With series on every topic you could possibly think of, it seems like we’ve entered into the golden age of podcasts. It’s never been more easy to find entertainment, as well as free access to experts and professionals that we otherwise wouldn’t have. There are countless podcasts in the areas of self growth and development, but a few stand out for their unique approach to tackling life’s uphill battles. If you’re in the market for a podcast that will help you reach your full potential – mind, body, and soul – check out these 7 wonderful series led by some of the brightest minds we have.
Huberman Lab with Dr. Andrew Huberman
Dr. Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist and professor at Stanford University. In his podcast, Dr. Huberman “discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health” (hubermanlab.com). Don’t mistake Huberman Lab for a dry university lecture though. The podcast breaks down the science in terms of our everyday life, often with the help of incredibly smart guests.
The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
Dr. Laurie Santos is a professor of psychology at Yale University, whose course on the psychology of happiness became so popular she turned the concept into a podcast. Prepare to unlearn everything you thought you knew about what makes us humans happy while listening. Dr. Santos’s use of research and storytelling is what makes this podcast so compelling and digestible. It’s for anyone and everyone looking to understand happiness and apply that knowledge to their own lives.
A Slight Change of Plans with Maya Shankar
Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and former Senior Advisor to President Obama. During her time in the Obama administration she also founded the White House Behavioral Science Team. In “A Slight Change of Plans”, Shankar uses her expert knowledge to explore how we behave and adapt while facing change. According to the show’s description, she “blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human behavior to help us understand who we are, and who we become, in the face of a big change” .
Work Life with Adam Grant
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist, author, and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In “Work Life”, Grant discusses “the science of making work not suck” (adamgrant.net). Making work not suck seems to be an eternal and universal struggle, which is what makes the podcast an essential listen. Everyone can get something out of “Work Life”, even if it’s a momentary reprieve from the “Sunday scaries”.
Throughline
NPR’s Throughline, hosted by Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah, takes a historical approach in analyzing current events. It weaves the past and present, using compelling storytelling to connect the dots between events and cultural shifts that affect the issues we face today. Don’t mistake throughline for your average history podcast! The insights gleaned in each episode probably can’t be found in your old American History textbook.
How to Start Over
In the Atlantic’s “How to Start Over”, “staff writer Olga Khazan analyzes what it takes to change our relationships, our work, and our perspective—with a practical approach to one of life’s greatest mysteries: how to start over” (theatlantic.com). If you’ve been going through major changes recently, or want to make a change, How to Start Over is a great resource. It’s both compelling and practical – the perfect combo for a self help podcast.
The Pivot
Hosted by former NFL players Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor, and Ryan Clark, The Pivot Podcast is all about making changes and moving forward. While centered on interviews with professionals in the sports world, The Pivot is universal in that it focuses on how people accepted change and pivoted their way towards success.
What do you think? Have you found your next binge-worthy podcast? Let us know in the comments and on social media. We would love to hear from you!
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