The Best Podcasts for Productivity & Self-Improvement
Learning on the go is easy with podcasts.
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I love podcasts.
They are entertaining, thought-provoking, and a great way to escape the daily rat race that so many of our lives have become. Best of all, you can listen to them whenever and wherever you want.
However, podcasts are also a great resource for learning something new. If you subscribe to the right shows, you can get a regular supply of free knowledge that you can use to live a more productive life.
To that end, here are my picks for the best productivity podcasts.
1. The Productivity Show
With over ten million downloads, The Productivity Show is a powerhouse podcast that is guaranteed to teach you something new. It’s hosted by Thanh Pham and Brooks Duncan from Asian Efficiency. New episodes are released every week.
This podcast aims to help you get your important things done without having to sacrifice your health, family, and things that matter to you. Topics such as goal setting, time management, personal development, and efficiency are common on this productivity podcast.
This is easily one of my favorite podcasts to listen to because it is practical and actionable. There is always something new you can try right after listening to an episode of The Productivity Show.
Learn more at asianefficiency.com/our-podcast.
2. Focused
David Sparks and Mike Schmitz claim that they are not nearly as productive as they’d like to be, but that level of honesty and transparency is precisely what makes this podcast so likable.
Productivity is a journey. It’s something that requires revision and tweaks along the way. Mike and David don’t have all the answers, but they share real-world examples from their productivity journeys.
Mike and David will be the first to admit that they are not perfect, and in Focused, they talk through their successes and failures. In addition, special guests appear regularly, each with their unique take on peak personal productivity.
Learn more at relay.fm/focused.
3. Deep Questions With Cal Newport
For over a decade, Cal Newport has been researching and writing about his quest to live and work intensely in an increasingly distracted world. His podcast is a medium that he uses to share some of that knowledge.
Each week, Deep Questions answers questions from listeners about work and personal productivity. Cal also shares some wisdom from the self-improvement books that he is reading.
If you are a fan of Cal Newport’s work, you will find many of the same themes here. And with over five million downloads, this is a podcast that deserves a place in your queue.
Learn more at calnewport.com/podcast.
4. Focus on This
Great podcasts are often successful because of the natural chemistry between the hosts. Focus on This is an excellent example of that mantra.
The hosts, Courtney, Blake, and Verbs, give you practical tips and proven strategies for increasing your focus so you can be more productive than ever before. The original mission of this podcast was based around the Full Focus system by Michael Hyatt. However, there’s something here for everyone.
The goals of the Focus on This podcast are to eliminate that feeling of being overwhelmed, to make progress more visible, and to feel successful, satisfied, and motivated at work.
Learn more at focusonthispodcast.com.
5. Beyond the To-Do List
In Beyond the To-Do List, Erik Fisher talks with a host of productivity experts to share how they implement practical productivity strategies in their personal and professional lives.
New episodes are released weekly and typically explore all aspects of productivity and the true end goal of productivity: living a meaningful life. Erik has a lot of energy and passion for productivity, making this particular podcast an engaging listen.
Some podcasts are very focused on the workplace, but this one does an excellent job of providing strategies that will work for your home life.
Learn more at beyondthetodolist.com.
6. On Purpose With Jay Shetty
Jay Shetty is a best-selling author, podcast host, life coach, and former monk. His mission is to make wisdom go viral.
On Purpose With Jay Shetty has fascinating conversations with some of the world’s most insightful people. Past guests include appearances from Kobe Bryant, Khloe Kardashian, Ray Dalio, Jane Goodall, and Alicia Keys.
However, this is more than just a celebrity podcast.
The topics for each episode are inspired by his life as a monk and are typically centered around the key tenants of work, love, self, and service. New episodes are released twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.
Learn more at jayshetty.me/podcast.
7. The Intentional Advantage
Tanya Dalton is the host of The Intentional Advantage podcast. Tanya is a leading expert in mastering productivity and streamlining systems to help you discover the strategies that work best for you.
We all have the same number of hours in a week, but with the strategies explored in this podcast, you can build your productivity system and achieve the results you want in business, relationships, and personal growth.
Episodes are grouped by themes like taking action or planning for success and are full of research-backed, actionable productivity tips that you can use right away to have a better work-life balance.
Learn more at tanyadalton.com/podcast.
8. The 5 AM Miracle
Jeff Sanders is a keynote speaker and a productivity coach. He is also the host of The 5 AM Miracle podcast. With more than 11 million downloads, seven award nominations, and over 400 episodes, there is plenty to enjoy here.
As you may have guessed by the title of the podcast, Sanders’ approach to productivity is based on the idea of starting your day earlier than everyone else. However, many of the tips and ideas he shares won’t necessarily require you to change your alarm clock. Instead, they are just good ideas for living a productive and more fulfilling life.
So, if you are looking for a practical self-improvement podcast that focuses on productivity, healthy habits, and personal development, The 5 AM Miracle is worth a look.
Learn more at jeffsanders.com/podcast.
9. The Mindset Mentor
This podcast is designed for anyone looking for inspiration, direction, and focus in life. It is hosted by Rob Dial, a life coach and motivational speaker who has a huge following on social media. His goal is to help motivate people to become the best version of themselves.
Rob is a prolific podcaster, so you will see new episodes released every few days. That can be overwhelming, but the episodes are only around 20 minutes long, and they get straight to the point. Recent episodes include Remove All Distractions, How to Become World Class, 7 Keys to Maximize Focus, and How to Empower the People Around You.
Listening to The Mindset Mentor is a life-affirming experience. It gives you the drive and energy you need to do more in life. If you start your day with Rob’s words of wisdom, then the chances are high that you will have a great day.
Learn more at robdial.com/podcast.
10. How to Be Awesome at Your Job
How to Be Awesome at Your Job has over 14 million downloads and counting. This makes it among the most popular podcasts ever made.
Each episode is dedicated to finding new ways to be successful at work. This includes the relationships you have with others, the way you communicate your ideas, and ideas on being more productive at work.
Pete Mockaitis is a high-energy host. He also has no shortage of great guests to talk to. Not all the episodes are geared towards productivity, but the podcast’s website has a great list of topics, and you can use this to find the episodes you need.
The workplace is changing. It’s a fluid environment that we need to be constantly aware of if we want to stay relevant in what we do. How to Be Awesome at Your Job helps with that. It gives you the universal skills you need to thrive at work.
Learn more at awesomeatyourjob.com.
YouTube is Great too!
Podcasts are a great place to find actionable ideas to boost your productivity, but YouTube can be an equally useful medium. With millions of videos to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start, so let me help. Read 10 Must-Watch YouTube Channels for Productivity and Self-Improvement to get some ideas for some new channels to subscribe to.
And if you need even more inspiration, you can find it right here on Medium. Read 10 Writers to Follow for Productivity Advice to discover the best thought-leaders for your Medium feed.
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