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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
Creativity
Friendship
Relationships
Vulnerability
Community
Travel
Friendship Breakups
Gratitude
Emotional Health
Communication
Intimacy
Cooking
Feedback

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes732Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToEducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for Weirdly Helpful

Latest Episodes

Rebecca Garza-Bortman is a designer, musician, writer, & mother living in Berkeley. This episode features WH listeners Julia, Lauren, Erica, Meredith, another Lauren, Katie and Mike.

I never want to stop hearing your shenanigans. Call the Weird Help... more

Evangeline Garreau is a queer ADHD gemini and a creative project coach who accompanies artists of all kinds on their creative journeys, helping them get unstuck and put in the work to bring their visions into reality. Check out her newslettter, Belly... more

Mallary Tenore Tarpley is the award-winning author of SLIP and an assistant professor of practice at the University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication and the McCombs School of Business, where she teaches journalism and writing. This... more

Annie Sim is the CEO (Chief Eating Officer) of The Table Less Traveled

Evan Stern is the host of Vanishing Postcards

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Help Zak continue making this show by becoming a Best Advice Show Patron @ www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful

Call Zak on... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rebecca Garza-Bortman
Designer, musician, writer and mother living in Berkeley
Self-employed (Berkeley, CA)
Episode: The Art of Shenanigans with Rebecca Garza-Bortman and a Legion of Weird Helpers
Mallary Tenore Tarpley
Journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: The World Is a Laboratory of Story Ideas with Mallary Tenore Tarpley
Ann Larson
Author of Clean Up on Isle 5; former supermarket employee
Debt Collective (co-founded)
Episode: A Weirdly Helpful View From Behind the Supermarket Register
Steven D. Cohen
Professor of business communication at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Why Do We Say "Um" So Much? with Dr. ⁠Steven D. Cohen⁠
Sharon Mashihi
Artist, writer, and creator of the Audible series 30 Days To Rediscover Your Creativity; host of MindTrip Appearances.
Audible / MindTrip Appearances
Episode: Give All Your Attention To Whatever Is Annoying You with Sharon Mashihi
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

Host

Zach and Zak
Primary hosts driving the interview-led, practical-creativity format; Zak often anchors conversations and guides structure, while Zach handles hosting with warmth and curiosity.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 527 ratings
  • Weirdly helpful indeed

    I like it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RaLiang.
    Canada14 days ago
  • So good

    One of my favorite shows. Bite sized, full of great tips, fun and easy to listen to. Plus, Zach’s voice is so oddly calming.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hotteddog
    United States25 days ago
  • We all need this podcast

    This show offers very authentic reflections on life, relationships, and navigating the toughest issues. I love that Zak is willing to be vulnerable and explores topics from farting to death to whether to become a parent.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Carly colem
    United States2 months ago
  • Very Helpful

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    carl the son
    Canada3 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 States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and topics are consistently varied and engaging, with deep dives into everyday life.
Listeners praise the show for practical, bite-sized advice and a calming, thoughtful delivery.
Show is appreciated for its brevity, warmth, and actionable ideas that feel attainable.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#6
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#152
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#3
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#48
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#114
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#31
France/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Art of Shenanigans with Rebecca Garza-Bortman and a Legion of Weird Helpers
Q: Is there anything else you want to tell our listeners?
Rebecca emphasizes the importance of keeping calm and embracing Shenanigans as a regular practice, inviting listeners to share their own experiences.
The Art of Shenanigans with Rebecca Garza-Bortman and a Legion of Weird Helpers
Q: Shenanigans have been a part of your life for how long?
Rebecca explains that Shenanigans have been part of her life since childhood, connected to family culture and later to professional life where she brings play into serious contexts.
The Art of Shenanigans with Rebecca Garza-Bortman and a Legion of Weird Helpers
Q: Before we get into this, to the best of your ability, articulate what a Shenanigan is.
Rebecca describes Shenanigans as chaos consumed with humor, a way to bring play into life that can be for oneself or for others, not necessarily for an audience.
A Weirdly Helpful Travel Guide
Q: What is the essential question to ask locals to find off the beaten path travel options?
Ask where they last went to eat to uncover hidden, local spots rather than relying on concierge or guidebook recommendations.
A Weirdly Helpful View From Behind the Supermarket Register
Q: What else can you tell us about the realities of working at the register late at night?
Late-night shoppers are extremely stressful for workers; the combination of fatigue, long hours, and the pressure of keeping lines moving creates a tough, physically draining environment that's often overlooked by customers.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Weirdly Helpful

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

The show offers bite-sized, practical experiments and rituals aimed at making daily life more curious, resilient, and human. Episodes mix intimate conversations with guests across design, journalism, cooking, education, and creative practice, often highlighting playful routines, storytelling craft, mindfulness, and community-minded approaches. Listeners routinely encounter guidance on how to observe, connect, and improvise in everyday settings, with promotional segments woven in but never dominant. A standout trait is the emphasis on accessible, low-friction wisdom—tiny shifts, big mood benefits, and a warm, encouraging host voice that invites experimentation without judgment.

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How many listeners does Weirdly Helpful get?

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What are the audience demographics for Weirdly Helpful?

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How many subscribers and views does Weirdly Helpful have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Weirdly Helpful has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Weirdly Helpful?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Weirdly Helpful:

1. How to Be a Better Human
2. A Slight Change of Plans
3. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
4. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
5. We Can Do Hard Things

How many episodes of Weirdly Helpful are there?

Weirdly Helpful launched 6 years ago and published 732 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Weirdly Helpful?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Weirdly Helpful?

Recent guests on Weirdly Helpful include:

1. Rebecca Garza-Bortman
2. Mallary Tenore Tarpley
3. Ann Larson
4. Steven D. Cohen
5. Sharon Mashihi
6. Ethan Frisch
7. Paul Shute
8. Dan Heath

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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