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Top 10 Podcast Recommendations for Students

Angela Yates

Written by: Angela Yates

Reviewed by: Holly Barrow

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Top 10 Podcast Recommendations for Students

Contents

  1. 1. Key Takeaways
  2. 2. Why Students Should Listen to Podcasts
  3. 3. Top 10 Podcasts for Students
  4. 4. How to Make the Most of Podcasts as a Student
  5. 5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. 6. Final Thoughts

Podcasts are a simple way to learn something new while you’re on the move. Whether you’re travelling to school, walking to class or taking a break from revision, you can listen to experts, journalists and educators explain ideas in an engaging way.

For students, podcasts can make complex topics easier to understand and introduce new perspectives beyond the classroom. They can also help you stay informed about the world, develop useful skills and explore possible career paths. If you haven’t considered them as a learning source before, maybe it’s time to rethink.

In this guide, you’ll find 10 of the best podcasts for students, covering topics such as academic learning, career advice, wellbeing and current affairs. Try a few and see which ones inspire you most.

Key Takeaways

  • Podcasts allow you to learn while commuting, exercising or relaxing.

  • Educational podcasts can reinforce topics you study in school.

  • Career and wellbeing podcasts can help you develop useful life skills.

  • Listening regularly can help you stay informed and broaden your perspective.

Why Students Should Listen to Podcasts

Podcasts have become increasingly popular with students because they are flexible, engaging and easy to access. Here’s why:

  1. You can learn anywhere

You can listen to podcasts while travelling to school, doing chores or going for a walk. They’re a great way to make use of small pockets of time during the day.

  1. Podcasts can supplement your classroom learning

Many shows explain complex topics in a conversational way. This can give you a new perspective, away from the classroom. It can make difficult ideas easier to understand. 

  1. Podcasts give you wider knowledge and insight

Podcasts often feature experts and professionals sharing their experiences. Listening to these voices, or watching them on YouTube, can help you explore potential careers and develop a better understanding of the world.

  1. You develop listening skills

Podcasts are an opportunity to hear different viewpoints and arguments on a topic. You may find yourself naturally nodding in agreement or shaking your head in frustration at their ideas. That means you’re developing the listening and critical thinking skills your essay-based subject teachers are always telling you about!

Top 10 Podcasts for Students

These are some of the best podcasts for students looking to learn something new or explore different ideas. They’re grouped into categories to help you find the ones that best match your interests and goals. 

All podcasts below are available on major platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Educational and Academic Podcasts

Mr Barton Maths Podcast

Best for: Students interested in maths and learning strategies.

Hosted by secondary maths teacher Craig Barton, Mr Barton Maths Podcast explores how students learn mathematics and how teachers approach problem-solving and lesson design. Episodes feature interviews with education experts discussing topics such as motivation, misconceptions in maths and effective maths study strategies.

If you study maths or want to improve your approach to difficult problems, this podcast offers valuable insights into how mathematical understanding develops. The website is full of useful tools, too.

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | Website

Also try: Numberphile Podcast, which explores fascinating mathematical ideas and puzzles.

BBC Learning English Podcast

Best for: Improving English language skills and communication.

The BBC Learning English podcast provides short lessons designed to help listeners develop vocabulary, pronunciation and listening skills. Episodes often explore real-world topics while introducing useful language.

If you want to strengthen your English skills or improve your confidence in speaking and understanding English, this podcast offers practical and accessible guidance.

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | Website

Also try: Luke’s English Podcast, which helps learners improve their English through conversations and storytelling.

The Rest Is History

Best for: Students studying history or interested in historical storytelling.

Hosted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, The Rest Is History explores major historical events, figures and turning points. Episodes explain complex historical topics in a clear and engaging way while connecting past events to modern issues.

As the TRIH team boast on their website, “We've even done episodes on history's greatest dogs, monkeys and pigeons!”

Full of humour and interesting insights, I only wish The Rest Is History had been around when I was studying for my GCSE History.

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Website

Also try: Dan Snow’s History Hit, which features interviews with historians discussing important historical topics.

The Infinite Monkey Cage

Best for: Students interested in science and scientific thinking.

Can trees talk to each other? Can science help you commit the perfect murder? What might aliens look like? If you want to find the answers, look no further. Presented by physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince, The Infinite Monkey Cage combines science discussion with humour. 

Each episode features scientists and experts exploring topics such as space, biology, physics and technology. The conversations make complex scientific ideas easier to understand while encouraging curiosity about how the world works. My GCSE Physics lessons were never like this!

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | Website

Also try: The Rest Is Science, a delve into lesser discussion scientific table from the same podcast stable as The Rest Is History.

Career and Professional Development Podcasts

The Diary of a CEO

Best for: Students interested in entrepreneurship, business and motivation.

Hosted by entrepreneur Steven Bartlett of BBC’s Dragons’ Den, The Diary of a CEO features interviews with successful founders, psychologists and leaders. Episodes often explore topics such as decision-making, leadership and resilience.

If you’re thinking about your future career, the podcast can offer valuable insights into how successful people approach challenges and opportunities.

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Website

Also try: How I Built This with Guy Raz, which tells the stories behind some of the world’s best-known companies.

The High Performance Podcast

Best for: Building confidence, discipline and motivation.

The High Performance Podcast starts with the philosophy, “We believe high performance is a way of thinking, acting, and living that everyone can embrace.” Hosted by Jake Humphrey and Professor Damian Hughes, the podcast sets out to explore the mindset and habits of successful people. 

There are well over 700 episodes to delve into, featuring a dazzling array of guests who’ve reached the pinnacle of achievement in sport, entertainment and business. 

These inspiring leaders and performers share valuable lessons about resilience, focus and achieving goals. Listening can help you develop the habits and mindset needed to succeed in both your studies and future career.

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Website

Also try: The Mindset Mentor, which focuses on personal growth, productivity and motivation.

TED Talks Daily

Best for: Discovering new ideas across many subjects.

TED Talks Daily shares inspiring talks from experts around the world. Episodes cover topics such as science, creativity, technology and leadership.

The short format makes it easy to listen regularly and learn something new in just a few minutes.

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | Website

Also try: WorkLife with Adam Grant, which explores psychology and workplace culture.

Personal Development and Wellbeing Podcasts

The Happiness Lab

Best for: Understanding mental wellbeing and building healthy habits.

Yale professor Dr Laurie Santos has studied the science behind happiness. Her Psychology course became the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history. Now you can hear her findings for yourself. Podcast The Happiness Lab explores how our daily habits, routines and relationships can all affect our wellbeing.

For students balancing school, exams and other responsibilities, The Happiness Lab offers plenty of practical insights into managing stress and maintaining a healthy mindset. It may even change the way you think about happiness.

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | Website

Also try: Feel Better, Live More, which focuses on wellbeing, lifestyle and mental health.

News and Current Affairs Podcasts

Global News Podcast (BBC)

Best for: Staying informed about world events.

The BBC Global News Podcast provides daily summaries of major international news stories. Delivered twice a day on weekdays and once a day at weekends, the clear explanations make complex global issues easier to understand.

Listening regularly can help you stay reliably informed about current events, which is particularly useful for subjects such as politics, geography and economics.

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | Website

Also try: Today in Focus from The Guardian, which explores one major news story in depth.

The News Agents

Best for: Understanding politics and current affairs.

Hosted by journalists Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall, The News Agents discusses major political and social stories in the UK and beyond.

The podcast sets out to explain not just what’s happening, but also why it matters. This means they approach even the most complex news topics in an accessible way. Listening can help you develop a clearer understanding of the issues shaping the world today.

Get it here: Apple | Spotify | Website

Also try: The Intelligence from The Economist, which provides short daily analysis of global trends and events.

How to Make the Most of Podcasts as a Student

Podcasts can be most useful when you listen actively rather than simply letting them play in the background.

One effective approach is to listen during routine activities, such as travelling to school, exercising or doing chores. This allows you to learn without taking time away from your study schedule.

If an episode covers something related to your studies, try writing down one or two key ideas afterwards. This helps reinforce what you have learned and makes it easier to remember later.

You can also use podcasts as a starting point for further research. If an episode introduces an idea that interests you, explore it further using revision notes, textbooks or reliable online resources.

Remember that podcasts work best as a supplement to your studies rather than as a replacement for structured revision. You’ll need to use exam-board-specific resources from reliable sources such as Save My Exams if you’re preparing for exams. This will ensure you’re prepared for the exact topics and question styles you may encounter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are podcasts free to listen to?

Most podcasts are free and available through platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. 

Some podcasts offer additional paid content, but the main episodes are usually free.

Can listening to podcasts help with my studies?

Yes. Podcasts can help you understand complex ideas, discover new topics and hear expert perspectives. They can also reinforce what you learn in school by explaining ideas in a different way.

Final Thoughts

Podcasts can be a powerful way to learn outside the classroom. They allow you to explore new ideas, hear expert perspectives and stay informed about the world while fitting easily into your daily routine.

Whether you want help understanding academic topics, exploring career paths or developing useful life skills, there is a podcast that can support your learning.

Try listening to a few from this list and see which ones spark your imagination or make you curious to explore further.

References:

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Author
Reviewer
Angela Yates

Author: Angela Yates

Expertise: Religious Studies Content Creator

Angela graduated with a first-class degree in Theology and Religious Studies from the University of Manchester. After completing a PGCE and CCRS, she taught RE for around fifteen years before becoming a full-time writer and educational content creator. Angela is passionate about creating Religious Education resources to enable students to achieve their full potential.

Holly Barrow

Reviewer: Holly Barrow

Expertise: Content Executive

Holly graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA in English Literature and has published articles with Attitude magazine, Tribune, Big Issue and Political Quarterly.

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