I'd Rather Be Reading

I never planned for it to be this way, but we finally have our first male guest of season seven! It has been girl power thus far. And Dr. William Li comes with the masterclass in health and wellness today, specifically about metabolism -- get ready to learn so much. We cover the gamut, from metabolism to intermittent fasting to one takeaway we can do today to start righting our metabolism and gett...

Sensitive people often get a bad rap, especially sensitive men. But today I talk to an author who says sensitivity is a superpower, and that sensitive people are filled with gifts that bring so much to the world. Plus, we reveal the legendary rock star that self-identifies as a sensitive person -- and who it is might surprise you. Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Lou...

The United States may well have had its first female president already. The problem? Nobody knew it. After President Woodrow Wilson suffered a devastating stroke in October 1919, his wife, First Lady Edith Wilson, became acting president until his second term ended on March 4, 1921. Today we talk about that decision and the woman who was Edith Wilson, who was acting president before women even had...

We have made it to our 100th episode! I could not be happier to reach this milestone, and to reach it with all of you, talking about nonfiction books. I have an extra special guest on the show today, Cyndie Spiegel, and we are talking about how to find joy no matter what you're facing in life right now. I realize that some of my episodes apply to only certain people -- but I chose this book for ou...

I love a good fashion episode, and this is definitely a good fashion episode! Today on the show I've got Maggie Bullock -- a writer for Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, The Cut, and more -- and we're talking about J. Crew, the original lifestyle brand. From its founding 40 years ago to now has seen the company go from the highest of highs to filing for bankruptcy in 2020. How did this happen? And how is...

Working moms have the deck stacked against them: They constantly feel like they are failing -- at work, at home, and everywhere in between. Today I sit down with Paula Faris -- who now runs her own company, CARRY Media, after a successful career as an Emmy Award-winning journalist and television personality. (You might know her from her days at ABC, where she was co-anchor of Good Morning America...

As I told Dr. Amy Shah on today's episode, I wish I'd had this book YEARS ago. We talk about why we crave what we crave, what we can do about it, how to tell whether we are hungry or thirsty (or bored), and so much surrounding the topic of food and the complexities it carries. I learned so much from this book and this conversation, including a confirmation of my long held belief that there's somet...

We are kicking off season SEVEN -- seven! -- today with a guest I know you'll love as much as I did: Mallory Ervin. Hailing from Kentucky (and a former Miss Kentucky, at that!), Mallory has had a full life, no doubt: from finishing fourth runner up at Miss America, Mallory went on to appear on "The Amazing Race" and launch her own lifestyle brand seven years ago. The road to the content place she...

For our season six finale, we're talking to the brilliant Katherine May about finding enchantment again. When did we stop seeing the wonder of our everyday lives? And how can we get back to that childlike sense of amazement on a daily basis? This is a beautiful conversation with a talented writer and truly fantastic person. Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in An Anxious Age by Katherine May

So many of us feel stuck in our lives from time to time. So few of us actually DO something about it. In this book, Alisha Fernandez Miranda takes us along for her "what if year" -- prepare to be inspired to do the same for yourselves and live the life you've dreamed about. My What If Year by Alisha Fernandez Miranda 

Did you know that The Beatles and James Bond were both launched on the very same Friday? October 5, 1962 -- a day that will forever live on in pop culture history. Today on the show we talk about what both mean to the U.K. and the world. Love and Let Die: James Bond, The Beatles, and the British Psyche by John Higgs

The term status is undergoing a revolution, writer Chuck Thompson says -- with status available to the masses now and so easily attainable, has it become irrelevant? An incredibly cerebral discussion that will no doubt leave you thinking about status' place in 2023 -- if it has one at all. The Status Revolution: The Improbable Story of How the Lowbrow Became the Highbrow by Chuck Thompson

If you want to feel better, stronger, and more resilient this year, this is the episode for you. Join me as I chat with Dr. Molly Maloof about all things health and wellness -- most especially about how to get our spark back. Let's do this! The Spark Factor: The Secret to Supercharging Energy, Becoming Resilient, and Feeling Better Than Ever by Dr. Molly Maloof

It's a new way of looking at the concept of leadership: One where the door is open to everyone, where everyone is encouraged to lead, and where leadership is seen as an activity, not a person or a position. This inspiring conversation will help you find a way where you can contribute -- because we need your leadership. When Everyone Leads: How the Toughest Challenges Get Seen and Solved by Julia F...

Even our toughest decisions can be made with Trey Gowdy's three-pronged decision making framework, which asks three simple yet profound questions: Should I start? Should I stay? Or should I leave? Start, Stay, or Leave: The Art of Decision Making by Trey Gowdy

Continuing our "Relationships Week" here on the show, we're chatting today about dating. Why do we hate it so much, rather than embracing this season? And how can we have a better experience -- including on first dates? Michelle Elman's got the answers. The Selfish Romantic: How to Date Without Feeling Bad About Yourself by Michelle Elman

Who among us DOESN'T want improved relationships, both with ourselves and with others? This week is what I'm calling "Relationships Week" on the show, where we talk to two great authors about how to do just that. If you're looking for healthy, fulfilling relationships in your life, take a listen to this important episode. Making Great Relationships: Simple Practices for Solving Conflicts, Building...

Stephen A. Smith brings his trademarked authenticity to the show today -- you may think you know Stephen A. Smith, but I guarantee you'll learn more about this fascinating person after listening (and reading his book!). Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes by Stephen A. Smith

You know that line from "Already Gone" by The Eagles that says "So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains and we never even know we have the key"? Well, this episode is about just that: Getting unstuck, and realizing you have the key to live the life of your dreams, if we'd all only just realize it. You Are Not Stuck: How Soul-Guided Choices Transform Fear into Freedom by Becky Vol...

The Vietnam War is perhaps America's most misunderstood war, a conflict left largely in the shadows. Today we unpack the pivotal years of 1965 to 1968 in Vietnam with a true expert on the subject. Whether you love history or not, it's a conversation not to be missed. Triumph Regained: The Vietnam War 1965-1968 by Mark Moyar

Who among us wouldn't benefit from adding more fun to their lives in 2023? We've got an expert here to help you do just that! The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Dr. Mike Rucker

In our second annual “best books” episode, I invite my dear friend Carla Jean back to run down the best books of 2022, nonfiction and fiction—and what we’re both looking forward to reading in 2023. Here are the books mentioned in the episode (there are a LOT of them!): Books Carla Jean Wrote: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music by Carla Jean Whitley Birmingham Beer:...

What an honor it was to chat with one of my teenage heroines about THE most important of topics -- total body health and wellness. This is a conversation you won't want to miss. Come for the valuable information, and stay for Lo's passion about health and wellness. It's impossible to not be motivated for a healthier 2023 after listening to this conversation. Love Yourself Well: An Empowering Welln...

It only took us 80 episodes, but finally -- we're exploring true crime! Deliberate Cruelty: Truman Capote, the Millionaire's Wife, and the Murder of the Century by Roseanne Montillo

We are all about to enter the holiday season, a chance to spend ample time with family. This is great -- unless it's not. Today I chat with renowned psychotherapist Julia Samuel -- who many of you may know as a dear friend of the late Princess of Wales -- about navigating family dynamics, grief, and so much more. For my U.S. listeners, it's truly a conversation worth listening to on your way to Th...