Our list of life and advice podcasts.
Life is full of ups and downs.
Errands. Obligations. Commitments. Responsibilities. Boundaries. Goals. Relationships.
It's enough to make your head spin!
It helps to know that you aren't alone in the problems you face. Somewhere, someone out there is going through the same thing — or could be going through something much, much worse.
Greg Audino is our resident host at Optimal Living Advice (OLA). This is a new show that was launched this year, and the newest show in the Optimal Living Daily network.
We've put together a list of other advice podcasts for the times where you feel like you'll learn the most from the QnA format. Some of the shows on the list take in questions from listeners. Your questions and answer might even be featured on an episode.
So if you're feeling down and blue, these podcasts should help you feel less alone — and you might just get the perfect piece of advice right when you need it!
1. Optimal Living Advice (OLA Podcast)
Who: Hosted by certified life coach, Greg Audino
Where: Website | Spotify | iTunes
What: Greg answers all of your life questions. “How do you become more compassionate?” “How do you find your soulmate?” “How do you measure progress with depression?” These questions and more are answered.
Fun Facts:
- Greg is also the host of Optimal Relationships Daily as of 2020.
- Greg posts life advice videos on his website and YouTube. Videos include “How Persistence Can Kill You” and “7 Signs it's Time to Change Your Job.”
- In Jan 2021, we compiled a list of top mental health episodes from the show.
- Send your life question to Greg at the following address! → advice AT oldpodcast DOT com
2. Dear Sugars
Who: Hosted by Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond
Where: Website | Spotify | iTunes
What: Hosts give radically empathic advice in this podcast, no matter how deep the topic might be. Episodes cover moving on, isolation as experienced by a teenage listener, emotional labor, the choice to be childfree, and more.
Fun Facts:
- Cheryl Strayed's New York Times bestselling memoir Wild was chosen by Oprah Winfrey as her first selection for Oprah's Book Club 2.0.
- Steve Almond has authored ten books of fiction and nonfiction, including the NYT bestsellers Against Football and Candyfreak.
- The show ran for four years — the Sugars say what goodbye means to them in this episode. The archives are available for all to listen to and learn from.
3. Unsolicited Advice
Who: Hosted by Ashley Nichole and Taryne Renee
Where: Website | Spotify | iTunes
What: These two ladies answer all of your wild and zany questions! YouTubers/Comedians Ashley and Taryne answer questions on love, dating, jobs, and some of life's strange or embarrassing situations.
Fun Facts:
- The Unsolicted Advice podcast was trending on Spotify on 14 Feb (Valentine's Day).
- Podcast fan and listener @liladoesfanfics did a vibrant illustration of Ashley and Taryne, based on the podcast cover image.
- Episode titles include “Fake Friends Showing Fake Love to Me” and “How to Not Get Murdered.” (The latter covers how to avoid premature death, something fans of the show 1,000 Ways to Die should appreciate!)
4. Dear Prudence
Who: Hosted by Danny M. Lavery
Where: Website | Spotify | iTunes
What: This podcast is Slate's advice column. Host Danny is an author and editor, who was included in the 2015 Forbes “30 under 30” list in the media category.
Fun Facts:
- The archives contain 2,800 plus (and counting) episodes.
- Recent episodes involve a listener getting too close to a work husband, a fiancee wanting three dogs (a pet the listener finds needy and expensive), and an acquaintance sending an inappropriate photo to a listener's teenage daughter.
- When Danny was a student at a private university in California, he appeared on Jeopardy! episode 5816 on December 21, 2009. He came in third place.
5. Art of Charm
Who: Hosted by Johnny and AJ
Where: Website | Spotify | iTunes
What: This podcast focuses on social dynamics through helping you build charisma, perfecting your “people connector” skills, and improving your love life.
Fun Facts:
- Johnny and AJ have run 380+ bootcamps since 2008 to help men with social anxiety to improve their social skills.
- AJ has a background in cancer biology.
- Johnny learned the art of persuasion and influence while working in the music business.
6. The Brendon Show
Who: Hosted by Brendon Burchard
Where: Website | Spotify | iTunes
What: Brendon is a world-renowned high performance coach. He reaches millions each week with key messages on how people can live a life they love and that matters.
Fun Facts:
- A Brendon Burchard quote: “No matter how small you start, start something that matters.”
- Listed by Facebook Insights as one of the Top 100 Most Followed Public Figure in the World.
- Half a million people use Brendon's 1-Page Productivity Planner daily.
7. Good Life Project
Who: Featuring Icons
Where: Website | Spotify | iTunes
What: Good Life Project features intimate and inspirational, unfiltered conversations on living a purposeful life. Guests include Elizabeth Gilbert, Gretchen Rubin, and Seth Godin, along with everyday guests who all have a story that matters.
Fun Facts:
- The episodes featuring Elizabeth Gilbert and Jonathan Fields are recommended as episodes to listen to for a feel of this podcast.
- There's a free, 10-minute “Sparketype” test you can take on the website of Good Life Project. It will help reveal the type of essential work you'd find meaningful.
- The Good Life Journal helps you create your own good life through fun and simple, science-based practices to infuse productivity and reflection into your daily routine.
8. Life Kit by NPR
Who: Hosted by NPR
Where: Website | Spotify | iTunes
What: A special series by NPR on essential life skills you should develop.
Fun Facts:
- Episodes include “Making Art is Good for Your Health,” “How to Quit Your Job Well,” and “Helping A Child Whose Parent Is Struggling With Addiction.”
- NPR is a nonprofit media organization that was created with a vision for a more informed public. Over a thousand stations broadcast the NPR.
- NPR has 27.4 million weekly listeners tuning in to any one of their shows!
9. Advice to My Younger Me
Who: Hosted by Sara Holtz
Where: Website | Stitcher | iTunes
What: This podcast gives women practical advice when it comes to navigating the workplace. Host Sara and expert guests act as mentors to younger women on how to build a meaningful and successful career path.
Fun Facts:
- Sara has had an accomplished career as a business lawyer, senior executive, and nationally-recognized expert.
- Episodes include “It's Not Her, It's the Workplace,” “How to Build Your Dream Network,” and “What Your Body Language Communicates.”
- Sara has been described as “reflective, caring, and confident,” which are ideal qualities in a mentor and friend. (iTunes review)
10. Detail Therapy
Who: Hosted by Amy Landino
Where: Website | Spotify | iTunes
What: A podcast to help you create the life you desire. Award-winning YouTuber Amy Landino seeks out successful individuals and gets all the details on how they changed their lives for the better.
Fun Facts:
- Amy and her partner, Vincenzo Landino, are the co-founders of Aftermarq, a company providing content strategy for brands.
- Amy's YouTube channel has 13 million plus views and hundreds of thousands of subscribers.
- Amy shares her insights on vlogging and attaining digital attention in her best-selling book Vlog Like a Boss: How to Kill It Online with Video Blogging.
