I listen to a lot of podcasts. I walk the dog, I fold laundry, I sit in traffic. I need voices that help me feel calm and clear. These shows have helped me build habits, set gentle goals, and be a little kinder to myself. Some days I laugh. Some days I cry a tiny bit. That’s real life, right?
If I’m between episodes and still craving a quick lift, I dip into the bite-size stories on How Much Joy for a jolt of perspective.
I first pulled these favorites together in a longer piece on the site, and you can read that full breakdown here.
By the way, I’m Kayla. I’ve used every show below. I’ll tell you what works for me, and what gets on my nerves too.
The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
This one feels like a friendly class you actually want to take. Dr. Santos breaks down what science says about joy, kindness, and how our minds play tricks. I tried her tip on making a “gratitude note” for one person a week. I wrote to my grandma. She called me and cried. I cried too, but the good kind.
If you want to jump straight in, the full archive lives on Apple Podcasts right here.
What I love: clear steps, real studies, and stories that stick.
What bugs me: some episodes run long for my morning walk, so I split them in two.
10% Happier with Dan Harris
Dan talks about stress and meditation like a normal person. No magic. No fluff. He interviews teachers like Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. I used his “noting” trick in the grocery line. Instead of spinning out, I just noted “worry, worry,” and it eased up. Wild how simple it felt.
Need an easy way to listen? Dan explains all the options for tuning in on this page.
What I love: real talk about anxiety, easy starter meditations.
What bugs me: when the chat goes deep into teacher bios, I zone out a bit.
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
This show is cozy and practical. Gretchen shares quick ideas like the “one-minute rule.” If it takes a minute, do it now. I finally cleaned my sink every night for a week. It sounds small. It changed my mornings. She also does a “One-Word Theme” each year. My word this year is “light.”
What I love: simple tips I can try the same day.
What bugs me: some tips feel like repeats if you’ve listened for years, but hey, repeats help habits stick.
The Minimalists Podcast
When my closet felt like a closet eating a closet, these two helped. Joshua and Ryan talk about less stuff and more life. I did a 30-day challenge with them. One item out on day one, two items on day two, and so on. My hall drawer can breathe again.
What I love: calm tone, less guilt, more space in my home and head.
What bugs me: sometimes the long chats wander, so I listen at 1.25x speed.
Huberman Lab
This one is nerdy in a good way. Dr. Andrew Huberman gives brain and body tips. I tried his morning sunlight habit for three weeks. I stood outside with my coffee. My sleep got better, and I stopped waking at 3 a.m. most nights. Small move, big help.
What I love: clear steps, strong science, real results for sleep and focus.
What bugs me: episodes can be super long, and some terms feel heavy. I keep a note in my phone with the takeaways.
The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim interviews high performers from many fields. I don’t copy all their routines. I steal one thing. From James Clear, I learned habit stacking. I now put my vitamins by my coffee mug. No more missed days. From others, I picked up a Sunday reset that takes 20 minutes and saves my Monday.
What I love: smart questions, useful little moves I can test.
What bugs me: a few episodes feel like marathons, and I skip the parts that don’t fit my life.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Jay has a warm voice and gives steps for love, purpose, and calm. I used his “phone-free walk” rule three times a week. My brain felt less buzzy. I noticed trees again. He also shares short breath work that I use before hard talks.
What I love: kind tone, short practices I can try right away.
What bugs me: sometimes the show leans a bit sweet for my taste. On rough days, though, that’s the medicine.
Real talk: personal growth sometimes means getting comfortable with your own sexuality, too. A few readers have asked me how to add a spark of adventure without rummaging through a dozen sketchy dating sites. If that curiosity rings a bell, you might appreciate this straightforward guide to the best “Uber-for-sex” apps that set up spontaneous car meet-ups. It breaks down safety features, costs, and real-user reviews so you can decide whether that brand of excitement belongs on your experiment list.
If you’re drawn to the idea of mutually beneficial relationships but want something more glamorous than a quick car meet-up, you might love exploring the Paris scene through Sugar Daddy Paris. The write-up covers the top sites, etiquette, and safety pointers for navigating sugar dating in the City of Light, helping you decide if a chic French arrangement aligns with your personal growth journey.
If you want more options made by and for women, I road-tested seven self-help podcasts and shared what actually helped over here.
The Mel Robbins Podcast
Mel’s energy is strong, but it got me moving. Her 5-Second Rule helped me get out of bed on cold mornings. I count down—5, 4, 3, 2, 1—feet on the floor. I also tried her trick of a “high five” in the mirror for a week. I felt silly. I also felt less mean to myself.
What I love: direct steps, pep when I’m stuck.
What bugs me: some episodes push hard. I save those for days I need a shove.
How I Make These Shows Actually Help
I used to listen, nod, and then forget. Now I keep it simple.
- I pick one idea per episode and try it that day. Just one.
- I keep a tiny note on my phone: “Idea, date, did it?”
- I stop an episode at the halfway mark if I’m full. I finish later.
And here’s a small seasonal thing. In winter, I go for “warm” shows like Gretchen or Jay. In spring, I switch to habits and science with Huberman and Tim. It keeps my brain fresh, like swapping sweaters for sneakers.
If you’ve ever wondered how all this advice stacks up against feminist values, I wrote an honest review of The Feminist Self-Help Society that digs into exactly that right here.
So, which one should you try first?
If you want science but calm, start with The Happiness Lab.
If you want stress help now, try 10% Happier.
If you like small wins today, go with Happier.
If your home feels noisy, The Minimalists can help.
If sleep or focus is your thing, Huberman Lab is solid.
If you want big ideas and tool kits, Tim Ferriss works.
If your heart needs some care, On Purpose is gentle.
If you need a push, Mel Robbins brings heat.
You know what? You don’t need all of them. Pick one. Pick one tip. Test it for a week. If it helps even a little, keep it. If not, toss it. That’s how I do it, and my days feel lighter, bit by bit.
If you try any of these, tell me what you tried and how it went. I’ll be out walking the dog, earbuds in, cheering you on.