LISTEN YOUR WAY BACK TO BALANCE

You Should Be Listening To These Podcasts


Published on April 25, 2024


Image: Mohammad Metri

Ever since podcasts were created, their popularity has grown non-stop and the reasons are plenty. For starters, podcasts allow you to learn new stuff while you do something else. Podcasts keep you entertained as you get something else done.

Moreover, podcast productions today range from history to science, from literature to gossip. Even psychology is a whole different category within podcasts. And these can be quite helpful if we are trying to get some useful advice on how to lead a better and more balanced life. So, here are ten podcasts you should be listening to if that is your case!

1

The Doctor’s Farmacy

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Hosted by M.D. Mark Hyman, this podcast is within the category of health, but it goes far and beyond that. In this podcast, Hyman leads listeners on an exploration of the profound link between food and health. Maybe you are thinking: "Oh, not another dieting podcast," but this is not the case.

Hayman’s approach is rooted in functional medicine, a discipline that addresses the root causes rather than just providing treatment for different illnesses. He has a holistic perspective that focuses on human and environmental well-being as he understands that true health encompasses more than just what we put on our plates, it is all about nurturing our bodies and minds within the natural world.

You can listen to new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

2

Ten Percent Happier

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Hosted by Dan Harris, this podcast offers a unique and refreshing take on mindfulness and meditation. After having a panic attack on live national television, Harris gave meditation a chance despite his skepticism. This podcast is a testimony of his journey and how his initial stand on meditation turned into a powerful transformation.

"Ten Percent Happier" is different from other podcasts due to its pragmatic approach. Interviews with researchers, teachers, neuroscientists, and leaders are the means to show how practical tools and techniques can make your life easier.

Harris doesn’t shy away from addressing the challenges and misconceptions surrounding meditation, nor does he claim to have all the answers. Instead, he invites listeners to join him on a journey of exploration and self-discovery. Listen to new chapters every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning!

3

Feel Better, Live More

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"Health has become overcomplicated, I aim to simplify it," states its host, Rangan Chatterjee. Today, considering how fast the world moves, the quest for well-being can seem like an elusive pursuit. This podcast works as a refreshing antidote to the chaos, providing practical advice and actionable strategies for navigating life’s challenges with grace and resilience.

Chatterjee acknowledges the deep connection between mind, body, and soul and he takes a holistic approach with a keen focus on addressing the root causes of health. Listen to inspiring stories from health leaders and personalities that aim to debunk common myths surrounding well-being.

Nutrition, lifestyle, and more, this podcast will help you incorporate small (and not so small) habits into your daily routine to make mindful choices to lead a better-balanced life.

4

The Minimalists

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This name may ring a bell to you and that is because The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn, T.K. Coleman, and Ryan Nicodemus are Netflix stars and New York Times bestselling authors.

The Minimalists aim to show people how simplicity and purpose can be a transformative experience.

Through this podcast, the group explores the profound intersection of minimalism and intentional living, offering a roadmap to a life filled with greater joy, meaning, and fulfillment. Even if a part of it tries to convince listeners to declutter their physical spaces, its final goal is much deeper than that: it tries to show us how the minimalism principles can be also applied to other areas of our lives.

Whether they are discussing the liberating power of letting go of material belongings or the importance of cultivating meaningful connections, their message resonates deeply with listeners seeking a more meaningful way of living.

5

Best Laid Plans

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In her podcast, Sarah Hart-Unger shares insights, tips, and personal experiences related to planning, productivity, and intentional living. She discusses various aspects of planning, including time management, organization, goal-setting, and self-care. Sarah’s approach is practical and relatable, she draws on her own experiences as a busy working mother, physician, and podcaster now.

One of the strongest points of the podcast is Sarah’s ability to blend productivity strategies with self-reflection and mindfulness. Through candid conversations and solo episodes, she encourages listeners to get things done, but also to cultivate a sense of intentionality and purpose in their daily lives. This podcast covers a wide range of topics of modern busy life, listen to a new chapter every week!

6

Radio 1’s Life Hack

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This podcast is produced by BBC Radio 1, and hosted by VickHope and Katie Thistleton. In it, they cover a wide range of topics and offer advice on various aspects of life including mental health, relationships, career development, and personal finance.

Vicky and Kate provide a friendly approach to discussing these topics, often sharing their own experiences and inviting guests to offer their expertise and insight. Delving into how personal growth intersects with broader societal issues, the podcast aims to provide practical advice and support to help listeners navigate daily life more smoothly and efficiently.

Even if its target audience skews towards young adults, its insights are universal and resonate across age demographics.

Mind you, this podcast ended in the fall of 2020, but it came back with a few post-pandemic mini-series with some useful tips to make your life more eco-friendly.

7

Ask a Clean Person

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If you are handling your personal organization just fine, if you are an expert at handling anxiety and meditation is already a habit for you, but you struggle with cleaning, then this podcast is for you.

In it, Kerr offers practical advice, tips, and tricks for cleaning and maintaining a tidy living space. Listeners can submit their cleaning-related questions to Jolie who answers them with expertise and humor. Whether it is tackling tough stains, organizing cluttered spaces, or finding the right cleaning solution, Jolie provides helpful guidance to help listeners achieve a clean and organized home.

This podcast doesn’t air new episodes anymore, but the more than a hundred already posted are enough to get you going!

8

Do It Scared

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In a world where fear often holds us back from pursuing our dreams and reaching our full potential, this podcast serves as a beacon of hope and encouragement. Hosted by Ruth Soukup, Do It Scared offers an empowering and transformative journey for listeners seeking to overcome fear and live a life of purpose and fulfillment. With a warm and relatable approach, Ruth dives deep into the heart of fear, exploring its roots, its impact on our lives, and most importantly, how to conquer it.

Whether it is starting a new business, pursuing a passion project, or making a major life change, Soukup guides listeners to overcome adversity, sharing valuable insight and strategies for building confidence. Learn how to harness the power of fear and turn it into fuel for pursuing your dreams.

9

Habit Based Lifestyle

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This podcast hosted by Jesse Ewell covers a wide range of topics like nutrition, fitness, marriage, relationships, kids, business, and spirituality. Before creating this podcast, Jesse Ewell had a more than twenty-year career as a personal trainer and gym owner but decided to take a turn and go after a new life.

This new life includes inspiring people to learn about how a habit is formed and how we can all benefit from strong foundations when it comes to big changes and decisions. He understands that long-term choices require commitment and certain strategies to keep a sustainable approach.

Jesse maintains engaging discussions and expert interviews to break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand principles.

10

Huberman Lab

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This isn’t an average neuroscience podcast, it’s a deep dive into the inner workings of the human brain, led by neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman. With a focus on understanding how our brain influences everything from perception to behavior and health, this podcast offers a fascinating journey into the complexities of the nervous system.

In his podcast, Huberman translates complex scientific concepts into digestible insights for listeners. He discusses the influence of vision and breathing on human behavior and explores some tools for optimizing neural plasticity.

An interdisciplinary approach is the key, neuroscience, psychology, and physiology together blend into a holistic approach to understand how the brain interacts with the body and the environment.


Timeless wisdom shared

What did Eleanor Roosevelt mean by that? Famous phrases explained


Published on April 25, 2024


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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams": iconic quotes like this inspire us, and "Well done is better than well said" captures an important life lesson. If we keep these words in mind more often, life might be a little easier. Here are 10 famous phrases by remarkable people and what they really mean.

1

"That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." – Neil Armstrong

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Chores and work pile up for everyone, and the beginning is often the hardest part. But once you do, even with just one tiny task, that’s enough to get you going. Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) was an aeronautical engineer, astronaut, and the first human to set foot on the moon as commander of the Apollo 11 mission.

Spoken on July 20, 1969, these words marked the crowning moment of the U.S. space program during the Cold War. The phrase contrasts the literal step Armstrong was taking with the broader achievement it represented for humanity.

2

"Stay hungry, stay foolish." – Steve Jobs

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Sometimes we want to motivate others and even ourselves to "think different", as Apple once said, and no one embodied that better than Steven Paul Jobs, more popularly known as Steve Jobs (1955-2011).

He was an influential entrepreneur, industrial designer, and media mogul who co-founded and was the CEO of Apple. Jobs delivered this iconic line during Stanford University’s commencement speech in 2005. Essentially, it is a call to maintain an insatiable curiosity and desire to learn ("stay hungry") and an openness to risks and unconventional ideas without focusing on the possibility of failure ("stay foolish").

3

"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated." – Maya Angelou

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How many times have you had a rough day or been through something that made you feel like giving up? This famous quote by Dr. Marguerite Annie Johnson, better known as Maya Angelou (1928-2014), reminds us that true defeat comes when we give up and that resilience helps us get up after every fall. In other words, success isn’t about avoiding failure but about refusing to let it break you.

She was an internationally acclaimed writer, poet, singer, and civil rights activist. She published seven memoirs, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), three books of essays, and several collections of poetry.

4

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." – Muhammad Ali

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Just when we can feel like we are a walking paradox, words have the unique ability to connect opposites. Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) was an American boxer, activist, and one of the most influential sportsmen of the 20th century. He is widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time and was also known for his poetic flair.

This famous quote brings together his love for language and legendary fighting style. It describes how he moved effortlessly around the ring before delivering his sharp knockout blows.

5

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt

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You’ve probably faced moments of doubt in your life, a trip that seemed impossible to take, or a job that felt out of reach. But there comes a point when we must remember the things we dare to imagine are the blueprints for where we are headed.

That’s exactly what Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) meant by this phrase. The former U.S. First Lady, tireless civil rights advocate, and U.S. delegate to the United Nations was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. She didn’t just write these words; she lived by them. This quote reflects her belief that ordinary people can make a difference if they dare to dream and have the perseverance to act.

6

"Well done is better than well said." –Benjamin Franklin

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Sometimes the most important ideas sound the simplest, but they were once said by people who were so different from the rest that they made difficult ideas seem easy. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was one of these people. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, as well as a politician, scientist, and American inventor.

Franklin’s maxim, published in his Poor Richard’s Almanack (1737), means that taking action and achieving concrete results is much more important than merely talking about things without getting anywhere. Ultimately, it is the 18th-century equivalent of "Actions speak louder than words."

7

"Speak softly and carry a big stick." – Theodore Roosevelt

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Topics such as foreign policy can seem distant and complex, but Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), an American politician who served as the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909, and vice president in the preceding term, made the idea easier to understand and applicable to everyday life.

This phrase, often cited as a proverb, was popularized by Roosevelt in reference to foreign policy. It means that one should negotiate peacefully and respectfully ("speak softly"), while sustaining a constant and credible threat of power in reserve ("carry a big stick") to back up one’s words.

8

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity." – Amelia Earhart

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How often are we afraid to go after what we want? And when we finally do, how many of us are strong enough to keep going and face the challenges ahead? Amelia Earhart (born in 1897, missing since 1937, and declared dead in 1939) was a pioneer in American aviation, having been the first woman to cross the Atlantic nonstop and alone, and the person who said these words.

They remind us that the mental hurdle of starting something new and facing one's fears is often the hardest step. Once you commit, however, overcoming the obstacles that will arise requires determination and endurance.

9

"Women's rights are human rights." – Hillary Clinton

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At times, the most obvious truths are the hardest to explain, but not for Hillary Clinton (born in 1947). She has had an internationally acclaimed career spanning roles as a politician, diplomat, lawyer, and philanthropist. She was the 67th United States Secretary of State, served in the United States Senate, and ran for president in 2008 and 2016.

Her quote was delivered in 1995, when she was First Lady, at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing, China. This iconic statement dismantles the excuse that women’s issues are either cultural or secondary, and instead establishes that protecting women is an essential component of universal human rights.

10

"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth." – Abraham Lincoln

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Another issue that often appears to be complex is the structure of government, but another great American politician, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), who was a lawyer and served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865, helped us understand it better.

Lincoln spoke these words in 1863 during the Gettysburg Address, which is considered one of the clearest definitions of American democracy: power derives from the consent of the governed (the people); it is exercised by their representatives (by the people); and it exists there to serve the public welfare (for the people).

Looking for an extra scoop of literary fun?

Learn more with our Word of the day

vivid

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