Meditating mindfully can help us manage our moods and improve our attention. Meditation can reduce symptoms of anxiety and can be beneficial for depression, too. Podcasts can work particularly well for mediation. You can listen to one of these meditation podcasts on a lunch break, first thing in the morning, or before bed at night.
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1. Tara Brach
Dr. Tara Brach received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Fielding Institute and has researched extensively into using meditation as a treatment for addiction. Her style blends western science and Buddhist principles, making her a favorite for many.
You can find Brach’s work on her website, Spotify, Pandora, and iTunes.
2. 10% Happier
Good Morning America anchor Dan Harris was pretty skeptical about meditation—and then he had a panic attack on live TV. The experience prompted him to check out meditation and write a best-selling book. His podcast isn’t just meditation: He often brings well-renowned guests from the mindfulness and meditation world to discuss the science and psychology behind the art of meditating.
You can find episodes of their podcast on the 10% Happier app or wherever you stream your podcasts.
3. The Mindfulness Meditation Podcast With Danny Ford
Danny Ford is a UKCP Accredited Integrative Psychotherapist and MTI Certified Mindfulness Teacher who created this podcast to help listeners cultivate a daily meditation practice. “My intention for the podcast is simple—to support you in beginning, sustaining, and deepening your meditation practice,” he writes on his website. Ford’s guided meditations range in length and tackle issues like mindful breathing and loving ourselves authentically.
Ford’s podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Luminary
4. Mindfulness in 8 Weeks: 20 Minutes a Day Program
This podcast is meant to accompany the book of the same name. If you’re completely new to meditation and want to ease into it, this is a good place to start. There are two versions of this podcast, one that includes twenty-minute meditations, and another with forty-minute options. This is a good podcast for those looking for a structured plan to create a meditation habit.
Find it on Apple Podcasts.
5. The Rubin Museum: Mindfulness Meditation Podcast
Meditating isn’t just about having an empty mind; if you struggle with the concept of thinking about nothing, you can meditate on things like art as well. The Rubin Museum of Art is located in Chelsea, New York, and it is dedicated to preserving and collecting art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions. They started their podcast to appreciate art and the mindful practice associated with these regions as well.
Each episode from the Rubin Museum is inspired by a piece of art from their collection. They also take time to discuss the art and theme for each episode before going into a twenty-minute meditation. This tends to make them a little long, so plan this one for a weekend or day off.
This podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more.
6. The Mindful Minute
Meryl Arnett has been teaching meditation since 2010. She started The Mindful Minute to introduce mindfulness in ways that are accessible to all. Episodes include guided meditations and recordings from past live classes, which often include a discussion portion at the end. This could be helpful if you’re looking for the classroom experience and are otherwise unable to attend an in-person class. She also hosts virtual meditations live for podcast listeners as well.
Episodes vary in length and theme, from ten-minute mini-meditations to full 30-minute classes.
You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Android, and Google Podcasts.
7. The Daily Meditation Podcast by Sip and Om
This podcast is great for those who only have a few minutes. Episodes are uploaded daily and are usually about ten minutes long, making them perfect for a lunch break, morning coffee, or even a drive home at the end of the day. Mary Meckley is a certified meditation teacher with a background in tea after she studied Chado, the Japanese tea ceremony prominently featured mindfulness practices.
You can listen via the Sip and Om app or on Apple Podcasts.
8. Mindful Meditations
This podcast is run by Mindful.org, a digital magazine on all things mindfulness, meditation, and wellness. They offer directories, training, content, and courses on cultivating a mindful practice for a healthier mindset. Each episode is relatively short and includes topics like gratitude, observing difficult emotions, and even meditations for kids.
It’s available on Spotify.
9. Meditation Minis
Only have a few minutes? Hypnotherapist Chel Hamilton has you covered with 5 to 12 minute mini-meditations perfect for busy lifestyles or beginners. Hamilton specializes in topic-focused, short meditations designed to help calm anxiety, self-doubt, and negative thinking.
You can listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
10. The Meditation Podcast
Husband and wife duo Jesse and Jeane Stern have been doing this free podcast since 2006, though their full archive is available to their Patreon supporters. Jesse is a certified Reiki master, qigong energy healer, and Theta Healing practitioner, and Jeane is a licensed minister and spiritual counselor. Their guided meditations feature binaural beats, which the Sterns believe can affect brain waves and bring deep relaxation.
Their meditations vary in length, with the most recent one being nearly an hour long.
You can listen on iTunes, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
11. I Should Be Meditating
For some, meditation doesn’t come easy. In those cases, it might be best to just “grin and bear it.” or, in the case of meditating, “sit and bear it.” Sometimes you just have to force yourself to do it until it comes naturally. Podcast host Alan Klima isn’t against the idea (it has its benefits) but his experience of forcing himself to meditate when he wasn’t into it wasn’t doing him any favors. He started this podcast to offer a well-rounded take on meditation, one that stays open and curious about what meditation can be.
Exploring a meditation practice is about finding what works for you, and Klima’s podcast is here to help you find that.
You can listen to I Should Be Meditating on iTunes.
12. Audio Dharma
This Buddhism-heavy podcast illuminates aspects of classic Buddha teachings and is led by various speakers from the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California. Dharma refers to the Hinduism law of inherent and eternal law of reality that governs cosmic law.
Episodes are anywhere from 12 to 30 minutes long and often features Gil Fronsdal, a Buddhist practitioner with a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Stanford.
You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.
13. The Astral Hustle
“I believe the more we understand ourselves, the less we suffer.” Cory Allen’s podcast is about learning how to live better from leading experts in mindfulness, neuroscience, and philosophy. Cory Allen is a meditation teacher and author. Each episode interviews a different expert, from spiritual leaders, therapists, and even musicians. Allen also has a series of guided meditations available.
This podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
14. The OneMind Meditation Podcast
You can apply meditation to all aspects of your life, not just a few minutes before your coffee or when getting ready for bed. In today’s busy world, it can feel impossible to make meditation and mindfulness a regular practice, but podcast host Morgan Dix argues that’s why it’s more important than ever. His mindfulness lifestyle podcast interviews meditation teachers and everyday practitioners, giving it a very accessible feel.
Episodes are equal parts guided meditations and expert interviews. If you’re curious about more on One Mind’s work, you can see their full list of podcasts here.
OneMind Meditation is available on Apple Podcasts.
15. On Being
If you’re looking for guided meditations, skip this one. If you’re curious about a more meditative approach to life, especially in the intersection between spirituality, arts, poetry, science, and social healing, then this Peabody Award-winning public radio show and podcast is for you. On Being explores what it means to be human and the immensity of the human experience.
Each episode explores a deeply human topic and asks what it means to us as a society, like this interview with a poet who makes the ordinary sound incredible, or a psychologist’s look at how the pandemic has affected us emotionally.
On Being is available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
16. Like You: Mindfulness For Kids
Like You is a mindfulness and meditation podcast for kids. It shares easy-to-follow breathing exercises, affirmations, and ways to relieve anxiety, explore feelings, and grow more empathetic—all accompanied by music and a relaxing audio experience. While the creators of the podcast cater directly to kids, anyone can listen, including parents, grandparents, and caregivers.
Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play.
17. Exploring Awareness
Radio broadcast interviewer Lisa Barry and professor at the University of Michigan Medical School Frank Anderson, MD created Exploring Awareness as a way to dig into their own curiosity about life. Throughout Exploring Awareness, listen and enjoy lively debates and conversations that encourage you to shift your perspective while still coming to your own conclusions. Consider this podcast a resource for everyone, from meditation beginners to experienced practitioners.
18. Rethinking With Adam Grant
Organizational psychologist and host of Rethinking, Adam Grant, interviews leaders from across the spectrum of mindfulness and meditation research, exploring topics like remote work, overall well-being, and productivity. Some of Grant’s guests include people like Brené Brown and Mark Cuban, as well as Olympic medalists, Nobel laureates, and Oscar winners. This podcast is all about embracing innovative thinking as a way to thrive!
Find it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
19. Speaking of Psychology
This podcast series explores a variety of the latest ground-breaking psychological research in the field of psychology. Produced by the American Psychological Association (APA), episodes delve into interesting topics like meditation, mindfulness, mental wellness, and the impact of therapy and other forms of treatment. The goal of Speaking of Psychology is to help listeners apply the science of psychology to their everyday lives.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean.
20. The Overwhelmed Brain
The Overwhelmed Brain with Paul Colaianni provides simple instruction to improve your life, get to the root of emotional issues, honor your personal boundaries, escape toxic relationships, and more. This podcast asks listeners to access a deeper mental strength in order to evolve into the kind of person they want to be. It doesn’t suggest that you simply slap a positive affirmation on top of your complex problems; instead, it’s all about curiosity and understanding.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play.
21. The Daily Stoic
The Daily Stoic podcast offers daily, easy-to-digest episodes about how to live a more Stoic life. This includes practicing meditation and journaling and making other small adjustments to your mindset and routine. Author and speaker Ryan Holiday covers some of the greatest Stoic thinkers from history, including Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. There is also a Q&A section with listeners and interviews with significant people from pop culture, politics, and academia.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean.
For Further Reading
- The Best Mindfulness Podcasts to Listen to Now
- Best Meditation Books for beginners and experienced alike.
- Best Meditation Apps
- Review of the Headspace App
- Youtube Channels for Meditation
