Best Paul Swanson Podcasts (2025)

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Courtney Harding: Building the Future of Human Connection Through XR, Education, and Digital Agency 50:29

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10h ago50:29

50:29

Courtney Harding, founder of Friends with Holograms and a leading voice in spatial computing, joins Srini to discuss the real-world applications and philosophical implications of immersive technologies like VR and AR. Drawing from her background in music journalism, activism, and public policy, she unpacks how virtual experiences are reshaping educ…

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Haleh Liza Gafori Brings Water to the Thirsty 59:23

2d ago59:23

59:23

Haleh Liza Gafori is a translator, performance artist, vocalist, and educator whose work bridges ancient Persian mysticism with contemporary spiritual longing. In our conversation we talk about her latest book Water, a luminous collection of new translations from the 13th-century Persian mystic Rumi, following her acclaimed debut Gold (you can find…

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Daniel Lieberman: Dopamine, Desire, and Why Enough is Never Enough 51:43

4d ago51:43

51:43

In this mind-expanding conversation, psychiatrist and author Daniel Lieberman unpacks the role of dopamine — the brain's molecule of motivation — and how it shapes nearly every aspect of our lives, from love and ambition to addiction and impulsive behavior. Drawing from his bestselling book *The Molecule of More*, Lieberman explains why we’re wired…

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Antoinette Beenders: The Secret to Success Is Showing Up 1:04:35

5d ago1:04:35

1:04:35

Antoinette Beenders is an award-winning creative director and editorial hairstylist who works closely with the world's top couturiers, photographers, and models. As Aveda's Senior Vice President of Global Artistry, she inspires the professional community, mentors artistic teams, and works to grow Aveda's influence around the world. Interviewed by W…

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Annie Duke: Why Knowing When to Quit Is a Superpower 1:10:48

6d ago1:10:48

1:10:48

In this powerful third appearance, bestselling author and decision strategist Annie Duke dismantles the myth that grit is always good — and makes the case for why strategic quitting is essential for success. Drawing from cognitive science, personal experience, and examples like Muhammad Ali, Dave Chappelle, and Stuart Butterfield (Slack), Duke illu…

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The Science of Mastery: Anders Ericsson on Deliberate Practice 45:52

7d ago45:52

45:52

Psychologist Anders Ericsson, the originator of the concept of deliberate practice, shares the foundational principles behind how experts are made—not born. Drawing on decades of empirical research, he explains how world-class performance emerges through structured effort, targeted feedback, and the development of mental models over time.Ericsson c…

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408: The Murder of Cecelia Gullivan w/ Jeffrey L. Amestoy 1:05:03

7d ago1:05:03

1:05:03

In November 1926, Cecelia Gullivan, treasurer of the Cone Automatic Machine company of Windsor, Vermont, was brutally killed in her home. Local police quickly arrested Cone Automatic machinist John Winters on suspicion of the crime, and the trial that followed was sensational and swift. Convicted of murder, Winters’ appeal brought in an unexpected …

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407: The Thames Torso Murders w/ Sarah Bax Horton 1:01:54

12d ago1:01:54

1:01:54

Victorian London is often remembered for the Ripper murders, yet at the same time another equally chilling series of slayings unfolded. Between 1887 and 1889, the dismembered bodies of four women appeared along the Thames. The river itself became the killer’s cover, its tides and hidden corners serving as a macabre dumping ground. Overshadowed by t…

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650: Ft. Modestas Bukauskas 1:54:56

13d ago1:54:56

1:54:56

Michael Bisping and Paul Felder discuss all the fights coming up this weekend at UFC Perth, Rafael Fiziev falling out of the UFC Rio main event and the scramble to find Charles Olivera a fight, Conor McGregor claiming he will make his return at the UFC White House card along with projections of what it is going to look like, Alex Pereria coming to …

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The Operating System of Transformation: Salim Ismail on Exponential Thinking, Leadership, and Inner Engineering 57:33

14d ago57:33

57:33

In this episode, Salim Ismail — founding executive director of Singularity University and author of *Exponential Organizations* — maps out what it takes to adapt, lead, and build in a world defined by accelerating change.He unpacks the frameworks behind exponential growth, the future of learning, and the architecture of modern organizations. But th…

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Contemplative Parenting with Aizaiah G. Yong and Nereyda Yong 46:06

16d ago46:06

46:06

“This book is just what the world needs right now. At a time when tensions are hot, divisions are growing, and uncertainty is the order of the day, Sacred Parenting is a call to reconnect with what matters most: our children, our families, ourselves, and our God. The authors offer gentle wisdom and contemplative practices as antidotes to the high-v…

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406: The Murder of Jujube Heiress Ruth Quinn w/ Taylor Kiland 56:40

18d ago56:40

56:40

The small Southern California island of Coronado rarely makes news for violent crime. But in the spring of 1975, World War II widow and retired librarian Ruth Quinn was murdered, execution-style, in her cottage. Her death sent a shock wave through the community. The granddaughter of Jujubes and Jujyfruits creator Henry Heide, Ruth was found fully c…

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Dennis Xu: Designing Tools That Think Like We Do 47:01

19d ago47:01

47:01

Dennis Xu, co-founder of Mem, unpacks the future of personal knowledge and how it’s being reshaped by networked thinking, cognitive design, and human-centered AI. Drawing on his Stanford background, founder journey, and product philosophy, Dennis challenges the folder-based paradigms of information management — replacing them with malleable, graph-…

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The Science of Focus: Gloria Mark on Attention Rhythms, Flow Myths, and Digital Control 52:12

20d ago52:12

52:12

Cognitive scientist Gloria Mark explains why modern knowledge work sabotages attention — and how to fight back. Drawing from her decades of research, she breaks down internal vs. external distraction, meta-awareness, cognitive rhythms, and the misunderstood nature of flow states. This episode delivers practical insights for reclaiming agency over y…

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649: MMA Beats Boxing 1:57:02

20d ago1:57:02

1:57:02

Michael Bisping and Paul Felder discuss all the action from Noche UFC including Diego Lopes stunning KO of Jean Silva and more, a look at Zuffa's innagural boxing event with Terrence Crawford getting the win over Canelo Alvarez, the tragic passing of Ricky Hatton, Jon Jones making his case for The White House card and Dana isn't bitting, Tom Aspina…

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Sonkhe Ahrens: Building a Thinking System That Generates Insight, Not Noise 46:13

21d ago46:13

46:13

Sonkhe Ahrens shares how traditional approaches to knowledge — highlighting, tagging, collecting — fail to support actual thinking. Drawing from Niklas Luhmann’s Zettelkasten method, Ahrens explains why insight isn’t something you plan for, but something you engineer into existence by connecting information deliberately over time. The conversation …

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Kelly Cardenas: The Power of The VIBE: Building People First and Allowing Them to Build the Business 31:43

21d ago31:43

31:43

Kelly Cardenas is a visionary leader, bestselling author, speaker, and popular podcast host. What started as cutting hair for extra cash in high school turned into founding Kelly Cardenas Salons, with locations in Chicago, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Carlsbad-including the iconic Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Interviewed by Winn Claybaugh, Kelly tells …

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MoNo Encore: The Murder of Dr. W.D. Broadhurst w/ Patrick Gallagher 1:15:26

23d ago1:15:26

1:15:26

(Orig pub date: 2/15/22) In October of 1946, a chiropractor and rancher named Willis "W.D." Broadhurst was beaten with a wrench and finished off with a shotgun on a lonely eastern Oregon road. Investigators would soon accuse his wife Gladys of plotting the doctor's murder with the help of his young cowhand and her lover, Alvin Williams. Stunning de…

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[Rebroadcast] Dr. Larry Ward on America's Racial Karma, the Fragrance of Wisdom, and Learning How To Suffer Less 46:16

23d ago46:16

46:16

This is a repost of my conversation with Dr. Larry Ward. Dr. Ward passed away on August 19 at his home in Rhode Island. He was a Buddhist teacher, author, and co-founder of The Lotus Institute. He left behind a legacy of peace and advocacy for healing individual and collective trauma. I only ever interacted with Dr. Ward online, but his big soul, w…

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405: A History of Eugenics in America w/ Mark A. Torres 1:06:50

25d ago1:06:50

1:06:50

In the early twentieth century, eugenics captivated scientists and the public alike, giving researchers license to exploit the infirm, the mentally ill, prisoners, Native communities and many others considered "defective" or "feebleminded" under the guise of genetics. At its center stood the Eugenics Record Office in Cold Spring Harbor, directed by…

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Amy Frykholm on Journey to the Wild Heart 1:00:17

1M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

“You can trust Amy Frykholm as a modern-day amma who knows the terrain of the soul. Reading Journey to the Wild Heart is like going out to the desert for a word. It helps us slow down, let go, unknow in Silence, and embody Love.― — Carmen Acevedo Butcher, author of Practice of the Presence Amy Frykholm is a writer and journalist who makes her third…

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404: Gunfighter Clay Allison w/ Donna Blake Birchell 1:04:17

1M ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Clay Allison was both liked and loathed in his lifetime, embodying the contradictions of the American frontier. He could show moments of kindness for the downtrodden, but also carried deep hatred for Northerners and Black people. Dangerously unpredictable, he was capable of generosity one moment and chilling violence the next, a quality that made h…

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648: Big Bookings and Misfits Madness Ft. Lerone Murphy 1:55:14

1M ago1:55:14

1:55:14

Michael Bisping and Paul Felder discuss all the biggest fights of the weekend including Darren Till knocking out Luke Rockhold, Tony Ferguson getting back in the win column, Dillon Danis winning his first MMA fight in 6 years then instantly calling for UFC champions, plus massive fight bookings for UFC 321, 322, UFC Vancouver and more then Lerone M…

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Kevin Surace — Building Smarter, Leading Better, and Adapting to AI 1:10:56

1M ago1:10:56

1:10:56

Kevin Surace breaks down how AI is reshaping the future of work — not by eliminating jobs, but by replacing repetitive tasks and redefining what humans are actually needed for. He explains why productivity, not headcount, will determine company growth in a labor-constrained world. Drawing from decades of applied AI experience, Surace outlines the e…

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Michael Swanson: Don't Be a Pop-Tart; You're a Souffle! 1:10:02

1M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

Michael Swanson is an Emmy award winner, Hollywood TV studio executive, and film producer. He is also a visionary entrepreneur and president/CEO of the Los Angeles-based production and distribution company, Faith Filmworks. Interviewed by Winn Claybaugh, Michael proves that his formula of kindness, gratitude, and cultivating a connection with co-wo…

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647: BYM Is Back! 1:51:33

1M ago1:51:33

1:51:33

Michael Bisping and Paul Felder discuss all the reasons the show has been off for weeks now before diving into the biggest news in combat sports including a new middle weight champion in Khamzat, Johnny Walker with a massive underdog KO at the weekend, Darren Till preparing to box Luke Rockhold this weekend, the tragic incident with Raja Jackson ov…

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PM: 118 - Past Life Regression: What Your Soul Remembers (and Why It Matters) with Dr. Toni Reilly 59:41

1M ago59:41

59:41

Send us a text Did you live before? In this fascinating conversation, I’m joined by Toni Reilly — international author, speaker, and Australia’s leading past life regression specialist. Toni has guided thousands through past life recall, helping them reconnect with loved ones in spirit, discover their soul’s purpose, and release emotional patterns …

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403: The Madman of Crystal Beach w/ M.F. Gross 1:23:19

1M ago1:23:19

1:23:19

In the sultry summer of 1949, a sleepy Florida beach town was rocked to its core. A brutal home invasion, a shocking murder, and a desperate, month-long manhunt captivated and terrified an entire region. At the center of the storm was John Calvin “Rastus” Russell, a cunning ex-con and former asylum patient who unleashed a wave of fear unlike anythi…

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Todd Davis on Ditch Memory 1:10:00

1M ago1:10:00

1:10:00

"To read a new and selected collection is to experience the evolution of a voice, in this case an essential voice in American poetry. To sit with the whole of these transportive, immersive poems is to awaken like a wild riparian corridor in spring. Wildflowers on the banks. Birdsong in the branches. The reader’s heart is a bud: open. Beautiful work…

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402: The Reno Redfield Heist w/ Gavin Schmitt 1:03:10

2M ago1:03:10

1:03:10

The 1952 burglary of eccentric multi-millionaire LaVere Redfield’s mansion in Reno, Nevada was the largest of its time, but also a comedy of errors. "Masterminded" by a French-Canadian woman with a questionable relationship to Redfield, it also included a failed safecracker and a crew of Italian-American hoodlums from the Milwaukee underworld. My g…

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Jan Arnold: Cofounder of CND (Creative Nail Design) 32:57

2M ago32:57

32:57

Jan Arnold is a pioneering force in the beauty industry and the co-founder of CND (Creative Nail Design). With 45+ years of trailblazing leadership, Jan has redefined what it means to be a Nail Professional, elevating the category through science-backed innovation, world-class education, and bold, unapologetic advocacy. Interviewed by Winn Claybaug…

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401: The First Forensic Hanging w/ Summer Strevens 55:12

2M ago55:12

55:12

The First Forensic Hanging: The Toxic Truth That Killed Mary Blandy by Summer Strevens tells the story of Mary Blandy, executed in 1752 for poisoning her father Frances Blandy with arsenic. Her trial was the first in Britain to use toxicology as evidence in an arsenic poisoning case, marking a turning point in forensic history. Drawing on period ne…

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Sr. Laura Swan, OSB on the Radical Wisdom of the Beguines 1:04:47

2M ago1:04:47

1:04:47

"…Swan's book provides an accessible overview of beguine spirituality in the context of their own times…[it] does a good job of explaining both the beguines' spiritual practices and their continuing legacy." — Commonweal Sr. Laura Swan is a Benedictine sister, spiritual director, author, teacher, and archivist. In our conversation we talk about her…

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MoNo Encore: The Bermondsey Horror w/ Gavin Whitehead 1:17:12

2M ago1:17:12

1:17:12

(Orig pub date: 2/3/24) On August 17th, 1849, London police officers made a grisly discovery at the home of George and Maria (born Marie de Roux) Manning. Her former beau, Patrick O'Connor, had been buried under the floor. A nationwide hunt for the couple would follow, and after that a trial and executions. The murder case would grip London so ferv…

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646: Fight "Night" Of The Year 1:24:10

2M ago1:24:10

1:24:10

Michael Bisping and Paul Felder discuss all the action from UFC Vegas 108 inlcuding a dominant bounce back win from Tatsuro Taira, 2 legitimate FOTY contenders, two body kick KO's and so much more plus Conor McGregor officially returned to the testing pool, Khabib says that Islam vs JDM is set for MSG in the fall, a possible showdown between Ilia a…

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Randal Smalls: The BetterLife Course: Loving the Skin You're In 1:02:47

2M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

Randal Smalls is "The BetterLife Coach," an author, speaker, and coach who empowers people to break bad habits and build better ones so they can enjoy life, not just endure it. Interviewed by Winn Claybaugh, Randal is committed to encouraging people into loving the skin they're in. Sometimes life's ups and downs cause us to feel like something's mi…

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400: The Legend of Belle Starr w/ Michael Wallis 1:08:09

2M ago1:08:09

1:08:09

Myra Maibelle Shirley, better known as Belle Starr, was one of the most notorious female outlaws of the Old West (if you believe period newspapers, anyway). My guest, bestselling and award-winning author Michael Wallis, made it his mission to tell the true story of Belle Starr, and in the process dispels many of the myths that surround her. He shar…

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645: de Ridder Gets It Done 1:33:23

2M ago1:33:23

1:33:23

Michael Bisping and Paul Felder discuss all the action from UFC Abu Dhabi including RDR getting the biggest win of his UFC career before calling for a title shot, Shara Bullet getting a 50K bonus for his fight of the night, Petr Yan getting another big win before calling for a title shot of his own, plus huge fight announcements for UFC 320 and 321…

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Patrick Boland on Contemplative Leadership 1:07:53

2M ago1:07:53

1:07:53

Patrick Boland is an author, teacher, coach, and consultant. In our conversation we talk about his book The Contemplative Leader: Uncover the Power of Presence and Connection. Patrick is a whipsmart, strategic thinker with a contemplative heart and presence. Patrick's atypical approach to leadership brings a new vitality to leadership development. …