Books Applied Podcast

Naming your emotions (being aware of how you feel) is integral to emotional intelligence. The feelings wheel is a tool I often share with folks to help jump-start their creativity and awareness when putting words to feelings. In Atlas of the Heart, Brene Brown does us one better by explaining what those words for feelings actually mean and why naming them is useful. In this episode, I talk with Jo Linden about this beautiful book and how naming emotions frees us to be more actualized people.

DEI Director Charley Downing and Iggy discuss the book Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. We explore the metaphors and reality of caste Wilkerson researched in the US and beyond. We also focus on applying what caste means in a practical sense as a foundation for our work, for Charley as someone tasked with addressing racial equity in the workplace, and for Iggy as a perspective on organizational policy that supports institutional toxicity.

We explore the surprising and weird world of breathing in this conversation about the book Breath by James Nestor. Lenka Koppova and I discuss improving our lives by paying more attention to how we breathe.

In Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert tells us how to live the life of a creative. Special guest Franklin Taggart and I get into what we like from her advice - which was mostly useful but not completely. We (I) also go off on a minor tangent about how I did not like Eat, Pray, Love - strongly did not like. Listen to find out why.

Winners are better at quitting. Their ability to know when to quit gives them the space and energy to win (instead of wasting their efforts on a losing endeavor). The book Quit by Annie Duke explains this counterintuitive phenomenon and tells us how to get ahead by being better at quitting.

In this episode, I discuss the book with Natalie King. We talk about the practical applications of this work and how quitting can lead to more useful outcomes.

There's more to our brain than we think. In this episode Roberta Ravella and I discuss the book Boddha's Brain and the overlap between Buddhist thinking and modern neruroscience. You can shape how your brain functions - this book will tell you how and this podcast is all about it!

Learn about ecstasis and why it is unique, unusual and also something you can create (in many ways!) in your life.

This is a book about finding flow in all aspects of your life (sports and work and beyond). It's not about tennis -- well it's a little bit about tennis but mainly as an example for how to achieve flow. (Going after flow with intense serious focus and scripting your actions doesn't work, by the way.)

When you can communicate numbers well, you can shock and amaze people. This book (and conversation) tells you how.

Who know taking on a new leadership role could elicit so many laughs? Special guest Sabrina Walker Hernandez also brings up some great points about when you should revisit the ideas in this book - such as during a big transition.

In Daring Greatly, Brene Brown writes about what it means to have courage in the modern world. My special guest Janine Bolon and I discuss this book and, in the most practical sense, how to be a courageous person. 

Your brain doesn't have different parts that fight with itself. It sculpts the world you perceive. Its job is to regulate your body efficiently. Learn more fascinating truths (and bust some myths) about your brain in this nerdtastic conversation with Audrey Holst covering the book 7 1/2 Lessons about the Brain by the neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett.

My friend Fabienne Raphael and I discuss the memoir Will by Will Smith. We read the book before the 2022 Academy Awards, and although we don't talk about the Oscars specifically, we do talk specifics about WIll Smith's life and the lessons it has for us.

You can learn more about Fabienne's work at http://fabienneraphael.com/

How do you know if you have an introvert on your hands? What are the strengths of introverts and why do we stampede over them at times?

Thinking Fast and Slow has had a huge impact on how I work with people and make decisions. In this episode, I speak with trainer and facilitator Mark Suroviec about highlights from the book and how it influences his work. 

We both had so much excitement when reading we blabbered all about it to anyone who would listen. Luckily, we found each other to talk about it.

Learn more about Mark and his work (he also has a fun and insightful podcast!) at: workplaysolutions.com.

We discuss when it is better to wait and delay making a decision or taking action (spoiler alert: pretty much all the time - but the reason why is intriguing). Some related tangents include fighter pilots, OODA loops, experiential education, wilderness medicine and more. Join us for a lively conversation littered with pearls of wisdom from the book.

We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rogers is by turns inspiring and grounded. Special guest Tierra Bonds works in the field of personal and business credit and we have a thoughtful and uplifting conversation about how we think, feel and act regarding money. We should all be millionaires and this book (and hopefully this conversation about the book) will help you take tangible steps to make that a reality.

I talk with Julia Williamson of Unburdened Life about the book Secondhand by Adam Minter. Julia is here to help you discard the crap you hate and this book talks about how that works. We have a great time talking about the very personal mysteries of letting things go and the global realities of where those things go when that happens.

We discuss How to Steal Like an Artist and what that means for us as creators in the worlds of improv, coding and leadership. 

Which is worse: a scattered distribution of answers to a question or many (or even most) answers being slightly wrong? Surprise! The scattered distribution is way, way worse. Also, when is the last time you thought about how statistical analysis could change your life and decision-making? Well, here's your chance to listen to me talk very, very excitedly about this topic using the book Noise as a guide. 

We talk about how to create amazing moments in your life (and in the lives of those around you). 

An improvement on Extreme Ownership (by the same authors) that addresses more of the nuances of leadership. I found it to be a fascinating explanation of how to identify competing extremes in finding your balance as a leader.

We discuss curiosity, what it is and how to cultivate it to live a better life. A lively  conversation with Chris Martin.

How we got to be who we are and the convenient lies that made it happen.

Poker isn't about lying and your capacity to adapt and learn is even bigger than you probably expect. Join Maria Konnikova on an amazing journey from not even knowing how to play poker to sponsored professional player in about a year. It's a wild ride and tells you a huge amount about human nature.

We love good habits and detest bad habits - this book gets down to details and practical about cultivating more of the good ones and rewiring the bad ones.

Safiya Robinson and I discuss the ideas presented in Range - why it's better to have broad interests and follow many divergent paths (even if you later choose to specialize in a single area).

An examination of people who survive harrowing extreme situations and what they share incommon and how to bring more of those deep survival skills into our everyday life.

How do you like to receive appreciation? How do you like to show it? What are the blindspots you're missing when appreciating others?

Ownership of your actions is a great way to take control of your life and when you take it to the extreme you can make powerful changes. Check out the useful ideas from Jocko Willink and Leif Babin in Extreme Ownership. 

How to change your habits and change your life from the master Charles Duhigg.

A look at the highlights of the book Mindset by Carol Dweck and how to apply these ideas to your work, sport or life.

Working deeply is an art and a skill that can be cultivated. Get more done and do better work by applying the ideas from Deep Work by Cal Newport.