Whether you’re looking to boost your productivity, start your sustainability journey, or simply get to sleep, our ultimate podcast guide offers you the best podcasts in every category.
We are in the golden age of podcasts – as of January 2020, there are approximately 850,000 active podcasts worldwide and, for the first time in history, a podcast was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. But with thousands of podcasts to choose from, with topics widely ranging from productivity and sustainability to wellness and mental health, it can be difficult to commit. We’ve got you covered, so grab some earphones and get cosy – we’ve rounded up 30 of our favourite podcast picks, separated by category for your convenience.
The Best Podcasts for Productivity
Podcasts to help you form better habits, boost productivity, and achieve success.
The 5 AM Miracle
Start your morning right with The 5 AM Miracle podcast! Hosted by productivity coach Jeff Sanders, this self-improvement podcast focuses on helping you make the most out of the early hours of the day by teaching you how to develop powerful morning habits to maximise your productivity. Featuring upbeat interviews with renowned authors, inspirational speakers, and other highly successful people, this weekly podcast offers valuable insight on personal development and how to tackle your goals with enthusiasm.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast
Beyond the To-Do List
Award-nominated podcast Beyond the To-Do List takes a look at productivity from all angles, focusing on providing tips to help you maximise your efficiency in both your professional and personal life. Host Erik Fisher interviews experts from various fields to explore how they incorporate productivity strategies into their daily lives to achieve greater success. This podcast will inspire you to prioritise important tasks, eliminate distractions, and spend time on things that matter.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast
Productivityist
In a weekly podcast true to its name, host and productivity strategist Mike Vardy talks through quintessential time management strategies and teaches listeners to break down productivity goals into actionable steps. Featuring insightful interviews with entrepreneurs, CEOs, psychologists, and authors, Productivityist can help you learn how to effectively leverage your time and energy and take your productivity to new heights.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Youtube
Eat Sleep Work Repeat
Ranked as Apple’s #1 business podcast, Eat Sleep Work Repeat is dedicated to making work better for you. Hosted by Bruce Daisley, this podcast provides science-backed strategies for improving productivity by cultivating happiness in the workplace. Each week features an interview with scientists, psychologists, or industry experts to discuss how one can create a more sustainable work-life and how making small positive changes can impact businesses in a big way.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, ACAST
Getting Things Done
Hosted by the bestselling author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity David Allen, Getting Things Done will inspire you to organise your life. With practical advice on personal and organisational productivity, as well as tips to improve your mental flow and creativity, this podcast can bring your productivity to the next level and help you achieve success. The podcast also features interviews with guests from different walks of life to provide insight for personal and professional wellbeing.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
The Best Podcasts to Beat Cabin Fever
Podcasts to help you banish boredom.
How to Fail
A feel-good podcast that celebrates our imperfections, How to Fail reminds us to embrace our failures. Host and journalist Elizabeth Day invites outwardly “successful” guests to have honest, insightful conversations centred around personal challenges, vulnerability and the inevitable bumps in the road to success. Filled with tender, joyful and heartwrenching moments, this podcast is a great way to lift your spirits in times of doubt.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify
The Mortified Podcast
In need of a pick-me-up? Listen to Mortified, a laugh-out-loud hilarious podcast in which people share the awkward moments, personal anecdotes and embarrassing experiences from youth that haunt them to this day. Laugh along and reminisce about your own childhood as guests read aloud from cringe-worthy childhood diaries, letters and stories.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic
Serial
With three seasons under its belt with a fourth in production, Serial is one of the most iconic true-crime podcasts to date. Hosted by renowned American journalist Sarah Koenig, this award-winning podcast offers plenty of twists and turns for true crime junkies to explore. While the first two seasons focus on individual, extraordinary cases, its third season tackles the complexities of the criminal justice system by taking an overarching look at a Cleveland courthouse and the cases that passed through it.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, RadioPublic, Stitcher
Literary Disco
Hosted by self-proclaimed book nerds Tod Goldberg, Julia Pistell, and Rider Strong, this delightful and highly entertaining podcast is like a book club in your pocket. Centred around pop culture references, friendly banter and the friendship they share, the three writers sit down, goof off and have heated discussions about their favourite books, stories and essays.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, PlayerFM
Welcome To Night Vale
Offbeat, quirky and delightfully eerie, Welcome To Night Vale is a podcast like no other. Based around a fictional town named Night Vale, this show offers listeners a calming, immersive experience as host Cecil Baldwin shares news and updates on the strange, mysterious and occasionally spooky events that occur in the small desert town. Paired with Cecil’s silky, soothing voice, this captivating podcast offers an escape from reality.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, RadioPublic
The Best Podcasts for Mental Health
Podcasts to help you navigate the struggles of battling mental health issues.
The Hilarious World Of Depression
Depression isn’t exactly a bundle of laughs… or is it? Comedian and writer John Moe ventures to answer this question with The Hilarious World of Depression, a podcast that seeks to destigmatise mental illness by looking at it through a humourous lens. In an effort to offer a refreshing perspective on depression and anxiety, John invites celebrity guests to have frank conversations about their experiences in dealing with mental health issues. By taking a lighthearted approach when opening up about serious topics, this show successfully offers a sense of community and solace for those who may also be suffering.
Available on: Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts
Terrible, Thanks For Asking
When people ask how you’re doing, you may often find yourself feeling obligated to reply with some variation of “Fine, thank you.” In Terrible, Thanks for Asking, author Nora McInerny urges listeners to be honest about their struggles and to break the taboo of telling others how you truly feel inside. Having lost her husband, her father and a pregnancy in the span of a year, Nora is no stranger to grief. With each episode centred around stories of emotion, mental illness and loss, she speaks about finding hope, community and happiness after traumatic experiences.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio
The Struggle Bus
All aboard the Struggle Bus! Featuring co-hosts Katharine Heller and Sally Tamarkin, this weekly podcast is centred around self-care and navigating the daily challenges of living with mental illness. In each episode, the two best friends answer listener questions, tackling a wide range of topics from friends and family to love and work. The chatty duo offer a fun and conversational atmosphere in their quest to normalise discussions about mental health.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio
Jen Gotch is OK… Sometimes
Ban.do founder Jen Gotch’s wit, quirkiness and candour shine through in her podcast, where she opens up about her lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety. Jen first rose to fame when she took to Instagram to share her personal battle with mental illness in an effort to normalise mental health issues. Having suffered from mental disorders for most of her life, Jen hopes to help followers who face similar struggles feel less alone.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts
Not Another Anxiety Show
As the name suggests, this podcast is mainly focused around anxiety. Hosted by registered nurse and wellness coach Kelli Walker, this show centres its discussions around anxiety issues and panic attacks. As a former agoraphobe, Kelli is well aware of the struggles one can face when dealing with anxiety. She aims to help listeners navigate their symptoms by providing relaxation tools like breathing exercises and meditation techniques, as well as by providing comfort and support to those who need it most.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Player FM
The Dark Place
On The Dark Place host, Joel Kutz invites ordinary people to share their personal stories with depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse. Aiming to offer a friendly voice to those in need, this show was created shortly after Joey spent a year volunteering for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. In each episode, he invites his guests, who are often listeners of the show, to navigate open and honest discussions about their struggles and experiences with mental illness, which are always met with his genuine compassion and kindness.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Player FM
The Best Podcasts for Wellness
Podcasts to help you on your way to a healthier, well-balanced life.
Happier
Hack your way into a happier life with Happier, a podcast hosted by Gretchen Rubin and her sister, Elizabeth Craft. As the best-selling author of ‘The Happiness Project,’ Gretchen knows a thing or two about finding and maintaining happiness – and she is dedicated to providing listeners with practical, manageable advice to creating better habits and getting more out of what life has to offer. Who better than a self-described “happiness bully” to break down the steps to living a more positive, fulfilling life?
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Well Now
Created by essential oil and skincare brand Saje Natural Wellness, Well Now is a podcast focused on guiding listeners into becoming more conscious of their health and wellbeing. Aimed at exploring the relationship between traditional and natural alternatives to medicine, Well Now opens the dialogue by inviting alternative therapists, wellness practitioners and medical experts to share their personal health stories, showcasing their different perspectives on an array of mental and physical health-related topics.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Hurry Slowly
As its title suggests, Hurry Slowly centres its discussion on the importance of slowing down when tackling the universal struggle of not having enough time. Host Jocelyn K. Glei believes that the secret to boosting productivity, creativity and resilience lies in pacing yourself rather than pushing yourself to speed up. Filled to the brim with inspiring interviews with thought leaders in different areas of expertise, this podcast opens an insightful dialogue about finding a healthy balance between life and work.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
MindBodyGreen
Wellness site mindbodygreen founder Jacob Wachob discusses mental, physical, spiritual, and environmental wellbeing in his podcast of the same name. Ranging from topics like health and meditation to sustainability and wellness, Jacob invites guests from the health sphere to have a raw and candid conversation as they share their expertise, insights and personal wellness journeys in an effort to inspire and empower listeners to create a balanced and intentional lifestyle.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Player FM, iHeart Radio
The Best Podcasts for Sleep
Podcasts designed to help you doze off.
Sleep with Me
Having suffered from insomnia his whole life, host Drew Ackerman is on a mission to help those who face similar struggles. Listeners can doze off to the monotonous cadence of Drew’s voice as he tells meandering tales in a podcast that is designed to, quite literally, bore you to sleep. With a wide variety of topics ranging from recaps of TV shows to rambling, nonsense bedtime stories, each episode is 60 to 90 minutes long, giving you plenty of time to tune out and fall into drowsy unconsciousness.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic
Sleep Whispers
The title says it all: each episode of this podcast is composed of softly whispered stories and poems, soothing meditations, spoken history, educational Wikipedia articles and even recipes to help you unwind before drifting off to dreamland after a long, long day. Sleep Whispers makes use of ASMR techniques to calm your thoughts and relax your mind, which studies have found can help to slow the heart rate and reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
On A Dark, Cold Night
In an unnerving twist on the traditional bedtime story podcast, narrator Kristen Zaza tells original scary stories in On A Dark, Cold Night, striking the delicate balance between spine-chilling and soothing in her flawless delivery. The ideal podcast for lovers of the horror genre, these stories deviate from traditional tales of terror by showcasing beauty and humanity. Kristen’s hauntingly beautiful and often melancholic tales will bring a tingle to your spine as you doze off to the sound of her hypnotic voice.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, RadioPublic
Sleep Meditation Podcast
Can’t fall asleep to voices? No worries: this ASMR podcast offers a vast library of soundscapes ranging from themes like crackling campfires and rumbling rainstorms to babbling brooks and even purring cats. Created by a former insomniac, the Sleep Meditation podcast helps listeners relax by using ambient sounds to relax their minds. The show also offers a collaborative platform where listeners can suggest their favourite sleep sounds and have them featured in future episodes.
Available on: Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, RadioPublic
The Best Podcasts for Sustainability
Podcasts to help you kickstart your sustainable journey.
Zero Waste Money
Hosted by Jonathan JK, Zero Waste Money focuses on how saving money can equate to saving the environment, hence living a zero-waste lifestyle with a frequency of two new podcasts a month. With the mantra, “If our finances are healthier by our actions, then so is the environment,” the podcast provides you with tips on how to save better and better the world at the same time.
Available on: Spotify, iTunes
Talking Tastebuds
A series about food, wellbeing and the planet – Talking Tastebuds is a weekly interview series hosted by Venetia La Manna. As BBC Radio 1’s Sustainability Expert and one of the top Eco-Influencers from Vogue online, the climate activist interviews inspiring guests covering a wide range of subjects from intuitive eating to slow fashion and beyond.
Available on: ACast, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Player FM, Listen Notes, Radio UK
Conscious Chatter
A conscious fashion expert, Kestrel Jenkins talks about how what we choose to wear has a strong impact on the environment. Using Conscious Chatter as a platform to bring over guests who talk all things fashion, sustainability and style, Kestrel gets real about where our clothes are made, and the true cost behind them. Looking to support the future of the garment industry? Get listening!
Available on: Spotify, iTunes, Conscious Chatter website
Sustainababble
Best friends and environmental experts Ol and Dave started Sustainababble back in 2015 as a weekly podcast regarding the environment. With the motto of staying chipper in the face of an ecological disaster, Sustainababble dissects everything from wildfires to floods and even electric cars with the aim of combating confusion.
Available on: iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Acast, Sustainababble website
The Energy Gang
A weekly release, The Energy Gang gets personal about the relationship between Cleantech and our environment. Environmental enthusiasts Stephen Lacey, Katherine Hamilton and Jigar Shah bring in guests from the green-tech world to talk about environmental technology and politics.
Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, RSS Feed
Zero Waste Life Hacks
On the road to zero waste but not sure where to start? Sofia Ratcovich started Zero Waste Life Hacks with the mission of providing easy solutions to huge problems. From travel to food to shopping, she talks about the small adjustments you can make to your daily purchases that will benefit both you and the environment in both the short and long-run.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts
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