Going through it? Check out 7 amazing mental health podcasts for women
Navigating the estimated existing 4 million podcasts is overwhelming, especially if you’ve got any kind of stress, anxiety, or other mental struggles going on (and let’s be real — many of us do!). This Mental Health Awareness month, I took a look through my playlists to find my favorite mental health podcasts that appeal to women (like me!) in the middle of it all. Here’s a selection.
7 amazing mental health and wellness podcasts for women
Therapy for Black Girls
Atlanta psychologist Dr. Joy Harden Bradford founded the Therapy for Black Girls community — an online space dedicated to the wellness of Black women and girls — in 2014. It’s grown into a trove of mental wellness resources, including a guide to finding culturally-responsive therapists. The podcast, a weekly conversation about mental health and personal development, launched in 2017. Dr. Joy is an accessible expert who welcomes other smart and engaging guests, with recent episodes focused on such topics as EMDR, how trauma affects the brain, and harm from church communities.
Coming From The Heart
Helene struggled badly with vertigo, and after finding healing by her beloved Jersey Shore, decided to share her experience with others in the Coming From the Heart podcast. With her daughter Alexandra, Helene tackles a range of mental health topics, with a frequent focus on nutrition and wellness. Recent guests include Andrea Donsky, a menopause educator and advocate, and a recipe for change with Valerie van Galder of the Depressed Cake Shop. Helene’s no-nonsense Jersey accent and best girlfriend vibe makes this a comforting listen no matter who she’s talking to. Who doesn’t love a Jersey girl?
Depresh Mode
It’s hosted by a dude, but Depresh Mode is truly not for bros only. (Believe me, if it were I would tell you.) Host John Moe features many women guests with fascinating, relatable stories – recent examples include author Samantha Irby on her recent OCD diagnosis and former Wonkette Ana Maria Cox on writing your recovery story. Previously the host of The Hilarious World of Depression, a podcast focused solely on comedians and mental health, Minnesotan public radio veteran Moe has expanded to the wider world of mental illness and wellness, always through a compassionate, wryly humorous lens.
Terrible, Thanks for Asking
Nora McInerney tackled the global conversation about grief after her husband, Aaron, died of brain cancer at 35, when her son Ralph was a toddler. TTFA spawned a dedicated community, books, speaking tours, and now, It’s Going to Be Okay, a show that brings you “one okay thing every day.” TTFA can honestly be a heavy listen — loss is hard and sad! — but for those among us who have been socked in the gut by grief, the validation is often worth it (even in small doses.)
The Shift with Sam Baker
Some of the very best podcasts I’ve discovered by women in midlife come from the UK. One among them is The Shift with Sam Baker, a conversation that aims to tell the truth about being a woman post-40. Mental wellness permeates the discussions, including recent talks with novelist and psychiatrist Joanna Cannon on why it took her until 50 to discover it was ok to be her, and Wintering author Katherine May on burnout post-pandemic. (I cannot tell a lie — the English accents are low-key the best part of this for my mental health.)
Tiny Victories
It’s often the little things that get us through the day. Tiny Victories hosts – author, actor and activist Annabelle Gurwitch and actor and comic Laura House – push back on the idea that you have to “go big or go home.” Recent eps include the important of shallow friendships (yes, you read that right) and the benefits of radical boredom, and each includes a smattering of tiny victories from the hosts and the audience, who can call in and report their little wins. A big win for me is that episodes are only 15 minutes long — excellent for those of us with ADHD who simply cannot swing the often very long podcast episodes.
Twisting the Plot
Clinical Psychology Professor Dr. Cecilia Dintino and Psychotherapist Hannah Murray Starobin are longtime friends and Twisting the Plot hosts who speak with women about discovering possibilities in midlife. Recent episodes include key topics like queering age, the impact of pain, and writing as a tool for transformation. This one is deep! Dig in.
Did we miss any must-listen mental health podcasts? Let us know!
LAURIE WHITE is a writer, editor, and online community builder, who is currently the Managing Editor of Jumble & Flow, and The Midst. She has written and edited a restaurant industry trade magazine, several major websites, and many, many blog posts and online features. Previously a community college counselor and professor, she has a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Dayton and another in multimedia journalism from the University of Maryland. She lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. with Hoover the Puggle, who is kind of a big deal on Instagram. Find her on Insta @lauriemedia & @hooverthepuggle.
I have another podcast to suggest! Becoming Your Best Version, which highlights the voices of inspiring women. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and six other platforms. Thanks!