The Book Pile

In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell asks, what does it take to become the master of your field? His answer: thousands of hours of practice--plus being born in the right place at the right time to the right family. Plus, Dave knows stuff about hockey despite having all his teeth. And Kellen gets insulted by a taxi driver despite being in Canada.*To buy the book, Outliers, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3qg1qwx*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series "Inside Jokes." He has garnered over 50 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country.*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

In Do You Talk Funny?, Dave Nihill (our special guest!) went undercover, posing as a popular Irish standup comedian in order to get better at public speaking. Listen to his hilarious insights and stories, including truly crazy things he’s done in Colombia. Also, Dave has some retractions and Kellen cheats in a comedy competition.*To buy the book, Do You Talk Funny?, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3OF6rrJ

In Upstream, Dan Heath teaches us how to solve problems before they happen. (Think, public health breakthroughs like vaccines, hand-washing, and killing baby Hitler.) Also, Dave has thoughts on nuclear bombs, and Kellen gets some negative feedback after a show.*To buy the book, Upstream, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3Qp5Onr

Kellen and Dave delve into the production and procrastination that went into creating the most ground-breaking musical of all time, as revealed in the book Hamilton, The Revolution. Plus, Dave tells a story of making unlikely friends at a live performance of Hamilton, and Kellen recalls a piercing heckle he received from the worst group of people to perform in front of: teenagers.*To buy the book, Hamilton, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3Qnm5cA

Comedian Chad Daniels joins Kellen and Dave to discuss his favorite book, The Old Man and the Sea. It's a story of perseverance, purpose, and skill (and fishing). A skilled storyteller himself, Chad brings insights from having read the book every year for the past two decades. Plus he's just hilarious.Check out Chad's podcast Middle of Somewhere, with new episodes every Monday (but start from the beginning, it's the best).To buy the book, The Old Man and the Sea, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3OBwZub

In Bossypants, Tina Fey shares hilarious stories and creative lessons from SNL and 30 Rock. Kellen tells his own story of auditioning for SNL in New York. And Dave tells a story about mustard gas, just to bring down the vibe.*To buy the book, Bossypants, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3YzhB4Z

What can Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling teach you about life? Turns out, lots of things. How to convince people to try solutions, how to create compelling mysteries, and the right way to free a house-elf. Plus, Kellen talks about breaking into Universal Studios, and Dave still knows too much about Harry Potter.*To buy the book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/47sqh10

Just in time for the New Year, we discuss The Power of Habit, where Charles Duhigg teaches how to develop good habits (exercise, family dinner, saving money) and kick bad ones (podcasting). Plus, Kellen has strong feelings on rats and Dave takes a virtual exercise class.*To buy the book, The Power of Habit, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3DCBPB4

Explore the life of Steve Jobs, a college dropout who revolutionized tech with his unique vision. Discover lessons in passion and authenticity that fueled his success, alongside the influence of early video games on his design philosophy. Learn how Jobs’ ability to frame facts as impactful can drive motivation. The discussion highlights his collaborative approach to innovation, particularly with transformative products like the iPod, emphasizing the balance between individual creativity and teamwork in the tech world.

Originals are people who reject the default and explore whether better options exist. In other words, if it weren't for originals, we wouldn't have Shakespeare, Beethoven, or the Lion King (the first one, hands down). So how do you come up with original ideas? We'll answer that question. We'll also answer the question of how many siblings Dave has (hint: it's too many). Plus Kellen tells the story of how he wrote the opening joke for his triumphant appearance on Conan.*To buy the book, Originals, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/43Xr4ns