Blinkist Podcast - Interviews | Personal Development | Productivity | Business | Psychology

What if the part of you that knows what's actually wrong isn't your brain? This week on Simplify, Caitlin sits down with Dr. Arielle Schwartz—clinical psychologist, somatic therapy expert, and author of more books than seems reasonable for one person—to talk about what your body has been trying to tell you for years. Arielle has been working in somatics for thirty years, long before TikTok turned it into a buzzword, and her gift is making something that can feel slippery and slightly woo-woo feel concrete and useful. And, delightfully, she'll get us there via rivers, vagus nerves, and the wisdom of your gut. The conversation moves through somatic therapy itself, what an actual session looks like, and why the chairs aren't bolted to the floor, polyvagal theory broken down for a five-year-old, and why some of the most stubborn anxiety patterns aren't really about what's happening out there, exactly—they're about what's happening inside your. body. There's also a thread that quietly runs through the whole episode about how our earliest experiences—earlier than we usually consider—shape how safe the world feels in our bodies for the rest of our lives. Her parting demystification of the field is one for anyone who's tried to fix themselves quickly and wondered why it didn't stick. Resources: Arielle's Recs: The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook, the work of Janina Fisher Ben's Rec: Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Caitlin's Rec: Tell Me Where it Hurts by Dr. Rachel Zoffness Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on Instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter on beehiiv here. Also, you can email us at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and engineered by João Lucas in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

Episode Notes What if the stories running your life aren't really yours? This week on Simplify, Caitlin talks with Angela Natividad: a mythologist, writer, and advertising veteran—a trifecta that turns out to be the perfect preparation for the argument she makes in her book Remember His Name: Unmasking the Faceless God of the West. That argument, put simply: capitalism isn't an economic system. It's a religious one. We get into what that actually means—the hidden god at the center of it all, the ancient mythologies that laid the groundwork, and a concept called the egregore that might be as unsettling as it is useful. Angela also makes a case for why the stories we tell ourselves about productivity, laziness, and whether we're doing enough aren't pointing to personal failings. They're architecture that someone built, and understanding that is the first step to not being entirely at their mercy. Resources Remember His Name: Unmasking the Faceless God of the West by Angela Natividad Midwifing The Mother, Angela's Substack The Dawn of Everything by Davids Graeber and Wengrow How to Re-Enchant the World by Serge Latouche Caitlin's rec: The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr Ben's recs: The Kingdom by Emmanuel Carrère / The primary texts (the Bible, the Quran, the Avesta — just dip in!) / Bad Cousins podcast Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on Instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter here. You can email us at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and engineered by João Lucas in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

A loss isn't always a loss—sometimes, it's one of many stepping stones towards winning big. When you change how you think about what succeeding looks like, the long game of changing the systems we live in seems infinitely more doable. This week on Simplify, Caitlin speaks with international human rights lawyer and author Nani Jansen Reventlow about her book Radical Justice—and about what real, systemic change actually looks like from the inside. Nani founded two nonprofits, the Digital Freedom Fund and Systemic Justice, and has spent her career building a model of legal action in which communities most affected by injustice stay in the driver's seat. The implications of that, for how we think about winning, losing, and the long arc of change, are quietly radical. They also get into the surprising connections between different kinds of justice, who gets left out of the climate conversation and why, and what it takes to imagine a world that isn't just a patched-up version of this one. Nani is one of those rare people who can hold a wide-angle view of broken systems and still tell you exactly what to do on a Tuesday. Her parting thought is one of those things that sounds simple until you actually try it: start today—you've already got the tools for revolution. Nani is doing a live event here in Berlin, Germany at Chapters Bookshop at the end of April—come say hi! Resources Radical Justice by Nani Jansen Reventlow (use JUSTICE15 for 15% off at https://www.plutobooks.com/. ) Win a free copy: email [email protected] — first come, first served. Caitlin's rec: Farewell to Growth by Serge Latouche Ben's rec: How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on Instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter here. You can email us at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and engineered by João Lucas in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media. Resources Radical Justice by Nani Jansen Reventlow. YOU can win a free copy generously donated by Nani and her publisher, Pluto. Just email [email protected] and ask for it—first come, first served. And if you don't win, you can use the 15% off code JUSTICE15 to buy your copy at https://www.plutobooks.com/. Nani's nonprofits: Systemic Justice / Digital Freedom Fund Nani is doing a live event in Berlin at Chapters Bookshop at the end of April — come say hi! Ben's rec: How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm Caitlin's rec: Farewell to Growth by Serge Latouche Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on Instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter here. You can email us (send a voice note!) at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and engineered by João Lucas, in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

Most of us have gotten up on a Monday morning and thought: I simply cannot do this today. Our job is grinding us down in that slow, invisible way that work does when we're not managing it well. Psychotherapist, author, and podcast host Guy Winch has spent his career sitting with people who have experienced this for a passel of reasons from sabotaging coworkers to unrealistic goals. His new book Mind Over Grind is a practical, science-backed guide to surviving your job—even when it really, truly sucks. In this episode, Caitlin and Guy dig into why so many of us experience our jobs as far more stressful than they objectively need to be, what the Goldilocks zone of stress actually looks like, and how to catch yourself before you blow past it. Guy also speaks candidly about his own early burnout and the slow, identity-shifting work it took to come back from it—including why your Netflix queue might not be doing what you think it's doing when it comes to real recovery. Resources Mind Over Grind by Guy Winch Guy's podcast: Dear Therapists (with Lori Gottlieb) Caitlin's rec: How to Enjoy Your Life and Your Job by Dale Carnegie Ben's rec: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Amelia Nagoski Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on Instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter here. You can email us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Joao Lucas in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

What if getting back at someone isn't as satisfying as we think—and what we're really trying to avoid is grief? This week on Simplify, Caitlin speaks with psychotherapist, teacher, and author David Richo about his book Sweeter Than Revenge, which makes the case that there's a better way to respond when people hurt us than the one our brains (and basically every movie ever made) are wired for. Dave has spent decades sitting with people in their messiest, most wounded moments. What he's found is that retaliation isn't really about power or justice. It's about running from grief! We retaliate so we don't have to feel bad. Which, when you think about it, is kind of a bummer. The conversation gets into the neuroscience of revenge (yes, it lights up reward circuits—but only briefly), why our most beloved stories and films keep selling us the same retaliatory fantasy, and what it actually looks like to choose differently. He and Caitlin also dig into why we hurt the people we love in the first place, and Dave offers four concrete steps for the next time the urge to retaliate arises. Resources Sweeter Than Revenge by David Richo Caitlin's Rec: With The End in Mind by Kathryn Mannix Ben's Rec: How to Be And Adult in Relationships by David Richo Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on Instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter here. You can email us at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Joao Lucas in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

Most of us have no idea what it means to repair harm, not just apologize for it. We also regard rage as frightening and out of place in loving, connected relationships. It takes a special person to demystify these staticky aspects of human relating—and we found her. This week on Simplify, Caitlin speaks with relational skills teacher Christabel Mintah-Galloway about repair: why it’s so difficult, why most of us avoid it, and why real accountability requires more than just good intentions. In a culture that prizes speed, certainty, and individualism, repair demands slowness, humility, and interdependence, so we're never taught how to practice this essential skill. Christabel offers tools that help us knit back together after a rupture (if we want to!), become true mirrors for one another, and learn to be in community—even when it's hard. The conversation also explores how rage can actually clarify values and point to injustice, strengthening our strongest relationships and freeing us from the ones that no longer work. Want to spend more time with Christabel? You can! Attend one of her Relational Skills for Liberation workshops, find her on Instagram, or get her Relational Skills Toolkit. Resources Christabel's website: https://www.christabelmintahgalloway.com/ Caitlin's rec: The WEIRDest People in The World by Joseph Heinrich Ben's rec: Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Arun Gandhi Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter here. You can email us at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Ody Constantinou in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

What if the United States wasn’t just influenced by cult-like thinking, but shaped by it from the very beginning? This week on Simplify, Caitlin Schiller speaks with journalist and author Jane Borden, whose book Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America explores how cult dynamics show up across U.S. history, politics, consumer culture, and self-help. From Puritan theology to superhero movies, Borden argues that cults aren’t fringe phenomena—they’re extreme versions of patterns baked so deep into American culture that they came over in the metaphorical sourdough starter brought over on the Mayflower. Together, Caitlin and Jane unpack why Americans are so drawn to comfort, certainty, and strongmen—and what it costs us when we give up agency in exchange for reassurance. You'll also hear about Caitlin's new least favorite figure in history (spoilers: it's the compunctionless Edward Bernays), dismantle the stories about power we're told, learn how the desire for comfort slowly erodes democracy, and where we should turn—if not to a singular outside "hero"—to save the day. Resources Cults Like Us by Jane Borden The American Monomyth by Robert Jewett & John Shelton Lawrence Caitlin's rec: The Hardest Job in the World by John Dickerson Ben's rec: Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter here—this week, a take on hero worship & Bad Bunny. You can email us at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Ody Constantinou in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

Strategy. It can sound abstract, intimidating, and vaguely corporate. So who better to help demystify it than Seth Godin? Seth returns to Simplify to talk about his book This Is Strategy, and to reframe strategy not as a rigid plan or a set of tactics, but as a philosophy of becoming. In this conversation, Caitlin Schiller and Seth Godin explore what strategy really is, why tension is not only inevitable but necessary, and how pricing, trust, and generosity fit into long-term thinking about work. If strategy has ever felt overwhelming, or if you’ve been told to “be more strategic” without anyone explaining what that means, this episode is for you. ______ Resources Seth's Blog (going strong for 30 years without missing a day!) and his new book, This is Strategy Caitlin's rec: Considered Chaos, Substack of Eugene Healey Ben's rec: Good to Great by Jim Collins Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Email us at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Ody Constantinou in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

Simplify is back! When you leave the doctor with a protocol for what ails you, do you wonder where the knowledge behind your prescription came from? In fact, we know how to treat today's woes thanks to the bodies of people who suffered—and nowhere is that data more inexact and editorialized than in women's health. Feminist cultural historian Dr. Elinor Cleghorn, who specializes in women’s health and its history, is just the person to set the story straight. Her book, Unwell Women, demystifies myths around women’s health—stories about what women's bodies are for, whether pain is just a necessary side effect of being a woman, and why women's bodies have been policed and traded as political capital, yet we still have to fight to be believed about our own bodily experiences. Women's bodies aren't mysteries—they are our own to care for and make decisions about. In this episode, Caitlin Schiller talks with Dr. Cleghorn about the relevance of this history today, as women's sexuality and reproductive freedoms are being redefined in response to a threatened patriarchy and budding pronatalist movements across the west. In the Bookend, Ben and Caitlin make reading recommendations and discuss Simplify's new, independent era. Caitlin's rec: Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Evolution by Cat Bohannon Ben's rec: The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins Let us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on instagram at @simplifypod on instagram. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Email us at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Ody Constantinou in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

Today, our guest is an award-winning beauty reporter and critic whom you might have stumbled upon while reading her super popular newsletter, The Unpublishable, which, as HuffPost says, "basically gives the middle finger to the entire beauty industry." Writing about what the beauty industry won’t tell you, Jessica DeFino has built an identity as a reporter on a mission to reform it. It all started, however, in a place as opposite as it could be: a few years back, Jessica was a product-obsessed editor for the Kardashian-Jenner Official Apps, embedded in the core of the beauty industry. This exact "behind-the-scenes" angle and her own beauty-product mishaps led her to start bravely and compellingly writing about what she experienced: mass marketing manipulations, pseudoscience, and consumerism that have become endemic to the beauty industry. Her fearless truth-telling on topics such as the politics of appearance in the Barbie movie, or why Madonna’s plastic surgery is not as subversive as she claims, makes her one of the most beloved analysts and writers on beauty culture out there. Jessica doesn't reject beauty. Instead, she seeks to reveal the industry and culture built around it. Beauty remains an essential force we all crave as humans, but in order to reveal its roots, we have to dismantle the boring, mass-produced thing that beauty has become. Recommended by Jessica: Disobedient Bodies by Emma Dabiri The Book of Ayn by Lexi Freman Recommended by Caitlin and Ben: Happy Fat by Sofie Hagen Chatter by Ethan Cross Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code beauty. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stephane Obadia at Blinkist

This week's episode of Simplify brings you a special collaboration: a conversation with Dhiraj Mukherjee, who is not only the entrepreneur behind Shazam (the app we all love and use so much!), but also a devoted impact investor focused on social good. Drawing from his experience at Shazam, Dhiraj learned firsthand that the best way to predict the future is to create it. That’s why today, his work mostly focuses on investing in mission-driven companies aiming to create a better future for the planet, addressing critical issues such as climate action and inequality. In this interview, Dhiraj shares some of his most valuable insights across his career, emphasizing the crucial importance of tapping into your instincts and developing your own taste and intuition. Moreover, it leaves us with a short but important reminder that optimism matters: every valuable change once started with nothing but hope for a better future. UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Recommended by Dhiraj: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates Recommended by Caitlin and Ben: The Social Animal by David Brooks The Business of Good by Jason Haber Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code impact. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Ben Jackson at Blinkist

Although we're at the tail end of 2024's symbolic new beginning, we're still confronted with the flood of discounted "detoxes," "cleanses," gym promotions touting a "New Year, new you," and the latest buzzword, "resets." Despite our desire to think that fad diets are relics of the past and that we have collectively moved away from diet culture, we may instead have fallen for a wolf in sheep's clothing. Drawing from her personal narrative and investigative reporting experiences, Cole Kazdin, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, scrutinizes today's diet industry and the disorder it spawns in her debut book, 'What's Eating Us - Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety.' Walking us through the issues in our generation, she interviews women and the world’s most renowned researchers, revealing disordered eating as the crisis it is—a mental illness with the second-highest mortality rate (after opioid-related deaths)—and a topic that no one wants to talk about. In this week’s episode of Simplify, Cole generously shares with us her hard-won wisdom for navigating true health while still living in a dysfunctional world. Even more importantly, the conversation will leave you with a gentle but revolutionary reminder of how gratifying it is to focus on how health is lived and felt in the body rather than the size you’re wearing. Recommended by Caitlin and Ben: Simplify Interview: Sonya Renee Taylor: Love Yourself, Save The World Intuitive Eating by Evelin Tribole and Elise Resch Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code kazdin. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

Today, we bring you Simplify's first ever crossover episode with the #1 Technology show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: Acquired! For nearly 9 years David Rosenthal—today's guest—and his co-host Ben have been sharing the strategies and history of 200+ of the world's most successful businesses. From Sequoia to Sony, through to TSMC, Amazon, The New York Times, the NBA and Oprah, Acquired's hosts go deep—sometimes 3 hours deep!—into the details of each business's ups and downs. In this episode of Simplify, we had the unique chance to tap into David's unique wisdom and expertise and ask: what are the patterns you've seen across these success stories? Caitlin and David focus on 3 big lessons from David's gleaned through years of research and immersion. He shares one powerful lesson on customers, one on product, and one that extends out to collaborations. They scrutinize and highlight the insights and attitudes that have helped some of the world's most notable companies thrive. What’s more, with an experience of two hosts and expert interviewers, they reach some everlasting wisdom on quality, connection, and authenticity— applicable both in business and life! Check out Blinkist's exclusive collection that offers concise and insightful Blinks, revealing the secrets behind Nike's global triumphs, tailored for listeners of the Acquired podcast. Recommended by Caitlin and Ben: Powers of Two by Joshua Wolf Shank The Everything Store by Brad Stone Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code acquired. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

In 1971, Joni Mitchell released Blue, an album teeming with stories of a life shaped by romance, desire, longing, and the default path of sharing life with another person. The ideal might persist to this day, but what happens if the romance we are told will give life meaning... never shows up? How gorgeous and fulfilling can we make our lives, sans romantic partner? Amy Key, the celebrated British essayist and poet, sets out to explore exactly these questions in her memoir, Arrangements in Blue, with Joni's seminal album as its scaffolding. Amy embarks on an intimate, sometimes painfully candid journey to search for all the things a soulmate was supposed to deliver, working out how to live well in this culture that prizes romantic love. And she shares her findings with us. Amy’s wisdom and tenderness guide us from an important shift in ideas about intimacy and solitude to the painful feelings we are often too ashamed to discuss: loneliness, envy, grief, and the sensation of wanting. In this episode, learn about the importance of building a home, how to travel alone, the importance of recognizing your own milestones, and why we should consider expanding the remit of friendship. Recommended by Caitlin and Ben: Living Your Best Single Life Simplify episode - Rebecca Traister and The Power of Being Single All the Single Ladies by Rebecca Traister Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab Recommended by Amy: Kick the Latch by Katherine Scanlan Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code arrangement. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

We might say that “age is just a number,” but if we're really honest with ourselves, a lot of us still think of “old” people as stubborn hoarders who eat dinner (too) early and are forever talking about their aches and pains. Why is that? And could there be another way? These questions prompted Steven Petrow, an award-winning journalist and author to begin compiling a list of things he won’t do when he gets old shortly after his 50th birthday. The list, which included “You won’t have to shout at me that I’m deaf” and “I won’t blame the family dog for my incontinence," was mainly based on all the things he thought his then-70-something parents were doing wrong. The list became first an essay and then a book, now praised as an "essential guide on how to age with grace, wisdom, humor and hope." In this episode, Steven and Caitlin tackle ageing with honesty and compassion, exploring together how we can live a little better and a little more gracefully than the generations before us. The beauty of intergenerational friendships, (internalized) ageism, and perennials are just a few of the topics covered—with the beauty of the interview lying in the shared conclusion: everyone benefits immensely from understanding people for who they are, not how old they are. Book recommended by Caitlin: Wiser by Dilip Jeste and Scott LaFee Books recommended by Steven: How I Won a Nobel Prize by Julius Taranto Tom Lake by Ann Patchett This is Not Going to End Well by Daniel Wallace Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code petrow. If you'd like to receive the Simplify newsletter with great insights, questions, and quotes from each episode to get a look back or a taste of what’s to come, you can sign up here: https://substack.com/@simplifybyblinkist?utm_source=profile-page. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkis

What do people mean when they say, 'I'm a perfectionist'? The colloquial and widespread opinion would sound like this: A perfectionist is someone who desires everything to be perfect at all times and becomes upset when things aren't perfect. This definition is often followed by the (generic) advice that the best way for them to set themselves free is to get rid of their perfectionism. According to Katherine Morgan Schafler, a psychotherapist and a former on-site therapist at Google, this is not only wrong but also causes more harm than good. After spending years dismantling perfectionism, Katherine wrote 'The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control,' offering a new and unique approach for all those who are sick of being given the generic advice to 'find balance' and feel ready to embrace their perfectionism for what it is—a gift. In this episode, Katherine shares her practical knowledge of understanding various perfectionist traits and how to make them work for you, not against you. By introducing us to the five different perfectionist types in detail, Katherine demonstrates that with the valuable gifts each perfectionist type naturally brings to the table, you can learn to embrace and even enjoy your perfectionism beyond merely managing it. Which of the five types of perfectionist are you? Classic, intense, Parisian, messy, or procrastinator? Take the quiz at the Katherine's official website. Recommended by Caitlin: The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch Recommended by Katherine: Push Off from Here by Laura McKowen Build For Tomorrow by Jason Feifer Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code perfection. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

When we experience a traumatic event or decide to pursue healing, what often follows is the tendency to isolate and hide from the world. Shame, exclusion, and the feeling that no one understands remain intertwined with the term "healing." However, this can and should be different—and that 's the message licensed social worker and therapist Minaa B. is here to spread. "Owning Our Struggles," Minaa’s first book, as well as her work in general, stands out for its unique approach and strong emphasis on social justice and community care. In this week’s episode, she shares powerful and practical insights on how to heal holistically, while also focusing on shared emotional struggle, from overcoming dysfunctional family patterns to developing emotional maturity and moving past isolation and despair. Whether you want to pursue healing, build authentic and safe relationships, or break free from family dysfunction, this conversation and Minaa’s book are a roadmap to healing by creating communities that support self-fulfillment, intimacy, and a happier life. Recommended by Caitlin: Shortcast - Dr. Ken Druck: Caring for an Aging Parent by host Eric Zimmer Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code healing. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

In the post-pandemic era, the debate over whether or not to return to the office seems far from settled — and yet, the push to bring employees back to the office is growing more aggressive. Amazon issued a warning to staff not long ago. Google is factoring employees’ in-office attendance into their performance reviews. And ironically, working from home has been officially replaced by a return to the office by Zoom. So is returning to the old structured schedule really the best way to optimize our work environment? Or should we pursue other avenues to do our best work? According to Gustavo Razzetti, a renowned expert on workplace culture, a hybrid of remote and in-person work is what's here to stay. Remote, Not Distant (2022), his latest book, has therefore been written as a manual - aiming to provide a blueprint for cultivating workplace cultures that transcend traditional office boundaries and navigate new norms where employees have more flexibility, but remain united by the same overarching mission. In this episode, Gustavo walks us through the steps and mindset shifts that have proven critical to leading and thriving in a hybrid workplace. He also explains the dangers behind the bubble of psychological safety, the myth of work-life balance, and the future of work. Most importantly, this episode leaves us with an important roadmap for the future of work, where work is meaningful, flexible, and human-centric. Books recommended by Emily and Ben: The Long-Distance Teammate by Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson Out of Office by Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Peterson Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code remotework. If you'd like to receive the Simplify newsletter with great insights, questions, and quotes from each episode to get a look back or a taste of what’s to come, you can sign up here: https://substack.com/@simplifybyblinkist?utm_source=profile-page. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

Our obsession with beauty and appearance may be deeply rooted, but at this moment, things seem to be reaching a whole new level. Facetune and features like skin smoothing, jaw reduction, and eye enhancement that are standard on social apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and even Zoom, as well as the ubiquitous advertisements for a flawless face and body, are turning our bodies into projects to work on forever. This and much more prompted American journalist and podcaster Elise Hu to research and write her book, Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture From the K-Beauty Capital, which she describes as “part memoir, part social commentary, part reportage." As a former NPR correspondent in Seoul, she has experienced firsthand the dangers of the unyielding, strict beauty standards in South Korea, the world's most cosmetically advanced country, and what happens when beauty becomes associated with morality and the image of a “good person.” In this episode, Elise shares with us her unique research on technological change, consumerism, and the undeniable political, economic, and social capital of good looks worldwide. Most importantly, her book and this conversation not only scrutinize the real financial, physical, and emotional costs of beauty work, but also serve as a call to join the fight for bodily autonomy and culture change focused on endless self-improvement as the best path to empowerment. Caitlin and Ben's book recommendations: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed The Aesthetic Brain by Anjan Chatterjee Cherly Strayed on Simplify Elise's book recommendations: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld Slow Days, Fast Company: The World, The Flesh, and L.A by Eve Babitz Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code beauty. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

You were probably hired for your expertise in a certain domain: engineering, product management, paid marketing, or something else. But to be successful in an organization, there are other, secret skills outside your domain that nobody really teaches you—things like effectively communicating your ideas, assessing the business environment, collaborating with leadership, or deciding to leave your current role (and what to say when you do!). To fill in these gaps and create your own stability in a rapidly-changing environment—say, after an acquisition or a leadership change—Caitlin talks with Vanessa Gennarelli, a change management expert and COO of an outfit called Workbrew. Vanessa’s freshly published book, Surviving Change at Work, is the manual we’ve all been long missing. You'll learn how to anticipate change in an organization and use it to your advantage. What this conversation brings is Vanessa's hard-won expertise and practical steps on how to not only understand the organization's future—but design your own. Today's episode featured… Wintering by Katherine May Our Iceberg is Melting by John Kotter & Holger Rathgeber Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code changes. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

The systems we live in suggest that a successful human life depends on denying pain, endless hustle, stress, and sustaining trauma—and making it all look easy. The only problem is that human nature objects. Psychological and physical suffering seem to be increasing while illness and trauma continue to define how we live. But, what's in it for our culture? Why and how do we breed disease—and why do we call that normal? Educator, mental chiropractor, musical theater pro, and co-author of The Myth of Normal Daniel Maté (yes—the son of Gabor Maté!) sits down with Caitlin to unpack how the norms and assumptions we have about who people are, what they need, and what health, trauma, illness, and healing look like in a toxic culture. In this conversation, Daniel offers us the best macro perspective on the effects of trauma on people and our society—and what steps can be taken to reverse the damage. Today's episode featured… Do Scale by Les McKeown Stolen Focus by Johan Harrari 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy Remember His Name: Unmasking the Faceless God of the West by Angela Natividad Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code normal. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

It's a rarely questioned societal norm: feeling bad/mad/disappointed/scared/anxious? A substance (like alcohol) will give you the courage to face it. This is even more true for dating and sex, where we use alcohol as our first line of defense to find the liquid courage to open up to someone. But what happens when we step away, get sober curious, or simply start being more mindful with alcohol? Who might we be? And who might we connect with? In this episode, Tawny Lara, author and speaker, also known as "The Sober Sexpert," meets Caitlin to talk about her (soon to be released) book Dry Humping. Tawny explains the value behind evaluating your relationship with alcohol, and most importantly, helps us find the inner courage to go on an alcohol-free date or have sex sober by giving us a new perspective that allows us to reconnect with who we are without alcohol. Today's episode featured… This Is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté To make Simplify even better for you, we’re trying out a newsletter with some cool insights, questions, and quotes from each episode so you can review or get a taste of what’s to come! You can subscribe here. Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code boozefree. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe, Maria Levacic & Ben Jackson at Blinkist

So, what does it take to make the best working relationships? The same ingredients in any relationship, really: a big helping of bravery and the will to dig into deep conversations.There's more to it than that of course, and on this episode, Simplify favorite Michael Bungay Stanier takes Caitlin through it. This is a gentle-but-probing conversation in which you'll learn about the sweet spot between safety and bravery, how to make your colleagueships safer and more vital, and what psychological bravery is made of. You'll also hear about repairing relationships when something goes wrong, and why active recovery will always win out over just letting it happen. Today's episode featured...  How to Work With (Almost) Anyone by Michael Bungay Stanier Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B Rosenberg Talk to Me Like I'm Someone You Love by Nancy Dreyfus Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code author. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe, Maria Levacic & Ben Jackson at Blinkist

We are delighted to present a conversation with Stephanie Chandler, founder and CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association and a successful author of several books, including The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan and The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan. In this episode, Stephanie shares her remarkable insights into all phases of the book-writing process and offers a sharp view of the publishing industry. By exploring assets and liabilities of traditional publishing and self-publishing, we dive deeper into the ‘why’ behind the writing process and practices that make the most out of it. Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code author. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe, Maria Levacic & Ben Jackson at Blinkist

We're delighted to present a conversation with Natalie Lue, author of the wildly popular blog Baggage Reclaim (baggagereclaim.com) and five books, including the latest, "The Joy of Saying No," that will help you not only identify your people-pleasing style and habits, but also finally leave them behind. In this episode, Natalie shares her unmatched insights on the importance of boundaries and saying no, and the destructive effects a lack of them can have on your body and mind. By exploring the five different kinds of people-pleasing, we dive deeper into the "why" behind the tendency and reframe our understanding of people-pleasing altogether. A new Simplify episode brimming with actionable wisdom awaits you every fortnight throughout the summer! Get the deluxe experience of Simplify in the Blinkist app with the Guide we made to go with this episode. You'll hear even more of the conversation with Natalie Lue, get extra book recommendations, and hear more of Caitlin and Ben guiding you through tools to overcome people-pleasing. Get the Guide by going to https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/friends [1] and entering the code pleaser. We hope you love it! Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe & Ben Jackson at Blinkist

We're thrilled to present a dynamic conversation with Robert Glazer, bestselling author and transformative leadership expert. With deep insights drawn from his revolutionary book, 'Elevate Your Team', Glazer demystifies the four capacities essential to extraordinary team performance. In this episode Glazer shares his unique take on the 'work smarter, not harder' philosophy, offering fresh perspectives to drive both personal and professional development. We challenge common preconceptions around work-life balance, emphasizing the need for intentional allocation of time and energy and explore the importance of discovering and aligning with core values. A new Simplify episode brimming with actionable wisdom awaits you every fortnight throughout the summer! Get the deluxe experience of Simplify in the Blinkist app with the Guide we made to go with this episode. You'll hear even more of the conversation with Robert Glazer, get extra book recommendations, and hear more of Caitlin and Ben guiding you through the core values discovery process. Get the Guide by going to https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/friends [1] and entering the code build. We hope you love it! Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe & Ben Jackson at Blinkist.

Have you ever listened back to a recording of your voice and cringed at the amount of 'um's' 'uh's' and 'like's' you use? In this episode, Valerie Fridland, linguist, researcher, and author of the book, 'Like, Literally, Dude' delves into the intricacies of speech habits and argues for the inherent value of these often-demonised words. We explore why women are linguistic trend-setters, why some words carry deep-seated prejudices and what can we learn from the social function of language. You can get more out of this conversation, plus Valerie's take on words like: 'um' and 'ur' in the Blinkist app with our tailored Guide for this episode. You'll learn how to embrace your unique communication style and receive extra book recommendations and additional insights from Caitlin and Ben around getting to know yourself and what you want to say. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode or just say hello on Twitter! Find Caitlin at: [1] @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller 2] Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto 3] Alternatively, you can reach us at [email protected] This episode of Simplify was brought to you by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe & Ben Jackson at Blinkist.

We're kicking off Simplify's relaunch with our first-ever two person interview! This lively, probing conversation with Being Well's Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson—a bestselling author and psychologist and also Forrest's dad—digs into common misconceptions in the mental health and self-growth space. They address the maybe-bogus notion that "until you love yourself, you can't love anyone else," dissect the difference between self-esteem and self-worth, and dig deep into the simplest strategy for changing your brain for the better: take in the good. We're so glad to be back—and we will be every two weeks through the summer! Get the deluxe experience of Simplify in the Blinkist app with the Guide we made to go with this episode. You'll hear even more of the conversation with Rick and Forrest than in the regular episode, get extra book recommendations, and hear more of Caitlin and Ben guiding you through the topics of self-esteem vs. self worth. Get the Guide by going to https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/friends [1] and entering the code bigspoon. We hope you love it! Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [4]. Find Rick & Forrest Hanson's wonderful podcast, Being Well, here. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe & Ben Jackson at Blinkist

Want to skip this year’s tsunami of New Year’s hacks, tips, and tricks that don’t even work? We’ve got you covered. In this episode, we’ve distilled powerful ideas and approaches from our 3 most popular episodes. And since we spend all our time divided between focusing on ourselves, our relationships, and our work, we’ll focus on simplifying those three areas. Just what you need for the new year—and nothing you don’t. BONUS: we’ve made a very neat New-Yearsy tool available to you for free. You can get it at our IG: https://www.instagram.com/blinkist/. It’ll help you turn your values into time, and was developed by Nir Eyal (author of Hooked and Indistractable) as part of his Guide, available on the Blinkist app. http://blinkist.com/ If you want to suggest an author or idea for Caitlin and Ben to check out, email us at [email protected] Try Blinkist Premium 14 days free by going to: https://www.blinkist.com/friends/?v=2023 or using code “2023” at https://www.blinkist.com/friends Special thanks to Tiffany Dufu, Ken Page, and Liz Fosslien for these amazing interviews and insights. You can find them here: Tiffany: https://www.tiffanydufu.com/ Ken: https://www.deeperdating.com/ Liz: https://www.fosslien.com/

Follow the guidance of the bravest, highest, fullest version of yourself, and move closer to being the person you dream of becoming. SHOW NOTES Imagine having a mentor that’s available 24/7 to advise you on whatever challenge life puts in front of you—wouldn’t that be nice? In this bonus episode, Ken Page guides you through The Inner Mentor Process™, a guided meditation practice. In this practice, you'll find you're able to bypass your inner critic and get a message from your own personal mentor, a mentor who is always there, ready to share wisdom that is just for you. This is an unpublished excerpt from the Simplify interview with Ken Page, followed by the original tape of his guided meditation. Ken is a psychotherapist specializing in the search for intimacy, and author of the book Deeper Dating: How to Drop the Games of Seduction and Discover the Power of Intimacy https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/deeper-dating-en [1]. For more context on this practice, you can find the full episode on the Deeper Dating podcast https://deeperdatingpodcast.com/speed-your-path-to-love/ [2]. In that feed, you'll also find a lot of other episodes with tips, questions and exercises that you can immediately apply in your intimacy journey. Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [3], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code INNERMENTOR. There you'll also find Simplify episode with Ken, as well as all our other guests from the previous 7 seasons. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Marta at @martatlon https://twitter.com/martatlon [4], Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [5] and Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [6] Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler and Marta Medvešek. Big thanks to Odysseas Constantinou for his audio engineering chops. ♥ [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/deeper-dating-en [2]: https://deeperdatingpodcast.com/speed-your-path-to-love/ [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [4]: https://twitter.com/martatlon [5]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [6]: https://twitter.com/bsto

Figure out what matters most to you and let go of the rest. EPISODE NOTES Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by all of the things you need to juggle in order to be a good... anything? A good partner, a good parent, a good worker, a good friend? And in the end, it feels like you never have enough time and energy to focus on what really matters to YOU? In this final episode of Season 7, Tiffany Dufu invites you to stop being "good" and drop the ball. Tiffany is the author of Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/drop-the-ball-en [1], and for her, dropping the ball means letting go of unrealistic expectations of doing it all, and engaging others in the process, so that you can live a life that you’re passionate about. Tiffany explains the repercussions of juggling too much, helps you find out why all these balls ended up in your hands in the first place, and finally, how to know what you can start to let go of. She also talks about the importance of having people in your life who hold you accountable for living your best life and being your best self—an idea she's bringing to life in her project The Cru https://www.thecru.com/ [2]. Book recommended by Tiffany: Just as I Am: A Memoir, by Cicely Tyson Books recommended by Ben & Caitlin: Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder, by Reshma Saujani I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time, by Laura Vanderkam Find Simplify episode with Laura Vanderkam here: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-time-laura-vanderkam [3] Ben also mentions the Japanese concept of Ikigai, that roughly translates as ‘reason for being’. Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [4], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code DROPIT. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [5], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [6] Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler and Marta Medvešek. Big thanks to Luiza S. Carvalho for audio engineering chops and Odysseas Constantinou for music. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/drop-the-ball-en [2]: https://www.thecru.com/ [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-time-laura-vanderkam [4]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [5]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [6]: https://twitter.com/bsto

Reduce digital anxiety and optimize your communication no matter the distance. EPISODE NOTES Did you know that 50% of the time the tone over email, Slack, and text is misunderstood? This is because in the digital world, the cues we would usually send with our bodies are missing—facial expressions, gestures, vocal tone—and that can cause a lot of misunderstandings. And this is why Erica Dhawan, the author of Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance https://read.macmillan.com/lp/digital-body-language-audiobook/ [1] believes that "reading carefully is the new listening and writing clearly is the new empathy." In today's episode, Erica will help you become aware of the signals you might be sending with your digital body without knowing it, and teach you how to reduce anxiety and frustration—both for yourself and others. She will also share ideas on what to do in order to avoid groupthink cultures in digital spaces and create psychological safety so that everyone can feel free to express themselves. Books recommended by Erica: Rituals Roadmap: The Human Way to Transform Everyday Routines Into Workplace Magic, by Erica Keswin Remote Work Revolution: Succeeding from Anywhere, by Tsedal Neeley Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, by Luvvie Ajayi Jones Book recommended by Caitlin: The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything, by Stephen M.R. Covey Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code DIGITAL. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [3], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [4] Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler and Marta Medvešek, and our wonderful co-host today was Deborah Caulet, Blinkist’s Head of People Development. Big thanks to Luiza S. Carvalho for audio engineering chops and Odysseas Constantinou for music. [1]: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/digital-body-language-audiobook/ [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [3]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [4]: https://twitter.com/bsto

Put down your armor and open yourself to real intimacy. EPISODE NOTES Are you single—or in a relationship—and keep falling for people who almost love you right, but not quite? There's a reason why that happens, and Ken Page has figured out the formula behind these deeper physics of dating. Ken is a psychotherapist specialized in the search for intimacy, and author of the book Deeper Dating: How to Drop the Games of Seduction and Discover the Power of Intimacy (https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/deeper-dating-en). In this episode, Ken explains why the parts of you that you're most embarrassed about—that you try to hide by being cool, low maintenance, or extra accommodating—are actually your most valuable gifts that will lead you to finding and keeping real intimacy. He also reveals what he considers to be the single biggest saboteur of healthy love, and talks about different ways in which we flee intimacy without being aware of it. Whether single or in a relationship, this episode is for everyone who wants to foster their skills of intimacy, and deepen their bonds with themselves and others. Books Ken recommends: Ken recommends Harville Hendrix’s work, especially Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples. He also mentions his work around Safe Conversations. Books Caitlin and Ben recommend: The 5 Love Languages: - The Secret to Love that Lasts, by Gary Chapman - Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love, by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller - Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples, by Harville Hendrix Caitlin also mentions Imago Relationship Therapy, developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt. Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code COREGIFTS. Let us know what you thought of this episode, what your core gifts are, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [3], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [4] Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler and Marta Medvešek. Big thanks to Luiza S. Carvalho for audio engineering chops and Odysseas Constantinou for music. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/deeper-dating-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [3]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [4]: https://twitter.com/bsto

Learn how to stop saying yes when you want to say no, even to your boss. EPISODE NOTES Do you sometimes find yourself replying to work emails late at night... from bed? Or maybe taking on another task that, almost as soon as you've agreed, you realize you don't actually have time for? Often, instead of behaving as if we’re exchanging our intellect, talent, and skills for money, we feel like whoever pays us owns us. And this is where trouble starts. In today's episode Natalie Lue will help you understand why you might be struggling with boundaries at work, and what you can do to start changing these unhealthy patterns. This episode was recorded with a live audience in April 2021, and in the second part you will hear Natalie answer questions about dealing with anxiety, expectations and re-learning how to socialize in the workplace. Natalie is a speaker, author and podcast host around all things emotional baggage, and you can find the Shortcast of her show The Baggage Reclaim Sessions in the Blinkist App. You can try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [1], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code BOUNDARIES. Books recommended by Ben and Caitlin: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress, by Gabor Maté Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, by Luvvie Ajayi Jones You can find Natalie's online course Reclaim Your Work Boundaries here: https://www.baggagereclaim.co.uk/reclaim-your-work-boundaries-online-course/ [2] Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [3], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [4] Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler and Marta Medvešek. Big thanks to Luiza S. Carvalho for audio engineering chops, Odysseas Constantinou for music, and a special thanks to Chisanga and Evrim for their great questions! [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [2] https://www.baggagereclaim.co.uk/reclaim-your-work-boundaries-online-course/ [3]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [4]: https://twitter.com/bsto

Prepare for your own death—and live life more fully in the meantime. EPISODE NOTES Does talking about death freak you out? No wonder, it's something many of us avoid thinking about and prefer pretending it's not there. But it's an important topic, and if we can allow ourselves to sit with the truth that life will eventually end, it becomes a beautiful call to appreciate our lives and the people in them. And this is why palliative care physician Kathryn Mannix wrote her book, With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/with-the-end-in-mind-en. Having witnessed death many thousands of times, Kathryn has come to a view that there's usually little to fear and much to prepare for. In this episode, Kathryn will help you understand what the human organism goes through as death approaches so that you can be less afraid of the process itself. She'll share how to prepare for the end of your life—both practically and mentally—as well as what you can do if you find yourself on the other side, supporting a loved one approaching the end of theirs. Books recommended by Kathryn: - Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, by Atul Gawande - Waiting for the Last Bus: Reflections on Life and Death, by Richard Holloway Books recommended by Caitlin and Ben: - Spoiler Alert: You're Gonna Die, by Korttany Finn and Jacquie Purcell - When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi - On Death and Dying, by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to https://www.blinkist.com/simplify, tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code MANNIX. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [3], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [4]. Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Ines Bläsius, and Marta Medvešek. Thanks to Luiza S. Carvalho for audio engineering chops and Odysseas Constantinou for music. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/with-the-end-in-mind-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [3]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [4]: https://twitter.com/bsto

Eliminate drama and create better relationships by owning your 100%. EPISODE NOTES Most of us learned how to do relationships from a state of victimhood. According to Karpman's Drama Triangle, there are three different roles to play: the victim, the hero and the villain. Regardless of these parts we take on, we're avoiding taking full responsibility for our experiences and our results in the world, which in turn causes a lot of drama and suffering. In this episode, Diana Chapman explains what it means to take radical responsibility—both at work and at home—and why this "serious business" actually goes hand in hand with playfulness. This episode is the second part of the two-parter on the book The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/the-15-commitments-of-conscious-leadership-en [1], that Diana wrote together with Jim Dethmer and Kaley Warner Klemp. You can find the first part with Jim Dethmer in the feed. Book recommended by Diana: - Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear Diana also mentions work by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks, as well as Karpman's drama triangle. Books recommended by Caitlin and Ben: - Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, by Stuart M. Brown Jr. and Christopher Vaughan - Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean, by Kim Scott - The No-Gossip Zone: A No-Nonsense Guide to a Healthy, High-Performing Work Environment, by Sam Chapman Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code PLAYFUL. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [3], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [4]. Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Ines Bläsius and Marta Medvešek. Thanks to Luiza S. Carvalho for audio engineering chops and Odysseas Constantinou for music. [1] https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/the-15-commitments-of-conscious-leadership-en [2] https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [3] https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [4] https://twitter.com/bsto

Become a conscious, authentic leader by befriending your fear—and every other emotion, too. EPISODE NOTES One thing most leaders have in common is that they want to perform well. And that often leads them into the trap of believing that to be a great leader, you’re not allowed to be scared—or at least that you'd better not show it. In this episode, Jim Dethmer invites us to embrace the opposite: allowing yourself to be fully present and fully alive—including feeling all your feelings—is the first step towards more conscious leadership, whether you’re leading a team, or just leading yourself through life. The key question is: are you ready to make that shift? This is your first step for learning how. This episode is the first of the two-parter on the book The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/the-15-commitments-of-conscious-leadership-en [1], that Jim wrote with Diana Chapman and Kaley Warner Klemp. You can listen to the second part with Diana Chapman right away—it’s already in the feed. Apps mentioned by Jim: - Mind Jogger for Apple devices - Randomly RemindMe for Android devices Books recommended by Caitlin and Ben: - No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work, by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy - Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life, by Byron Katie with Stephen Mitchell - Daniel Goleman’s books on emotional intelligence Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code THELINE. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [3], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [4]. Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Ines Bläsius and Marta Medvešek. Thanks to Luiza S. Carvalho for audio engineering chops and Odysseas Constantinou for music. [1] https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/the-15-commitments-of-conscious-leadership-en [2] https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [3] https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [4] https://twitter.com/bsto

Understand the science of your child's developing mind to calm the chaos. EPISODE NOTES If your child is having a meltdown or throwing a tantrum in the supermarket, you'll do almost anything to make them stop—including turning into MeanParent™. But there's another way! Dr. Tina Payne Bryson offers a different approach to discipline, free of threats and punishments, that is based on neuroscience. Understanding and nourishing your child's developing brain will not only help you survive the chaos, but also help them thrive - because their behavior is telling you loud and clear what skills they don't yet have. In this episode, Tina shares some of the key ideas on parenting from the books she wrote with Daniel J. Siegel, The Whole-Brain Child https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/the-whole-brain-child-en [1] and No-Drama Discipline https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/no-drama-discipline-en [2]. Not a parent? Keep listening anyway – this episode will help you understand what happens to your loved ones when they’re having a meltdown, and how you can best support them. Books recommended by Tina: - The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence, by Jessica Lahey - Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, by Julie Lythcott-Haims Books recommended by Caitlin: - The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, by Elaine N. Aron - The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When the World Overwhelms Them, by Elaine N. Aron Other Tina's books mentioned in the interview: - The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired, by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson - The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child, by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson - The Bottom Line for Baby: What the Science Says about Your Biggest Questions and Concerns, by Tina Payne Bryson Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [3], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code TANTRUM. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [4], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [5]. Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler and Marta Medvešek. Thanks to Luiza S. Carvalho for audio engineering chops and Odysseas Constantinou for music. [1] https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/the-whole-brain-child-en [2] https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/no-drama-discipline-en [3] https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [4] https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [5] https://twitter.com/bsto

Make big moves on the projects that matter most to you with the help of productivity expert Erik Fisher. EPISODE NOTES Worn down by your never-ending to-do list? Even though there’s been a shift towards a more holistic idea of productivity in the last years, a lot of people still think that being productive is all about efficient time managing and achieving more. And this is where Erik Fisher comes in. Over the past 10 years, Erik's hosted some of the world's biggest productivity experts on his show, Beyond the To-Do List—people like Michael Hyatt, Cal Newport and James Clear. So we asked him: what are the most important productivity principles he's learned in his years studying the subject? By the end of this episode, you will know what you need to do to achieve your goals and do your best work—and an important part of it is giving yourself a break! Book recommended by Erik: - The Motivation Code: Discover the Hidden Forces That Drive Your Best Work, by Todd Henry with Ron Penner, Todd W. Hall, and Joshua Miller In the interview Erik also mentioned David Allen’s Getting Things Done, Brian Tracy’s Eat That Frog!, as well as ideas from Michael Hyatt, Daniel Pink, and Jon Acuff. Books recommended by Ben and Caitlin: - Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, by Nir Eyal - A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload, by Cal Newport - Ready Aim Fire! A Practical Guide To Setting And Achieving Goals, by Erik Fisher and Jim Woods https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/ready-aim-fire-en [1] Try Blinkist for free for 14 days (and hear Erik's Shortcast!) by going to https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code TODOLIST. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [3], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [4] Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler and Marta Medvešek. Big thanks to Odysseas Constantinou for audio engineering chops and music. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/browse/books/ready-aim-fire-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [3]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [4]: https://twitter.com/bsto

Keep your career thriving in today’s volatile job market with a new perspective on identity and jobs from Farai Chideya. EPISODE NOTES For a lot of us, our job is a profound expression of selfhood. That means that when we lose a job, or when a business fails, we might feel like failures, too. And in today’s uncertain economy this happens a lot more than anybody would like. In this episode, Farai Chideya, author of The Episodic Career https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/the-episodic-career-en [1], offers a new perspective on how to approach your career path so that you can both survive and thrive at work in the age of disruption. When you understand that you're not your job, but rather that it’s a thing that you do, it's much easier to bounce back, make a pivot, or even temporarily earn less on your way to doing work that really fulfills you. Sci-Fi podcasts recommended by Farai: 1. Clarkesworld 2. Escape Pod 3. StarShipSofa Books mentioned by Caitlin and Ben: 1. How to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric (The School of Life) 2. What Color Is Your Parachute: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success by Richard N. Bolles with Katharine Brooks 3. The Multi-Hyphen Life: Work Less, Create More, and Design a Life That Works for You by Emma Gannon Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code REBOOT. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][3], Ben at [@bsto][4]. Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Ines Bläsius, and Marta Medvešek. Thanks to Odysseas Constantinou for audio engineering chops and music. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/the-episodic-career-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [3]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [4]: https://twitter.com/bsto

After a long pandemic's nap, Simplify is BACK with 9 episodes that range in topic from career pivots to bandwidth to dropping the ball, through to parenting and how to have a good death. EPISODE NOTES To show you just how much we've missed you, season 7 of Simplify is extra large and extra excellent! This time, you'll hear from a dating psychologist on connecting at the deepest level, the ultimate productivity expert on working in seasons, and even a hospice physician on how to have a good death—and live life to the fullest in the meantime. As always, this season features bestselling authors like Tiffany Dufu, Ken Page, Farai Chideya, and Kathryn Mannix, and as a bonus, Shortcast hosts Natalie Lue and Erik Fisher! If you haven’t subscribed, make sure to do so before the first new episode drops on May 20th. If we’re lucky enough to already count you as a Simplify fan, then please spread the word and tell your friends. It really does help! Send us feedback, suggestions, or questions about anything you’ve heard or would like to hear at [email protected]. And if Twitter’s your thing, you’ll find Caitlin @CaitlinSchiller and Ben @bsto.

Sebastian Klein, psychologist, entrepreneur and co-author of The Loop Approach, shares how small changes in behavior can make big organizational transformations. In this interview, Caitlin and Sebastian discuss how businesses around the world are making changes that transform them from hierarchy, to more effective and people-centered organizations. Sebastian explains why designating roles rather than titles is more empowering, how he determines whether organizations genuinely want to change, and how to have better communication at the workplace. This episode is great for anyone who has identified changes they want to make, and finds themselves asking the question, “but, how?” For more info, including links to everything discussed in the episode, check out this link: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-workplace-evolution-seb-klein/ [2] Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify][3], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code LOOPS. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][4], Ben at [@bsto][5]. Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller with unparalleled co-hosting by Ben Schuman-Stoler. Thanks to Ines Bläsius for production assistance and Christoph Meyer for audio engineering chops. The new Simplify theme is by the one and only Odysseas Constantinou. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/the-loop-approach-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-workplace-evolution-seb-klein/ [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [4]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller?lang=en [5]: https://twitter.com/bsto [6]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-seb-klein-transcript/

In this episode of Simplify, Sonya Renee Taylor explains how our language and mindset about our bodies impact us in ways that we are often entirely unaware of. Increasing our awareness of this factor enables us to better understand our own low moments, but also helps to explain major historical and societal harm. Listen in to learn more about what we can do to avoid repeatedly making these same mistakes. Sonya Renee Taylor is a multi-talented artist, activist, educator and transformational leader. She is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology- a digital media and education company spreading the message of radical self-love as a means for personal as well as broader systemic and social change. She is the author of two books, including The Body is Not An Apology, an award-winning poet, and has been recognized by organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Bustle Magazine, and the Obama White House for the influence that her work has had. For more info, including links to everything discussed in the episode, check out this link: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-self-acceptance-sonya-renee-taylor/ [2] Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify][3], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code RADICAL. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][4], Ben at [@bsto][5]. Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller with unparalleled co-hosting by Ben Schuman-Stoler. Thanks to Ines Bläsius for production assistance and Christoph Meyer for audio engineering chops. The new Simplify theme is by the one and only Odysseas Constantinou. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/the-body-is-not-an-apology-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-self-acceptance-sonya-renee-taylor/ [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [4]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller?lang=en [5]: https://twitter.com/bsto [6]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-sonya-renee-taylor-transcript/

In this episode of Simplify, Caitlin asks Randolph Nesse why he believes that humans have evolved to experience hardships such as depression, anxiety and grief. As it turns out, while many of our most painful emotions often do not serve a proper function in our modern world, they may have a history that allowed for our ancestors to survive. Randolph Nesse is a Professor and Founding Director of The Center for Evolution and Medicine at Arizona State University. His decades of experience in a clinical setting have informed his research and commitment to furthering our understanding of modern psychology through the study of evolution. He has written a handful of books covering topics such as bereavement, depression, interpersonal relationships, and his latest book, Good Reasons for Bad Feelings, connects all of these with Evolutionary Psychiatry. He has devoted his career to bringing insights from evolutionary biology into our practice of medicine today. For more info, including links to everything discussed in the episode, check out this link: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-psychiatry-randolph-nesse/[2] Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify][3], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code evolve. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][4], Ben at [@bsto][5]. Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller with unparalleled co-hosting by Ben Schuman-Stoler. Thanks to Ines Bläsius for production assistance and Christoph Meyer for audio engineering chops. The new Simplify theme is by the one and only Odysseas Constantinou. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/good-reasons-for-bad-feelings-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-psychiatry-randolph-nesse/ [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [4]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller?lang=en [5]: https://twitter.com/bsto [6]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-randolph-nesse-transcript/

Can we make joy, on-demand? Ingrid Fetell Lee, joy researcher and former IDEO designer, reveals how in transforming our spaces, we also have the power to transform our wellbeing. Find out how color brought life back into a struggling city, how you might be able to cheer up a loved one in the hospital, and how to set up a meeting at work to bring more energy and positivity into the room. For more info, including links to everything discussed in the episode, check out this link: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-joy-ingrid-fetell-lee/[2] Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify][3], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code **joyful**. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][4], Ben at [@bsto][5]. Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller with unparalleled co-hosting by Ben Schuman-Stoler. Thanks to Ines Bläsius for production assistance and Christoph Meyer for audio engineering chops. The new Simplify theme is by the one and only Odysseas Constantinou. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/joyful-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-joy-ingrid-fetell-lee/ [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [4]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller?lang=en [5]: https://twitter.com/bsto

In this episode of Simplify, journalist and two-time New York Times-bestselling author Johann Hari reveals the cultural causes of depression: loss of connection to meaningful work, meaningful relationships, a future that makes sense, and other amorphous factors, both political and personal, that just can’t be blamed on the human mind. Hear Hari tell Caitlin the stories of how people have reclaimed their connections to meaningful work and the moving story of the Berlin community that saved itself through connection and care, and learn how we can all start to reconnect with what matters. Johann Hari is a writer and journalist and a two-time New York Times bestseller. He’s written for publications including The Independent and The Huffington Post and has written books on the topics of depression, the war on drugs, and the monarchy. He has also given a TED talk on the topic of addiction. For more info, including links to everything discussed in the episode, check out this link: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-depression-johann-hari/ [2] Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify][3], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code **connect**. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][4], Ben at [@bsto][5]. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/lost-connections-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-depression-johann-hari/ [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [4]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller?lang=en [5]: https://twitter.com/bsto

In this episode of Simplify, Susan Cain discusses the ways in which introverts and extroverts react differently to stimulation and why we often overlook the strengths of introverts. Giving introverts permission to be themselves not only makes them feel better, it can unlock their potential. With a few simple tweaks, schools and workplaces can create an environment in which introverts are better able to use their unique strengths to benefit everybody. Susan Cain is the author of the bestselling book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, as well as its companion book for teens, Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverted Kids. Her 2012 TED Talk about introversion has been viewed over 20 million times, and is considered one of the most popular of all time. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, as well as other publications. Susan has spoken to hundreds of companies, associations, schools and parenting groups about providing environments in which introverts can thrive through her accurately named organization, Quiet Revolution. For more info, including links to everything discussed in the episode, check out this link: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-introversion-susan-cain Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [www.blinkist.com/en/nc/friends/][3] and typing in the code **quiet**. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][4] & Ben at [@bsto][5]. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/quiet-en [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-introversion-susan-cain [3]: www.blinkist.com/friends/?v=quiet [4]: twitter.com/caitlinschiller?lang=en [5]: twitter.com/bsto

Picture a person who uses cannabis regularly. Did you imagine an Olympic medal-winning athlete, or a successful entrepreneur? Or did you think of someone who fits the standard stoner stereotype? If, like most people, you conjured up the latter, then today’s episode of Simplify might challenge some of your assumptions about what cannabis-use looks like, and what it’s used for. In this episode, Caitlin interviews cannabis journalist and author of The Little Book of Cannabis, Amanda Siebert. As the plant begins to be legalized on a more widespread basis, for both medicinal and recreational use, Siebert analyzes how the drug got so demonized, the wide array of benefits it can have for many people, and how we need to reconsider our preconceptions about the humble weed. For more info, including links to everything discussed in the episode, check out this link: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-amanda-siebert-cannabis/ Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/friends/][3] and typing in the code **cannabis**. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][4], Ben at [@bsto][5] and Terence at [@terence_mickey][6] That excellent music you heard is by Nico Guiang. You can find more of it on [Soundcloud][7] and [Facebook][8]. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/a-really-good-day-en/ [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-amanda-siebert-cannabis/ [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/friends/?v=cannabis [4]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller?lang=en [5]: https://twitter.com/bsto [6]: https://twitter.com/terence_mickey?ref_src=twsrc%5Eappleosx%7Ctwcamp%5Esafari%7Ctwgr%5Esearch [7]: https://soundcloud.com/niceaux [8]: https://www.facebook.com/niceaux

What does whiteness mean? If you're a white person, the occasions on which you've thought about it might be few. If you're a person of color, the time you spend reckoning with its meaning & consequences are likely far too many. Today's episode of Simplify is an invitation to grapple with what white means in the world, and how to have more generative, revelation-ready mindsets and conversations about racism as a system. As a Racial Justice Educator, Robin DiAngelo exhorts white people to consider what their skin color means on a cultural, economic, political, and personal level. She's written *White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Race* as an educational tool for white people who want to be better allies, inspect their biases, and find their way out of a racist system that continues to do harm. For more info, including links to everything discussed in the episode, check out this link: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-robin-diangelo-white-fragility Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/friends/][3] and typing in the code **fragile**. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][4] & Ben at [@bsto][5]. That excellent music you heard is by Nico Guiang. You can find more of it on [Soundcloud][6] and [Facebook][7]. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/white-fragility-en/ [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-robin-diangelo-white-fragility [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/friends/?v=fragile [4]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller?lang=en [5]: https://twitter.com/bsto [6]: https://soundcloud.com/niceaux [7]: https://www.facebook.com/niceaux

Coach & writer Jen Sincero tried every self-help technique out there, then condensed the most powerful practices into one straight-talking bestseller that thousands have used to kickstart their lives. Listen in as Sincero takes you through how to bust your own self-defeating beliefs to become the badass you’ve always known you are. Sincero, author of bestselling book *You Are a Badass* breaks down negative thinking about money, how to tap into "source energy" (without getting too woo-woo), and what it's like to transform your world through transforming your own stories. Plus, she gets really honest about the negative fallout in changing your life for the better. For more info, including links to everything discussed in the episode, check out this link: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-success-jen-sincero-believe-better-stories Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/friends/][3] and typing in the code **badass**. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at [@caitlinschiller][4], and Ben at [@bsto][5]. That excellent music you heard is by Nico Guiang. You can find more of it on [Soundcloud][7] and [Facebook][8]. [1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/you-are-a-badass-en/ [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/simplify-success-jen-sincero-believe-better-stories [3]: https://www.blinkist.com/friends/?v=badass [4]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller?lang=en [5]: https://twitter.com/bsto [7]: https://soundcloud.com/niceaux [8]: https://www.facebook.com/niceaux