcast is for you. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos, who teaches one of the university's most popular classes, has spent years studying the science of happiness. Her research shows that we often do the exact opposite of what will actually make us happier. In this podcast, she delves into this surprisingly complicated subject, sharing inspiring stories, fascinating research, and plenty of motivational tips that will make you think about happiness—and how to achieve it—in a completely new way.
What makes a good life? On Good Life Project, host Jonathan Fields speaks with guests from all walks of life, providing many answers to this age-old question. Each guest, whether an author, artist, innovator, politician, or world-shaker, brings something unique to the show—whether it's personal-growth expert Natalie Lue on learning to say no to people-pleasing or productivity expert Cassie Holmes on how to expand time. Episodes range from an hour to 90 minutes, allowing Fields and his guests to have in-depth conversations about fostering connections, seeking out meaning, and engaging deeply with the world. This podcast will leave you feeling inspired to live your own best life.
Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before, wants everyone to embrace happiness—and she's got the tools and strategies to help you do it. This engaging weekly podcast, which she cohosts with her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, is full of practical advice on building habits for happiness into your daily life. In episodes ranging from two minutes to just over half an hour, you'll learn how to recreate the childhood feeling of expectancy, tune into your five senses, create fun traditions, find helpful people, and much more. Down-to-earth, insightful, and humorous, this podcast will have you on your way to a happier existence in no time.
In this empowering Audible Original podcast, psychologist and founder of The Happiness Institute Dr. Tim Sharp, aka "Dr. Happy," shares his proven step-by-step blueprint to help you build a solid foundation for a happier life. In focused episodes, most under 20 minutes, you’ll learn how to develop 10 everyday habits—setting goals, facing your fears, and making fun and laughter a priority among them—to lift your mood and shift your outlook. A bonus episode focuses on sustaining personal happiness during times of isolation and anxiety.
If you want a podcast that feels more like a chat between good friends—the kind you know will always be there for you when things get rough—Daily Dose of Dopamine is what you are searching for. With their contagious energy, warmth, and assortment of comedic gifts, Cydnia Young, Danielle Summons, and Emilee Christopher navigate the waters of all things mental health in bite-sized episodes that come in around just six minutes.
Personal Growth and Development
In one of the year’s most anticipated new podcasts, Michelle Obama brings listeners deeper into the world of her bestselling memoir, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. Where the audiobook initiated a dialogue with listeners on some of life’s biggest challenges—from building lasting relationships and meaningful success to overcoming obstacles and navigating identity—the podcast will explore these themes and more with an esteemed selection of friends and luminaries. In intimate recordings from her star-studded book tour, the former First Lady draws on her trademark humor, warmth, and compassion to elicit moments of startling insight and vulnerability from guests including Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Tyler Perry, and Conan O’Brien. The result is a series of searching conversations that will leave you feeling smarter, inspired, and, yes, lighter.
No matter what goal you're trying to reach or habit you're trying to change, taking the first step is usually the hardest part. In this no-nonsense podcast, bestselling author Mel Robbins offers the tools you need to take that first step toward positive change. In each 30-minute episode, Mel takes on a different topic—family, work, relationships, money, emotional eating, anxiety—and offers practical advice to get you started on building a better life. With Mel's guidance, you'll discover your own capacity for managing stress and your finances, getting a better night's sleep, setting boundaries, and developing the confidence to go for your dreams.
The Mind Power Mixtape podcast is all about helping you unleash the power of your mind to live a more meaningful life. Award-winning rapper Common speaks with a variety of artists—barrier-breaking ballerina Misty Copeland and Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali among them—about how they think and how their particular ways of thinking affect their work, art, and relationships. These inspiring conversations will not only help you explore your own thought processes but also show you how to use new ways of thinking to change your life—and the world.
While there are countless motivational podcasts focused on success, a relative few key in on another essential part of ambition—taking failure in stride. How to Fail is an essential addition to the self-development landscape, asking listeners to practice patience, cultivate resilience, and have faith in their own potential. Each week, Elizabeth Day welcomes a different guest, ranging from Syrian refugee turned Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini to singer Rick Astley, to share their greatest failures and reflect on how experiencing disappointments and setbacks ultimately helped them become successful.
Imagine facing life's challenges with the mental toughness of James Bond, Jason Bourne, or American Spy's Marie Mitchell. With Think Like a Spy, you'll learn life-hacks from three pros who have braved some of life's most dangerous and challenging situations—Jason Hanson built his career with the CIA, James Glancy served with the British Royal Marines, and LaRae Quy spent over two decades with the FBI exposing foreign spies and turning them into agents. Along with sharing survival stories, the hosts provide a framework to help you become more confident, perceptive, and effective at solving problems and overcoming obstacles to achieving goals.
Searching for motivating podcasts when you're not feeling motivated can be a challenge. If that's the case, this podcast might be for you. Host Eric Zimmer, an author and behavioral coach, is not afraid to discuss hard topics. He speaks from experience—at 24, he was homeless and addicted to heroin—and he never leaves you hanging. Featuring guests such as Deepak Chopra, Gretchen Rubin, and other spiritual teachers, scientists, authors, and public figures, The One You Feed offers practical advice and compassionate wisdom for how to pick yourself up and start building a fulfilling life.
Sometimes you just need a little guidance and support, and that's what Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is here to give. A psychologist based in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Bradford shares her advice and wisdom on mental health, habits, personal growth, and decision-making. Each week, she's joined by expert guests in a range of fields, from other therapists to life coaches, social workers, and nutrition experts. Therapy for Black Girls speaks directly to women of color, covering topics like the pressure to live up to the image of the "strong Black woman," but also features widely relatable conversations on recovering from a layoff, managing money, growing foods at home, and more.
It's easy to say, "Have confidence in yourself!" But how exactly do you find and develop self-confidence? On The Tao of Self-Confidence, host Sheena Yap Chan speaks with women who have discovered and embraced self-confidence about how they did it. She structures these conversations around the journey of discovery—life before, the moment of enlightenment, and life after. Both Chan and her guests then explain how listeners can apply the lessons from these stories in their own lives to begin their own confidence-building journey.
Trent Shelton is a former NFL player turned motivational speaker. In this powerful and inspiring podcast, he offers Straight Up truths about how to live well, even when those truths can be hard or challenging. Full of honesty, warmth, and personal stories, this weekly podcast will motivate you to face everything in your life—the good and the bad—head on, with purpose.
Money is often considered a taboo topic, even in conversations about personal growth and well-being. But money affects our lives whether we want to talk about it or not. In this practical podcast, Patrice Washington isn't afraid to talk about money, but she does so with a fresh perspective. She redefines wealth beyond material possessions, acknowledging the many kinds of wealth and lack we experience over the course of our lives. Bold and thoughtful, this is a podcast that will help you better understand your relationship to money and every other kind of wealth.
To be your best self takes a lot of work. But with the help of host Emily Abbate, it's a possibility. If you're looking for inspiration, Hurdle is definitely the podcast to listen to. On the show, you can expect candid conversations with inspiring individuals—from Olympic champions to ballet dancers and everyone in between. Sometimes it's hard to talk about your inner thoughts and fears, and it's easy to wonder whether you're the only one who has ever experienced such difficulties. But in this podcast, Abbate reminds you that you're not alone, demonstrating that people can relate to each other even if they lead very different lives.
Leading a healthy life extends beyond mind and body—after all, humans are social creatures who must build relationships to function. So, when those relationships begin to unravel or become toxic, your own well-being is at risk. In Black Girls Heal, host Shena Lashey helps women kickstart conversations on sensitive topics including letting go of unrealistic expectations, how to apologize (and when not to), how to find and optimize community, practicing self-love while also creating healthy relationships, and more.
Mindfulness and Meditation
The benefits of meditation have been well-documented, but starting a meditation practice can be intimidating—especially if you’ve never tried meditating and you don’t know much about it. In this accessible introductory podcast, neuroscientist Ash Ranpura and comedian Alice Fraser explore the history and science of mediation. What is it? Why do people do it? How can it help you? If you've been curious about how to use meditation and mindfulness as a centering and motivational tool in your life, this podcast will help you get started.
While there are many podcasts that approach meditation from a scientific or cultural perspective, there are also some that fully guide the listener through a practice. Chel Hamilton's "Meditation Minis" are perfectly designed for those looking for convenient and meaningful meditation practices. Clocking in at an extremely manageable 10 minutes each, these short guided practices are designed to help calm, center, and prepare listeners for whatever life throws their way.
Over 12 episodes, Deepak Chopra and some very special guests—anti-racism educator Layla Saad, multidisciplinary artist Jon Batiste, US poet laureate Joy Harjo, and Oprah Winfrey among them—take listeners on a journey to the deeper levels of the self and a higher understanding of how powerful the mind is. To overcome life’s challenges, you’ll have to fight them head-on—but you’re not alone on this voyage. On this Audible Original podcast, Chopra opens up about vulnerability, self-acceptance, and overcoming trauma while sharing ways to find balance in your life.
Everyone knows that a fave feel-good jam can instantly brighten your mood, but the power of sound extends far beyond your go-to playlist. In this podcast, renowned music producer and performer Maejor brings us along on a new, innovative sonic journey. He not only details the impressive powers of healing through sound but also offers a practical showcase of music and soundscapes that directly connect with our well-being.
Often, for better or worse, your morning can determine how the rest of your day is going to go. Listening to Wake Me Up can improve the chances of getting your day off to good start. Hosted by Tyler Brown, this short and mood-lifting daily podcast offers quick tips, inspiring ideas, and affirmations to help you begin each day energized, focused, and excited for what's to come.
Health and Wellness
In The Pursuit of Healthiness, NBA star Blake Griffin breaks down the sometimes confusing and contradictory world of health and wellness. A self-professed health and wellness geek,
he's interested in helping others feel good about their bodies and making the health choices that are right for them. In each episode, Griffin tackles a different topic, from mindfulness and sleep to cooking and therapy, just to name a few. He speaks with experts and celebrities who have both personal and professional experience with any given topic, including a conversation with Michael B. Jordan about training for movies and another with Arianna Huffington about achieving the perfect work-life balance.
Food Heaven is a podcast devoted to taking care of your mind and soul along with your body. Best friends and registered dietitian nutritionists, Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones explore the many facets of living healthy, balanced lives, including a balanced diet. Each week, they delve into a different health-related topic, from body acceptance and mental health to the intersection of food and culture and intuitive eating.
With over 300 episodes, The goop Podcast features conversations with diverse personalities, from holistic healers to fashion designers, from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists to Hollywood royalty. goop founder and CEO Gwyneth Paltrow alternates hosting the weekly show with author Cleo Wade, and their guests include some of today's brightest thinkers and culture changers. Their talks center on topics related body, soul, mind, heart, and culture that are often swept under the rug, including the complexities and joys of friendships between mothers and daughters, and Black and white women.
From executive producer Gwyneth Paltrow, The goop Pursuit aligns with the wellness mission of her modern lifestyle brand. Hosted by psychiatrist Dr. Will Siu with expert guests including renowned physician and thinker Gabor Maté, MD, this four-part series focuses on self improvement of all kinds. Topics such as mental framing, developing healthy habits, gaining perspective, and living life in a sustainable way are discussed in each episode, with an emphasis on holistic approaches. Prepare to listen with an open mind and heart.
Managing your mental well-being may seem like a daunting prospect, but it all comes down to taking it one step at a time. Get started with The Wellness Mama Podcast, which focuses on how to have conversations about your mental health while finding a method of body and mind wellness that works for you. Host Katie Wells also talks openly about motherhood, parenting, fitness, and balancing it all when things feel overwhelming. The podcast brings on a variety of guests, each sharing their personal experiences and personal tips and tools to build a healthy life.
Work
Have you ever wondered how the companies you admire were actually built? In this podcast, NPR's Guy Raz speaks with all kinds of innovators, entrepreneurs, and businesspeople to answer that question. Each episode of How I Built This focuses on a different company, from online platforms like Patreon and Dropbox to successful restaurant chains like Chipotle. Raz speaks with the founders of these companies, exploring not only how they built their businesses, but why they chose to do so. Their motivational stories are sure to spark your drive and creativity.
Sometimes the best inspiration comes from hearing the stories of how other people have achieved their goals. Host Lewis Howes, author, athlete, and entrepreneur, shares those stories on his engaging and enlightening podcast, The School of Greatness. Each week, he tells a different success story, interviewing leaders from a diverse array of sectors, including business, media, sports, science, entertainment, and more. Recent guests include health and longevity expert Dr. Mark Hyman and an authority on building healthy, productive habits, bestselling author James Clear.
In one of the best motivational podcasts for creatives, best friends and entrepreneurs Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon share tips, wisdom, and strategies for successfully doing work you love. They get into the nuts and bolts of big questions facing creative entrepreneurs and business owners: How do you make money by following your passion? How do you grow a business while balancing family and relationships? How do you get really good at your craft? Featuring interviews with Brené Brown, Brooke Castillo, Marie Forleo, Melissa Urban, Lisa Congdon, and more, Being Boss is a must-listen for anyone seeking to take control of their work and live their fullest life.
At the beginning of our lives, we’re a lot like a seed, a small bit of potential poised to grow and bloom into something truly vibrant and beautiful. But while it’s easy to simply strive for achievement and focus on professional strides, it’s important to take care of yourself every step of the way. In this podcast, host Stacy Kellogg shares tips, tools, and ideas to guide you on how to balance your life in a healthy way. Outgrow the Grind is the perfect podcast to listen to while you're getting ready for work to remind yourself of the important of prioritizing your own well-being every day.
Laura Sackton is a freelance writer based in rural Massachusetts. She loves all things queer literature, and has a particular fondness for audiobooks.
