The 11 Best Health And Wellness Podcasts (2026)

Jay Shetty spent three years living as a monk in India before becoming one of the most-followed wellness voices online, and that unusual background shapes every conversation on this show. New episodes land on Mondays and Fridays, alternating between long-form interviews (usually 45 minutes to an hour and a half) and shorter workshop-style solo episodes where Shetty walks through a specific mental framework or habit. With over 800 episodes and 25,000+ ratings at 4.7 stars, the show has found a massive audience. Shetty's guest list is genuinely eclectic -- one week he is talking to a biochemist about gut-brain connections, the next he is sitting with a celebrity unpacking their relationship with failure. His interviewing style leans contemplative rather than confrontational. He asks questions that make guests pause and think, which leads to moments you do not get on more rapid-fire interview shows. The monastic training shows up in how he frames topics: he talks about purpose, gratitude, and emotional patterns, but grounds them in modern psychology rather than just spiritual tradition. Some episodes veer into motivational territory that might feel familiar if you consume a lot of self-improvement content. But Shetty's best work -- the episodes where he gets a guest genuinely off-script -- produces conversations that stick with you for days.

Dan Harris famously had a panic attack on live television while anchoring Good Morning America, and that moment of public unraveling led him to meditation -- and eventually to this podcast. He describes the show as "self-help for smart people," which is a fair tagline. Harris brings a journalist's skepticism to mindfulness and mental health, pressing his guests on evidence and calling out vague platitudes. With over 1,000 episodes and a 4.6 rating from more than 12,000 reviews, the show has built a loyal following among people who want the benefits of meditation without the incense-and-crystals packaging. Episodes run anywhere from 20 minutes to 90 minutes, dropping twice weekly. The guest roster includes psychologists, philosophers, neuroscientists, and meditation teachers from various traditions. Harris is refreshingly honest about his own struggles -- he does not pretend to have it all figured out, and he regularly admits when a practice is not working for him. The companion app offers guided meditations and live sessions, though the podcast stands on its own. What makes this show different from other mindfulness podcasts is Harris's willingness to be the skeptic in the room. He asks the questions that a cynical listener would ask, which paradoxically makes the wellness content more trustworthy. The result is a show that meets you exactly where you are, even if where you are is deeply suspicious of the whole enterprise.

Jason Wachob built mindbodygreen into one of the biggest wellness media brands on the internet, and this podcast is where he gets to go deepest with the experts behind the headlines. Each week he sits down with a researcher, doctor, or author and spends about 45 minutes to an hour pulling apart a single health topic. Recent episodes have covered the science of saunas and sweat with journalist Bill Gifford, why forced positivity backfires with psychologist Dr. Deepika Chopra, and how your body's innate healing systems actually work with integrative medicine pioneer Dr. Victoria Maizes.

The format is straightforward interview-style, and Wachob is a good listener who asks practical follow-up questions rather than just letting guests monologue. He tends to steer conversations toward what you can actually do with the information, which keeps episodes from feeling like lectures. The show has been running since 2017, with 583 episodes in the catalog and a 4.5-star rating from nearly 2,000 reviews.

One thing worth noting: mindbodygreen as a brand leans toward alternative and integrative health, so you will hear more about functional medicine, adaptogens, and gut protocols than you would on a strictly conventional medical podcast. That said, the guests are generally credentialed and the conversations stay grounded in research. If you already read mindbodygreen articles and want longer, more nuanced versions of those conversations, this is exactly that. And if you are new to the brand, the podcast is honestly the best entry point.

Dr. Rupy Aujla is a practicing NHS GP in the UK who became one of the leading voices in culinary medicine -- the idea that what you cook and eat is a form of medical treatment, not just fuel. The Doctor's Kitchen started as a cookbook project and grew into a podcast that now has 417 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from around 470 reviews.

The show releases weekly, with episodes typically running between one hour and ninety minutes. Aujla interviews researchers, fellow doctors, nutritionists, and public health experts on topics that sit at the intersection of food and medicine. Recent episodes have covered pesticide exposure that most people unknowingly encounter, saliva tests and emerging diagnostic technology, and why muscle might be the most important organ for longevity. The conversations are detailed and clinically informed without being inaccessible.

Aujla brings a perspective that is relatively unique in health podcasting: he is both a working doctor seeing patients every week and someone who has trained specifically in how food compounds interact with human physiology. That dual lens means he can evaluate a study on, say, polyphenols in berries and then explain what it actually means for your Tuesday night dinner. He does not just tell you what to eat -- he explains the biological reasoning and often shares specific recipes.

The show also touches on mental wellbeing and lifestyle factors beyond nutrition. Aujla has spoken about burnout in the medical profession, the psychological aspects of eating, and how mindset affects treatment outcomes. The production is straightforward -- no elaborate sound design, just good microphones and thoughtful conversation. For anyone interested in the growing field of food as medicine, this is one of the most credible and practical shows in the space.

John R. Miles spent decades in Fortune 50 leadership before stepping back and asking a question most executives avoid: what actually makes a life feel meaningful? That pivot became Passion Struck, a show with over 730 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from more than 600 reviews. Miles drops new episodes three times a week, which sounds like a lot until you realize how consistently good they are.

The format mixes solo reflections with long-form interviews featuring people like Joan Lunden, Harvard researcher Dr. Leslie John, and mythologist Dr. Martin Shaw. Episodes range from focused 22-minute solo takes to sprawling hour-long conversations that cover identity transitions, the neuroscience of human connection, and why so many successful people feel hollow inside.

Miles has a particular talent for making academic research feel personal. He will reference attachment theory or positive psychology studies, then connect them to real decisions people face about careers, relationships, and self-worth. His recent work around the concept of mattering -- the idea that feeling significant to others is a fundamental human need -- is especially compelling. He even wrote a book about it. The show leans more toward human flourishing broadly than emotional intelligence specifically, but the emotional awareness threads run through nearly every episode. If you want something that pushes you to think about how you show up in the world, this one delivers.

Optimal Health Daily takes a completely different approach from most health podcasts. Instead of interviews or solo monologues, host Dr. Neal Malik -- a tenured professor, registered dietitian nutritionist, and certified exercise physiologist -- curates and narrates the best health and fitness blog posts from around the internet. The result is a daily podcast with over 2,000 episodes and a 4.5-star rating from 650 reviews.

Each episode runs just 8 to 13 minutes, making it one of the shortest health shows you will find. That brevity is the entire point. Dr. Malik selects articles on topics like protein timing at breakfast for weight loss, using gaming skills for fitness motivation, or the science behind taking brain breaks during work. He reads them clearly and adds his own professional commentary where relevant.

The daily format means there is an enormous back catalog organized by topic. If you want a week's worth of content on a specific subject -- say, strength training or gut health or sleep optimization -- you can queue up several episodes and still finish them in under an hour total. The show is part of the larger Optimal Living Daily network, which runs similar narration-based podcasts on personal finance, relationships, and general self-improvement.

The subscription tier ($1.99/month) removes ads, though the free version is perfectly functional. The show fills a genuine niche: not everyone has time for hour-long expert interviews, and not every health question requires one. Optimal Health Daily works best as a supplement to deeper shows rather than a replacement, giving you a quick, evidence-based health tip every morning while you brush your teeth or wait for your coffee to brew.

Mel Robbins has a gift for taking research-backed psychology and making it feel like advice from your most direct, no-nonsense friend. The show drops new episodes every Monday and Thursday, each one built around a specific challenge -- breaking anxiety loops, rebuilding confidence after a setback, figuring out why you keep procrastinating on that one thing. Robbins pulls from her own experience as a bestselling author and former CNN legal analyst, but she also brings on Stanford professors, medical doctors, and therapists who add real scientific weight to the conversation. Episodes typically run between 60 and 90 minutes, which gives her room to go beyond surface-level tips. She is not afraid to share personal stories that are genuinely uncomfortable, and that vulnerability is part of what makes the advice land. The show has racked up over 370 episodes and sits at 4.7 stars with more than 13,000 ratings. Fair warning: Robbins is very energetic. If you prefer a subdued, meditative vibe, this might feel like a lot. But if you want someone who will look you in the eye (metaphorically) and tell you exactly what to do differently, she delivers. The topics range widely -- menopause, cybersecurity for families, financial planning, grief -- but the thread connecting them is always practical action you can take today.

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is a Washington University fellowship-trained physician and the founder of Muscle-Centric Medicine, a framework that puts skeletal muscle at the center of health and longevity rather than treating it as an afterthought. Her podcast, now 194 episodes deep with a 4.5-star rating from over 1,000 reviews, has become essential listening for women who want to understand why protein intake, strength training, and metabolic health matter so much more than the scale suggests. The weekly show features long-form interviews with researchers, physicians, and thought leaders across medicine, nutrition, and personal development. Recent episodes have tackled the new dietary guidelines and their emphasis on protein, practical strategies for eating to support metabolism and longevity, and the psychology behind self-belief. Dr. Lyon has a directness that some find refreshing and others find intense -- she does not sugarcoat the consequences of muscle loss as women age, and she is not afraid to challenge popular narratives in the nutrition world. The show is available on both audio platforms and YouTube, and ad-free episodes are offered through her Forever Strong Insider subscription. Her audience includes everyone from busy moms to military special operations personnel, which gives you a sense of the range. If you have heard the phrase "muscle is the organ of longevity" and want the full scientific backing behind it, this is where to go.

Shawn Stevenson has been making health content since 2013, and The Model Health Show's 976 episodes represent one of the deepest back catalogs in the wellness podcast space. The show carries a 4.8 rating from nearly 7,000 reviews, and it has earned that by being consistently accessible without dumbing things down. Stevenson's background is in nutritional science, and he is particularly strong on topics like sleep optimization, hormonal health, and how food quality affects everything from your energy to your mood. Episodes run about 60 to 75 minutes and drop biweekly, typically featuring a mix of expert interviews and solo deep-dives where Stevenson breaks down a specific health topic with cited research. His delivery is warm and occasionally funny -- he has an ease on the mic that makes complicated biochemistry feel conversational. He will explain how chronic inflammation affects your joints, then tell you what he actually eats for breakfast, and somehow both parts feel equally useful. The guest lineup leans toward doctors, researchers, and fellow health authors, with conversations that go beyond the standard talking points. Stevenson is also upfront about his own health journey, including a degenerative bone disease diagnosis at 20 that sent him searching for answers outside conventional medicine. That personal stake comes through in how he discusses topics -- there is a clear sense that this is not abstract for him.

Kelly Leveque is a certified clinical nutritionist, bestselling author, and health coach to some of Hollywood's biggest names, and her podcast reflects that blend of scientific rigor and real-world practicality. With 374 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from nearly 1,400 reviews, Be Well has become a go-to resource for women who want nutrition guidance without the fear-mongering that plagues so much of the wellness space. New episodes drop on Wednesdays, and Kelly's guest list is genuinely impressive -- doctors, researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and fellow moms all make appearances. Recent episodes have covered Alzheimer's prevention through muscle and metabolic health, the truth about mitochondrial function and longevity, and practical advice for managing perimenopause symptoms through sleep and stress management. Kelly's approach is refreshingly balanced. She does not push extreme diets or miracle supplements. Instead, she focuses on what she calls developing a positive relationship with food and building sustainable habits that support long-term health. The conversations typically run 45 to 60 minutes, giving guests enough time to actually explain the science without rushing through it. Some listeners have noted the advertising can be heavy and that the show occasionally veers into political territory, but the core nutritional content remains consistently strong. If you want evidence-based food and wellness advice from someone who genuinely understands women's bodies, this delivers.

Arielle Lorre has built something a little different in the wellness podcast space. With 446 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from over 4,000 reviews, Well (formerly The Blonde Files) blends wellness, beauty, fitness, and lifestyle into conversations that feel genuinely casual rather than performatively relaxed. Lorre publishes every Wednesday, sometimes dropping a bonus Monday episode, and the mix of solo and interview formats keeps things unpredictable in a good way. Listeners consistently say the solo episodes are the standout -- they feel like catching up with a friend who happens to be deeply researched on gut health, hormonal balance, or the latest skincare ingredient. The interview episodes bring in serious guests too. Recent conversations featured Dr. Karan Rajan on gut health, Nike Master Trainer Joe Holder on strength training, bestselling author Mark Manson, and Dr. Terry Dubrow on plastic surgery. Lorre has a warm interviewing style that coaxes out practical information without making things feel clinical. The show is produced by Dear Media, which gives it solid production quality. Topics span everything from hair care routines and supplement stacks to strength training programs and mental health strategies. Episodes run about 45 minutes to just over an hour. If you want a wellness podcast that treats beauty and physical health as connected rather than separate categories, and does it without taking itself too seriously, this one hits that mark well.