The 20 Best Podcasts For Women's Mental Health

In a fast-moving society, podcasts can connect you to the latest news, stories, and information. These audio recordings allow you to tune into the news, listen to a spooky story, or learn more about yourself and others. 

In 2023, mental health podcasts are trending, which allow individuals to investigate their mental health and the psychology of being human. While it can be essential to consult with your doctor and therapist for personalized mental health support, podcasts may act as a complementary form of support and expose you to new ideas, perspectives, and practical tips.

Some mental health-related podcasts specifically cater to women. Historically, women's mental health is complicated by concerns like gender disparity, domestic violence, and mistreatment by medical providers. These podcasts platform women's stories, struggles, and successes and may help listeners perceive themselves as less alone and more empowered. 

Top 20 women's mental health podcasts 

Below are 20 of the most popular women's mental health podcasts to try in 2023. 

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 topics ranging from everyday life to relationships and family issues, and their conversations can be fun, honest, and relatable for many women. The power trio may 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 Winfrey interviews health and wellness experts, thought-leaders, authors, and other inspiring individuals. With curiosity and compassion, they dig into life's profound questions and aim to 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 podcast, Getting Better, is hosted by two licensed therapists, Micheline Maalouf and Nadia Addesi, who talk with various 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, the host of Balanced Black Girl, wants her listeners to feel their best. Her podcast offers health and wellness advice and tips for self-care and self-improvement explicitly intended for Black women.

Les expresses her wisdom with an approachable, warm spirit and invites other wellness experts onto the show to discuss finding balance as a Black woman. Her episodes cover various 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, consider adding MOOD to your podcast queue. MOOD 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 about mental health and womanhood in the digital age. 

7. Anything Goes

If you love to lounge in bed after a long day, you may love Anything Goes, a weekly show hosted by Emma Chamberlain, recorded from the comfort of her bed. Emma's millions of fans include people of all gender identities. Still, 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 may make you feel unwell. 

As women, Remy and Emily have personal experience with toxic diet culture. With the support 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 may appreciate their candid conversations, thoughtful questions, and willingness to laugh at the 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 mix of personal stories, wellness tips, and current events and seeks to 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, and natural living. 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 may 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 overcoming their next challenge is possible, 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 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, Amanda Doyle. Together, they "drop the fake" and talk honestly about challenging and taboo topics. Expert guests contribute 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 two 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 the tools 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, inner growth, spirituality, and other dimensions of a healthy, purposeful life. 

This podcast is for people who appreciate profound talks about self-care, grief, and other experiences that millions of women may face. Ty offers inspiration and realness, and she consistently aims to help listeners become 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 topics related to being a woman. Devoted listeners may appreciate the wisdom of the hosts and their guests, who tell intimate stories alongside their professional expertise.  

15. Terrible, Thanks for Asking

In Nora McInemy's podcast, Terrible, Thanks for Asking, she asks real people how they're doing after enduring a painful, shameful, or terrible event to reduce the stigma of telling the truth about emotional experiences. Nora's experiences with grief inspire the show, 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 parenting, romantic partnerships, breakups, and other universal experiences that affect women, men, and non-binary people alike. Regardless of one's identity or life experiences, one can listen in to cultivate more emotional openness and empathy for others.

16. Encyclopedia womanica

This bite-sized podcast may be a fun choice if you're running tight on time. 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. For those searching for a balance of history and inspiration, Womanica may be a helpful resource. You can listen whether on a snack break, driving your work commute, or 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. Renowned actress and activist Olivia Wilde hosts the show, interviewing world-class guests like 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 today.

18. Call Your Girlfriend

Inspired by their friendship as "long-distance besties," Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow created Call Your Girlfriend, a podcast for women searching for deep connection, friendship, and intelligent, 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 six-year-old transgender daughter as they 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 parents, women, and anyone working to become an ally to the LGBTQ community.

20. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Some people may wonder what it means to be happy, spending a lifetime pursuing 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.

In 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 may end each half-hour episode more knowledgeable, reflective, and potentially happier. 

When to see a therapist

Mental health podcasts for women can provide knowledge, inspiration, and tangible strategies to listeners. However, despite their value, they do not replace professional therapy. If you're facing a significant decision, experiencing mental health concerns, or seeking more support, a licensed therapist has the knowledge and compassion to guide you. If your challenges relate to stereotyping, oppression, and discrimination of women, feminist therapy may help.

Some women may struggle to reach out for in-person guidance due to barriers like cost or stigma about seeking care. In these cases, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp may be effective. These platforms allow clients to set their preferences for therapy upon signing up, which might involve requesting a female therapist. You can also choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions and explore resources like journaling prompts and group therapy. 

Research shows that online therapy can be 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 anxiety, general stress, and parental stress.