The 32 Best Health Podcasts (2026)

Justin Malik narrates the best personal development and healthy living articles from writers across the internet, which means you're getting curated wisdom without having to find it yourself. Commute-length episodes that cover everything from habit formation to mindfulness to productivity. The format works because someone else has done the filtering. Not every article hits equally, but the consistency means good ideas accumulate over time. For people who want daily personal growth input but can't keep up with a hundred different blogs. Curation as a service, done well.

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.

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.

Dr. Eric Berg has built one of the largest health audiences on the internet, with close to six million social media followers, and his podcast is basically the audio extension of that empire. He's a chiropractor by training who has conducted over 4,800 health seminars and authored The Healthy Keto Plan, and the show reflects his particular take on ketogenic eating combined with intermittent fasting.

The format leans heavily toward short, focused solo episodes. Most run between 5 and 15 minutes, which makes them easy to stack during a commute or a morning walk. Berg tackles one topic per episode, things like electrolyte imbalances, liver health, insulin resistance, vitamin deficiencies, and why your cravings might be telling you something specific about what your body needs. He publishes daily, and the catalog has passed 2,000 episodes. That's an absurd volume of content, and it means almost any keto-related question you can think of probably has a dedicated episode already.

The show carries a 4.7-star rating from about 1,600 Apple Podcasts reviews. Berg's style is direct and instructional. He explains a concept, gives the reasoning behind it, and tells you what to do about it. Some listeners appreciate that he doesn't waste time with small talk or long guest intros. Others in the medical community have pushed back on specific claims, particularly around his views on certain supplements and diagnostic approaches that sit outside mainstream medicine. That tension is worth knowing about going in. But if you want a daily dose of keto-focused health information delivered in compact, no-nonsense episodes, Berg has more content than you could listen to in a year.

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee has been a practicing GP in the UK for nearly 20 years, and his central argument is simple: health has become way too complicated. This podcast is his attempt to uncomplicate it. With 631 episodes and a 4.8 star rating, the show comes in two flavors -- full-length interviews that can stretch to two hours with expert guests, and shorter Bitesize episodes around 25 minutes that pull the best insights from previous conversations. That flexibility is genuinely useful; you can go deep on a topic or grab a quick takeaway depending on your day. Chatterjee covers the four pillars he writes about in his bestselling books: eating, sleeping, moving, and relaxing. But he is not prescriptive in an annoying way. He has a calm, curious interviewing style that draws out practical advice without it feeling like a lecture. Recent episodes have tackled everything from menopause to the gut microbiome to how your relationships affect your physical health. The show is based in the UK, so the perspective skews slightly British in its healthcare references, but the advice is universal. Chatterjee is also good at myth-busting -- he will gently dismantle a popular health claim with clinical evidence while never making the listener feel foolish for believing it. If you want a GP's perspective without the ten-minute appointment time limit, this is your show.

Dr. Jesse Chappus and Marni Wasserman go deep with health experts across every discipline you can think of - nutrition, sleep, exercise, mental health, hormones, gut health, all of it. The conversations run long because they're thorough, and the research-minded approach means they're not just amplifying whatever trend is dominating Instagram this month. The "ultimate" branding is ambitious but honestly kind of earned. For people who want comprehensive health information from credible sources and have the patience for detailed interviews rather than quick-hit wellness tips from influencers selling supplements.

TED Health takes the best health-related TED Talks and repackages them into a podcast format, hosted by Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider. If you have ever watched a TED Talk on, say, how exercise rewires your brain or what psychedelics might do for depression treatment, this is the audio companion that goes a step further. Episodes drop biweekly and typically run under 30 minutes, making them easy to fit into a commute or lunch break.

The show benefits from TED's massive speaker network. You get researchers presenting their own findings, surgeons explaining procedures they have pioneered, and public health advocates sharing fieldwork stories from around the world. Dr. Ungerleider adds context and bridges between segments, keeping things accessible even when the subject matter gets technical. One episode might cover the science of addiction, the next could be about how urban design affects your cardiovascular health.

With 292 episodes in the catalog, there is a deep back library to explore by topic. The production quality is what you would expect from TED, polished and clear, though some listeners note the ad breaks can be a bit heavy. The content itself stays grounded in evidence, which is refreshing in a health podcast space that can sometimes lean toward speculation.

It sits at 4 stars from over 1,300 ratings on Apple Podcasts. TED Health works best for people who want short, focused bursts of health knowledge from credible sources without committing to a two-hour deep dive every week. Think of it as a sampler platter for health science.

Conversations with mental health professionals and people living with various conditions that go beyond awareness-level content into the practical realities of actually managing mental health. The interviews are honest and specific rather than vague and inspirational. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD - the discussions treat these as real medical conditions with real management strategies rather than just topics to 'raise awareness' about. Refreshingly free of stigma and full of actionable information. If you or someone you love manages a mental health condition, this provides genuinely useful perspective.

Jeff Sanders is aggressively enthusiastic about mornings and productivity, and if that sounds exhausting to you, you might not be the target audience. But for people who want to squeeze more from their days, he covers habit building, time management, goal setting, and the mindset required to actually follow through. The energy level matches the 5 AM brand. Practical strategies alongside enough motivation to get you out of bed when the alarm hits. Not for night owls. Very much for the early-bird crowd who want optimization with their sunrise.

Mari Llewellyn built a massive online following by documenting her own health transformation, losing over 80 pounds and completely rethinking her relationship with fitness and food. Pursuit of Wellness, which she launched in 2022, feels like a natural extension of that journey rather than a pivot to capitalize on an audience.

The show mixes solo episodes where Mari shares personal updates and reflections with longer interview segments featuring doctors, trainers, and researchers. She has had guests like Dr. Gabrielle Lyon talking about muscle-centric medicine and Dr. Andy Galpin breaking down exercise physiology in ways that actually make sense to non-scientists. The weekly release schedule keeps things consistent, with episodes typically clocking in around 45 to 75 minutes.

Mari's interviewing style is more casual than clinical. She asks questions from a place of genuine curiosity, and she is not afraid to admit when something surprises her or challenges what she previously believed. That openness makes the show feel honest, even when it touches on sensitive topics like childhood trauma, disordered eating, and the messy reality of mental health recovery.

With over 200 episodes, a 4.7-star rating, and nearly 2,700 reviews, the podcast has clearly resonated beyond her existing social media fanbase. More recently, the show has evolved as Mari shares her IVF and pregnancy experience, adding a new dimension around maternal wellness. The production quality is solid, and the conversations move at a good pace without feeling rushed or overly edited. It works particularly well for listeners in their 20s and 30s who want health advice that feels relatable rather than preachy.

Sarah Stevenson and Kurt Tilse cover health and fitness with both professional knowledge and genuine enthusiasm that makes the content engaging rather than dry. Exercise science, nutrition myths, practical wellness strategies - all delivered with the energy of people who actually enjoy this stuff. The combination of credibility and personality makes potentially boring topics genuinely listenable. For people who want health information without the lecture tone.

Chris Kresser covers functional medicine and alternative health with the seriousness of someone who's done the reading and isn't afraid to challenge conventional medical wisdom when he thinks the evidence supports it. His positions are controversial in mainstream circles and well-reasoned within the functional medicine world. Whether you end up agreeing with his conclusions or not, the discussions are substantive and the research citations are real. Approach as you would any health content - critically and with willingness to check the sources yourself.

Mike Adams delivers alternative health perspectives that aggressively challenge mainstream medical narratives. Polarizing content that has passionate supporters who feel mainstream medicine failed them and vocal critics who question the scientific basis of his claims. He doesn't play it safe or moderate his positions. Approach with critical thinking and cross-reference with multiple sources, as you should with all health content. Not neutral, not trying to be.

Kate Scarlata is a GI dietitian whose name comes up in basically every serious conversation about FODMAPs and digestive nutrition. Dr. Megan Riehl is a GI psychologist at the University of Michigan who specializes in the brain-gut connection. Together, they co-authored "Mind Your Gut" and turned their combined expertise into this podcast that launched in 2024.

The show is still relatively young with about 29 episodes, but it has already built a loyal following, sitting at a near-perfect 4.9-star rating. Episodes release monthly, which means each one feels carefully prepared rather than rushed. The typical runtime is 35 to 55 minutes, and the conversations tend to be dense with actionable information. They have covered everything from the real story on probiotics to how GLP-1 medications affect your digestive system, and even explored psilocybin therapy for gut disorders.

What sets this apart from other nutrition podcasts is the clinical backbone. Scarlata and Riehl are not just reading studies aloud. They are interpreting them through years of working directly with patients who struggle with IBS, SIBO, and other chronic GI conditions. They bring on specialist guests, but the best episodes are honestly the ones where it is just the two of them riffing on a topic they clearly know inside and out.

The tone stays warm and approachable despite the medical complexity. They debunk gut health myths that circulate on social media without being condescending about it. If you deal with digestive issues or just want to understand the gut-brain axis better, this is one of the most trustworthy sources out there right now.

Alisa Keeton brings fitness coaching and Christian faith together, treating physical health, nutritional wellness, and spiritual growth as interconnected parts of the same person rather than separate departments. Movement, food, prayer, and purpose - all woven together. For women who want their health and fitness work grounded in something deeper than aesthetic goals. The faith component isn't superficial - it genuinely shapes the approach. If the wellness industry's vanity focus leaves you cold but you still want to be healthy, this offers a different foundation.

Dr. Paul Saladino is a board-certified MD who became one of the most polarizing voices in nutrition when he started advocating for an animal-based diet centered on meat, organs, fruit, honey, and raw dairy. Love him or find him frustrating, his podcast consistently delivers episodes that make you think hard about what you are putting on your plate.

The show has over 320 episodes and releases weekly, usually running between 30 minutes and an hour. Saladino interviews researchers, fellow physicians, and health advocates, but the episodes that tend to generate the most discussion are his solo deep dives where he breaks down specific studies on topics like seed oils, food additives, metabolic health markers, and the role of animal protein in human evolution. He reads the actual papers and walks through the methodology, which is more rigorous than a lot of nutrition podcasts manage.

His perspective is decidedly unconventional. He pushes back hard against mainstream dietary guidelines, and he has built his brand around the idea that much of what we have been told about healthy eating is wrong. That makes some episodes genuinely thought-provoking and others a bit one-sided, depending on the topic. Listeners who appreciate contrarian takes supported by at least some scientific backing tend to get the most out of it.

With a 4.7-star rating from over 2,500 reviews, the audience is engaged and vocal. The production is straightforward, no flashy sound design, just conversation. Saladino speaks with conviction and clinical experience, and even if you disagree with his conclusions, the podcast forces you to examine your own assumptions about nutrition and chronic disease.

Ashley James conducts long-form interviews with health practitioners from across the entire spectrum - conventional doctors, naturopaths, nutritionists, mental health therapists, sometimes overlapping, sometimes contradicting. The episodes go deep into specific topics because she lets conversations run as long as they need. She asks the questions a genuinely curious patient would ask, which means you get the information you actually want rather than the talking points practitioners usually offer. Some guests are more evidence-based than others, so bring your critical thinking. But the range itself is valuable.

NPR's health team distills expert advice into episodes that actually give you something to do, not just something to think about. Sleep, nutrition, exercise, mental health - each episode picks one topic, interviews the right expert, and delivers takeaways you can implement today. The format is beautifully efficient. No fluff, no preamble, no spending twenty minutes establishing the hosts' credentials. Just useful health information presented by public radio's best at making complex stuff accessible. If you want one health podcast that consistently respects your time and intelligence, this is it.

Dr. Ruscio goes deep on gut health and its surprisingly far-reaching connections to everything else in your body. Brain fog, energy levels, immune function, mood - the gut apparently has opinions about all of it. His approach is evidence-based rather than trend-chasing, which means recommendations actually have studies behind them. If you're dealing with digestive problems, unexplained symptoms, or just curious about the gut-brain connection that everyone keeps talking about, this goes further than most health pods dare. Technical when it needs to be, practical when it counts.

The premise here is genuinely interesting even when individual episodes vary in quality. Looking at health and wellness through the lens of what people did before modern medicine showed up. Herbal remedies, fasting practices, movement patterns from centuries ago - and asking the uncomfortable question of whether any of it actually holds up under scrutiny. Some episodes are fascinating deep dives. Others feel a bit surface level. But the concept keeps pulling you back. Good for anyone curious about health beyond whatever the latest Instagram trend is.

Jeanine Amapola covers wellness, fitness, and mental health with the energy of someone who's figured out some things and is honestly still working on the rest. No pretending she has all the answers. No extreme diet protocols. Just honest conversations about trying to feel better in your body and brain without losing your mind in the process. The relatability is the whole appeal - she sounds like a friend sharing what's working rather than an expert lecturing from above. Not preachy, not pushy. If you want gentle wellness content without the pressure, she delivers.

Pete Scazzero argues that you can't lead others effectively until you've dealt with your own emotional health, and the podcast explores that connection with depth and challenge. Leadership content that goes far beyond management techniques into the inner work that determines whether leadership is sustainable. For leaders who sense there's more to effective leadership than strategy and execution. Difficult content for people ready to do difficult work.

Paula Sweet tackles mental health topics one episode at a time with professional knowledge and a warmth that makes you feel like you're talking to someone who genuinely cares. Anxiety, depression, self-esteem, habit formation - each episode picks one thing and gives you something actionable rather than vague encouragement. No-nonsense approach that respects your intelligence while being genuinely supportive. Short enough to fit into a busy day, practical enough to actually make a difference. If you want mental health content that helps rather than just talks, this consistently delivers.

Mike Mutzel goes deep on nutrition, exercise physiology, and metabolic health by actually interviewing the researchers doing the work. Not just reading study abstracts - having real conversations with scientists about methodology, limitations, and practical implications. He's particularly strong on topics like insulin resistance, gut health, and exercise science. The episodes reward attention because the details matter. Good for health-conscious people who've moved past basic advice and want to understand the mechanisms behind recommendations. Evidence-based without being inaccessibly academic. Real science, real application.

Robb Wolf and Nicki bring contrarian energy to health discussions, consistently questioning conventional wisdom that they believe gets a lot wrong. Nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle optimization from a paleo-influenced perspective that's willing to challenge mainstream recommendations. The rebellion framing reflects their willingness to question authority and conventional thinking. For people who suspect standard health advice isn't working for everyone and want to explore alternatives.

General wellness content for people who want to feel better without becoming health obsessives. Nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management - the foundational stuff covered accessibly and practically. Not pushing any particular diet or fitness ideology. Just evidence-informed basics delivered without judgment about where you're starting from. Good for someone just beginning to pay attention to their health, or someone who's been at it a while and wants a refresher on fundamentals. Nothing groundbreaking. Everything useful. Sometimes the basics, done well, are exactly what you need.