Fitness podcasts have become a popular way for people to learn about health and reach their wellness goals. A fitness podcast is an audio or video show focused on discussing topics related to exercise, nutrition, and overall health. Over just the last few years, there has been an explosion in the number of fitness podcasts as people look for more convenient ways to get motivated, pick up new workout tips, and enjoy community around shared fitness interests.

Listening to fitness podcasts offers many potential benefits that can support you in your health journey. From providing accountability and motivation, to delivering expert education, fitness podcasts give you access to a wealth of valuable health information in an easy, accessible audio format. Whether your goal is weight loss, running your first 5k, building strength or just overall wellbeing, there is likely a fitness podcast that can help you get there.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the key benefits of listening to fitness podcasts, recommend the best fitness podcasts in the genre, suggest podcasts tailored to specific fitness goals, and provide tips for getting started finding and listening. Let’s dive in and discover how fitness podcasts can help you reach your health and wellness objectives.

Benefits of Listening

Listening to fitness podcasts provides numerous benefits that can help you stay motivated, learn new things, and reach your fitness goals. Some of the key benefits include:

Motivation and Accountability – Listening to podcasts with inspiring stories of transformation can give you the motivation you need to keep pushing forward. Hearing from real people sharing their fitness journeys provides accountability and encouragement. According to Fitness Podcasts: Tuning Into Health Wellness, best fitness podcasts can “Gain knowledge and inspiration, Learn from experts and get inspired to keep pushing forward.”

Education and Learning – Best fitness podcasts allow you to learn from experts without having to hire a personal trainer. You can pick up valuable tips and advice for exercise, nutrition, recovery and more. Podcasts deliver information in an easily digestible way you can apply to your own routine.

Community – Listening to podcasts makes you feel connected to a community of like-minded individuals who share your health and fitness goals. You gain support and realise you’re not alone in your journey.

Most Popular Fitness Podcasts

Several fitness podcasts consistently rank among the best fitness podcasts based on listenership, ratings, and reviews. These shows provide motivation, education, entertainment, and a sense of community for fitness enthusiasts.

According to GoodPods’ ranking of the top 100 fitness podcasts, the leading shows are:

• Mind Pump – Hosts Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, and Justin Andrews discuss exercise, nutrition, hormones, mindset, and entrepreneurship. With over 1,200 episodes, it’s one of the longest running fitness shows.
• Ben Greenfield Fitness – Ben Greenfield provides fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle advice through interviews, Q&As, and solo episodes. He emphasizes biohacking, self-experimentation, and optimization.
• Ali on the Run – Host Ali Feller interviews runners, coaches, and experts about training, nutrition, motivation, and more for all fitness levels.
• The Drive with Peter Attia – Dr. Peter Attia delves into topics like longevity, metabolism, nutrition, and exercise performance through interviews and solo episodes.
• Stronger by Science – Greg Nuckols and Eric Trexler draw on scientific research and principles to offer strength training advice.

These shows consistently rank among the most downloaded and highly rated fitness podcasts.

Podcasts for Running

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise and an accessible way for many people to stay active. If you’re looking to start running or improve your performance, running podcasts are a great option to stay motivated and learn new training tips.

Some of the top running podcasts focused on the sport include:

Ali on the Run

Hosted by Ali Feller, an experienced runner who provides training advice, race recaps, interviews, and more (Source). Ali on the Run is ideal for new runners looking to get inspired as well as veteran runners seeking new challenges.

The Bad Boys of Running

Tim Naessens and Brad Bronikowski take a lighthearted approach in discussing running tips, news, events, and sharing their everyman advice. It’s perfect for casual and social runners (Source).

Running for Real

Host Tina Muir provides comprehensive interviews exploring the mental and physical aspects of running. She’s joined by expert guests like coaches, dietitians, and elite athletes (Source).

Fitter Radio

Daily short episodes provide running tips, inspiration, and guidance specifically for women. Fitter Radio covers training, nutrition, mindset, and more for female runners.

Podcasts for Strength Training

If you want to get stronger and improve your lifts, strength training podcasts can provide motivation, programming tips, and expert advice. Here are some of the top picks:

Mind Pump – Hosted by fitness professionals Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, and Justin Andrews, Mind Pump is one of the most popular strength training podcasts. The hosts breakdown training methods, nutrition strategies, and mindset tips for getting bigger and stronger.

Barbell Shrugged – Focused on powerlifting, weightlifting, and strength sports, Barbell Shrugged provides in-depth training discussions. Hosts Chris Spealler, Doug Larson, and Mike Bledsoe bring high-level coaching insights.

Iron Culture – Veteran strength coaches Dave Tate and Steve Goggins interview top minds in the strength world on training, programming, technique, and more. Especially useful for advanced lifters.

The Stronger By Science Podcast – Dr. Eric Helms, Greg Nuckols, and Mike Israetel analyze the latest strength and hypertrophy research and translate it into practical training advice.

Podcasts for Nutrition

Nutrition is a critical component of overall health, fitness and helping you reach your goals. Food is so often tightly linked to mood, energy, motivation and focus. Great nutrition podcasts can inspire you in the kitchen, clarify confusing nutrition advice and help you understand how to fuel your body optimally for whatever you want to achieve.

Some of the best fitness podcasts regarding nutrition:

• The Model Health Show – Covering all aspects of health, fitness and nutrition with expert interviews. Host Shawn Stevenson breaks down complex health topics into accessible, science-backed advice.
• Food Psych Podcast – Hosted by certified nutritionist Christy Harrison, this podcast explores the relationship between food and emotions with a “non-diet” approach. Harrison helps listeners improve body image and tune into internal wisdom around food.
• The Nutrition Diva – Monica Reinagel tackles listener questions and nutrition myths in this popular weekly podcast. Reinagel distills complex research into actionable diet tips.
• Eat For The Planet – Nil Zacharias explores the intersection of food sustainability, ethics and health, interviewing expert guests. Learn how your food choices impact the planet.

This selection provides a balanced mix of deep nutrition information as well as mindset shifts for a healthy relationship with food. Whatever your goals, these engaging shows will inform and inspire you.

Podcasts for Yoga

Yoga enthusiasts can find a wealth of yoga-focused podcasts to support their practice. Some of the most popular and highest rated yoga podcasts include:

Yoga Girl Podcast – Hosted by yoga instructor Rachel Brathen, this podcast explores yoga philosophy and mindfulness. Rachel interviews inspiring guests and discusses topics like self-love, relationships, travel, social change, and living a purposeful life.

Ali on the Run – Host Ali Feller is a runner, but she also interviews yoga instructors and discusses incorporating yoga into an active lifestyle. Her down-to-earth approach makes yoga feel accessible.

Bad Yogi – Erin Motz brings humor and honesty to demystify yoga in this popular podcast. She tackles myths, provides practical tips for beginners, and makes yoga feel fun.

The Balanced Blonde – Host Jordan Younger interviews gurus and shares thoughts on mindfulness, self-care, nutrition, and achieving balance. Her podcast covers a range of wellness topics beyond just yoga.

All of these podcasts share yoga insights you can apply on and off your mat. They provide an entertaining yet educational way to complement your practice.

Podcasts for CrossFit

CrossFit is a popular high-intensity strength and conditioning program. Listening to CrossFit podcasts can help you learn proper technique, get motivated, and hear from top athletes and coaches. Here are some of the best CrossFit podcasts to check out:

Barbell Shrugged – One of the most popular CrossFit podcasts, covering training methodology, nutrition, mindset, and interviews with athletes. Coaches Mike Bledsoe, Doug Larson and Michael Keeler breakdown techniques and workouts.

Pursuing Health – Hosted by registered dietician Julie Foucher, focusing on all aspects of health and fitness. Great for nutrition advice and mindset.

CrossFit Radio – The official CrossFit podcast featuring founder Greg Glassman and guests. Discusses CrossFit principles and workouts.

The Fittest Podcast – Hosted by CrossFit Games champ Mat Fraser and coach Ben Bergeron. Gives an inside look at training and competitions.

These podcasts include interviews with top CrossFit athletes, provide tips from expert coaches, review CrossFit workouts and competitions, and offer motivation for any fitness level.

How to Listen The Best Fitness Podcasts

There are many easy and free ways to find and listen the best fitness podcasts. The most popular platforms that have the best fitness podcasts are Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. These allow you to search for podcasts, subscribe, and listen on iOS, Android, and web browsers.

Dedicated podcast apps like Overcast, Castro, and Pocket Casts also provide a great podcast listening experience. These apps offer features like playlists, notifications, and playback speed controls.

When finding a podcast episode, you can either stream it directly or download it to listen offline later. Streaming lets you start listening quicker without taking up device storage. Downloading episodes can be useful for when you have limited internet connectivity, like during a flight or commute.

Overall, listening to podcasts is easy and accessible on any modern smartphone, tablet, computer, or car entertainment system. With so many listening options available, you can enjoy top fitness podcasts wherever life takes you.

Conclusion – What Makes a Good Fitness Podcast

When searching for the best fitness podcasts to subscribe to, there are several key factors that indicate if the show will be worth your time. The ideal fitness podcast should have knowledgeable hosts, good production quality, regular episode releases, opportunities to interact, an entertaining format that’s easy to listen to, and actionable takeaways you can implement in your own life.

Look for podcasts hosted by fitness professionals like trainers, athletes, doctors, nutritionists, and health coaches who can provide credible expertise and advice. The hosts should communicate complex topics in a way that is easy to understand for the average listener. Podcasts focused on science and facts, rather than hype or exaggeration, demonstrate knowledge and trustworthiness.

High production quality with clear audio makes a fitness podcast more enjoyable to listen to. Music, sound effects, editing, and organization elevate the listener experience. Regularly scheduled episodes allow you to seamlessly add the podcast into your routine.

Look for podcasts that have supplemental materials like transcriptions, handouts, or communities. This provides more opportunity to engage with the content and interact with the hosts, guests or other listeners.

The tone and format of the show should make fitness topics entertaining, easy to listen to, and suitable for your preferences. The content should inspire action with practical tips you can implement in your own fitness regimen for measurable results.