A Collection of Podcasts for Learning About Psychology

General Psychology Podcasts

The Psych Files

Hosted by Michael A. Britt, Ph.D., The Psych Files covers topics like ethics, therapy, development, motivation, and gender/sexuality, among many others. This podcast is great for students and teachers of psychology, as well as people who are interested in learning more about human behavior.

The Psychology Podcast

This podcast focuses on creativity, the mind, brain, and behavior. Hosted by Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, each episode has a different guest expert speaking on the topic at hand. Topics they've covered include masculinity, charm, making good decisions, peak performance, power, and high-performance habits.

All in the Mind (BBC)

This occasionally updated podcast explores "the limits and potential of the human mind." Topics have included sibling rivalry, sleep paralysis, and personality change.

All in the Mind (ABC)

A weekly podcast from Australia that explores the brain and behavior, presented by Sana Qadar. The dark side of daydreams, hunting for a psychiatrist, and the mind of a murderer are just some of the variety of subjects covered.

Personality Hacker

This podcast focuses on personal growth by understanding how your mind and personality work and using this understanding to nurture personal relationships. 

The Hidden Brain

In this podcast from NPR, host Shankar Vedantam mixes storytelling and science to the patterns and biases that often direct behavior. Episodes focus on a range of topics, including how outrage influences communication, how language develops, and how the fear of death influences behavior.

Psychology In 10 Minutes

This podcast, hosted by Santa Clara University professor David Felman, does exactly what the title implies—presents a quick lesson on a psychology topic in just 10 minutes. Episodes focus on topics such as mental illness stigma, what to say to someone who is grieving, and the Dunning-Kruger effect. It's a great way to learn something interesting while you're getting ready for work in the morning or taking a stroll around the block.

PsychCruch

This podcast is produced by the British Psychological Association and hosted by presenters Dr. Christian Jarrett, Ella Rhodes, Emily Reynolds, Dr. Matthew Warren, and Ginny Smith. Episodes focus on how recent findings from psychological studies can make a difference in real-life. Past episodes have focused on subjects such as how to increase creativity, how to make running more fun, and practical uses for mindfulness.

Forensic Psychology Podcasts

Serial

Serial is a popular podcast hosted by Sarah Koenig and produced by the creators of This American Life. The audio series follows one case over the course of each season, with events often unfolding as they happen throughout the series.

The first season investigated the murder of 18-year-old student Hae Min Lee. Season two centers on the story of Bowe Bergdahll, an American soldier who was held captive for five years by the Taliban and charged with desertion following his release.

Season three looks at extraordinary stories of ordinary cases. One courthouse, week by week.

While the series does not focus on psychology per se, the cases investigated present a fascinating look at human behavior and may be of particular interest for those interested in the field of forensic psychology.

History of Psychology

This Week in the History of Psychology

Check out this collection of podcasts from Christopher D. Green, professor of psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada. Though they're from 2006-2007, each 25-minute episode includes an interview with an expert about a specific happening that occurred in the history of psychology.

Neuroscience Podcasts

NIH Podcasts

The National Institutes of Health offers this collection of podcasts covering a variety of topics in neuroscience. Many seminars are offered in both audio and video format.

Brain Science

Hosted by Dr. Ginger Campbell, an emergency physician, this podcast covers discoveries in neuroscience with books and interviews. Campbell covers everything from memory to intelligence to neuroplasticity.

Mental Health

AJP Audio

This podcast series offers highlights and discussion of each issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry. Each podcast provides a great look at some of the articles found in every issue of this journal. You can listen to each podcast on the website.

Therapy Chat Podcast

This podcast hosted by Laura Reagan, LCSW, tackles a range of mental health topics including stress, burnout, and dysfunctional family dynamics. It's a great podcast that offers practical advice for coping with a range of psychological challenges.