Best Psychology Podcasts: Top 10 to Understand the Mind (2026)

After having a panic attack on live TV, ABC News anchor Dan Harris became a skeptics-turned-believer in meditation. In this podcast, he interviews world-class meditation teachers, scientists, and experts to explore how we can use mindfulness and psychology to improve our lives. It's a practical, evidence-based approach to wellness. What sets Ten Percent Happier apart from other health podcasts is its a skeptical, down-to-earth approach to mindfulness that prioritizes science and practicality over 'woo-woo'. The show is particularly valuable for skeptics, busy professionals, and anyone looking for practical tools to manage stress and anxiety. New episodes are released two to three times weekly, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. The podcast offers both free and premium content, giving listeners flexibility in how they engage with the show.

Dr. Laurie Santos teaches 'The Science of Well-Being', Yale's most popular course ever. In this podcast, she takes those lessons to the world. Using the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics, she explores why our minds lie to us about what makes us happy—and what the science says we should do instead. What sets The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos apart from other health podcasts is its yale's most popular course on happiness, delivered as a free podcast by the professor who created it. The show is particularly valuable for anyone who wants to be happier, psychology enthusiasts, and fans of evidence-based self-improvement. New episodes are released weekly, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos is completely free to listen to on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Maintenance Phase is a funny, deeply researched, and often shocking look at the world of 'wellness.' Hosts Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes take apart everything from the BMI and the Master Cleanse to wellness influencers and fatphobia in the medical system. It's an essential listen for anyone who wants to understand the science (and lack thereof) behind modern health trends. What sets Maintenance Phase apart from other health podcasts is its hilarious and rigorous debunking of harmful health myths and the 'wellness industrial complex'. The show is particularly valuable for skeptics, science nerds, and anyone interested in body justice and public health. New episodes are released bi-weekly, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. Maintenance Phase is completely free to listen to on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

The Doctor's Kitchen is a podcast about medicinal navigation. Dr. Rupy Aujla, an NHS doctor, interviews world-leading experts on the science of nutrition and lifestyle medicine. He translates complex research into delicious, practical, and science-backed advice on how to use food to prevent and manage illness. It's an optimistic and evidence-based guide to health. What sets The Doctor's Kitchen apart from other health podcasts is its a unique blend of clinical expertise and culinary passion, focusing on food as medicine. The show is particularly valuable for anyone interested in using nutrition to improve their health and prevent disease. New episodes are released weekly, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. The Doctor's Kitchen is completely free to listen to on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Hidden Brain focuses on the intersection of psychology and storytelling. It explores the 'hidden patterns'—the unconscious biases, social cues, and mental shortcuts—that influence how we make decisions, how we feel, and how we interact with others. Each episode combines rigorous social science with relatable human stories. What sets Hidden Brain apart from other science podcasts is its explains the 'why' behind everyday human behavior using deep psychological insights. The show is particularly valuable for anyone interested in psychology, human behavior, and understanding the irrational parts of ourselves. New episodes are released weekly, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. Hidden Brain is completely free to listen to on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Food Psych is a podcast about intuitive eating, body image, and the fight against diet culture. Registered dietitian Christy Harrison explores the complex relationship between food and mental health, interviewing world-class experts on eating disorder recovery, HAES (Health at Every Size), and social justice. It's a challenging and empowering look at health beyond the scale. What sets Food Psych Podcast apart from other health podcasts is its the leading resource for dismantling diet culture and building a peaceful relationship with food and body. The show is particularly valuable for people in recovery from eating disorders, those struggling with body image, and anyone tired of diet culture. New episodes are released weekly, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. Food Psych Podcast is completely free to listen to on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

The Habitat follows the true story of the HI-SEAS experiment—six people locked in a small dome on a Hawaiian volcano for a year, simulating a Mars mission. It's less about science and more about psychology: what happens when human beings are confined in a small space with limited resources and no escape? It's a gripping, often funny, and deeply human listen. What sets The Habitat apart from other science podcasts is its a real-life reality show set on a simulated mars mission. The show is particularly valuable for space fans, psychology enthusiasts, and fans of shows like big brother who want a smart, narrative version. New episodes are released complete, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. The Habitat is completely free to listen to on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Invisibilia (Latin for 'invisible things') explores the intangible forces that shape our lives. From how we form habits to the hidden power of categories and concepts, it combines personal stories with the latest research in psychology and neuroscience to show how invisible forces control our behavior. It's deeply fascinating and consistently mind-bending. What sets Invisibilia apart from other science podcasts is its explores the invisible psychological forces that control us, with npr-level storytelling. The show is particularly valuable for fans of radiolab and hidden brain who want to understand the hidden drivers of human behavior. New episodes are released seasonal, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. Invisibilia is completely free to listen to on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Science Vs is a rigorous yet hilarious podcast that uses scientific evidence to debunk common myths and urban legends. Host Wendy Zukerman and her team interview world-leading experts and sift through mountains of research to find out what the science actually says about everything from blue light and vaccines to intermittent fasting and ghosts. It's a masterclass in science journalism. What sets Science Vs apart from other science podcasts is its a fun and highly accessible way to understand complex scientific research and its impact on our daily lives. The show is particularly valuable for skeptics, science lovers, and anyone who wants to know the facts behind the headlines. New episodes are released weekly, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. Science Vs is completely free to listen to on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

The Jordan Harbinger Show is built on the idea that success is a set of skills that can be learned. Jordan uses his background in social engineering and law to conduct deep-dive interviews that focus on 'practical takeaways'. He is particularly known for his episodes with former spies, cult survivors, and high-stakes negotiators, extracting lessons on human behavior that apply to everyday life. What sets The Jordan Harbinger Show apart from other self-improvement podcasts is its focuses on 'social engineering' and human behavior lessons from high-stakes professionals. The show is particularly valuable for people interested in psychology, networking, and learning from 'extreme' human experiences. New episodes are released thrice-weekly, making it easy to stay up to date with the latest content. The Jordan Harbinger Show is completely free to listen to on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.