The best health and wellness podcasts

Hilarious Humanitarians

This podcast is presented by two psychotherapists in the US who have worked across the gamut of mental health services, from hospitals to personal counselling. As the name suggests, Deanna Silverman, Frances Echeverria and their guests have a great sense of humour and meet issues on a personal, sympathetic and non-judgmental level. If you’re looking for an expert who can remove the stigma of asking for help while making you smile, this might be a good place to start.

Radio Headspace

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The podcast arm of the incredibly popular mindfulness platform is full of insight into bringing meditative practices into your everyday life. Episodes include tips and guides to walking mindfully to abate restlessness, improving relationships, diminishing stress and finding motivation. In the podcast, Headspace employees trial techniques and report back on what they found effective – it’s human, relatable and above all, useful.

The Mental Illness Happy Hour

This now well-established podcast has entertained listeners for some 385 episodes. Its blend of comedy and honesty about mental illness, depression and the difficulties of staying positive keeps it relevant to its many listeners. Host, comedian Paul Gilmartin, interviews his friends, funny people, artists, actors and experts about their experiences and in the process has created a space for people to connect with others going through similarly tough times, making everyone feel that little bit less alone.

The Goop Podcast

Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand has recently launched a podcast and it’s really quite good. Goop may have come under fire for being too expensive and out-of-touch, but the podcast shows a down-to-earth side to Paltrow as she explores themes of wellness, culture, power and positivity with the help of Goop’s chief content officer, Elise Loehnen. And in the first episode, Paltrow talks to Oprah about her life and experiences, which is about as inspirational as it gets.

Seek The Joy

As the name suggests, Seek The Joy is about finding happiness by working on self-love, connections with the world and others and following your dreams. Host, Sydney Weiss, is funny and bright and her weekly guests provide insight into areas such as getting creative, becoming activists in areas important to you, following passions and finding your voice, among many others. It’s inspirational without being sentimental and political without getting too serious.

Food Heaven Made Easy

Registered dieticians and nutritionists Wendy and Jess want to transform the way you eat while keeping it fun and delicious. The pair are best friends as well as food experts and their infectious spirit keeps listeners returning each week. Topics in the podcast vary from whether you should count calories or detox, to issues around food shaming, whether to take vitamins and eating for people with IBS.

Mind Body Musings

Motivational speaker Maddy Moon is the woman behind Mind Body Musings, a podcast she developed after giving up the faddy diets and restrictions of being a fitness model. In the podcast she talks about recovering from eating disorders, learning to trust her intuition and take care of herself. Moon is a natural host and interviewer, who makes self improvement fun and relaxed.

GROUP

Group is an entirely relatable and enjoyable podcast about mental health that mixes practical advice with interviews and storytelling in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. If you’re wondering about whether online therapists are right for you, if other people have anxiety when they’re hungover too, or how sleep can effect mental health, then this podcast could be a good starting point.