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Artwork for Weirdly Helpful

Weirdly Helpful (formerly The Best Advice Show)

Zak Rosen
Self-Improvement
Mindfulness
Mental Health
Parenting
Grief
Death
Personal Growth
Friendship
Relationships
Creativity
Vulnerability
Community
Friendship Breakups
Gratitude
Emotional Health
Communication
Intimacy
Cooking
Travel
Anxiety

Weirdly Helpful (formerly The Best Advice Show) is a short, weekly infusion of delightful, unexpected and strange ways to make life slightly and sometimes profoundly better. In each episode a different contributor offers an odd experiment, a silly ritual, a curious practice that you’ll find weirdly helpful. Stuff like howling when you're despondent, eating oranges in the shower and metaphorically ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes727Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSelf-ImprovementHow To

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Weirdly Helpful

Latest Episodes

Sharon Mashihi is the creator of the serialized audio mindtrip Appearances. Her new project is available on Audible and called 30 Days To Rediscover Your Creativity .

If you like today's episode you might like this one about creative appetizers and ... more

Zak's Weirdly Helpful guru, Laura Hawley, returns to play some surrealist games. She was last on the show talking about inventing play.

A Book of Surrealist Games

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Come to How to Cut the Cheese: A WH Live Show!

What do you find Weirdly Helpful... more

Featured on today's show was...

-Treat Yourself to Better Car Snacks with Ethan Frisch

-Viscerally Remember Your Past Vacations with Tad Davis

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Join me for HOW TO CUT THE CHEESE, a Weirdly Helpful Live Experiment on 7/29 in Berkley, Michigan

more

I want you to be the first to know about WEIRDLY HELPFUL live this summer on 7/29. It's a live show/dinner party and we're calling it...HOW TO CUT THE CHEESE. It's actually a dinner party ABOUT dinner parties and tickets are available HERE.

How to C... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Science of Happiness
The Science of HappinessPRX and Greater Good Science Center
Thanks For Asking
Thanks For AskingFeelings & Co.
Hidden Brain
Hidden BrainHidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Recent Guests

Ethan Frisch
Co-founder of Burla App and Barrel
Burla App / Barrel
Episode: How to Savor Your Summer Trip
Paul Shute
Clinical social worker
Independent clinician
Episode: Two Prospective Parents Wander in the Desert, Debating the Future
Dan Heath
Business book writer and podcast host of What It's Like to Be
What It's Like to Be
Episode: Try This Delightful Dinner Party Maneuver with Dan Heath
Megan Saxelby
Founder of Wild Feelings; early adolescent parent coach
Wild Feelings
Episode: Why Asking Weirder Questions is an Exercise in Accessing Dignity with Megan Saxelby
Rabbi Alana Alpert
Rabbi and guest sharing insights on bubby concept
Rabbi, Detroit
Episode: How To Make Friends and Find Your People
Elizabeth Newcamp
Co-host of Karen Feeding, guest in segment
Karen Feeding
Episode: How To Make Friends and Find Your People
Maggie Lyons
Creative producer, lifelong music lover, and writer of The Comfort Playlist of Teenage Faves
Los Angeles-based artist and writer
Episode: Visit the Most Primal, Teenage Part of Yourself with Maggie Lyons
Ross Simonini
Interdisciplinary artist who writes, paints, and makes music
Independent artist
Episode: Bless the Phone with Ross Simonini
Lily Kaplan
Licensed therapist and writer of the Reality Test newsletter
Self-employed / Reality Test
Episode: Introducing: No Such Thing

Host

Zak Rosen
Host of Weirdly Helpful (formerly The Best Advice Show) with indie production ties.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 518 ratings
  • Very Helpful

    Thank you to Zak for his work, his honesty, his ‘weird' help. Ever appreciated!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    carl the son
    Canada2 months ago
  • Surprisingly Awesome

    I never know what Zack will talk about, but I always know it’s going to be thoughtful and interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Craz4animals
    United States2 months ago
  • My Favorite!

    The “How to Take Control

    of Your News Diet”

    episode alone was worth the Patreon sub for me. Love this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beth315503
    United States6 months ago
  • The advice we need right now!

    Thank you for your using your platform to speak out and remind us that justice and humanity will prevail.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CCKelly1133
    United States6 months ago
  • Intentional and Endearing

    I always appreciate a podcast where you know the creators are intentional about your time. Incredibly edited and purposeful, I love how Zak creates softness and space for the listener to learn. I feel safe knowing that I don’t know everything and looking forward to continually learning weirdly helpful things!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nonprofitwiz
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests bring diverse expertise, keeping content fresh and relatable.
Production quality is consistently high, with a calm, inviting host voice.
The show's mix of science, therapy, and everyday tips feels actionable and supportive.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful, practical, and brief episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#6
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#134
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#3
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#9
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#65
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#188
United Kingdom/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How To Make Friends and Find Your People
Q: Where did this concept of adopting a bubby emerge from?
The rabbi explains she has adopted bubbies who offer diverse conversations and support, highlighting that non-biological mentorship can complement family dynamics and provide affirmation.
Visit the Most Primal, Teenage Part of Yourself with Maggie Lyons
Q: What year did you graduate high school?
Maggie Lyons graduated high school in 2005.
Farting for Relief and Walking for Peace in Our Fragmented World
Q: Will you set the scene for us? What are you looking at right now?
We're passing neighbors on a quiet street with oaks overhead, talking about food and plans as we walk, which frames the scene for a comfortable, ongoing family ritual.
Farting for Relief and Walking for Peace in Our Fragmented World
Q: What are you looking at right now?
We're walking our block on a canopied street in Florida, taking in the evening light and the neighborhood's calm, which sets the mood for an open, relaxed conversation.
Inventing Play & Three Ideas to Curb Self-Mutilation with Laura Hawley
Q: Can I ask you a question?
Laura responds with practical, nonjudgmental guidance about recognizing trance-like urges and exploring gentler, alternative behaviors to manage compulsive skin picking, including the band-aid approach, the balloon lentil gadget, and a firm stop-start cue.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Weirdly Helpful

What is Weirdly Helpful about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Short, practical episodes spotlight quirky, doable practices and rituals that aim to make everyday life better. Guests come from diverse fields—artists, therapists, scientists, educators, and activists—sharing concrete tips, personal experiments, and cultural observations. The conversations blend self-help, creativity, health, and language, often anchored by simple exercises, mindful habits, or creative frameworks that listeners can try at home. Notable strengths include a warm, relaxed host style, a knack for turning abstract ideas into actionable steps, and a willingness to explore offbeat topics—from SPOA-driven domestic projects to wiggling for resilience and slang culture—making it accessible for listeners seeking bite-sized, useful gu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Weirdly Helpful?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Weirdly Helpful:

1. The Science of Happiness
2. Thanks For Asking
3. The One You Feed | Personal Growth, Emotional Resilience & Purpose
4. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Weirdly Helpful are there?

Weirdly Helpful launched 6 years ago and published 727 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Weirdly Helpful?

Recent guests on Weirdly Helpful include:

1. Ethan Frisch
2. Paul Shute
3. Dan Heath
4. Megan Saxelby
5. Rabbi Alana Alpert
6. Elizabeth Newcamp
7. Maggie Lyons
8. Ross Simonini

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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