It’s a new year and the pressure is on to embrace the “new year, new me” mentality.

You might be focused on making one big change in the coming months or maybe you’re moving away from performance-based goals altogether. Deciding to take things a bit slower and make one or two simple tweaks to your current routine can also help boost your health and wellness.

No matter your approach, it’s always helpful to have reliable information and advice to help keep you inspired, especially during the cold winter months. Longer, brighter days ARE coming, we just need to hang on a little longer.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of seven podcasts to add to your audio rotation, covering women’s health, nutrition, wellness trends, brain health and healthy aging.

Remember: A podcast does not replace having a conversation with your family doctor or other primary healthcare provider about your medical situation. Be sure to check in with them before making a big change or starting something new with your health. They know you best and can help steer you in the right direction.

The Fifth Wave
With most medical research focusing on men, women are left out and as a result have fewer and less effective treatments. The Fifth Wave is about confronting the gender-data gap and boosting awareness and understanding of women’s healthcare issues that are often overlooked, such as menopause and perimenopause. Physicians and other healthcare providers, including local experts from the IWK Health Centre, provide reliable advice and strategies to help empower women to seek the best care possible.

Hidden Brain
Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam, Hidden Brain aims to help you understand your own mind and the minds of the people around you. In a new series that launched in January, learn tools and strategies that can help you tackle the mental obstacles that trap you in negative thought spirals, so you can chart a new path forward.

Thrive Beyond Size
In Thrive Beyond Size, Alberta-based physician Dr. Michelle Tubman breaks from diet culture to highlight the latest research and evidence-based strategies for nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management and emotional well-being. She encourages people to prioritize their health, not the number on the scale. A recent episode covers winter exhaustion, explaining what is going on and offering practical ways to help your body rest and reset.

The Dose
Can the shingles vaccine slow dementia? What’s the best way to prevent burnout? What does the research say about taking creatine? This weekly CBC podcast delivers evidence-based advice on a range of timely health topics, presenting the information in a zippy, easy-to-understand format.

Defy Dementia
The podcast for “anyone with a brain,” Defy Dementia offers tips and advice on how to cut your risk of dementia and safeguard brain health as you age. In a recent episode, learn about the science of giving back and how volunteering not only helps others and reduces loneliness, but can also reduce your dementia risk.

Nutrition Conversations
Created by the Canadian Nutrition Society, Nutrition Conversations shares the latest research on health and nutrition, and the role food plays in our lives. Guest experts from across Canada discuss a range of topics, including dietary patterns, sports nutrition and food sustainability. In a recent episode, Dr. Scott Harding explores what drives us to consume sugary drinks and what we can do to cut back on them.

Senior Fitness with Meredith
Host Meredith Chen covers a range of topics on fitness, mental health and overall well-being to help older people stay fit, healthy and on-the-go. Recent podcasts cover how to accept body limitations as you age, how to stick to healthy routines during the holidays, and tips on being active and healthy in retirement.

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