Tune In: My Favorite Podcast Episodes for Mental Health and Personal Growth
If you know me, I might have recommended a podcast episode in the past! It’s just a thing I do. Whenever someone shares a challenge or a big decision they’re facing, I can’t help but think of the perfect podcast they should check out. I absolutely love how podcasts introduce various topics, featuring insightful experts who really know their stuff. Some episodes provide just the right amount of information to address my questions, while others spark my curiosity and lead me to dive deeper into a subject—whether that means grabbing a book or binge-watching a series. I’m excited to share this collection of podcast episodes that focus on mental health, which I’ve found helpful, informative, and inspiring.
I limited myself to this list but reserve the right to add more as needed. I would love to hear your favorites, so message me if you have one you love to share!
Huberman Lab: How to Understand and Assess Your Mental Health - Guest Series Dr. Paul Conti
This is a bit of a cheat because it’s a recommendation for a four-episode series. It offers a deep dive into mental health and the therapeutic process, providing different ways to look at patterns and behaviors that result from your lived experiences. I have since read Paul Conti’s book Trauma: The Invisible Experience, which reinforces the information with additional content to process.
The Drive: Cultivating Happiness, Emotional Self-Management, and More - Guest Arthur Brooks
Arthur Brooks, PhD, is a happiness researcher and Harvard professor who has made it his life’s work to study happiness. I love his books, and I credit From Strength to Strength as a guiding light in determining my recent career change. I follow him on all platforms to continue learning from his important content. It’s the right mix of science, psychology, and optimism that keeps me coming back for more from Dr. Brooks.
The Daily Stoic: Changing Your Life by Changing the Story - Guest Lori Gottlieb
I adore Lori Gottlieb, and her book Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is an all-time favorite. She has her own podcast with Guy Winch titled Dear Therapist, which I enjoy. The concept of changing your story to make the changes you want is incredibly helpful for many and is highlighted in this episode.
The Hidden Brain: Where Do Feelings Come From? - Guest Lisa Feldman Barrett
This episode presents a significant shift in our understanding of feelings, focusing on where science tells us they actually come from. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is leading a revolution and helping people apply this new knowledge to their real lives. Her books are eye-opening windows into her research.
The Huberman Lab: How to Find, Build, and Maintain Healthy Relationships - Guest Esther Perel
I didn't want to repeat shows, but Dr. Andrew Huberman has the best guests and facilitates deeper conversations than most. I consume a lot of Esther Perel’s work, and I found this interview especially insightful. She has her own podcast titled Where Should We Begin, which tackles listener problems.
The Happiness Lab: Fighting that “Meh” Feeling of Languishing - Guest Adam Grant
The Happiness Lab features nice bite-sized episodes that I find helpful. Adam Grant, who is also featured in his own podcast below, has a knack for presenting information clearly, with data that's more consumable than we’ve heard before. He has several bestselling books, but my favorite is Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things.
Ask Lisa Podcast: The Psychology of Parenting - How Do I Help My Disorganized Teen?
I am a huge fan of Dr. Lisa Damour and find everything she says helpful in both my therapy practice and real life. It was hard to pick just one podcast of hers, so if you have time, browse her library of short, insightful episodes. If you’re like me, you’ll return for more and use her library of books as little bibles to help raise your teenagers. Untangled is a top five in my library.
The Anxious Truth: Is There a Secret Sauce in Anxiety Recovery? - Guest Joanna Hardis
Joanna is a Cleveland-area therapist specializing in anxiety and OCD. In her book Just Do Nothing, she outlines a revolutionary approach to tackling anxiety, which I found to be an easy read with approachable strategies. You get a taste of her approach in this episode.
We Can Do Hard Things: Inside an Internal Family Systems Therapy Session - Guest Richard Schwartz
Internal Family Systems is a therapeutic approach I frequently call on when working with adult clients. It’s helpful to have a background on the concepts before applying them in session, and this podcast provides that. He also has a book titled No Bad Parts that I will recommend to some.
ReThinking with Adam Grant: How to Be Productive Without Burning Out - Guest Cal Newport, PhD
Cal Newport’s concept of deep work and how to achieve it is a great counterpoint to today’s world of screens and information overload. I find his approach to deep work inspiring, and I love the focus on avoiding burnout in this episode. I have his most recent book on my to-read list.
