The 12 Best Jay Shetty Podcasts (2026)

On Purpose with Jay Shetty is the flagship show from the former monk turned global motivational figure. Since launching in 2019, Jay has produced over 800 episodes that tackle mental health, relationships, career growth, financial literacy, and personal development. Each episode runs between 45 minutes and 90 minutes, with new installments dropping every Monday and Friday. Jay brings on a wide range of guests — from celebrities like Nick Jonas to neuroscientists and relationship therapists — and uses his background in Vedic philosophy to frame practical conversations about purpose and happiness. His interviewing style is warm but pointed. He asks guests to reflect on turning points and hard lessons, not just accomplishments. The show also features solo episodes where Jay breaks down topics like overcoming anxiety, building healthy habits, and finding meaning during life transitions. What sets On Purpose apart from other self-help shows is Jay's ability to blend Eastern spiritual traditions with modern psychology in a way that feels grounded rather than preachy. He often shares personal anecdotes from his time as a monk in India and connects them to everyday struggles his audience faces. The podcast carries a 4.7-star rating across more than 25,000 reviews on Apple Podcasts, making it one of the most popular mental health shows in the world. A premium subscription tier called On Purpose+ offers bonus content and ad-free listening.

Ed Mylett built a reputation as one of the most energetic voices in the personal development space, and his podcast reflects that intensity. Running since 2016 with over 650 episodes, The Ed Mylett Show brings on peak performers from sports, business, entertainment, science, and politics to break down what separates good from great. Episodes typically run 45 minutes to nearly two hours and release twice a week. Ed also produces mashup episodes that weave together highlights from multiple past conversations around a single theme like confidence, brain health, or resilience. Recent guests include neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Amen, sports psychologist Alan Stein Jr., behavioral researcher Dr. Shade Zahrai, and Navy SEAL Jason Redman. What makes this show stand out among motivational podcasts is Ed's directness. He pushes guests past surface-level answers and consistently steers conversations toward actionable takeaways. His own story — growing up with an alcoholic father and building a massive business career — gives him credibility when he talks about overcoming self-doubt and turning adversity into fuel. The production quality is high, the pacing is tight, and each episode feels designed to leave listeners with specific strategies they can apply immediately. With a 4.9-star rating from nearly 14,000 reviews, it has earned a devoted following among people serious about self-improvement and peak performance.

Lewis Howes has been hosting The School of Greatness since 2013, making it one of the longest-running personal development podcasts still putting out consistent content. With more than 2,000 episodes in the archive, the show features conversations with world-class athletes, bestselling authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders about what it takes to build a meaningful life. Recent guests include Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin, researcher Brene Brown, high-performance coach Brendon Burchard, and entrepreneur Kendra Scott. Lewis brings his own background as a two-time All-American athlete and New York Times bestselling author to every interview, and his questions tend to focus on vulnerability, resilience, and the messy reality behind success stories. Episodes release twice a week and usually run between 40 minutes and 90 minutes. The show covers a broad range of topics — mental health, wealth-building, relationships, manifestation, and emotional regulation among them — but always circles back to practical advice listeners can use. Lewis is also known for his solo episodes where he reflects on his own struggles with self-worth and identity. A premium subscription called GREATNESS+ gives access to ad-free episodes. The podcast holds a 4.8-star rating from over 20,000 reviews and remains a staple recommendation for anyone interested in personal growth content.

Chris Williamson hosts Modern Wisdom, a long-form interview podcast that has quietly grown into one of the biggest shows in the personal development and intellectual conversation space, with over 1,100 episodes in its catalog. The format is simple: Chris sits down with thinkers, scientists, authors, and public figures for extended conversations that typically run 90 minutes to two and a half hours. The guest list reads like a who's who of the ideas world — David Goggins, Dr. Andrew Huberman, Naval Ravikant, Sam Harris, Ryan Holiday, Robert Greene, Jocko Willink, Bryan Johnson, and Matthew McConaughey have all appeared. What draws listeners in is Chris's interviewing style. He prepares thoroughly and asks follow-up questions that push conversations past familiar talking points into genuinely new territory. The show covers relationships, psychology, longevity, business strategy, philosophy, and fitness, but the common thread is a focus on how to think clearly about difficult questions. Chris does not shy away from controversial guests or uncomfortable topics, which has earned the show both praise and criticism. New episodes drop weekly. The production is clean and unfussy — no sound effects or dramatic music, just two people talking. The podcast carries a 4.6-star rating from about 3,500 reviews on Apple Podcasts. Listeners consistently highlight the depth of preparation and the quality of follow-up questions as what separates Modern Wisdom from similar interview shows.

Jordan Harbinger has been podcasting for over a decade, and The Jordan Harbinger Show is the refined product of all that experience. With more than 1,300 episodes, the show updates daily and features in-depth interviews with leaders, scientists, athletes, entertainers, and occasionally people with unusual life stories — art forgers, arms traffickers, spies, and former cult members have all been guests. Apple named it one of the Best of 2018 podcasts. Jordan is joined by co-host Gabriel Mizrahi for the popular Feedback Friday segments, which function like a modern advice column where listeners write in with personal dilemmas. There is also a Skeptical Sunday series that debunks myths and examines questionable claims. The interview episodes are where the show really shines. Jordan has a talent for extracting practical wisdom from guests and translating big ideas into specific actions listeners can take. Past guests include Ray Dalio, Simon Sinek, Mark Cuban, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, Kobe Bryant, and Tony Hawk. The range is intentional — Jordan believes useful insight can come from any field, and his networking expertise (he literally teaches courses on building relationships) means he can land guests most podcasters cannot. The show has a 4.8-star rating from nearly 12,000 reviews. Episodes vary in length but typically run 60 to 90 minutes for interviews and about 45 minutes for Feedback Friday.

Dan Harris describes 10% Happier as self-help for smart people, and the show delivers on that promise. Dan is a veteran ABC News journalist who had a panic attack on live television, which led him to meditation and eventually to writing a bestselling book about his experience. The podcast grew out of that book and has become one of the most respected shows at the intersection of mindfulness, science, and practical psychology. With roughly 1,000 episodes in the archive and new episodes releasing twice a week, the show covers anxiety management, happiness research, meditation techniques, stress reduction, and personal philosophy. Episodes range from short 13-minute guided meditation practices to full-length interviews running over an hour. Recent guests include happiness researchers Sonja Lyubomirsky and Harry Reis, Stoic philosopher Ryan Holiday, integrative medicine specialist Dr. Victoria Maizes, and Tim Ferriss. What makes this podcast distinct is Dan's skeptical, journalist-trained mind. He does not accept vague spiritual claims at face value and consistently pushes guests to back up their ideas with evidence. He is also refreshingly honest about his own struggles with anxiety and the limits of meditation as a cure-all. The show carries a 4.6-star rating from over 12,000 reviews. Some listeners note the ad load can be heavy, but the content quality remains consistently high.

Trent Shelton went from playing wide receiver in the NFL to becoming one of the most followed motivational speakers on social media, with over 18 million followers across platforms. His podcast is an extension of that direct, unfiltered communication style. The show releases new episodes twice a week and mixes solo deep-dives with guest interviews. Trent covers mindset mastery, self-worth, confidence building, relationships, overcoming excuses, and breaking free from limiting beliefs. His solo episodes tend to be passionate and confrontational in the best way — he challenges listeners to stop making excuses and take ownership of their lives. When he brings on guests like Hal Elrod, the conversations are equally raw and focused on real transformation rather than polished motivational platitudes. With over 428 episodes since 2019, the show has built a dedicated audience of people who appreciate Trent's no-nonsense approach to personal development. His background gives him a unique perspective. He knows what it feels like to have a dream crumble (his NFL career ended early) and had to rebuild his identity from scratch. That authenticity comes through in every episode. The podcast holds an impressive 4.9-star rating from nearly 6,000 reviews on Apple Podcasts, placing it among the highest-rated shows in the self-improvement category. Episodes typically run 45 minutes to just over an hour.

The One You Feed takes its name from the old parable about two wolves inside every person — one representing fear and negativity, the other representing hope and growth. Host Eric Zimmer has been exploring that tension since 2014, producing nearly 1,000 episodes that feature conversations with some of the most respected thinkers in psychology, philosophy, spirituality, and personal development. The guest list is remarkable: James Clear, Susan Cain, Michael Pollan, Deepak Chopra, Nicole LaPera, Gabor Mate, Tara Brach, Ryan Holiday, Anne Lamott, Mark Manson, and even Macklemore have appeared on the show. Eric's interviewing style is what sets this podcast apart from louder, more high-energy motivational shows. He is quiet, vulnerable, and genuinely curious. Conversations tend to go deep into topics like trauma recovery, habit formation, finding joy after hardship, and building a life that actually feels meaningful. Eric is open about his own struggles with addiction and recovery, which gives him credibility and empathy when discussing difficult personal topics. New episodes release twice a week and typically run 60 to 90 minutes. The show emphasizes that personal growth is not about perfection but about direction — small, consistent choices that add up over time. It holds a 4.5-star rating from about 2,400 reviews. Listeners who prefer thoughtful, measured conversations over motivational shouting will find this one especially rewarding.

Shankar Vedantam has a gift for making behavioral science feel personal. Hidden Brain is routinely the number one science podcast in the United States, and after listening to a few episodes you will understand why. Vedantam takes research from psychology, neuroscience, and economics and turns it into stories about real human behavior, the kind of stuff that makes you rethink your own decisions.

The format is typically Vedantam in conversation with researchers and experts, but it never feels like an interview show. He weaves narrative throughout, using individual stories to illustrate broader scientific findings. An episode about procrastination might start with a woman who cannot bring herself to open her mail, then pivot to a study at a major university, then circle back to the personal story with new understanding.

Episodes arrive biweekly and tend to run between 50 minutes and an hour and a half. There are now over 660 episodes in the archive, rated 4.6 stars by more than 41,000 listeners. The pacing is deliberate. Vedantam does not rush through ideas, and he is not afraid of silence when a point needs to land.

What sets Hidden Brain apart from other psychology podcasts is its emotional range. Some episodes are genuinely moving. Others are unsettling in the best way, forcing you to confront biases you did not know you had. It is smart without being smug, and that balance is harder to pull off than it looks.

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day flips the usual success-obsessed podcast formula on its head. Each episode, Elizabeth invites a guest to discuss three specific failures from their life and what those experiences taught them. The result is a show that feels genuinely different from the typical motivational interview format. Guests include actors like Martin Freeman and Marisa Abela, musicians like Shania Twain, Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy, comedian Mo Gilligan, and author Michael Rosen. The conversations are intimate and surprisingly emotional. Because the premise is built around failure rather than achievement, guests tend to drop their guard and share stories they would not tell on most other podcasts. Elizabeth is a skilled interviewer who combines curiosity with real empathy, creating space for honest reflection without pushing guests into uncomfortable territory. Active since 2018 with approximately 459 episodes, the show releases weekly and covers setbacks across career, relationships, health, identity, family, and mental health. For listeners drawn to Jay Shetty's emphasis on learning from difficult experiences and finding meaning in struggle, How To Fail offers a complementary perspective grounded in storytelling rather than self-help frameworks. The production is a collaboration between Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment. It holds a 4.7-star rating from nearly 800 reviews on Apple Podcasts.

Tom Bilyeu co-founded Quest Nutrition and grew it into a billion-dollar company, and Impact Theory is the media platform he built after that success. The podcast updates daily with over 834 episodes and features interviews, reaction segments, and debates that break down complex subjects into their fundamental components. Tom covers a wide range of territory — geopolitics, economics, artificial intelligence, science, technology, and culture — but always through the lens of helping listeners develop stronger thinking skills and a more accurate understanding of the world. Recent guests include geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan, AI expert Emad Mostaque, economics commentator Morgan Housel, and Replit CEO Amjad Massad. What connects Impact Theory to Jay Shetty's audience is Tom's fundamental belief that mindset determines outcomes. Even when discussing global economics or AI, he consistently brings the conversation back to how individuals can adapt, grow, and position themselves for success. His interviewing style is intense and well-prepared — he reads extensively before each conversation and is not afraid to push back on ideas he disagrees with. The show has evolved over the years from pure personal development into a broader current affairs and ideas show, but the personal growth foundation remains. It carries a 4.7-star rating from about 4,600 reviews. Listeners appreciate the intellectual rigor and the range of topics covered.

Optimal Living Daily takes a completely different approach from most personal development podcasts. Instead of interviews or monologues, host Justin Malik — an award-winning audiobook narrator — reads and curates the best articles from influential self-help writers, then adds his own commentary and reflection after each piece. Episodes are short, running about 8 to 11 minutes, and release daily. This makes the show perfect for listeners who want consistent personal growth content but do not have time for hour-long episodes. The featured authors represent some of the most respected voices in the space: Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus (The Minimalists), Leo Babauta (Zen Habits), Joshua Becker (Becoming Minimalist), James Altucher, and Steve Pavlina have all had their work featured. Topics span minimalism, productivity, mindfulness, intentional living, relationships, financial wellness, and mental health. With over 2,000 episodes published since 2015, the archive is enormous and well-organized by topic. Justin's narration is polished and easy to listen to, and his post-reading commentary adds a personal touch that keeps the show from feeling like a simple audiobook. For Jay Shetty fans who want a daily dose of wisdom in a compact format, Optimal Living Daily delivers consistently. The show holds a 4.6-star rating from about 3,000 reviews and offers an ad-free subscription for $1.99 per month.