The Best Mental Health Podcasts You Should Start Listening To

The Best Mental Health Podcasts You Should Start Listening To

• Mandy Sandhu
• 17 Oct 2022

Humans are social beings. It’s inherent for us to desire some sort of connection with other people.

When this desire isn’t met—and this happens from time to time—it’s perfectly normal to feel lonely. Loneliness isn’t a mental health concern in itself, but there’s a strong link that ties the two together.

Fortunately, there are mental health podcasts you can turn to as a source of camaraderie, inspiration, and hope. They can’t replace therapy—but they do provide insightful information and strategies that might help you pull through tough times.

These 15 mental health podcasts are a great resource to learn more about mental health issues, common interventions, and practical self-care strategies from renowned psychologists and healthcare professionals:

Table of Contents: Podcasts for Mental Health

1. General Mental Health
2. Managing Grief and Depression
3. Meditation and Mindfulness
4. Therapy and Self-help
5. Addiction Recovery

General Mental Health

These mental health podcasts are filled with educational information about general psychology and various mental health topics. Look forward to practical tips on how to strengthen your mental well-being.

1. Celeste, The Therapist Podcast

Many of her listeners call her “a breath of fresh air in the world of therapy” because of her perceptiveness, insight, and no-nonsense approach to mental health issues.

A licensed mental health clinician from Boston, Celeste’s podcast aims to break the cycle of negative thought cycles, “clear the lens,” and help people shift their way of thinking into a healthier space.

You can listen to her interviews with other professionals, empowering messages, and actionable tips for overcoming mental health issues twice a week on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

2. Psychology In 10 Minutes

Don’t have enough time to sit and listen to an hour-long podcast? How about sparing ten minutes for your mental well-being?

Psychology in 10 Minutes is an informative, easy-to-digest podcast that talks about everything related to psychology: mindfulness, grief, relationships, emotional intelligence, and everything in between… all while you sip your morning coffee!

Hosted by David Feldman, a professor of counselling at Santa Clara University, you can listen to Psychology in 10 Minutes on Sound Cloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher.

3. Mental Illness Happy Hour

For those with various internal struggles or battling their own personal demons, this podcast is for you.

From emotional trauma to PTSD to being raised by parents with alcohol abuse disorder, Mental Illness Happy Hour talks about a gamut of mental issues, especially among the creatives.
Hosted by comedian Paul Gilmartin, this podcast aims to serve as a lifeline to those struggling to stay sane in this mad world. Listen to funny, honest, and inspiring stories of people who have endured the odds every week on Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts.

Managing Grief and Depression

Made for the ones battling grief and depression, these lighthearted mental health podcasts will make you feel that you are not alone and that there is a way to get through—and get past—these challenges.

4. The Hilarious World Of Depression

Beyond the oxymoronic name, The Hilarious World of Depression talks about depression, how it has been stigmatized, and the stories of people who have lived through these experiences.

If you’ve ever had depression, then you know there’s nothing quite as satisfying—or quite as healing—as listening to someone who gets it.

Depression takes on many forms—and radio host, John Moe, wants to share candid, genuine, and often funny stories about depression with people who have experienced it firsthand.
If you or someone you know is managing the ups and downs of depression, this is a good podcast to listen to. Tune in to The Hilarious World of Depression on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

5. The Happiness Lab

Happiness is so elusive that sometimes you wish it could be manufactured in a lab! It can’t be, of course, but The Happiness Lab hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos might have some things you can work on to get you closer to attaining it.

A professional psychologist at Yale University, Dr. Santos hopes to show the world that you have the power to take ownership of your mind, behaviour, and happiness.

Listen to The Happiness Lab on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

6. Griefcast

Healing can be difficult if you can’t talk about your grief. In this award-winning podcast, Cariad Lloyd chats with comedians to discuss their grieving experiences, their pain, and what happens after someone dies.

Think of it as a support group where you get inspiration from funny people and get to laugh through the process. It’s a refreshing take on grief and is an encouraging place where people can freely talk and not avoid the subject.

Griefcast is available on Acast and iTunes

Meditation and Mindfulness

When you want to invite good vibes into your life, get tips on self-care, find positivity and inner peace, know that you don’t have to bend over backwards or in any direction! These mental health podcasts will help you transcend and let go of daily worries so you can feel motivated to begin a brand new day.

7. Manifest It, Sis!

Do you believe that when you think aspirational thoughts, you can make them a reality? Or if not, it will at least help in your mental and personal development?

Hosted by life coach, Danielle Faust, Manifest It, Sis! is a podcast that aims to help people redesign their lives and create actionable self-care strategies. It teaches meditation, positivity, visualization, and other practices that will leave you feeling aligned and motivated.

Catch Danielle Faust on Manifest It, Sis! on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, and Amazon.

8. The Daily Meditation Podcast

In a world that has become a rat race, slowing down feels like a sin. The Daily Meditation Podcast is one of the best mental health podcasts around that will teach you how to pause, find pockets of peace during hectic days, and sleep better by letting go of anxieties and worries.

Mary Meckley’s soothing voice will help you tap into your inner peace and find release from negative thoughts and feelings! You can listen to The Daily Meditation Podcast on Spotify and Sound Cloud.

Therapy and Self-Help

Sometimes, we need that extra little bit of help. But if you can’t leave your house to get it, these therapeutic mental health podcasts might be able to give you some insights and actionable tips. Hear real-life stories and doctors’ advice on managing anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and relationships, among others.

9. The Hardcore Self-Help Podcast

If you have questions about anxiety, depression, addiction, relationships, or just about life in general, you can ask Robert Duff of The Hardcore Self-Help Podcast.

Robert is a psychologist and author from Southern California who answers common and not-so-common questions about mental health issues without what he calls the “psychobabble bullshit.” Expect to pick up a lot of practical and easy-to-digest self-care advice as well.

Listen to The Hardcore Self-Help Podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. New episodes are released every Thursday morning.

10. Therapy in a Nutshell

From OCD and anxiety to trauma, depression, and even insomnia, Therapy in a Nutshell features it all. Emma McAdam, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, discusses various mental health issues and offers pro tips to manage them.

These snippets of information provide quick lessons on the whys and hows of mental disorders in a very understandable and easy-to-follow format.

All Therapy in a Nutshell episodes are available on their website, Apple podcast and YouTube.

11. Therapy Chat

On this podcast, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, interviews various doctors and trauma survivors to discuss issues, experiences, emotions, and therapies related to trauma. If you are seeking advice on battling trauma, you might just find inspiration in every episode.

The topics are quite unique—you’re likely to find issues that not many mental health podcasts touch on, such as religious, intergenerational, sexual, and vicarious trauma.

So whether you’re looking for a relatable show or you’re a student trying to learn more about trauma, psychology and psychotherapy, head on over to their website or their Deezer channel.

12. Dear Therapists Podcast

If you’ve never gone to therapy and you want to know what it’s like, Dear Therapists will let you listen to actual sessions where they give actionable advice and get feedback.

Learn how real people deal with personal struggles and hear remarks from therapists Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch during these raw sessions. You might just find the guidance you’re seeking.

You can listen to these sessions on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Omny and Stitcher.

addiction Recovery

If you’re dealing with addiction or are already on your way to recovery, these podcasts can help you further understand why addiction even happens in the first place, what you can do to beat it, and how you can help someone going through the same struggles.

13. The Addicted Mind

If you want to understand the psychology behind addiction and its drivers, and hear about the latest treatment options and research, then this one is for you.

The Addicted Mind explores recovery from different perspectives and aims to educate both a recovering addict and their loved ones about the process.

New episodes are released every Monday and can be accessed via their website, Apple podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

14. Sober Speak

At Sober Speak, people talk about their experiences while on the path to recovery from alcohol addiction, with topics centred on the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program. Each episode is like attending an AA meeting—and you get to do it right at home.

Meet the folks at Apple podcast, Podbean, Google Podcast, or Stitcher.

15. Beyond Belief Sobriety

If you are looking for a secular approach to AA’s 12-step program, Beyond Belief Sobriety shares stories from AA members who went through the steps with a purely practical interpretation.

Freethinkers gather here to explore other recovery options and the science behind addiction. It also dives into other addictive behaviours and general wellbeing.

You can listen to Beyond Belief Sobriety on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Amazon.

Helping You Cope With Life’s Pressures While Staying Sober,

These mental health podcasts, though helpful, shouldn’t be seen as a substitute to therapy or medication.

Freedom From Addiction offers an extensive range of programs designed to assess and address concurrent mental health and addiction disorders. For more information on our mental health programs, get in touch with us.