My favourite wellbeing podcasts
Are you addicted to podcasts? I am 💯 and I’ll tell you why. It’s because they’re perfect for filling my brain with the best career, business and life advice during those all those ‘in between times ‘. You know the ones I mean. Whilst you’re driving to do school pick up. Whilst you’re waiting for a bus. Whilst you’re cooking dinner or doing something around the house. Whilst you go for a lunchtime walk or during a run. I find it much harder these days to carve out time for reading (though I love it) but there’s usually a few gaps in the week where I can catch up on a podcast whilst getting something else done.
So what are my current faves? Well they ebb and flow depending on what is going on at my life at the time and what I need most help with, but they roughly fall into two categories:
Careers podcasts (surprise surprise)
Wellbeing and mental health podcasts
Now any of my clients reading this will be familiar with the ‘oxygen mask’ analogy I often like to share. When you’re watching a safety demonstration on a plane, they always tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others, otherwise you will pass out and be no use to anyone. The same principle applies to wellbeing and self care. How can you make a difference or help someone else, if you’re completely burned out yourself?
So in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, here are some podcast recommendations which have made a big difference to me and I hope they do the same for you:
Elizabeth Day is a journalist and author who’s podcast ‘How to Fail’ celebrates all the things that haven’t gone right in someone’s life and how to learn from failure. She is a natural interviewer, very warm, curious and compassionate, and somehow manages to draw out and connect with her interviewees on a very human level no matter how famous they are. I always learn something from her interviews and find it extremely comforting to hear that lots of outwardly ‘successful’ people have struggled with life’s curveballs just as much as I have! Some recent favourites are Rylan Clarke talking about heartbreak and divorce, Spencer Matthews on alcoholism and the death of his brother, and Alex Jones on fertility and mental health.
Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
You might be familiar with Dr Rangan Chatterjee from the BBC series, Doctor in the house. He launched his own podcast in January 2018 and it quickly rose to become the no.1 health podcast in the UK. What I love about Dr Chatterjee is that he is a big believer in ‘lifestyle medicine’ and getting the foundations right e.g food, movement, sleep and relaxation. His advice is always very down to earth and do-able, and he places as much importance on mental health as physical health. His podcast guests are always fascinating, and some of my favourites have been Johan Hari on the causes of depression, Cal Newport on digital minimalism, and Gabor Mate on addiction.
Oprah describes her podcast as being designed to ‘light you up and answer life’s big questions’. I love any excuse for a deep and meaningful conversation, and here Oprah interviews some BIG names (Tina Turner, Michelle Obama, Maya Angelou… the list goes on and on) about the turning points in their lives, the hard lessons and the advice they want to pass on. Think of it as a crash course in how to live your best life.
This last one is a parenting one. I love Dr Becky. She the friendly, wise, reassuring child psychologist that every parent basically wants to have on speed dial. Each episode addresses real life scenarios that listeners have sent in, and she not only helps you understand what’s really going on inside your child’s brain but also gives real, practical advice on how to talk to them and how to look after yourself too. Parenting can be so challenging, stressful and hard sometimes, but Dr Becky always normalises those situations for me. Some recent favourites are ‘When only one parent will do’ about preferring one parent, ‘Clean Plate Club’ about fussy eaters, and ‘Essential Labour’ about mothering as social change.
So I hope you’ve found a recommendation or two there that has piqued your interest, and I’d love to hear yours! Been listening to something great recently that really helped you? Please comment below and let us all know about it xx
How to gain the one thing you want most in your career
How’s your July going so far? Are you following the Olympics? 🏅
I watched a documentary on BBC iPlayer the other day about the rower Helen Glover, called The Mother Of All Comebacks. It follows her journey to retrain for the Tokyo Games after having retired in 2016 to start a family. Her training schedule is absolutely gruelling, especially when you throw 3 young children into the mix including breastfeeding twins!
It’s an absolutely inspiring watch which I highly recommend, and it made me stop and reflect on personal drive and determination. What does it take to keep pursuing a goal, despite all the obstacles and challenges that life throws at you?
Can you think of a time when you went after something you really wanted and made it happen no matter what? How did you deal with any setbacks? How did you feel when you finally made it?
Reflecting on your past achievements can be a really powerful way to boost your confidence. And by remembering what has worked for you in the past, it can help you build a strong foundation for the future.
Tell me, what are you really proud of achieving?
My 3 favourite work podcasts
Have you got addicted to podcasts yet?
I TOTALLY have over the last two years, and I’ll tell you why. It’s because they have allowed me to fill my brain with the best and most up to date career, business and life advice, wherever I am. Whether I’m cooking a meal at home, riding the bus into town, or going for a run around the park.
And whilst binging on the latest Netflix series can be fun and relaxing, it's not directly feeding your brain with the knowledge it needs to navigate that tricky situation at work or reduce your stress levels.
I’ve tried and tested quite a few recently, to whittle them down to the ones that really add value to my life or my work, and now I couldn’t be without them. They have helped me come up with many new creative ideas, grow my business, and navigate all kinds of personal challenges too.
So I thought I’d introduce you to some of my favourite podcasts, some for work and some for wellbeing and good mental health, and see if you’d like to join me in making listening to podcasts a regular habit of yours too.
So here are my current top 3 work and business podcasts:
This new podcast sprang to life last year and actually made it to #1 on the podcast chart. It’s hosted by organisational psychologist Adam Grant, and he chats to all kinds of fascinating people doing unusual jobs, in order to understand some of the science behind, in his own words, ‘making work not suck’. Some of my favourite episodes have been ‘Faking your emotions at work’, ‘A world without bosses’, and ‘Become friends with your rivals’. This show is always guaranteed to bring fresh ideas and make you think differently about the world of work.
Janet is a former journalist turned online PR and marketing expert for small business owners. What I love about Janet is that she’s very straight talking, and gets down to brass tacks straightaway! Her podcast episodes are always highly practical, and she isn’t afraid to say what doesn’t work or where you might be going wrong. If you want to learn about the basics of marketing your business online and making more sales, this is a great starting point and I learned loads from her when I was a newbie business owner.
Uncomplicated Your Business with Racheal Cook
For those of you who are a little further along your business journey, but feeling overwhelmed or like you’re not hitting your goals, Racheal is a godsend. She’s incredibly relatable and inspiring at the same time, running her six figure business from the basement of her home in Richmond, Virginia and has managed to do all this whilst only working 25hrs a week, retiring her husband from his job and raising their 3 kids! I just love her simple, actionable and effective advice on productivity, goal setting, streamlining, increasing your income, leadership and loads more.
So those are my current top 3 favourite work podcasts. What about you? Do you have a recommendation? Let me know in the comments below if there’s a show you think we should all be checking out!
Next week, I’ll share 3 favourite podcasts for wellbeing and good mental health.
