Listen Up! 8 Podcasts to Turn Study Breaks into Personal Growth

October 23, 2025  |  by Heidi Wells, Global Campus  |  min read



The world of informal online education offers many options for students in online degree programs to take a study break but still learn something useful.

Podcasts make up a huge piece of informal online education, and most are free – and entertaining. All you need is a way to listen or watch – a computer, tablet or phone and internet.

Industry estimates show there are about 4.5 million podcasts available worldwide on a huge range of topics, offering listeners all kinds of information to foster their success. Podcast episodes range from bite-size chunks to hourlong shows on a huge variety of topics from productivity to mental health to building helpful habits.

These shows address the mental and emotional aspects of productivity, crucial for preventing burnout in adult learners.

  • Happier with Gretchen Rubin: The author of The Happiness Project explores practical, manageable habits for a happier life. Her insights can help adult learners find more balance and reduce the stress that often accompanies managing school, work, and family.
  • The Mindset Mentor: Rob Dial hosts this daily podcast with short, high-energy episodes focused on motivation, discipline, and building better habits. It helps listeners tackle procrastination and fear of failure with a focus on mindset shifts.
  • Huberman Lab: Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman explains how the brain works, with episodes covering topics like sleep, focus, and motivation. This scientific approach offers a deeper understanding of how to optimize your brain for better learning and productivity. 

Other shows focus on careers, including how to find your ideal career, workplace dynamics and balancing your professional and personal lives.

  • Happen to Your Career: With a team of career coaches behind him (you have to pay to get one-on-one coaching if you want it but not the podcast), host Scott Anthony Barlow tells the stories of people who have made successful career changes.
  • WorkLife with Adam Grant: The organizational psychologist and author who teaches at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania researches motivation, creativity and workplace dynamics. He interviews other authors and professionals on topics from courageous leadership to growing through failure.
  • The Double Win: Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller concentrate on balancing professional success with personal well-being in their podcast. They also interview guest experts.

Solid habits are more useful than motivation in getting things done and reaching goals, research shows. Several podcasts address how to build habits.

  • The Positive Habits Podcast: Host Kat Thorne describes her mission as helping people improve their well-being with one small habit change. She shares stories about habit formation, mental health, performance, and small choices that shape life.
  • Habit Masters: This one focuses on practical strategies, and episodes cover topics from aligning your actions to the identity you seek to how using a habit tracker might be the ticket to change. It’s hosted by Jeff Corrigan and Sheldon Mills.

A final note: James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, does not host a podcast but is a frequent guest on one. If you’ve got time, listen when you run across his name. Some of his guest appearances include The Tim Ferris Show, The Next Big Idea, and A Bit of Optimism.

To work these podcasts into your study time effectively, check out another recent blog post: Five Ways to Manage Study Time, Plus Lifestyle Changes to Meet Your Goals. Don’t derail progress by spending time surfing for the right podcast; have one chosen in advance to avoid distractions and wasted time.



Photo of Heidi Wells

Heidi Wells

Content Strategist

Heidi Wells is the content strategist for the Global Campus at the University of Arkansas and editor of The Online Learner. Her writing spans more than 30 years as a communicator at the U of A and a reporter and editor at Arkansas newspapers. Wells earned two degrees from the U of A: a master's in 2013 and a bachelor's in 1988.

Wells can be reached at heidiw@uark.edu or 479-575-7239.

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