The Best Health + Wellness Podcasts

As we inch closer to the end of one year and the beginning of another, I thought now was the perfect time to share my favorite health and wellness podcasts! Many people use the start of a year to set new health and wellness goals, and these podcasts can help get you in the right mindset to smash them come January 1st.

Health and wellness obviously encompasses a wide range of sub-topics, so I wanted to include podcasts that differed in their focuses. From learning more about the intricacies of our food system and how what we eat can affect our well-being, to thinking about our relationships and financial health as a component of our overall wellness, to learning about random topics from experts, I hope you’ll listen to a few episodes of each of the following podcasts.

The Doctor’s Farmacy 

I highlighted this podcast on my favorite personal growth podcasts blog post last year, but it’s so relevant to this space that it’s worth mentioning again. Hosted by Dr. Mark Hyman, The Doctor’s Farmacy seeks to examine the root of many chronic diseases in our society, our food, and our food system. Hyman’s ideology is that we can use food as medicine to support longevity, energy, mental clarity, happiness, and so much more. 

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ll know that I share in this nutritional philosophy. Maintaining physical and mental well-being is vital to living a truly full life, and if paying slightly more attention to the food we put into our bodies can help to affect change for the better, sign me up. With episodes ranging from “How to Break Your Sugar Addiction…” to “How Gut Health Impacts Sleep,” Hyman offers his knowledge on a wide range of topics that can help you make important decisions based on your own health goals. New episodes are released every Wednesday. I hope you’ll listen along with me!

Shawn Stevenson’s Podcast 

The Model Health Show by Shawn Stevenson is the #1 Health & Fitness podcast on Apple Podcasts, so I absolutely had to include it in this post. On each episode, Shawn has enlightening conversations with experts about all things nutrition and fitness. But what I love most about this podcast is that it goes deeper than just diets and workouts. Shawn and his guests discuss how other aspects of our life can affect our mental and physical wellness, such as stress management, financial health, and maintaining healthy relationships. 

Shawn has such an incredible energy and keeps episodes interesting, fun, and easily digestible. His personal story is also incredibly inspiring, having faced a lot of health problems and obstacles himself, he approaches difficult topics from a place of understanding. Some of my favorite episodes are his masterclass episodes—I hope you’ll join me in subscribing to this podcast. 

TED Health

When it comes to podcasts, you really can’t go wrong with any of TED’s branded content, which is how I got turned onto TED Health. TED Health features renowned experts answering the health questions you never knew you had. My favorite part? Many of the podcast episodes are bite-sized and easy to listen to. Only have 6 minutes? Use it to learn what yoga does to your body and brain. Have a 15-minute drive somewhere? Pop on this episode about culinary traditions. 

Unlike the former two podcasts mentioned above, this podcast is a bit more wide-ranging and focuses less on specific action items you can take. Think of this podcast as having an interesting conversation with a health expert at a cocktail party. I love putting this podcast on every so often to learn something new. 

On Purpose with Jay Shetty 

If you’re looking for a less traditional health and wellness podcast, then look no further than On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Jay Shetty is a bestselling author, purpose coach, and perhaps most intriguingly a former monk. On his podcast, Shetty has fascinating conversations with insightful people from various backgrounds around the world. Think of his podcast as a good place to get inspired, dig deep, and take care of your emotional health by focusing on becoming the best version of yourself. New episodes come out biweekly on Mondays and Fridays. 

Feel Better Live More 

Launched in January 2018 by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, Feel Better Live More is the #1 Health podcast in the UK and Europe. In his podcast, Dr. Chatterjee aims to simplify health through conversations with leading experts. From debunking common health myths to sharing their knowledge on nutrition, exercise, and sleep, Dr. Chatterjee and his guests can help reshape how you approach health and wellness! With a 16 year background as a GP, Dr. Chatterjee is an absolutely trustworthy source for any health advice you seek. Give his podcast a listen every Wednesday. I certainly plan to! 

Summary

Now, more than ever, there is so much amazing content in the health and wellness space available quite literally at our fingertips. I hope you use the above list as a podcast starter kit to kick off 2021 and make it the best year ever.

Jon Straub