The 10 Best Self-Improvement Podcasts in 2026

The self-improvement podcasts people actually listen to, ranked by audience, with what listeners praise and criticise about each one. All of them play free on The Pods.

Updated 2026-11-06 · 127 self-improvement pods on The Pods

1. 1

   Deep Dive

   Ali Abdaal · 6.7M subscribers · English

   Productivity, money and building a happy life.

   What listeners sayAli Abdaal's interviews on productivity, careers and happiness. Pleasant and well produced; critics find the productivity advice generic and the host's YouTube brand dominant.

   • Polished, upbeat and practical.
   • Good book and tool recommendations.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
2. 2

   The Mel Robbins Podcast

   Mel Robbins · 6.4M subscribers · English · #1 on the Apple Podcasts Self-Improvement chart

   Practical advice for confidence, habits and motivation.

   What listeners sayMel Robbins' motivational show and the 'Let Them' theory. Massively popular; fans credit it with real change, critics call it repetitive and simplistic.

   • Direct, encouraging and easy to act on.
   • Short, clear takeaways.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
3. 3

   On Purpose

   Jay Shetty · 6.2M subscribers · English

   Conversations about relationships, purpose and mindset.

   What listeners sayJay Shetty's interviews with celebrities and experts on wellbeing. Huge audience; criticised for shallow questions and for the host's own credibility controversies.

   • Famous guests opening up.
   • Calm, positive tone.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
4. 4

   The School of Greatness

   Lewis Howes · 5M subscribers · English · #5 on the Apple Podcasts Self-Improvement chart

   Stories and lessons from high achievers.

   What listeners sayLewis Howes interviews athletes, authors and entrepreneurs about success. Motivating for fans; critics find it formulaic and the host too deferential.

   • Positive, encouraging interviews.
   • Big guests.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
5. 5

   Impact Theory

   Tom Bilyeu · 4.6M subscribers · English

   Mindset, success and big ideas about the future.

   What listeners sayTom Bilyeu interviews on mindset, money and AI. Energetic and ambitious; criticised for overconfident claims and a sales-pitch feel.

   • High energy and big topics.
   • Some strong expert guests.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
6. 6

   Modern Wisdom

   Chris Williamson · 4.5M subscribers · English · #22 on the Apple Podcasts Self-Improvement chart

   Psychology, dating, habits and how to live well.

   What listeners sayA self-improvement interview show with psychologists, writers and fitness figures, over 1,000 episodes in. Listeners like the range and the host's curiosity; critics say the guest list skews toward one worldview and the quality depends heavily on the guest.

   • Wide range of experts and a host who asks follow-up questions.
   • Good source of book recommendations and practical takeaways.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
7. 7

   The Daily Stoic

   Ryan Holiday · 2.1M subscribers · English · #12 on the Apple Podcasts Self-Improvement chart

   Short daily lessons from Stoic philosophy.

   What listeners sayRyan Holiday's short daily Stoic reflections plus interviews. Loved as a daily habit; critics note the constant book promotion.

   • Short, calming daily episodes.
   • Practical Stoic ideas.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
8. 8

   The Tim Ferriss Show

   Tim Ferriss · 1.8M subscribers · English

   World-class performers break down their routines and tools.

   What listeners sayTim Ferriss's long interviews on performance, with a huge archive. Early episodes are classics; some find the host's questions formulaic and the sponsor reads long.

   • Deep archive of thoughtful interviews.
   • Detailed show notes.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
9. 9

   The Knowledge Project

   Shane Parrish · 466K subscribers · English

   How smart people think and make better decisions.

   What listeners sayShane Parrish (Farnam Street) on decision-making and mental models. Respected for calm, thoughtful interviews; some find the host's style flat.

   • Clear thinking and good follow-ups.
   • Guests from investing, science and sport.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
10. 10

    SONU SHARMA

    @SONUSHARMAMotivation · 13M subscribers · Hindi

    Mr. Sonu Sharma is the founder of DYNAMIC INDIA GROUP (INDIA). He is an Author, Educator, Business Consultant, and successful Entrepreneur, a much sought-aft…

    Watch free on The Pods →

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