BookThinkers: Life-Changing Books

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Tammy J. Cohen, author of Text Messages to My Sons: A Guide to Using Mobile Devices to Connect and Communicate with Your Kids.

Tammy is a dynamic speaker, award-winning author, podcaster, and brand messaging consultant. She’s the founder of Women Beyond the Table and TC Brand Consulting, where she helps leaders align mission, values, and message for authentic impact. With an MBA from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business, she blends warmth, humor, and practical wisdom to help families and teams communicate with intention.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to turn phones into a force for connection with simple daily texts, what to say (and why a reply isn’t required) to build trust and resilience, and a repeatable framework for infusing love, gratitude, and accountability into short messages that cut through digital noise.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Tammy J. Cohen.

To Learn More about Tammy and buy her book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/eooVgDB

Website/Socials:

https://tammyjcohen.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tammyjcohen/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-j-cohen/

Chapters:

1:31 Life with more books and less distractions & mobile devices

5:11 Physical books vs Digital reading

7:52 You never read the same book twice… you’re a new reader

10:55 The story of Tammy’s highly positive impact of phone usage

19:31 Meeting people unselfishly where they are at

22:15 The power of connection over poor mental health

26:24 Healthy & positive relationships don’t need to be 50/50

28:42 The reciprocity will eventually come… at the right time

33:07 Sharing gratitude and vulnerability

36:28 Where to connect with Tammy, her work and her book

37:36 Think of life as your best friend

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

Join us for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BookThinkers LIVE 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Happening November 9, 2025!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bookthinkers.com/book-thinkers-live-2025

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Alan Gregerman, author of The Wisdom of Ignorance: Why Not Knowing Can Be the Key to Innovation in an Uncertain World.

Alan is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and internationally recognized innovation strategist. He’s the President and Chief Innovation Officer of VENTURE WORKS Inc., where he’s helped hundreds of teams create meaningful breakthroughs—often by unlocking the hidden genius in people who aren’t “experts.” He’s been featured in major outlets from The Wall Street Journal to CNN and is known for turning curiosity into real-world results.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to use “enlightened ignorance” to spark better ideas, a simple new-hire clipboard exercise that surfaces game-changing insights on day one, and why 99% of great ideas come from outside your industry—including nature—and how to adapt them fast.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Alan Gregerman.

To Learn More about Alan and buy his book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/gUtK54b

Website/Socials:

https://alangregerman.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-gregerman-a33b236/

https://www.instagram.com/agregerman

https://www.facebook.com/alan.s.gregerman

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:31 The Wisdom of Ignorance & How To Innovate By “Not Knowing”

5:21 How to stand out by your organization & drive (not only by what you know)

8:01 Connecting the dots between unconnected opportunities

10:45 Practical strategies for innovation (get out of the box!)

15:07 Lessons from nature to integrate into business

16:47 The importance of presence to get new insights

18:48 We are most innovative when we are purposeful

20:02 6 principles to cultivate innovation as a business leader

25:23 Real-world successful applications of his own ideas

28:49 Idea Sex & Book Sex (A practice for innovation)

32:32 Alan’s innovation & ownership with his personal brand & style

35:07 Paying attention in everyday moments to spot a fuller spectrum of life

37:41 Where to connect with Alan, his work and his book

38:56 “Don’t stop sharing your genius”

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

Join us for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BookThinkers LIVE 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Happening November 9, 2025!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bookthinkers.com/book-thinkers-live-2025

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Milam Miller, author of The Charisma Craft: A Modern Leadership Guide to Enhance Your "Rizz" Factor.

Milam is a keynote speaker, leadership coach, and sales performance consultant who’s been described by clients as “the real-life Ted Lasso.” Over his career in sports and entertainment, he negotiated more than $100 million in commercial revenue, but it was his passion for soft skills and human connection that led him to launch BCK – Be Confident and Kind, a movement helping leaders create stronger teams and drive better results.

In this episode, you’ll learn why charisma is not a personality trait but a craft you can develop, how to balance confidence with kindness to influence others authentically, and why boldness and curiosity are the currencies of modern leadership.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Milam Miller.

To Learn More about Milam and buy his book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/0VCA5uk

Website/Socials:

https://beconfidentandkind.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/milam-miller-bck/

https://www.instagram.com/milam.miller

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:32 Charisma and rizz: The way to connect on the human level

4:30 Nick's & Milam's biggest charisma role-model

7:25 The value of charisma as an asset in the age of AI

13:38 The growth mindset & 3 ways to improve your communication skills

18:17 Kindness, warmth and competence

20:02 Having a customer centric mindset

22:47 Milam's experience selling toilets

27:38 Personal development and charisma

29:42 Ted Lasso as a charisma case study

33:44 Serena Williams as a boldness and charisma case study

36:42 Asking yourself: How can I be brave and more bold?

40:04 Where to connect with Milam, his work and his book

41:28 To be interesting, be interested

42:17 Practical lesson: remember people's names

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

Join us for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BookThinkers LIVE 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Happening November 9, 2025!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bookthinkers.com/book-thinkers-live-2025

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview James Shin, author of The Leader’s Soul.

James is the Founder and CEO of Blue Koi Global Partners and holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Penn State. With more than 25 years leading rapid, sustainable growth across global markets, he’s known for transforming operations, supply chains, and procurement while developing leaders who can carry the mission forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to define what “good” looks like and lead with a long-term view, how great leaders “take arrows” to protect their teams while building a strong pipeline of future leaders, and simple weekly practices—reading, reflection, travel, time in nature, and with family—that sharpen judgment and resilience.

We hope enjoy this incredible conversation with James Shin.

To Learn More about James and buy his book visit:

The Book:https://a.co/d/gh0uSsL

Website/Socials:

https://www.bluekoiglobal.com/

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-j-shin/

https://www.instagram.com/james.j.shin/

Chapters:

1:26 What is true, good leadership?

4:38 The effectiveness of reading as a learning method

11:06 You can tell a leader by counting the number of arrows in his ass

12:59 Fundamental leadership principles

14:13 How to grow drastically as a young leader

18:00 How traveling helps you understand people

20:34 Culture shocks between Corea & The U.S.A

22:47 Lessons from slowing down in nature

25:50 What James has learned from his family

27:55 Finding ways to spend more time with your children

29:50 The effect of developing new leaders

31:12 The biggest mistake James has made as a leader

34:25 Where to connect with James and his work

35:13 Final thoughts & advice

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

Join us for ⁠⁠⁠⁠BookThinkers LIVE 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠! Happening November 9, 2025!

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bookthinkers.com/book-thinkers-live-2025

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Derek Coburn, author of Let’s Retire Retirement: How to Enjoy Life to the Fullest — Now and Later.

Derek is a USA Today bestselling author, entrepreneur, and financial advisor with over twenty-five years of experience helping clients design lives so fulfilling they’ll never want to retire from them. He’s the cofounder of CADRE, a professional community for CEOs and entrepreneurs, and the author of the acclaimed Networking Is Not Working.

In this episode, you’ll learn why you should question everything you’ve been told about the traditional path to retirement, how to balance ambition and presence so you don’t miss life’s most important moments, and why flexibility—not flashy possessions—might just be the ultimate status symbol.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Derek Coburn.

To Learn More about Derek and buy his book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/7PodfIu

Website/Socials: https://www.derekcoburn.com/

https://www.cadredc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekcoburn/

Chapters:

1:27 Derek’s father blueprint on Derek’s life & work

4:06 Regret reduction & navigating through stages of life

9:13 Building memories & relationships you’ll keep for the rest of your life

13:21 Flexibility is the ultimate flex

18:01 You gotta have meaning & purpose in your life

21:14 Extending your working-life is a financial & health hack

26:16 The concept of retirement is barely 100 years old

29:50 The future of retirement

31:53 The positive effects of AI on work & introspection opportunities

36:24 Where to connect with Derek

36:48 Don’t rely on assumptions to plan your life, enjoy it now

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Samantha Woo, author of What Other Leadership Books Don’t Tell You: How to Lead & Manage Highly-Emotional Employees.

Samantha is a leadership coach, Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist, and founder of the E.M.B.R.A.C.E.® method. She blends neuroscience, clinical therapy, and trauma-informed coaching to help tech leaders and executives navigate the people problems no one talks about.

In this episode, you’ll learn how trauma shows up at work—and why most leaders are unprepared for it, why emotional intelligence isn’t something you teach with a slide deck, and what it really takes to support both high-performing and hypo-aroused employees in today’s workplace.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Samantha Woo.

To Learn More about Samantha and buy her book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/iJol27k

Website/Socials: https://www.swnconsultingllc.com/

https://www.instagram.com/samantha.s.woo/

https://x.com/SWNconsulting

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:22 Why people live unhappy for 90,000 hours in their lives

3:07 Root causes of dissatisfaction at work

5:22 The impact of remote & virtual work

7:40 Empathy and recognizing not-work-related problems of your team

11:37 Practical tips for leaders to keep your team happy

13:05 Everybody’s overwhelmed in some way

18:19 Dealing with work-induced mental health problems

21:54 The rise of problems in the modern workplace

25:19 Talking about emotional intelligence & the EQ at work

30:41 The adoption of AI & its impact in business decisions

34:18 Exhale & step back to become more emotionally intelligent

36:27 What makes a good leader (The Growth & Spiritual Mindset)

41:02 Where to connect with Samantha and get the book

41:44 We’re all in this together

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website.

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Philip Portman, author of The Three Keys to Success: Define Your Version of Success and Achieve It.

Phil is a serial entrepreneur, founder and CEO of TextDrip, and a proud member of the Forbes Technology Council. He’s launched multiple startups in automation and communications, he helps businesses scale with AI-driven solutions, and even owns a horse farm in Michigan focused on employee well-being.

In this episode, you’ll learn how redefining success can help you break free from hustle culture, why writing down your goals isn’t just motivational—it’s transformational, and how building self-confidence might be the most underrated driver of success.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Philip Portman.

To Learn More about Philip and buy his book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/6SbH8Qk

Website/Socials: https://philportman.com/

https://www.instagram.com/phil.portman

https://www.facebook.com/philportman

https://twitter.com/philportman

https://www.linkedin.com/in/philportman/

https://www.youtube.com/@successispodcast

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:23 The influence of Phil’s mom raising him and his 6 siblings

3:15 The pursuit of approval limits intelligent decisions

12:59 Having balance, time-freedom and making a difference

18:36 The reason why you work hard

20:43 Slowing down to achieve more

23:20 Defining & sharing your goals with a goal-partner

27:06 100 Goals to tell your life where you want to go

29:59 Phil’s most ambitious accomplishment

33:26 Habits of high-achievers (exercise & reading)

36:13 Discipline & the habit of saying “no”

39:19 Building self-confidence & pursuing discomfort

43:28 To slow down time, get uncomfortable

45:15 Connect with Philip & get the book!

46:44 Phil’s book suggestions

49:16 You are far more capable than you realize

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

Join us for ⁠⁠⁠BookThinkers LIVE 2025⁠⁠⁠! Happening November 9, 2025!

⁠⁠⁠https://www.bookthinkers.com/book-thinkers-live-2025

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Alexis Leigh, author of Pain is a Portal to Beauty: Stunning Discoveries After Loss, Psychedelics, and Feeling It All.

Alexis is an investment banker turned seeker. She brings a unique blend of grounded insight and soulful storytelling to her debut memoir, where she traces her journey through grief, inner work, and spiritual awakening. With warmth, curiosity, and honesty, Alexis invites us to rethink what it means to heal, to feel, and to live more fully.

In this episode, you’ll learn how slowing down and noticing your internal world can lead to profound breakthroughs, why authentic gratitude must be rooted in truth, and how facing even the subtlest discomforts can unlock deeper self-love, healing, and joy.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Alexis Leigh.

To Learn More about Alexis and buy her book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/1hzQkzR

Website/Socials: https://www.alexisleigh.com/

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:53 “If you died today, your life would have been a tragedy”

3:01 Toxic gratitude and how to honor truth

9:43 Being patient with yourself and your journey

12:06 David Hawkins on repressed emotions

13:13 Alexis’s advice on improving self-acceptance

16:38 From Christianity to psychedelics

20:45 Journaling as a tool to connect the outside & inside

24:17 Slowing down not to default to coping mechanisms

24:55 Fasting as a form of therapy

26:29 Start the inner work by shutting down stimuli & noticing things

31:11 Being able to be at peace with your thoughts & emotions

37:33 “You can do nothing better for me than work on yourself”

38:19 You can always come back to the work when you feel the need for it

39:30 Nick’s & Alexis’s first experience with psychedelics

43:13 Sometimes in nothingness you find your way to healing

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

Join us for ⁠⁠BookThinkers LIVE 2025⁠⁠! Happening November 9, 2025!

⁠⁠https://www.bookthinkers.com/book-thinkers-live-2025

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Emily Mendenhall, author of Unmasked: COVID, Community, and the Case of Okoboji. 

Emily is a medical anthropologist, professor at Georgetown University, and award-winning author whose research explores the intersections of health, culture, and politics. Her work has taken her from the hospital wards of Chicago to the villages of South Africa—and ultimately back to her hometown of Okoboji, Iowa during the height of the pandemic.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to approach polarizing topics with curiosity instead of judgment, what the COVID pandemic revealed about collective identity and shame, and why public health isn’t just about protocols—it’s about people, empathy, and community trust.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Emily Mendenhall.

To Learn More about Emily and buy her book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/h3uou4J

Website/Socials: https://www.emilymendenhall.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mendenhall-268b255

https://www.youtube.com/@mendenhall_em

https://twitter.com/mendenhall_em

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:23  Anthropology & using it to study COVID

5:53  Experiencing the pandemic in different cities

9:09  Understanding the complex layers of events like the 2020 pandemic

12:50 Shame and subconscious survival mechanisms

14:42 Contrast between local culture & different communities

17:02 Social consequences vs Business consequences

22:48 An anthropologist’s view on the effects of social media

25:25 How to deal with opposing perspectives and opinions

35:12 Leadership in schools & the education system

39:02 Emily’s future work

40:09 How your decisions affect people around you in the long‑run

41:10 The effects of virtual learning & education during the pandemic

43:11 Emily’s perspective shifts after publishing the book

47:52 The importance of long‑form content for deep understanding

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

Join us for ⁠BookThinkers LIVE 2025⁠! Happening November 9, 2025!

⁠https://www.bookthinkers.com/book-thinkers-live-2025

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Angela Jamieson, author of Using No. 2 to Get to No. 1: The Shockingly Insightful, Full-of-Crap Self-Help Book.

This is a fun one! Angela is a retired petroleum engineer turned unapologetic poop philosopher. She’s a speaker, writer, and cofounder of the School of Human Kind, known for blending science, humor, and heart to help people live more joyful, relaxed, and purpose-driven lives.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to release emotional constipation and find clarity, why relaxed productivity beats burnout every time, and how to stop comparing your life to others and finally enjoy your own path.

We hope you enjoy this fun conversation with Angela Jamieson.

To Learn More about Angela and buy her book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/6fcSWoR

FREEBIE: https://www.angelajamieson.com/5regretsfree

Website: https://www.angelajamieson.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angejamieson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelajamiesonfung

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560469774011

0:00 Intro

1:26 Experiences from Angela’s youth that led to her book  

5:33 Angela’s personal development influences  

6:51 Learning to care for each other and to see the human side  

11:16 Only you know what is going on in your life & digestive system  

13:51 Abraham Hicks, Infinite Intelligence & Inner Engineering  

20:36 Angela’s unique experience in Somalia  

23:01 The small things are the big things  

24:31 Tips on avoiding mental & emotional constipation  

28:06 The joy of life is in the contrast, embrace it  

33:21 Compassion & acceptance  

35:20 Final flush: celebrate who you are 

________________________________________________

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!