Somewhere along the way, podcasts and YouTube channels quietly became the soundtrack to everyday life. And honestly? I don’t see that changing anytime soon!

There’s something about having familiar voices playing while you’re doing literally anything that just works. Whether I’m typing up articles for the blog, writing emails, organizing my life, or just laying around trying to decompress, I almost always have a podcast or YouTube video on in the background. It started as noise and somehow turned into comfort.

At this point, I’m watching podcasts and YouTube content way more than traditional TV. There’s an ease to it! You don’t have to fully lock in, but you can if you want to. It feels personal, like hanging out with people you actually enjoy, without the pressure of needing to be “on.”

Some shows make you laugh out loud, some make you feel seen, some genuinely teach you something, and others are just perfect background energy while you get your life together.

Podcasts have become my go-to for unwinding without fully checking out. They’re there when you’re multitasking, when you’re overstimulated, when you’re lonely, or when you just need something familiar playing while the world keeps moving. And that’s kind of magic.

So as we kick off a brand new year, I wanted to share the podcasts and channels I think people should absolutely be listening to or watching in 2026. These are the shows I keep coming back to, the ones that feel like comfort, chaos, motivation, or all three at once.

The channels/list is below! Trust me, there’s something here for everyone.