New album this, Oscar winner that — does anyone still listen to podcasts? I, for one, have been on a podcast kick recently, streaming peppy businessmen with unsolicited life advice to provide a soundtrack to my day. In all seriousness, these short episodes can impart substantial wisdom in a small package, and I think it’s time for them to make a comeback. Thus, I have compiled a list of my top five favorite podcasts with a particular focus on self-improvement and mental health.
Coming in at No. 1 is “The Mindset Mentor,” hosted by Rob Dial and available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. These short, 10 to 15-minute episodes foster motivation and help you take control of your life, whether that be in the realm of business, education or overall wellness. Dial’s episodes are packed with motivational quotes, vulnerable anecdotes and sage advice from a businessman who built himself up from the bottom. The first few episodes of the series focus on Dial’s acclaimed self-help book, Level Up: How to Get Focused, Stop Procrastinating, and Upgrade Your Life, which features workbook elements to help you take direct action to improve the quality of your life. So far, I’ve listened to one episode of “The Mindset Mentor” every day this semester, and it has served as the perfect quick pick-me-up to get me out of bed on the tough mornings.
Next up is “The Happiness Lab,” a podcast on the science behind living a happy, fulfilling life, hosted by Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos. Based on her popular psychology class at Yale, this show discusses various elements of happiness, including love, creativity and gratitude. Featuring guests in her field, Santos shares a wealth of research-backed knowledge and actionable advice with her audience, enticing young adults and psychology scholars alike. “The Happiness Lab” has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Apple Podcasts, based on over 14,000 ratings, making clear the tangible impact Santos has on her listeners and the immense outreach this podcast has achieved. In the depths of prelim season, “The Happiness Lab” is a welcome change of tone, helping you focus on the parts of life that are brighter than your attendance record this semester.
Third on the list is the manual for Adulting 101: “Sh*t They Don’t Tell You” by comedians Nikki Limo and Steve Greene. Lighthearted and exploratory, this podcast covers everything a young adult needs to know in the transition out of childhood, from buying a house to maintaining New Year’s resolutions to navigating Reddit rabbit holes. “Sh*t They Don’t Tell You” is the perfect mix of comical and informative, creating a listening environment that is altogether comfortable and authentic. Though these episodes are on the longer side — typically around an hour — Limo and Greene’s conversations on a single topic are extensive, so this podcast functions well in the background of a workout or a long walk where you can tune in and out intermittently without feeling like you’re missing vital, life-changing advice.
In the fourth spot is “Students of Mind,” hosted by L.A.-based mental health advocate Jayde Barber. Though Jayde is no psychology expert, she uses this platform to share her own experience and difficulties with mental health, often hosting clinical psychologists on the show to provide expert insight. On the show’s website, Jayde writes that her mission with this podcast is to “reduce the stigma and misinformation about mental illnesses,” making “mental health education more accessible and comprehensible.” As young adults, we are often bombarded with barrages of information about what mental illness should look or feel like, and it is easy to get swept away in statistics about the nationwide increase in suicide rates and mental health diagnoses. “Students of Mind” helps to streamline this information in an effortlessly comprehensible and relatable manner; whether you’re majoring in psychology or just curious about the inner workings of your mind, you should check it out.
Last on the list is “The Inforium” with Thomas Frank and Martin Boehme, previously titled “The College Info Geek.” Across more than 300 episodes, Frank and Boehme discuss habits that build discipline and resilience, study strategies to maximize productivity and tips and tricks to improve student life on the whole. This podcast is more academically inclined than the others on the list, but in recent episodes Frank and Boehme have shifted their focus away from the college audience and over to a broader range of topics, including personal finance and career advice. Though packed with instructions and strong opinions, “The Inforium” never feels like a lecture, owing to the comfortable, engaging manner that both co-hosts embody.
I could not in good faith recommend a list of podcasts without giving an honorable mention to the New York Times’ “The Daily,” a series of quotidian, 20-minute episodes that cover the most pertinent current events around the world. If you don’t have time to make it through every headline that hits your inbox, this is the perfect podcast to put on in the mornings to stay engaged and involved with the wild and unpredictable global happenings.
Gia Lish is a member of the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at glish@cornellsun.com.
