The 20 Best Podcasts For Women's Mental Health

In a world that moves fast and changes just as quickly, podcasts can connect you to the latest news, stories, and information. 

Pop an earbud in and press play, and you can instantly tune into the news, listen to a spooky story, or learn more about yourself and other people. 

At BetterHelp, we love all kinds of podcasts: but of course, we have a special appreciation for mental health and therapy podcasts, which are increasingly popular among people experiencing mental health concerns. While it’s important to consult with your doctor and therapist for personalized mental health support, podcasts can help fill in the gaps and expose you to new ideas and perspectives, as well as practical tips.

Many mental health-related podcasts specifically cater toward women. Historically, women’s mental health is complicated by issues such as gender disparity, domestic violence, and mistreatment by medical providers. The following podcasts platform the stories, struggles, and successes of women, and can help listeners feel less alone and more empowered in their personal journeys. 

Read more about the 20 best podcasts for women's mental health, handpicked by fellow podcast lovers.

1. The Receipts

The Receipts is hosted by Tolly T, Audrey Sanchez, and Milena Sanchez, who are willing to talk about anything and everything. Together, they cover everything from everyday life to relationships and family issues, and their conversations are fun, honest, and relatable to many women. The power-trio will make you laugh, think, and cry every Wednesday, when they drop their weekly dose of “girl talk.” 

2. Oprah's Super Soul 

In the Super Soul podcast, Oprah interviews health and wellness experts, thought-leaders, authors, and other inspiring individuals. With curiosity and compassion, they dig into life's greatest questions and bring you one step closer to your best self. 

Notable guests on the show include Quinta Brunson from the comedy series Abbot Elementary, and Nicole Hannah-Jones, author of the New York Times bestselling book The 1619 Project. 

3. Getting Better: Stories Of Mental Health

BetterHelp's very own podcast is hosted by two licensed therapists, Micheline Maalouf and Nadia Addesi, who talk with a variety of well-known guests to chronicle their mental health journeys. 

4. She's All Fat: A Fat Positive Podcast

Hosted by Sophie Carter-Kahn, She's All Fat is made for women and other listeners who want to cultivate radical self-love and body positivity. 

Sophie tackles various topics including current events, pop culture, mental health, and body image, and each episode features an inspiring guest with knowledge on the subject. Listeners can look forward to warm, inviting conversations while learning more about the intersections of fatness and feminism.

5. Balanced Black Girl

Les Alfred, host of Balanced Black Girl, wants her listeners feel their best. Her podcast offers health and wellness advice and tips for self-care and -improvement, intended specifically for Black women.

Les tells her wisdom with an approachable, warm spirit, and invites other wellness experts onto the show to discuss the concept of finding balance as Black women. Her episodes cover a range of mental health topics including the importance of boundaries, breathwork exercises, manifestation techniques, and digital self-care.

6. MOOD

If you’re in the mood for a fresh, honest take on mental health and self-care, add MOOD to your podcast queue. The show is hosted by online personality Lauren Elizabeth, a self-described “Midwest girly” and pioneer in the digital industry. 

Every week, Lauren interviews a special guest to discuss the ins and outs of anxiety, heartbreak, social media, and other topics pertaining to mental health and womanhood in the digital age. 

7. Anything Goes

If you love to lounge in bed after a long day, you’ll love Anything Goes: a weekly show hosted by Emma Chamberlain and recorded from the comfort of her bed. 

Emma’s millions of fans include people of all gender identities, but women may especially appreciate her takes on philosophy, sex, fashion, and other topics that have influenced her life and career as a young woman.

8. Diet Starts Tomorrow

Diet Starts Tomorrow unpacks the emotional side of health, well-being, and beauty. Its hosts, Remy Kassimir and Emily Lubin, team together to combat the wellness fads that can make you feel unwell. 

As women, both Remy and Emily have personal experience with toxic diet culture. With the help of expert guests, they’re learning to shed unhelpful beliefs about their bodies and embrace a kinder, more intuitive approach to food and exercise. You’ll appreciate their candid conversations, thoughtful questions, and willingness to laugh at the sheer absurdity of diet culture. 

9. Brown Girl Self Care

Bre Mitchel, also known as the “Self-Care Pusher from Southern California,” is a self-care advocate for women of color. On her show, she approaches self-care from all angles: physical, spiritual, and emotional. The podcast offers a refreshing mix of personal stories, wellness tips, and current events, and seeks to both inform and inspire women of color. 

10. The Wellness Mama

The Wellness Mama is a podcast for women and mothers who want to learn more about popular health topics, including food, stress, sleep, fitness, toxins, natural living, and much more. 

Host Katie Wells interviews health experts, whose stories and knowledge can help you improve your family’s health.  As a mom herself, Katie is passionate about finding actionable solutions to enhance your health and family life. Listeners enjoy her thoughtful approach to everyday challenges, from building health habits to getting enough sunlight. 

11. We Can Do Hard Things

Every week, We Can Do Hard Things reminds listeners that it’s possible to overcome their next challenge: even if it’s getting through the day. 

The podcast is created by Glennon Doyle, author of the best-selling book Untamed. The book and podcast stem from Doyle’s personal mantra, “WE CAN DO HARD THINGS,” which shapes every episode of her podcast. 

Glennon co-hosts the show with her wife, Abby Wambach, and her sister, Glennon Doyle. Together, they “drop the fake” and talk honestly about the hard stuff. Expert guests contribute their insights to conversations about loneliness, body image, mental illness, and other emotional subjects. 

12. Black Girl In Om

Black Girl in Om is a calming, affirmative podcast that champions the consciousness and transformation of Black women. Over 2 million listeners tune in for their weekly dose of inspiration, which includes practical wellness strategies, self-care tips, and discussions of spiritual awakening and intergenerational healing. 

Host Lauren Ash offers a balance of “girl talk” and warm, thoughtful advice. With her podcast and other ventures, she strives toward a world where women of color feel seen, freed, and empowered. 

13. Self-Care IRL

Listen to Self-Care IRL and gather all the tools you need to transform into the best version of yourself. Ty Alexander, best-selling author of Things I Wish I Knew Before My Mom Died, explores strategies and ideas for self-care, as well as inner growth, spirituality, and other dimensions of a healthy, purposeful life. 

This podcast is made for people who appreciate deep talks about self-care, grief, and other experiences that millions of women face. Ty offers both inspiration and realness, and she consistently helps listeners feel more educated, inspired, and connected to other women. 

14. Stuff Mom Never Told You

In every episode of Stuff Mom Never Told You, hosts Anney and Samantha facilitate research-based discussions about topics that affect people who identify as female. Their conversations cover mental health, body positivity, sexuality, feminism, popular culture, and anything related to the business of being a woman. Devoted listeners appreciate the wisdom of both the hosts and their guests, who tell intimate stories as well as professional expertise. 

15. Terrible, Thanks For Asking

If you ask Nora McInerny how she’s feeling, she’ll do her best to answer honestly. In her podcast, Terrible, Thanks for Asking, McInerny asks real people how they’re really doing after enduring a painful, shameful, or simply terrible event. 

The show is inspired by Nora’s personal experiences with grief, and she considers herself a reluctant expert on the subject. To date, she and her team have released over 200 episodes. Nora and her guests explore subjects such as parenting, romantic partnerships, breakups, and other universal experiences that affect women, men, and non-binary people alike. Regardless of your identities and life experiences, each episode encourages listeners to cultivate more openness and empathy for others.

16. Encyclopedia Womanica

If you’re running tight on time, this bite-sized podcast is the choice for you. In each five-minute episode, this award-winning podcast highlights influential women from history. Its primary goal is to amplify the stories of women you may or may not know already, but definitely should. 

For those searching for a balance of history and inspiration, Womanica is the ideal resource: whether you’re listening on a snack break, during your work commute, or while winding down after a long day.

17. Dare I Say

If you’re eager to learn from the world’s most influential women,  Dare I Say features intimate, unfiltered conversations with some of the most powerful women today. The show is hosted by renowned actress and activist Olivia Wilde and includes world-class guests, such as Jane Fonda and Laverne Cox. Through insightful conversations, Wilde and her guests invite listeners to consider global issues, current events, and what it means to be a woman in today’s world.

18. Call Your Girlfriend

Inspired by their own relationship, “long-distance besties” Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow created Call Your Girlfriend: a podcast for women in search of deep connection, friendship, and smart, funny conversations about pop culture and politics.

Call Your Girlfriend announced its farewell episode in February of 2022, but devoted listeners can still enjoy more than 350 episodes by Ann and Aminatou. Their conversations span a range of topics: from body shaming and menstrual cycles to intergenerational friendships and disability. Consider sending this podcast to a faraway friend, listening together, and recapping the episode over the phone.

19. How To Be A Girl

In How To Be a Girl, single mom Marlo Mack navigates life with her 6-year-old transgender daughter, as they both discover what it means to be a girl. The show is supportive, inspiring, and inclusive, and explores common challenges faced by trans-women and others in the transgender community. How To Be a Girl aims to inform and inspire other parents, women, and anyone working to become a better ally to the LGBTQ community.

20. The Happiness Lab With Dr. Laurie Santos

What does it really mean to be happy? 

Many of us will spend our lifetimes in pursuit of the answer. Dr. Laurie Santos, professor of psychology at Yale University, understands the complexity and importance of this question – which is why she’s committed her life and research to the science of happiness.

Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, Dr. Santos explores happiness-related topics that resonate with many women, including parenting, the pressures of social media, and making friends as an adult. You’ll end each half-hour episode feeling more knowledgeable, reflective, and perhaps even happier.

When To See A Therapist

Mental health podcast for women can provide knowledge, inspiration, and tangible strategies to listeners – but despite their value, they can’t replace professional therapy. If you're facing a big decision, experiencing mental health concerns, or just need more support, a licensed therapist has the knowledge and compassion to help. Especially if your problems relate to stereotyping, oppression, and discrimination of women, feminist therapy may help.

Online therapists at BetterHelp recognize that their patients lead full, active lives. Whether you’re a single parent or balancing a high-pressure job, it might feel like you don’t have the time or mental bandwidth to commit to therapy. 

Research shows that online therapy is just as effective as face-to-face therapy sessions. One study specifically assessed the value of internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for women with postpartum depression. After completing the online program, the women experienced clinically significant reductions in their anxiety, general stress, and parental stress.

Takeaway

Whether you need an energy boost or a moment of inspiration, podcasts are a powerful tool. As you continue your mental health journey, these shows can provide guidance, reassurance, and much-needed humor along the way.

Above all, the hosts of these podcasts understand the complexity of womanhood, which presents a unique set of challenges and rewards. Listen to fellow women, tell your favorite episode with a friend, and begin a lifelong cycle of learning and growing together.