Podcasts are a recurring theme on this blog. I’ve already written about my favorite creative podcasts, beauty podcasts, blogging podcasts, and binge-worthy podcasts in the past, and considering that my current subscription list is at 120, you can expect more thematic lists in the future.
If you’re wondering how on earth I have the time to keep up with all these different podcasts – I most definitely don’t.
In the last few years, I became very intentional and selective about how I consume content. Before that, I had a difficult time drawing boundaries.
I followed blogs and feeds just out of habit. I never quit books and it took me more time than it should have to abandon TV shows that became boring or bad after a promising start. I’m probably not the only one who sometimes feels the pressure to finish things or feels bad about quitting after I’ve invested so much time into something (the irony, of course, is that results in even more time wasted). In the case of podcasts, when I found a new one, I felt like I had to go back and start from the beginning and not skip any episodes.
With the insane amount of content we have access to, it’s easy to lose control and slip into an endless binge consuming mode, not even questioning whether what you read/watch/listen to actually adds real value to your life.
Nowadays, I’m very firm about those boundaries and thus protecting my time. I regularly declutter my social media feeds. I quit or don’t even start TV shows no matter how trendy they are if they bore me. I skip podcast episodes if they don’t particularly interest me.
I only consume what I really want and when it suits me, not the moment it pops up on my screen. I don’t let FOMO dictate how I spend my time.
So, no, I’m not spending 128 hours a week on podcasts. There are a couple of ones I listen to every week. The others – depending on my mood. Sometimes I feel like listening to politics or educational podcasts. Other times, I want lighter themes and open my skincare, pop culture, or lifestyle playlists.
And when I’m in the mood for some healthy lifestyle inspiration, I turn to my favorite wellness podcasts.
I researched and tried several wellness-themed podcasts in the last few months. Some I quit because I didn’t enjoy them, some I didn’t even start (like the Goop podcast – I refuse to support them on any platform).
These are my current favorites.
Forever 35
Hosted by wellness addicts and writers Doree Shafrir and Kate Spencer, Forever 35 is all about self-care. I love that they discuss every imaginable wellness topic, from skincare, nutrition, gym time, fashion, organizing to more personal issues like impostor syndrome, self-acceptance, burnout, body acceptance or career reinvention. It’s a very relatable, interesting, and versatile show.
The mindbodygreen Podcast
I’m a quite regular reader of the popular wellness site mindbodygreen, but until recently I wasn’t aware they also had a podcast. It is hosted by mindbodygreen founder Jacob Wachob and it’s a show about mental, physical, spiritual, and environmental wellbeing – I really like they include sustainability topics as well. They have tons of great guests (just take a look at the episode titles), who share their expertise, insights, practical tips, and personal journeys as well.
The Kevin Rose Show
This podcast is my latest find and a show that I’ve actually been binge-listening to recently. Kevin Rose is a tech entrepreneur and investor and he labels his show as a “podcast for the curious”. He sits down with some pretty big names: authors, technologists, scientists, meditators, self-experimenters, and productivity hackers to explore how to reach peak personal and professional performance while living a minimal and balanced life. I like that he goes really deep into the topics and the unfolding conversations are often fascinating.
The Wellness Mama Podcast
Katie is the blogger behind the award-winning wellness and lifestyle blog, The Wellness Mama. She manages a family with six kids, her company, and online brand and still has time and energy to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Her podcast focuses on holistic health, natural living, and wellbeing. She interviews experts, uncovers the science behind wellness trends and topics (often debunking popular myths – bonus points for that) and provides simple and actionable wellness tips. I love how versatile this show is; I always learn a ton just by listening.
The Mindful Kind
Hosted by Rachael Kable, The Mindful Kind podcast focuses on the mindfulness aspects of wellbeing – how to build positive lifestyle habits, healthy routines, and how to live a stress-free, intentional life. Sometimes, discussions about mindfulness are a bit too vague for me, but this podcast has a very practical approach with actually actionable tips. Also, the episodes are short, around 10-minutes long, so they are perfect when I have only a little bit of time for podcast listening.
