18 Best Motivational Podcasts for Women With Big Goals
Inside: Discover the best motivational podcasts for women by women that will change your mindset, offer practical advice, and help you achieve your goals.
I like big goals and I cannot lie! And if you do too, these motivational podcasts for women, by women, are going to give you the kick in the leggings you need to go after them.
Blog posts are great for motivation. Books are great for motivation, give me all the books! But there’s something really cool about a great podcast. Especially for busy women like us! We are on the go, go, go and our free time is often combined with time when we’re on the move.
With that in mind, enjoy a rundown of my favorite motivational podcasts for women. Men can totally dig these too, but you’re going to get a lot of female energy up in here!
18 Best Motivational Podcasts for Women on the Go
Goal Digger Podcast
Jenna Kutcher is a talented photographer turned online educator and host of the Goal Digger Podcast. She’s also a new mom and she keeps it super real about life as a working mother who faced years of infertility before bringing her little girl into the world.
Goal Digger (which, come on, that’s a killer name) is one of my favorite motivational podcasts for women because it’s super relatable while also being chock full of inspirational stories and practical advice for going after your goals.
Jenna keeps a steady stream of content coming with new episodes on Mondays and Wednesdays. One of my favorite recent episodes was about her experience at a conference as the only female entrepreneur where she totally breastfed mid keynote speaker like a boss.
Episode length: 35 – 60 minutes
Working Mom Hour
The Working Mom Hour is a must-listen on our motivational podcast for women list because it’s about “cultivating more joy at the corner of calm and chaos.” Yup, I want in!
Hosts Madeline Caldwell and Erica Mechlinski are working moms and business partners dedicated to shining a light on the working mom experience. They know we are all juggling A LOT as working moms and their lively discussions will make you feel seen AND give you great tips on how to manage your everyday challenges.
If this is your first time with The Working Mom Hour, check out this episode on boundaries. If you have a ton on your to-do list and taking care of yourself keeps falling off, this one is for you!
Episode length: 40 minutes
Mother Honestly
Mother Honestly, founded by Blessing Adesiyan, is a media company focused on helping mothers “thrive in and beyond motherhood.” On the podcast, Blessing and her team interview moms who are also entrepreneurs, leaders, authors, and inspiring professionals and share their stories of struggle and success.
Working motherhood is filled with unique challenges and opportunities and I love that the women at Mother Honestly are having these open conversations and helping moms live their best lives through practical advice and inspiring stories.
As a big fan of the entrepreneurial drive, I loved the episode with Elle Wang, Founder of Emilia George, a maternity workwear company. Along with being a mom and CEO, Elle also works as an advisor for the United Nations. In the episode, Elle and Blessing discuss the creative drive that comes with pregnancy and motherhood and the realities of running a business while managing other areas of your life.
Episode length: 35 – 60 minutes
Unlocking Us
Social scientist and bestselling author, Brene Brown, leads one of my favorite motivational podcasts for women, Unlocking Us. And it’s not because she is a “rah rah” cheerleader pushing you to believe in yourself, but because she gives us permission to be human!
Understanding ourselves is foundational to finding our sense of purpose and cultivating the courage to go after it. When we’re honest, vulnerable, and can build connections, oooo that’s when the magic happens. The research Brene shares through her books and through deep conversations with other thought leaders on her podcast will help you do just that.
Find Unlocking Us on Spotify with new episodes weekly on Wednesdays.
Episode length: 30 – 60 minutes
HBR Women at Work
From Harvard Business Review, HBR Women at Work is hosted by Amy Berstein and Amy Gallo and they have been bringing the goods since 2018!
With expert advice from senior leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, HBR Women at Work is a professional development for motivated women on the go. Some of the many topics covered include managing complicated relationships at work, career transitions, working motherhood, leadership development, and side gigs.
Tune into HBR Women at Work on Mondays.
Episode length: 35 minutes
The Skimm
Changing gears here a little bit, I need to include Skimm This on our list of motivational podcasts for women because the super smart, ambitious women reading this post want to be engaged with what’s going on in the world. Skimm This will help you do just that!
I tune into Skimm This every Thursday for quick hits on the news of the week to stay up to date on important issues that may have slipped by my radar during the work day or the after-school hustle and bustle. While theSkimm hosts aren’t there to coach you, I’m always motivated nonetheless. Often I’ll find inspiration from the show regarding how I want to make an impact in the world and where I can add value. Plus there is something very empowering about being in the know!
Check out Skimm This every week.
Episode length: 30 minutes
Overcoming Working Mom Burnout
First things first, Dr. Jacqueline Kerr is brilliant. Second, she is also a brilliant mom who gets in. That combination makes for a powerful podcast!
Dr. Kerr is a behavior change scientist, mom, and burnout survivor. If you too are feeling burned out and need the motivation to keep moving forward, tune into Overcoming Working Mom Burnout for a solutions-focused conversation around burnout prevention.
On her podcast, Dr. Kerr interviews researchers, coaches, DEI and HR experts, allies, and successful change agents to understand how we make individual, interpersonal, organizational and social change to prevent burnout. You’ll leave motivated to make a change and be the change that can keep women thriving in the workplace and at home.
I was on Dr. Kerr’s fantastic podcast with this episode focused on creating a job you love that fits your life.
Episode length: 30 – 60 minutes
How I Built This
I’m going to make an exception to my “by women for women” rule here and include How I Built This from NPR and hosted by Guy Raz. I have good reasons though!
How I Built This has consistently been one of my favorite podcasts because it is story-based, and who doesn’t love a good storytelling podcast? And these stories of entrepreneurs and the challenges they have faced and the opportunities they have seized are so inspirational!
Follow along to hear stories like from founders like Sara Blakely of Spanx, Jenn Hyman of Rent the Runway), and Whitney Wolfe of Bumble.
Episode length: 40 – 80 minutes
I’m Busy Being Awesome
Life Coach and college professor Paula Engebretson is just as genuinely kind in real life as she is on her super helpful podcast, I’m Being Busy Awesome. Paula is a goal-setting pro and productivity ninja and I promise you’ll learn a lot from her experience.
If you have a big goal in mind, Paula can help you break it down into manageable chunks. Then she’ll take you through the steps you need to achieve them. It’s not just motivational, it’s super practical and I love that combination.
As a career coach, I was a big fan of her “How to Love Your Job” podcast episode that I’ll be referencing in an upcoming blog post. There’s also a great episode on New Year’s Resolutions that is applicable all year long.
Check out new episodes from Paula on Mondays!
Episode length: 30 minutes
Side Hustle Pro
Nicaila Matthews Okome of Side Hustle Pro had me at “Side Hustle.” Then she kept me at “Pro.” That’s some good marketing, plus she delivers!
The word side hustle gets a bad rap sometimes, which is very weird to me. Some people think if you aren’t going all in on your business right out of the gate then it won’t work. Others think side hustle and imagine a multi-level marketing scheme filling up their Facebook message inbox. But side hustles are how so many major and amazing businesses got started! Doing the work on the side to build something you love, while also doing the work you need to do to pay the bills.
Nicaila has been there and turned her side hustle into a profitable businesses. Through her podcast, she interviews women who have done the same with their own businesses and are out there crushing it! Episodes are full of actionable steps too which I love.
After coming into this podcast late I started with episode 201: I QUIT My Job to hear Nicaila’s story. Highly recommended!
Episode length: 30 – 60 minutes
The Jasmine Star Show
With over 2,000 5-star ratings on Apple podcast, The Jasmine Star Show clearly has something special!
And that something special is the host, Jasmine Star, an incredibly successful entrepreneur and inspiring speaker. Jasmine’s style is fun, fast, tactical, and motivating and you’ll be so happy to take her on the go with you as you make moves.
The show includes conversational interviews with fellow entrepreneurs, business coaching episodes, and Fire Q&A sessions, which are some of my personal favorites. In all of her episodes, Jasmine focuses on turning your passion into profits with practical strategies. She knows what she’s talking about too because she has been there in multiple types of business! Jasmine originally planned to be a lawyer, but after dropping out of law school, she became a world-renowned photographer AND expert business strategist. Love a good career pivot!
Entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, give The Jasmine Star Show a listen, for SURE. She’s a great social media strategist so I would start here with Best Strategies for Getting Your First Sale on Instagram.
Episode length: 20 – 45 minutes
Online Marketing Made Easy
Let’s hear it for the entrepreneurs! Amy Porterfield’s business focuses on helping entrepreneurs build digital courses and grow their email lists. If you’re into the idea of creating your own business, Online Marketing Made Easy will be one to add onto your list ASAP.
But even if online marketing isn’t your jam, Amy is going to leave you seriously inspired. Throughout her marketing episodes, she also talks about morning routines, imposter syndrome, business ownership, and learning from mistakes. Amy genuinely seems to love what she does and wants all of her listeners to succeed.
One of my favorites from Amy is on prioritizing what matters most. This is something I think we could all use a reminder of when going after our goals. Find new episodes on Thursdays.
Episode length: 15 – 40 minutes
Best of Both Worlds
Author, Laura Vanderkam, and physician, Sarah Hart-Unger, host the Best of Both Worlds podcast on working motherhood. Both Laura and Sarah are moms several times over, have built successful careers they love, and make time for fun and exercise. Talk about living the dream, right?
What’s great about their podcast is that they are super honest about their experience, and it’s not always picture-perfect. But they have learned time management and efficiency strategies to change the “I don’t have the time!” narrative to a more productive “Okay, how are we going to make this work” mindset. Their great guests add their own perspectives to the conversation too.
If you’re going after goals with an equally goal-oriented partner, check out this episode on dual-career households and tips to making it work for your family. New episodes haven’t dropped in a while but there’s a lot of great stuff in the archives!
Episode length: 35 – 50 minutes
The Resilient Entrepreneur Podcast
I first met Michelle Mercier of The Resilient Entrepreneur podcast through a connection organization for women-owned businesses, Polka Dot Powerhouse. As she led our local chapter meeting I thought, “this lady has her stuff together…” As I got to know her more I realized “she has her stuff together, but she’s also as real as they come!”
Michelle made the leap away from corporate life and into entrepreneurship in 2016 amidst a mountain of personal challenges including health complications, parenting kids with health complications, and a pile of debt. Fast forward to today and she runs two successful businesses and started this amazing podcast to pay her knowledge forward.
The Resilient Entrepreneur is about exactly that, resilience. She interviews entrepreneurs about how they have dealt with the really hard stuff and come out the other side. If you’re looking for a dose of inspiration and motivation with a side of feels and laughs, Michelle’s your girl.
Check out my interview with Michelle on The Resilient Entrepreneur!
Episode length: 30 minutes
How to Be a Dangerous Woman
CEO, Consultant, and Speaker, Dr. Krystal Conner, added another title to her resume in 2021, podcast host! And I’m personally so glad she did because her show, How to be a Dangerous Woman is a motivational podcast for women you need on your list.
The Dangerous Woman Podcast is for smart, driven women to become the most remarkable versions of themselves without compromising their health, families, social lives or sanity. That feels like #goals but also a big ask, right? But Dr. Conner backs it up with tools and strategies to create new habits so women can become “dangerously good.”
I love how Dr. Conner helps women build confidence in this podcast and how she is all about defining what success looks like to you. I talk about this a ton in career coaching and it’s such an important message to internalize. Success does not look the same for everyone and if you think it does, you’re setting yourself up for a ton of disappointment!
Check out Dr. Conner’s 4-step framework to becoming a dangerous woman in this episode.
Episode length: 10 – 40 minutes
Mom’s Exit Interview
Kim Rittberg is a former journalist and she brings that fast-paced, get-to-the-good-stuff vibe to her fabulous podcast, Mom’s Exit Interview.
In Mom’s Exit Interview you’ll hear from fellow moms who want to thrive without the 9-5. That means they are building businesses, crafting part-time jobs, finding flexible work, and defining success on their own terms. Sounds pretty great, right?
Something I really appreciate about Kim is that she pulls out the best tips and strategies from her guests. Clear, actionable, and inspirational, yes please!
I was honored to be a guest on Mom’s Exit Interview and Kim and I had a blast talking about finding your dream job from your couch. (Yes, that’s possible.) Check out the episode here.
Episode length: 30 – 50 minutes
Happier
The author of The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin, brings lessons from her book and her work helping others find more happiness in their lives to her podcast, Happier.
While I love me a good business and career-related podcast, obvi, what I love about Happier is that it’s about your entire life. Family, health, work, friendships, all of that stuff matters so much and can make you, you guessed it, happier!
If you need some motivation to change your mindset or make some simple adjustments to increase your overall happiness in life, Gretchen’s got you. To kick things off, check out this episode on picking a one-word theme for the year.
Episode length: 30 minutes
When Mommy Grows Up
Coming soon to earbuds near you, When Mommy Grows Up, the podcast!
As moms, we love to inspire our kids to dream big dreams about who they’ll be as they grow up. But when is the last time you stopped to ask yourself, “Who am I going to be (next) as I grow up?”
The When Mommy Grows Up Podcast is the motherhood and career podcast for moms who need help defining what success looks like to them as mid-career professionals and parents along with the support they need to go after it. Hear real stories from real moms facing the same challenges you are. Finding flexible jobs, crafting a job you love, discovering your passions, crushing it at work and getting kids off the bus! We’ll talk through it all.
Hosts (and fellow moms) Becca Carnahan (that’s me!) and Marie Tremblay of Next Chapter Careers, take your questions and provide practical step-by-step advice to help you move forward. All served up with a virtual mom hug and lots of laughs!
Tune in to the intro episode now and follow to get the first episode in your feed on January 24, 2023.
Episode length: 25 minutes
Your Favorite Motivational Podcasts for Women
Alright, ladies! What did I miss? There are so many fantastic podcasts out there and I’m always looking to fill up the queue with more goodness. Share your favorite recommendations in the comments.
And then get to subscribing and go after those big goals!
You’ve got this!
Read More Podcast Recommendations:
6 Storytelling Podcasts That Will Make You Forget About TV
Such a great roundup, Becca! And I am SO honored to be included. Thank you! I would also add “Do The Thing” with Melissa Urban and “Rise” with Rachel Hollis to your list. I can’t wait to check out Do it Scared, I haven’t listened to her podcast yet 🙂
These are all amazing! I listen to a good handful, especially the I’m Busy Being Awesome podcast 🙂 There is also another new podcast I started listening to called mom After Hours. Sooo good! I know you’ll like it Becca! Can’t wait to check out a few more of these too.
EmpowerHER is amazing, too!
Great list, thanks for sharing.
There is also the ‘Driven Female Entrepreneur’ podcast that has weekly interview with successful women about who they built their businesses and their biggest lessons and tips.
It’s a rich source of inspiration and role models and help female business owners to Dream Bigger and Achieve More.