Best Teaching My Cat To Read Podcasts (2025)

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Amor Fati: An Ancient Idea That Will Change Your Life 7:38

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1d ago7:38

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I spent most of my life trying to control the uncontrollable. Running from the uncertainty that life inevitably brings. But in running from the uncontrollable, the only thing we truly escape is our own peace. This is the quiet truth of Amor Fati: Embrace what lies beyond your control—and act on that which is within it... ••• Andrew Huberman called …

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The Odysseus Trap: A Clear Path to Lesser Goals 3:32

3d ago3:32

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In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men faced a long, arduous journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Early in the voyage, a series of fierce storms blow them off course and land them on a mysterious, sunlit island. It seemed peaceful, with gentle winds, calm seas, and fertile land. The inhabitants were friendly and welcoming. T…

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Are You Ready For Your Favorable Wind? 3:48

11d ago3:48

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I stumbled across a great post recently: When fisherman cannot go to sea, they repair nets. When the sea is too rough to sail, the smart ones don’t wait—they get to work. They mend their nets, sharpen their tools, and prepare for the moment the storm breaks. Because even in stillness, there’s progress. It reminded me of a story from the American …

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Dr. Jorge Cham PHD Comics Creator Talks About Oliver's Universe, Volcanoes, Earthquakes & Science for Kids: National Book Festival 25th Anniversary Series 8:16

12d ago8:16

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Send us a text Ishara had an amazing time at the National Book Festival interviewing the brilliant Dr. Jorge Cham! Dr. Cham is a cartoonist, author, and the creator of the popular webcomic "PHD Comics" (Piled Higher and Deeper), which hilariously captures life in academia and graduate school. In this exciting interview, Ishara and Dr. Cham dive int…

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What Would 'The First Cat in Space' Think of Mac Barnett as National Ambassador? National Book Festival 25th Anniversary Series 12:14

22d ago12:14

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Send us a text Ishara is thrilled to share her latest interview with Mac Barnett, the 2025-2026 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature! As the ninth writer to receive this prestigious honor, Mac has been inspiring young readers across the country with his imaginative stories and dedication to fostering a love of reading. Mac Barnett is a…

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BEHIND THE SCENES: Ishara's National Book Festival Favorites! 5:51

28d ago5:51

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Send us a text Ever wonder what it's like to experience the National Book Festival through the eyes of a 10-year-old podcaster? In this special episode, Ishara takes you behind the microphone to share her favorite moments from this year's festival! ISHARA'S TOP SESSIONS: "J vs. K" - Jerry Craft and Kwame Alexander's dynamic session that had the aud…

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Joy Harjo Interview: Full Circle Reunion with Ishara at the National Book Festival 25th Anniversary Series 4:27

28d ago4:27

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Send us a text Two years ago, when Ishara was just 8 years old, she had the honor of interviewing U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo on season 2 of Ishara's Reading Podcast about her book "Remember." What started as a young reader's curiosity blossomed into something truly special - a genuine connection that Joy treasured just as much as Ishara did! Now,…

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PBS’s Marissa Talks Education & History: National Book Festival 25th Anniversary Series 3:21

1M ago3:21

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Send us a text In this spontaneous 3-minute interview, host Ishara meets Marissa from PBS’s Social Media team right at the PBS booth during the National Book Festival! What began as a casual chat about NOVA quickly turned into an impromptu interview when they discovered their shared passion for learning and history. Marissa opens up about why she l…

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Meet Tanner – Avid Reader, Possible Chef & Book Lover: The National Book Festival 25th Anniversary Series 3:16

1M ago3:16

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Send us a text Join Ishara for a delightful 3-minute interview with Tanner, a young reader and aspiring chef she met at the National Book Festival! When Ishara spotted Tanner holding a book, she just had to ask what she was reading, and that sparked a heartwarming chat about books, baking, and bold adventures! Tanner shares her favorite book, "Kids…

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The Most Important Choice of Life 5:03

1M ago5:03

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Last week, I had a beautiful conversation with a young mother who reached out wanting to talk to me about her son. The young boy, just four years old, has shown signs of being neurodivergent. His mother courageously expressed to me her fear that he might not be able to thrive in the way that all parents hope for. As a father to a young boy of simil…

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What Are You Tolerating That’s Holding You Back? 2:20

1M ago2:20

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I've often mused that there are (broadly) two ways to improve your life: Add a Positive: A good habit, behavior, person, etc. Remove a Negative: A bad habit, behavior, person, etc. An important observation: Most of us automatically default to the former and ignore the latter. We're conditioned to believe that progress means doing more. New habits. …

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The Seasons of Your Life 5:05

1M ago5:05

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Here’s something I find myself thinking about a lot lately: Your life is not a singular, static experience. Your life has seasons. These seasons create a natural flow to your journey. They aren’t always obvious in the moment, but often become clear with the benefit of hindsight. Each one is unique, characterized by its own desires, priorities, purp…

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Want a Better Life? Be Boring. 2:47

2M ago2:47

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Here’s an underrated life hack: Be boring in the right ways. Why is being boring so powerful? Well, simply because so few people are willing to do it... ••• Andrew Huberman called my first book "An important clarifying force in anyone’s search to make the best possible choices for their life." Join 300,000+ other readers and get it now on a big sal…

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Q and A - Call and response with listener questions 56:05

2M ago56:05

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We asked you to send in your burning questions - about books, cats, podcasting, and everything in between - and you delivered. From favourite reads and guilty pleasure genres to behind-the-scenes podcast stories (and a few chaotic tangents), we’re answering them all. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or you’re brand new to the show, this i…

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The Victim Mentality: A Silent Killer of Growth 9:00

2M ago9:00

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The Dartmouth Scar Experiment is an interesting case study on the impact of the so-called Victim Mentality on our lives. In today’s piece, I’d like to talk about Victim Mentality—and share three simple strategies to eliminate it forever. ••• Mel Robbins called my first book "a powerful wake-up call that will push you to rethink everything about how…

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What Will Your Next Note Be? 2:25

2M ago2:25

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I recently read a quote from legendary musician Miles Davis that stopped me in my tracks… “It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note—it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong.” This isn’t just about music. This is about life... ••• Andrew Huberman called my first book "An important clarifying force in anyone’s search to …

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34 Short Lessons on Money 14:39

2M ago14:39

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Money is a funny thing. It consumes an enormous amount of our energy and attention in adulthood, but very few of us learn anything about it in childhood or adolescence. If we're lucky, our parents teach us a few of the basics (and maybe we get a boring course or two on it in school). But we're pretty much left on our own when it comes to one of the…

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How to Make the Ordinary Come Alive 2:44

2M ago2:44

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I don't read poetry often, but there are a few poems I come back to regularly because of their impact on my life. This beautiful piece by William Martin is on that list... ••• Mel Robbins called my first book "a powerful wake-up call that will push you to rethink everything about how you’re spending your time." Join 300,000+ other readers and get …

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Carry on Jeeves - Our Favourite Married Couple 1:05:42

2M ago1:05:42

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This week, we’re diving into Carry On, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse, a collection of short stories that perfectly captures the hilariously lopsided dynamic between the clueless Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet, Jeeves. If you’ve never read Wodehouse before, this is the perfect entry point-sharp, charming, and laugh-out-loud funny. In this episo…

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Live Like It's The Last Time 7:07

2M ago7:07

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The Ancient Greeks had two different words for time: Chronos was the idea of chronological, linear, quantitative time. That all time is equal. Kairos was a bit different. That there are certain moments or windows that have more meaning. More texture. More importance. More weight. We’ve all experienced Kairos time. There are certain moments in life …

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The Simple Question to Unlock Progress 3:21

2M ago3:21

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This has become the most common question I receive: Big project, very intimidating Don't know where to start Feeling stuck, paralyzed, anxious My response is always the same: What's the simplest action you can take today that would create forward progress? ••• Mel Robbins called my first book "a powerful wake-up call that will push you to rethink e…

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The Magic of Showing Up on Your Bad Days 3:40

2M ago3:40

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On June 11, 1997, Michael Jordan stepped onto the court for Game 5 of the NBA Finals between his Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. Jordan was reportedly very sick, but chose to play given the critical importance of the game to the series, which was tied 2-2 at the time. Throughout the game, he looked visibly unwell, with a fever over 100 degrees, he…

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All systems Red - Local SecUnit Can’t Believe It Paused Its Shows For This 1:11:42

2M ago1:11:42

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This week, we’re talking about All Systems Red by Martha Wells, the first novella in the Murderbot Diaries series-and it’s safe to say we’re officially obsessed. With a title like Murderbot, you’d expect chaos (and there’s plenty), but what really caught us is the dry humor, the unexpected heart, and one of the most relatable AI narrators we’ve eve…

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I Co-Hosted a Retreat With Richard Branson—Here’s What I Learned 9:17

3M ago9:17

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Last week, I had a pinch me experience: I spent five days co-hosting a retreat with Richard Branson, Adam Grant, and a group of incredible entrepreneurs and thinkers on Necker Island, Richard’s private island in the Caribbean. The opportunity came about in the most unlikely way... ••• Mel Robbins called my first book "a powerful wake-up call that w…

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The Law of Reversed Effort: Slow Down to Speed Up 3:07

3M ago3:07

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Last week, I posted a short thought: The worst mistakes in life are made when you try to do fast what’s meant to be done slow. Real, durable things take a long time to build. Careers. Businesses. Relationships. Health. There are no hacks or shortcuts. The long way is the right way. The idea clearly struck a chord, reaching millions of impressions i…

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Sahil’s Monthly Idea Drop: July 2025 9:33

3M ago9:33

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If you read (or listen) to this newsletter, you know that I’m obsessed with interesting ideas. Here are 5 ideas I can’t stop thinking about this month… (P.S. This may become a regular monthly segment if people are interested!) ••• Mel Robbins called my first book "a powerful wake-up call that will push you to rethink everything about how you’re spe…

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The Cheshire Cat Principle: How to Create Clarity 2:28

3M ago2:28

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In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, there’s a scene in which Alice reaches a fork in the road and has a simple exchange with the Cheshire Cat: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “I don’t much care where—” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way…

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Murder at the Vicarage -No One Expects the Village Inquisition 1:04:42

3M ago1:04:42

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This week, we’re stepping into the quiet village of St. Mary Mead—where, naturally, a murder has just taken place. We're talking about Murder at the Vicarage, Agatha Christie’s first full length novel to feature the sharp-eyed, quietly brilliant Miss Marple. In this episode, we dig into what makes this book such a good introductory read to one of C…

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The Empty Boat Mindset 2:53

3M ago2:53

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There’s a story I come back to when I’m feeling stressed or frustrated... A monk is meditating alone on a lake when another boat crashes into his. Anger rises—until he opens his eyes and realizes the boat is empty, drifting freely after coming untied. In that moment, the anger vanishes... ••• Andrew Huberman called my first book "An important clari…

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The Arrival Fallacy: Why Success Is Never Enough 8:09

3M ago8:09

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Last week, the world's top-ranked golfer, Scottie Scheffler, went viral for something completely unrelated to golf. During his pre-tournament interview at The Open Championship, one of four annual major golf championships, a reporter asked Scheffler a simple question about his incredible streak of success... ••• Mel Robbins called my first book "a …

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The Poem I Wish I Read 10 Years Ago 2:43

3M ago2:43

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Last week, a reader sent me a poem that stopped me in my tracks. To live content with small means. To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion. To be worthy not respectable, and wealthy not rich. To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes, and sages with open heart, to bear a…

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The Poison Arrow Principle: How to Stop Overthinking 2:30

3M ago2:30

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Here's an old Buddhist story I think about often: Imagine someone is struck by a poisoned arrow. A doctor is called to remove the arrow, but the man stops him. 'Not so fast! Before you remove it, I want to know who shot me. What town or village does he come from? What kind of wood was his bow made from? Was it a crossbow or a longbow?' While he ask…

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22 Pieces of Career Advice They Don't Teach You in School 8:24

3M ago8:24

8:24

I get a lot of messages asking for career advice. The following is my attempt to synthesize my responses from the last few years into a series of short, valuable lessons. Behind each of these is a much longer story—probably a painful one—but I'll spare you that detail (for now!). No matter where you are on your career journey, my hope is that this …

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The Question That Haunts High Achievers 3:10

3M ago3:10

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Last week, I was speaking to a group of entrepreneurs when one of them admitted he'd been struggling. He's dealing with a challenging family health situation and feeling like he isn't doing enough to grow his business. A few hours later, I got a text from a friend, who said she was trying to slow down, but struggling with negative self talk that sh…

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Mini Ep - Death on the Nile 17:44

3M ago17:44

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In this mini episode we re-cap the Agatha Christie Novel “Death on the Nile”. Note, we will spoil the plot of this book in this mini episode. The Back of the book: “The tranquility of a cruise along the Nile is shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway has been shot through the head. She was young, stylish and beautiful, a girl who had everyt…

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The Artful Life: Ars Longa, Vita Brevis 2:37

3M ago2:37

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In the 4th century B.C., the Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, wrote in his Aphorisms (translated into Latin here): Vita brevis, ars longa, occasio praeceps, experimentum periculosum, iudicium difficile. Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experiment dangerous, judgment difficult. The phrase has been further tightened and adapted, inc…

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The Jonah Complex: How to Stop Running From Your Own Light 8:01

4M ago8:01

8:01

On a windy pier in the ancient city of Joppa, a young man buys a one-way ticket to sail in the opposite direction of his destiny... The young man, Jonah, had been called upon by God to travel to the city of Nineveh to preach his word. But, in the heat of the moment, he runs from this calling, boarding a ship and sailing off in the opposite directio…

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A Simple Reframe to Improve Your Life 2:36

4M ago2:36

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We've all been there... That familiar sensation of feeling behind. And it's no wonder it's so familiar. From the time you wake up in the morning until the time you go to sleep at night, you're being hit by a constant drip highlight reel from everyone around you. Their promotions. Their bonuses. Their new homes. Their fancy cars. Their beautiful liv…

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The Columbus Egg Principle 2:46

4M ago2:46

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There’s an old fable about Christopher Columbus that I like… In 1493, upon return from his first voyage to the Americas (which he mistakenly identified as the East Indies), a group of Spanish nobles gathered for a celebratory dinner with Christopher Columbus. The nobles diminished his accomplishment, saying, “Anyone could have sailed west and found…

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A Simple Question for True Mastery 3:01

4M ago3:01

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Robert Caro is widely considered to be one of the greatest biographers of our time. His list of accolades is long and includes two Pulitzer Prizes for Biography, two National Book Awards (one for Lifetime Achievement), and many more. But the critical acclaim is no accident. His work is revered for its meticulous research and intense dedication to i…

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Harrow the Ninth - It’s A Beautiful Day On The Mithraeum And You Are A Horrible Necromancer 1:10:39

4M ago1:10:39

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We’re back for part two of our deep dive into Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir—because let’s be honest, one episode wasn’t nearly enough. In this follow-up discussion, we’re untangling all the parts we didn't get to discuss in the first half - where things get even more mind-bending, the emotional stakes rise, and the mysteries lurking behind the Lo…

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How to Stop Procrastinating 4:16

4M ago4:16

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In 1789, philosopher Jeremy Bentham mused on the two forces that control our lives: "Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure." His argument, in simple terms, is that human behavior is driven by the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. This general idea is the basis for the most useful pro…

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The Trap of Success (& How to Escape It) 7:32

4M ago7:32

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I have a close friend—we'll call him Ben. Ben is very successful. He's in his 30s, sold a company for $100 million, and earns over $10 million per year in his current role. I was recently out on a walk with Ben when he admitted something interesting: He hates his current job. He finds no fulfillment in the work and dreams of leaving to start someth…

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The Obstacle or the Goal 2:00

4M ago2:00

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I recently came across a quote that hit me hard: "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." — Henry Ford Every meaningful path in life is lined with obstacles. If you've ever pursued something grand or ambitious... Building a business Raising a family Changing careers Reaching an athletic milestone or anyt…

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The Hidden Mindset That Shapes Your Entire Life 3:54

4M ago3:54

3:54

Want the key to success? As crazy as it sounds, I might actually be able to give it to you in the next 3 minutes... You see, I spend a lot of time thinking about common threads across the lives of the people I admire. These are all people who are winning in their chosen worlds, whether that be a CEO in the boardroom, an artist in the symphony hall,…

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The Best Advice From Your Father 3:15

4M ago3:15

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In honor of Father’s Day, I asked over 1 million readers a simple question: What was the single best piece of advice you ever received from your father? I got thousands of replies, which ranged from playful and witty to thought-provoking and emotional. Here were my favorites… ••• Mel Robbins said my book will “push you to rethink everything about h…

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Harrow the Ninth - Tragic Find-And-Replace Incident: Multiple Deaths 1:11:38

4M ago1:11:38

1:11:38

We’re back in the world of necromancers and space palaces with *Harrow the Ninth* by Tamsyn Muir—and things are even weirder (and more brilliant) than before. If you caught our episode on *Gideon the Ninth*, you know we’re already obsessed with this series. Now, we’re diving headfirst into Harrow’s fractured mind, impossible timelines, and a story …

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How to Survive Hard Times 3:26

4M ago3:26

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When life gets hard, most people retreat to one of two worlds: Naive Optimism: This is the world of pure positivity. It is marked by an unwillingness to confront the harsh facts, but also by a steadfast belief in the ability to navigate through to the other side. Hopeless Realism: This is the world of pure negativity. It is marked by a desire to fa…

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7 Lessons from Steve Jobs’ Legendary Speech 9:07

4M ago9:07

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It’s commencement speech season. I recently shared a series of powerful lessons from David Foster Wallace’s This Is Water commencement speech on its 20th anniversary. Well, as it turns out, 2005 was a legendary year for wisdom from the commencement stage. Just a few weeks after Foster Wallace’s brilliance, on June 12, 2005, Steve Jobs stepped to …

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Feeling Stuck? Ask These 8 Questions 3:54

5M ago3:54

3:54

According to a famous legend, the ancient land of Phrygia (in what is now modern-day Turkey) was without a king. An oracle proclaimed that the next man to enter the city in an oxcart would become its king. Soon after, a man named Gordius rolled into Phrygia on an oxcart with his wife and son and was swiftly proclaimed king of the land... ••• My fir…