Recently, there has been a growing focus on the benefits of mindfulness.
Are you curious about how to get started with mindfulness and mindfulness meditation? Ready to dip your toes into this daily practice? Or maybe you need some encouragement, perhaps some fresh inspiration to get back into your daily practice. If so, this post is for you.
Among the thousands of podcasts available, we’ve made a list of those that address the topic of mindfulness meditation.
So, whip out your earphones, make a warm cup of something comforting, and find a cozy spot so that you enjoy this list of podcasts.
Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Mindfulness Exercises for free. These science-based, comprehensive exercises will not only help you cultivate a sense of inner peace throughout your daily life, but will also give you the tools to enhance the mindfulness of your clients, students, or employees.
These podcasts were selected based on sheer enjoyment and informativeness. In other words, no formal scientific criteria were used to prune the list.
The list of podcasts includes:
Podcasts dedicated to the topic of mindfulness and mindfulness meditation
Specific episodes centered on the topic of mindfulness and mindfulness meditation
Podcasts dedicated to the topic of anxiety
Specific episodes that explore anxiety
Most popular podcasts based on the download rate and reviews
There are several apps that you can use to listen to podcasts on your laptop, tablet, or phone.
Popular options include Grover, which you can use on a computer, PlayerFM, Spotify, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts, among others. All of the podcasts recommended here are available on the Grover app.
This initial list of mindfulness podcasts includes:
Podcasts that focus on general topics around mindfulness
Episodes that address mindfulness and mindfulness meditation
Five podcasts focused on mindfulness exercises
1. Mindfulness for Beginners
The podcast Mindfulness for Beginners is hosted by Shaun Donaghy. Even though the podcast is new – it only started at the beginning of 2020 – at this moment, there are already more than 30 episodes.
Shaun aims to make the principles of Buddhism and mindfulness accessible to all of his listeners. Each episode tackles a specific theme, is approximately 30 minutes long, and includes a short meditation. He shares his experience of meditation without being self-indulgent.
Recommended episode to get you started:
How do I make the world a better place? Body mindfulness meditation
2. Mindfulness in Eight Weeks
The Mindfulness in Eight Weeks podcast is a concise mindfulness program that spans eight weeks and is hosted by Michael Chaskalson.
Michael Chaskalson is an expert in mindfulness and has published four books that focus on mindfulness in the workplace.
There are two versions of the Mindfulness in Eight Weeks podcast. The difference between the two streams is the amount of time needed per day to dedicate toward mindfulness.
The more extended version is Stream One, Mindfulness in Eight Weeks: 40 Minutes a Day Program. The shorter version is Stream Two, Mindfulness in Eight Weeks: 20 Minutes a Day Program.
There are only eight episodes in each stream, and each episode focuses on a different exercise. This podcast is accompanied by a book of the same title (Chaskalson, 2014) and can be purchased from Amazon. We recommend starting with episode 1.
These episodes are a bit longer on average than the other podcasts, sometimes exceeding 30 minutes.
Ford’s podcast episodes are best suited if you have more time available to meditate and may not be suitable for a morning ritual (unless you have 30 minutes for meditation, of course).
These episodes were recorded from Zoom sessions, making them slightly less well produced; specifically, the sound quality is very slightly distorted. However, the sound quality does not detract from the content of the episodes nor the calming quality of Danny’s voice.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Silent meditation – 3-minute meditation timer (no guidance)
4. The Rubin Museum: Mindfulness Meditation Podcast
The Rubin Museum started a podcast initiative during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Normally, the museum hosts in-person meditation classes; however, since the museum has been locked down due to the pandemic, they have made the recordings of previous mindful meditation sessions available as a podcast.
Each episode is a guided meditation that focuses on a specific piece of art, which is linked to the theme for that week.
For example, the piece of art in the first episode is the Mandala of Hevajra Hevajra, and the theme for that week is ‘Seeking Refuge.’ Each episode begins with a discussion, followed by a guided meditation that is conducted by a formal meditation teacher from the local area around the Rubin Museum in New York.
This format might appeal to people who are looking for a somewhat different take on mindfulness, everyday life, and cultural talks. Take the time to navigate the website linked to each episode to see a photo of the artwork.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Mindfulness Meditation with Tracy Cochran Repost from 10/17/2018 (Theme: Hopes and Anxieties)
5. Guided Meditation by The Yoga Bunny
This podcast takes a more practical approach. In each episode, Bunok (the host) guides listeners through different mindfulness exercises including body scan, meditation, and deep breathing exercises.
The episodes are short – typically less than 10 minutes – so this podcast is perfect if you are starting a daily mindfulness habit.
Additionally, because these episodes are so short and easy to implement, you could easily listen to an episode at work during your lunch break.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Gratitude Meditation
Five podcasts focused on general mindfulness topics
Here is a list of podcasts that explore topics in mindfulness but are slightly more generalized than those in the previous section.
1. The JOY Factor
The JOY Factor podcast is hosted by Julia Hanson, who is a yoga teacher, life coach, and therapist. Each episode addresses a different topic with an expert.
Because the topics are so varied, this podcast remains fresh, and you won’t get bored with the host. New episodes are released infrequently, though, so you might have to wait a month or two before there is something new.
Recommended episode to get you started:
The Power of Compassion (Dr. Jennifer Sippel)
2. Wake Me Up
In the podcast Wake Me Up, host Tyler Brown focuses on three types of activities:
Motivations
Routines
Short meditations
In the motivation episodes, Tyler introduces content that is meant to inspire his listeners.
The routine episodes are varied and touch on topics such as fostering gratitude, developing discipline, and combating negative bias.
In the meditation episodes, he guides listeners through a meditation that is short enough to implement in other spaces or intervals during the day. In summary, the episodes of this podcast are useful if you’re trying to start a morning ritual, and episodes are typically short, between 10 and 20 minutes.
Despite being a new podcast, Tyler has produced a lot of content, so you’ll have a lot to keep you busy for a while.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Meditation Mini – Gratitude for Others
3. The Science of Happiness (PRX and Greater Good)
This podcast is a firm favorite because it checks all the boxes.
The production quality is excellent, the topics are interesting (and varied), and the interviews with experts are enjoyable.
This podcast is not solely dedicated to mindfulness, but it touches on a lot of topics and exercises that overlap with mindfulness (e.g., gratitude, mindful breathing exercises, and so forth).
The host of The Science of Happiness is Professor Dachter Keltner, who works at the University of California, Berkeley, and formed the Greater Good Science Center.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Three Good Things
4. Mindful Mama – Parenting with Mindfulness
Don’t let the title of the podcast turn you off. This podcast applies to any parent regardless of their gender. The host, Hunter Clarke-Fields, explores various topics that are relevant to parents today, for example:
How to spend more meaningful time with your children
How to tackle different punishment styles
How to address difficult topics (e.g., racial injustice)
Some of the earlier episodes begin with a five-minute meditation, followed by a discussion on the particular episode topic.
The name of this podcast, Practicing Human, is so clever, a play on the idea that the host and his listeners are humans who practice (mindfulness), but also that we are practicing what it means to be human.
Cory Muscara is the host of this podcast and is well versed in mindfulness and meditation. Based on his biography, he lived in silence for six months and mediated for more than 14 hours per day.
In Practicing Human, he offers tips and tools to help navigate pitfalls in our lives (e.g., work burnout, lack of confidence, poor sleep, and many more). This podcast is down to earth, the advice is practical and easy to implement, and the episodes are short. He’s very industrious; a new episode is released every two to three days.
Recommended episode to get you started:
“Seeing” Meditation
Four Helpful Podcasts for Coping With Anxiety
One benefit of mindfulness is that it results in reduced severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hofmann, Sawyer, Witt, & Oh, 2010). If you are interested in pursuing mindfulness for this reason, then you might be interested in the following podcasts that address a variety of methods of coping with anxiety.
The podcasts are not listed in any specific order. The first list consists of podcasts that specifically target anxiety. The second lists only episodes that deal with anxiety. These specific episodes may or may not belong to podcasts that focus on anxiety in particular.
Four podcasts for coping with anxiety
1. Anxiety Slayer
The first podcast worth recommending is Anxiety Slayer with Shann and Ananga.
The title is admittedly quite epic and gives little doubt about the intention of this podcast, but don’t dismiss it just yet. In each episode, hosts Shann Vander Leek and Ananga Sivyer discuss a different topic and are joined by specialists/clinicians who share their experience and knowledge.
The episodes are typically shorter than 30 minutes and easy to fit into your day. This podcast is very active, and a new episode is released frequently.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Four gentle ways to support yourself when anxiety flares up
2. The Anxiety Coaches Podcast
The Anxiety Coaches Podcast with Gina Ryan deals with topics surrounding anxiety, panic, and PTSD.
The topics are quite varied. Some episodes deal with psychological topics, whereas others look at natural health and medicine. This podcast might not appeal to everyone, but it is still worth listening to, primarily because of the variety of topics.
Gina’s voice is quite soothing, which adds to the appeal and seems fitting for a podcast combatting anxiety.
Recommended episode to get you started:
7 easy practices to quiet your anxiety
3. The Anxiety Guru Show
The Anxiety Guru Show with Paul Dooley is so slick, well put together, and of such high quality that you can tell that the production team is top-notch.
Paul Dooley has a down-to-earth, matter-of-fact approach to dealing with anxiety. Paul is a clinician, and for that reason, can be trusted with his insights.
The podcast has been running since 2014, and the episodes are approximately 30 minutes long. This podcast is better suited for a work or school commute, rather than a five-minute morning routine.
Recommended episode to get you started:
5 ways to manage anxiety-related irritability
4. GoZen! Anxiety Relief for Kids
GoZen! Anxiety Relief for Kids covers how to address anxiety experienced by children. Some of the episodes in this podcast center on topics familiar to anyone who follows PositivePsychology.com (e.g., meditation and mindfulness).
The quality of the episodes is excellent, and the podcasts are short. Unfortunately, there are only seven episodes, and the podcast was discontinued in 2015; however, the episodes remain relevant.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Meditation: Loving-kindness for stress relief
5. Six episodes for coping with anxiety
Here are a few specific podcast episodes that tackle anxiety specifically.
There are many episodes in the Mindfulness for Beginners podcast that deal with events that induce anxiety. Here are a few that could be useful:
These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients enjoy the benefits of mindfulness and create positive shifts in their mental, physical, and emotional health.
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Five Popular Podcasts
Unlike the previous section, where podcasts were evaluated based on the content of their episodes, in this section, the criterion used is their popularity. To construct this list, Chartable was used, which ranks podcasts across multiple apps.
Not all of the podcasts listed here are focused on mindfulness meditation only; however, the golden thread that connects them is their focus on positivity, mindfulness, health, and behavior.
1. 10 Percent Happier with Dan Harris
The book 10% Happier by Dan Harris (2014) is highly recommended, and so too is his podcast of the same name. The podcast is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 7,983 reviews, and is listed as one of the Top 10 ‘Lifestyle and Health Top Shows’ on the Stitcher app.
Dan Harris was a news reporter who experienced a panic attack while live on television; afterward, in his quest to figure out what went wrong, he stumbled on meditation.
His thoughts are refreshing, and he’s refreshingly like the rest of us. He’s skeptical, has a ‘normal’ life (i.e., he is busy, has a career and a family), and he does not profess to be an enlightened being who has somehow transcended the worries and activities of everyday life.
His podcast is excellent and highly recommend for anyone interested in happiness. Some of the podcasts are very Buddhism oriented, but there are quite a few that deal with anxiety, meditation, and mindfulness in more general terms.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Guided Meditation: ‘Simply begin again’
2. Optimal Living Daily: Personal Development & Minimalism
The Optimal Living Daily podcast comprises six different channels, each looking at a different aspect of life (e.g., business, finance, and so forth).
Of these six channels, the Personal Development & Minimalism is highly rated (4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 3,566 reviews). With the guidance of host Justin Malik, listeners can explore various topics that touch on how to improve mindset, productivity, and minimalism. So far, there are more than 1,000 episodes.
Recommended episode to get you started:
1663: Meditation: Make It What You Want It To Be – A Personal Experience of Meditation by Amy Pawlukiewicz
This podcast is the right pick for you if you’re looking for practical episodes. She guides her listeners through different types of meditation and yoga episodes, and there is enough variety that you won’t get bored.
On average, Mindful in Minutes is rated 4.8/5 stars.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Mindful Morning Meditation
4. Mindfulness+
Mindfulness+ by Thomas McConkie is very well received by reviewers (4.9/5 stars), and the reviews are glowing.
To date, there are four seasons, and new episodes are published every few weeks.
Thomas McConkie does an excellent job of balancing science with practice, presenting a mix of theoretical, thoughtful lessons and guided meditations.
Recommended episode to get you started:
S02 Wandering Mind, Unhappy Mind
5. The Overwhelmed Brain
In this podcast, the host, Paul Colaianni, explores many of the everyday stressors that drag us down (e.g., anxiety, fear, relationship problems), and through this exploration, he presents his listeners with tools that will help them.
The ultimate focus of this podcast is to change our behavior, make better decisions, and adopt better habits so that we are better protected from the things in our lives that overwhelm us and sap our energy.
The episodes in this podcast are on the longer side (more than 50 minutes), so make sure that you have some extra time available when you start.
Recommended episode to get you started:
Episode 66: A Practice in Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation - guided 10 minutes - The Honest Guys
A Look at the PositivePsychology.com Podcast
The final podcast we recommend is our own: the PositivePsychology.com podcast, hosted by Hugo Alberts and Seph Fontane Pennock.
Seph Fontane Pennock is an entrepreneur who uses positive psychology in his everyday life. Hugo Alberts has a doctorate in psychology and currently works as a researcher specializing in positive psychology.
Together, Seph and Hugo teamed up to create PositivePsychology.com in its current form. In the podcasts, the hosts either discuss a specific topic with each other or invite a guest speaker to join them. The discussions are relaxed and accessible because the hosts and guests often share their personal experiences.
So far, there are seven episodes available, and each episode is between 30 minutes and 60 minutes long. This podcast is a good choice for longer commutes and gives you another way to connect with the PositivePsychology.com team.
A Take-Home Message
There is no way to be bored with over 20 recommend podcasts listed in this post.
Some of the podcasts are dedicated to these topics entirely. In contrast, others take a more general approach and look at various topics of psychological significance, including mindfulness meditation and anxiety.
Lastly, our in-house podcast, the PositivePsychology.com Podcast, is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to learn more directly from Seph Fontane Pennock and Hugo Alberts.
What are 3 steps of practicing mindfulness meditation?
Step 1: Find a place where you can sit comfortably without being disturbed.
Step 2: Bring attention to your breath and notice the sensation of the air moving in and out of your body.
Step 3: As you breathe, observe your thoughts, allow them to come and go without getting caught up in them, or judging yourself for what you are thinking. If you get lost in thought, simply return to your breath.
What is the difference between mindfulness meditation and regular meditation?
The difference between regular meditation and mindfulness meditation is that regular meditation can involve a variety of techniques, such as focusing on a mantra or breath, or visualization. Mindfulness meditation, on the other hand, specifically emphasizes being present and non-judgmental in the moment.
What are 4 types of mindfulness meditation?
Four types of mindfulness meditation are:
body scan meditation,
breath awareness meditation,
loving-kindness (metta) meditation, and
open awareness meditation.
References
Chaskalson, M. (2014). Mindfulness in eight weeks: The revolutionary 8-week plan to clear your mind and calm your life. Harper Thorsons.
Harris, D. (2014). 10% happier: How I tamed the voice in my head, reduced stress without losing my edge, and found self-help that actually works – A true story. Hachette UK.
Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169-183.
About the author
Alicia Nortje, Ph.D. is a research fellow at the University of Cape Town, where she is involved in multiple projects investigating eyewitness memory and face recognition. She’s highly skilled in research design, data analysis, and critical thinking. When she’s not working, she indulges in running on the road or the trails, and enjoys cooking.
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What our readers think
Angelique
on April 5, 2021 at 20:25
My Favourite is your 10 Minute Meditation Podcast by Adrian Cooke of Head Boss. http://www.headboss.co.uk
Recently, there has been a growing focus on the benefits of mindfulness.
What our readers think
My Favourite is your 10 Minute Meditation Podcast by Adrian Cooke of Head Boss. http://www.headboss.co.uk
My favorite is Radio Headspace!