Let’s be honest: the modern young man has two hobbies. Scrolling and pretending he’s going to start going to the gym “next week.” Somewhere between the doom-scrolling sessions and the third rewatch of a show you didn’t even like the first time, you’ve probably thought, “I should really be learning something.” Good news: podcasts exist, and they’re basically free knowledge you can absorb while doing the dishes. Bad news: most of them are three guys with microphones laughing at their own jokes. So I did the hard work for you and sifted through the mountains of crap to find the shows actually worth your attention, the ones that’ll make you smarter, sharper, and marginally maybe even more interesting at parties (do those happen anymore? – I don’t know, I’m old). You’re welcome, I think.
The Art of Charm
The Art of Charm is a weekly podcast hosted by company founders Johnny and AJ, who draw on 11 years of coaching experience from their renowned Los Angeles Bootcamps. They teach driven listeners how to navigate human dynamics, strengthen relationships, and become better performers in every area of life while exploring the science behind human behavior and unpacking why we act the way we do.
The Chivalry Chronicles
This podcast discusses subjects like Brotherhood, Masculinity, and Fatherhood, taking a contemporary masculine approach to chivalry.
The Art of Manliness
The Art of Manliness Podcast seeks to enrich and elevate every facet of a man’s life, spanning fitness and philosophy to relationships and productivity. Through compelling and enlightening conversations with some of the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, the show cuts out the fluff to draw out guests’ most valuable, potentially transformative wisdom.
The New Man
Guidance for men on bringing their career, sex, relationships, and money into alignment.
Insane In The Men Brain
Comedian Rich Wilson speaks with amusing and intriguing guests about their experiences surrounding men’s mental health.
Hearts Wide Open Mental Health and Men’s Health
Hearts Wide Open is a men’s mental health podcast started by two friends who learned that opening up can feel freeing. It offers a safe space for men to share their stories, alongside experts in psychology, spirituality, mindfulness, and somatic bodywork who provide insights on living a more fulfilled, purpose-driven life. You’re not alone.
The Art of Accomplishment
The Art of Accomplishment offers practical tools for self-exploration that transform how you relate in business, personal, and internal life. Coach Joe Hudson, sought after by top companies and performers, partners with adventurer and entrepreneur Brett Kistler to conduct powerful coaching sessions and unpack epiphanies with business leaders, world-class performers, and a community devoted to self-discovery.
Jocko Podcast
Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink and Director Echo Charles explore discipline and leadership across business, war, relationships, and everyday life.
Detoxicity: By Men, About Men, For Everyone
Detoxicity is an interview podcast that explores what it means to be a man in the 21st century, examining the many possible answers to that question. Hosted by radio personality and mental health/sexuality educator Mike Joseph, the show covers a broad range of subjects, from relationships to creativity, psychology to sexuality, with thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and humor.
Weight For It
Weight For It is a four-time Podcast Academy Award-winning narrative podcast that examines the ways people think about their bodies. Through personal storytelling and in-depth interviews, host Ronald Young Jr. unpacks his experience of navigating a world that doesn’t quite seem to fit.
The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
Scott Galloway, bestselling author, professor, and entrepreneur, holds nothing back on business, tech, culture, and life, with new episodes every day of the week. Resistance is futile.
How to Be a Better Human
How To Be A Better Human isn’t your average self-improvement podcast. Each week, Chris Duffy talks with guests and past TED speakers to uncover sharp insights and clear takeaways on how you can be a better human, at work, at home, and everywhere in between. Inspired by the TED Ideas series of the same name, it’ll help you become a better person right from your headphones.
Philosophize This!
Beginner-friendly when listened to in order, this educational philosophy podcast is for anyone curious about the subject who isn’t a graduate-level philosopher. Working chronologically, it breaks down and explains the thinkers and ideas that shaped the world we live in today.
The Imperfects
We’re all imperfect. On this podcast, The Resilience Project founder Hugh van Cuylenburg, his friend Ryan Shelton, and his brother Josh van Cuylenburg talk to interesting people who vulnerably share their own struggles or pass on their wisdom about imperfection. Whether in The Vulnerabilitea House, The Academy of Imperfection, or with psychologist Dr Emily, The Imperfects find valuable takeaways we can all apply to our own imperfect lives.
The Daily Stoic
For centuries, all kinds of people, generals and politicians, athletes and coaches, writers and leaders, have turned to the teachings of Stoicism to guide their lives. Each day, author and speaker Ryan Holiday delivers a new lesson about life, drawn from the thoughts and writings of great Stoic thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca the Younger. The Daily Stoic Podcast also features listener Q+As and interviews with notable figures from sports, academia, politics, and beyond.
Dear Hank & John
Hosts John and Hank Green (authors and YouTubers) offer both humorous and heartfelt advice on life’s big and small questions. They weave their personal passions into every episode, sharing the week’s news from Mars (the planet) and AFC Wimbledon (the fourth-tier English football club).
The One You Feed
Build resilience. Cultivate self-compassion. Live with purpose. The One You Feed offers conversations with leading thinkers: James Clear, Susan Cain, Tara Brach, and more, to help listeners navigate life’s challenges and feed their good wolf. No perfection, just direction, insight, and the small, consistent actions that build a meaningful life.
Now and Men
Now and Men, hosted by social researchers Dr Stephen Burrell (Lecturer at the University of Melbourne) and Sandy Ruxton (Independent Researcher and Honorary Fellow at Durham University), explores masculinity and change in the lives of men and boys today. Grounded in feminist thinking, their conversations tackle issues like gender-based violence, fatherhood, men’s health, politics, and the environment, connecting big ideas to everyday experience. At a time when regressive masculinity is resurging, each episode spotlights inspiring voices working to engage men and boys in positive, transformative ways.
Do you know of another podcast for young men that you think should be on this list? Let me know
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