The Best Free Podcasts for Healthy Living
Regardless of your dietary preferences or workout of choice, you’re bound to find something on this list that will soon become your go-to podcast.
So you're all caught up on Serial, and you can't wait until the next episode of Radiolab comes out. What are you supposed to listen to in the car or at the gym or during your lunch break? We suggest taking a break from the fascinating world of murder mysteries and the oddities of science and giving one of these health, fitness and nutrition podcasts a listen. We've narrowed down the daunting list of more than 240 podcasts in iTunes Fitness and Nutrition section to these 12 picks. Regardless of your dietary preferences (Paleo, vegan, gluten-free) or workout of choice, you're bound to find something on this list that will soon become your go-to podcast.
1. The Ultimate Health Podcast
Essentially, the theme of this podcast boils down to proactive health. Hosts Dr. Jesse Chappus, a chiropractor and holistic health enthusiast, and Marni Wasserman, nutritionist, health strategist and owner of Toronto's first plant-based cooking studio, bring their wealth of experience and knowledge to create a fun and engaging podcast. They discuss the latest in health and wellness news — from nutrition to superfoods to fitness to meditation and spirituality — and invite some of the foremost experts in the field to join the conversation, including Dr. Mark Hyman, Dave Asprey, Dr. Christiane Northrup and Rich Roll.
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
Read more: 12 Must-Watch TED Talks for the Health Minded
2. The Rich Roll Podcast
Though this couch-potato-turned-ultramarathoner could certainly fill his entire podcast with personal stories (you'll have to buy his books to read those), he uses his airtime to tell the incredible and inspiring stories of others. Guests have included Russell Simmons, Dr. Robynne Chutkan and James and Claudia Altucher. Though Roll himself is an avid plant-based advocate with a very clear passion for running long distances, each episode promotes finding each individual's "ultra." Topics covered include general health, food policy, fitness, nutrition, environmentalism and sustainability, yoga, meditation and spirituality.
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
3. TEDTalks Health
Rather than wading through the whole library of TED Talks to find ones that speak to your health-conscious mind, why not let TED do all the work and bring them to you? Chances are you already know all about the TED format and how it works: Experts in their respective fields propose their solutions for a better world for all of us and better lives for each of us individually. Episodes you won't want to miss include "How to stay calm when you know you'll be stressed, " "Why we all need to practice emotional first aid," and "Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong."
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
Read more: 9 Documentaries That Everyone Should See
4. The Stronger Podcast
Rather than wade through your spam folder in search of the secret to health and happiness (again), tune in to the Stronger podcast. LIVESTRONG.COM Editors Michelle Vartan and Erin Mosbaugh simplify healthy living for you by questioning, defining and demystifying wellness. You'll hear from key health figures, including Bulletproof Coffee founder Dave Asprey, best-selling author Danielle LaPorte, and thought leader Marie Forleo, and learn practical, science-backed tips on how to live your healthiest life. Stronger explores a wide variety of topics — from anxiety to self defense to myths about your diet — so there's a lot to take away, whether you're a wellness expert of a total newbie.
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
5. Tim Ferriss Show
He challenged our idea of the modern workplace with "The 4-Hour Workweek" and shook up our notion of health and fitness with "The 4-Hour Body." Now Tim Ferriss is bringing his norm-shattering ideas (and the ideas of those way smarter than the rest of us) to earbuds everywhere. While not every episode is centered on a health, fitness or nutrition theme, they do all focus on how to maximize your time and live a healthier life. Plus, with episodes like "Rainn Wilson on Meditation, The Sexy Nostril Exercise, and Acting as Therapy," how could you not listen?
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
6. Get-Fit Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Slim Down and Shape Up
The Quick and Dirty Tips brand is known for bringing people straightforward, no-nonsense advice they can use in their everyday lives to achieve their goals. And this podcast, hosted by personal trainer and fitness expert Ben Greenfield (who has a pretty successful podcast of his own), is no exception. His advice is practical, logical and, best of all, backed by science. But don't worry if you don't have a degree in kinesiology: Greenfield breaks it down for you, so you benefit from his depth of wisdom and "become fitter, faster, stronger and ultimately happier and healthier."
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
Read more: 13 Inspirational Instagrams to Keep You on Track
7. Vinyasa Yoga With Nathan Johnson
Can't make it to yoga class because your meeting ran long? Or maybe you're a beginner wanting to start your yoga practice in the privacy of your own home. Whatever your reasoning, if you want to take your practice to the next level, give Nathan Johnson's podcast a listen. Classes range from 45 to 90 minutes (though most are 60 minutes) and are designed for a variety of experience levels with variations for the less flexible and beginners. Johnson is funny and engaging and makes yoga approachable for everyone.
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
8. Fat 2 Fit Radio
You won't find any episodes newer than 2013, but you'll want to peruse the older episodes for timeless nuggets of wisdom to guide you through your weight-loss and fitness journey. In each episode, hosts Russ Turley (who lost 60 pounds during his stint as host of The Fat Guy Radio), food writer and chef Helana Brigman and personal trainer and high-school PE teacher Jeff Ainslie tackle at least one big topic and sprinkle in a ton of useful tips to help you create lifelong healthy habits. "The show is not about fad diets or get-skinny-quick schemes," their iTunes description reads. "We are advocating weight loss through lifestyle change, not quick fixes — they simply do not exist." That's something we can all get behind.
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
Read more: 23 Songs to Make You Sweat
9. The Jillian Michaels Show
What would any fitness list be without the queen of fitness herself? Whether or not you agree with her tactics on The Biggest Loser, you can't deny her tough-love approach is exactly what a lot of us need to get our butts off the couch and into the gym. With her years of experience helping people reach and maintain their weight-loss goals, her podcast provides listeners with the fitness and nutrition advice they've come to expect from Michaels. And just like in The Biggest Loser, Michaels also tackles a lot of underlying issues in people's lives, including complicated relationships with parents, dating relationships and finding love and furthering a career that feels stagnated. Plus, you can't help but chuckle at the good-natured banter between Michaels and her producer.
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
10. The Paleo Solution Podcast
When it comes to Paleo, Robb Wolf is one of the most well-known evangelists. But as a former biochemist and powerlifting champ, he's also the perfect candidate to know exactly what he's talking about. And if Wolf didn't bring enough clout himself, he also hosts big names in the Paleo world, including Chris Kessler and Mark Sisson. Got a question about Paleo nutrition, intermittent fasting, ketogenic diets, creatine, muscle-ups or fitness training? Ask away! You'll be met with sensible answers, backed not only by Wolf's experience, but by science as well. And even if you don't consider yourself a hardcore Paleo eater, you can still gain a wealth of nutrition and fitness knowledge.
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
Read more: 5 Reasons Why Athletes May Not Want to Go Paleo
11. No Meat Athlete Radio
Another author and ultramarathoner, Matt Frazier, founder of the No Meat Athlete brand, blog, book and podcast, shares his passion for vegan and vegetarian nutrition, running and training and healthy lifestyle choices with his listeners in episodes ranging from 30 to 60 minutes long. And along with Frazier's down-to-earth approach on nutrition and fitness topics, each week you'll get to hear from experts like Brendan Brazier, Heather Crosby, Leo Babauta and Rip Esselstyn. And again, non-vegetarians can still benefit from Frazier's expertise, because no diet is one-size-fits-all, and everyone can use more veggies and exercise in their lives.
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
12. The Nutrition Diva’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous
Who is the Nutrition Diva? Monica Reinagel, a licensed nutritionist with a Master's in human nutrition who also went to culinary school. Along with her weekly podcast, she's also authored several books, including How to Win at Losing and Nutrition Diva's Grocery Store Survival Guide, and blogs for the Huffington Post. Episodes of her podcast cover a wide variety of topics, so whether you're Paleo, vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free or anything else under the sun, you can benefit from Reinagel's "simple, painless ways to upgrade your eating habits."
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
Read more: 12 Tips to Getting a Vegetarian Diet Right
13. Bulletproof Radio
You've heard about Bulletproof Coffee (and are maybe even sick of hearing about it by now), but meet the man behind the coffee-hacking trend: Dave Asprey. Beyond the coffee, you'll learn about "being Bulletproof, " which is "the State of High Performance where you take control and improve your biochemistry, your body and your mind so that they work in unison, helping you execute at levels far beyond what you'd expect, without burning out, getting sick or just acting like a stressed-out a*****e." Pretty lofty claim. But Asprey brings along a lot of lofty names to help him out, from world-class doctors and biochemists to Olympic nutritionists and meditation experts. Come find out what the hype is really all about.
Find out more and subscribe on iTunes.
What Do YOU Think?
Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones are your favorites? Are there any health-, nutrition- or fitness-related ones that make your list? Do you listen to any of the ones on this list? Which ones would you have added? When's your favorite time to listen? In the car, at work, on the treadmill? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section below!
Read more: 7 Best Protein Bars -- and 3 to Avoid