How To Be...Books Podcast

Our minds work best when they feel clear, but it's surprising how many things can get in the way - something that Clarity author Jamie Smart knows a lot about. He spoke to the "How To Be Books Podcast" for the final episode of the season.Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Dr Hafeez Ahmed is a married dentist with three kids, former whistleblower, survivor of CSE, and author of "The Philosophy Fridge."Mahati Singh is a tech recruiter, career mentor, content creator and founder of CodiesAlert.Other books/articles looked at:Rolf Dobelli: The Art of Thinking Clearly: The Secrets of Perfect Decision-MakingKeep following How To Be Books at www.howtobe247.com, and @howtobe247 on socials for future updates about the podcast. In the meantime, see you next season!This episode was sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan or the code "HowToBeBooks."

People who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one or any kind of grief, often struggle to process this new reality, as Totally Fine author Tiffany Philippou explained to us on the "How To Be Books Podcast." Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Trigger warning: This episode contains themes related to suicide.Other wonderful guests who took part:Mary Lamia, Ph.D., is a Psychology Today grief columnist teaching at college level and also in private practice. She is also the author of "Grief Isn't Something to Get Over."Other books/articles looked at:Joan Didion: The Year of Magical ThinkingIf you or anyone you know needs to speak to someone, you can phone the Samaritans in the UK at 116 123. For more information, visit the Samaritans website at www.samaritans.org. If you're in the US, The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) is leading a movement against suicide. You can find the website at www.thecalmzone.net.This episode was sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan or the code "HowToBeBooks."

The sense of shame surrounding female anatomy is a complex and deeply rooted social and cultural issue that has evolved over centuries, which is what Vagina Obscura author Rachel E. Gross discussed with us on the "How To Be Books Podcast."Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other books/articles looked at:Dr. Jennifer Gunter: The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and The Vagina - Separating The Myth from The MedicineThis episode was sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan or the code "HowToBeBooks."

Life is a remarkable adventure filled with highs, lows, and lessons, and fully accepting its every aspect can be tough, which is an important subject we discussed with legendary explorer and Climb Your Mountain author Sir Ranulph Fiennes on the "How To Be Books Podcast."Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Master Certified Coach, coaching psychologist, consultant, trainer and speaker Ruth Kudzi, is also the author of the bestselling book "How To Feel Better."Mindful Frontiers LLC creative director and founder Anne-Marie Emanuelli.Georgie Shears, a Life Design Strategist and founder of the SHIFT Life Transformation System™.Steven Hesketh, the Hospitality Hero.Other books/articles looked at:Richard Wiseman: Shoot for the Moon: How the Moon Landings Taught us the 8 Secrets of SuccessThis episode was sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan or the code "HowToBeBooks."

The legal system is a complex and multifaceted institution that plays a fundamental role in maintaining order and justice in society, which Unlawful Killings author Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC knows a lot about and spoke to us on the "How To Be Books Podcast."Trigger warning: This episode contains themes related to homicide, physical, sexual, and child abuse.Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other books/articles looked at:Preet Bharara: Doing Justice: A Prosecutor's Thoughts on Crime, Punishment and the Rule of LawThis episode was sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan or the code "HowToBeBooks."

We talk about death for various reasons, and the way we discuss it can depend on cultural, social, and personal factors, which is what With The End in Mind author Dr Kathryn Mannix told us at "How To Be Books Podcast."Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Rupert Callender, an undertaker and author of the book "What Remains?: Life, Death and the Human Art of Undertaking."Susan Leigh, counsellor and hypnotherapist from lifestyletherapy.net.Other books/articles looked at:Dr Atul Gawande: Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End

Climate change is considered an intersectional issue because it intersects with and exacerbates various social, economic, and environmental challenges, disproportionately affecting different communities and groups of people, which is what we spoke about with The Intersectional Environmentalist author Leah Thomas on the "How To Be Books Podcast."Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other books/articles looked at:Mikaela Loach: It's Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World

Trigger Warning: this episode contains racism and police violenceAs the world increasingly succumbs to the influence of a dystopian global order that views the neoliberal and capitalist market as the ultimate judge of all human interactions, an increasing number of individuals are becoming inclined to resist, an area which we speak about with Invisible Weapons author Marcus Board Jr on Black History Month for the "How To Be Books Podcast."Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Chris is a marketer with 12 years experience and currently works across manufacturing and hospitality.Other books/articles looked at:Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor: From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation

Being interconnected binds us to one another and all living beings, which can enhance our quality of life and foster collaborative efforts to establish conditions conducive to the well-being of all - a factor discussed with IntraConnected author Dr Daniel J. Siegel on the "How To Be Books Podcast."Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Jock Brocas, author of “Deadly Departed” and editor-in-chief of Paranormal Daily News.Emma Starrs, creative director at Kenland Media Relations in the UK.Juliet Owen-Nuttall, a fertility wellbeing practitioner and the cofounder of The Non Invasive Method.Other books/articles looked at:Mungi Ngomane: Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, The African Way

Appreciating the nature around us involves developing a mindful and deep connection with the natural world, which is what we spoke about with Rewild Yourself author Simon Barnes on the "How To Be Books Podcast." Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:De-stress & Wellness Coach Lillian Lartey.Hannah Ross can be found on Instagram @goddesstarotsociety.Jen Le Marinel, coach and founder of Wildfire Walks.Other books/articles looked at:George Monbiot: Feral: Rewilding the Land, Sea and Human Life

Health inequalities and gaps are avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in health between different groups of people, which is what we talked about with Rebel Bodies author Sarah Graham on the "How To Be Books Podcast."Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Amanda Finley from Kansas City, Missouri.Lisa Rowe, who is a licenced clinical social worker, the CEO of Support After Abortion and a private practice clinician.Other books/articles looked at:Rebecca Skloot: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The fear of talking about money is a complex phenomenon influenced by various psychological, cultural, and societal factors, as discussed with prominent writer, activist and editor of Women Talk Money, Rebecca Walker on the "How To Be Books Podcast."Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Phoebe Ellis is Head of Operations at Thrive Money, set up by the team at First Wealth, which helps to improve financial education and break down the taboos around money with a focus on women and younger people.Jay runs YorkshireFinances.co.uk.Other books/articles looked at:Tori Dunlap: Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love

Ensuring that we amplify marginalised voices is essential for promoting inclusivity, diversity, and social progress, which is something we talk about with Haramacy editor Zahed Sultan on the "How To Be Books Podcast."Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Andrea Nero, PhD, founder and CEO of Nero Strategies Group and author of "Beggars and Kings: Marginalized People in the Discourses of Early American Scientific Societies."Harirata Diallo is a Community Engagement Executive at Imagen Insights, a Gen Z market research and insights platform and database.Jojo Mehta is the co-founder of Stop Ecocide International, chair of the charitable Stop Ecocide Foundation and convenor of the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide.Other books/articles looked at:Mariam Khan: It's Not About the Burqa: Muslim Women on Faith, Feminism, Sexuality and Race

Reconciling faith and LGBTQIA+ identity can be a complex and personal journey, as it involves navigating both religious beliefs and personal understanding of one's identity, which is what we spoke about with Hijab Butch Blues author Lamya H on the "How To Be Books Podcast." Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Angel Gravely, (M.Ed.) an LGBTQ+ educator and advocate and founder of Angel Gravely Education.Reverend Jide Macaulay, founder & CEO House of Rainbow.Empowerment expert and author Ashley T Brundage.Rev. Kipp Nelson, who is the Pastor of St. John's on the Lake United Methodist Church in Miami Beach, Florida and the first openly gay pastor to a local church in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.Queer researcher and teacher Jebin Samuel.Other books/articles looked at:Amber Cantorna-Wylde: Unashamed: A Coming-Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians and Refocusing My Family: Coming Out, Being Cast Out, and Discovering the True Love of God

Being able to say no to people can be difficult for several reasons, and it often varies from person to person, hence we spoke to The Joy of Saying No author Natalie Lue to get some advice on the "How To Be Books Podcast".Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other wonderful guests who took part:Amanda Craven, an accredited and licensed clinical hypnotherapist, life coach, psychologist and author based in the UK with a global client base.Dr Lisa Turner, trauma expert and founder of CETfreedom.Daniela Wolfe, founder and CEO at Best D Life – Helping You Find the Bliss in Your Busy.Dr Lienna Wilson, a clinical psychologist with a practice in Princeton New Jersey.Transformative coach Myra Mchale.Parenting teenagers expert and psychologist Angela Karanja.John Pabon, a sustainability author, consultant and speakerLaura Tremaine, who is the host of the 10 Things To Tell You podcast and author of The Life Council.Other books/articles looked at:Nedra Glover Tawwab: Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself

Charisma, effortless confidence, and being self-assured can complement each other, but they can also exist independently, which is what we discussed with Happy High Status author Viv Groskop on the "How To Be Books Podcast".Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:UKCP Psychotherapist Mark Vahrmeyer from Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy.Parenting teenagers expert and psychologist Angela Karanja.Other books/articles looked at:Katty Kay and Claire Shipman: The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance - What Women Should Know

Heartbreak, the emotional pain and distress caused by the loss or ending of a romantic relationship, can have various effects on individuals, which is what we spoke about with Notes on Heartbreak author and Vogue columnist Annie Lord on the "How To Be Books Podcast".Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:Tanya Unkovich is a public speaker, executive mentor and skilled expert in mastering resilience and the author of "Grief to Greatness.Thanks to 'Brian' for contributing. ** Anonymous contribution.Other books/articles looked at:Susan J. Elliott, J.D., M.Ed: Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You.

The impact of the internet on human connection is a complex and debated topic - the feeling of being disconnected is something we discuss with Is This OK? author Harriet Gibsone on the "How To Be Books Podcast".Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:UKCP Psychotherapist Mark Vahrmeyer from Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy.Eric Michelson is the proprietor of Research Tree, which is a social media insights firm that serves commercial clients.Natasha S. Den Dekker is a British Asian woman in her 30s living in the West Midlands in the UK.Other books/articles looked at:Emma Gannon: Disconnected: How to Stay Human in an Online World

Perfectionism is a complex mindset and behaviour that can be influenced by various factors, which is why we spoke to psychotherapist and The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control author Katherine Morgan Schafler on the "How To Be Books Podcast".Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:Author of The Rosie Project, The Rosie Effect, as well as The Rosie Result Graeme Simsion.Producer and host of Brodcast, and owner of social media market company Tenkai Klara Tuličić.Lisa Grotts is an author, certified etiquette expert, and Huffington Post blogger. She is also a former Director of Protocol for the City and County of San Francisco.Michelle Foulia is the author of Poppy's Miracle, coach, and speaker.Other books/articles looked at:Reshma Saujani: Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More and Live Bolder

Patriarchy is a system of social organisation in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it, which is the discussion we have award-winning science journalist Angela Saini on her new book The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule on the "How To Be Books Podcast". Patriarchy can be seen in all aspects of society, from the family to the workplace to the government.Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:Jenifer Joy is an artist, model, educator, performer, musician, and all-round professional unicorn.Libby Vincent, founder of a feminist leadership consultancy called Hodology.Other books/articles looked at:Jaclyn Friedman: Unscrewed: Women, Sex, Power, and How to Stop Letting the System Screw Us All

History helps us understand how the world came to be the way it is today, which is why children should learn about the past - a conversation I had with Stolen History: The Truth About the British Empire and How it Shaped Us author Sathnam Sanghera on the "How To Be Books Podcast". By learning about the past, we can better understand the present and make informed decisions about the future.Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:Darren Weale, PR based in Kent, and a history lover.Parenting teenagers expert and psychologist Angela Karanja.Shriya Boppana is an Indian American beauty pageant titleholder, activist, author, and on-air personality. She is best known for being Miss India America 2020. Her anti-sex trafficking advocacy work has been featured on ABC as a ‘Future Leader of America,' Fox 5 as a ‘Voice for the Voiceless,' and Flaunt Magazine as a ‘New Generation Beauty Pageant Champion.'Other books/articles looked at:Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone: How to Be a (Young) Antiracist

Protest is an invaluable way to speak truth to power, which is why we spoke to award-winning poet Salena Godden on the "How To Be Books Podcast", who wrote Pessimism is for Lightweights: 13 Pieces of Courage and Resistance.Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:Puneet Singh is the founder of ssstart, an organization working towards a more inclusive and accessible society for people with disabilities. His life is an intersection of poverty, domestic violence, and multiple disabilities.Other books/articles looked at:Danny Schechter: Occupy: Dissecting Occupy Wall Street

If you want to improve your health and well-being, it is important to know what we should eat, which is why we spoke to Food for Life author Professor Tim Spector OBE on the the "How To Be Books Podcast".Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:Yanira Puy, executive business woman, speaker, and certified wellness coach.Shahada Karim, ayurvedic nutritionist and movement therapist.Hortense Julienne, founder of Miss Nang Treats and charity trustee.Kim Kulp, registered dietitian, speaker and gut health expert.Lisann Valentin, actor, author and intuitive coach.Patricia Kolesa, registered dietician.Abigail Ireland, founder of leadership and training consultancy called Understanding Performance.Other books/articles looked at:Michael Pollan: In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

Freedom is important because it allows us to live our lives as we see fit, an aspect that Nobel Peace Prize-winning author Dr Shirin Ebadi talks about in her book Until We Are Free on the "How To Be Books Podcast".Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other books/articles looked at:Akbar Ganji: The Road to Democracy in Iran

Housing precarity refers to the condition of being vulnerable to housing insecurity or instability, which is why we spoke to All The Houses I've Ever Lived In author Kieran Yates on why shelter is important on the "How To Be Books Podcast".Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:Irene Abbou is an ICF certified coach trained in the Gottman Method for couples' therapy and double certified in positive psychology.Dr. Jack Drescher, psychoanalyst and past president of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. He is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and a Faculty Member at Columbia's Division of Gender, Sexuality, and Health.Other books/articles looked at:Matthew Desmond: Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

The representation of LGBTQ+ community in media, politics, and other areas of society can have both positive and negative impacts, which is why I spoke to Gender Euphoria author and editor Laura Kate Dale on the "How To Be Books Podcast" in a bid to understand the importance of joy.Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:Bela Gaytan is a queer, neurodivergent, disabled Latina instructional designer, IDEA practitioner with NASA, agency owner, speaker, and advocate with multiple disabilities.Cassie Brooks is an accomplished author of empowering children's picture books like "Sticks and Stones" and "I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me."Chelsea Winstead who identifies as a lesbian, is also the co-founder of HerHQ, a former US Airforce Reserve Officer and a successful entrepreneur.Dr Anjali Ferguson is a culturally responsive licensed psychologist, children's book author, podcast host, and widely sourced expert on treating racial and social trauma and its mental health effects on children and families.Other books/articles looked at:Ben Pechey: The Book of Non-Binary Joy: Embracing the Power of YouAmrou Al-Kadhi: Life as a Unicorn: A Journey from Shame to Pride and Everything in Between

There are many challenges of motherhood that are not always widely discussed or acknowledged in society. As a result we spoke to Don't Forget To Scream author Marianne Levy about her experiences on the "How To Be Books Podcast". So why don't we hear about the challenges of motherhood?Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Other amazing guests who took part:Serene Gato is a Birth Doula and HypnoBirthing Educator.Founder of Black and Beech Stacey Grant-Canham.Other books/articles looked at:Candice Brathwaite: I Am Not Your Baby Mother

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. It is the last episode of the season and we're looking at reflecting at the beginning of the new year through journaling. Journaling is one of the cheapest forms of self-care. It can help you make sense of how you're feeling about a certain person or situation that is troubling or inspiring you. The process of writing down your thoughts as honestly and with as little judgment as possible allows for self-discovery. So how do we journal and stick to it?I spoke to editor, creative-writing coach, and Journaling for Dummies author Amber Lea Starfire on getting started on journaling and maintaining a habit, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Growth is a natural part of human evolution, and the desire of most people is to expand in awareness as well as achievement. As a human being we grow through distress, boredom and a need to solve the issues that we are facing. You may want to take matters into your own hands and do what is needed in order to reach your highest potential. So how do we reach our superhuman potential?I spoke to international speaker and author of Unashamedly Superhuman Jim Steele on going beyond our abilities and potential, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Imagine a task you must do today which you are really dreading. Now imagine putting it off until tomorrow. Feel that surge of relief and pleasure? Research shows that in habitual behaviour there is a surge of dopamine-related pleasure in the reward system of the brain when an individual even thinks about the habitual act. So how do we manage procrastination? I spoke to psychologist and the bestselling author of The Now Habit Dr Neil Fiore on dealing with procrastination, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Financial anxiety is a real thing. It's an obsessive fear of things related to money that can often be debilitating and can be triggered by any number of things, not just a lack of money. We're brought up by our parents not to discuss money, and despite death and taxes being the only two certainties in life according to Benjamin Franklin, they're also two things we avoid talking about. It hasn't changed over the years, and even young people and millennials shy away from talking about money.So how can we be more open about money and understand it better? Hence, I spoke to TEDx speaker, podcaster and Girls That Invest author Simran Kaur on being open about finances, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. It may be awkward because sex is taboo to talk about in our culture. People generally have shame around bodies and sexuality, so talking openly about sex and sexuality may bring up feelings of awkwardness. Many adults are afraid or uncomfortable when teenagers talk about sexuality and sexual activity. So how do we talk about sex openly? Hence, I spoke to comedian and Sex Bomb author Sadia Azmat on being open about sex, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. In modern society, busyness is often equated with success. Busyness used to be a virtue back in the old days before mobile phones and information overload appeared in our palms and began to fill every single idle void. Now it's become a joy-sucking, and frankly unhealthy habit we all need to get real about. So how do we stop being over-busy? Hence, I spoke to psychologist and Crazy Busy author Thijs Launspach on managing being busy, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. The body is political. Our body can represent our identity, our past, our race, gender and status, and be a symbol for our society. However, how our bodies are viewed and categorised is not always in the power of the body's inhabiter, many of these definitions are imposed upon us by systems of power beyond our control. So how is the body political? Hence, I spoke to University of East Anglia professor and Shame on me author Tessa McWatt on body politics, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Our achievement-oriented culture urges us to push through adversity, overcome all obstacles, and strive for success. Yet, quitting — like failure — is a normal part of life. There will be times in our jobs, relationships, friendships, business ventures, sports, and pastimes, when the best option is to quit. So why is it okay to quit and when should we do it? Hence, I spoke to renowned speaker and The Dip author Seth Godin on how we know when to quit, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Desire is instinctual. It lives deep in our animal selves. Desire wants what it wants, without rationale, often without full awareness. Most of us wrestle throughout our lives with the desires we've denied ourselves in order to fit into the “good” box and to be accepted in our family and community. So how do we stop fearing desire and pursue what we want? Hence, I spoke to What We Want author Charlotte Fox Weber on how we embrace desire, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. A stressful situation — whether something environmental, such as a looming work deadline, or psychological, such as persistent worry about losing a job — can trigger a cascade of stress hormones that produce well-orchestrated physiological changes. A stressful incident can make the heart pound and breathing quicken. Muscles tense and beads of sweat appear. Over the years, researchers have learned not only how and why these reactions occur, but have also gained insight into the long-term effects chronic stress has on physical and psychological health. Over time, repeated activation of the stress response takes a toll on the body. So what affect does stress have on our nervous system, and what can we do about it? Hence, I spoke to Finding Inner Safety author Dr Nerina Ramlakhan on how stress affects our nervous system, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. As social media has proliferated worldwide—Facebook has 2.85 billion users—so too have concerns over how the platforms are affecting individual and collective wellbeing. So why is social media potentially harmful and are we aware about it? Hence, I spoke to Channel 4 News correspondent and Get Rich or Lie Trying author Symeon Brown on whether or not social media is harming us all, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. The reality is when it comes to dreams, is that the majority of people give up on them. The most common reasons as to why they give up, are actually all in their head, and it's terribly sad that people end up living unsatisfying lives as a result. So why do we give up on our dreams, and how do we stick to it? Hence, I spoke to Life Will See You Now author Gavin Oattes on how to keep following your dreams, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Regardless of your fame, fortune, or abilities, life is filled with difficulties. You get to choose how you will react to those difficulties though. Learning to deal with them in healthy, productive ways results in personal growth and peace of mind. So how do we deal with complications? Hence, I spoke to When the Clouds Come co-author Drew Povey on how to deal with challenges, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. The human body converts the food it consumes into energy in order to function and stay alive. This energy supply enables the body to do a number of things vital to its survival. But its not just food that you need to live day-to-day. Stress, poor diet, and living a meaningless life can actually make our energy wane as well. So how do we keep our energy up? Hence, I spoke to Energize author and coach Simon Alexander Ong on how to maintain our energy, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Identity politics has played an important role in advancing civil rights, but some say the term itself is problematic. It is the tendency for people of a particular background to form political alliances, while moving away from traditional broad-coalition party politics. So why identity politics important? Hence, I spoke to veteran journalist and Who Are We? author Gary Younge on what are the pros and cons of the debate, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills and social change! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. They say well-behaved women seldom make history. Being called a 'nasty woman', 'difficult', or 'dangerous' - even a ‘bloody difficult woman' is something most women are likely to experience in their lifetimes. But is it such a bad thing to be a dangerous woman? Hence, I spoke to broadcaster, artist, and Dangerous Women contributor Bidisha on what it means to be a dangerous woman, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. I also heard from others who have gained some mastery over themselves. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Trigger warning: References to sexual and physical violence

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Selective amnesia has allowed deep misunderstandings about nations to become embedded in the public imagination, enabling large proportions of the population. So why is it important to learn an accurate version of history? Hence, I spoke to poet and These Bodies of Water author Sabrina Mahfouz on why it is important to learn about accurate history, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. I also heard from others who have gained some mastery over themselves. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Trigger warning: References to slavery, police brutality, colonialism, sexual and physical violence.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. In democratic societies, we are governed by consent. Hence, it is our job to become responsible citizens before voting or electing those in office (or placed to appointments), to represent our interests and create a better world for all of humanity. So how do we become politically responsible? Hence, I spoke to US philosopher and Fear of Black Consciousness author Professor Lewis R. Gordon on why it is important to be politically responsible, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. I also heard from others who have gained some mastery over themselves. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. The human body is everything that makes up, well, you. It is your home. Caring for your body makes sense. So why is it important to learn about your body? Hence, I spoke to neuroscientist, TV presenter and co-author of Sort Your Brain Out Dr Jack Lewis on why it is important to know about your body, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. I also heard from others who have gained some mastery over themselves. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Deepak Chopra says starting over is the knowledge that there is something better out there for you—even if you don't know what it is yet. It's about learning from the past and using it to propel you forward in a way you had never considered before. So how do you transform and start over again? Hence, I spoke to Stanford University's Distinguished Careers Institute fellow and Repotting Your Life author Frances Edmonds on how to turn over a new leaf, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. I also heard from others who have gained some mastery over themselves. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Disobedience is needed, and without it social progress would not continue. Disobedience is important because it can save lives, and it starts the conversation, but it can also cause conflict. There are both good disobedience and bad disobedience. So why is it important and how can we be disobedient with purpose? Hence, I spoke to award-winning author Piyali Bhattacharya, who is the editor of the anthology Good Girls Marry Doctors on whether we need disobedience in our lives, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. I also heard from others who have gained some mastery over themselves. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Representation burnout refers to the stress, fatigue, and exhaustion of being the only person of a particular identity within a certain environment, and to add, the only person defending that identity from discriminatory attitudes. Hence, I spoke to award-winning author Nikesh Shukla, who is the editor of The Good Immigrant and his newly published book Your Story Matters on the frustrations of being pigeonholed with an identity, as well as other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. I also heard from others who have gained some mastery over themselves. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Trigger Warning: This episode contains themes of racial trauma, police brutality, Islamophobia, suicide, and mental illness.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. Safety is a concept that includes all measures and practices taken to preserve the life, health, and bodily integrity of individuals. However, not everyone has that guarantee sadly. Hence, I spoke to Ten Thousand Aftershocks author Michelle Tom on feeling safe, as well as looked at other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us. And also heard from others who have gained some mastery over themselves. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Trigger Warning: This episode contains themes of violence, suicide, and mental illness.

Welcome to "How To Be...", guiding you through life's tricky topics and skills by reading through the best books out there. We're told it's a fundamental need in humans to be seen. Counsellor Shala Nicely says: "Feeling seen by others is a basic human need. Its basis is evolutionary: If your tribe didn't see you, there was a risk you'd be left behind when the nomadic life of early humans dictated they move, and being alone equated to death." So what can we do to be visible? I spoke to Brown Girl Like Me author Jaspreet Kaur on being seen, as well as looked at other experts' books to see if their advice can help all of us? And also hearing from others who have gained some mastery over themselves. Please hit subscribe to hear the whole series on life skills! It should be short and sweet. I look forward to journeying with you through this maze of hacks.Trigger Warning: This episode contains themes of abuse, violence, police brutality, suicide, and mental illness.