Podcasts – the easy way to boost your spirits.
There are numerous reasons to listen to podcasts. They can benefit your mental health through tackling and discussing issues relating to a variety of problems that most people experience everyday. For example, “Best Friend Therapy” hosted by Emma Reed Turrel, a psychotherapist, with her close friend Elizabeth Day, deals with a wide range of issues such as the concept of being a quitter or a people pleaser, to toxic relationships and imposter syndrome. This podcast, whilst not a replacement for therapy, can help you develop a positive attitude; whether it’s through listening to an episode concerning a problem you know you struggle with or accidentally stumbling across a piece of advice you can adopt into your positive mindset.
A second reason why podcasts are a helpful resource is because many podcasts act as advice columns or are spoken in a way reminiscent of an agony aunt column, such as Alex Cooper’s podcast “Call her Daddy” and Emma Chamberlain’s podcast “Anything Goes”. Whilst these examples are often criticised as preaching in a problematic rather than a progressive way, this can be somewhat overlooked at the benefit of the individual’s mental health, as it can help to hear about some trivial celebrity gossip or what the latest fashion trends are.
Comedic podcasts also have a beneficial influence, despite not necessarily serving any academic purpose or as a blatant form of self-help. Rather, they act as a distraction from the miseries of a grey rainy day or help you relax after a day full of lectures. The podcast “Off Menu” hosted by James Acaster and Ed Gamble is hilarious as the duo interview a different celebrity guest each episode, including stars such as Paul Mescal, Florence Pugh and Rob Brydon, interrogating them about their dream starter, main course, side dish, drink and dessert. Through the pair’s wit, and the podcasts narrative structure, anyone can be lured into the intensity of a debate regarding which brand of butter is best or whether a cheese board is a better dessert than a sweet treat (it’s definitely not)! This simple discussion of food and drink coaxes the listener into a ridiculously heated argument which is enough to cheer anyone up.
In any case, if you want a form of escapism, a good laugh or genuine education about mental wellbeing, a podcast can act as an easy, low effort resource. It’s a small step in attempting to help yourself and can make a large difference. Happy listening!
Photo by Melanie Klepper on Unsplash.