Authors Who Podcast: Listen To Our Top 10
Several of today’s top nonfiction authors aren’t only superb scribes — they’re also among the most profound podcasters in the industry. In fact, many of the minds behind the most popular titles on Blinkist have their own shows where they tear into topics ranging from finance and philosophy to religion and relationships. With so much compelling content out there, it’s clear that today’s most influential authors have a lot more to say than just what’s in their books.
With that in mind, here’s a roundup of 10 eye-opening podcasts we think are well worth subscribing to.
1. 10% Happier hosted by Dan Harris
(author of 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress without Losing My Edge and Found Self-Help That Actually Works)
10% Happier
- 13 min reading time
- audio version available
You might know Dan Harris from the many hats he wears for ABC News — or from the panic attack he once had on air — but this adept newsman has more recently become a leading voice in the arena of meditation and mindfulness. In his weekly podcast, Harris converses with some of the brightest people on the planet, homing in on a way to succeed in this life without losing sight of what really matters.
2. FiveThirtyEight Politics hosted by Nate Silver
(author of The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail — but Some Don’t)
The Signal and the Noise
- 19 min reading time
- audio version available
While Nate Silver initially made a name for himself as a mathematically-minded baseball analyst, he only attracted national attention after using Big Data to successfully predict how 49 of the 50 states would vote in America’s 2008 presidential election. Since then, he’s overseen FiveThirtyEight.com — a data-driven blog about sports and government — and he’s hosted this weekly podcast, which highlights the hottest issues in politics.
3. Freakonomics Radio hosted by Stephen J. Dubner
(co-author of Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics, Think Like a Freak, and When to Rob a Bank)
Freakonomics
- 21 min reading time
- audio version available
Journalist Stephen J. Dubner shines a spotlight on often-overlooked facets of everyday life and discusses them with a growing galaxy of luminaries in this ongoing exploration of our world’s endless idiosyncrasies. From interviews with iconic entrepreneurs to in-depth analyses of international economies, Dubner’s weekly show covers a ton of topics, and occasionally features his co-author, Steven Levitt.
4. Happier with Gretchen Rubin hosted by Gretchen Rubin
(author of The Four Tendencies, Happier at Home, Better Than Before, and The Happiness Project)
The Happiness Project
- 18 min reading time
- audio version available
In addition to helping countless readers find happiness via her series of bestselling books, author Gretchen Rubin uses her podcast to share insights into how she manages to stay sane in today’s crazy world. Rubin provides actionable advice to help listeners establish — and maintain — their own healthy habits of happiness, often using her fun-loving sister/co-host as test subject for the program’s many projects.
5. Revisionist History hosted by Malcolm Gladwell
(author of Blink, The Tipping Point, and David and Goliath)
Blink
- 15 min reading time
- audio version available
Malcolm Gladwell, the author who found fame by exposing unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated subjects, has so far produced two 10-week seasons of this podcast, which examines little-known subjects through the lens of social science. He weaves his well-researched findings into compelling narratives, challenging listeners to ponder whether our forebears’ behavior has benefited — or betrayed — modern society.
6. Savage Lovecast hosted by Dan Savage
(author of American Savage: Insights, Slights and Fights on Faith, Sex, Love and Politics)
American Savage
- 15 min reading time
- audio version available
Outspoken sex-advice columnist Dan Savage, whose syndicated articles appear in scores of publications across North America, shares his unique perspective on life and love during weekly episodes of this upbeat podcast. Since 2006, he’s helped thousands of listeners who’ve called in with questions concerning subjects such as religion, gay rights, politics, and pornography.
7. The Tim Ferriss Show hosted by Tim Ferriss
(author of Tribe of Mentors, Tools of Titans, and The 4-Hour Workweek)
Tribe of Mentors
- 15 min reading time
- audio version available
Author, early-stage investor, and notorious self-experimenter Tim Ferriss finds out what makes movers and shakers tick in his weekly, long-form interviews with experts from an array of industries. Ferriss also shares his own secrets to success, including workout tips, time-management tricks, and various other life-hacks anyone can use to improve their prospects both personally and professionally.
8. Unscrewed hosted by Jaclyn Friedman
(author of Unscrewed: Women, Sex, Power, and How to Stop Letting the System Screw Us All)
Unscrewed
- 13 min reading time
- audio version available
Modern attitudes toward sex and gender can be confusing. Fortunately, writer, educator, and activist Jaclyn Friedman is here to elucidate complicated issues surrounding sexual agency and identity. In weekly episodes, Friedman speaks with a variety of experts in various fields, resulting in conversations rich with wit, wisdom, and real-world advice about navigating through today’s nonsensical noise and achieving sexual liberation.
9. Lying by Sam Harris hosted by Sam Harris
Lying
- 9 min reading time
- audio version available
During his in-depth conversations with many of the most brilliant and controversial minds of our time, neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris delves into big-picture questions concerning consciousness, morality, and the present state of politics. Each near-weekly episode aims to help listeners achieve a better understanding of themselves, the world, and how everything fits together.
10. You Are Not So Smart hosted by David McRaney
(author of You Are Not So Smart and You Are Now Less Dumb)
You Are Not So Smart
- 15 min reading time
- audio version available
Journalist David McRaney uses science and psychology to explore myriad forms of self-delusion in this aural extension of his blog and book, which also serve to remind us how little we know about ourselves, each other, and the world we occupy. From cognitive biases to informal fallacies, McRaney explains in light-hearted layman’s terms how our skewed perspectives of reality form the foundation of our days and the arc of our lives.
BONUS PODCAST: Simplify by Blinkist
Looking for another great podcast to tune into? Simplify, brought to you by Blinkist, is for anyone who’s taken a close look at their life and thought, “There’s got to be a better way.” Hosts Caitlin Schiller and Ben Schuman-Stoler talk to bestselling writers, productivity gurus, sex geniuses, and happiness experts (including a few of the aforementioned podcasters) to help you live a life less complicated. Season 3 is in the works and will be making its way to your ears soon. Subscribe to Simplify today and listen out for the trailer on March 22nd!
