Simplify

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! ResourcesRadical 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. ResourcesSweeter 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 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. ResourcesCults Like Us by Jane BordenThe American Monomyth by Robert Jewett & John Shelton LawrenceCaitlin's rec: The Hardest Job in the World by John DickersonBen's rec: Bowling Alone by Robert D. PutnamLet 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] 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.______ResourcesSeth's Blog (going strong for 30 years without missing a day!) and his new book, This is StrategyCaitlin's rec: Considered Chaos, Substack of Eugene HealeyBen's rec: Good to Great by Jim CollinsLet us know what you thought of this episode! Find us on instagram at @simplifypod. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Email us at [email protected] 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 BohannonBen's rec: The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara CollinsLet 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] episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Ody Constantinou in Berlin, Germany, for Kollo Media.

Simplify is back on January 12, 2026! We’ve got a new look, we’re independent now, and we can’t wait to share new episodes with you every other Monday from January 12th onward. This episode features one of Caitlin's favorite-ever interviews, with Kathryn Mannix.To warm you up, we’re reissuing 5 of our favorite episodes. So, catch up on the great ideas you might’ve missed and get ready for Monday: you’ll hear from a cultural historian who will change the way you interact with the medical system. Sign up for our new newsletter, follow us on instagram. See you there!

Simplify is back on January 12, 2026! We’ve got a new look, we’re independent now, and we can’t wait to share new episodes with you every other Monday from January 12th onward. This episode features Liz Fosslien.To warm you up, we’re reissuing 5 of our favorite episodes. So, catch up on the great ideas you might’ve missed and get ready for Monday: you’ll hear from a cultural historian who will change the way you interact with the medical system. Sign up for our new newsletter, follow us on instagram. See you there!

Simplify is back on January 12, 2026! We’ve got a new look, we’re independent now, and we can’t wait to share new episodes with you every other Monday from January 12th onward. This episode features Eli Finkel, and it's one of our personal favorites.To warm you up, we’re reissuing 5 of our favorite episodes. So, catch up on the great ideas you might’ve missed and get ready for Monday: you’ll hear from a cultural historian who will change the way you interact with the medical system. Sign up for our new newsletter, follow us on instagram. See you there!

Simplify is back on January 12, 2026! We’ve got a new look, we’re independent now, and we can’t wait to share new episodes with you every other Monday from January 12th onward. To warm you up, we’re reissuing 5 of our favorite episodes. So, catch up on the great ideas you might’ve missed and get ready for Monday: you’ll hear from a cultural historian who will change the way you interact with the medical system. Sign up for our new newsletter, follow us on instagram. See you there!This one features Tiffany Dufu, it's one of our most-downloaded episodes ever.

Simplify is back on January 12, 2026! We’ve got a new look, we’re independent now, and we can’t wait to share new episodes with you every other Monday from January 12th onward. To warm you up, we’re reissuing 5 of our favorite episodes. So, catch up on the great ideas you might’ve missed and get ready for Monday: you’ll hear from a cultural historian who will change the way you interact with the medical system. Sign up for our new newsletter, follow us on instagram. See you there!This is one of our most popular ever episodes, featuring David Allen. We sound so young...

You know a magical connection when you feel it—that undeniable magnetism that pulls you together for a fit that's as much like home as it is an adventure. We see these sorts of connections in romcoms all the time, but they're not just relegated to the romcom realm. Magical connections happen in friendships, too, and Rhaina Cohen wants to dignify them. This conversation with the writer and NPR Embedded producer/editor draws on some key stories and insights from her new book: The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center. Caitlin and Rhaina talk about why it can be beautiful and beneficial to distribute the "significant other" title across many people, what it looks like to treat friendships more like life partnerships, the friendship tradition and where we might have lost passionate platonic significant otherships, and the important work of letting the ones who love us see our mess.In the Bookend, Ben and Caitlin discuss friendship, awkwardly thank each other for their friendship, and make further learning and reading recs. And thank you, listeners, for bein' a friend. :)Caitlin's Rec: Rituals Roadmap by Erica Keswin Ben's Rec: Caitlin's Guide on Adult Friendship and The Lonely Century by Noreena HertzTry 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 friendship.Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi! Find Caitlin on instagram at @cschills https://www.instagram.com/cschills/[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

Here's a chilling thought: experts are saying that we may soon be sustaining 100-year work lives. If that's true, then how many careers might we have? How will we know where to upskill? And how will we keep bagged lunches interesting for so many years? Michelle R. Weise, researcher and author of Long Life Learning: Prepare for Jobs That Don't Even Exist Yet, offers ways to think through and prepare for the long life of work ahead. She outlines five principles for the educational ecosystem that can support the future workforce, offers ideas on how AI can actually help you become more marketable, and gives a super straightforward framework for knowing which skills you should develop to stay relevant in your job. You'll also learn about what it means to become a "skills translator," able to showcase to future employers your unique aspects that lend a competitive edge over AI. Plus: listen up for why we all really need to stay alert to our discomfort on the job—it might be telling us something important. Caitlin's Rec: Farai Chideya’s Simplify EpisodeMichelle's WebsiteTry 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 reflect.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, 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 DabiriThe Book of Ayn by Lexi FremanRecommended by Caitlin and Ben: Happy Fat by Sofie HagenChatter by Ethan CrossTry 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 GatesRecommended by Caitlin and Ben: The Social Animal by David BrooksThe Business of Good by Jason HaberTry 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 ShankThe Everything Store by Brad StoneTry 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 LifeSimplify episode - Rebecca Traister and The Power of Being SingleAll the Single Ladies by Rebecca Traister Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover TawwabRecommended by Amy: Kick the Latch by Katherine ScanlanTry 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

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!Recommended by Caitlin: The 80/20 Principle by Richard KochRecommended by Katherine: Push Off from Here by Laura McKowenBuild 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 ZimmerTry 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

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 LaFeeBooks 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 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 TurmelThe Fearless Organization by Amy C. EdmondsonOut 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 StrayedThe Aesthetic Brain by Anjan ChatterjeeCherly Strayed on SimplifyElise's book recommendations:Romantic Comedy by Curtis SittenfeldSlow Days, Fast Company: The World, The Flesh, and L.A by Eve BabitzTry 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

Hi! We're taking a publication break this week. But never fear—we'll be back next week with a new full episode!And while we're here, could you please review Simplify on Apple Podcasts? New reviews help new listeners discover the show—which is good for everybody. So, if Simplify means something to you, or has helped you over the years, or you’ve learned something and used it out in the world, could you please take just a couple of minutes to give it a rating and a review. It matters, and it helps the show succeed.Thanks, and see you back here next week!

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 MayOur Iceberg is Melting by John Kotter & Holger RathgeberTry 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 McKeownStolen Focus by Johan Harrari10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin HardyRemember His Name: Unmasking the Faceless God of the West by Angela NatividadTry 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 PollanThe Alcohol Experiment by Annie GraceIn the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor MatéTo 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 StanierNonviolent Communication by Marshall B RosenbergTalk to Me Like I'm Someone You Love by Nancy DreyfusTo 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 keystone.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

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 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

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[1]:https://www.blinkist.com/en/nc/friends [2]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller[3]: https://twitter.com/bsto[4]: [email protected]

Being a parent is a big, beautiful, very tough job—which actually might benefit from some of the skills you usually practice when you’re at work! Economist and parenting guru extraordinaire Emily Oster joins Ben to talk about family decision-making: how much infrastructure you really need in your family, your family unit’s mission statement, and why sometimes, you’ve just gotta let your kid eat a lame breakfast. And: our FIRST EVER LISTENER SURVEY is still open! Please go to the survey link and take 3 minutes to fill it out. It matters to us so much and lets us know how to improve Simplify for you. https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ [1]Recommended by Caitlin:Personal Kanban by Jim Benson & Tonianne DeMaria Barry [2]Recommended by Ben:The Whole Brain Child by Tina Payne Bryson [3]Simplify Episode with Tina Payne Bryson [4]You can listen to today’s Book End recs on Blinkist for free for 7 days by signing up for the app at www.blinkist.com [5]Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [6], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [7]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [8].This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Ody Constantinou at Blinkist[1]: https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ [2]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/personal-kanban-en[3]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/the-whole-brain-child-en[3]: https://simplify.simplecast.com/episodes/tina-payne-bryson-what-your-kid-needs-most-is-you[5]: www.blinkist.com[6]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller[7] https://twitter.com/bsto[8] [email protected]

We've been listening. You told us through our survey that you wanted more tools, more ways to make what you learn with Simplify concrete. And so: here's exactly that!In this short bonus exercise—a companion to the Ev'Yan Whitney episode, Listen to Your Body, which was released on the same day as this bonus and will be in your feed—Ev'Yan, somatic practitioner and sensuality doula, walks you through a gentle exercise that will help you learn to listen to your body. Try it out, and let us know what you think at [email protected]!See a visual walk-through of the exercise on Blinkist's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CofRSddrZ9l/Oh, and please take our survey, too! https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ [1]MORE ABOUT THE EV'YAN WHITNEY EPISODE (find it in the Simplify feed):It’s true of almost all of us: we take our bodies for granted. We force them into uncomfortable positions, we push them long after they’re tired, we starve them for aesthetics—and a million more awful things we wouldn’t do to a friend. One thing we don’t often do to our bodies? Listen to them. And if we did, wow, what we’d learn!This episode is with Ev’Yan Whitney, somatic practitioner, sensualist, author, podcaster—and advocate for awakening people to the sensory pleasures alive inside of all of us.Listen to learn how to get into your body, why it matters, and what you’d learn if you spent more time there. And look for a guided practice in listening to your body from Ev’Yan as a bonus follow-up episode!*** SURVEY: Please tell us who you want to hear from and what you’re curious about. Take Simplify's FIRST EVER LISTENER https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ [1]-Ev’Yan’s Podcast: Sensual Self [2]Ev'Yan's Instagram [3]Recommended by Phoebe:The Power of Ritual by Casper ter KuileA Manifesto to Slowness by Ev’Yan Whitney and Ev’Yan Whitney’s Guide, Connect With Yourself, can be found in the Blinkist appWild Geese by Mary OliverPoetry of Raymond AntrobusRecommended by CaitlinThe Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee TaylorSimplify Episode with Sonya Renee TaylorThe Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine AronYou can listen to many of today’s recommendations on Blinkist for free for 7 days by signing up for the app at www.blinkist.com [4]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]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [7].This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe, and Luiza Carvalho at Blinkist.[1]: https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ [2]: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensual-self-with-evyan-whitney/id1124567779[3]: https://www.instagram.com/evyan.whitney/?hl=en[3]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify[4]: www.blinkist.com[5]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller[6] https://twitter.com/bsto[7] [email protected]

It’s true of almost all of us: we take our bodies for granted. We force them into uncomfortable positions, we push them long after they’re tired, we starve them for aesthetics—and a million more awful things we wouldn’t do to a friend. One thing we don’t often do to our bodies? Listen to them. And if we did, wow, what we’d learn!This episode is with Ev’Yan Whitney, somatic practitioner, sensualist, author, podcaster—and advocate for awakening people to the sensory pleasures alive inside of all of us.Listen to learn how to get into your body, why it matters, and what you’d learn if you spent more time there. And look for a guided practice in listening to your body from Ev’Yan as a bonus follow-up episode!You can see the visual version of the exercise here, on Blinkist's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CofRSddrZ9l/*** SURVEY: Please tell us who you want to hear from and what you’re curious about. Take Simplify's FIRST EVER LISTENER https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ [1]-Ev’Yan’s Podcast: Sensual Self [2]Ev'Yan's Instagram [3]Recommended by Phoebe:The Power of Ritual by Casper ter KuileA Manifesto to Slowness by Ev’Yan Whitney and Ev’Yan Whitney’s Guide, Connect With Yourself, can be found in the Blinkist appWild Geese by Mary OliverPoetry of Raymond AntrobusRecommended by CaitlinThe Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee TaylorSimplify Episode with Sonya Renee TaylorThe Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine AronYou can listen to many of today’s recommendations on Blinkist for free for 7 days by signing up for the app at www.blinkist.com [4]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]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [7].This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe, and Luiza Carvalho at Blinkist.[1]: https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ [2]: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensual-self-with-evyan-whitney/id1124567779[3]: https://www.instagram.com/evyan.whitney/?hl=en[3]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify[4]: www.blinkist.com[5]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller[6] https://twitter.com/bsto[7] [email protected]

Being an adult: what does that actually mean? Is it paying taxes? Making your own doctor’s appointments? Owning a home? It's probably all of that stuff, but: what's the more important personal evolution stuff that makes us grownups—no matter if we're 21 or 65? In this episode, Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Dean of freshmen and undergrad advising at Stanford and a best-selling author, walks Caitlin through it by way of a conversation about her book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/your-turn-en [1].Julie explains why the "checklist" for adulting—graduate college, get a job, get married, have kids, buy a house, retire—doesn't work anymore, the exciting thing that replaces it, and how a lot of the work of being an adult is becoming a safe place for one another.SURVEY: Please take Simplify's FIRST EVER LISTENER SURVEY: https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ You'll be helping us immensely to know what you want to hear about and which authors we should talk to. Thanks!--Book recommended by Julie:Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood by bell hooksBooks recommended by CaitlinA General Theory of Love, by Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini and Richard LannonAdult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, by Lindsay C. GibsonTry 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 ADULT—or just follow this link: https://www.blinkist.com/friends/?v=adultLet 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]. You can write us all an email at [email protected] [6].Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler and Odysseas Constantinou at Blinkist.[1]: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/your-turn-en[2]: https://twitter.com/bsto[3]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify[4]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller[5]: https://twitter.com/bsto[6] [email protected]

We’ve been making Simplify pretty much the same way since 2017: we focus on a great book and its author, and try to dig out the most helpful ideas. Nearly six years in, we’re wondering: how might we make Simplify even better for all of you?So, we thought we'd ask! Click this link to take the survey: https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ [1] Tell us what you're curious about lately, what you've been reading, and which authors you’d like to hear from. It’ll probably only take you about two minutes, but it will help us a lot.Thank you for listening, thanks for answering those questions, and look for more new Simplify very, very soon. Email us at [email protected] [2] Find Caitlin on Twitter @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [3] Ben's at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [4]Or find the survey also at Blinkist's instagram https://www.instagram.com/blinkist/ [5]Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Odysseas Constantinou, who also made the music and has been helping us sound like adults since 2017. [1]: https://try.blinkist.com/simplify-learner-survey/ [2]: [email protected] [3]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller[4]: https://twitter.com/bsto[5]: https://www.instagram.com/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 with just what you need for the new year—and nothing you don't. In this episode, we’ve distilled powerful ideas and approaches from our 3 most popular, impactful episodes. And since we spend all our time divided between focusing on ourselves, our relationships, and our work, we’ll home in on simplifying those three areas. BONUS: we’ve made a very neat New-Yearsy tool available to you for free. You can get it at our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blinkist/ [1] 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/ [2]Suggest an author or idea for Caitlin and Ben to check out! Email us at [email protected] Caitlin on Twitter @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [3] or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/caitlinschillerart/ [4]Ben's at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [5]Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to https://www.blinkist.com/simplify [6], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code 2023.Simplify is produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, and Odysseas Constantinou, who also made the music and has been helping us sound like adults since 2017. Featured experts in this episode and where to get more of them:Tiffany Dufu: https://www.tiffanydufu.com/Drop The Ball: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/drop-the-ball-enKen Page: https://www.deeperdating.com/Deeper Dating: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/deeper-dating-enLiz Fosslien: https://www.fosslien.com/No Hard Feelings: https://www.blinkist.com/de/books/no-hard-feelings-enBooks recommended by Ben & Caitlin:The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/the-artists-way-enBuild by Tony Fadell: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/build-en [1]: https://www.instagram.com/blinkist/ [2]: http://blinkist.com/ [3]: https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller[4]:https://www.instagram.com/caitlinschillerart/ [5]: https://twitter.com/bsto[6]: https://www.blinkist.com/simplify

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

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 TysonBooks recommended by Ben & Caitlin:Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder, by Reshma SaujaniI Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time, by Laura VanderkamFind 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

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 ChapmanAttached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love, by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. HellerGetting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples, by Harville HendrixCaitlin 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

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 KeswinRemote Work Revolution: Succeeding from Anywhere, by Tsedal NeeleyProfessional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, by Luvvie Ajayi JonesBook recommended by Caitlin:The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything, by Stephen M.R. CoveyTry 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

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 NagoskiWhen the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress, by Gabor MatéProfessional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, by Luvvie Ajayi JonesYou 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

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 HollowayBooks 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-RossTry 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

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