Books and Podcasts I Love
Resources for those who want to check out some good stuff, plus my two novels
The information we put into our brains molds us, shapes us, and is who we become in some ways. Here are some resources I’ve enjoyed to help me GetBetterSoon…
Podcasts
The Tim Ferriss Show. Tim is my spirit animal. He’s just a phenomenal person and his podcast is a continual source of joy. The focus is on examining what highly successful do, whatever their field of expertise, so that we can learn from their experiences and wisdom.
Rich Roll. Life wisdom and practical tactics, with a focus on fitness and self development. He gets incredible guests. He’s also a vegan!
Blocked and Reported. With Jesse Singal and Katie Herzog—all about internet bullshit, and debunking the craziness of the age of social media, identity politics, and the era of Trumpian stupidity.
Tangle. Great podcast that looks at the news of the day from the viewpoints of both left and right, seeking the objective facts of our world. Excellent way to get your news!
Making Sense, with Sam Harris. Sam’s only problem is that sometimes he’s too serious and too dire, but he’s a truly objective mind. He sees the world as it is, not as we are told it is, and he’s not afraid to call out the left or the right for their bullshit.
Ezra Klein Show. I’ve followed Ezra for a long time. He’s consistently one of the smartest political minds out there. Long before we figured out that Joe Biden was too old to run again, Ezra said he should drop out. That was bold—he took a lot of shit for that. But that’s why I like him. He’s more concerned about the truth than he is about saying what people want to hear. And though he’s liberal, he brings on guests from every political perspective to talk about their beliefs. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Time to Say Goodbye. Another political podcast. Both guys are pretty liberal, but more Bernie Sanders liberal, and are very critical of conventional Democrats. Probably why I like it so much!
PsycHacks. Orion Taraban, a psychiatrist, talks about what we can do to get better—his podcast is actually part of the reason I started this project. Most of his podcasts are on relationships. He tells the truth about what the romantic marketplace looks like, even if it cuts against convention.
Things Fell Apart, with Jon Ronson. This is so, so good, and I could honestly just listen to his voice and that soothing British accent. But the content is phenomenal. Ronson examines the seeds that end up sprouting into huge cultural or political phenomenons—one of his best episodes in on how abortion became such a big issue for evangelical Christians. I didn’t know it wasn’t always that way!
Conversations with Coleman. Coleman Hughes is one of the great young minds of the Millennial generation. He’s a black man who speaks out against identity politics, and his interviews are fascinating. He’s also an incredible jazz musician, and he released a rap album that’s great as well.
Fall of Civilizations. If you’re a history buff, you’ll love this! It’s a deep dive into thriving ancient civilizations, examining how they worked and why they fell into ruin.
Prof G. I love Scott Galloway. He’s my internet dad. Unabashedly liberal, but super practical, and an incredibly successful entrepreneur, he talks about the stock market, politics, and is focused particularly on helping young men get better.
3 and Out. For those football fans out there, Jon Middlekauff is my guy! All things NFL, plus he does a golf podcast (not my thing, but hey). Prolific too—puts out podcasts nearly five days a week.
Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry. If you play fantasy, this is the show to listen to! Berry is hilarious—and if you’re new, him being obnoxious is part of the schtick. Great advice and highly entertaining!
Books that will help you get better!
Not going to do a summary of each, but the link is to GoodReads, so you can learn more about each book there if you’re interested.
Fiction
Non-Fiction
The 4 Hour Work Week and The 4 Hour Body.
Your pick of some version of The Bible—because Christianity has been so foundational to our society, everyone should read this, even if they think the religion is nonsense.
I’m sure I’m forgetting a ton. Comment section is open, would love to hear some of your favorite podcasts and books! Also, if you like my style, I’ve published two novels, and included the Amazon description. If you like the cover art, both were done by my cousin, Franky Martin. I think they’re pretty badass, but then I’m biased 😜
When Bill Brown’s alcoholism finally lands him in the hospital, he’s greeted by a grim reality: he’s dying and in all likelihood has less than three months to live.
He doesn’t seem to care however, and that doesn’t sit well with his precocious alpha nurse, Sarah Sorenson. As she gets to know her elderly patient, she discovers a hole in his life: no one, not a parent, wife, or friend—not even his only son—comes to visit this man. Little does she know, that she will meet his son shortly after Bill arrives on the ward.
A budding romance ensues, but as with all things in life, complications arise… As the narrative unfolds the reader is transported on fly fishing trips to the Deschutes Canyon and Cascade Lakes, seedy karaoke bars and famous Portland tap houses, and Bill’s memories as he journals about his life, reflecting on the nature of his disease, divorce, and where the relationship with his estranged son went wrong.
Through it all winds the life-cycle of the steelhead trout, a mysterious being and legendary symbol of the Pacific Northwest. Set in Portland, OR, Jeff Allen’s second novel Say Yes explores alcoholism and the nature of addiction, the turbulent world of modern romance, love, and relationships, and whether we can transcend the inevitable scars left in life’s wake.
Casey McGregor is going to do something awful. He just doesn’t know it yet. No one does. Because in Oregon’s sleepy capitol of Salem, life proceeds according to small town traditions and nothing too wonderful or terrible happens very often. People go to church, mind each other’s business and try to give others every reason not to mind theirs…
But that’s all about to change when someone starts killing cats in one of Cherry City’s oldest neighborhoods, not far from North Salem High School. Young attorney Courtney Lawson is on the case, riding along with the local police to help them gather evidence when she runs across Casey: a bullied sophomore who plays video games to escape reality and his abusive, alcoholic father.
In the meantime, star MLB shortstop and womanizer Hunter Foxx is returning home for the offseason and senior Destiny Smotherman has just scored her first fake ID; it’s only a matter of time before their fireworks become Salem’s biggest scandal.
Amidst it all Mr. Scott, Casey and Destiny’s high school English teacher, becomes embroiled in a battle with the administration over disciplinary issues and a growing culture of sexual harassment at North Salem High School.
Jeff Allen’s powerful debut novel is a deep dive into the complexities and problems of modern society, rife with social commentary and satire. As the story unfolds against the backdrop of Cherry City, with forays into Willamette Valley Wine Country, Portland, and the Oregon Coast, our characters’ stories become increasingly intertwined, stakes are raised, and the all too common specter of gun violence raises it’s ugly head. The only question: will anyone be in time to stop it?
You can get in touch with me at jallengetbetter@gmail.com, DMing me on Substack, follow me on IG, or dropping a comment below. If you like what I’m doing, please share this with a friend or family member who needs to GetBetterSoon, and if you really like what I’m doing, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This will give you access to all of my posts, the ability to comment on everything, and a free hour consult on anything you want to talk about. Thanks again for your support!