Starter episode: “Raised to Present Well — Dr. Kate Truitt”
As the name suggests, this series offers a variety of practical and problem-focused techniques that listeners can use in their daily lives, with an emphasis on anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (O.C.D.) and depression. The host, Kimberley Quinlan, a licensed marriage and family therapist, strikes a warm and encouraging tone as she shares science-based tidbits from her own clinical practice. Many of the tools are grounded in mindfulness — the practice of paying attention to the present moment, and to one’s thoughts, with an attitude of acceptance. Since the essence of anxiety for many people is worrying about an anticipated hypothetical scenario, this kind of approach can be ideal for breaking out of that mind set.
Starter episode: “20 Phrases to Use When You Are Anxious”
In 2018, Yale University opened registration for what would become the most popular course in its 300-year history, titled Psychology and the Good Life. Taught by Laurie Santos, the class focused on positive psychology, a therapeutic approach dating back to the 1990s that puts the same rigorous attention on positive emotions (including happiness, gratitude and resilience) that traditional psychology puts on negative ones. Following the success of the class, Santos spun off her teachings into this uplifting weekly podcast, which combines the latest research on happiness with conversations about how to harness positive psychology in relationships, at work, and in managing mental health struggles.
Starter episode: “Stepping Off the Path of Anxiety”
Today’s work culture tends to measure self-worth through productivity, and many industries are introducing quantitative measures to track worker efficiency. The feeling that our value is contingent on our ability to get things done can contribute to burnout, depression and anxiety, and erodes the already blurred boundaries between work life and home life. The most recent six-episode season of “How To,” a podcast from The Atlantic, encourages us to reassess our perception of time, with the hosts, Becca Rashid and Ian Bogost, exploring why it’s so difficult to truly rest, why “busyness” is a trap and what theoretical physics can teach us about the passage of time.
Starter episode: “How to Rest”
Sometimes, the best way to combat anxiety is to face it head-on. But if you’re in an anxious spiral, going over the same worries again and again, then distraction may be the best medicine. This wholesome and informative science podcast offers just that, delivering deep dives on animals of all kinds alongside interviews with conservationists and researchers. Each episode spotlights a different creature, including familiar species like polar bears, puffins and, the internet’s favorite, capybaras, and near-extinct rarities like the Mekong giant catfish. Research indicates that owning a pet may have wide-ranging mental health benefits, but if that’s not in the cards for you, taking an audio vacation to the animal kingdom isn’t a bad substitute.
Starter episode: “How Animals Help Us Overcome Trauma”