As a health and fitness reporter for my entire career, I’ve seen hundreds of health trends and trusted advice come and go. As fad fatigue (my own phrase) set in, I stopped following a lot of trends and truly unhinged morning routines. So trust that these health podcast recommendations are informed by my years-long private investigations into health and wellness.
These health podcasts made staying healthy an interesting and fun process for me. Health involves the human body, which is complex, myriad and infinitely fascinating, like a mystery box show or a Rube Goldberg machine. If you look at it this way, things like eating more vegetables or making sure you do exercise daily don’t feel like a begrudging chore; it feels like a game. These health podcasts carry this kind of awareness about the interesting side of human wellness. Each podcast asks a question, probes, picks and comes up with unexpected answers.
And, of course, no podcast is recommendable if it’s not rigorously researched. I love these pods because they feature not just one scientist or researcher, but many, so there’s an agreement about some scientific fact. Put together, listening to health and wellness podcasts is a fun activity, feeds my dinner table convo and becomes a hobby that keeps me healthy. I think this is the most important part of staying healthy: it has to be something you can happily invest in. To me, these health pods are a no-brainer. It’s free medical insight, actionable preventative information and practical tips that enter your brain and inform your decision-making for the better. In today’s economy, that’s a win-win-win.
And, if you have a podcast you think should be on this list, please email us! We love a good rec.
1. Zoe Science & Nutrition
This science-first podcast dives into popular topics like supplements, sleep and weight loss, but each ep has a professor, doctor or researcher to inform each discussion. And, each has practical takeaways you can use.
2. Maintenance Phase
Hosted by author Aubrey Gordon and journo Michael Hobbes, this debunk pod takes everything you internalised about health and wellness and asks, “what’s up with that?” They’ve tackled Dr Oz, Weight Watchers (remember that?!) and popular diets, from keto to carnivore. But they also take apart the discourse of fat and thinness, like “French Women Don’t Get Fat” or why we all believe we need 10 000 steps a day. Well worth the education.
READ MORE: Physical Symptoms That Mean Your Body Is Under Severe Stress
3. Hidden Brain
Science journo Shankar Vedantam uses his curiosity to dig into the science of our brains. He tackles topics like neuroplasticity, pain, acceptance and ideas like “What Is Normal?” You’ll come out with so much insight about the science of things, and feel smarter.
4. Gastropod
Food journalists Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley have been hosting this podcast for years – and it’s a wild ride through history, industry and human psychology. Not strictly about health, this podcast can’t be recommended enough. Think of it like the Magic School Bus, but for deep dives into food. They’ve uncovered the origins of the Mafia, tracing it to lemon farming in Italy (true story), and how coffee changed the world (literally).
READ MORE: Nervous System Regulation: 5 Calming Practices To Relax – Without Meditation
5. Sleep Magic
Believe it or not, you can hypnotise yourself to sleep. Hosted by hypnotherapist Jayni Terry, each episode starts with relaxation, then guided self-hypnosis. This is usually when most people fall asleep – and it’s less than five minutes in. But if you’re immune, keep listening: each episode continues with calm hypnotic storytelling for about an hour. You’re not likely to last that long.
6. 28ish Days Later
This award-winning BBC podcast by India Rakusen explores the menstrual cycle investigatively. Each episode covers one day inside the womb, watching its inner workings through history, science and of course, how it all influences the woman’s body.
READ MORE: How The ‘Imbokodo’ Myth Became A Mental Health Burden For South African Women
7. Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba
Mpoomy wants to ask the deep questions. In her quest, she sits down with different people to uncover meaningful discussions about empowerment, mental fortitude and success. Listen for personal stories from herself and guests, each inspiring and educational.
8. Strange Health
Human bodies are gross. And this show doesn’t shy away from it. They’ve asked the awkward questions, then passed them on to researchers, who talk through topics from gallstones to body odour. It’s thrilling stuff. Hosted by health editor at The Conversation Katie Edwards and Dr Dan Baumgardt, GP and lecturer at the University of Bristol.
9. This Podcast Will Kill You
This podcast probably won’t kill you. But the topics discussed might. Hosted by epidemiologists Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke, they’ve tackled diseases like cancer, healing medicines and vaccines and nasties like monkeypox and even alcohol. Fascinating and I’d argue, essential.
READ MORE: “I Didn’t Know I Had A Tilted Uterus Until It Impacted My Sex Life. Here’s What I Want Other Women to Know”
10/ The Bhekisisa Podcast
Hosted by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism, this podcast takes a much-needed look at healthcare in the South African context – and not just for those with medical aid. The pod is updated sporadically, but it’s worth the listen.
