Last updated on January 27th, 2023
Now and then, we need the extra support of an experienced professional to cheer us along as we move through life. Some people can afford life coaches, motivational seminars, and more, but for everyone else, we must make do with what’s free and readily available, like motivational podcasts. Motivational podcasts can help us figure out each step in life, no matter which road we’re taking.
Not every inspirational or uplifting podcast is made equal, and some will work better for certain listeners. So, when compiling this best of motivational podcasts list, I tried to find some that had different styles. Not everyone will be motivated by some high-energy speaker telling them they need to grind, while others will get fired up by it. Listeners can find long, short, motivational, inspirational, life hacky, and all the in-betweens on this list starting with…
Straight Up with Trent Shelton is a highly-intensity and candid podcast on life, career, and love. Former NFL wide receiver Trent Shelton has since become an international motivational speaker and uses his energy to touch listeners and change their lives.
Shelton delivers honest and real talk in short episodes to get listeners fired up and engaged in their own growth and the broader conversations around self-improvement. I found each episode intriguing and motivational for quick bursts of inspiration and an extra push in the right direction. In fact, I think out of all the motivational podcasts on this list, Straight Up with Trent Shelton is the one that got me geared up the most.
Using personal stories and musical soundscapes quietly playing in the background to set the listener at ease despite Shelton’s high energy, Straight Up with Trent Shelton is a great motivational listening experience for anyone needing an extra push in the right direction.
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Therapy for Black Girls is hosted by a Black mental health professional, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. With the host’s background as a licensed psychologist, Therapy for Black Girls combines mental health and personal development tactics and habits to live a healthier life. Dr. Bradford’s focus on providing Black women more information about mental care and health is unique and beneficial.
There is a discrepancy and deficit in mental health care provided to Black women and Black people in general, so having a podcast geared toward addressing that shortage is so necessary. I like that they give a direct disclaimer that Therapy for Black Girls isn’t a replacement for a real relationship with a therapist or mental health professional. Instead, Dr. Bradford offers listeners episodes based on issues important to Black women to start a dialogue, conversation, and outreach.
Unlike Straight Up with Trent Shelton, Therapy for Black Girls isn’t done in a motivational speaker style but rather a calming chat with educated friends.
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If you’re a fan of self-help or personal growth, then you have come across Gretchen Rubin’s books, resources, and talks. Did you know she has a podcast? Well, she has several podcasts, but this list highlights one in particular.
Happier with Gretchen Rubin is a motivational podcast with short episodes for quick boosts of motivation throughout your day. Some episodes are as short as three minutes, with small looks at people who have made their happiest decisions to pursue their passions and follow their dreams. Sometimes that’s all motivational podcasts need to be. Not a therapy session, but just a brief reminder.
The longer episodes are filled with stories and quotes to remind listeners to slow down and appreciate the world around them. Since Rubin has a large audience base, Happier with Gretchen Rubin has a lot of community encouragement and engagement. Happier with Gretchen Rubin is a perfect blend of discussions with professionals and motivational speakers to get listeners excited about the happier sides of life. It’s what a motivating podcast should be.
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For listeners who like motivational podcasts like Straight Up with Trent Shelton, The Quote of the Day Show | Daily Motivational Talks is another short and one of the more powerful motivational podcasts. The Quote of the Day Show is excellent for people who like quotes to ruminate over and hear being discussed in a broader life context.
What I really like about The Quote of the Day Show is how entrepreneur and money mindset expert Sean Croxton uses the original sound bites the quotes were taken from to add more depth to the show. It also allows listeners to hear the original context and how the speaker initially delivered it.
While Croxton brings a quiet power, many of the quotes and sound bites are from high-energy motivational speakers or life coaches. By examining the context of the passage and thinking about how it affects his own life, Croxton gives listeners a chance to think and engage with specific inspirational quotes on a deeper level.
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The One You Feed is based on the parable that two wolves live inside you fighting for dominance. Host Eric Zimmer leads listeners in discussions with authors, healthcare professionals, and more to help them incorporate healthier thinking and behaviors into their lives. If you prefer the softer-spoken motivation podcasts, The One You Feed will be right up your alley.
Each episode is around an hour long and provides deep insight from industry professionals on a mess of topics related to personal and self-growth. Since the episodes all surround different topics, listeners can find specific episodes for their current struggles, life questions, and more. While I didn’t enjoy all the episodes, I liked some of the topics covered and the guests brought on to create a diverse listening experience in a motivating podcast.
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Like the title suggests, Motivational Speaker Simerjeet Singh’s Podcast is one of those motivational speaker podcasts where the host Simerjeet Singh speaks to the listener, encouraging them to take charge of the choices in their lives. Singh gives listeners a wonderfully motivational podcasts and inspiring listening experience with a mixture of short and long episodes.
I really enjoyed Singh’s storytelling and voice in general. Those aspects made Motivational Speaker Simerjeet Singh’s Podcast feel like an audio fiction podcast meets a motivational podcast. I found Motivational Speaker Simerjeet Singh’s Podcast great for starting or ending my day. Singh provides listeners with exciting and reflective questions to help guide them along their journey.
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It deserves clarification: but Ashdin Doctor is not a doctor and is a life coach specializing in habit-forming and helping people incorporate healthy ones into their lives. The Habit Coach with Ashdin Doctor is the podcast branch of Doctor’s habit coaching. Doctor blends inspirational and thoughtful motivational speaking with storytelling to create an informative and helpful podcast.
The shorter episodes are structured around storytelling, personal experience, and tackling self-growth issues. Many of the motivational podcasts on this list touch on habits and habit forming, but The Habit Coach with Ashdin Doctor is the only one that focuses specifically on it. If you’re struggling with creating healthier and more mindful habits in your life, there are so many episodes to choose from that you’ll no doubt find the support and direction you need.
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Entrepreneur, CEO, investor, and public speaker Gary Vaynerchuk brings his unique blend of no-bullshit motivational speaking to his very own podcast. A mixture of motivational speaking, discussions with other professionals, direct questions and answers, The GaryVee Audio Experience is an excellent pick for listeners who enjoy high energy speaking and demanding self-accountability.
I found many of the episodes to center around topics related to self-improvement, life advancement, and general career smarts. Straight talk advice from Vaynerchuk’s own experiences and other stories from his work and life make up most of the podcast. The GaryVee Audio Experience blends short quick episodes and longer, more in-depth episodes for deep listening.
Because of Vaynerchuk’s high energy and in-your-face style, he tends to push a grind culture type of lifestyle. So, if that’s not your thing, steer clear!
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Aimed at listeners looking for a little more direction in their lives, The Mindset Mentor podcast with host Rob Dial brings low energy but inspiring motivational speaking. Like several other motivational podcasts on this list, The Mindset Mentor offers short episodes centered around specific helpful topics like focus, regret, and other self-help and life improvement tactics.
What I liked about The Mindset Mentor was that Dial provided straight talk about personal care and growth without feeling as though he was shoving it into listeners’ ears. It seems like a great morning podcast for motivation and support at the start of your day.
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The Good Life Project brings authors, speakers, scientists, and doctors together to talk about their struggles and life on their journey to define what a good life is. Along the way, the hosts and guests try to offer tactics and inspiration for listeners from their viewpoints and experiences.
Since all the guests are writers or intellects of some sort, the conversations had and experiences shared are done in a very well-spoken and intriguing way. Several times I forgot Good Life Project was a motivational podcast. Since the style leans away from motivational speaking and steers closer toward an interview-style podcast, the episodes offer inspiration and advice in a way that may be easier for some to digest and see how they can make the right choices in their own lives.
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