Same you, fresh energy: why podcasts are where the new year reset happens
Every January, people look for a fresh start. Increasingly, they press play to find it.
In our recent audience survey, 77.4% of respondents said they had listened to podcasts in the past year to help them set or reach a personal goal. 68.8% said they had picked up a new habit, product, style or interest because of a podcast. For many listeners, podcasts are where resolutions start, not just something playing in the background.
When we asked people to rank sources of inspiration and guidance for self-improvement, podcasts came second. Only YouTube scored higher (the most-used platform for podcasts, btw), and podcasts beat books, apps, social media and TV.
Podcasts also fit a mix of needs. Looking ahead to the new year, listeners told us they'll tune in to:
- Learn (31.3%)
- Stay motivated (20.6%)
- Get advice (17%)
- Feel calmer (14.8%)
- Feel less alone (12%)
We've organised the findings around three themes that map to how people approach a reset.
New Year, Same Girlie: fresh energy, better habits, and things we're leaving behind
A new year doesn't have to mean a new you. It can mean more of the real you, with less of what's holding you back. When we asked what people plan to leave behind in the new year, the top answers were:
- Doomscrolling (53.8%)
- People-pleasing (47.8%)
- Comparisons (45.3%)
- Overspending (40%)
- Toxic relationships (25%)
- Too much screen time (21.3%)
Most people have something to let go of, and they're often swapping a feed for something more intentional.
Podcasts help with that swap. One listener told us they used advice from a podcast to change habits around their ADHD, "like making sure I put stuff in my calendar."
Habit-building is also a mostly personal pursuit. 60.3% prefer to start new habits alone, and 39.8% prefer a community. A podcast sits in the middle, because you listen on your own but you're part of a shared conversation. That's a lot of influence for a medium that fits in your headphones.
Asking For Me: big questions, fresh perspectives, and self-discovery
Some questions are easier to explore privately, and podcasts are a place to do it.
When we asked which topics people had explored through podcasts, relationships led at 47.5%. Close behind were:
- Anxiety, sleep and meditation (each 38.5%)
- Parenting (38.3%)
- Career burnout (37%)
- Identity (35.8%)
- Grief (33%)
- Death (30%)
85.3% said podcasts make them feel less alone with a problem. 39.8% said "a lot less alone" and 45.5% said "a little less alone." When asked what feels more supportive for their mental or emotional well-being, 66.8% chose listening to a podcast over scrolling social media (33.3%).
The qualitative responses show how that works in practice. Many were about communication and relationships:
"I once listened to a podcast about healthy communication. It taught me to listen before reacting. Since then, I've become more patient, avoided unnecessary arguments, and learned to understand others better."
"I was having an issue with my husband not hearing me. The advice was to slow down and get his attention first and make eye contact. I tried it, and it worked!"
"I changed the way I approached the relationship with my daughter. I decided to be more patient and listen to her more after hearing advice on a parenting podcast."
Others used podcasts to work through harder moments:
"I was trying to make a decision as to what to do with dealing with loss. And I listened to a podcast dealing with grief and it helped me."
"I've definitely rethought how I argued after listening to some of Esther Perel's podcast."
These listeners aren't just consuming content. They changed how they talk to the people they love.
The Future Forecast: money moves and what's next
Financial goals are among the most personal resolutions people make, and listeners are bringing them to podcasts too.
Asked about their biggest financial goal for the new year, respondents said:
- Invest (27.5%)
- Save (22.8%)
- Pay off debt (19.5%)
- Build a side income (18%)
- Buy a home (10.8%)
Respondents also described podcasts shaping real financial decisions:
"I went and decided to approach my debt differently based on financial podcast advice."
"I remember investing differently after hearing on a podcast how important different strategies were to sustaining your wealth in your older years."
"I decided to hold off on purchasing stock after listening to a TedTalks podcast."
Podcasts can also shape everyday money decisions. One listener said they've "changed decisions on vacations based on podcast recommendations and reviews."
The takeaway: the reset medium
The new year reset isn't only about goals, it's about support. The survey suggests podcasts deliver both:
- Podcasts are a trusted guide: 77.4% use them for goals, and they rank second for self-improvement.
- Podcasts make people feel less alone: 85.3% feel at least a little less alone with a problem.
- Podcast listening leads to action: 68.8% picked up something new because of a podcast.
- Podcasts beat the scroll: two-thirds find podcasts more supportive than social media for their well-being.
One respondent said they changed their mind on a major family health decision after hearing a podcast. Another said a conversation with their partner worked because of one tip.
If you're planning your reset, start with what you want to feel in the new year, then find the show that gets you there.
Methodology: 400 weekly podcast listeners in the USA, October 2026 via OnePulse
Every January, people look for a fresh start. Increasingly, they press play to find it.
In our recent audience survey, 77.4% of respondents said they had listened to podcasts in the past year to help them set or reach a personal goal. 68.8% said they had picked up a new habit, product, style or interest because of a podcast. For many listeners, podcasts are where resolutions start, not just something playing in the background.
When we asked people to rank sources of inspiration and guidance for self-improvement, podcasts came second. Only YouTube scored higher (the most-used platform for podcasts, btw), and podcasts beat books, apps, social media and TV.
Podcasts also fit a mix of needs. Looking ahead to the new year, listeners told us they'll tune in to:
- Learn (31.3%)
- Stay motivated (20.6%)
- Get advice (17%)
- Feel calmer (14.8%)
- Feel less alone (12%)
We've organised the findings around three themes that map to how people approach a reset.
New Year, Same Girlie: fresh energy, better habits, and things we're leaving behind
A new year doesn't have to mean a new you. It can mean more of the real you, with less of what's holding you back. When we asked what people plan to leave behind in the new year, the top answers were:
- Doomscrolling (53.8%)
- People-pleasing (47.8%)
- Comparisons (45.3%)
- Overspending (40%)
- Toxic relationships (25%)
- Too much screen time (21.3%)
Most people have something to let go of, and they're often swapping a feed for something more intentional.
Podcasts help with that swap. One listener told us they used advice from a podcast to change habits around their ADHD, "like making sure I put stuff in my calendar."
Habit-building is also a mostly personal pursuit. 60.3% prefer to start new habits alone, and 39.8% prefer a community. A podcast sits in the middle, because you listen on your own but you're part of a shared conversation. That's a lot of influence for a medium that fits in your headphones.
Asking For Me: big questions, fresh perspectives, and self-discovery
Some questions are easier to explore privately, and podcasts are a place to do it.
When we asked which topics people had explored through podcasts, relationships led at 47.5%. Close behind were:
- Anxiety, sleep and meditation (each 38.5%)
- Parenting (38.3%)
- Career burnout (37%)
- Identity (35.8%)
- Grief (33%)
- Death (30%)
85.3% said podcasts make them feel less alone with a problem. 39.8% said "a lot less alone" and 45.5% said "a little less alone." When asked what feels more supportive for their mental or emotional well-being, 66.8% chose listening to a podcast over scrolling social media (33.3%).
The qualitative responses show how that works in practice. Many were about communication and relationships:
"I once listened to a podcast about healthy communication. It taught me to listen before reacting. Since then, I've become more patient, avoided unnecessary arguments, and learned to understand others better."
"I was having an issue with my husband not hearing me. The advice was to slow down and get his attention first and make eye contact. I tried it, and it worked!"
"I changed the way I approached the relationship with my daughter. I decided to be more patient and listen to her more after hearing advice on a parenting podcast."
Others used podcasts to work through harder moments:
"I was trying to make a decision as to what to do with dealing with loss. And I listened to a podcast dealing with grief and it helped me."
"I've definitely rethought how I argued after listening to some of Esther Perel's podcast."
These listeners aren't just consuming content. They changed how they talk to the people they love.
The Future Forecast: money moves and what's next
Financial goals are among the most personal resolutions people make, and listeners are bringing them to podcasts too.
Asked about their biggest financial goal for the new year, respondents said:
- Invest (27.5%)
- Save (22.8%)
- Pay off debt (19.5%)
- Build a side income (18%)
- Buy a home (10.8%)
Respondents also described podcasts shaping real financial decisions:
"I went and decided to approach my debt differently based on financial podcast advice."
"I remember investing differently after hearing on a podcast how important different strategies were to sustaining your wealth in your older years."
"I decided to hold off on purchasing stock after listening to a TedTalks podcast."
Podcasts can also shape everyday money decisions. One listener said they've "changed decisions on vacations based on podcast recommendations and reviews."
The takeaway: the reset medium
The new year reset isn't only about goals, it's about support. The survey suggests podcasts deliver both:
- Podcasts are a trusted guide: 77.4% use them for goals, and they rank second for self-improvement.
- Podcasts make people feel less alone: 85.3% feel at least a little less alone with a problem.
- Podcast listening leads to action: 68.8% picked up something new because of a podcast.
- Podcasts beat the scroll: two-thirds find podcasts more supportive than social media for their well-being.
One respondent said they changed their mind on a major family health decision after hearing a podcast. Another said a conversation with their partner worked because of one tip.
If you're planning your reset, start with what you want to feel in the new year, then find the show that gets you there.
Methodology: 400 weekly podcast listeners in the USA, October 2026 via OnePulse
