These days, it’s hard to get motivated enough for anything. The economy is down, your savings–if you had any to start with–have probably dwindled, and it’s still easy to get depressed about the housing market, the environment, foreign policy, and even the possibility of sending your kids to college. But that’s exactly why we need inspiration and mood boosters at any cost. Luckily for you, these are free.

Environment

Get inspired to help the environment and tune in to your own lifestyle habits.

1. NPR: Environment Podcast: Get reports on environmental news from Morning Edition, All Things Considered and more.
2. The Environment Show: Learn about environmental issues like emissions trading and climate change from this collection of Australian environmental talks.
3. Nature’s Voice: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds delivers these talks about the Sumatran rainforest, bird migration, birds of prey, and more.
4. Nature Stories: Listen to talks about the environment and nature. This collection is sponsored by The Nature Conservancy and the Public Radio Exchange.
5. the H2O podcast: Learn about vegan-vegetarian options for creating a sustainable environment here.
6. Earth and Sky Radio Show: Learn about all areas of sustainability and science, particularly Earth and environmental science, here.
7. Sustainable Living Program, Environment 185: This UCLA lecture series is all about sustainable living.
8. Animal activist Joanna Lumley on giraffe conservation project: This talk from BBC Wildife explains the giraffe conservation effort.
9. Global Climate Change: This Carnegie Mellon panel aims to come up with solutions for global climate change.
10. How to Compost: Learn Organic Garden Composting Online: Learn the basics of DIY composting here.

Health

Get tips for finding affordable health care and taking care of your health after listening to these talks.

11. Kinsey Confidential: Listen to professionals answer sex-related health questions.
12. MD Anderson: Listen to talks and lectures from the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
13. The World’s Global Health Podcast: This archive of global health talks focuses on public health.
14. Autism and Asperger Syndrome: Learn more about these conditions from an academic, scientific point of view.
15. On Health: Tune in to this NPR podcast for the latest consumer medical news.
16. Health and Wellness Among Older Adults: Challenges and Strategies: Get tips for healthy living as you age.
17. Sleep and Dreams: Better understand your brain’s ability and tendency to dream.
18. Strength and Conditioning: This series of talks shares tips for better running workouts and conditioning practices.
19. Live Yoga Class with Alanna Kaivalya: Listen to this 90-minute class to learn yoga poses like the wheel pose.
20. Cleveland Clinic Podcasts: Get podcasts and talks from doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, on healthy eating, ADHD, Parkinsons, and more.

Arts and Culture

Become a more educated individual by learning about art, classical music and design.

21. KCRW’s Design and Architecture: Understand how design and architecture "shape our world," not just our spaces.
22. How to play piano: The basics, Piano Lesson #1: This talk will help you learn the basics of piano.
23. Classical 90.5 Theme and Variations Podcast: Learn about classical music and classical musicians on this podcast.
24. Painting Lessons: Learn how to paint after watching these talks.
25. Western Movies: Myth, Ideology and Genre: Consider western movies on a deeper level by studying films like The Wild Bunch and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
26. In Character: This podcast explores fictional characters in American literature and pop culture.
27. Art 020: Introduction to Drawing: Practice drawing basics here.
28. Introduction to Theatre and Drama Arts: Talks in this series cover musical theatre, structure, the audience, and more.
29. Art and Love in Renaissance Italy: Consider the imagery of love in Italian Renaissance art.
30. Screenwriting and Script Breakdown: Get tips on screenwriting here.

Business and Vocation

These talks are filled with practical tips as well as support and advice for succeeding in school or work.

31. Secrets of the Job Hunt: Get support and encouragement, plus practical networking tips, here.
32. Business Story of the Day: Get inspired and become informed by listening to the top business story of the day.
33. 3D Modeling and Animation: Learn techniques for web animation and 3D modeling here.
34. CareerStrides Podcast: Archives from this podcast include "Job Interview Lessons" and "What is your greatest weakness."
35. How to Deal with a Difficult Boss: Find realistic advice for building a healthy professional relationship with your boss.
36. Entrepreneurs-Journey: Listen to inspiring talks about entrepreneurship and successful small businesses.
37. Career Development: Listen to these talks to learn about careers in law and philanthropy. You’ll also find tips for negotiation.
38. Principal Leadership: Resources from the Center: Get coached on basic leadership skills when you listen to this series.
39. Writing: Whether you aim to be a professional writer or better communicator, listen to these talks for tips.
40. Graphic Design: Learn the basics of Dreamweaver and PHP here.
41. Confronting the Insurmountable Opportunities of Online Education: After listening to this lecture series, you may be swayed to go back to school.
42. The Challenges and Opportunities Facing Business and Society Today: Get ahead of the competition by understanding the elements that affect your business, but on a grander scale.
43. Green Rush: Eco-Business: Learn how eco-businesses are blossoming these days.
44. Business Talks: Lou Dobbs, Jack and Suzy Welch, Edgar Bronfman, and Bruce Wasserstein explain how they became so successful.
45. Insuring the Future in a Changing World: Learn about sustainability efforts for the future.
46. Lessons Learned as an Entrepreneur: Get advice from someone who’s already been there.
47. Entrepreneurs and Business Development: Get real-life tips on how to expand your own business.
48. Ethics and Corporate Responsibility: Really consider the importance of ethical standards in the business world.
49. Modern Grad Guide to Interviews: Find out what to wear to an interview.
50. Career Planning: Listen to these talks to find out what it’s like to work in advertising, product design, and the technology industry.

Relationships and Society

Nurture healthier relationships with your family, friends, co-workers, and community after getting inspired by these talks.

51. Spirituality of Parenting: Better understand your role as a parent.
52. Ripples of Genocide: Journey Through Eastern Congo: Angelina Jolie and John Pendergast of the International Crisis Group narrate this series about genocide in Eastern Congo.
53. Social Exchange: Romantic Economics: This MIT lecture may help you understand the basics of romantic relationships.
54. Conflict Resolution: These talks will help you become a better manager and communicator.
55. Slice of Life: Listen to personal essays from everyday people.
56. Community and Culture: Understand how different people react to events, both as individuals and as a community.
57. Ethnic Relations in the U.S.: Consider minority history, race relations, and more in U.S. culture.
58. Muslim Voices: Get a feel for the different cultures and viewpoints of the Muslim world.
59. It’s REAL! Racism, Discrimination, Color Blindness, and the Future of Racial Stratification in America: Tackle the issue of racism head-on after listening to this talk.
60. Latin Pulse/Pulso Latino: Consider political, social and economic issues in Latin America and the Latino American communities.
61. Roots of Humanity and Civilization: Understand the factors that determine new cultures and communities.
62. New America Now Radio: This collection of talks features minority Americans discussing current issues and events.
63. The World is Flat 3.0: This lecturer argues that the world is starting to flatten, due to "digital interconnectivity."
64. Civil Rights and Liberties: Here you will learn about the advent of the civil rights movements in American history, and why civil liberties protection is important today.
65. The Changing World: These four talks focus on completely different topics: Latin America, Zambia, Second Life, and tax havens, but they all explore society’s evolving nature.

Finance and Wealth

Learn how to be more responsible and efficient with your money.

66. Real Life Real Estate Investing: Get tips for investing and managing real estate.
67. Financial Management: These talks explain the basics of financial management.
68. Retirement and Investing: Feel better about how you’ll spend your life savings by listening to these tracks.
69. Homeowning: Learn homeowning terms and find out what owning a home can do for your financial status.
70. Bankrupt: Maxed Out in America: This series considers bankruptcy from a practical financial standpoint and from a social aspect.
71. Understanding the Financial Crisis: Try to consider the financial crisis from a legal viewpoint.

Personal Development

From learning how to study better to learning about real estate law, these lectures and talks can help you learn new, valuable life skills.

72. Who Are You? The Psychology of the Self: This lecture comes from MIT’s Introduction to Psychology curriculum.
73. Dynamics of Leadership: Find out how you can become a more effective leader.
74. Family Literacy Initiative: Here you will learn how to help children with learning disabilities, reading trouble and math trouble.
75. Study Smarter: Here you will get tips on better essay writing, note taking and more.
76. Detox Your Domicile: Get inspired to turn your house into a more environmentally safe and healthy home.
77. Learning to Change: Get inspired to make a life changing decision, like going back to school or starting your own business.
78. MindSpaces: Learn how to free your mind of anxious thoughts in order to be more productive.
79. True to Yourself: Leading a Life of Service and Fulfillment: Find out how to live a more meaningful life.
80. Living in a Global World: Get ideas for adapting your lifestyle–professionally and as a consumer–to the global shift.
81. Focus on Flowers: Focus on Flowers features lessons on gardening.
82. From the Bookshelf: Become more educated on books, culture and current events when you listen to these talks.
83. Drinking Matters: This series actually studies the effect of public houses and public congregation on mass communication and community.
84. Famous Americans: Besides getting a lesson in American history, you’ll also learn about the country’s earliest success stories.
85. Property Law: Study the basics of property law to protect yourself when signing contracts and standing up for your rights.
86. Social Activism: Learn about privacy and more.
87. Exploring Psychology: Become more insightful after listening to these talks on creative thinking, imagination, and influence.
88. Current Events: Brush up on the stories that determine future policies in 2009.

Religion and Spirituality

Find hope and spiritual fulfillment by exploring religion and philosophy while listening to these talks.

89. Religion and Family: This series tackles issues like divorce and adolescence, which can affect the way family members react to one another and accept religion.
90. Learning/Faith in English Studies: Consider English literature and poetry as a vehicle for exploring faith.
91. God and Caesar in America: Analyze how politics and religion intersect in the U.S.
92. Christian Doctrine: Find out what principles make up Christian doctrine.
93. Introduction to Philosophy: This lecture series considers consciousness, reality, the organization of human communities, and more.
94. The Church and the World: Here you’ll learn about secularization and other social and political issues regarding Christianity.
95. Intro to Theology: Study Christian theology, including church history, here.
96. Islam: Get an introduction to Islam: the religion and culture.
97. Living Buddhism: This series analyzes Buddhism in the Western world, and how it is applied to public life.
98. Gay Marriage and Divided Church: Listen to these talks to better understand the issues that the Christian church takes with homosexuality and gay marriage.
99. Diplomacy and Religion in the 21st Century: Here you’ll learn about religious extremism, the efforts of traditional diplomacy, and the Muslim world.
100. When Law and Religion Meet: Consider your own views and values when you listen to these talks on the death penalty and other issues.

Did you enjoy this article?