These Are The Wellness Podcasts We're Listening To At The Moment

Our days are usually filled with visual entertainment—we have our smartphones to keep us company (and busy) at any given time of the day, scrolling through social media apps or watching our TV series-of-the-moment on our favorite streaming app. While these are perfectly fine (keeping in mind to regulate the amount of time you spend on such apps), another great way to get entertained is through podcasts.

Listening to podcasts has been one of my favorite activities since late last year, for the simple reason that it allows me to carve out some time for myself, at the same time getting to learn something while I'm at it. Unlike a TV show or endless photos on social media, a podcast trains my brain to listen and absorb the information I'm listening to with laser focus. 

While there are tons of podcasts available out there about anything and everything under the sun, I've been drawn towards the wellness category, exploring channels that talk about nutrition, happiness, modern women's issues, and tips for being more productive. I find that starting or ending my day with an episode doesn't just leave me with a wealth of new knowledge, but a sense of calm and productivity I wouldn't rather have if I were just aimlessly scrolling on my phone.

Ahead, a list of podcasts that are on heavy rotation in my personal playlist. Some of them teach me how to train my brain, one talks about how to find happiness in daily living, while another talks about nutrition and everything wellness. If I were you, I'd whip that smart phone out and start hitting play. Enjoy!

Cleaning Up The Mental Mess with Dr. Caroline Leaf

First on my list is this podcast that helps me deal with daily issues by way of learning how to train my brain. Dr. Caroline Leaf is a cognitive neuroscientist who has devoted her life to helping people's mental health, so they can deal with anxiety, depression, shame, guilt, PTSD, and more. Every week, she airs a podcast that talks about specific stressful situations we all deal with, but don't necessarily know how to handle. Oftentimes we are just reactive, but with her tips, it's amazing how much stress and pain we can save ourselves from if we just deal with it with a trained brain.

Why I love it: Her tips are practical and doable, and are delivered in a manner that's very easy to understand, and apply right after. I find myself actively seeking out ways on how to carry out her tips, to see if it works for me. And more often than not, I find that I have learned how to control my brain so that it works for me, and not against me. Some recommended episodes: "How to NOT let toxic people, words, or situations affect mental health", and "How to correctly deal with disappointment and failure".

Listen to it here!

HAPPIER with Gretchen Rubin

I'm pretty sure you've heard or read the book "The Happiness Project" already, and by now, its author Gretchen Rubin has already come out with other books, specifically "The Four Tendencies", "Happier at Home", "Better Than Before", and "Outer Order, Inner Calm." All of her books talk about bettering oneself to eventually find happiness, and with that end goal, a podcast was born. Happier with Gretchen Rubin talks about her life and her sister Elizabeth Craft's life (who has her own podcast "Happier in Hollywood), discussing their victories and failures, tips from listeners and themselves, finding happiness in the mundane, personal goals, and everything in between. 

Why I love it: Every episode, they have a "demerits and gold stars" segment where they talk about what they got wrong, and what they got right. This shows how people with seemingly perfect lives also make mistakes. With their real-life experiences, we are able to draw insights into our own, and actually learn how to make better choices. This podcast makes me want to be a better person, to strive to improve myself so that I can give more to the people I love!

Listen to it here!

The Goop Podcast

If you've been living under a rock, Goop is actress Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle brand that spans health foods, wellness products, a healthy lifestyle website, and even apparel. It is but natural for Goop to venture into podcasting, and we as fans have GP (as adoring followers like to call her) to thank. Goop is a podcast that discusses important wellness matters with what they call "leading thinkers, culture changers, and industry disruptors—from doctors to creatives, CEOs to spiritual healers". Goop's Chief Content Officer Elise Loehnen takes turns with Gwyneth herself in having such conversations, and the result is an intellectually-stimulating 40 plus minutes of listening bliss.

Why I love it: Goop has always been on the forefront of challenging societal norms about wellness, opening our eyes to the often seemingly "weird" concepts we eventually embrace and believe in. The speakers invited to this podcast are top experts in their fields, imparting invaluable knowledge you would otherwise have to pay for to listen to. If I were you, I'd take advantage of this free portal STAT. 

Listen to it here!

In Progress by Girlboss Radio

Ever wonder how girl bosses got to where they are now? I don't know about you, but I sit up and take notes when a successful woman is speaking. I know that the journey to the top wasn't a smooth-sailing one, and having her share her personal anecdotes, tips and tricks, success secrets, as well as stories of failure are of utmost importance to my own journey as a career woman. In Progress celebrates such women, entrepreneurial successes to be specific, and puts them on the spotlight. 

Why I love it: While we can't always go out of our way to attend seminars, talks, and conventions where successful women speak, we always have this podcast to turn to. If you're not such a fan of reading thick self-help books, then listening might just do the trick. I love that it highlights women of different backgrounds and races, and provides us with an "actionable roadmap to owning our personal narratives and living fully in our present selves."

Listen to it here!

The Science of Happiness

If you're in search of fact-based ways to finding happiness, then this podcast may just be the answer. Simple episodes tackle real life situations of individuals on their quest for their own unique happiness journeys, so you too can find your own. These podcasts share research-tested strategies, "drawing on the science of compassion, gratitude, mindfulness, and awe." 

Why I love it: Episodes in this podcast are quick, digestible during a lunch break or afternoon coffee, and speak to my curious self. "Quieting Your Inner Critic", and "How Gratitude Benefits Your Brain" are just some of the discussions that I have found to be profoundly helpful in my own personal quest, and for that I want to pass it on and let others know about it too. 

Listen to it here!