Whether it’s from work, caregiving, emotional overload, or just trying to keep up with the pace of life, sometimes we all hit a wall. Fortunately, there are podcasts out there that can offer real help—not just quick fixes, but the tools, insight, and compassion you need to recover, recharge, and protect your mental health.
Here are 10 of the podcasts I turn to when I need to go from overwhelmed to just whelmed.
Mental Health Rewritten
Credit: Mental Healthy Rewritten
A constant cycle of shame can be one of the many reasons for feeling burnout, especially social burnout. On Mental Health Rewritten, Dominic Lawson is great at creating a cohesive and scientific narrative to help you combat shame with empathy, especially when that shame stems from elements of identity like race and gender. This season of the show hopes to help you rewrite your internal and external dialogues around sex, suicide, and cultural identity, from desire to dysfunction. At the very least, it might make you feel less alone and more heard.
10% Happier
Credit: 10% Happier
The prospect of living mindfully can be daunting, but on 10% Happier, Dan Harris makes it feel accessible. With a focus on meditation, neuroscience, and emotional balance, this show is a powerful antidote to burnout. Harris, who got interested in the topic after experiencing his own on-air panic attacks, interviews a wide range of experts, blending science with personal experience. He is a skeptical, funny, and refreshingly honest host, sharing his own struggles with anxiety, stress, and overwork, giving the show totally relatable, approachable vibe. (We can all make tiny changes, right?)
Therapy for Black Girls
Credit: Therapy for Black Girls
On Therapy for Black Girls, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford offers accessible, culturally sensitive conversations about mental health, boundaries, and navigating burnout aimed especially at Black women—but her advice resonates universally. She interviews experts on topics like people-pleasing, toxic workplaces, and self-care strategies. This show will both inform you and make you feel cared for.
The Happiness Lab
Credit: The Happiness Lab
The Happiness Lab, hosted by Yale psychology professor Dr. Laurie Santos, is a science-based, myth-busting deep dive into what truly makes us happy—and how modern life often sets us up for burnout instead. The show draws directly from Dr. Santos’ wildly popular Yale course “The Science of Well-Being,” which has helped millions rethink their approach to stress, work, and daily life. Dr. Santos blends storytelling with cutting-edge research to address stuff like toxic productivity, perfectionism, emotional exhaustion, and how our brains often trick us into habits that fuel burnout rather than prevent it.
Everything Happens with Kate Bowler
Credit: Everything Happens WIth Kate Bowler
On Everything Happens, Kate Bowler brings heartfelt honesty to difficult conversations about navigating the most challenging seasons in life, offering perspective and grace for those feeling overwhelmed or exhausted. A historian who recently faced down her own cancer diagnosis, Bowler excels at exploring the intersections of grief, loss, and resilience.
WorkLife With Adam Grant
Credit: Work Life With Adam Grant
On WorkLife, organizational psychologist Adam Grant dives into what we can do to make work better and less draining. His episodes on toxic workplaces, resilience, and remaining productive without burnout are essential listening. His expertise helps listeners reimagine work culture and personal habits, and not many people can blend academic research with engaging storytelling like Adam can.
What do you think so far?