Pump-up playlists can only hold a runner’s attention for so long before their repetitive lyrics join the buzz of commonly-ignored background noise. With nothing to distract yourself, that 30-minute run, which sounded so quick this morning, now feels like a century. Instead of focusing on your run, you’re now thinking about how sore your legs are or how your running shoes are hugging your feet a little too tight today (and you have to stop to re-tie them, right?). What you need is a podcast with engaging hosts and stories so captivating you’ll be too invested to check your watch. Well, look no further! Here are seven podcasts, all of which produce content regularly, that can keep you company on your next run.
SoulCycle, Astrology, Greek Life and “The Bachelor.” These are all topics linguist and author of “Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism,” Amanda Montell and documentary filmmaker and comedy writer Isabela Medina-Maté have dissected on their podcast, “Sounds Like A Cult.” Every episode breaks down a modern-day organization or community and answers the question: “This group sounds like a cult, but is it really?” With a never ending amount of cultish groups to explore, you’re bound to find one you’re interested in or may even be a part of! They even have an episode on marathon-runners!
If you’re a fan of ABC’s “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” series, then you may already know the previous contestant and 2017 Bachelor, Nick Viall. Viall now hosts his own podcast, “The Viall Files,” where he talks about his dating life and and helps listeners tackle the pressing issues singles are dealing with nowadays.Whether you need help analyzing that last Tinder message you got, or got dumped by your area’s West Elm Caleb, Viall knows exactly how to help you out. With the help of his guests (which previously included celebrities like Francesca Farago, Charly Jordan and Lisa Schwartz), Viall has episodes are of interest to a wide range of listeners, no matter their dating habits, sexual orientation or relationship status.
MadHappy is a brand that aims to promote optimism and prompt conversations around mental health, and its podcast follows suit. Every week, MadHappy founders Mason Spector and Peiman Raf sit down with a different mental health advocate to discuss their personal journey. The three talk about the ups and downs they have experienced , how they combat negative thoughts and self doubt, and talk about ways to promote positivity in everyday life. Listeners get the rare opportunity to hear some of their favorite celebrities, including Tinx, Emma Chamberlain and Logic, speak candidly about their own mental health in an intimate setting.
Ever wonder how companies like Peloton and Chipotle seemingly took over the world overnight, and created dedicated communities of customers? Then this is the podcast for you. Produced by NPR and hosted by journalist Guy Raz, listeners hear from the CEOs and Founders of some of the world’s most successful companies. Guests discuss where their ideas came from; how they raised funding; how they transformed their companies and the impact these companies had on their personal lives. In the episode “Hinge: Justin Mcleod,” listeners can enjoy learning about McLeod’s development of one of the most popular dating apps and hear a personal love story that coincided with his application’s development. “How I Built This” isn’t just for business majors or aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s for anyone who’s looking for advice to achieve their goals.
If you rotate between true-crime and paranormal podcasts, then “That’s Spooky” is perfect for you. Hosts Tyler Hyde and Johnny Cann each research and introduce a spooky, historic case study to discuss each episode. Hyde and Cann lead listeners on a deep-dive into the paranormal possibilities that could be responsible for the crimes analyzed. Because each host brings a separate case to talk about, the episode lasts about two hours, making them the perfect listen for even road-trips or long commutes.And if you’re worried about getting too scared — don’t be. These two have a way to make listeners laugh even in the darkest moments of this podcast.
Dating, job advice, friendship troubles, family drama and sex-positive content is all wrapped up into this one judgemnet free and highly entertaining podcast, “Girls Gotta Eat.” Hosts Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine talk about anything and everything women have and will experience during their young adult years. These two are the cool aunts every twenty-to-thirty-something can run to when they need advice from someone who’s lived through what they’re currently stressing over. Give it about 30 minutes and I guarantee you’ll be laughing along with them as they discuss their most embarrassing comments and you reminisce on your own.
Honestly, I’m ashamed of myself for even recommending this podcast, but hear me out. I don’t know much about Tana Mongeau other than that she’s friends with “Too Hot To Handle” contestant Harry Jowsey, TikToker Bryce Hall and Youtuber turned boxer Logan Paul. I can’t help but watch her videos when she pops up on my For You Page and listen to what tea she’s spilling next. Her life is messy to say the least, but that’s the point. Each episode is packed with jaw-dropping stories and moments Mongeau has shared with other well-known celebrities. Hearing how shambly her life is makes anyone’s life seem stable in comparison, but these episodes also give you a good story to distract yourself with.
Finding the motivation to go on a run or finish a run can be hard. So next time you are looking for motivation, start scrolling through the episodes of one of the podcasts mentioned above and see what pops out at you. I’m certain each show will keep you entertained for the duration of your run. I’ve even found myself running longer than planned just to finish out an episode! Whether your running playlist just isn’t doing it for you or you’ve run out of episodes to listen to from your go-to podcast, this list will serve as a running resource for you and is guaranteed to make time fly.