best self improvement podcasts 1

7 Best Life Changing Podcasts I’ve Listened To

Whether you’re looking for the best podcasts for motivation, inspiration, anxiety, depression, better relationships, learn mindfulness, spirituality, business, entrepreneurship, or some form of self-help, personal development, or self-improvement,

I have a list of podcasts that will appeal to a variety of personalities and journeys out there.

What are the newest hits on the radio? I wouldn’t know…I don’t even listen to the radio anymore.

I have an 8-12 minute drive to work and an 8-12 minute drive back home. I do this an average of 1.5x/day.

I take my dog to the park or play with him outside in the backyard for 15-20 minutes every single day.

This allows me roughly 50-55 minutes every day to listen to podcasts. I have been around the block.

Best Podcasts To Change Your Life In Many Ways

(That I’ve Listened To)

Caffeine For The Soul Podcast

caffeine for the soul

Owner: Michael Neill

Speaker: Michael Neill

Best For: better relationships, mindfulness, spirituality, self-help, self-improvement, personal development, anxiety, depression,

Specialty: transformational thinking, the three principles

Episode Length: 5 – 10 minutes

Summary: Along with Brooke Castillo, Michael is my favourite mentor and coach. This podcast incorporates a little bit of the three principles understanding, many stories, and metaphors that help you understand that you live in a thought-created world, all your experiences are created by the three principles. Michael really knows how to keep you engaged and simplify all of his messages in an easy-to-understand manner. This podcast will appeal to those who are and aren’t interested in spirituality, and to everyone looking to improve their thinking.

The Life Coach School Podcast

inspirational podcasts

Owner: Brooke Castillo

Speaker: Brooke Castillo

Best For: better relationships, mindfulness, self-help, self-improvement, personal development, anxiety, depression, motivation, inspiration

Specialty: transformational thinking, self-coaching

Episode Length: 30 min – 2 hrs

Summary: Booke reminds me of a more upbeat, female version of my other favourite mentor and coach, Michael Neill. They both share the same approaches in their own unique ways. The amount of information in this podcast can be potentially overwhelming for some. I personally resonate very well with Brooke and her philosophies on life. If you have any interest in understanding how your thoughts create your emotions and actions and how to change them to achieve your desired result then this is a must-listen for you. There are specific episodes that will be a huge benefit to coaches, but for the most part, this podcast is for everyone.

School Of Thought Podcast

spirituality podcasts

Owner: School Of Thought

Speaker: Various Experts

Best For: better relationships, mindfulness, self-help, self-improvement, personal development, anxiety, depression

Specialty: the three principles, spirituality

Episode Length: 50 – 60 minutes

Summary: This podcast is primarily based on the three principles understanding. If you are not familiar with the three principles that, are OK, you will not be lost. There are some very big names from the world of the three principles, including Dr. Jack Pransky, Elsie Spittle, Dr. Mark Howard, George Pransnky, Dicken Bettinger, and Dr. Bill Pettit. If you like spirituality, you will love this podcast. If you are not into spirituality try listening with an open mind, the speakers really know how to simplify a complex topic.

Coaches Rising Podcast

personal development podcasts

Owner: Coaches Rising

Speaker: Various Experts

Best For: better relationships, mindfulness, self-help, self-improvement, personal development

Specialties: coaching, spirituality

Episode Length: 40 – 70 minutes

Summary: This podcast is primarily for coaches, although there are episodes that can benefit anyone. There are some big names in the spiritual and coaching world in this podcast, Gay Hendricks, John Prendergast, and Karen Kimsey House to name a few. It is interesting to listen to how each of these infamous coaches views the world in their own way. The only downside is: an episode is released every 2-4 weeks.

The Lightwork of Transformational Coaching Podcast

self help podcasts

Owner: Leon Vanderpol and Craig Hedge

Speaker: Leon Vanderpol and Craig Hedge

Best For: better relationships, mindfulness, spirituality, self-help, self-improvement, personal development,

Specialty: personal transformation, transformational coaching

Episode Length: 20 – 30 minutes

Summary: This podcast will not be found on any of the podcast players. You can listen to it here. This podcast consists of 9 highly informative episodes. The topics are primarily centered around human transformation, ranging from deep listening, soul/life purpose, to trying vs allowing, and much more. Craig and Leon are extremely well-spoken and easy to listen to. It is like eavesdropping on two amazing transformational coaches.

Best Podcasts To Change Your Life

(That I Haven’t Listened To But Plan To)

(In no particular order)

The Tim Ferriss Show Podcast

best motivational podcasts

Owner: Tim Ferriss

Speaker: Tim Ferriss and various others

Best For: better relationships, mindfulness, spirituality, self-help, self-improvement, personal development, health, anxiety, depression

Specialty: entrepreneurship, business

Episode Length: 20 min – 2 hrs+

Summary: coming soon

The GaryVee Audio Experience Podcast

self improvement podcasts

Owner: GaryVee

Speaker: GaryVee and various others

Best For: self-help, self-improvement, personal development, anxiety, depression,

Specialty: entrepreneurship, business

Episode Length: 20 min – 2 hrs+

Summary: coming soon

Do you have experience with any of these great podcasts? Please share with everyone!

 Any podcasts not on the list that you feel deserve recognition? Please share!

what should i do with my life

“What Should I Do With My Life?” – Ask Better Qestions

Does This Sound Like You?

“What should I do with my life?”

“I don’t know what to do with my life”

“What to do with my life…”

“What do I want to do with my life?”

“What to do in life…”

“What am I doing with my life?”

These are the most common questions and statements people are seeking answers to all over the internet, can you believe that?

These are disempowering questions and statements that essentially got you to where you are now.

Read on if you would like to learn how to change that.

This is not an article full of fluffy random tips like the one on themuse.com that you have probably stumbled across while searching your questions on Google.

You will come across some transformational questions that have an opportunity to transform your outlook on your life. You just might actually figure out what to do with your life. And yes, that is possible to do from reading just one article.

Take out a pen and paper because you will have some work to do!

The answers are inside of you, not on Google

You do know what to do with your life, you just haven’t asked the right questions yet to bring the answers to your conscious. This is my attempt to facilitate the start of that journey for you.

It is all about the unique you, and not your convoluted beliefs influenced by everything outside of you.

“What should I do with my life?”

This has to be one of the most disempowering questions if you really want to find out what to do with your life.

Read my post on the word “should” to get a deeper understanding of the consequences of using this word.

The question “what should I do with my life?” will take you down a road of hypothetical options influenced by judgements from people and society instead of yourself.

A better question to ask yourself is “what do I want to do with my life?”. Now we are getting somewhere. It can be easy to confuse your “wants” and “shoulds”.

If you aren’t sure which one is influencing you then just to ask yourself “WHY?”.

Why do you want to do that with your life?

Why do you think you should do that with your life?

It is a “should” if you get answers like:

I should do that with my life because…

I should do that with my life because I can make more money

I should do that with my life because that is what my parents want me to do

I should do that with my life because it is the family business

I should do that with my life because everyone I know thinks I should

I should do that with my life because I don’t know what else to do

It is a “want” if you get answers like:

I want to do that with my life because…

I want to do that with my life because I am passionate about it

I want to do that with my life because I love doing it

I want to do that with my life because it brings me joy

I want to do that with my life because it brings meaning to my life

This brings us to the next question…

“What do I want to do with my life?”

This is a much more empowering question to ask than “what should I do with my life?” because you are the only influence towards the answers to that question. It is all about the unique you, and not your convoluted beliefs influenced by everything outside of you. There is a catch though, you must be able to determine your wants as completely separate and not influenced at all by any of your “should do’s” in life.

This will require some soul-searching and a higher awareness of the influences behind your current beliefs. As it is your beliefs that will ultimately be guiding all of the answers you will get when you ask yourself “what should I do with my life?”

How to find out what you want to do with your life

By no means is what I am about to say a roadmap to finding out what you want to do with life. What it is, is a rock solid guide that will point you in the right direction, an empowering direction oppose to the dead end you find yourself at.

Questions, questions, questions! That is what will uncover what you truly want to do with your life. They must be the right questions of course.

Questions to help discover what you want to do with your life

What are you passionate about?

What brings you immense joy?

What were you doing the last time you felt like time stood still?

What else has ever given you this feeling?

What were you doing in life when you felt like your life had the most meaning?

What is something you haven’t done but have always wanted to do?

What are some things you have always done because you wanted to and not because you felt you had to?

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Now, what you should notice is that there are certain answers that tend to overlap in some way. These are the answers that you want to put your focus toward.

Here’s a hypothetical example:

What are you passionate about? Animals, golf, politics

What brings you immense joy? Spending time with my pets, golfing with friends, spending time with family

What were you doing the last time you felt like time stood still? At the park with my dog

What else has ever given you this feeling? Pet sitting for friends, my honeymoon, spending time at the zoo, political rallies

What were you doing in life when you felt like your life had the most meaning? I was volunteering at the animal shelter when I was younger

What is something you haven’t done but have always wanted to do? Own my own business, write a letter to the president

What are some things you have always done because you wanted to and not because you felt you had to? Pet sit, play with my dog, go golfing, stay up to date with politics

What would you do if you knew you could not fail? I would start my own business

Now obviously since I made this up it is quite easy to pinpoint the key drivers here. There are two major drivers:

  1. This person LOVES spending time with animals
  2. This person wants to start their own business but doesn’t believe they can

The answer to this persons’ question of “what do I want to do with my life?” has become much more clear. What they really want is:

  1. To own their own business
  2. This business will involve spending time with animals

I’m On Vacation

Every single day ’cause I love my occupation

– Dirty Heads

At this point, you can narrow it down to plenty of different options that fit those criteria. The next question to ask would be “which option feels right?”

“What am I doing with my life?”

“What am I doing with my life?” has to potential to be a wonderful reality check for you. That is, if you have the courage to look at your life right now, as it is, and face the truth. The fact that you are even asking this question shows courage.

This question places all of the responsibility on you, which is a fantastic start. Whatever it is you are doing right now, you created it. First, it started with a thought, and then you manifested the life you are currently living as you know it through those accumulated thoughts.

“I don’t know what to do with my life”

Sorry, but saying “I don’t know what yo do with my life” will only reinforce the belief that you actually don’t know, there are no answers here. I have a question for you… if you don’t know, then who does know what to do with your life? Right…moving along.

“What to do with my life…”

Same as above.

“What to do in life…”

Same as above.

In case your wondering…

I live and breathe all of what I have discussed here on finding out what to do with your life. I absolutely love what I do as a personal trainer, coach, and blogger. I wouldn’t trade what I do for any other job or amount of money. I truly hope that one day you can say the same.

Love what you do, do what you love, the money can be created!

Learn from all of your experiences, opportunities are everywhere.

Take care,

Rob Kish

holding space for someone

8 Tips On Holding Space For Yourself and Someone Else

I wish I knew what holding space meant years ago. I could have avoided caregiver burnout, emotional turmoil, numerous arguments with my wife, and the black cloud that followed me on a daily.

Holding space is largely untalked about, yet is so important for your emotional health and the ability to be with the emotions of another. Learning how to hold space will completely transform your relationship with yourself and others.

What does holding space mean?

This is the definition given by Carol Webster in her phenomenal book The Holding Space Practice

  • Honour individual without judgement, first self, then family, then others
  • Suspension of anxiety over expected outcomes
  • Accepting “now” as it really is without undue regret or control
  • Allowing self and others to choose as we avoid inappropriate pressure, collusion, manipulation, and/or exploitation

The way I like to explain it to people is:

Holding space is creating a safe, non-judgmental environment that allows yourself and/or others to be authentic, expressing thoughts and emotions without hesitation or worry.

Why is holding space so important?

Anyone who has ever been a caregiver to someone with cancer, or any other illness, knows that the emotions in the relationship between the caregiver and the person being cared for can reach a peak quite easily. It’s very easy to get lost in all the confusing emotions. It can also lead to a very damaged and/or confusing relationship with yourself and/or the other person.

I believe holding space with love is one of the greatest gifts you can offer another.

This is where being able to hold space becomes so, so important as a cancer caregiver. There will be numerous very intense moments throughout the journey. There will be feelings of despair, celebration, anger, confusion, sadness, frustration, and the list goes on.

Being able to hold space for yourself and others during these emotional times will transform your relationship with yourself and others. Holding space will allow the moment to be as it is without trying to change it or judge it. This frees you up to be as you truly are in that moment. This removes resistance to the moment and allows love to shine through!

How to hold space For Yourself and Someone Else

You have to learn to hold space for yourself first before you can hold space for anyone else.

This is where the work has to be done. I can tell you from experience, it will take some time to get to a point where you can hold space for yourself, most likely months.

I can also tell you from experience that being able to hold space for yourself AND the one you are caring for is extremely rewarding. A feeling accompanies it that I cannot compare to anything else.

Learn To Hold Space For Someone With 8 Simple Understandings:

  1. Being without doing
  2. Bravely seeing truth
  3. Feeling feelings without words
  4. Allowing without trying
  5. Gently noticing with curiosity
  6. Staying in the space without giving in to distraction
  7. A place where time and space are fluid
  8. Love is the end result, it IS the space

1. Being without doing

These days, if you don’t have a “To-Do List” that you can unravel to the floor, well my friend, you just aren’t “busy” enough. If you aren’t “doing” something then you are lazy. Most people are so concerned about their “To-Do List” that they completely neglect just “Being”. What do I mean by this?

When is the last time you allowed yourself just 5 minutes to not do anything GUILT FREE?

To experience yourself feeling truly alive in this life you live without any guilt that you aren’t “doing” something? Just allowing yourself to be authentic, as you are, at that moment? Meditation is a great way to re-learn how to do this. I say re-learn because there was a time in your life when you knew how to do this, most likely when you were a child and parental and societal conditioning have yet to cloud your judgment.

Being without doing is extremely important for caregivers to stay in touch with themselves and to not lose themselves, which is so easy to happen. What the person you are caring for needs is YOU. Having the “To-Do List” completed while you have lost yourself in the process leaves the one you are caring for feeling alone and feeling alone is a cancer patient’s worst fear. Help them overcome this fear by BEING there, by BEING YOU.

When it comes to “being without doing” while you are holding space for the one you are caring for, this simply means be authentic, present, there is nothing you need to do or say at that moment except be there for them.

2. Bravely seeing truth

First, you need to understand that your truths are only true to you, they are not absolute or universal. One shift in perspective and your truth becomes false. This is extremely important to keep in mind during those really tough emotional conversations with the one you are caring for. It is OK to express your opinion, just do it with an open mind, and in a non-forceful way, loving way.

Being able to bravely see truth starts with you. Any suppressed, or repressed, parts of yourself, or your dark side, that you haven’t been brave enough to accept as truth will need to be accepted with love as YOU. For example, many cancer caregivers, myself included, resent their role or the one they are caring for, at some point in their journey. Bravely seeing truth is recognizing the thoughts that are creating this feeling you have and facing it head-on as opposed to repressing it.

3. Feeling feelings without words

How do you know what you are feeling if you don’t label what you are feeling? What you are feeling is not the label you have been conditioned to give it, nor is it positive or negative, you only label it so.

How do you know you feel anything at all? Now that you are left without words, there is only one other way to know what you are feeling, and that is to feel it. Where in your body do you feel it? What does the energy feel like? What is the sensation? This is feeling feelings.

Caregiver burnout, compassion fatigue, anxiety, stress, and depression are all common symptoms of being a caregiver. Not doing these first three steps towards holding space is a major cause for this. Allow yourself to be without doing, notice your thoughts and see the truth, and fully experience the feelings generated by those thoughts by feeling them.

4. Allowing without trying

Trying to take control requires you to have made a judgment about what is. Most times this comes in the form of a “should”. Trying too hard is trying to control the outcome. Allowing is accepting things as they are at the present moment.

Allowing can easily be confused with being passive, as many people have been conditioned to believe that if they aren’t taking control then they are being passive. Allowing is being mindful and intentionally in the present moment. Understanding what you can and cannot control at that moment. This allows space to be created that will allow you to respond to what is instead of resisting what is by trying to take control.

As a caregiver, during tense conversations, this can be the difference between reacting with anger and responding with empathy.

5. Gently noticing with curiosity

If you want to learn how to do this, pay attention to how children respond to life’s experiences or think back to when you were a child. Remember how curious you were about everything.

Gently noticing with curiosity requires you to get out of your head and into the moment. This is the opposite of what most of us do as adults. We stay in our head and we take all of our assumptions as absolute truths and lose our desire for exploration in the process. If you suspended all of your assumptions and beliefs momentarily do you think that you might be a tad bit more curious?

For example, as a cancer caregiver, you may have strong opinions towards how certain things “should” be done. Instead of seeing your “shoulds” as absolute truths (which they aren’t), ask yourself: “Where did that thought come from? What led to me thinking that? Is it absolutely true? What else could be true?”

6. Staying in the space without giving in to distraction

It is human nature to get distracted by your very own thoughts. As soon as you start listening to, and believing the story you are creating in your head you are no longer holding space. You are no longer present in the moment or neutral in that space.

The key is to constantly be aware of what thoughts are going through your head and the feelings they are creating without giving in to them. Acknowledge them, don’t give them attention, it is when you give them the attention that you start getting caught up in your story and stop holding space.

Now, this may sound like a very difficult task to you, and I am not going to lie, it is very difficult to do. The reward for being able to do this is far greater than any frustrations you may go through while practicing staying in the space. The good news is you can practice not giving in to distraction at any time, for anyone, including yourself. You have plenty of time to practice, in fact, all you have is time.

Meditation is a great way to practice this. There is an amazing free app that you can download to your phone called Insight Timer with over 7000 guided meditations on it that is great for beginner and experienced meditators alike.

7. A place where time and space are fluid

Think back to a memory when you were so in the moment with what you doing, and who you were being that time completely escaped you. You were completely unaware of time and you were in the “zone”, this “zone” is your space and once you enter into this space, time and space become one.

This is the space where there are no words, thoughts, feelings, or judgments, there is just you. This is the space where you feel the safest and truest of who you are.

8. Love is the end result, it IS the space

You can only give what you have inside. Therefore, you must love yourself unconditionally first before you can do so for anyone else. You must love all that you are, including all of your sacred stories that you would not dare tell anyone. When you learn to hold space for yourself you learn unconditional love for yourself.

Once you have accepted yourself as is, loving yourself unconditionally, you may now do so for others. Now you are in a space where your own stories will not dilute the space you are attempting to hold for someone else.

 

Want more detail on how to practice holding space step by step?

I recommend this book: The Holding Space Practice

I recommend this workbook: The Holding Space Practice Workbook

I’d love to hear from you about your experiences on holding space!

Learn from all of your experiences, opportunities are everywhere.

Take care,

Rob Kish