Recharge with David Ko

Kenneth Cole is an American fashion designer and social activist who founded Kenneth Cole Productions in 1982. While known globally for his footwear and accessories empire, Cole is equally renowned for pioneering "cause and commerce"  - using his fashion platform to drive social change for over 40 years. In 2020, he founded The Mental Health Coalition (MHC), a nonprofit uniting the nation's leading mental health organizations to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Cole calls mental health "the greatest epidemic of our time."   The Mental Health Coalition brings together 50+ organizations, provides 500+ free mental health resources, and has created innovative campaigns like "How Are You, Really?" and the annual Wellbeing at Work Day initiative. Cole has received the 2025 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion for his transformative leadership in mental health advocacy.

Nicole Avant is an American producer, author, philanthropist, and former diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to the Bahamas from 2009 to 2011 - the first Black woman and youngest person to hold that position. The daughter of music mogul Clarence Avant ("The Black Godfather") and philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, she has produced critically acclaimed projects including the 2019 Netflix documentary on her father The Black Godfather and The Six Triple Eight (2024), a World War II film directed by Tyler Perry.  Following the tragic murder of her mother in December 2021, Nicole channeled her grief into her USA Today bestselling memoir Think You'll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude (2023), becoming a powerful voice on resilience, mental wellness, faith, and the healing power of music. She is married to Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix.

Nicole Avant is an American producer, author, philanthropist, and former diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to the Bahamas from 2009 to 2011 - the first Black woman and youngest person to hold that position. The daughter of music mogul Clarence Avant ("The Black Godfather") and philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, she has produced critically acclaimed projects including the 2019 Netflix documentary on her father The Black Godfather and The Six Triple Eight (2024), a World War II film directed by Tyler Perry.  Following the tragic murder of her mother in December 2021, Nicole channeled her grief into her USA Today bestselling memoir Think You'll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude (2023), becoming a powerful voice on resilience, mental wellness, faith, and the healing power of music. She is married to Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix.

Kelly Carlin is an actress, producer, screenwriter, podcast host, and the only daughter of the late comedian George Carlin. Her fascinations range from discovering how to live a true and deep life, to freedom of expression, to the evolution of consciousness and the American psyche. She’s a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, has a master’s in Jungian psychology, and comes from a family steeped in comedy, big ideas, and warm hearts. She is also the founder of Women on The Verge, a coaching practice that encourages women to make deep, long-lasting changes within so that they can finally be valued, paid, and recognized.

Bill Gurley is a general partner at Benchmark, a leading venture capital firm in Silicon Valley. Over his venture career, he has invested in and served on the board of such companies as Nextdoor, OpenTable, Stitch Fix, Uber, and Zillow. Born in Dickinson, Texas, Gurley earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Florida and later received an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2025, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas alumni association. For more than two decades, Gurley has written about technology and other subjects on his popular blog, Above the Crowd, and on his social media accounts.

Exclusive Part 2 Episode with John Driscoll and David Ko, CEO of Calm.  Recap: John Driscoll is a healthcare executive, board leader, and author known for pioneering approaches to home-based care and advocating for fair wages as a pathway to employee wellbeing and business success. He is a member of the Patriotic Millionaires and a Senior Advisor to Walgreens Boots Alliance and the EQT Group. Previously, he was the CEO of CareCentrix, Group President for New Markets at Medco, and Executive Vice President at Walker Digital. Currently serving as Chairman of UConn Health and multiple corporate boards, John co-authored the 2024 book Pay the People! Why Fair Pay is Good for Business and Great for America, with Morris Pearl.

John Driscoll is a healthcare executive, board leader, and author known for pioneering approaches to home-based care and advocating for fair wages as a pathway to employee wellbeing and business success. He is a member of the Patriotic Millionaires and a Senior Advisor to Walgreens Boots Alliance and the EQT Group. Previously, he was the CEO of CareCentrix, Group President for New Markets at Medco, and Executive Vice President at Walker Digital. Currently serving as Chairman of UConn Health and multiple corporate boards, John co-authored the 2024 book Pay the People! Why Fair Pay is Good for Business and Great for America, with Morris Pearl.

Jennifer B. Wallace is an award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of the Mattering Institute, whose mission is to create cultures of “mattering” in schools.  Her work centers on the idea that feeling valued and adding value is fundamental to our mental and emotional well-being.  She is a “maternal mental health advocate” at Calm, a consultant at Netflix, and frequent media contributor and commentator on issues around parenting, kids, and education. She lives in New York with her husband and 3 kids. Her new book, Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose discusses how the sense of “mattering” impacts not only our day-to-day mood and feelings of personal value, but also our overall health, workplaces, and communities.

Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt is a New York Times best-selling author, animal advocate, daughter, sister, wife, mother, step-mom, and host of the podcast, BDA Baby. A passionate animal advocate, Katherine works as an Ambassador for Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends.org) and the ASPCA (aspca.org). She is also a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics, and lives with her family in Los Angeles.

In this Special Season 2 Finale, David Ko presents a timely end-of-year gift: a compilation of advice on the single most crucial element for good mental health—sleep. This episode features the collective wisdom and top tips from all of this season's amazing guests, providing actionable insights to help you achieve a restful night's sleep.

David sits down for a candid conversation with Karen Lynch, a trailblazing leader known for her transformative work at the helm of major healthcare organizations like Aetna and CVS Health. Karen shares her deeply personal journey of vulnerability and resilience from the childhood tragedy that shaped her passion for mental health and reflects on the leadership lessons she’s learned throughout her career. She shares her personal strategies for finding balance, knowing when to recharge, and offers invaluable insights for leaders at any stage of their career.

Musician and actor Nick Jonas shares his journey living with Type 1 diabetes for 20 years, the mental toll of managing a chronic condition, and why community and technology (like continuous glucose monitoring) have been game-changers. He connects this personal health journey to resilience in leadership and fatherhood, underscoring how physical health and mental health are inseparable.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim joins David Ko, CEO of Calm, to talk about the mental side of elite performance and the pressures of being a global icon at such a young age. She shares her experience stepping away from snowboarding after the 2018 Olympics to protect her mental health, the role therapy and sleep have played in her recovery, and how she’s learning to balance ambition with joy. In a year when so many people feel stretched thin and overexposed, Chloe offers an honest look at burnout, identity, and what it really means to RECHARGE!

On Recharge today, David Ko, CEO of Calm, speaks with the one and only Arianna Huffington on the Mental Health Crisis around the world, and how it affects everyone. A Must Listen!

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai joins David Ko to discuss her new memoir Finding My Way and her journey of reclaiming her own story. She opens up about the weight of being thrust into the global spotlight as a teenager, the transformative role of college in helping her find her identity, and her candid experiences with mental health—including panic attacks and therapy. Malala reflects on the cultural stigmas around mental health in Pakistan, how she is redefining traditions for women and girls, and why sleep, friendship, and support systems are as vital as activism. In a year marked by global volatility, she offers a powerful reminder that even leaders need to rest, recharge, and find balance between tradition and modern life.

Dr. Vivek Murthy joins David to talk candidly about why mental health is “the defining public-health issue of our time,” and how leaders can protect their own battery and their teams’ well-being in a chaotic year. He lays out practical habits that fill (sleep, movement, meditation, time with loved ones) vs. drain (doom-scrolling, excess news, the wrong meetings) our “emotional tank,” and shares how modeling boundaries at work turns minutes of true presence into real impact. Murthy connects sleep to resilience (including his own shift from “badge-of-honor” sleep loss to disciplined routines), explains why loneliness is a health epidemic with physical consequences, and offers a simple prescription for volatile times: rebuild community through relationships, purpose, and service.

Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey opens up about his lifelong relationship with sleep, his fight against cynicism, and how belief shapes his outlook as a leader, parent, and partner. He shares how growing up in a household where “sleep was a sin” shaped his habits, why he’s unapologetically a 9½-hour sleeper now, and how daily rituals—from family dinners to naps, puzzles, or even quiet time with his wife—help him recharge. McConaughey also reflects on leadership as both responsibility and joy, the importance of solitude, and his vision of being inspired by “myself in ten years” and who his children are becoming.

This Fall, Recharge the Podcast by David Ko is back for Season 2 with deeper stories, new names, and more takeaways you can use every day. In honor of World Mental Health Day, this season turns the mic toward today’s most influential voices: CEOs reimagining leadership, athletes redefining resilience, and thought-leaders shaping culture worldwide.  From beating burnout to building connection, from overcoming loneliness to unlocking lasting well-being, these honest conversations aren’t just inspiring—they’re a roadmap for living and leading with purpose. Subscribe now and join us on the path to recharging—one conversation at a time.

Emmy-winner Sheryl Lee Ralph brings her electrifying presence to David Ko's podcast, sharing the journey from Broadway's "Dreamgirls" to her beloved role as Barbara Howard on "Abbott Elementary." With trademark authenticity, Sheryl recounts transforming personal tragedy into purpose by founding the Diva Foundation after losing friends to AIDS in the 1980s. Her historic Emmy win at age 65 becomes a powerful testament to perseverance, embodying her philosophy that "it's not over 'til you say it's over." Sheryl candidly discusses fighting for authentic Black representation in an industry that once marginalized her, advising listeners to "build your own table" when faced with exclusion. Sheryl shares touching stories of mentorship and her commitment to mental health advocacy through community walks that blend mindfulness with social justice. With delightful self-assurance, she celebrates embracing the very features once mocked by bullies—her distinctive lips and nose—now admired worldwide. Sheryl's memoir "DIVA 2.0: 12 Life Lessons From Me For You!" and her campaign for mental wellness and racial equity reflect her lifelong commitment to creating meaningful change through authentic representation.

Grammy, Emmy, and Oscar-winner Common explores the intersection of art and activism with David Ko, drawing from his new book "And Then We Rise." The conversation traces his evolution from Chicago's South Side to global prominence, highlighting how his mother's spiritual foundation and the legacies of figures like Emmett Till shaped his worldview. Common speaks candidly about breaking mental health stigmas in communities of color, sharing a moving story about a grieving teenager inspired to seek help after hearing his advocacy. With remarkable vulnerability, he discusses attending therapy with his daughter and how this strengthened their relationship during challenging times. Common reveals his daily recharging rituals: prayer, meditation, walks, and the joy of NBA games, alongside the importance of retreats and intentional "doing nothing" for deeper renewal. Throughout the conversation, Common exemplifies how authentic self-expression can catalyze community healing and social change. Listeners gain insight into balancing artistic creation with activism, maintaining spiritual grounding amid success, and finding personal peace while addressing collective struggles.

Two-time Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles joins David Ko to discuss her new book “I'm That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams” and her groundbreaking journey from childhood Nike dreams to becoming a TIME Women of the Year honoree. Jordan reveals how she's revolutionizing gymnastics culture with her unapologetic self-expression through tattoos, braids, and Beyoncé-inspired performances. With remarkable vulnerability, Jordan shares how therapy, artistic expression during COVID isolation, and sometimes confiding in strangers helped rebuild her psychological resilience. The conversation highlights her historic Paris Olympics podium moment alongside two other Black women gymnasts—a first in the sport's history. Jordan distinguishes her impact from teammate Simone Biles with the observation: "Simone changes the game—I change the culture." Beyond athletics, Jordan discusses battling social media negativity while maintaining her authentic self, and finding balance through unexpected pursuits like binge-watching Netflix to quiet what she calls her "creative chaos" brain. Throughout, she exemplifies how embracing one's complete identity can transform not just personal achievement but an entire sport's culture.

Comedian and author Chelsea Handler joins David Ko to discuss her seventh New York Times bestseller "I'll Have What She's Having" and her remarkable journey to self-acceptance. Chelsea recounts her entrepreneurial childhood—from spiked lemonade stands to a neighborhood babysitting business—before sharing how a disastrous Montreal Comedy Festival performance paradoxically launched her career. With heartfelt appreciation, she credits her third-grade teacher Mrs. Schekman for instilling the confidence that would define her career. Chelsea's therapeutic journey becomes a central theme as she discusses processing grief, family dynamics, and developing unshakable self-assurance despite public criticism. The conversation explores practical mental health practices including meditation and quality sleep, while Chelsea offers refreshingly straightforward advice on resilience: embrace failure as essential to growth and maintain authenticity regardless of consequences. Chelsea reveals her personal recharging methods—skiing in beautiful environments and helping others—while emphasizing the transformative power of gratitude. The episode balances humorous anecdotes with thoughtful reflections on finding joy and purpose in a highly visible career, concluding with details about her upcoming standup special and Las Vegas residency.

Hollywood legend Kevin Bacon joins David Ko to discuss his iconic 40+ year career spanning from "Footloose" to "Apollo 13" and "A Few Good Men." Beyond the spotlight, Kevin reveals his commitment to giving back through SixDegrees.org, demonstrating how fame can become a platform for meaningful change. He also opens up about the #IGETIT campaign, a new initiative aimed at promoting empathy, understanding, and meaningful action around mental health. With refreshing candor, he reflects on his early hunger for fame before eventually embracing the true craft of acting. Kevin shares valuable life lessons about personal growth, humility, and one regret that might surprise listeners: wishing he'd said "no" more often throughout his career. His perspective emphasizes that longevity matters more than perfection, and that even disappointing experiences contribute to professional development and personal wisdom. The episode blends humor with profound insights, offering listeners both entertainment and practical wisdom about navigating life's unpredictable journey with grace and resilience, regardless of whether you're pursuing stardom or simply seeking inspiration.

Get ready for Recharge with David Ko, a five-part limited podcast series launching this May in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Hosted by David Ko, CEO of Calm and bestselling author of Recharge: Boosting Your Mental Battery, One Conversation at a Time, the series explores a vital question: How do we replenish our mental energy in a world that constantly drains us? Drawing from his own journey and the lessons from his book, David sets the stage for a series designed to normalize mental health conversations, break the stigma, and empower you to take charge of your mental well-being. Subscribe now and join us on the path to recharging—one conversation at a time.