I completely geek out on this stuff and my friends often ask for recommendations so I thought I'd leave some here.

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I'll be adding to this page as time goes by so feel free to bookmark 🤍

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-Listed in no particular order-

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reading recs

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Non-Fiction:

Bounce - Matthew Syed - the power of purposeful practice.

The Gifts of Imperfection - Brene Brown - a cure for toxic perfectionism.

The Art of Happiness - Dalai Lama - what it says on the tin

Jungle Keepers - Paul Rosolie - the trials and tribulations of conservation in the Amazon Rainforest

Disrupt-Her - Miki Agrawal (a must read for women!)

The Tipping Point - Malcom Gladwell - fascinating look at how things become epidemics & trends

The $12 Million Pound Stuffed Shark - the ridiculousness of the art world

Shake Hands With The Devil - Romeo Dallaire - the UN general on the ground during the Rwandan genocide.

Radical Acceptance - Tara Brach

Good Vibes Good Life - Vex King

Mother of God - conservationist Paul Rosolie - unchartered adventure in the Amazon Rainforest

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Fiction:

The Egg - a short story by Andy Weir (writer of The Martian) a beautiful 1 page perspective shifting concept, I wish everyone would read it 💞

Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts - stunning writing of an epic tale set in India, based on the authors true story.

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden - Words that cloak you in fragile beauty until you're completely in that world- I felt bereft when it ended.

Life of Pi - Yann Martel - a magical adventure at sea

Red Rising Saga Series - Pierce Brown - gripping & epic. A thought provoking political tale of injustice and rebellion, set in futuristic space but on a human level parallels to modern day horror of dictatorship, war and refugees.

The Midnight Circus - Erin Morgenstern - literal magic

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini - heartbreakingly beautiful

Neverwhere (pretty much anything written by Neil Gaiman- so creative!) - fun, creative & set in London 👌

The Hunger Games trilogy - Suzanne Collins - thrilling

His Dark Materials trilogy - Philip Pullman - exciting, magical, very creative

Sarah J Maas series - ACOTAR & Crescent City - gripping fantasy plots, amazing character and world building

The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga - A dark gripping story centring around the caste system in India.

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Plays (read, watch or act✨):

Angels In America - Tony Kushner

The Effect - Lucy Prebble

Design For Living - Noel Coward (pretty much anything Noel Coward)

A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams

Colder Than Here - Laura Wade

The Heretic - Richard Bean

Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare

A Skull in Connemara - Martin McDonagh

Travels With My Aunt by Graham Greene adapted for the stage - Giles Havergal

One Man Two Guvnors - Richard Bean

Black Watch - Gregory Burke

The Crucible - Arthur Miller

Dear Brutus - J. M. Barrie

Enron - Lucy Prebble

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Listen

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Podcasts:

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Some I regularly listen to:

Diary of a CEO - fascinating insights by industry leaders and top researchers

Joe Rogan - entertaining talks with interesting people

Happy Place with Fern Cotton - mental health & personal growth

On Purpose with Jay Shetty - personal growth

PostHoc Digital Salons with Susan MacTavish Best - interesting people discuss topical issues

The Darin Olien Show - on modern day toxic conveniences & all things health and sustainability

The Tim Ferris Show - personal growth

The Travel Diaries - for those obsessed with wanderlust

Milan Art Institute - inspo & motivation for artists

Travel Like A Boss - great for travel seekers & digital nomad entrepreneurs

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Stand out episodes:

Diary of a CEO - No. 1 Toxicologist: These products are harming you

On Purpose - Jay Shetty & Big Sean - overcoming obstacles to growth

The Darin Olien #36 Jeff Garner on Toxic Chemicals in Our Clothes & Sustainable Fashion

Joe Rogan & Elon Musk #1470

Joe Rogan & Elon Musk #1609 

(I have mixed feelings about Musk but these episodes are genuinely fascinating)

Joe Rogan & Neil deGrasse Tyson #919

Joe Rogan & Neil deGrasse Tyson #1159

Joe Rogan & Paul Stamets #1035

Joe Rogan & Russel Brand #1283

PostHoc Susan MacTavish Best & Trend Spotter Economist Pippa Malmgren

Happy Place - Fern Cotton & ex-monk Jay Shetty

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I've collated a playlist of some of my favourite episodes, you can listen or follow here:

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Audiobooks I think are fab:

Born a Crime - Trevor Noah (self narrated)

Disrupt-Her - Miki Agrawal (self narrated)

A funny Life - Michael McIntyre (self narrated)

Good Omens - Neil Gaiman - Martin Jarvis narrating this is a-mazing

Harry Potter books (Stephen Fry reading these = basically my childhood)

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Calm App bite sized masterclasses:

Stoicism for Modern Life by Ryan Holiday

Discovering Happiness by Shawn Achor

Radical Compassion by Tara Brach

Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

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Audible free bite sized series:

Get Happy: Introduction to Happiness

Calm World: Introduction to Meditation

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Meditation:

Calm App

Headspace

Insight Timer

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Music Playlists:

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Meditative music helps get me into flow when I'm creating stuff, this is a playlist I listen to:

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Music that makes me think of dancing in a jungle or the desert at Burning Man- good for unblocking:

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Watch

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TED Talks:

The Power of Vulnerabiliy - Brene Brown

Nutrition: Find your athletic edge - Brendan Brazier

How Trees Talk To Each Other - Suzanne Simard

Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are - Amy Cuddy

Rewilding - How Introducing Wolves Changed the River - George Monbiot

The Secret to Better Work - Shawn Anchor

Why You Should Define Your Fears Instead of Your Goals - Tim Ferris

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Docus:

Seaspiracy

Cowspiracy

The Social Dilemma

A Life On Our Planet

13th

Banksy Exit Through The Gift Shop

Jamie Olivers Chicken Dinners

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TV Series:

1883 (one of the best things I have ever watched - outstanding performances & writing!!)

1923 (incredible acting/writing/plot/cinematography)

Pursuit of Jade (amazing performances and cinematography, plot)

The Last Kingdom

The Man In The High Castle

Vikings

Peaky Blinders

Indian Summers

Black Sails

Once

Outlander

GoT

The Handmaids Tale

It's A Sin

Shadow & Bone

The Wheel of Time

Orange Is The New Black

Alchemy of Souls

Lucifer

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Films:

....too many to list.

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If you want more musical inspo you can follow my playlists on spotify here.​​