Blinkist Podcast - Interviews | Personal Development | Productivity | Business | Psychology
Ben Schuman-Stoler. Making big ideas personal. Get personal growth and business lessons from thought leaders and entrepreneurs.
Simplify is a podcast for anyone who’s taken a look at their habits, their happiness, their relationships, or their health and thought, “There’s got to be a better way to do this.” Join Caitlin Schiller and Ben Schuman-Stoler for conversations with authors and thinkers you know—and some you might not, yet—that sit at the intersection of reading, thinking, and daily life. Simplify is independently owned and produced by Caitlin Schiller & Ben Schuman-Stoler.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 27, 2023 • 37min
Stephanie Chandler: How to Get Your First Book Published
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 podcast@blinkist.com [4].
This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe, Maria Levacic & Ben Jackson at Blinkist

Jul 14, 2023 • 41min
Natalie Lue: Finally Stop People Pleasing
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 podcast@blinkist.com [4].
This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe & Ben Jackson at Blinkist

Jun 30, 2023 • 38min
Bob Glazer: Build 4 Capacities for Success
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 podcast@blinkist.com [4].
This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe & Ben Jackson at Blinkist.

Jun 30, 2023 • 37min
Valerie Fridland: Use Bad English, Get Good Results
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 podcast@blinkist.com
This episode of Simplify was brought to you by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Phoebe McIndoe & Ben Jackson at Blinkist.

Jun 30, 2023 • 38min
Rick & Forrest Hanson: Mythbusting The Mind
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 podcast@blinkist.com [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

Jan 11, 2023 • 53min
Thrive in 2023 with Tiffany Dufu, Ken Page, and Liz Fosslien
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.
In this episode, we’ve distilled powerful ideas and approaches from our 3 most popular episodes. And since we spend all our time divided between focusing on ourselves, our relationships, and our work, we’ll focus on simplifying those three areas. Just what you need for the new year—and nothing you don’t.
BONUS: we’ve made a very neat New-Yearsy tool available to you for free. You can get it at our IG: https://www.instagram.com/blinkist/. 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/
If you want to suggest an author or idea for Caitlin and Ben to check out, email us at podcast@blinkist.com
Try Blinkist Premium 14 days free by going to: https://www.blinkist.com/friends/?v=2023 or using code “2023” at https://www.blinkist.com/friends
Special thanks to Tiffany Dufu, Ken Page, and Liz Fosslien for these amazing interviews and insights. You can find them here:
Tiffany: https://www.tiffanydufu.com/
Ken: https://www.deeperdating.com/
Liz: https://www.fosslien.com/

Oct 29, 2021 • 19min
Bonus episode with Ken Page: Meet Your Inner Mentor
Follow the guidance of the bravest, highest, fullest version of yourself, and move closer to being the person you dream of becoming.
SHOW NOTES
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

Jul 8, 2021 • 42min
Tiffany Dufu: Do What You Do Best, Drop The Rest
Figure out what matters most to you and let go of the rest.
EPISODE NOTES
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 Tyson
Books recommended by Ben & Caitlin:
Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder, by Reshma Saujani
I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time, by Laura Vanderkam
Find 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

Jul 8, 2021 • 39min
Erica Dhawan: Master Your Digital Body Language
Reduce digital anxiety and optimize your communication no matter the distance.
EPISODE NOTES
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 Keswin
Remote Work Revolution: Succeeding from Anywhere, by Tsedal Neeley
Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, by Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Book recommended by Caitlin:
The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything, by Stephen M.R. Covey
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 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

Jul 2, 2021 • 44min
Ken Page: Respect Your Gifts to Find Real Love
Put down your armor and open yourself to real intimacy.
EPISODE NOTES
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 Chapman
- Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love, by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller
- Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples, by Harville Hendrix
Caitlin 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


