By Bed Threads Entertainment 18.08.2026

These 8 Lighthearted Podcasts Will Sprinkle Joy Into Your Day

Positivity in your pocket (and your ears).

Between the late-night doomscrolling, never-ending to-do lists and day-to-day chaos, it’s safe to say we all need some pockets of lightness here and there to help keep us in good spirits.

With that in mind, we've been searching for ways to add a bit of positivity back into our days, and podcasts are the perfect way to do it.

But with an endless amount of media to consume right now, how do you choose a podcast to listen to that won't fill you with anxiety? We're glad you asked. The following list of lighthearted podcasts will clear your mind and even put a smile back on your face today.

Happy listening!

1. Normal Gossip

Do you love that naughty-but-harmless feeling of catching snippets of strangers' juicy conversations while you're on public transport? Enter: Normal Gossip. In every episode, host Rachelle Hampton and a guest (usually a comedian) share an anonymous listener-submitted tale of low-stakes, real-life gossip about everyday people, friends of friends or a niche scene. Think: stories of neighbourly revenge, feuds between vintage pocket watch enthusiasts, and petty tiffs between wealthy art collectors "with too much time and money".

2. Good Hang with Amy Poehler

As the name suggests, this podcast is, well, a good hang with Amy Poehler! The Parks and Recreation star is, unsurprisingly, a great host on this easy-listening show that features a new celebrity guest every week. Light and feel-good, listen to her banter with Mindy Kaling about star signs and Harry Potter houses, roast Tom Holland (or rather, get him to roast himself) and talk "least-favourite current fashion trends" with Lena Dunham, among many other topics and many other guests. Each show runs for about an hour, so it's perfect for a commute or while you're detoxing the house.

3. Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet

Billed as a comedy podcast "featuring dramatic readings of one-star reviews written by real people with not-so-real problems", this hour-long show presents exactly what's written on the tin. Hosted by siblings Xandy and Christine Schiefer, the pair humorously read reviews for the most random of things, from Shakespeare to running shoes to pet psychics, making each episode feel totally fresh.

4. Shameless

A chart-topping podcast for "smart people who love dumb stuff", Shameless is a failsafe listen when you want to hear intelligent takes on all things pop culture and celebrity delivered in a fun way. Dropping three times a week, Hosts Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald, often accompanied by producer Annabelle Lee, analyse the celebrity stories making waves online on Mondays and Thursdays, while their "Dumb Stuff Fridays" episode presents the perfect dose of silliness to start your weekend.

5. Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

A natural progression for late-night funny man Conan O'Brien, his podcast is upbeat and silly, just as you'd expect. He gets the biggest names in comedy, TV, music and film, with his 2026 guest lineup alone including Billie Eilish, Gillian Anderson, Greta Lee and Mick Jagger, to name just a few. The episodes don't really follow a format, but you'll feel like you've gained a few friends by the time the hour-long episode finishes.

6. Do Go On

If the phrase "fun fact" were a podcast, it would be Do Go On. Hosted by Melbourne comedians Matt Stewart, Jess Perkins and Dave Warneke, every week sees a new episode where they take turns researching an utterly random topic, then come back to (hilariously) educate the other two and the listeners (with a few cheeky tangents throughout). Recent topics include: The Disney Renaissance, Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe and The Ireland Shakespeare Forgery. Talk about range!

7. Phoebe Reads a Mystery

Part audiobook, part podcast, host Phoebe Judge spends a full season reading through a chapter a day of a classic novel. While the series focused on mystery novels in its early years (hence the title), reciting the likes of Agatha Christie's The Mysterious Affair at Styles and Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, in recent years it's expanded to include other beloved books like Pride and Prejudice and The Age of Innocence. There are 30 seasons to binge, so your ears will be sorted for a while.

8. Hamish & Andy

A consistent fixture in the top podcasts of the week, Hamish & Andy are an obvious choice if what you're after is a good giggle. The show is comedy gold from the very beginning, and they even state their topics for the episode in the show notes, which have previously included: James Blunt; "The un-fun workplace sign"; and The Little Mermaid, among an endless list of others. If you're up for a binge, there are more than 340 episodes to plough through.