3 Podcasts I Enjoyed This Month

Hi there!

I know you have not heard from me in a few weeks, that's mostly because I have been taking some time to think and broaden my perspective (alongside moving house, working my full time job and trying to keep healthy!).

So for the last few months I have committed to listening to a few podcasts across several areas of interest on my commute home. This month I would like to share with you 3 podcasts that have got me thinking & reflecting.

Hope you have a good listen, and feel free to share your reflections and recommendations in the comments!

1. Everyday AI - with Jordan Wilson

You should tune in if: you are an AI noob like me, and just looking for some casual content to get your toes in the water.

If I am being brutally honest, I know very very little about Artificial Intelligence and it scares me to bits! At the start of this year, I set myself a goal of spending at least an hour a week learning about AI and its possibilities or even trying some tools out. I have subscribed to a few daily feeds, and this one by Jordan Wilson has been interesting so far. What I like about this podcast is that the episodes are 30 mins long and cover all kinds of areas of AI application from everyday work tools to trends.

Disclaimer: (I am still finding the right resources in this space, so please feel free to share any that have been helpful for you as you get familiar with our intelligent future).

2. Where should we begin? - With Esther Perel:

You should tune in if: you are truly invested in self development so much so that you welcome some discomfort as you explore and introspect.

Esther Perel is a well known psychotherapist, known for her work on human relationships. I recently learned of her while catching up with a friend and was immediately drawn to her podcast and can I just say that I am hooked!

The episode I started with was fascinating, as Esther unravelled several insights while in conversation with someone who was navigating straddling two different cultures in the context of work and life. The episode was titled "Self Love isn't something I grew up with"

I found this episode so relatable as a South Asian woman straddling two very different worlds myself, and what I really loved about the episode is that she offered actionable ways to reframe mindset. Other episodes I really enjoyed were "I can be strong & be taken care of" and "My Emotional Inheritance" - two really thought provoking episodes as a woman of colour who happens to be very interested in inter-generational trauma. The episodes labelled "Esther Calling" are actually real sessions she has with regular people who send in their challenges, they are of course edited to preserve anonymity.

Trigger Alert: (This podcast is deeply personal and deals with complex emotions surrounding trauma, couple's and family therapy)

3. Huberman Lab - Andrew Huberman

You should tune in if: You are interested in neuroscience and its application in health, wellbeing and changing your mindset

Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist and professor at Stanford University, known for his research on brain function, behavior, and health. What I love about this show is that he simplifies neuroscience through storytelling and casual conversations with experts. They explore a myriad of topics including wellness, behaviours, perceptions, purpose etc.

The episode I enjoyed most recently was a conversation with Dr. Maya Shankar on How to Shape your Identity and goals.

Dr. Shankar is a cognitive scientist who founded and led the White House Behavioural Science Team under President Obama. In the episode they discuss some very interesting concepts in change research, future self thinking, getting better data about ourselves, and seeking out connections in uncomfortable spaces. She also talks about goal setting and how to reframe goals with an "Approach" Orientation vs "Avoidance" Orientation e.g. I want to eat healthy food vs I want to avoid junk food (she highlights that goals that are framed in the avoidance context cannot be measured and tracked effectively).

Another Episode I really enjoyed was a conversation with Dr. Casey Means who is a physician at Stanford school of Medicine, specialising in metabolic health. The episode is called "Transform your health by improving metabolism, Hormone & Blood sugar regulation" - As someone who has had to make a dynamic shift in lifestyle in the last 6 months, due to a recently discovered health condition (which I have successfully turned around now), I found this episode eye-opening. Dr. Means emphasises the importance of mitochondrial health and how modern environmental factors, such as ultra-processed diets and lower activity levels, contribute to widespread metabolic dysfunction. This episode has had me head down a rabbit hole of content related to gut health and microbiome research.

In the spirit of keeping this feed short and sweet, that's all from me this month, let me know what you are listening to in the comments!