5 Ways to Address SEL Goals Using Podcasts

Last Updated on September 4, 2025

Supporting students’ social and emotional well-being is a top priority for educators. An effective way to address SEL goals is by using Listenwise podcasts to spark meaningful discussions and help students build key competencies.

The five core SEL competencies are:

Self-awareness
Self-management
Social awareness
Relationship skills
Responsible decision-making

Listenwise podcasts offer a dynamic way to explore these topics. They can help students reflect on their identities, understand their emotions, and develop empathy.

Below are five ways you can use Listenwise podcast lessons to address SEL competencies in your classroom:

Build Self-Awareness by Reflecting on Identity
Enhance Self-Management by Exploring Emotions
Foster Social Awareness with Current Events
Improve Relationship Skills Through Discussion and Debate
Develop Responsible Decision-Making Skills

Plus, our SEL podcast collections organized by grade level.

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1. Build Self-Awareness by Reflecting on Identity

Self-awareness is the ability to understand your own emotions, thoughts, and values, and how they influence your behavior. Podcasts can help students build this skill by prompting them to reflect on their personal and social identities.

For self-reflection: Listen to “Reconsidering the ‘Hispanic’ Label” to discuss how students identify themselves.
For examining bias: Use “Debate: Do You Think Everyone has a Bias?” to explore unconscious attitudes and stereotypes.
For understanding unique experiences: Gymnast Jordan Chiles on Making Her Mark can lead to discussions about being judged based on appearance.

2. Enhance Self-Management by Exploring Emotions

Self-management involves effectively regulating your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations. Podcasts are a great tool for helping students learn to manage stress, practice self-discipline, and stay motivated.

For emotional regulation: The story “Things That Will Not Change” provides strategies for managing strong emotions.
For stress relief: “’Guts’ and Stress Relief” and “How to Overcome FOMO” offer insights into coping with stress.
For understanding challenges: “Supporting a Friend in Need” offers psychologist-approved practical strategies for nurturing friendships and providing comfort during difficult times.

Social awareness is the ability to take the perspective of others and empathize with people from diverse backgrounds. Using current events podcasts can help students develop compassion and recognize diverse social norms.

For perspective-taking: “Pronouns for All” explores how language affects thoughts and actions.
For empathy: “Diversity in Children’s Literature” highlights the importance of reading about diverse characters to broaden perspectives.
For addressing unjust norms: “Baldo” Comic Strip Features Latino Voices” can spark a conversation about avoiding stereotypes.

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4. Improve Relationship Skills Through Discussion and Debate

Strong relationship skills are essential for communicating effectively and building positive connections with others. Podcasts can be used to facilitate discussions that help students navigate diverse settings and advocate for others.

For demonstrating cultural competency: “Adopted by a White Mom” can be used to discuss the unique perspective of being in an interracial family.
For effective communication: “Setting Boundaries with Friends” offers guidance from a psychologist on how to set boundaries and why they are an important part of maintaining and strengthening friendships.
For standing up for others: The lesson A Positive Response to Bullying allows students to discuss empathy and fairness.

5. Develop Responsible Decision-Making Skills

Responsible decision-making involves making ethical choices and evaluating situations based on a larger sense of ethics and social norms. Podcasts can present real-world scenarios that challenge students to think critically.

For evaluating consequences: “Weird News: The Ketchup Thief” and “Weird News: Teaching Litterbugs a Lesson” provide scenarios about doing something wrong and facing consequences.
For understanding ethics: “Debate: Are AI-Generated Avatars Ethical?” can be used to discuss the role of laws in ensuring privacy.
For analyzing situations: “Debate: Should Kids Be Allowed to Use TikTok?” prompts students to analyze the potential harm the popular social media platform poses to young people’s mental and physical well-being.