Forking out for a personal trainer isn’t always necessary — podcasts from the right pros can be full of motivation and advice. From running to yoga and strength training, here are the best ones to get you off the couch.
1. Give Me Strength with Alice Liveing
A personal trainer and author, Liveing’s series focuses on fitness myths and training tips. Is Pilates enough to build muscle? Is a fitness tracker worth it? How should you cool down after exercising? Liveing is also big on women’s health, with episodes devoted to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), pelvic health and the menopause.
2. NHS Couch to 5k
It may feel like a throwback to lockdown, but this is a classic for a reason. Choose from a selection of narrators or “coaches” to get you through each run, steadily increasing your distance over nine weeks until you can take 5km at a canter. Coaches who’ll get you to a sprint finish include the comedians Sarah Millican and Sanjeev Kohli and the presenter Jo Whiley. You can repeat episodes if you don’t feel ready to take the next step.
3. Arnold’s Pump Club
Hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, each episode explores a different workout-related topic — such as whether resistance training could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease (studies show it might) and how lifting weights could help you run faster. If anyone knows, the Terminator does.
4. Time to Walk
Not every workout has to be full-strength training. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can boost your cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones and improve your muscular endurance. Listen to Apple’s podcast — available to Fitness+ subscribers — which features a galaxy of stars sharing stories about their lives, designed to accompany a constitutional of about 20 minutes. Guests include the actors Stephen Fry, Jamie Lee Curtis and David Oyelowo, the former world No 1 tennis player Billie Jean King, the supermodel Naomi Campbell — and Prince William. You’ll make it to 10,000 steps without thinking about it.
5. Yogaland with Andrea Ferretti
The former editor of Yoga Journal, Ferretti guides listeners through techniques and poses, often joined by her yoga teacher husband, Jason Crandell. Together the couple have 40 years of experience. Episodes focus on strengthening specific areas of the body, such as the hips or the shoulders, and how to nail seamless transitions between poses.
6. Joe DeFranco’s Industrial Strength Show
DeFranco is a strength and conditioning coach from New Jersey with more than 27 years of experience. He has trained NFL players and Olympic athletes but his client list also includes plenty of regular people who just want to get stronger and fitter. With more than 450 episodes available, he’s covered plenty of subjects you’ll want to delve into. Look out for his exercises to improve mobility and achy joints, advice on how to stay strong in your fifties and how to recover faster after workouts.