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5 Podcasts Every Marketer Should Be Listening To in 2026
- Katharina Gruber
- Nov 6, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 3
We’re all looking for ideas that spark creativity, boost business, or just make the morning commute a little smarter. These are the podcasts we actually listen to at Bare Bones Marketing — no jargon, no “guru talk,” just great stories, strategies, and the occasional laugh.
Whether you’re a business owner, marketing manager, or creative thinker — these picks will keep your brain buzzing (and might even make you look forward to your next drive).
The Mel Robbins Podcast
If you ever need a nudge to get out of your own way — this is it. Mel mixes science, stories, and solid mindset advice for both business and life.
Why we love it: She’s relatable, no-nonsense, and always leaves you with one practical takeaway you can apply today.
Marketing Against the Grain (HubSpot)
Hosted by Kipp Bodnar and Kieran Flanagan, this one’s for anyone who loves fresh marketing ideas and bold opinions. They dig into growth trends, social shifts, and what’s next in content, tech, and business strategy.
Why we love it: It’s conversational, current, and packed with experiments that real teams are running right now.
🔗 Spotify | Apple Podcasts
The Diary of a CEO (Steven Bartlett)
Don’t let the title fool you — this isn’t a “how to be a CEO” show. It’s about the human side of ambition. Steven Bartlett interviews founders, leaders, and creatives on success, failure, and the stuff in between.
Why we love it: It’s deeply honest and surprisingly emotional. You’ll pick up lessons about leadership, resilience, and brand storytelling without feeling like you’re in a business seminar.
🔗 Spotify | Apple Podcasts
Hidden Brain
If you geek out over the “why” behind human behavior — this one’s gold. Hosted by Shankar Vedantam, Hidden Brain explores psychology, decision-making, and the invisible forces that drive our choices (including what makes people say “yes” in marketing).
Why we love it: It’s like a secret backdoor into understanding your audience better — without ever opening a textbook.
SmartLess
Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett might not talk about marketing — but they do talk about everything else. Think of it as creative fuel for when you need a brain break.
Why we love it: It’s authentic, hilarious, and weirdly inspiring. Sometimes, the best marketing ideas come when you stop thinking about marketing.
Bonus Tip for our marketing podcast listening session
If you discover something great in an episode, jot it down or share it with your team — it keeps your creative engine running.
Marketing works better when your brain’s in discovery mode. So whether you’re driving to a client meeting, editing a campaign, or walking the dog — plug in, tune in, and let the ideas flow.
👉 Need help turning those ideas into action? Let’s chat. Book a Discovery Call
I liked how the article didn’t just list typical marketing shows but included a mix of perspectives. The mention of Marketing Against the Grain with Kipp Bodnar and Kieran Flanagan discussing real experiments teams are running right now stood out to me because those kinds of practical insights are often more useful than theory. I also thought it was interesting that Hidden Brain was included, since understanding human behavior can quietly shape a lot of marketing decisions. Reading this made me think about how ideas from psychology or even something unrelated like when I’m researching topics for Assignment Help or other writing can unexpectedly spark marketing ideas. Curious if others discover their best ideas from podcasts outside the marketing niche too.