I love getting book and podcast recommendations so in the spirit of sharing impactful reads and listens, I humbly offer these suggestions. Get them each month right to your inbox by subscribing below. I hope you find great value.
Book:
The Intuitive Way; A Guide To Living From Inner Wisdom by Penney Peirce. When we can live with and trust our intuitive guidance, life becomes more magical and effortless. We all have intuition but it requires discovery and development which this book provides with simple, direct language.
Podcast:
The Knowledge Project with Shane Parish. July 23, 2024, Cultivating Desire with Esther Perel. Ms. Perel is a pop culture couples therapist but don’t let that turn you off from her deep knowledge and groundbreaking insights into making relationships work. She’s funny and engaging too.
Wisdom:
Believe patterns not apologies.
Book:
All About Love – New Visions by bell hooks. (she uses lower case for her name) Ms. hooks has passed on but she continues to be a highly influential American author, theorist, and social critic. “She provides a refreshing spiritual treatise that steps outside the confines of intellect and into the wilds of the heart” (Seattle Weekly) Highly recommended book.
Podcast:
Why Isn’t Everyone Doing This with Emily Fletcher, March 12, 2024. Waking Up From Your Intoxicated Sleep with Michael Bernard Beckwith. Reverend Beckwith is (in my view) at true Spiritual Leader with common sense messaging that defies religious categorization. Always something to gain from Dr. Beckwith.
Wisdom:
What you believe or how hard you believe it doesn’t make it true.
Book:
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. As we strive for reconciliation, educating ourselves with the experience of our native brothers and sisters is important. This book opens our eyes and our hearts.
Podcast:
Dr. Mark Hyman April 23, 2025. How to Love Better with Yung Pueblo. I’ve enjoyed some of Yung Pueblo’s writing on Substack and this interview has some actionable insights.
Wisdom:
It’s wonderful to want the things you already have.
Book:
Neuro Dharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness by Rick Hanson, PhD. Rick Hanson is a well-known psychologist and Buddhist teacher who provides “an easy to follow road map for creating day to day inner peace in today’s increasingly complex world” (Lori Gottlieb, MFT)
Podcast:
Evolution FM January 30, 2025. Spirituality Doesn’t Mean Abandoning Reason with Dandapani. Scott Britton is a wonderful interviewer and this conversation with Dandapani is grounding and enlightening.
Wisdom:
When you’re feeling fundamentally lost, afflicted by purposelessness, foul moods, and bad jobs, anything that stimulates the brains pleasure centers can become an addition (Martha Beck)
Book:
The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton: This classic book introduces us to epigenetics and the science of how thoughts control life. If you’ve never heard of epigenetics, it’s certainly time you did. It will change your paradigms of health and well-being.
Podcast:
The Life Coach School #527 with Brooke Castillo. Brooke speaks about Narratives and how we have ideas and stories (narratives) about who we are, which creates our identity but these narratives aren’t necessarily true and we have more power over these stories than we think.
Wisdom:
We tend to measure ourselves by our intentions but we will be seen as a product of our actions.
Book:
The Way Of Integrity by Martha Beck. Ms. Beck is a well known and respected Sociologist, Teacher and Life Coach. To be in integrity is to be one person, whole and undivided. She believes our psychological suffering “always comes from internal splits between what your encultured mind believes and what feels deeply true to you”. This book shows us the way forward out of psychological suffering.
Podcast:
Huberman Lab April 7, 2025: How To Find and Be a Great Romantic Partner with Lori Gottlieb. Lots of great insights from this psychotherapist and bestselling author.
Wisdom:
Thoughts create emotions and emotions create behaviors. Your behaviors are sourced in your thoughts.
Book:
Stillness Is The Key, by Ryan Holiday. Frantic is certainly an adjective that could describe our culture. In this profound bestseller, the author argues that stillness is not mere inactivity, but the doorway to self-mastery, discipline, and focus.
Podcast:
Tim Ferris Podcast #724 (Feb 27, 2024) with Claire Hughes Johnson. Ms. Johnson gives us a masterclass in leadership of both ourselves and others. How to take responsibility for our life, create rules that work, stop being a victim, set strong boundaries and more.
Wisdom:
Unresolved trauma can be a cancer of the heart.
Book:
How To Be Love(d) by Humble The Poet. The subtitle of this book is Simple Truths for Going Easier on Yourself, Embracing Imperfection and Loving Your Way to a Better Life. Say no more – if you’re not familiar with Humble, it’s time you were. Love is truly the solution. Profound and actionable.
Podcast:
The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish #62 Dr. Sue Johnson: Cracking the Code of Love. This interview discusses how to create, protect and nourish fulfilling sexual and emotional relationships.
Wisdom:
It’s not what you stand for – It’s what you stand up for. Rosalie Abella.
Book:
The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. This is a classic book and while a 4 hour work week may not be realistic for most of us, the concepts in the this book are sure to raise awareness, open up options and get you to ask yourself better questions.
Podcast:
Being Well (with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson) July 15, 2024. Why You’re Stuck, and How to Fix It. If you really want to change your trajectory, this podcast delivers actionable steps. Prepare to take notes.
Wisdom:
You are writing your FUTURE HISTORY right now – what do you want that to look like (begin with the end in mind)
Book:
Traction; Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wikman. Mr. Wikman’s “Entrepreneurial Operating System” (EOS) is brilliant. As a business advisor and consultant, I endorse this book 110%. A foolproof, step by step guide to get a grip on your business and achieve significantly better results.
Podcast:
The Psychology Podcast July 11, 2024. Kasley Killam on Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier. Cultivating our relationships is as important as diet, exercise and sleep. Distraction and busyness are harming our relationship and therefore ourselves. Powerful wisdom.
Wisdom:
Believe patterns, not apologies.
Book:
The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying about What People Think of You by Dr. Michael Gervais. Fear is probably the biggest thing that holds most of us back, most of the time. FOPO, or Fear Of People’s Opinions (of us) may be one of our most significant fears. True inner freedom and joy awaits when we can slay this dragon.
Podcast:
Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais, August 28, 2024. How to Thrive in a Distracted World. Psychologist Emma Seppala covers the research and concepts in her book Sovereign: Reclaim Your Freedom, Energy and Power. Meaningful insights for really improving our lives.
Wisdom:
You can’t change anyone unless they are in diapers.
Book:
Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty. This book has a 4.7 rating from almost 50k reviews on Amazon. All is mind and Jay’s background as a monk makes this a unique offering with very actionable insights.
Podcast:
On Purpose with Jay Shetty March 25, 2024 with Dr. Daniel Amen. Mindful Parenting. I absolutely love Dr. Amen and he gives some solid parenting tools and awareness in this interview.
Wisdom:
Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than anything on which it is poured – Mark Twain
Book:
Platonic; how the science of attachment can help you make – and keep – friends. Friendships are deeply important. Whether you suffer a lack of friends or have many, this book will remind you of the importance of friendships and help you create and sustain deeply satisfying friendships.
Podcast:
March 26, 2024 The One You Feed. How small changes lead to big rewards with Michael Easter. Some compelling insights on how small changes can lead to big rewards.
Wisdom:
Existence consists solely for its possibilities for relationships.
Book:
No More Mr. Nice Guy; a proven plan for getting what you want in love, sex and life by Dr. Robert Glover. Through his own struggles and journey plus his experiences as a clinical therapist, Dr. Glover helps us overcome Nice Guy Syndrome to help men and the people they love live more satisfying and fulfilling lives.
Podcast:
March 13, 2024 Savvy Psychologist. Why being too independent can actually be a problem. This 8 minute podcast by Dr. Monica Johnson is brilliantly informative about the significant downsides of independence.
Wisdom:
Everyone’s behavior makes sense to the person doing it.
Book:
The Success Principles; how to get from where you are to where you want to be by Jack Canfield. This book covers it all insofar as creating the life you want. A great reference.
Podcast:
April 15, 2024 Being Well podcast. Dealing with Emotionally Immature People (and parents) with Dr. Lindsay Gibson. A very informative discussion of emotional maturity.
Wisdom:
Stress is the difference between where you are and where you think you should be.
Book:
Real Love – The Art of Mindful Connection by Sharon Salzberg This book is a treasure. It offers keen insights, real stories, and much wisdom about what real, heart connected love is and how to experience it in all our relationships.
Podcast:
April 6, 2024 Something You Should Know with Mike Carruthers. How Expectations Steer Your Life. David Robson reviews his book The Expectation Effect. A fascinating and educational discussion.
Wisdom:
The greatest gift of our mind is intentional creation. Nicole Lepera
Book:
No Bad Parts – Healing Trauma & Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model by Richard Schwartz, Ph.D. Dr. Schwartz developed IFS which has helped countless people worldwide.
Podcast:
The B.rad Podcast December 19 and 26, 2023. Two short 12 minute podcasts that briefly outline some good “lifestyle laws” to support our health and well-being.
Wisdom:
Your net worth is your network.
Book:
The Myth of Normal – Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Mate and Daniel Mate. A magnum opus from our famous Vancouver physician on the sources and solutions for the epidemic of dis-ease.
Podcast:
Being Well podcast October 9, 2023. How To Change Your Perspective. Our views and perspectives can really hold us back.
Wisdom:
“We’ve been taught to fear our own power because we have been taught to fear power generally” Pamela Oslies
Book:
Incognito – The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman. Dr. Engleman says: “most of what we do, think and feel is not under our conscious control”. A very profound read from an exceptionally interesting and intelligent neuroscientist.
Podcast:
Finding Mastery, October 11, 2023. How To Break Free From Perfectionism. Are you an inmate in the prison of perfectionism?
Wisdom:
Ray Dalio says: “Having expectations for people (including yourself) without knowing what they are like is a sure way to get into trouble. I learned the hard way, through years of frustrating conversations and the pain of expecting things from people who were constitutionally incapable of delivering them.”
Book:
The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer. A very interesting book by the well known author of The Untethered Soul. At a very early age Mr. Singer decides to pursue a life of surrendering to the direction the universe presents to him.
Podcast:
The Tim Ferris Show #698 Dr. Mark Plotkin on Coffee, the worlds favorite stimulant. Most of us drink coffee. This is a truly fascinating history where Dr.Plotkin connects coffee to the development of the modern world.
Wisdom:
You are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
Book:
Humanism: The 10 Most Asked Questions by John Sias. Humanism is not a religion but a way of being. If you have not heard of it, you owe yourself to investigate what it’s all about. It might change your world.
Podcast:
This podcast episode is from Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais. It is called How To Break Free From Perfectionism. If you are an inmate in the prison of perfectionism, perhaps this will help you break free of this ball and chain. https://tinyurl.com/2a7xsbdb
Wisdom:
Before you speak, let your words pass through 3 gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?
Book:
Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save The World by Tyson Yunkaporta. I highlighted much in this book. It presents us with new perspectives and new ways of thinking. A paradigm altering book.
Podcast:
This podcast episode is from the Dhru Purohit Podcast. The subject is oral health and the title is Poor Oral Health Leads to Alzheimer’s: how to fix your mouth for longevity with Dr. Mark Burhenne. It will most definitely upset some of your paradigms around your oral health. It’s the first time I’ve heard a dentist admit the potential health disaster that are root canals. https://tinyurl.com/3a5uxuet
Wisdom:
Strengths, when overdone or misapplied, will manifest as weakness.
Book:
Start With No by Jim Camp. Life is negotiation. We are always negotiating. Why not get good at it? I love this book as great way to significantly improve your negotiating skills.
Podcast:
The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman. It seems Mr. Kaufman was born to his calling and this is an intelligent and very informative podcast.
Wisdom:
The less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers. Deepak Chopra.
Book:
The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday. We all face obstacles. This profound book offers ways to flip our standard approach to those obstacles for better life success. Short and readable.
Podcast:
This podcast episode from Being Well with Forest Hanson and Rick Hanson on the subject of authenticity is thought provoking. https://tinyurl.com/3a5uxuet
Wisdom:
Life is a team sport – accept support, give support and recognize support
Book:
The Bellwether Effect: Stop Following. Start Leading! By Lance Secretan Lance Secretan has been a mentor of mine for decades. This book challenges a lot of accepted paradigms in business leadership and leaders who pay attention will improve themselves and their teams.
Podcast:
Savvy Psychologist. This typically very short and condensed podcast passes on some very actionable tips for to understand psychology and apply it to our daily lives.
Wisdom:
Sciogenomics: Relationships have profound effects on physical body, emotional, mental, spiritual – all are connected to the quality of our relationships and social connections.
Book:
Love 2.0 – Creating Happiness and Health in Moments of Connection. This book is a very refreshing and accessible guide to creating more love and connection for the benefit of your life and for the benefit of others.
Podcast:
For all things health, I really enjoy Dr. Mark Hyman’s podcast called The Doctor’s Farmacy’s
Wisdom:
Choice leads to COMMITMENT. Commitment leads to CLARITY. Clarity leads to ACTION. Action leads to MOMENTUM. Momentum leads to OUTCOME. Simone Wright, Modern Mystics.