Chris Stemp and Jon Rojas are the co-hosts of the Smart People Podcast, where they interview the people smarter than you and I. Guests include Tony Schwartz, Dr. Paul Ruggieri, and Dan Pink among others. These are Chris and Jon’s good things.
Good things to read.
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. You know how it’s always hard to answer when people ask, “What’s your favorite book”? Well for me it’s easy. Flow blew my mind the first time I read it, and the fifth time I read it. By now my copy of the book is just a lot of highlighted pages. – Chris
The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver. A book about probability and statistics does not sound very exciting, but think again. The fact that Nate Silver accurately predicted the last few elections is enough to get you intrigued. You’ll quickly realize that it’s both fun and educational. – Jon
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan. Within 10 pages, this book changed the way I viewed the world around me. The idea that plants can use us in the same way we can use them is mind bending. This book goes far beyond plants and makes you think more deeply about human desire. – Chris
Good things to watch.
This is Water by David Foster Wallace. A simple video that shows we should care, be curious, and be compassionate. Stop reading this and go watch it. NOW. – Jon
Kittens. No joke, watch kittens. On-line, in your house, on TV – anywhere. They instantly lighten my mood and remind me to not take life so seriously. – Chris
Feel For Me, Live, by Foy Vance. Only the live version will do…sadly. The emotion that comes out during this song when he performs live is incredible. Don’t be scared to sing along, you’ll find you are much more in tune with the world when you’re done belting it out! – Chris
Good things to use.
Headlamp. The versatility of a headlamp is under appreciated. You can use it walking your dog at night, reading in a tent, searching in the attic, etc. But be sure to get one with good reviews – with headlamps, quality matters! – Chris
Lift (iOS app). Everyone could use a little help making better habits and Lift is the perfect app to help. Lift helps track your daily habits and sends you reminders when you haven’t completed them. Other Lift users can provide comments and encouragement. What’s better than that?!? – Jon
Aeropress. I love coffee. I REALLY LOVE coffee. Nothing makes me happier in the morning than waking up, grinding coffee beans, and making a fresh cup of coffee. It takes a little longer than a coffee maker, but it’s completely worth it. – Jon
Connect with the guys on Twitter, Chris @ChrisStemp and Jon @JonRojas. You can also follow the show at @SmartPeoplePod.
