Books Applied Podcast

We are CONSTANTLY having (or avoiding) difficult conversations. This book will tell you how to do it well. Special guest Marsha Shandur and I talk through highlights of the book and have some laughs discussing having (and also avoiding) Difficult Conversations. Marsha made this secret webpage with more resources based on this podcast episode! She is such a pro. Check it out: https://www.yesyesmars...

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...

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 th...

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...

The book Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher can come off as a dark exposé of the problems we cause ourselves because we've ingested and internalized capitalism to the point that we can't even imagine another system for a functional world. It can also be read as an introspective chat with the worst of ourselves, with a few exciting movie references along the way. Instead, author and intellec...

The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow provides surprising insights into how we got here and what we've written off along the way to make civilization as we know it seem like it evolved in a smooth linear progression. If you enjoy the experience of saying, "I've been lied to my whole life!" as much as I do, you'll love this conversation I have with Rachel A...

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.

Madeline and I discuss her book about being at home as our world changes. Madeline interviewed people in four communities that are navigating their changing world. The book is a compelling narrative of long-form journalism.  The book also includes some noteworthy tangents - my favorite being a dive into the tragedy of the commons (Madeline's take-down of the concept and author was top-notch!)...

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.

We depart wildly from the usual nerdy book fare for this nerdy discussion about how those early English women writers created such enduring heroines. I talk with Robin Henry about these women writers and the lessons that we can learn from their struggle to write, and the epic nature of their heroines.  Reading List for listeners who want to know more! Scholarly Works: Carriger, Gail. The Hero...

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 h...

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 th...

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.

Robbie and I discuss his book and what makes it interesting and useful for people who are building their businesses. Robbie also very generously set up a personalized link for listeners to download The Big Results Toolkit, which has several resources to help you implement the strategies in "Small List, Big Results: Launch a Successful Offer No Matter the Size of Your Email List." Get your download...

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