The Positive Psychology Podcast

Kristen Truempy started this podcast with a straightforward mission: take the academic research from positive psychology and make it actually enjoyable to listen to. She has a background in the field and was frustrated that so much valuable research about wellbeing, gratitude, meaning, and character strengths was locked behind dry academic writing that nobody outside universities would ever read. The show mixes solo episodes where Truempy breaks down a single concept with interview episodes featuring researchers and practitioners. Topics range from the science of gratitude and savoring positive experiences to body image, emotional first aid, and the role of rituals in everyday happiness. With 134 episodes, the catalog is more focused than some of the bigger shows, which actually works in its favor. You can browse by topic and find targeted, well-researched episodes without wading through hundreds of entries. The show has a 4.3-star rating from 258 reviews and a loyal niche audience. The pace of new episodes has slowed considerably since the show's most active years between 2014 and 2021, so don't expect a packed weekly schedule. But the existing library holds up well, and the content has not aged in the way that trend-chasing wellness shows tend to. If you have any interest in positive psychology as an actual academic discipline rather than just a marketing label, this is one of the few podcasts that treats the subject with real rigor.