Mental health podcasts are not only a popular form of media, but they can also positively impact listenersâ mental health literacy and awareness. Research shows that mental health podcast listeners have improved attitudes around mental illness and reduced feelings of self-stigma.
From helping to destigmatize common struggles to feeling connected with others in similar situations, mental health podcasts have the potential to help listeners improve their own lives. Want to incorporate quality mental health podcasts into your own library rotation? Hers set out to find the best shows available by ranking 30 popular podcasts based on the following metrics:
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- Average review: Ratings reveal how listener engagement, indicating better content show quality. Negative reviews can be a major red flag, especially with a topic as important as mental health.
- Number of reviews: Leaving a review is an extra step that listeners arenât required to take. If more people take the time to write one, theyâre clearly a passionate audience.
- Total episodes: Consistency is important, especially if you want a mental health podcast you can listen to regularly. Since 47 percent of podcasts donât make it past the third episode, the group was rated based on the number of shows published.Â
Key Findings
- Reviews are consistently high among mental health podcasts, indicating listeners are interested in the genre as a whole.
- Podcasts with larger catalogs tend to rank higher, with many of the top shows publishing more than 500 episodes.
- Smaller shows with fewer reviews can still rank well, especially when they consistently post episodes.
Discover the 10 best mental health podcasts to consider adding to your listening library.
1. âThe School of Greatness with Lewis Howesâ
2. âOn Purpose with Jay Shettyâ
3. âThe Dr. John Delony Showâ
4. âFeel Better Live Moreâ
5. âThe NarcissistsââŹâ˘ Codeâ
6. âThe Psychology of Your 20s with Jemma Sbegâ
7. âBeing Wellâ and âThe Peter Attia Drive Podcastâ (tied)
9. âOn Being with Krista Tippettâ
10. âTherapy for Black Girlsâ
Top 30 Mental Health Podcasts Ranked By Reviews and Audience
1. âThe School of Greatness with Lewis Howesâ
2. âOn Purpose with Jay Shettyâ
3. âThe Dr. John Delony Showâ
4. âFeel Better Live Moreâ
5. âThe NarcissistsââŹâ˘ Codeâ
6. âThe Psychology of Your 20s with Jemma Sbegâ
7. âBeing Wellâ and âThe Peter Attia Drive Podcastâ (tied)
9. âOn Being with Krista Tippettâ
10. âTherapy for Black Girlsâ
11. â10% Happier with Dan Harrisâ
12. âThanks for Asking with Nora McInernyâ
13. âRadio Headspaceâ
14. âCalm It Downâ and âHow to Fail with Elizabeth Dayâ (tied)
16. âThe One You Feedâ
17. âTherapy and Theologyâ
18. âA Slight Change of Plansâ
19. âChasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Guptaâ and âMayim Bialik's Breakdownâ (tied)
21. âJudging Meghanâ
22. âSh!t That Goes On n Our Headsâ
23. âThe mindbodygreen podcastâ
24. âOffice Hours with Arthur Brooksâ and âWe're Out of Time with Richard Taiteâ (tied)
26. âThe Art of Being Well with Dr. Will Coleâ
27. âDecoded: Unlock The Secrets of Human Behavior, Emotion and Motivationâ
28. âLatinx Therapy with Adriana Alejandreâ
29. âThe Optimist Projectâ
30. âMy So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujaniâ
Podcasts to Stream for Mental Health: Trends and Insights
Find out how 30 popular mental health podcasts stack up according to individual ranking categories.
Which Mental Health Podcasts Have the Highest Reviews?
Mental Health Podcasts With the Highest Reviews
1. âJudging Meghanâ and âOffice Hours with Arthur Brooksâ (4.9/5)
2. âBeing Wellâ, âFeel Better Live Moreâ, âThe Narcissistsâ Codeâ, âThe School of Greatness with Lewis Howeâ, and âTherapy and Theologyâ â TIED (4.85/5)
Mental Health Podcasts With the Lowest Reviews
1. âMy So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujaniâ (4.35/5)
2. âThe Art of Being Well with Dr. Will Coleâ (4.4/5)
3. âThe mindbodygreen podcastâ (4.5/5)
Which Mental Health Podcasts Have the Most Reviews?
Mental Health Podcasts With the Most Reviews
1. âOn Purpose with Jay Shettyâ (70,200)
2. âThe School of Greatness with Lewis Howeâ (38,600)
3. âThe Psychology of Your 20s with Jemma Sbegâ (36,800)
Mental Health Podcasts With the Fewest Reviews
1. âDecoded: Unlock The Secrets of Human Behavior, Emotion and Motivationâ (111)
2. âOffice Hours with Arthur Brooksâ (147)
3. âJudging Meghanâ (153)
Which Mental Health Podcasts Have the Most Episodes?
Mental Health Podcasts With the Most Episodes
1. âThe School of Greatness with Lewis Howeâ (1,900)
2. âThe Narcissistsâ Codeâ (1,600)
3. âRadio Headspaceâ (1,500)
Mental Health Podcasts With the Fewest Episodes
1. âOffice Hours with Arthur Brooksâ (4)
2. âDecoded: Unlock The Secrets of Human Behavior, Emotion and Motivationâ (14)
3. âThe Optimist Projectâ (29)
Methodology: How Scores Were Calculated
Hers gathered 30 popular podcasts based on mental health category recommendations on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. From there, we ranked each one based on three categories: average reviews on both podcast platforms, total number of reviews, and total episodes.
3 Tips for Incorporating Podcasts Into Your Mental Health Routine
Listening to a mental health podcast comes with personal benefits, which you can compound even more by following these three tips.
- Curate your podcast library: Be mindful of the types of mental health podcasts you listen to, especially if there is triggering content. Find a balance between heavier episodes and more uplifting ones that leave you feeling in a good headspace.
- Pair with a well-rounded self-care routine: In addition to giving yourself emotional support through a podcast, explore other areas of self-care, including physical, spiritual, and financial practices.
- Schedule time for action: Itâs easy to listen to a mental health podcast while doing other things, like commuting to work or doing chores around the house. But itâs also important to find the time to implement what youâve learned, like scheduling your first therapy session or meditating.
This story was produced by Hers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.