Studying is hard work. With distractions all around you, your brain can get scattered, overwhelmed, and stressed out. What you really need is to be productive, organized, creative, and calm. Conundrum much? Thankfully, that’s where these 11 podcasts for students can help: They cover all of that stuff and more.
So get out your headphones and start listening. Just don’t forget to, you know, actually do your homework as well.
The Best Podcasts for Students to Learn Better, Focus More, and Find Success
Below are 11 podcasts for students of all kinds who are looking to stay focused, complete their work, and hit their goals.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Jonathan Levi, host of Superhuman Academy, would argue that knowing how to learn is the super-skill you need to build a balanced, fulfilled life. Whether you’re going to school, learning a language, or trying to be a better human being, Levi and his star lineup of guests will help you on your path.
Try this episode: #156: Dr. Barbara Oakley: Understanding Learning And How It Works
How do you overcome procrastination when taking a course online? What is “chunking” and why do you need it in your life? And how do you prevent that awkward situation of forgetting the name of someone you just met? You’ll want to hear what author, professor, and TED speaker Dr. Barbara Oakley has to say about these questions and more.
Who doesn’t love exams? (Uh… everyone?) Right, so exams are an undesirable yet necessary part of student life. The good news is that with the right strategies you can get better at dealing with them. Enter the Exam Study Expert Podcast, one of the best podcasts for students that aims to motivate, inspire, and inform on all things to do with studying for tests.
Try this episode: #15: Exam nerves: 7 Strategies To Soothe Them
This episode delves into the physiology of nerves: Why we have them and how understanding the fight-or-flight response can help us reprogram our reaction to those physical signals. Ready to make friends with your exam anxiety? Dig in.
Short on time? Or just want to nab an inspiring micro-lesson in those few moments in the coffee line or walking between classes? Welcome to OPTIMIZE, where host Brian Johnson distils takeaways from the best books into bite-sized audio lessons.
Try this episode: #370: Mistake-Learner’s High
This episode is a little reminder that, when it comes to personal evolution, failure isn’t just a risk—it’s a necessity. Let’s face it: It’s a reminder we all need from time to time.
Every episode of this truly thought-provoking podcast spotlights some scientific or technological breakthrough and asks the question: Should this exist?
Now you might be wondering—why is it a good podcast for students? At a minimum, because it gets your mind working. But beyond that, because, regardless of what you’re studying, it prompts you to consider bigger questions about what you might do with your newfound knowledge and how your own actions might impact the world.
Try this episode: This headset helps you learn faster. But is that fair?
Imagine a headset you could wear that would send electrical pulses to your brain, making you learn faster. Wouldn’t it kinda be like cheating? Turns out this is not a hypothetical question: It’s called Halo. And it already exists.
This episode will teach you something about how we acquire motor skills and get you thinking about the ethical quandary of brain-hacked learning.
Kwik Brain may be one of the great brain-training podcasts for students, but it’s also generally a great podcast for anyone. Each episode, host Jim Kwik delves into things like how to be more creative, improve your memory, wipe out negative thoughts, sleep better, build better habits, and so much more. In short, get on it.
Try this episode: #101: 4 Keys to Changing Your Behavior & Habits
Bad habits are the enemy of us all. But how do you change your behavior so you can be more focused and productive? As Jim puts it, ”If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” In this episode, he gives you the strategies for how.
A Keen Mind is all about stress reduction, mindfulness, and meditation—three things that definitely come in handy when your brain is fried from too much studying. This one is a great podcast for students because it gives actionable strategies for reducing stress and being more present. And P.S., if you want an even bigger dose of zen, check out these 10 meditation podcasts as well.
Try this episode: #33 Finding Flow with Mindfulness
Ever experienced a “flow” state? It’s that zone you get into while studying or working where you lose track of time and get lost in what you’re doing. AKA, that zone you wish you could get into more often. This episode shares three ways that you can spend more time there.
Productivity Paradox makes our list of podcasts for students not just because it’s full of practical advice, but because it’s also sensitive and human. That is to say, it covers oft-overlooked aspects of what contributes to our successes and failures—things like confidence and self-love, taking enjoyable vacations, and the power of gratitude.
Try this episode: #094: Using Routines to Limit Distractions and Promote Productivity
Who falls prey to distractions when they’re trying to study? Okay, more accurately, who doesn’t? In this episode of Productivity Paradox, Tonya takes us through creating routines and using time blocking to overcome our distractions and get more done.
The more you know, the easier it is to make connections between topics and come up with innovative ideas. That’s where Quirks and Quarks comes in. It covers the latest discoveries in science, technology, medicine, and the environment, always in a digestible and engaging way. You never know when some nugget of information is going to find its way into an essay you’re writing.
Try this episode: Rocking good sleep, music and body language, the first feathers for flight, Where’s my death ray? A 300 million year old fossil walks again and sound in cold air.
In this episode, you’ll find out a surprising way to get better sleep, how body language between musicians can affect how well they play, and way more. It’s a random mash of interesting stuff, and that’s exactly the point.
MetaLearn is all about learning beyond the scope of traditional education. It asks the question, how do you learn the skills you need to succeed in any environment? And how can you learn better and faster? The principles and techniques presented in the podcast can be applied to any kind of learning, making it a worthwhile listen for every type of student.
Try this episode: ML119: Richard Bowdler on Mastering Your Memory, Reinventing Yourself and Learning from Different Environments
Improve your memory and you improve your learning. This episode of MetaLearn delves into the “memory palace” technique, including how to create your own memory palace and reign over it like the boss king or queen that you are. Translation: You’ll never forget stuff again.
London Real is a show that “introduces you to the most fascinating people in the world”. And in between the interviews, host Brian Rose throws in some thoughts and wisdom of his own. London Real informs and inspires, which makes it double the yes.
Try this episode: Brian Rose on What David Goggins Taught him about Challenges
Extreme tough guy, ultramarathon runner, and ex-Navy SEAL David Goggins talks about why we need suffering in order to grow. “Stick a big obstacle in front of you, and find how you can get through it,” concludes our host. A great reminder for when you’re feeling like it’s all just too difficult.
Whether you’re a full-time student, taking night classes outside of work, or just, you know, a student of life, odds are you’re short on time. Easier makes our list of podcasts for students because it’s filled with ways to improve your processes, cut unnecessary distractions, and simplify your life. And who doesn’t need more of that?
Try this episode: Social Media Addiction is Real. Here’s How to Beat It.
Social media is a hard habit to break. And our devices have become such a distraction that they’ve even been linked to lower grades. This episode of Easier looks at the psychological tactics used by social media to get you hooked—and how you can beat them. Hello, focus.
Your turn: Got any favorite podcasts for students to add to the list? Share them in the comments; we’d love to hear about them.
Want more ways to concentrate? Check out our top tips for getting and staying focused.
