23 Best Motivational Podcasts to Help You Live Your Best Life
Get in gear and boost your confidence with these pump-you-up podcasts.
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Getting motivated to try a new skill, finish a longstanding project, get a workout in (possibly a live-stream workout), clean the house, cook that new recipe, or even just do your job can be extremely challenging, especially for those of us who tend to procrastinate. Some people (guilty as charged) use media like podcasts as one of those distraction tools. But here's a lifehack for you: Use your earbuds to inspire you to get your backside in gear, instead of giving you an excuse not to work on your to-do list.
No matter what you need to get motivated to do, there's a podcast that can help. From awesome cooking podcasts that will give you new tips and tricks, to cleaning podcasts that can give you the extra nudge to get organized while you declutter, and even podcasts that will inspire you to live your best life in general. Our favorite motivational podcasts don't talk down to listeners or make us feel like deadbeats, even if we just sit on the couch in yoga pants eating chips while we listen to their excellent advice. And if that's all you can handle too, give yourself a break. Even putting these positive sound waves into your brain counts as a win, in our book.
Where Should We Begin With Esther Perel
Best for: Relationships
Iconic therapist Esther Perel hosts this real-talk podcast in which listeners get a front seat to anonymous couples' counseling sessions. If your relationship needs a little work but you've been putting off having that tough talk, let Perel give you pointers on how to do it.
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Superwomen With Rebecca Minkoff
Best for: Work
We all feel a little defeated at work sometimes, whether that work entails running your household or a Fortune 500 company. In this inspiring podcast, Rebecca Minkoff talks to women from all walks of life about what their real lives are like in vulnerable, let's-get-real conversations.
The Challengers With Amy Brenneman
Best for: General life improvement
Everyone has their own challenges, from substance abuse disorder to economic insecurity, issues with food or exercise, the list goes on. In this uplifting podcast, Amy Brenneman sits down with friends, family, and experts to talk about the challenges that can turn into our greatest teachers and opportunities for growth.
Motherhood Sessions
Best for: Parenting and motherhood
Reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Alexandra Sacks sits down with real moms for those heart-wrenching conversations some of us can't bring ourselves to have. Those include sex after childbirth, career struggles, and even uncertainty over being a mom, period. Let this podcast motivate you to address your own struggles, if you hear yourself in these episodes.
The Guilty Feminist
Best for: Feminism
So many podcasts that tout"feminism" can come off as holier-than-thou, but this one will make you laugh and want to make a difference. Comedian Frances-White dives into hot-button issues, while discussing her and her guests' insecurities, hypocrisies, and the messy business of being human.
Sarah & Dr. Brooke Show
Best for: Health
This podcast is all about helping you live your best life, whatever that looks like for you. With episodes on mental health, developing better eating habits, troubleshooting your sleep, and so many more aspects of self-care, there's probably an episode for whatever your personal albatross may be.
Off the Gram
Best for: General life improvement
Join Woman's Day content director Meaghan Murphy and her three powerhouse cohosts Jamie, Heidi, and Christine as they navigate wellness, self-care, and even how to deal with your sugar fixation. Listen in as they chat with designers, fitness trainers, girl bosses, and other women who can will inspire you to live your yay, too.
Stuff Mom Never Told You
Best for: FeminismWhether you're a diehard feminism or just dipping your toe into the sea of issues that impact women and people who love them, this podcast will keep you up to speed. Maybe you'll find yourself itching to get even more involved.
Move Your DNA
Best for: Fitness
Get your booty grooving with biochemist, author, and host Katy Bowman, who advocates not only for exercise, but how moving your body can improve your life. If this podcast doesn't make you want to get up and go, nothing will.
Unlocking Us
Best for: General life improvement
Join bestselling author and overall inspiration powerhouse Brené Brown in this podcast that explores what it means to be human, what brings people together, and how we can be more vulnerable and real with each other. Listen in on her conversations and just try not to call a friend to share afterward. We dare you.
Permission to Speak
Best for: Public speaking skills
If you clam up and forget how to speak English whenever you have to give a presentation at work, public speaking coach Samara Bay can help. In this podcast, she interviews both speaking experts and those who excel at finding and using their voice, to help you put your best voicebox forward too.
Stronger Podcast
Best for: Health and nutrition
From the LIVESTRONG Nutrition Editor Erin Mosbaugh and News Editor Ferozan Mast comes this informative podcast that will debunk popular food and nutrition trends and motivate you to eat healthy, not trendy. For those of us who hear of a new diet and just want the facts, tune into this one.
A Slob Comes Clean
Best for: Cleaning and organizing
If you look around you and say, "How did the house get like this?" turn on Dana "Nony" White's podcast. She offers real-life tips on how to get your house into shape, from decluttering storage spaces to meal prepping. Each episode has plenty of humor to keep things light, so you won't feel preached at.
The Tony Robbins Podcast
Best for: General life improvement
Entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and overall successful person Tony Robbins really needs no introduction and his podcast is exactly what you might expect from him. His advice on everything from business to relationships is like a shot of adrenaline for whatever aspect of your life needs a jump start.
Black Girl in Om
Best for: Self love
This podcast focuses on self-love and wellness, from women of color to women of color. Host and founder Lauren Ash breaks it down with yogis, clean beauty pros, and wellness experts in general in a relaxing podcast that will drive you to be gentler with yourself, too.
The Minimalists Podcast
Best for: Mindfulness
Minimalism has been a design and home decor trend for some time, but it goes beyond keeping your countertops clean. In this zen podcast, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus discuss how to embrace minimalism in your life in general. If you feel overwhelmed, get motivated to declutter your home and your mind with this pod.
The Goal Digger
Best for: Productivity
As the name of this inspiring podcast implies, host Jenna Kucher dives into how to make your own way and start your own business, if that's your goal. And even if you're not ready to take the entrepreneurial leap, her advice on productivity, social media, and general life hacks apply to just about all of us.
The Tim Ferris Show
Best for: Work life
From the man behind The 4-Hour Workweek comes this motivational podcast in which Tim Ferris deconstructs how successful people do their thing. His guests come from just about every industry, with advice all of us can use.
Mental Health: Happier With Gretchen Rubin
Best for: Mental health
Bestselling author of The Happiness Project Gretchen Rubin and her sister Elizabeth Craft co-host this podcast that's all about finding and creating happiness in your everyday life. Each episode involves simple, actionable tips on making your life a little sunnier, something we can all use these days.
Ali on the Run Show
Best for: Fitness
Get sweaty and inspired with Ali Feller, who interviews entrepreneurs, average runners, and marathoners on how they got started and what keeps them moving. Even if you just listen while sitting on your couch, you'll find some motivation in these people on the move.
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