Whether you need help managing college stress, coping with grief, or beating procrastination, self-improvement podcasts are a great way to stay motivated and inspired. They can also make a boring commute feel a little more bearable.
From a former monk to a feminist writer, these inspiring podcasts offer practical life advice for young adults. Keep reading the article below to learn more about Best Self Improvement Podcasts For Young Adults.
Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known as The Minimalists, help people live more intentional lives with less through their website, books, podcast and documentary film. Their lifestyle has inspired millions of listeners and readers to embrace simplicity as a way of life. Their best-selling book, Love People Use Things, was published in 2021 and explains minimalism as more than just getting rid of stuff. It’s about finding your purpose, pursuing meaningful relationships and living a more joyful, fulfilled life.
Millburn grew up in Lebanon, Ohio and was raised by an alcoholic single mother. Despite working in corporate America and climbing the career ladder, he was dissatisfied with his life and felt trapped by excessive possessions and unfulfilling relationships. After the death of his mother and his divorce, he discovered minimalism and started incorporating its principles into his life. He then began sharing his journey with his friend, Nicodemus, through their website and podcast.
Besides podcasting, The Minimalists also have a website and YouTube channel, where they share tips on how to start your minimalist journey, as well as interviews with other minimalists. They’ve also written four books on the topic and have been featured on numerous popular TV shows, such as The Today Show and Hoda and Jenna.
If you find these podcasts useful, consider donating to the content creators directly to support their work and make it available for free. You can do this by going to their websites and clicking on “support this podcast.” Alternatively, you can also send them an email to let them know how much you appreciate their efforts. This is one of the most effective ways to show your support and help them create more outstanding content.
10% Happier
If you are a skeptic of meditation, this podcast by former ABC News anchor Dan Harris may be just the thing to change your mind. After a panic attack on live television, Harris turned to meditation and discovered it’s not hocus-pocus at all. His podcast, 10% Happier, follows his journey from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the strange fringes of America’s spiritual scene. He shares the surprising science behind this simple practice and how it can help you become happier, kinder, and less reactive in daily life.
The podcast is structured into hubs, each focused on a different aspect of mindfulness and meditation. Each hub contains a series of interviews with teachers and experts. The podcast also includes guided meditations and a separate sleep section that features short meditation singles designed to help you relax and fall asleep. The podcast is free to listen to on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It is ad-free and offers one-week early access. Listeners can upgrade to the premium version of the app for full access to the content, including more meditations and talks.
In addition to the podcast, the app offers a variety of courses on meditation and self-improvement. Many of these are led by well-known meditation teachers, including Joseph Goldstein. Some are geared towards specific topics, such as work anxiety or relationships, while others focus on the broader themes of happiness and compassion.
In the past, the app offered a subscription option for companies to provide their employees with premium access. This is no longer available, though the company has some free resources on its website and a coronavirus sanity meditation in its subscription service. Rephonic, a platform that provides data on more than three million podcasts, has an interactive graph that allows you to view viewership numbers for this and other popular shows. You can view the graph by clicking on the “Listeners Also Subscribed To” section of Apple Podcasts or upgrading to Rephonic’s premium tool.
Exactly. With Florence Given
Florence Given is the 23-year-old illustrator and bestselling author behind Women Don’t Owe You Pretty, a book that empowers young women to know their worth. She has a huge social following and an authentic voice – so it’s no surprise that her podcast is a hit. Given is on a mission to connect people through conversations that explore different perspectives and philosophies.
In this podcast, Floss dives deep into 5 topics (sex, social media, feminism, relationships and body image) with fascinating guests each week. From writers, cultural commentators, doctors, thought leaders and psychologists to celebrities and comedians, the episodes are nuanced, enlightening and inspiring, with plenty of laughs.
The only downsides are that the audio quality could be improved, and some of the episodes do feel a little padded out. However, given Given’s ready-made audience and her natural charisma, this is a small quibble.
Streaming numbers for podcasts are notoriously difficult to find, but Rephonic’s unique 3D graph visualises a show’s estimated listener figures from Apple Podcasts, Castbox and Podcast Addict. If you upgrade to Rephonic’s premium plan, you can also see which shows a listener has subscribed to, as well as discover more shows like Exactly. With Florence Given. This information can help you determine whether or not the podcast is worth pitching for a guest spot, or advertising with. Click here to learn more.
The Leadership Podcast
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. Some people learn at the proverbial school of life, while others seek insight from leadership books and courses or professional development mentors. 21st-century professionals can even glean leadership wisdom through podcasts—which offer an educational tool that’s convenient and cost-effective.
The LEADx Leadership Podcast gathers actionable advice from leaders across industries. From a zen monk to a C-level executive coach, the show’s cast tackles leadership topics like fostering resilience and working remotely. And its 20-minute episodes are ideal for streaming on your commute or jog.
This is Your Life focuses on intentional, passionate leadership, and its interviews with thought leaders specializing in management, psychology, government and more are as insightful as they are diverse. With guests ranging from professional baseball players to NBA Hall of Famers, this podcast can teach you a lot about how to lead yourself and others.
In addition to tackling leadership, the Coaching for Leaders podcast explores how to create healthier, happier workplaces and teams. Its episodes feature conversations with leaders and managers specializing in human resources, organizational psychology, and more. These experts share their own stories and insights as well as practical guidance on overcoming common business challenges like emotional safety in the workplace and building self-awareness.
Founded by author and entrepreneur Brene Brown, Dare to Lead podcast invites big-name guests from all walks of life. From bestselling authors to entrepreneurs to NFL players, the podcast dives into the lessons learned by each individual through their careers. Each episode aims to help listeners bring DEI into their own lives and workplaces.
A unique take on leadership, The Starfleet Leadership Podcast is an excellent choice for both sci-fi fans and leaders alike. In each episode, host Jeff Akin explains how a popular Star Trek episode illustrates a lesson on leadership. His passion for both sci-fi and leadership is clear through every episode, and the structure of the podcast is a great way to engage listeners. It’s also a fantastic way to learn about some of the most important and under-appreciated lessons in leadership.