If you’re looking for inspiration or practical advice that you can absorb while you’re exercising, cooking, taking a bath or doing DIY, trying a podcast is ideal. Here are 10 of the best with a wellbeing and mental health theme, all picked by members of the ieso team. They range from those that take a lighter perspective, to those tackling mental health difficulties in more depth – but all feature great guests, fascinating topics and compelling interviewing styles. Please be aware that some of them include strong language, or touch on political matters!
The Joe Wicks podcast
The lockdown PE hero launched a podcast last year, with the aim of exploring this question: What’s the one thing that makes life better? He asks guests including Tim Peake, Jamie Oliver, Louis Theroux and Fearne Cotton about their secret to physical and mental happiness.
Gretchen Rubin’s Happier Podcast
The best-selling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before shares practical advice about happiness and good habits in this lively, thought-provoking podcast. She co-hosts with her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft.
Mentally Yours
Metro journalists Ellen Scott and Yvette Caster chat to guests about the weird stuff that goes on in our minds, and how to survive and thrive. They tackle topics such as taking care of your mental health during coronavirus, dealing with money worries, and celebrity guests’ personal experiences.
Unlocking Us – Brené Brown
The researcher and New York Times best-selling author sets out to unpack and explore the ideas, stories, experiences, books, films and music that reflect the universal experiences of being human.
Feel Better Live More
The number one health podcast in the UK and Europe, this one has an audience of more than half a million every week. Host Dr Rangan Chatterjee believes that health has become overcomplicated – and wants to empower listeners to take control of theirs.
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
The American actor and director celebrates “the messiness of being human”. Each episode features celebrities, journalists and academics sharing personal stories of their vulnerabilities, struggles and shortcomings, and celebrating the challenges and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment.
Clear and Vivid – Alan Alda
Best known as star of the MAS*H TV series, Alda has spirited conversations with public figures, including scientists, about how we can connect and communicate better with others in every area of our lives.
The One You Feed
In this award-winning podcast, behaviour coach and author Eric Zimmer gets actionable advice from scientists, authors, researchers, teachers, thought leaders, spiritual gurus, and public figures about how to create a life of fulfilment and meaning.
Psychologists off the Clock
Four clinical psychologists chat about the best ideas and principles they apply in their clinical work, with the aim of helping listeners to flourish in their work, parenting, relationships and health.
How to Fail with Elizabeth Day
This podcast celebrates the things that go wrong in life, and what we can learn from them. Every week it features an interviewee who explores what their failures taught them about how to succeed better.
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