Psychology Podcasts for Students

There are tons of great psychology podcasts for students and psychology students available to listen to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other podcast services. This can be a great way to learn more about specific psychology topics while commuting to work, cleaning your house, or working out.

No matter your goals, there are plenty of great psychology podcasts you can subscribe and listen to at your convenience. Whether you want to increase your knowledge of psychology or get help with specific topics you're learning about in school, these podcasts are an excellent way to learn more about a wide variety of topics in psychology.

Research has found that educational podcasts can be as good or even more effective than classroom learning.

At a Glance

Statistics suggest that around 41% of American adults listen to at least one podcast a month. Psychology podcasts can be a great way to learn more about the human mind and behavior.

Check out the following list of psychology podcasts on services such as Spotify or Apple Podcasts, subscribe to a few that sound interesting, and start tuning in to episodes on topics ranging from forensics to self-help.

General Psychology Podcasts

Woman listening to a podcast
Getty Images

If you want to start with the basic or just increase your general knowledge of psychology, the following podcasts are a great place to begin your listening journey.

The Psych Files

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

The Psychology Podcast

The Psychology 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)

All in the Mind is a podcast that explores "the limits and potential of the human mind." Topics have included sibling rivalry, sleep paralysis, and personality change.

All in the Mind (ABC)

The Australian podcast All in the Mind, presented by Sana Qadar, explores the brain and behavior. 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

Personality Hacker is a podcast that focuses on personal growth by understanding how your mind and personality work and using this understanding to nurture personal relationships. 

The Hidden Brain

The Hidden Brain 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

Psychology In 10 Minutes, a psychology podcast for students 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 getting ready for work in the morning or taking a stroll around the block.

PsychCruch

Psychcrunch is a 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 increasing creativity, making running more fun, and practical uses for mindfulness.

Forensic Psychology Podcasts

Whether you're a true-crime lover or a student studying criminology or forensic, the following podcast can be a great listen.

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 looked 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

Psychology history doesn't have to be dry, boring subject. Listening to some stories about the early years of psychology, interesting trivia, and the lives of psychology's best-known theorists can help bring history to life.

This Week in the History of Psychology

This Week in the History of Psychology is an archived collection of podcasts from Christopher D. Green, professor of psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada.

Though they're from 2006-2007 (along with a collection of episodes from 2009-2012) each 25-minute episode includes an interview with an expert about a specific happening that occurred in the history of psychology.

Neuroscience Podcasts

If you want to learn more about the latest in brain research, the following podcasts delve into fascinating topics and cutting-edge studies in the field of neuroscience.

NIH Podcasts

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

Brain Science

Hosted by Ginger Campbell, MD, an emergency physician, Brain Science is a podcast that covers discoveries in neuroscience with books and interviews. Campbell covers everything from memory to intelligence to neuroplasticity.

Mental Health

If you are studying to become a therapist, the following mental health podcasts break down some of the big issues and topics in the field of mental health treatment.

AJP Audio

AJP Audio is a podcast series that 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.

Therapy Chat Podcast

The Therapy Chat 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.

What This Means For You

Podcasts can be a great way to learn more about psychology, including specific topics that might interest you or that you are studying in school. This collection of psychology podcasts for students is a great place to start. You can also search your favorite podcast provider, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, to find others that might interest you.

3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Malecki SL, Quinn KL, Zilbert N, et al. Understanding the use and perceived impact of a medical podcast: Qualitative studyJMIR Med Educ. 2019;5(2):e12901. doi:10.2196/12901

  2. Okonski R, Toy S, Wolpaw J. Podcasting as a learning tool in medical education: Prior to and during the pandemic periodBalkan Med J. 2022;39(5):334-339. doi:10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2022.2022-7-81

  3. Kiernan MA, Mitchell BG, Russo PL. The power of podcasts: Exploring the endless possibilities of audio education and information in medicine, healthcare epidemiology, and antimicrobial stewardshipAntimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2023;3(1):e98. doi:10.1017/ash.2023.178

Kendra Cherry

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."