Welcome to podcast hell

You tell yourself this is the podcast that will finally change your life. You press play. 90 minutes later, you're drowning in conflicting advice...

• Wake up at 5am — but also get eight hours of sleep.
• Hustle harder — but prioritise self-care.
• Quit your job — but achieve financial stability first

And suddenly, you feel worse than before you started listening.

We’re bombarded with endless self-improvement content, yet it’s not actually making us any happier. Podcasts used to be entertaining, educational, inspiring. Now? They feel like homework.

The self-improvement industry is worth billions, and new podcasts pop up daily, each claiming to have “the answer.”

The problem? They’ve mastered the art of reeling us in.

• “One weird hack that will change your mindset forever.”
• “23 brutal truths you need to hear.”
• “The morning routine that made me a millionaire.”

And before we know it, we’re drowning in a sea of tips, hacks, and inspiring stories — unable to act on any of them. A study on information overload found that too many choices actually increase anxiety and reduce action.

So, instead of clarity, we’re left feeling overwhelmed, stuck, and unsure which way to turn.

The podcast overload problem

The idea of having endless access to knowledge sounds empowering. In reality? It’s exhausting.

Every expert seems to be tearing down what we once believed, replacing it with “cutting-edge” insights that contradict everything we thought we knew.

One podcast tells us to slow down. Another says to grind harder. One preaches radical self-acceptance. Another tells us to strive for constant self-improvement.

Which one is right?

So we keep listening, hoping that the next episode will finally make sense of it all. We binge episodes, searching for that one golden piece of advice that will change everything.

But that moment never comes. Instead, we’re left feeling drained, overwhelmed, and convinced that we’re the problem.

Is this just another form of tech addiction?

Podcasts trick us into thinking we’re being productive, even when we’re just passively consuming.

If you binge-watch TV for hours, there’s a point where you start to feel a bit grim, like you should probably get up and do something.

Podcasts don’t have that built-in stopping point. You can listen for three hours straight, convince yourself it’s time well spent — and still implement none of it.

Over weeks and months, huge chunks of time disappear. Time we could have spent actually doing something meaningful.

Yet, we can’t seem to stop. We tell ourselves, maybe the next episode will have the answer.

Podcasts look like they’re helping. But when was the last time you actually put something into action that truly justified the hours you’ve spent listening?

Maybe this isn’t self-improvement at all. Maybe it’s just another branch of tech addiction.

The psychological impact: More stress, not less

Instead of empowering us, the relentless flood of self-improvement podcasts fuels:

The perfectionism trap

No matter how much we learn, it never feels like enough — because there’s always more to optimise.

We end up hypervigilant, always chasing the next tweak, hack, or "one weird trick" that promises to unlock a better version of ourselves.

It’s a trap. The more we participate, the more inadequate we feel.

We thought we were on the right track — until a new podcast tells us, “The one thing I wish I knew five years ago.” And suddenly, it feels like we’ve been doing it all wrong.

Comparison culture

Hosts and guests are often hyper-successful, making us feel "behind" in life.

Their voices enter our lives in crystal-clear audio, an invisible extension of the slick, filtered perfection we see on social media.

Even when they share their struggles, failures, and moments of doubt, it’s always packaged neatly, with clarity and grace. It’s not that they’re being inauthentic. But in contrast, our own messy, unfinished lives feel even messier.

Meanwhile, influencers and celebrities casually mention:

• "I was having coffee with [insert famous person] in Bali…”
• "At the retreat in Mykonos last summer, we had this huge breakthrough…”

And suddenly, our everyday struggles feel painfully mundane.

How to break free and use podcasts intentionally

If self-improvement content is making you feel more stuck than inspired, it’s time to rethink how you engage with it.

• Be selective – Not all advice is meant for you. Pick one or two trusted sources and ignore the rest.
• Listen less, act more – If you’re not applying what you learn, you’re just consuming passively. Take breaks. Implement one idea before moving on.
• Recognise when it’s too much – If podcasts leave you feeling anxious rather than empowered, step away. Some of the best insights come when you give your mind space to breathe.

Finding clarity in the noise

Personal growth matters. But you don’t have to be in fix-it mode 24/7. You’re allowed to step back. To filter out the noise. To trust your own instincts.

If this cycle feels familiar, you’re not alone. Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you — it’s about helping you tune out the noise and reconnect with your own voice.

If that’s something you’re craving, you can reach out to a professional to learn more.