Top Free Meditation Podcasts!
These are my favorite podcasts right now for guided meditations that align great with your yoga practice:
- Daily Meditation Podcast by Declutter the Mind
- Meditation Minis Podcast by Chel Hamilton
- 12 Minute Meditation by Mindful.org
- Tara Brach
- Daily Meditation Podcast by Mary Meckley
- Mindful in Minutes by Kelly Smith
Meditation apps are everywhere, but did you know that there are also a lot of excellent, free podcasts for meditation?
In this article, I’m going to dive into 6 of my current favorite meditation podcasts. Whether you are looking for meditation focused on breathwork, visualization, body scanning, or other techniques, you will find something to like in one or more of these.
PROs of free meditation podcasts versus apps
Podcast meditations are quickly becoming my go-to’s in favor of apps when I’m looking for something other than my usual self-guided yoga meditation.
Why? Several reasons. First, these podcast hosts are constantly adding new content – one is even updated daily – and there is just so much variety in the topics, lengths, and level of guidedness.
Podcasts are also available on multiple devices. Access them from your phone, laptop, work desktop, or tablet. You don’t have to download anything, just stream. (When I find a really good meditation podcast episode, though, I download it to my Apple podcast library to listen to it again).
Did I mention that meditation podcasts are a deal? Most apps offer only limited access to their meditations, if it all, without a subscription. And with the average annual app subscription costing between $60 and $99, upgrading is pricey. Plus, you might want to have different meditation apps (they usually specialize in different areas of meditation). Now it’s even more expensive!
My list of top, free meditation podcasts, however, will cost you nothing. Yet they offer high-quality content and a huge variety.
CONs of free meditation podcasts versus apps
Number one: ads! For 4 of these 6 podcasts, you’ll have to listen to a short sponsor ad before diving in. That’s the cost of a free podcast, but it’s also a good thing in a weird way. Podcasts pick up sponsors when they have a good number of followers. So, it’s a sign that this meditation podcast is popular and likely to have great content.
The second downside of free meditation podcasts is that, unlike apps, they do not have tracking or reminder functions. That means you won’t easily be able to track your streaks, look back at which meditations you did and when, or receive daily reminders to practice. If this kind of accountability is important to you, you might want to opt for an app, or do the tracking yourself.
Podcasts offer limited search and filter options, whereas apps have those built in. Looking for a meditation podcast that’s around 10 minutes and focuses on gratitude? You’ll have to scroll through the list of podcast episodes to see if it’s there.
My 6 top free meditation podcasts
#1 – Daily Meditation Podcast by Declutter the Mind
Updated on the regular, this podcast features a nice range of meditations between 10 and 30 minutes, with and without music. Some guide you to meditate on specific emotional states (e.g., anxiety, loneliness), others on intentions (e.g., overcoming perfectionism, radiating positive energy). Definitely try one of the guided Vipassana meditations that concentrate on breathing and bringing awareness to the body and thoughts.
#2 – Meditation Minis Podcast by Chel Hamilton
Chel is a hypnotherapist and adds a new meditation almost weekly. These delightful sessions – most no more than 10 minutes – use visualization techniques to calm and focus the mind. I recommend this podcast for those who find it hard to stay focused during meditation. Chel closely guides you to stay on track, and the short length is perfect for beginners.
#3 – 12 Minute Meditation by Mindful.org
I love this one because it has the variety of an app in a podcast. Each week, the host adds a 12-minute meditation guided by a different mindfulness expert. As such, you’ll get loads of different topics and styles, and that’s a big plus. In my experience, people are very sensitive to voice in guided meditation. If you like the coach’s voice, you’ll settle right into it. If you don’t, you’ll get distracted fast. This podcast is good for everyone looking to build a practice through short meditations done regularly.
#4 – Tara Brach
A well-known meditation teacher and author, Tara offers up free meditations of around 20 minutes, designed to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, inner peace, and living in the present moment. Some of her meditations open with breathing exercises or body scans – those are wonderful for building focus and calm in your brain, especially for monkey minds like mine. Updated weekly.
#5 – Daily Meditation Podcast by Mary Meckley
Each of Mary’s free guided meditation podcasts is part of a 7-day themed series. Episodes are added daily and last between 10 and 30 minutes. Weekly themes are wide-ranging, for example: “Fullness of Life: Overcoming Worry with Abundance,” “Accepting Change,” “Master your Mood,” and “Sunrise Meditations.” With hundreds of series and thousands of episodes, this podcast is a goldmine for everyone.
#6 – Mindful in Minutes by Kelly Smith
Kelly is a long-time yoga teacher whose free meditation podcasts are designed for people with busy lives – each episode is 20 minutes or less. Updated weekly, these sessions are practical and accessible, like her 16-minute “Calming Body Scan Meditation.” She uses a lot of breathing and visualization guidance in her meditations, which makes them perfect for those who may be skeptical about their ability to meditate. She makes it easy!
Although being able to meditate on your own daily is the ideal in yoga meditation, starting with guided meditations like these can be incredibly helpful. They offer structured guidance, making it easier to develop your practice. Plus, they’re perfect for travel—just pop on headphones and meditate anywhere to stay on track. These free meditation podcasts provide the flexibility and variety needed to enhance your practice, ensuring you can maintain mindfulness wherever you are.
