Three of The Top Podcasts on Mental Health

As our daily lives become more complex, more demanding and – as a result – more stressful, it’s probably a good time to stop and think about mental health. While many still feel uncomfortable talking about it, conversations around depression, anxiety and other conditions are thankfully becoming more open and the stigma is finally beginning to slip to the sidelines.

Want to learn more about the topic of mental health and how you can help keep yourself on track? Here are three podcasts you might want to add to your list:

Hosted by Bobby Temps and Danielle Hogan, Mental gets to the bottom of mental health and the associated stigma and discrimination. The two engage in conversation with guests who have experienced mental health issues first-hand, as well as a from medical experts in the field.

Here are two episodes to look out for:

Identity with Cheddar Gorgeous‬

In this episode, Bobby and Danielle chat with drag queen and anthropologist Cheddar Gorgeous to break down what identity means and how it plays a role in defining our mental well-being. They discuss concepts such as the fluidity of identity and how we tend to get stuck in thinking the way we define ourselves has to be accepted by others.

If you want to learn more about how stereotypes are formed and understand concepts such as stigma, body dysmorphia, and self-acceptance, this conversation is for you.

Listen to the episode here.

Working from home with Emma Maino‪o‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬

This episode dives into the multiple distractions the home office lifestyle brings to people and the effects it can have on your mental health.

As the head of the mental health practice at Utopia, Emma Mainoo specializes in going into workplaces to institute change. In this episode, she shares fascinating insights on loneliness and how different workplaces are encouraging connections around more than just work.

Listen to the episode here.

Hosted by Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos, The Happiness Lab podcast explores what happiness truly means. She has studied the science of happiness and discovered that most people do the exact opposite of what truly constitutes an improved life.

Based on The Science of Well-Being psychology course she teaches at Yale (which is the most popular class in the university’s history), this podcast offers the latest research, inspiring stores, and tips on cultivating happiness habits. The combination of scientific study, practical tips, and unique guests makes this one of the top podcasts on mental health.

Two episodes to listen to:

How to Kick Bad Habits (and Start Good Ones‪)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Bad habits, the kind of behaviors you want to change, but somehow can’t. Do you have them? We all do. Whether it’s the things we consume or how we communicate, bad habits can cause unhappiness, especially as we repeat them over and over again – almost as if we are on autopilot.

In this episode, Laurie meets a scientist who sleeps in her running gear and a former army doctor who went to Vietnam to fight a wave of heroin abuse in the military. It dives into techniques you can use to break free from bad habits and explains how you can use the mechanics of habit formation to make doing good things feel effortless.

Listen to the episode here.

Move More… But for the Right Reason‪s‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Did you know that there are studies that show by doing just 30 minutes of cardio could be as effective as taking anti-depression medication? Physical and mental health come together, sure but the problem is that most people work out for the wrong reasons. Vanity has overtaken health and joy. What should be fun and life-enhancing often becomes saturated with self-loathing.

This episode features Jessamyn Stanley. She identified as a “fat and awkward weirdo”, who shied away from exercise until she realized that it was her body-shaming that was holding her back. This episode talks about her journey of falling in love with yoga and how she became an inspirational teacher and author for those who think exercise isn’t for them.

Listen to the episode here.

Hosted by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, the Therapy for Black Girls podcast shares weekly conversations about emotional health and personal development.

Joy’s goal is to chip away at the stigma associated with mental illness and bring psychology to life, together with a host of healthcare professionals and pop culture personalities.

Here are two episodes to start with:

4 Mental Health Tasks to Prioritize

In this episode, Joy gets down to the very basics of taking good care of your mental health. From self-compassion to resilience, she shares four mental health priorities and examples of how to apply them in our daily routines.

Listen to the episode here.

Creating Calm Through Meditation & Affirmation‪‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Wellness educator, author, and CEO, Devi Brown shares important mindfulness practices to cultivate inner calm.

If you are struggling to keep centered with everything that is going on around you, this episode is for you. Besides sharing information on what kinds of wellness practices you can apply to your daily lives, find out how affirmations can help to turn things around. Start by adding ‘joyful’ to discipline and ‘soulful’ to leadership.

Check out the episode here.