The seven best podcasts for surviving student life

The start of college is just around the corner, but are you really ready for life away from home? Well, don’t worry, because we’ve got you covered. From stretching your budget, to finding a side hustle so you can afford to pay for that mountain of study books, these Spotify podcasts have the answers to some of student life's most pressing questions.

Keeping your finances on track

Farnoosh Torabi knows a thing or two about money. In fact, after struggling with her own student debt at 22, she made it her goal to provide young people with accessible and digestible financial advice so they wouldn’t make the same mistakes. As an educator, author and podcast host of SO MONEY, she delves into topics like “How Much Should We Pay for College?” and “Turning Side Hustles into Sustainable Wealth”, ultimately setting students up for maximum success.

What do I eat now?!

Eater’s podcast, The One Recipe, is guaranteed to get your creative kitchen juices flowing.  Providing a collection of fast, simple and crowd-pleasing recipes (like Spanish tortilla or an impressive roast chicken), you no longer have to be stumped on what to make when cooking in student halls. Talk about food for thought. 

Relatable dating advice

Host and entrepreneurial queen Emma Chamberlain is your new go-to, especially if you’ve got a crush and don’t know how to flirt, or maybe you just can’t stop texting your ex. Her podcast, anything goes, offers insightful and actionable relationship advice, particularly for students. It is like making a new best friend, but much more judgement-free.

Looking for a side hustle?

If you’re already dreaming about your future, or even just a way to survive the cost of living crisis, listening to My First Million is a great place to start. Get influential business advice to help you “ find your thing” and discover “how to make $20K a month,” according to hosts Shaan Puri and Sam Parr.

Brush up on your language skills

Whether you’re practising before a holiday, studying for a test, or looking to impress a foreign exchange student, Duolingo’s Spanish Podcast is perfect for getting you immersed in the culture. Positioned as “life lessons, not language lessons,” you can listen to captivating real-life stories, narrated in both English and Spanish and very simple to follow. Muy bien.

Conversation starters to impress your new roommates

Looking for a laugh? The Comment Section with Drew Afualo is comedy gold, perfect if you need a distraction from your dissertation. Featuring guest stars like comedian Brittany Broski and rising pop star Chappell Roan, it shows the human beings behind the celebrity and provides inspiring advice on how you, too, can be a success.

And… breathe

According to 22-year-old podcaster Sadie Sutton, Gen Z talks about mental health more than any other generation. Their self-help podcast, she persisted, subsequently “turns personal insight into clear, relatable steps,” from navigating friendships to ways to avoiding burnout. If those first few weeks at college feel overwhelming, then this is the podcast to tune into.