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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes730Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToEducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for Weirdly Helpful

Latest Episodes

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

Ann Larson is the author of Cleanup on Aisle Five: Essential Work, Poverty Wages, and the View from Behind the Supermarket Register.

Her writing on education, debt, and low-wage work has appeared in The New Republic, The Chronicle of Higher Educatio... more

Steven D. Cohen is an award-winning professor, author, and coach who empowers you and your team to communicate with influence, inspire your audience, and achieve your leadership potential.

Express yourself better with Toastmasters

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What do you ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
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

Host

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

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 520 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 States3 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 States7 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
#9
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#230
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#1
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#127
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#155
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#38
Australia/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Why Do We Say "Um" So Much? with Dr. ⁠Steven D. Cohen⁠
Q: Can you teach us how to use them less?
Focus on the beginning, complex parts, and ending of speeches; practice intentional pausing, and consider structural cues like outlines with pause marks to prevent slipping into filler words.
Give All Your Attention To Whatever Is Annoying You with Sharon Mashihi
Q: What is somaticizing fear and how does it help your work?
Somaticizing fear involves feeling the fear in the body, letting it occupy attention fully, and then continuing with the work, often leading to rapid progress or new creative breakthroughs.
Give All Your Attention To Whatever Is Annoying You with Sharon Mashihi
Q: How do you approach a block when you're trying to start a creative piece?
She describes a practice of embracing the underlying fear or preoccupation by focusing on the body sensations and allowing the fear to surface, which can then be channeled into the work or transformed into a new perspective.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

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. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
2. Am I Doing It Wrong?
3. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
4. A Slight Change of Plans
5. We Can Do Hard Things

How many episodes of Weirdly Helpful are there?

Weirdly Helpful launched 6 years ago and published 730 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. Ann Larson
2. Steven D. Cohen
3. Sharon Mashihi
4. Ethan Frisch
5. Paul Shute
6. Dan Heath
7. Megan Saxelby
8. Rabbi Alana Alpert

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