15 Best Motivational Podcasts You Need to Hear

We’ve all had days when we’ve needed a little extra motivation, but when you’re always on the go, it can be challenging to take time and find the inspiration you need. Fortunately, I’ve put together a list of 15 of the best motivational podcasts you can listen to anytime you need affirmations, advice, or words of wisdom.

Best Motivation Podcasts

1. Too Smart for This
2. The Science of Success
3. The Happiness Lab
4. Tiny Leaps, Big Changes
5. How to Fail with Elizabeth Day

Best Motivational Podcasts on Spotify

6. Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
7. The One You Feed
8. Black Girl in Om
9. Food Psych
10. Beyond the To-Do List

Best Motivational Podcasts for Women

11. Redefining Ambition
12. Therapy for Black Girls
13. Side Hustle Pro
14. The Self Love Fix
15. Our Body Politic

Best Motivational Podcasts

Here are some of the best motivational podcasts covering topics like career advancement, mental health, wellness, and personal development:

1. Too Smart for This

Hosted by content creator and full-time YouTube Content Strategist Alexis Barber, Too Smart for This is a podcast aimed at helping women entrepreneurs hone their craft and map out their unique career paths. The podcast features candid interviews with women in various industries and gives valuable advice on how young women can enter the world of entrepreneurship.

What We Like: At 23 years old, Barber does an excellent job of providing actionable advice in a way that is relatable to young 20-somethings looking to forge their own path to success. Listening to her podcast often feels like having lunch with a friend who always drops gems on how to break into different industries.

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2. The Science of Success

This weekly podcast hosted by Matt Bodnar features guests ranging from neuropsychologists to mindfulness experts to FBI hostage negotiators. The podcast explores the science and psychology behind success in communication, leadership, and other avenues in life.

What We Like: The Science of Success prioritizes evidence-based practices relating to success from real-life thought leaders, so you won’t find yourself wondering, “Okay, but how do I know this advice really works?”

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3. The Happiness Lab

Dr. Laurie Santos, a professor at Yale, hosts The Happiness Lab and has studied the science of happiness for years. The podcast is based on the psychology course Dr. Santos teaches, which also happens to be one of the most popular classes at the university. The podcast cites the latest scientific research about happiness and shares inspiring stories meant to change how we look at the emotion.

What We Like: Often, when people think of what it takes to be happy, they think of material things like money, possessions, or expensive vacations. While all those things can certainly make almost anyone happy, Dr. Santos shows how mindfulness, looking inward, setting boundaries, and enjoying life’s simplest pleasures can lead to a happier life overall.

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4. Tiny Leaps, Big Changes

Tiny Leaps, Big Changes focuses on personal development and the little things we can do day-to-day to improve our lives. In the podcast, author Gregg Clunis shares simple strategies to implement in our daily lives to help us along toward our goals.

What We Like: Goal setting and working toward the best version of ourselves can be daunting, especially if you’re unsure where to start. However, Clunis explains that goals can be attainable by incorporating the tiniest actions into our routines. In other words, adjusting our habits and behaviors over time can lead to considerable advancements in our personal development.

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5. How to Fail With Elizabeth Day

How to Fail With Elizabeth Day features insightful interviews with influencers, celebrities, and thought leaders as they explain their past failures and what they learned from their experiences. The podcast removes the stigma of failure and instead frames it as an opportunity to learn and improve.

What We Like: Guests for the podcast have included Melanie Chisholm from the Spice Girls, conservationist Jane Goodall, and actor Simu Liu who starred in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Almost all of the podcast’s guests have been considered successful in their respective fields, so learning about their past stumbles and how they recovered can be the motivation you need to keep pushing forward.

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Best Motivational Podcasts on Spotify

According to a study by Statista, 25% of podcast listeners ages 18 and up use Spotify to listen to podcasts. If you’re among that 25%, here are some of the best motivational podcasts on the app.

6. Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations is Oprah’s selection of her favorite and most thought-provoking interviews uploaded in podcast form. Episodes include conversations with best-selling authors, artists, wellness experts, and spiritual leaders.

What We Like: Each episode, according to the podcast’s description, is “designed to light you up, guide you through life’s big questions and help bring you one step closer to your best self.”

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7. The One You Feed

The One You Feed is a podcast meant to help listeners navigate life’s complexities. Each week the podcast’s host, Eric Zimmer, speaks with scientists, authors, psychologists, and experts in various fields about what listeners can do to live more fulfilling lives.

What We Like: The podcast provides valuable information about the skills and behaviors listeners can develop to find peace, love, and fulfillment.

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8. Black Girl in Om

Black Girl in Om is a unique motivational podcast with episodes featuring words of affirmation and guided meditation. Many episodes also feature interviews with experts from various industries.

What We Like: The podcast’s guided meditations and morning words of affirmation are a great way to start the day with a positive outlook and clear mind.

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9. Food Psych

Hosted by registered dietitian Christy Harrison, Food Psych is a podcast focusing on mental and physical wellness concerning food. In each episode, Harrison speaks to guests ranging from health and psychology professionals to anti-diet activists to leaders in the body liberation movement. The goal is to help listeners build healthy relationships with their bodies, food, and mind.

What We Like: Food Psych motivates listeners to work toward a healthy and happy lifestyle while promoting body acceptance and calling out the dangers of diet culture.

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10. Beyond the To-Do List

Whether in our personal or professional lives, we all have mounting to-do lists we must tackle, and keeping up with all of our tasks can be daunting. Beyond the To-Do List is a podcast that gives expert advice on implementing productivity strategies into our daily lives.

What We Like: This podcast does an excellent job of motivating listeners to be productive and complete their tasks to live a more stress-free life.

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Best Motivational Podcasts for Women

Here are some great podcasts to check out if you’re a woman looking for motivation and advice.

11. Redefining Ambition

Produced by The Women’s Network, Redefining Ambition highlights the unconventional career paths of successful women in various industries. In each episode, a speaker details the many twists, turns, setbacks, and surprises that led them to where they are today. According to the network’s website, the podcast’s goal is “to demonstrate the power of ambition, passion, and drive to inspire future generations of women to achieve success.”

What We Like: Redefining Ambition shows multiple ways to success and that everyone’s path is challenging and unique.

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12. Therapy for Black Girls

Therapy for Black Girls is a weekly podcast about mental health and personal development as they pertain to the unique experience of Black women.

What We Like: The podcast covers a wide range of topics and situations that can impact the mental health of Black women and provides solid advice from experts and thought leaders.

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13. Side Hustle Pro

Side Hustle Pro highlights Black women who have managed to turn their side hustles into a profitable business. Hosted by Nicaila Matthews Okome, the podcast has been featured on the TODAY show and has earned over three million downloads, according to its website.

What We Like: Content creation is seeing a massive boom in popularity, and many content creators have questions about how they can turn their side gig into a full-time career. This podcast provides valuable information creators can use to turn their work into a business.

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14. The Self Love Fix

The Self Love Fix is hosted by teacher, mentor, and embodiment coach Beatrice Kamau. In the podcast, Kamau advises women on how to shift from codependency and low self-esteem to self-trust and alignment. The podcast often features interviews with experts in various fields such as wellness, nutrition, and parenting.

What We Like: Episodes cover many topics, such as relationships, family, and mental health.

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15. Our Body Politic

Hosted by award-winning journalist Farai Chideya, Our Body Politic is a podcast reporting on how women of color are impacted by today’s major political events and how every woman can make a difference. Weekly episodes cover various topics like the economy, health, education, and the environment.

What We Like: Many of today’s pressing issues seem beyond control, but Our Body Politic shows women from all backgrounds how they can get involved and be the change they want to see.

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Whether you’re relaxing at home, commuting to work, or going for a jog — you’re now able to get some motivation whenever you need thanks to these podcasts. Let them bring you a step closer to becoming your best self.