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Do you find it difficult to get a healthy dose of inspiration through your day? Do you need some motivation, some inspiration, some life tips, but just don’t have time to read books?
So a lot of you might wonder how you can get inspired throughout the day. Cuz you are busy, right? I get it. People are. I usually am. But I like staying inspired, too. I find that on days I don’t intake any inspiration, like read an insightful article or listen to something thoughtful, I am not very motivated in my daily life.
So how can you find inspiration easily and efficiently?
Podcasts.
Listening to podcasts is a great way to learn and be inspired, because because it also makes other not-so-thrilling activities less dreary.
For example, I go for walks every day in the morning and evening. That is my major form of exercise and getting those steps in. (Yeah, it is true. I am lazy guys. I like being healthy and getting those endorphins in, but I am lazy.)
Anyways, what I love about my walks is being able to enjoy nature, look at the sky and flowers and the birds, while listening to amazing information!
And the best part is, I can keep walking without getting bored. What is even better is that a lot of times I walk more than my target because I want to keep listening.
The conclusion? Listening to podcasts is pretty great for a variety of reasons: no boredom (entertaining), actually learning something (great advice), AND better health (I walk more).
I also listen to podcasts while I doodle or create art. That is the ultimate source of relaxation for me, because I get to be creative, while also learning something. And I am using both my ears and my hands and hence I don’t get distracted. (Sometimes I can’t focus if I am just doing one thing. Anyone relate? If you used to doodle during class so you could focus would relate.)
And you can listen to podcasts while cleaning, doing other chores, washing dishes, basically anything, to make any boring activity not only more fun, but also more educational.
“Okay, okay, we get it, podcasts are great, but where do I start?”
Well, here I am with a gift that will help equip you with the tools to drastically improve your life: a list of my favourite self-improvement podcasts around the world.
And trust me, they are good, considering I just explained how much time I spend listening to them 😀
Before you dive into this beautiful list, note that you won’t find any of the self-help celebrities here (like Tony Robbins or Jay Shetty or Louise L Hay etc), for 2 reasons:
- you already probably know of all those people, so there is no point me telling you again, and
- I have tried their podcasts, but I like listening to the podcasts in my list more because these people are much more real. They share their real life struggles, failures, successes, and anecdotes, and they are much more relatable. Personally, I like that more than a famous ‘guru’ giving me advice.
Tips and Tricks for Making the Most of Podcasts:
Depending on the speaker’s natural speed of talking, I play the podcasts between 1.1-1.4x speed. Gives me a lot more info and skips the pauses and the “umms”, empty breaths, etc.
I use Podcast Addict on android, and I love it because you can customize so much, and also you can save bookmarks, etc. So if I hear something amazing in the podcast, it takes a timestamp right there and i can type in a note with a title without exiting the episode, the app, or anything! So easy and great! And later, I can see an entire list of timestamps and notes from that particular episode, so I can easily type it onto the computer or phone.
Note: If you want to listen to podcasts in bed, I came across these amazing headphones that are headphones in a headband! So you can sleep while listening to podcasts, meditations, binaural beats, music, or audio books in complete comfort!
So, let’s dive into the list of my favourite self-growth podcasts!
Note: They go in general from my least liked to my (current) MOST liked, with 4 “honorary mentions” in the end.
7. The Mindful Kind by Rachel Kable
In her podcast, Rachel shares practical tips on mindfulness, stress management and better mental health in her podcast. Her voice is so soothing, it is relaxing to just listen to her voice even if you don’t listen to what she is saying.
Why I love it:
- Short episodes
- Her episodes are usually quite short (less than 10 minutes) so you can easily listen to them whenever you have less time.
- Simple and practical tips
- The episodes are quite direct and clear with quick, simple steps. Everything is very digestible and bite-sized.
- The tips are very practical and direct. Nothing is vague. You won’t have any questions about what she means. For example, she won’t say: do something relaxing and informative. She will say: Read a non-fiction book for 30 minutes and take notes. I like that she is so specific because I am very indecisive, and vague tips make me more anxious as I try to figure out what I should actually DO.
- Good for mindfulness newbies
- Because her tips are so practical and her episodes so short, you can easily gobble up a lot of episodes without feeling overwhelmed, making it perfect for people who are new to mindfulness.
The only issues I have with her podcasts is once you feel like you understand the essence of mindfulness, it can get repetitive. Even though the topics are different (for example: How to take care of yourself during the holidays, or, how to be mindful at work), the actual tips she gives (like “practice yoga” or “go for a walk in nature”) can get repetitive.
Feeling anxious about your to-do list? You might want to check this article out!
6. By the Book by Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer
There are thousands of self-help books out there. They all say different things, and a lot of them are so comprehensive, it is an entire lifestyle. What is it like to actually live BY the book for 2 whole weeks and do everything to the TEE?
That is where this podcast comes in. Although I have to admit, I haven’t listened to many episodes of this podcast, I absolutely love the premise of this podcast.
For each episode, Jolenta and Kristen, choose one self-help book and live by its rule to figure out what actually works and what doesn’t.
Why I love it:
- A great preview of what a lifestyle following a self-help book looks like without actually doing it yourself.
- Should I follow the tips of this book? How effective are the strategies mentioned? Which tips are more helpful than others? This podcast answers all these questions for me, so that I am not wasting time trying new strategies that aren’t really effective for me.
- Summary of each self-help book
- Not only does this podcast help me figure out if I should live by the book, but it also helps me with a more fundamental question: should I even read the book?
- I don’t have time to read every self-help book out there. There are a lot of books that sound really interesting and I want the knowledge, but I don’t want to actually go buy it and then read it. This podcast gives you the preview you need for the tips that each of these books mention.
- In each episode, they discuss the basic rules/guidelines each book shares, so I get a snippet and summary of what the book says.
- Honest
- Kristen and Jolenta honestly share what works for them and what doesn’t. When it comes to making lifestyle changes, an honest review is extremely helpful.
- Hilarious
- Kristen and Jolenta will make you actually laugh out loud! Even if you aren’t into self-help books, you can listen to this podcast and just laugh at the way they describe what they do and what happens.
5. Calmer You Podcast by Chloe Brotheridge
Chloe is a hypnotherapist and coach, and she shares insights on self-growth, with a focus on self-love, self-care, and becoming calmer. As someone who is always anxious, and constantly worried about the past/future/present, my to-do list, etc, this is a great podcast to learn how to be more calm and love myself more.
Why I love it:
- Great mix of interviews and personal insights
- Her episodes are never repetitive because of all the guests she has on her podcast, all of who have their unique perspectives and advice.
- Very anecdotal and personal!
- I really like this, because rather than just listen to a lecture on anxiety, we get to know the person on the podcast, learn about their struggles and life experiences, and then they share their fabulous insights which make a lot more sense and become much more relatable and applicable.
- Covers a lot of topics
- Although her main niche is combating anxiety, Chloe touches on a variety of self-help topics, like how to be happier, diets, nutrition, procrastination, and so much more!
- Versatile
- So many topics and so many guests, that there is some wisdom for everyone!
Want to know why self-love is important? Check out this article that has 10 practical ways you can love learn to yourself!
4. Earn Your Happy by Lori Harder
This inspiring woman has had a hell of a ride to reach where she is now. From juggling three waitressing jobs to now having a successful business and brand, she is full of motivation, practical advice, and business insight.
Why I love it:
- Lori is so peppy and energetic! It doesn’t sound like she ever has a bad day.
- She offers a LOT of motivation and inspiration. Like practical motivation.
- She talks about everything from productivity and business success to health and well-being to spirituality and mental health! She is PACKED with great tips and strategies for earning your happy.
Read this to find out how you can be happy even when things seem to be going bah.
3. The Lavendaire Lifestyle by Aileen Xu
Aileen is a creative soul whose mantra is “Life is an art. Make it your masterpiece”. She is all about personal growth and designing your lifestyle with intention.
- She has such a calm vibe and a sweet voice.
- She has a mix of her own episodes and interviews. Which is a GREAT source for finding new amazing people to follow (how I found the #1 podcast on this list).
- She talks about everything including mindset, productivity, mental health, law of attraction, finding your passion, and more!
- I find her vibe very calming, positive, and hopeful.
- She is extremely relatable for creative people who can’t decide on one single path (like me) because she has done everything! From singing, making music, making a movie, anchoring, producing events, etc, she has dabbled in so much, and has now created her own brand Lavendaire.
- Random: I love her aesthetics!
2. Manifestation Babe by Kathrin Zenkina
Kathrin Zenkina from Manifestation Babe is like the bossbabe running an empire in stilettos and a pink tailored suit.
Kathrin’s focus is on manifesting money, abundance, and business success.
An extremely inspiring story of a girl from a family of Russian immigrants who worked hard to make any money in the US, she went from sleeping on her grandmother’s couch to running a 7-figure business.
Why I love it:
- Her story is so inspiring!
- She feels very professional and to-the-point about manifestation, making it feel very real and business-y.
- She has some great insights and tips!
- Her podcasts are to the point, clear, and insightful!
- I really like how she speaks about money and abundance. Her take on financial freedom is logical and makes you realize there is NO shame in wanting money or having money. Money in itself is not a bad thing.
- Her boss-babe vibe is very inspiring, and even though her podcast isn’t just for entrepreneurs, when you listen to her you feel so inspired that you just want to jump into becoming an entrepreneur too.
- Her assertiveness that you can make money and that it isn’t bad seeps into you very quickly.
1. The Kimberley Wenya Podcast by Kimberley Wenya
Kimberley is currently my number 1! While Kathrin is the like a manifestation girl boss, Kimberley Wenya is has a bubbly, cute, girl-next-door vibe with puppies and smiles,
Her episode on the Lavendaire Lifestyle was the first time I even thought about manifestation or the law of attraction. Before that, I thought it was all just a hoax, just some weird woo-woo spiritual stuff that was made up. But listening to this sweet, passionate, bubbly NORMAL modern girl talk about it and really explain the concept in a simple way suddenly opened up the world of manifestation for me.
I still didn’t really dive into her podcasts, but I was curious, so I subscribed. About a month or two ago I started listening again, and AH! I absolutely love her! She is so real, honest, and just adorable.
Why I love it:
- I love her accent
- Does that count? I think it does! Even if you don’t pay attention to her content (although I highly recommend you do), you can still just listen to her voice and feel happier 😛 I think I have a thing for Australian accents because I feel similarly with Rachel Kable (although she has more of a serene, calm vibe and Kimberley is more bubbly).
- She has so much wisdom and is so insightful.
- She translates manifestation and all the woo-woo stuff into something that a modern girl can understand and relate to!
- She is like a normal girl sharing manifestation advice based on her daily life experiences, while dealing with university classes (earlier), taking care of a puppy, getting an apartment of her own, etc. She is so personal and offers simple examples of manifestation and raising your vibration, to help her in daily life.
- Positive Bubbly Vibes
- Her voice always has so much positivity and she is so bubbly. You can’t feel sad when you are listening to her.
- Real and Kind!
- I know she is really genuine because I followed her on Instagram and she replies to every message I send. 🙂
- Also, she has a lot of great free content on her IGTV, so I recommend hanging out there. (She also got an adorable puppy recently who features a lot on her Instagram, so there is another reason to go there 😛 ).
Honorary List:
Business/Productivity/Personal-Development
Real Talk with Rachel Luna by Rachel Luna
She is so spunky! Love the high energy she brings to her podcasts!
She is more into self-improvement, like how to manage time, how to be productive, how to show up when you don’t feel like, etc.
Manifestation/Spirituality
- Affirmation Addict by Payal Aggarwal
Her episodes are short and digestible, mostly under 20 minutes long.
She has practical tips on manifestation with simple examples from her life and ways you can incorporate her tips into YOUR life.
She also has a bit of self-improvement content like time-management, loving yourself, etc.
General Motivation
- Your Motivational High 5 by Phil Larson
One of the first self-help podcasts I began listening to, years ago.
Short, simple bits of wisdom.
Just 5 minutes long! Fit it in any time of your day!
Great food for thought.
- 7 Good Minutes by Clyde Lee Dennis
This is a perfect way to start the morning on a positive foot when you don’t have much time. Each episode is only 7 minutes long.
Each episode starts off with one concise takeaway from the episode, what Clyde calls “the thought of the day”.
Each episode contains one or many clips of an inspirational talk by a celebrity, motivational speaker, etc.
Conclusion
So here is the list of my favourite binge-worthy podcasts for self growth. Tell me what you think! have you listened to anhy of these before? if so, which one is your favourite? I want to know? lso, do you have eany more recommendations? I am ALWAYS on the hunt for more 🙂
Note: Check out these amazing headband headphones that allow you to sleep while listening to podcasts, meditations, binaural beats, music, or audio books in complete comfort!
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