When it comes to entertainment, listening to podcasts is one of the easiest ways to consume, especially if you have little kids. Sitting down to watch a movie or a TV show can be a big ask — after all, there are only so many hours in a day, and those hours are usually taken up by those kids we just mentioned (plus work, chores, and a million other things on our to-do lists). And reading books? Forget about it. But with a podcast, we can just press play and listen while we're driving, exercising, cleaning the kitchen … it's the ultimate in making multitasking more fun.
There's just one hiccup: We're not always in the mood to listen to our absolute favorite podcast. If we're sad, a true crime podcast might make us feel worse, and if we're happy, we might not want to listen to the news, which could drag us down. Fortunately, there are so many podcasts out there that it's easy to match up good ones with whatever mood you're in, whatever that might be.
Read on for a podcast for every mood. You might just find your new favorite!
Feeling Sad
If you're sad and want to sit with your feelings (and listen to others who are going through it), Terrible, Thanks for Asking might be for you. This podcast is about talking about how you really feel, instead of answering the question, "How are you?" with the standard reply, "I'm fine," even if you're not fine at all.
Feeling Lonely
His late night TV career might be behind him, but his podcasting days are not! If you need a friend, don't worry — you're not alone. Give Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend a listen for interesting celebrity interviews that will make you feel like you're part of the conversation, too.
Miss the '90s
Growing up in the '90s, we were aware of a lot of big world events, but too young to understand most of them. If you're feeling nostalgic and ready to dive into what it all meant, try out You're Wrong About, where hosts Michael Hobbes and Sarah Marshall demystify it all for us. (Tip: start with their fascinating Princess Diana series!)
Need a Little Girl Talk
Feel like having a little girl talk but none of your BFFs are available? That's where Stuff Mom Never Told You comes in, fortunately! The podcast is about two women chatting about what it means to identify as a woman and all that comes with it.
Solve a Crime
If you're in the mood to learn about a new true crime case but don't want to get too spooked, give My Favorite Murder a try. Hosts Karen and Georgia will fill you in on crimes you've probably never heard of before, as well as the big ones, like what happened to JonBénet Ramsey, and are sure to end each episode on a positive note.
Need Motivation
If you follow Glennon Doyle on Instagram, you probably already know that her words can be a great source of inspiration, and so can her podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, as she and her sister Amanda talk about facing life's obstacles head on.
Talk About Beloved Teen TV
For those who still live for 2000s teen TV, there's good news: all kinds of podcasts are coming back to revisit those classics, and one of the most recent ones is Drama Queens. One Tree Hill stars Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton, and Bethany Joy-Lenz have come together to rewatch every episode of the show, sharing behind-the-scenes stories along the way.
Need Cheering Up
Feeling bummed or struggling with your mental health, but want to work on pulling yourself out of that hole? There's a chance that a podcast called The Hilarious World of Depression might help. Celebrities, comedians, and other entertainers join the show to talk about their own mental health and how they've found ways to laugh about it.
Want To Feed Your 'Bachelor' Obsession
Whether The Bachelor is airing new episodes or not, you can listen to The Viall Files, which is hosted by former Bach star Nick Viall. He talks to contestants both past and current, and also dishes out relationship advice that he's learned from his time dating both on reality TV and off.
Want To Get Healthy
Trying to become your healthiest self, but want to do it right? Try listening to Maintenance Phase — a podcast all about striking down myths in the wellness world and answering questions about how well fads like the keto diet and drinking celery juice really work.
Want To Learn About Pop Culture
Feeling behind on the big moments in pop culture? There's an easy way to get caught up! Tune into Even The Rich, a podcast that includes series about larger-than-life figures in Hollywood from Britney Spears to Elizabeth Taylor and beyond, going in depth to what you might have missed.
Create a Happier Life
If you're looking to make each day a happier one in your life, look no further than The Happiness Lab. This podcast, hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos, examines happiness through history, psychology, and science, and it might even end up challenging your beliefs of what real happiness actually is.
Get To Know Celebrities Better
Sometimes, listening to an intimate celebrity interview is like listening in on a private conversation between friends, and nobody does that better than Dax Shepard on his Armchair Expert podcast. Stars and public figures like Barack Obama, Prince Harry, and Amy Poehler just can't help but open up and get real when they sit down with Dax.
Learn Something
If you always want to be learning something new about the world around you, check out Stuff You Should Know. No topic seems to be off limits in this podcast — there are episodes about everything from what landslides are to how ketchup is made to where the superstitions we grew up hearing about really began.
Feeling Royal
Can't get enough of royal history, from the current British royal family to those who lived centuries ago? Try listening to Noble Blood, as host Dana Schwartz dives into royalty through history, with episodes on royals like Princess Diana, Anastasia, and everyone in between.
Feeling Feminist
Is the girl power really flowing through your veins right now? You might want to check out Armchair Expert's offshoot series, We Are Supported By. In this limited series, Kristen Bell and Monica Padman interview women who are changing the world for their fellow ladies, including Kim Kardashian and Abby Wambach.
Need To Catch Up on News
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the news (especially lately). If you want to avoid the social media noise of it all, check out the New York Times' podcast, The Daily, which rounds up everything you need to know every day and is out by 6 a.m. and ready to go.
