

Blinkist Podcast - Interviews | Personal Development | Productivity | Business | Psychology
Ben Schuman-Stoler. Making big ideas personal. Get personal growth and business lessons from thought leaders and entrepreneurs.
Please visit us at blinkist.com/simplify to see our new podcast, Simplify!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 29, 2021 • 19min
Bonus episode with Ken Page: Meet Your Inner Mentor
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This is an unpublished excerpt from the Simplify interview with Ken Page, followed by the original tape of his guided meditation.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

Jul 8, 2021 • 42min
Tiffany Dufu: Do What You Do Best, Drop The Rest
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

Jul 8, 2021 • 39min
Erica Dhawan: Master Your Digital Body Language
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

Jul 2, 2021 • 44min
Ken Page: Respect Your Gifts to Find Real Love
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

Jun 24, 2021 • 45min
Natalie Lue: Your Boss is Not Your Parent
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

Jun 23, 2021 • 41min
Kathryn Mannix: How to Die Well
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

Jun 23, 2021 • 35min
Diana Chapman: Take Radical Responsibility
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

Jun 15, 2021 • 40min
Jim Dethmer: You're Allowed to Be Scared
Discover the importance of embracing your emotions in leadership, and the misconceptions surrounding conscious leadership. Explore the five major emotions and their role in the workplace. Learn about the significance of recognizing and understanding core emotions, and the negative consequences of suppressing them. Wrap up with a request for listeners to share the episode and try Blinkist for free.

Jun 15, 2021 • 39min
Tina Payne Bryson: What Your Kid Needs Most is You
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

Jun 15, 2021 • 35min
Erik Fisher: Get the Right Work Done
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