My Favorite Podcasts to Listen to While Working Out

Need something great to listen to while you exercise? These are my favorite podcasts to listen to while working out.

I always listen to podcasts while working out

When I started exercising consistently two and a half years ago, I started out by listening to music. But here’s the thing, working out is hard and painful, and music couldn’t distract me from that. So I tried listening to podcasts while working out and it was a game changer!

If I listen to a podcasts during my workouts, I focus on the podcasts and not my discomfort. Trust me, it works!

These are the bluetooth headphones that I use everyday

Plantronics Bluetooth Headset. They’re comfortable in my ears, they stay in really well, and the sound quality is great.

Podcasts are the way I enjoy exercising!

A quick, 30-40 minute listen to a great podcast that gets to the point and teaches me something new is exactly what my brain needs while I’m exercising.  Especially in the beginning when I started exercising consistently, the podcasts were the reason I actually enjoyed working out.

Seriously, try it!

These are my favorite podcasts to listen to while working out

1. Awesome With Alison.

Hers was the first podcast I ever listened to, and it set the bar very high for all future podcasts. I’ve followed her for a few years on social media, so I knew her sense of humor and her story, but I was totally surprised by deep and insightful her episodes are (while still being really fun). She is the biggest reason for my complete change in schedule and priorities, because her insights are so motivating. I have laughed out loud, cried, and verbally said “amen,” multiple times while listening to her podcasts.

2. 3 in 30 Podcast

This is a podcast that’s specifically for moms, and each episode is thirty minutes long and has three doable takeaways. If you’re a mom, especially with young children, this is such a fantastic podcast with hope, tactics, ideas, and insight. I don’t ever miss an episode. Seriously, listen to this one.

3. Live Free Creative Podcast

My friend, Miranda, is the host of this podcast, and it’s a really fantastic podcast about minimalism, relationships, and finding the freedom to live the life you really want to live. I’m not really a minimalist, but everything she talks about really resonates with me and helps remind me to be a more intentional mom, businesswoman, spouse, and person.

4. Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell.

I’ve read a bunch of Malcolm Gladwell’s books and found them so fascinating, so when I discovered he had a podcast I was instantly sold. He explores all sorts of subjects, from public school systems, to women in government, to basketball player’s egos. He shares insights, ideas, questions, and bigger pictures in the most understandable and thought provoking way. Also I adore his voice.

I don’t love his most recent season, but his first few are fantastic.

5. Happier with Gretchen Rubin.

My mom is a huge Gretchen Rubin fan and has talked about her for years. Because of her raving reviews, I decided to give her podcast a listen, and I was surprised how much I instantly loved it. She and her sister do the podcast together, and they share ideas, tips, and simple examples of ways to make your life happier. I’m all about little, d0able changes, and that’s exactly what they offer. I also love their funny stories they share about their missteps and triumphs. Their tips have improved my life in many tiny ways!

6. How I Built This with Guy Roz.

These are interviews with entrepreneurs who have made it, but all started from nothing and built their company or brand from the ground up. I started with Kate Spade’s episode and was instantly hooked. The stories are so inspiring and motivating as you hear how these people persevered and built their own empires.

7. Rise Together Podcast

This is a relationship podcast hosted by Rachel and Dave Hollis. I haven’t loved every single episode, but most of them are really fantastic. Lots of great relationship advice, tips, and advice. Definitely recommend!

8. Super Soul Conversations with Oprah. This is the audio version of Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday show, and she interviews various people who have soulful experiences and insights as they’ve found their purpose and direction through their life circumstances. I’ve been listening to it non-stop the last week. So much insight, so many incredible stories, so many “aha moments” for me. This podcast is a MUST LISTEN. If you start at the beginning with Brene Brown’s two episodes, your life will be changed!!

9. The Ed Mylett Show

I recently discovered this podcast and it’s a great business, self improvement kind of podcast. Lots of great interviews, ideas, and motivation.

10. Him and Her Podcast

Just a warning on this one, it’s explicit. They have some racy content and language. But their interviews are fantastic and the chemistry and banter between husband and wife, Lauryn and Michael, is so fun. They also have lots of inspiring and motivating content about business and life.

11. The Drop Out 

I listened to this podcast last summer, and it was incredibly fascinating. It’s all about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos — the medical company that was supposed to revolutionize healthcare. I’m really bad at keeping up on the news, so this was a great way for me to understand this huge and important situation. It was such a fascinating listen. Definitely recommend!

12. Gangster Capitalism

This is another great current events podcast, about the college admissions scandal. I obviously heard a lot of buzz when it was all going down (and still is), but I didn’t know many of the specifics. This was a really fascinating listen, and easy to listen to. I also loved hearing some great thoughts about why parents and schooling play into these high standards that lead to cheating to get into college. It was all so fascinating and I was so sad when I finished all the episodes.

Another question I received:

How do I listen to podcasts? All iPhones come with a podcast app. It’s purple with a little soundwave symbol. Go into the app and search these titles and they’ll come right up. You can subscribe so you get updates when new episodes come out, but you don’t have to. Also you can download the episodes to your phone so you can listen to them without using data. I always do this if I’m going to go running outside, or be in my car and not connected to wi-fi.

If you have any other questions, or any great podcast recommendations, leave them in the comments below!

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• How to start working out (resources, apps, tips, and more)

• A review of my Apple Watch and how I use it