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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
Relationships
Creativity
Friendship
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes720Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Self-ImprovementHow ToEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Weirdly Helpful

Latest Episodes

Megan Saxelby is an early adolescent parent coach and founder of Wild Feelings.

Jesse Thorn hosts Bullseye and The Turnaround.

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What do you find Weirdly Helpful? Call me at 844-935-2378

⁠THE WEIRDLY HELPFUL MERCH STORE!!!!⁠

⁠Become a WH Patro... more

Rabbi Alana Alpert advocates for bubbe adoption and spiritual engagement in Detroit.

ADOPT A GRANDPARENT!

Elizabeth Newcamp writes at Dutch Dutch Goose and Best Moms Friends Forever.

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⁠Support the show and listen to Weirdly Helpful without ads ... more

Maggie Lyons is a creative producer living in LA. Read her essay The Comfort Playlist of Teenage Faves™️.

Listen to her nostalgia playlist here.

Aaron's advice originally aired back in 2022.

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Support the show and listen to Weirdly Helpful witho... more

Ross Simonini is an interdisciplinary artist and writer. Read his essays Bless The Phone here and Through the Fire here. Check out his essential interviews with so many modern masters at The Believer!

Noa on using our phone less.

Dapne on using our... 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.

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The ADHD Skills LabSkye Waterson
How To! with Mike Pesca
How To! with Mike PescaPeach Fish Projects

Recent Guests

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
Shari Matlock-Colton
Guest describing SPOA concept and experience
Weirdly Helpful episode participant
Episode: Navigating Domestic Administration with Clarity and Kindness
Eric Colton
Guest describing SPOA concept and experience
Weirdly Helpful episode participant
Episode: Navigating Domestic Administration with Clarity and Kindness
Mike Pesca
Host of The Gist and How To! Exclamation
The Gist / How To! Exclamation
Episode: How Understanding Your Brain Chemistry Can Change Your Life
Laura Tersch
Therapist, referenced as a collaborator
Palisades, New York (therapist)
Episode: How Understanding Your Brain Chemistry Can Change Your Life
Terry Rawls
Psychotherapist mentioned as a prior guest
Episode: How Understanding Your Brain Chemistry Can Change Your Life
Cara Ryan
Academic by trade and a theater artist
Independent artist (Emerson College reference)
Episode: How to Make it Work as a Young Artist

Host

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

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 512 ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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 States4 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 States4 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 States5 months ago
  • My reward

    After listening to the morning news podcast I treated myself to this show. My favorites that I use most days are the witchy water maneuvers, writing a letter instead of looking at your phone, touching grass, mind palace for your mind/ 9o’clock rule

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hellocryan
    United States9 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
#13
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#226
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#1
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#49
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#64
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#37
Italy/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The Transcendental Power of Wiggling with Toogie Barcelo
Q: Can you name some of the artists that you work with?
She lists Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McCray, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, Troye Sivan, Harry Styles, M83, Perfume Genius, and St. Vincent as examples of artists she collaborates with.

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. Hidden Brain
2. A Slight Change of Plans
3. The ADHD Skills Lab
4. Life Kit
5. How To! with Mike Pesca

How many episodes of Weirdly Helpful are there?

Weirdly Helpful launched 6 years ago and published 720 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. Maggie Lyons
2. Ross Simonini
3. Lily Kaplan
4. Shari Matlock-Colton
5. Eric Colton
6. Mike Pesca
7. Laura Tersch
8. Terry Rawls

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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