A good psychology podcast can give you words for things you have felt but never named, and it can make therapy feel less mysterious. The shows below are real, and each one was checked on its own website or feed on 23 September 2026 to confirm the host and that new episodes are still coming out. Shows that have ended were left off.
Listening is not the same as therapy. As Dr. Rabin writes in 7 signs you might benefit from therapy, podcasts and books can offer useful frameworks, but they cannot reflect your own patterns back to you. The list is in no particular order. Pick by topic and by the kind of voice you like to listen to.
1. Hidden Brain, hosted by Shankar Vedantam
Best for: The unconscious patterns behind everyday choices
Where: Weekly (Mondays); Hidden Brain Media
Shankar Vedantam founded and hosts Hidden Brain. The show's site says the name refers to influences that shape us without our awareness, such as mental shortcuts, memory errors and social dynamics. Episodes mix research with personal stories. The most recent episode when we checked, "How to Make a Difference: Part 1," came out on 21 September 2026, and recent topics include why conversations go wrong and how to be a better partner.
Visit Hidden Brain, hosted by Shankar Vedantam
2. Speaking of Psychology, hosted by Kim I. Mills (American Psychological Association)
Best for: Research explained by the psychologists who did it
Where: Weekly (Wednesdays); American Psychological Association
Speaking of Psychology is produced by the American Psychological Association. APA's page names Kim I. Mills as host and says she created the show in 2013 and took over as host in 2020. Each episode is an interview with a researcher. Recent episodes cover suicide prevention with Matthew Nock, PhD, and "boreout" at work, released on 23 September 2026.
Visit Speaking of Psychology, hosted by Kim I. Mills (American Psychological Association)
3. Where Should We Begin?, hosted by Esther Perel
Best for: Hearing real couples work through conflict
Where: Weekly (Mondays); Esther Perel Global Media
Esther Perel describes herself as a therapist, and her site says the show invites listeners into her office every Monday to hear couples talk through intimate parts of their relationships. Some episodes are interviews instead. The latest one on her site, with author Priya Parker, is dated 21 September 2026. It can be a helpful way to hear how relationship patterns sound out loud.
Visit Where Should We Begin?, hosted by Esther Perel
4. Therapist Uncensored, hosted by Sue Marriott, LCSW, CGP, and Ann Kelley, PhD
Best for: Attachment and relational psychology
Where: Regular new episodes; independent
Sue Marriott and Ann Kelley are licensed therapists, and the site describes the show as candid, unscripted conversations rooted in modern attachment and the sciences of the mind. Recent episodes cover mentalization-based treatment and healing through community. The newest episode listed, number 311, is dated 8 September 2026. It suits listeners curious about why early relationships echo in adult ones.
Visit Therapist Uncensored, hosted by Sue Marriott, LCSW, CGP, and Ann Kelley, PhD
5. The Happiness Lab, hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos
Best for: The science of well-being, in plain language
Where: Weekly (Mondays); Pushkin Industries
Laurie Santos is a Yale professor, and Pushkin says the show takes listeners through the latest research on happiness along with personal stories. Recent guests include Angela Duckworth and Richard Davidson, and the newest episode is dated 21 September 2026. Episodes are practical without promising quick fixes.
Visit The Happiness Lab, hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos
6. All in the Mind, presented by Sana Qadar (ABC Australia)
Best for: Short, well-reported episodes on single topics
Where: Weekly (Fridays); ABC Australia
All in the Mind comes from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and is presented by journalist Sana Qadar. The ABC page says it covers questions such as why people lie and whether trauma can change the brain. Episodes run about 30 minutes. Recent ones cover burnout, health anxiety and a two-part series on when meditation goes wrong, with the latest dated 18 September 2026.
Visit All in the Mind, presented by Sana Qadar (ABC Australia)
7. The Science of Happiness, hosted by Dacher Keltner
Best for: Research-tested practices you can try today
Where: Every other week plus short practice episodes; PRX and UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center
Psychologist Dacher Keltner hosts the show, which is co-produced by PRX and UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. Its page describes research-tested strategies for a happier, more meaningful life. Full episodes alternate with short guided "Happiness Break" practices. The feed's latest release is dated 17 September 2026. Recent full episodes cover protecting your brain as you age and why talking to strangers is good for you.
Visit The Science of Happiness, hosted by Dacher Keltner
8. Being Well, hosted by Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson
Best for: Clinical psychology and contemplative practice together
Where: Weekly (Mondays), plus some extra episodes
Psychologist Rick Hanson, whose site cites more than 45 years of experience, hosts the show with Forrest Hanson. Its page says it draws on lessons from clinical psychology and contemplative practice to explore the hard parts of being human. The newest episode, on what critics get right and wrong about CBT, is dated 21 September 2026. Other recent topics include people-pleasing and how to feel your feelings.
Visit Being Well, hosted by Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson
Shows we left off, and why
Some well-known shows are no longer publishing. The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman released a farewell episode, "End of an Era: Reflections on 11 Years," in December 2025, and nothing new has come out since. Its archive is still available. Unlocking Us with Brené Brown has not released an episode since October 2024. We also left off 10% Happier because we could not confirm its current host on the show's own site.
How to get more from a psychology podcast
Notice what stays with you. If an episode about conflict or anxiety lands close to home, that reaction is worth paying attention to. Many people find it useful to jot down a line that struck them and bring it to therapy. Dr. Rabin's work is psychodynamic, which means looking at the patterns underneath what you feel, and a podcast moment can be a good way into that conversation.
If you prefer reading, see our list of books on psychodynamic therapy. If you are ready to talk with someone, Dr. Rabin offers a free 15-minute phone consultation through her contact page.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.
Related guides
Last reviewed September 2026. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
