The 11 Best Podcasts for Your Personal Development

Personal development for your ears is exactly your thing, but with so many options, you can no longer see the forest for all the podcast trees? Then today is your lucky day :-) Your favourite 6-Minute-Team has listened through the dense audio jungle for you and selected the 12 best podcasts for your personal development, which are sure to help you grow. This way, you can offer your psyche a wellness program of a very special kind.

1. The 6-Minute-Podcast – Dominik Spenst

More than two million people are already using the 6-Minute-Journals® by Dominik Spenst to make their personal development happier, more successful, and more fulfilling. Since autumn 2022, the bestselling author has had his own podcast  – and offers you personal development to go like no other. Because the core of every episode is: How do you immediately catapult theory into your everyday life? And it pays off: The podcast immediately climbed up the German podcast charts upon its launch, and even reached number 1 in the Mental Health category. 

This podcast is for you if:

• you want to grow a little in just 6 minutes – whether in the morning in the bathroom or just before falling asleep
• you are always looking for a practical tip that you can implement immediately, for almost any problem
• you always prefer scientifically sound tips to esoteric mumbo-jumbo

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

2. That's Just How I Am | Tough but Heartfelt – Stefanie Stahl 

Beliefs are the glasses through which we see reality. – Stefanie Stahl

Anyone who thinks that understanding psychological processes is like solving a cryptic riddle with seven seals has never heard of Stefanie Stahl. She not only writes excellent books about psychology, but her two podcasts also regularly trend in the charts. And rightly so. In her podcast “That's Just How I Am”, she answers every listener question, no matter how complex, in conversation with psychologist Lukas Klaschinski. If you want to go even deeper, you can join in on a real therapy session in “Tough but Heartfelt”. Very exciting too: At Steffi's, even celebrities sit in front of the microphone and open up about their inner lives.

These podcasts are for you if:

• you want to learn how to “catch” yourself in your own unfavourable behaviours and then “switch”
• you are really ready to find out why you always end up with the wrong people, why you can't let go, or why some problems always keep coming back
• it is difficult for you to talk about your own problems and you would rather benefit from the insights of other people

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

3. Meditation, Coaching & Life – Curse

The man with probably the most wonderful podcast voice takes you on a really laid-back journey to yourself. Far from a raised index finger or the typical “do this and that and then everything will be fine, I know it for sure” attitude, Curse always stays at eye level with you and in “offer” mode, so you can always choose what is right for you. In addition, Curse proves in every single episode that talking openly about “soft” topics does not reduce your coolness factor, but at least doubles it.

This podcast is for you if:

• you don't need dry lectures, but finally want answers to how “mindful drinking” works or how you can lovingly embrace the “sharp edges of life”
• traditional guided meditations stress you out – and you would rather be guided by someone who is naturally cooler than you, but would never let it go to their head ;-)
• you need a role model to see how to find the right balance between external, material goals and inner goals
  

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

4. Happy, holy & confident – Laura Malina Seiler

It is not about becoming another person, on the contrary, it is about finally becoming completely yourself again. – Laura Malina Seiler

Hardly any job interview at 6-Minuten-Verlag passeswithout the name Laura Malina Seiler being mentioned. For many people, Laura's words like “spiritual energy” or “creative power” may initially cause some scepticism, but ever since our founder Dominik was a guest on her podcast, it is also clear to us how much depth, energy, and love is in what she does. It is no wonder that her podcast is one of the most listened to in this country. Even though the topics are very spiritual, everyone should treat themselves to the pleasure of listening in with an open mind.

This podcast is for you if:

• you need a huge load of positive energy, confidence, and strength right now
• you want to connect with your Higher Self or find out what that even is
• you want to open your eyes (and your heart) to spiritual development

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

5. 7Mind Podcast with René Träder

7Mind is the app to finally learn the high art of meditation – and the podcast is the opportunity to expand your mindfulness universe even further. Because we at 6-Minuten-Verlag place great value on scientific validity, we are of course delighted that our dear friends at 7Mind also like to stand on a scientifically sound basis. Whether through insights from psychology or something new from science – completely without hocus-pocus and empty promises, Rene Träder always leads you closer to the answer to probably the most difficult question: How does a good life actually work?

This podcast is for you if:

• you want to advance your personal development in the context of work-related, environmental, or current topics
• mindfulness should work not only in theory, but also in your everyday life
• you like to spice up your listening experience with a wink and some confetti

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

6. The Mindful Sessions – Sarah Desai

Since mindfulness and soul power are not yet school subjects, we can only be grateful to Sarah Desai that she fills this gap with her podcast. Thanks to her expertise as a mindfulness and meditation coach, she guides you through fantastically guided meditations that can quickly release your inner blockages and immediately bring you back to the here and now. In addition, you can look forward to concrete coaching tips and let yourself be surprised by exciting expert interviews.

This podcast is for you if:

• you believe that less is more, because many episodes are only 8 to 15 minutes long 
• you are longing for a pleasant little breather 
• your meditation practice could use a little fresh air
  

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

7. Psychology to go! – Franca Cerutti

Who needs a coffee to go when you can also have a little psychology to go on your way to work? Deep down, we all want to understand ourselves and our emotional world better. And that's exactly where the fantastic Franca Cerutti comes in. Franca gives, and we love to quote her: "Insights with a no-nonsense guarantee, straight from cognitive behavioural therapy practice." We couldn't have put it more succinctly ;-)

This podcast is for you if:

• you are interested in cognitive behavioural therapy or its findings
• you like clear and directly applicable tips for difficult situations
• you have always wanted to deal with questions like "Are you already great, or are you still living?"

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

8. myMONK Podcast – Tim Schlenzig

For very special personal development, Tim's podcast is the perfect address. Anyone who hasn't listened to Tim or visited his blogat least once is missing out. Hardly anyone manages to talk about unpleasant and difficult topics as openly and brutally honestly as he does – and at the same time season them with such a hearty pinch of humour that you either fall off your chair laughing or have to skip back in the podcast. Don't let the name myMONK confuse you: Tim is not your monk. But he will definitely help you discover your inner monk (or inner nun) – and all without an iron fast ;-)

This podcast is for you if:

• you are looking for new perspectives on pretty much every topic of personal development 
• you like interviews of a quality that even wise moderation hares like Markus Kavka from MTV lead to the judgment: "That was one of the best interviews that have ever been done with me."
• you prefer solution-oriented real talk over empty "Everything will be fine if you just believe hard enough" promises

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

9. Smarter leben – the ideas podcast

This podcast is for you if:

• you would like to be inspired by a really broad range of topics
• you want to learn from people who have already taken their first (or even second) step towards a "smart life"
• you want to find out for yourself what you can do concretely and immediately for a better life

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

10. Impact Theory – Tom Bilyeu (English)

The degree of effort you demand of yourself will determine your life. – Tom Bilyeu

How does a really successful person actually tick? What do they do differently than others? Is it just luck, their unique mindset, or some secret that no one knows? And what is success actually? While the mindset elite still preferred to keep to themselves a few years ago, they now make an exception, especially for Tom Bilyeu, which is why you can benefit from very special perspectives. With his podcast "Impact Theory", Tom has made it his mission to take us listeners out of our everyday thinking in just as extraordinary ways with extraordinary guests and show us an independent way of thinking.

This podcast is for you if:

• you have the highest standards for super practical added value in terms of personal development
• you want to get infected by Tom's Drive to really learn something new
• you want to listen to someone for whom nothing is more important than feasibility, so that you can translate your theoretical knowledge into your daily actions

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

11. SelfHealers SoundBoard – Nicole LePera (English)

The familiar feels safe; that is, until we teach ourselves that discomfort is temporary and a necessary part of transformation. – Nicole LePera

We are our own best … And our own worst. We are all ourselves. At least when we no longer want to wait to finally be "saved", so that our life will one day be better. That's what Nicole LePera stands for. For her, a self-determined life means one thing above all: healing. And from within instead of from without. We ourselves are the key to the door of happiness. However, a little guidance on self-healing can't hurt, so let Nicole take you by the hand and heal yourself :-)

This podcast is for you if:

• Do-it-yourself is your way (or should be), because you are looking for a holistic mix of psychology, spirituality, and body-mind medicine 
• trauma or bad memories simply won't let go of you and you are looking for a way out that finally works
• you want to learn how you can also actively involve your body in your healing processes

Listen here: Spotify, Apple, Website

What do you say to our selection? We could have definitely continued this list further (and maybe we still will). There are incredibly many very good podcasts on the topics of psychology and personal development. That really is a great development, isn't it? 

Which podcast opens your eyes (and ears) and may not be allowed to be missing from your list? We look forward to your comments and new suggestions for your favourite podcasts :-)

And if you haven't heard enough yet: We also have 5 great recommendations for the best German podcasts about mindfulness.

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This post is by Lena Schulte, full-time grin-face and online editor. Since her studies in cognitive science, she has been fascinated by human consciousness and likes to conduct secret perception experiments in the editorial office.