What are the top psychology podcasts to check out as we head into 2022?
So glad you’re here!
We’ve combed through all the podcasts about psychology we could find to create this list.
Because everyone can benefit from getting better acquainted with the way their minds work.
What’s really behind your most life-changing decisions?
And what breakthrough discoveries will you make about yourself by this time next year?
What to Look for in Good Psychology Podcasts
Before we dive into the list, it helps to know what qualities to look for in a psychology podcast. The key here is to identify what you want to gain by listening to a psychology podcast.
Once you know that, it makes sense that the following qualities would make some podcasts stand out from the rest.
- An engaging host who’s an expert or who interviews knowledgeable guests;
- A clear focus for the podcast, which can include a variety of related subtopics;
- Guests with deep and relevant knowledge or experience;
For example, you might be interested in how the brain influences mental health and our daily decisions and moods.
Or you might prefer a podcast that focuses on the power of the unconscious and the real reasons behind your most impactful decisions.
Whatever your particular interests, we think you’ll find more than one podcast below that will pique your curiosity.
9 of the Best Psychology Podcasts to Follow
After thoughtful consideration of the many options available, we’ve chosen the following nine psychology podcasts, all of which are well worth your time. Read through the descriptions and make a note of the ones that stand out for you.
1. All in the Mind with Sana Qadar
Hosted by Sana Qadar — an award-winning podcaster and journalist featured on ABC/Australian Broadcast Company, BBC, Al-Jazeera, and NPR (to name a few) — All in the Mind explores everything from addiction to artificial intelligence to gain and share insights into all things mental.
The goal is to understand better the human brain and how it affects our personalities, attitudes, and behavior.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and the ABC Listen app
Recent Episodes:
- “Psychedelics for Mental Illness”
- “Overcoming Resentment with Gratitude”
- “How Dopamine Drives Our Addictions”
2. Becoming Unrivalled with Mac Rundle
Your host, Mac Rundle, is a peak performance coach with expertise in nutritional medicine, fitness performance, and DNA testing.
Becoming Unrivalled is about sharing useful information about personal health, longevity, and vitality. The goal of expanding your knowledge with evidence-based research is to help you reach your highest potential.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and YouTube.
Recent Episodes:
- “When to Love or Leave Your Relationship”
- “Skinny is Not Healthy, and Why Most People Have It Wrong”
- “How to Re-Wire Your Brain for Better Results”
3. Choiceology with Katy Milkman
The host for Choiceology, Wharton professor Katy Milkman, delights in sharing stories about people who made poor choices—from epic historical blunders to everyday errors in judgment.
Her guests include well-known voices in the field of psychology, including Angela Duckworth and Laurie Santos, as well as any whose experiences illustrate the psychological traps that lead to costly mistakes.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Player.fm.
Recent Episodes:
- “This Episode Will Make You Stronger” with Sister Dang Nghiem (#403)
- “Rewire Your Relationship to Your Body” with bonus meditation by Anushka Fernandopulle
- “Jameela Jamil on Mental Self-Defense” (#400)
4. Hidden Brain with Shankar Vedantam
Each week, your host, Shankar Vedantam, dives into the science behind the unconscious influences behind human behavior, the choices we make, and how we direct our relationships.
Each episode connects research findings from psychology experts in several fields (anthropology, economics, and sociology) to everyday human behavior. The goal is to help you understand why we do the things we do.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, etc.
Recent Episodes:
- “Work 2.0: The One-Room Commute”
- “We Broke the Planet. Now, What?”
- “When You Need It to Be True”
5. On Being with Krista Tippett
Your host, Krista Tippet, embraces spirituality as a key factor in personal growth, empathy, and communication. Her episodes feature discussions grounded in research and thoughtful testimony from hosts such as Jane Goodall, Alain De Botton, and Brené Brown.
While not seeking to convert anyone to a particular religion, Tippett warns against the pitfalls of ignoring the importance of faith, secular or otherwise, to human psychology.
Available on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts
Recent Episodes:
- “Jane Goodall — What It Means to Be Human”
- “Mike Rose — The Deepest Meanings of Intelligence and Vocation”
- “Stephen Batchelor — Finding Ease in Aloneness”
6. The Psychology Podcast with Dr. Barry Kaufman
Best known for his work on creativity and intelligence, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman interviews some of the best minds in the field of developmental psychology.
Expect to hear insightful conversations on topics such as learning, disabilities, and the development of a psychopath, as well as aging, resilience, and infidelity.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify
Recent Episodes:
- “Joy Lawson Davis and Deb Douglas || Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students”
- “David Sinclair || Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To”
- “Esther Perel || Love, Eros, and Infidelity”
7. The Three Questions with Andy Richter
The host, Andy Richter, asks three questions of each of his guests: “Where do you come from?” “Where are you going?” and “What have you learned?”
Each episode is named after his guest, and Richter believes their honest answers to these simple questions can reveal surprising and profound insights into who they are, how their minds work, and why they do what they do.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and podbay.fm.
Recent Episodes:
- Tammy Newsome
- Mike Shur
- David Duchovny
8. Brain Science with Ginger Campbell, MD: Neuroscience for Everyone
As an experienced clinician, Dr. Ginger Campbell takes a particular interest in neuroscience and its recent discoveries.
Her guests are scientists and authors who share her passion for exploring how our brains influence our decisions and make us who we are. Listeners who share that interest will find this podcast a source of valuable information and insights.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and YouTube
Recent Episodes:
- “Anil Seth, author of Being You: A New Science of Consciousness”
- “Mark Humphries, author of The Spike: An Epic Journey Through the Brain in 2.1 Seconds”
- “Iris Berent, author of The Blind Storyteller: How We Reason About Human Nature”
9. Foreplay Radio — Couples and Sex Therapy with Dr. Laurie Watson and George Faller, LMFT
Your hosts, Dr. Laurie Watson and George Faller, dive into the kinds of topics usually reserved for private therapy sessions — with a particular focus on couples therapy. They explore the psychology behind the sexual and emotional disconnect that leads so many couples to therapy or divorce (or both).
They don’t shy away from difficult or sensitive topics, and they draw from their professional experience to help their listeners reignite the spark in their relationships.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify
Recent Episodes:
- “Closing the Orgasm Gap”
- “Pain Points: How to Heal Attachment Injuries Together”
- “Forbidden Dark Places — Shame and the Sexual Cycle”
More Related Articles
103 Things To Do When Bored In A Class Lecture
37 Fun Things To Do By Yourself
29 Fun And Memorable Girls Night In Ideas
Now that you’ve looked through all nine of the psychology podcasts listed above, which ones stood out for you? Which one scratches an itch for you?
We hope you find a new favorite — something you’ll want to listen to every week or as often as new episodes come out. Follow your interests, and feel free to browse the episode lists to find those that interest you most.
Which one will you listen to first?
