A Need To Read

#143 The Sweet Spot: suffering, pleasure and the key to a good life

A review of Paul Bloom's brilliant book The Sweet Spot, an in-depth look at our pleasure-seeking tendencies and how we may be getting it wrong in our pursuit of the good life.
 
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Tech and social media impacts your health, with Dr Rachael Kent

Dr. Rachael Kent is a lecturer and researcher at Kings College London. Specifically, Dr. Kent’s research focuses on how digital technology influences everyday mental and physical health. Below are some timestamps for this conversation that may prove to be one of the most important I have had so far. I am growing more and more concerned with how technology influences our lives and it was a pleasure to chat about this with an expert.
 
All you need for Rachael is on her website: https://www.drdigitalhealth.co.uk 
 
Time Stamps
2 minutes: Intro to Rachael and her motivation behind her research in digital technology.
8 minutes - Apps and their power over us.
12 minutes - Neoliberalism and Margaret Thatcher's influence over our digital health.
20 minutes - Corporate digital and mental health.
23 minutes - What tech & social media has done to us over the last couple of years.
32 minutes - Setting boundaries with technology.
37 minutes - Self-representation on social media and dating apps.
45 minutes - There are more phones on planet earth than there are humans.
53 minutes - Digital activism.
1 hr - Health Tracking.
1hr6 minutes - Moralising health.
1hr14 minutes -  A.I. 
1hr 20 minutes -  My tips for a better relationship with technology.
 
Support
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
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For Everything else including the email sign up form head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

#141 Rethinking Positive Thinking

This week I review the book ‘Rethinking Positive Thinking’ by Professor of Psychology at NY & Hamburg, Gabrielle Oettingen. 
 
I discuss; the cult of positivity, my opinion on positive thinking as a default, the benefits of positive thinking and positive fantasies, the drawbacks of positive fantasies, and using positive and negative thinking to set and achieve your goals.
 
While I wouldn’t rush to recommend reading the book unless you’re interested in reading all the supporting data to the claims made in this podcast, I would suggest having a quick watch of Gabrielle Oettingen’s talks on YouTube if you need further information. 
 
You can get the free goal setting template here Www.Woopmylife.org 
 
 
 
 
Support
 
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
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#140 Existential problems and simple solutions with Alex Holmes

This week I chat with Alex Holmes; writer, podcaster, existential mental health coach and author. We talk about; transition periods, existentialism, French philosophers, the importance of talking, how philosophy and mental health combine, social media, the lack of connection in society, the limitations of CBT, and much more.
 
You can find all you need for Alex on his blog www.alexholmes.co 
 
Support
 
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries and get a 30-day money back guarantee with Express VPN www.expressvpn.com/aneedtoread 
 
For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

#139 Mindfulness In Plain English

This is a book review episode of Henepola Gunaratana's 'MIndfulness In Plain English'. This is the second time I've read the book and I got so much more from it this time, if you're interested in meditation then this book will be so good for you. I feel quite inspired by it! I chat about my experiences with mediation, my opinions on it and it's various methods and explain some of the principles from Buddhism that inspire vipassana meditation. 
 
HOPE YOU LIKE IT! x
 
To buy your copy of Mindfulness In Plain English head to this link
For a free trial of headspace head to www.headspace.com/needtoread 
Sam Harris' Meditation app is available on his website https://wakingup.com/ 
 
Support
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries, and get a 30-day money-back guarantee with Express VPN www.expressvpn.com/aneedtoread 
 
For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

#138 Leaving the NHS, McMindfulness and Personal Finance 101 with Yusef Smith

Yusef Smith is one-half of Propane Fitness, a former NHS doctor and life hack specialist. We chat about; Leaving his role as a Doctor in the NHS, if you should strive for happiness or satisfaction, my beef with crystals and affirmations, the ethics of online businesses, the ills of social media, meditation, screen time, Jiu-jitsu, personal finance 101, the end of my consumerism, self-awareness and many tangents. 
 
Find Yusef on Instagram @propanefitness 
Propane Fitness website: https://propanefitness.com/ 
 
Books discussed
The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida 
The Sweet Spot by Paul Bloom
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall 
Mindfulness In Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Make Time by John Zaretsky and Jake Knapp
The Psychology Money by Morgan Housel
Mindset by Carol Dweck
 
 
Support
 
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries, and get a 30-day money-back guarantee with Express VPN www.expressvpn.com/aneedtoread 
 
For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

#137 The Women of WW2 with Tessa Dunlop

Tessa Dunlop is a presenter, best selling author and she has a doctorate in History. She joins me to chat about her new book ‘Army Girls’, a book that tells the stories of 17 women who served in WW2. Throughout the pandemic, Tessa made friends with and interviewed these women to shine a light on the forgotten involvement of women, who were just girls at the time, in the war. 
We answer the questions of; what the conscription of women actually means,  whether or not it ‘offensive’ that women couldn’t fire weapons in the war, how many women really contributed to Britain's war efforts, and much more. 
 
I loved chatting with Tessa about a topic I was truly ignorant of before reading her book. You can find all you need for Tessa here: http://tessadunlop.com/ 
 
Support
 
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries and get a 30-day money back guarantee with Express VPN https://www.xvinlink.com/?a_fid=Aneedtoread
 
For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

#136 Prisoners of Geography

This episode is a review of Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall, a book about the map of the world and how what lays within those borders dictates much more than you'd think.
 
I recommend everyone read this book at some point, you can buy it with free delivery here.
Support
 
The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.
 
For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham 
 
Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries and get a 30-day money back guarantee with Express VPN https://www.xvinlink.com/?a_fid=Aneedtoread
 
For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

End procrastination with Nir Eyal

Nir Eyal is the author of 2 New York Times Bestselling books; Hooked and Indistractable.  We discuss the main ideas from his book Indistractable and dive into; why to-do lists are getting in your way, how you can surf the urge of distraction, and Nir's top tips to organize your life so you never feel guilty for scrolling again. 
 
Indistractable bonus content and a link to Nir's blog is here: http://nirandfar.com/indistractable
 
Support 
 
For all things A Need To Read head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 
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#131 Answering your questions

In this episode is do an extended Q+A from Instagram. I answer questions about; Introversion/extraversion, narcissists, attachment styles, my time in the Royal Marines, What to do if you don’t like yourself, ghosting, books for break-ups, Psychadelics/weed and whether happiness is a reachable goal.
 
It’s worth noting anything I say about any form of drug must not be confused with me encouraging their use in your life. We all have different opinions on lots of topics and I do understand my views are quite liberal here.
 
Books recommended
Emotional Agility by Susan David
Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Option B by Sheryl Sandberg 
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Immortality Key by Brian Muraresku
Chasing The Scream by Johann Hari 
 
Content Recommendations 
 
Joe Rogan and Nick Bostrom podcast
Kristen Neff’s Ted Talk
 
Support 
 
For all things A Need To Read head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 
 
For 10% off therapy with BetterHelp at www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread 
 
To get your subscription to Heights Braincare supplement with 10% off use the code need2read at https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham