Books Collide Podcast

This is part two of my conversation with Andrew Schwab of Project 86.In part one we discussed the literary inspirations behind one of my favourite albums, Truthless Heroes.In this episode we got back together to discuss the three most recent Project 86 albums: Wait for the Siren, Knives to the Future, and Sheep Among Wolves.We get into the themes of Andrew's lyrics, as well as some of the books that inspired them.Andrew also explains what it has been like to write music without the original band members.Listen to my interview on Andrew's Pioneers Podcast here:Pioneers on ApplePioneers on SpotifyListen to Project 86 on Spotify:Project 86 on SpotifyFollow Andrew on Instagram here:Andrew Schwab on InstagramMy Instagram:@kail.letkemann

Andrew Schwab of Project 86 talks books, Truthless Heroes and more.Project 86 has been my favourite band for nearly 20 years. I can trace much of my love of music, writing, and even reading back to the day I first heard their music. So I'm honoured now to have singer Andrew Schwab on the Books Collide Podcast.In this episode (part one) we discuss the origins of Andrews love of fiction, the books that inspired him during the writing of Truthless Heroes, as well as the production of that controversial album and the public persona of Andrew during that era of the band.Books discussed during this episode:Dracula by Bram StokerZ for Zachariah by Robert C. O'BrienIt by Stephen King1984 by George OrwellBrave New World by Aldous HuxleyBear v. Shark by Chris BachelderThe Medium is the Massage by Marshall McLuhanThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerJimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris WareDispatches from the Tenth Circle: The Best of The OnionGet in the Van by Henry RollinsDance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital by Mark Andersen and Mark JenkinsChoke by Chuck PalahniukFight Club by Chuck PalahniukListen to my interview on Andrew's Pioneers Podcast here:Pioneers on ApplePioneers on SpotifyListen to Project 86 on Spotify (check out Truthless Heroes, then check out the newer albums because they will be discussed in part two):Project 86 on SpotifyFollow Andrew on Instagram here:Andrew Schwab on InstagramStay tuned for part two!My Instagram:@kail.letkemann

In this episode I'm counting down my Top 10 favourite reads of 2020.SPOILER ALERT - Here they are with each episode that the book was featured in:10: The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Episode 13 (Collision)9: Good to Great by Jim Collins - Episode 68: Atomic Habits by James Clear - Episode 17: Onward by Howard Schultz - Episode 36: The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb - Episode 75: Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull - Episode 84: The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau - Episode 43: Brand New Name by Jeremy Miller - Episode 16 (Interview)2: Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell - Episode 21: Cyrus the Great by Xenophon/Larry Hedrick - Episode 13Thanks for listening and Happy New Year!

Mental health expert Dr. Bill Howatt explains how to go from living in fear to flourishing.This is the full interview with Bill where we talk about the concepts behind his book Stop Hiding and Start Living.Visit Bill's website here:Bill HowattStop Hiding and Start Living was provided by Page Two Books. See more of the great books they're releasing here:Page TwoFind me on Instagram here:Instagram

If you feel trapped in fear, there is a way out!In this episode, we're exploring Stop Hiding and Start Living by Dr. Bill Howatt.Sometimes we experience so much stress, anxiety and fear, that we get caught in what Bill calls the Fear Trap.Bill created the FIT model that he uses to help people get their mental health back in shape. The FIT model covers five Fs that we explore in this episode:• Fear• Failure• Focus• Finishing• FlourishingThe Collision book for this episode is When All You Have Is Hope by Frank O'Dea.The full interview with Bill will be available very soon.Visit Dr. Bill Howatt's website here:Bill HowattFind me on Instagram here:Kail LetkemannLet me know your thoughts on this episode!

If you want to be an influencer, you need a healthy mindset.In this episode, we're exploring From Individual to Empire by Laura Bull.This is a book about building a brand. The part that I cover in the episode is called The 5 P's of Successful Influencers:• Passion• Perseverance• Purpose• Positivity• PowerThe collision book for this episode is The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor, which might be familiar from episode 9!You can find Laura Bull on Instagram here:@thelaurabullFind me here:@kail.letkemannLet me know what you took away from this episode!

Do you want to turn your passion into a business?In this episode we're exploring Crush It and Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk!I have to admit that Gary Vee has been influential to me for a number of years now. His content has helped me make sense of my path in life. So it's been great to catch up on his books.Gary's strategy for "living your passion" comes down to creating content, building an audience, and monetizing the attention on your brand.In this episode, I cover three key aspects that one must keep in mind when building a personal brand:• DNA• Hustle• PatienceDM me on Instagram and let me know what you took away from this episode!@kail.letkemann

If nature became music, what would it sound like?In this episode, I took a story from Jeff Beyl's A Conversation with the Earth, and brought it to life with sounds and music. Try to listen to this one on headphones for the full effect!Click here to check out A Conversation with the Earth by Jeff Beyl:A Conversation with the EarthFind me on Instagram for more reviews and takeaways from this book and many others:InstagramHope you enjoy!

Jeremy Miller, president of Sticky Branding, helps me shape the brand of my new production company, and guides me through the process of picking a brand new name.In this epic episode, Jeremy and I discuss his two books - Sticky Branding and Brand New Name. The best part is that he coaches me through the process of developing my brand and coming up with a new name for my next company. This is like listening in on a personal coaching session, with a ton of valuable information.The interview is split into three sections. First, we talk about Sticky Branding. Next, we talk about Brand New Name, and Jeremy gets me ready to go on a "naming sprint." In the last section, we reconvene, and I reveal the name of my new company.*Note: My mic wasn't working properly in the first part of our interview. Please bear with the sound - Jeremy's part is more important anyway!Visit Jeremy here:Sticky BrandingCrisis Marketing E-BookInstagramLet me know what you took away from this episode!InstagramEmailEnjoy!

Can you get customers excited to buy from your brand? This episode covers Sticky Branding by Jeremy Miller.I was fortunate to have Jeremy from Sticky Branding join me for a fantastic interview - that episode will be coming up next. You'll hear snippets from Jeremy throughout this episode.In his book, Jeremy explains 12.5 principles for creating a sticky brand that stands out and attracts customers. This episode covers my favourite points.Zaltman's Deep MetaphorsThe Collision book for this episode is Be Obsessed or Be Average by Grant Cardone.Let me know your thoughts!@kail.letkemann

This episode is about Game Changers, and how to be one.We're exploring It's Not Rocket Science by Mary Spio.Mary Spio grew up poor in Ghana, but turned her story around to become a deep space engineer and internet entrepreneur.Her book covers seven vital traits of Game Changers, and these are the three that I explore:• Radical Passion• Obsessive Focus• Active Compassion**Please note that I misspoke at just past the 10:00 mark. I meant to say Atomic Habits from Episode 01 and The 4-Hour Workweek and Deep Work from Episode 05.**The Collision book for this episode is really special. Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus. Stick around for his story - it's remarkable. A true Game Changer!DM me on Instagram and let me know what you took away from this episode!@kail.letkemann

What does it mean to BE a person of influence?In this episode, we're exploring The Art of Influence by Chris Widener. Chris joined me for an interview to discuss the book. You'll hear snippets of that interview here, and the full interview is available as a separate episode.The Art of Influence is a story about a young man graduated from business school who gets to spend a weekend with his dream mentor - one of the most successful billionaires in the world. Through this parable, Chris teaches us the difference between persuasion and influence, and what he calls the Four Golden Rules of Influence.• What is undivided integrity?• What's the importance of a positive attitude?• How should we consider the needs of others?• Living a life of excellence - but not perfectionism!And of course, it wouldn't be a Books Collide episode without a collision - this time it's How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.Chris was incredible in our interview. Be sure to check out his website:www.ChrisWidener.comOr email Chris here:Chris@ChrisWidener.comAnd definitely follow Chris on social!InstagramTwitterLet me know if you what you took away from this episode and if you liked this format. Find me on Instagram:@kail.letkemannNever Stop Reading!

World-class leadership speaker Chris Widener explains what it means to BE a person of influence.In this episode I talk with Chris Widener about his book The Art of Influence. He explains the Four Golden Rules of Influence that are laid out in his book.Some incredible stories popped up as well!What is it like to be friends with Jeff Bezos's pilot?How does the president of the Seattle Mariners treat employees?Were Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods perfectionists?If you got something out of this episode, shoot Chris an email here:Chris@ChrisWidener.comOr visit his website here:www.ChrisWidener.comAnd definitely follow Chris on social:InstagramTwitterLet me know if you enjoyed this interview format! Find me on Instagram here:@kail.letkemannHope you enjoy!

Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, and Sun Tzu would have had a lot to say about it!2500 years ago, the Greek historian and soldier Xenophon wrote what is now called Cyrus the Great. In this episode, we're exploring the wisdom and virtue of Cyrus, as I take you through my favourite highlights of the story. Even the music is arranged with Persian instruments!In the Collisions segment, I compare Cyrus the Great to The Art of War by Sun Tzu. This part gets into some of the impressive military strategies that Cyrus utilized.The final book covered is Sun Tzu for Success by Gerald Michaelson. This is where we tie it all in to how we can use the wisdom of Cyrus and the strategies of Sun Tzu in our lives today.This is a special episode for me, and if you enjoy it in any way, it would mean the world if you could leave a review and send me a message on Instagram! @kail.letkemannHope you enjoy!

If you feel you want to step into a greater leadership role, but you are unsure of your own leadership style and capabilities, then take a look at this episode's book.In this episode, I go over my takeaways from Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader by Herminia Ibarra.- Many leadership courses ask us to think carefully about the kind of leader we want to be. Ibarra asks us to instead take action, experiment, and reflect on the results.- Our job title may be too restrictive to allow us to grow our leadership capabilities. Ibarra gives us tips in this situation.- We need to change the way we view networking so that we can learn and interact with people from more varied backgrounds.- We need to experiment with our style and persona without feeling inauthentic - this is the best way to learn about ourselves.The Collision:I compare Act Like a Leader with Linchpin by Seth Godin, which is about being more valuable to your company than just a cog in the machine.What's your favourite takeaway from this episode? Let me know on Instagram!@kail.letkemann

Why do so many of us feel stress in the workplace? Is there something management and leadership can do to make work environments healthier? This episode covers Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek.Simon Sinek makes the case that a more inclusive and cooperative work environment leads to less stress and more productivity.There are a couple takeaways discussed in this episode:- A concept called the Circle of Safety describes the right attitude leadership needs to have toward their people.- The chemicals in our bodies explain what makes us feel close to people and what makes us feel danger. Too many workplaces feel like a threat, which alters hormones in our bodies.The Collision for this episode is a wonderful book called The Hour Between Dog and Wolf by John Coates.- The Winner Effect explains why Wall Street traders take bigger risks during bull markets, and why feeling like we're at the bottom is a perpetual cycle.- What can stress on Wall Street tell us about stress in other work environments?Let me know what you took away from this episode by DMing me on Instagram!@kail.letkemann

What is UnMarketing? Being authentic and selfless in the promotion of your brand. This episode covers UnMarketing by Scott Stratten.Customer service, social media tips, and insights into viral content are all delved into on episode 10!When it comes to social media and marketing, there's no better book I can compare this to than Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk.Let me know your thoughts by finding me on Instagram!@kail.letkemann

Why do we have a difficult time being truly happy? This episode covers The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha.Neil's book outlines nine secrets to being happy. These are explained through the phrase, "Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything." Using this phrase as an outline, I go over my three favourite takeaways:• How to use gratitude to overcome our prehistoric negativity.• Why we need to appreciate both work and free/creative time.• How happiness doesn't happen unless we live authentically.For this episode's collision, I compare The Happiness Equation to another happy book, The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. What can Tetris addicts teach us about rewiring our brains for happiness?Let me know your thoughts on Instagram!@kail.letkemann

What's more important, good ideas or good people? Ed Catmull, founder of Pixar, gives us his answer in his book Creativity, Inc. In this episode, I discuss Ed Catmull's point of view that because ideas come from people, creative companies need to know how to develop the right creative culture.Three insights I go over in this episode are:• How Pixar made use of candor to develop their films.• Why creative companies need to embrace the possibility of failure.• How to protect new ideas from critics who don't yet understand.I go over one more book in comparison to Creativity, Inc:• What did Daniel Coyle learn from Pixar when he interviewed Ed Catmull for his book The Culture Code?• How do the other insights in his book add to what we learn in Creativity, Inc?Let me know your thoughts by finding me on Instagram!@kail.letkemann

Winston Churchill had the makings of a great leader even as a young man during the Anglo-Boer War in 1899. But was Churchill born to be great?This mini-episode was a project I did as an experiment, so I thought I would share it with all of you. It was also a chance to assemble some new music which was fun. Let me know your thoughts by finding me on Instagram!@kail.letkemann

We might not have as much control in our lives as we think. The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb explains how random and unpredictable events (black swans) can have massive consequences on the world in which we live.In this episode I discuss how we have tendencies to confirm our own biases when analyzing facts, draw narratives when they aren't really there, and make decisions without examining unseen evidence. All of this leads to us not understanding how we fail to see Black Swans coming, even though we convince ourselves that we can predict the next one.I also discuss two more books and compare them with the lessons in The Black Swan:- What does an old economics book, Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt, tell us about the unseen world?- What advice from Creativity, Inc. does Ed Catmull, founder of Pixar, have about the random events that account for the creation of successful companies?Please let me know your thoughts on this episode by finding me on Instagram!@kail.letkemann

Good to Great by Jim Collins lays out six business principles that explain how companies can go from being good, or average, to being great or extraordinary.The six principles are called:- Level 5 Leadership- First Who, Then What- Confront the Brutal Facts- The Hedgehog Concept- A Culture of Discipline- Technology AcceleratorsAfter going through what these mean, I compare Good to Great to two books that have been covered in previous episodes:- How does the Hedgehog Concept relate to the advice given in The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau?- Can we see these principles in the efforts of Howard Schultz in his book Onward?Please let me know your thoughts on this episode by finding me on Instagram!@kail.letkemann

If you're feeling trapped doing work you find unfulfilling, stuck in the same place 50 weeks of the year, and wishing for a way out, then this might be the book for you.This episode covers The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. Tim lays out his guide to a better life in four steps:Define what you want to do with your time.Eliminate unproductive work and time-wasting distractions.Automate tasks that can be done in an easier way.Liberate yourself from working in a box - learn how to work remotely.After we cover these steps, I'll share with you two more books that will help you understand the different ways you can choose to earn income, and how to get more done in less time.Let me know your thoughts on this episode by finding me on Instagram: @kail.letkemann

Is there something that you love that you wish you could do for a living? It might be more feasible than you think to start your own small business doing what you love.In this episode we're going over The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau. We talk about how to choose a viable business idea, why it's important to focus on helping others, and how to keep things simple when getting started. I also compare the advice in The $100 Startup with my own journey of starting my recording studio.But one book is never enough! Reading different books gives us fresh perspectives, and we can learn new things by combining these books together. I share another book that helps us understand the importance of leading a community around what you love. Combined, these two books build a compelling picture of what your new business could look like!

It's deceptively easy to make mistakes when getting to know someone. We think we can judge things like personality, body language, and facial expressions, but so often we get it all wrong. In this episode, we explore how to navigate this difficult landscape of interacting with people we don't (and do) know.We start with an examination of Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. There's a lot we can learn from the stories and research in this book, and I share my favourite takeaways.But one book is never enough! Reading different books gives us fresh perspectives, and we can learn new things by combining these books together. In an early plot twist for me, we're comparing Talking to Strangers with a novel - murder, fraud and deceptive interactions abound!

Sometimes the world feels like it's falling apart. This is certainly how it would feel if you ran a company during the 2008 financial crisis. How would a successful CEO turn their company and their brand around? And what can we learn from this story that will help us in our own lives?We look at Onward by Howard Schultz, the story of his return as CEO of Starbucks in order to save the company. He teaches us about loving what we do, holding fast to our core values, and how to bring people along with us.But one book is never enough! Reading different books gives us fresh perspectives, and we can learn new things by combining these books together. I share takeaways from two more books from successful CEOs, and what we can learn when these three perspectives meet in the middle.

If we want to create great habits, we must first understand how habits work. In this episode, we learn the components of a habit, and how we can piece together a system of habit formation that will make positive changes in our lives.Atomic Habits by James Clear is our jump-off point. This is an easy-to-read tool for creating lasting habits. The book is very well laid out and gives us a "clear" understanding of the components of a habit.But one book is never enough! Reading different books gives us different perspectives, and we can learn new things by combining these books together. We go over two more books at the end of the episode, and how all three create a powerhouse framework for understanding and implementing habit change.