Start Your Day Right With These 17 Soul-Soothing Podcasts

Podcasts have quickly become one of the most frequently consumed media sources, equally as popular with people looking for answers to unsolved murders as those hoping to find some sleep time assistance. Whether you're listening while making breakfast or commuting to work, the following seventeen soul-soothing podcasts are bound to get your day off to a positive start. Add these to the queue stat.

1. The IKEA Sleep Podcast

Everyone's favourite Swedish homewares retailer IKEA has once again shown why Scandinavians are leading the way when it comes to happiness and wellbeing. Released this year, The IKEA Sleep Podcast lets you select between the male or female narration of their lengthy product catalogue. It might sound wacky, but the soothing sounds of IKEA product names are actually super effective in getting you to feel relaxed and sleepy. You've even got a choice between the 2019 and 2020 catalogue!

2. DKMH

If for some reason you're not familiar with Australian-born actor and star of the iconic 'Stranger Things' franchise Dacre Montgomery, then you're about to be in for a real treat. With a social media presence that is mysterious to say the least, his newest project is a podcast he describes as 'beat poetry set to music'. With tunes from the likes of Julia Stone, this podcast is fascinating, relaxing and something entirely new. Listen to the six-part series as Dacre uses his soothing voice to read his spoken word pieces aloud.

3. TED Radio Hour

This informative pod is a go-to for when you're after something that will stimulate your brain in an easy to digest way. Hosted by journalist Guy Raz, each hour-long episode tackles a particular topic such as mental illness, honesty and failure, with the help of snippets from TED talks, facts and interviews with experts on the matter. A great one to put on while you're working, grocery shopping or even walking the dog.

4. Oprah's Master Class: The Podcast

If the idea of learning life lessons from a list of influential people including Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Lorne Michaels and Ellen DeGeneres has piqued your interest, then read on. Oprah handpicks a varied and considered list of some of the most famous and inspiring names on the planet to sit down with as they share their own journeys, revealing the highs and lows of their careers and rare insights into their personal lives. Don't forget to tune in to Oprah's two-part episode on her very own life.

5. Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris

After footage of Dan Harris experiencing an intense panic attack on the air in his role as anchorman for 'Good Morning America' went viral, he decided to turn his attention to meditation and calming the mind. Since then, he has published a bestselling book and an app that aim to help others find inner peace, and his podcast is an extension of his life's work. Covering topics of enlightenment, ambition and of course, stress, Ten Percent Happier corrals experts together to shine a light on rarely talked about topics.

6. Optimal Living Daily

With permission, the best content from authors around the world is read out in short (usually under fifteen minutes) episodes, covering topics like minimalism, productivity and time management. This is an easy one to pick up whenever you feel like a burst of inspiration as the episodes are non-sequential so you won't miss out on any info by not habitually listening. Great for those with a short attention span that prefer their content quick and to the point.

7. The Minimalists Podcast

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus are The Minimalists. After saying goodbye to their corporate jobs in 2011, they published their first book and took it on an international tour to spread the word of removing excess and finding contentment. Their podcast is an extension of their now three bestsellers and gives listeners an insight into the ways these guys have turned their lives around. Slowing down, buying once, and how to declutter your smartphone are subjects your ears will be treated to in this mindful podcast.

8. The Slow Home Podcast

In a world where just keeping up appearances seems like a full-time job, feeling overworked and undervalued is a common thread in our society. There are, however, people who are turning their backs on their stressful and sleep-deprived former lives and adopting a new, slower lifestyle. This slow living podcast chats about things like wabi-sabi, zero-waste and the power of saying 'no'.

9. Jen Gotch is OK...Sometimes

Founder of ban.do, an online marketplace with jewellery, clothes, notebooks and more, Jen Gotch has been an open advocate for mental health since gaining popularity through her entrepreneurial ventures. In Jen Gotch is OK...Sometimes, she opens up about her own fears around travel anxiety, finding joy and even what she has learned about business. Jen hopes that this podcast will help you feel less alone as you navigate this tricky world we live in.

10. Dr Karl Podcast

Honestly, who doesn't love Dr Karl and his seemingly endless scientific knowledge? The loveable science commentator and radio/TV personality has teamed up with the guys at Triple J for a weekly lesson on the galaxy, daylight savings, rising sea levels and bubbles, to name a few. Tune in as he and co-host Linda Marigliano bust myths and solve everyday quandaries.

11. Fresh Air

From Elton John to 'Breaking Bad' creator Vince Gilligan and actor Aaron Paul, Fresh Air's list of episodes includes some of the most intriguing guests from entertainment and politics. One week you'll be learning about every captive animal species from a National Geographic photographer and the next you'll hear about the Pulitzer Prize-winning report that helped spark the #MeToo movement.

12. I Can't Sleep

As the title suggests, this bedtime pod's purpose is to help you out when you're having trouble feeling sleepy. With the help from random articles from the internet on mundane topics such as sand, the moon and roads, I Can't Sleep's narrator slowly recites facts in a monotone voice that will instinctively have you drifting off in no time.

13. Slow Radio

Slow Radio is an immersive audio experience that takes listeners on a journey through a variety of fascinating scenarios where lo-fi sounds are captured in their purest form that encourage us to take things slow and really be present. From the sounds of the Earth that include a lyrebird captured in eucalyptus trees to night-time at a zoo, these comforting natural sounds are sure to soothe your soul.

14. Sleep With Me

'Boring' isn't a word we often use when recommending a podcast, but when it comes to winding down and relaxing, sometimes you just need something that doesn't require much brainpower. Sleep With Me is an ingenious series where stories are narrated by a slow, deep voice that progressively becomes more monotonous until you're ready to fall asleep.

15. TEDTalks Health

The entire gamut of podcasts produced by the community at TED (technology, entertainment and design) covers a huge range of innovative ideas, but one we are most excited about is TEDTalks Health. Whether it's advice on dealing with loneliness or scientific sleep tips, this short-form podcast opens up a dialogue around health topics that have gone largely unexplored.

16. Cosmic Cousins: Soul-Centred Astrology

If you're guided in life by your star sign and fancy yourself a bit of an astrology nerd, then this cosmic pod is just what you've been looking for. The weekly episodes dive deep into the interconnectedness of our universe in terms of health, learning and self-discovery. Throw in some celebrity tidbits and you've found your new go-to source of zodiac news.

17. Soul Search

Religion and spirituality are topics that we tend to steer clear of when in conversation with our friends, and most definitely with strangers. Soul Search, however, does a great job at exploring what we as humans believe and the different ways we express it in weekly episodes. Soul Search is a safe space to learn about the different viewpoints that make our communities tick.

After you've subscribed to these, queue these 22 crime/mystery podcasts.