Hey guys, so I’m a huge nerd at heart. Book and podcasts, as you may have noticed, are kind of my jam. A lot of you have asked for recommendations so I started this list while I was on the plane to at least get some to start sharing. I’m going to keep adding to it maybe once a month or so and also flush out the book list. (Podcasts are easy to look up the titles since they’re on my phone, but I borrow all my books from the library so I sometimes have a hard time remembering which ones were good!) I’m also somewhat new to the podcast world and I’m always looking for channels/episodes you enjoyed. I would say I most enjoy humanitarian issue/political science breakdowns, time management tips, and self-discovery types of topics. Basically anything that helps me live a more informed and beautiful life. I put * next to the ones I really, really like.
The Ezra Klein Show
Cal Newport on doing Deep Work and escaping social media*
Yuval Harari, author of “Sapiens” on AI, religion, and 60-day meditation retreats
David Miliband explains the global refugee crisis*
Dana Boyd on why fake news is so easy to believe*
The Kyle Thiermann Show
The Business of Big Business – Lawrence Koh
TED Talks – Inspiring
Why our screens make us less happy | Adam Alter
Don’t feel sorry for refugees, believe in them | Luma Mufleh (just listened to this one, SO GOOD)*
Don’t everyone deserve a chance at a good life? | Jim Yong Kim*
Everyone around you has a story the world needs to hear | Dave Isay*
Never, ever give up | Diana Nyad
Know your worth, and then ask for it | Casey Brown
How to get better at the things you care about | Eduardo Briceno
My year of saying yes to everything | Shonda Rhimes*
Why some of us don’t have one true calling | Emilie Wapnick*
How to find work you love | Scott Dinsmore
What makes us feel good about our work? | Dan Ariely
The joy of surfing in ice cold water | Chris Burkard
How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas | Mannish Zomorodi
TED Talks – Interesting
12 Truths I learned from life and writing | Anne Lamott
How to Design a library that makes kids want to read | Michael Beirut
A Doctor’s case for medical marijuana | David Casarett
How do you build a sacred space | Siamak Hariri
3 ways to plan for the (very) long term | Ari Wallach
To raise brave girls, encourage adventure | Caroline Paul
A Scientific approach to the paranormal | Carrie Poppy
What I learned from 2,000 obituaries | Lux Narayan
Our story of rape and reconciliation | Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger
My son was a Columbine shooter. This is my story | Sue Klebold
How to build a business that lasts 100 years | Martin Reeves
The surprising thing I learned sailing solo around the world | Dame Ellen MacArthur
The link between unemployment and terrorism | Mohamed Ali
How I Built This (entrepreneurship)
Davin Youngs wants to Find Your Voice
Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert
Ep 209 Show up before you’re ready featuring Glennon Doyle Melton* (this one is really, really special to me). I heard it while on a retreat in Iceland with Kym Pham and it was exactly what I needed to hear in that precise moment. It’s about being honest, both with yourself and with the world. I almost didn’t include this one because it felt too personal to be on a general list, so do me a favor – if you listen to it give yourself some time and make sure you’re in the right headspace 🙂 It’s awesome and I hope it helps you too. Disclaimer: I actually don’t like most of Elizabeth Gilbert’s other podcast episodes, go figure.
Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations
Gretchen Rubin: 8 Rules to Happiness*
Books
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (WWII fiction)
The Celestine Prophecy – huge thank you to Travis Burke for introducing me to this book. It reminds me of The Alchemist, but had more of an impact on me
All the Light We Cannot See – the most lyrical novel I read last year
The Alchemist – no words necessary for this one
Sex Lives of Cannibals – hilarious and totally not what you think it’s about
Boys in the Boat – historical fiction and the most beautiful story of perseverance
30 Life Lessons for Living Well
Scar Tissue: Biography of Anthony Kiedis – not too into biographies but this one was fascinating. I also love The Red Hot Chili Peppers music
For more of my favorite books, I created an entire list on my Amazon Storefront of ones I love.
Thank you Chelsea for your inspiration and this wonderful list.
Social media can make us feel all types of way – inadequate at times, not enough, behind… but it can also inspire us, introduce us to like minded souls, and keep our heart beats growling.
Hope to cross paths one day x so much to share and experience x
All the best luck and magic in your continuing adventures!
Your friend you do not know yet, 😉
Nesma (@nesma_b)
Ps: the Celestine prophecy also made a profound impact on me when it was given to me at 16 🙂 so much insights for a new way of living in this book indeed 🙂 x
Awesome list! Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to check these out. You might also enjoy the podcasts Hidden Brain (NPR), Your Undivided Attention by Tristan Harris, and IRL (Online Life is Real Life) esp the episode on the carbon footprint of the internet.