Leading Thinkers on Audio

10 Podcasts Featuring 100s of Thought Leaders

Check out over a 1000 interviews and talks with 100s of top authors and speakers on these 10 great podcasts featuring thought leaders from across the spectrum of ideas. For the past four years we've featured dozens of podcasts as part of our Free Resource of the Day Emails. From these resources we've selected the top 10 best podcasts that feature an abundant amount of interviews and talks with today's leading thinkers. You can browse these podcasts on our blog here:

Podcasts Featuring 100s of Thought Leaders

Here are podcasts we've selected, along with some suggested audio books that we offer on download from authors featured in each podcast: (Please Note: These podcasts may take a moment to load as there are often many podcasts on the podcast feed)

1. Commonwealth Club Radio Program Podcast

The Commonwealth Club of California has been bringing fascinating speakers to their forum since 1903. Their podcast feed currently features four years of speaking events! Recent speakers include Robert Reich, Andre Agassi, Deepak Chopra, Taylor Branch, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Noam Chomsky, Chris Anderson, Michael Moore, Christopher Hitchens, Madeleine K. Albright, and literally hundreds of other speakers with podcasts going back to 2006!

This forum also features panel discussions on a variety of topics such as the Summer of Love, America's Budget Crisis, Religion in U.S. Culture and Society, Moving Forward in Iraq, Capitalism 3.0, The Politics Of Food, Health of Africa, and Digital Health. Scroll down the list of their podcasts and you're sure to find something that interests you.

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:
Supercapitalism by Robert Reich
The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President by Taylor Branch
The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever Edited by & with Commentary by Christopher Hitchens

2. New Dimensions Cafe Podcast

The New Dimensions Cafe Podcast is composed of interviews hosted by Michael Toms on New Dimensions Radio with leading thinkers, social architects and creative artists. Currently on the podcast feed he's featuring Rabbi Michael Lerner, social visionary Dr. Joan Borysenko, Ervin Laszlo, biologist Bruce Lipton, Gay Hendricks, Episcopalian priest Matthew Fox, Guy Finley, Jack Kornfield, Andrew Weil, Thomas Moore, Coleman Barks, Michael Gelb, Howard Zinn, and many other fascinating thinkers.

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:
The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton
Soul and Everyday Life by Thomas Moore
Five Simple Steps to Make Yourself Fearless by Guy Finley
Information and Memory in Cosmos and Consciousness by Ervin Laszlo
The Beginner's Guide to Healthy Eating by Andrew Weil

3. We The People Stories Podcast

From the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania comes this podcast featuring politicians, historians, journalists, authors, and other notable figures discussing issues related to the U.S. Constitution and other contemporary issues facing America. Each podcast is typically an hour long and features an interview or a panel discussion on a specific topic. Their podcast feed goes all the way back to 2004 with over 150 podcasts available!

Political figures featured on the podcast include Tom DeLay, Newt Gingrich, Bill Bradley, Justice Stephen Breyer, John McCain, Pat Buchanan, George McGovern, Justice Antonin Scalia, and more. Authors, historians, & journalists featured include Cornel West, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Brooks, Dinesh D'Souza, Tavis Smiley, Walter Isaacson, Dave Isay, Tom Brokaw, Ken Burns, Naomi Wolf, Jon Meacham, John C. Bogle, and others. There's also a number of panels discussing various constitutional issues throughout U.S. history. Enjoy this podcast, loaded with capitivating talks from the National Constitution Center.

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:
The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism by John C. Bogle
No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The New American Story by Bill Bradley

4. Seminars About Long Term Thinking Podcast

From The Long Now Foundation comes this fascinating series of Seminars About Long Term Thinking. These dozens of podcasts with leading thinkers go back all the way to 2003! Podcasts on the feed include CEO Philip Rosedale talking about the game Second Life, Chris Anderson talking about The Long Tail, founder and president of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales speaking on vision, author Jared Diamond discussing his book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, writer Bruce Sterling speaking about The Singularity, musician Brian Eno chatting with Will Wright (creator of the video game "The Sims" and forthcoming "Spore"), and dozens of other interesting podcasts on topics like climate change, human life extension, etc. Have a listen. Recent podcasts feature anthropologist Wade Davis, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, Michael Pollan, Niall Ferguson, Francis Fukuyama, Sam Harris, and Chris Anderson.

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris
Free: The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson (FOR FREE OF COURSE!)

5. Sounds True: Insights at the Edge Podcast

In this podcast Tami Simon, Founder of Sounds True, interviews spiritual teachers, visionary writers, and living luminaries about their newest work and current challenges of their inner inquiry and outer contribution to the world. Check out key audio excerpts from the most popular personal and spiritual growth titles offered by the publisher Sounds True. This podcast features Dr. Steven Gurgevich talking about "The Power of Self-Hypnosis", Gary Renard on "Undoing the Ego", Dan Siegel discusses "What Makes a Healthy Mind", and Sharon Salzberg on "Beginning Anew". Other authors she interviews include Father Thomas Keating, Ken Wilber, Bodhipaksa, Rick Jarow, Cyndi Dale, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Caroline Myss, Judith Orloff, Michael Beckwith, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield, Geneen Roth, Dr. Ervin Laszlo, and more. Subscribe to and download this podcast of spiritual and personal wisdom.

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:
The Mindful Brain by Daniel Siegel
Relieve Anxiety with Medical Hypnosis by Steven Gurgevich
Fearless Love by Gary Renard

And we also feature over 400 titles from the Sounds True available on audio download:

Sounds True Audio Downloads

6. After Words - C-SPAN Podcast

Each week C-SPAN airs and podcasts their After Words program which features the authors of the latest nonfiction books being interviewed by journalists, public policy makers, and legislators. It's a podcast worth subscribing to as they almost always have an interesting guest who's recently finished their book pitted against an interviewer who often has opposing view points and isn't afraid to ask the tough questions.

Currently on the podcast they've got Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz on his book Freefall, Jane Goodall on her book Hope for Animals and Their World, Greg Mortenson on his book Stones into Schools, Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner on their book SuperFreakonomics, Peter Schweizer on his book Architects of Ruin, Chris Hedges on his book Empire of Illusion, and a number of authors talking about their latest works. After Words proves to be another brain-stimulating podcast from C-SPAN.

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson
Makers and Takers by Peter Schweizer
War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges
Superfreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

7. HumanMedia.org Podcasts

HumanMedia.org produces Public Radio Programs featuring voices of vision, conscience and compassion. Most of the programs are written and produced by David Freudberg and they feature hundreds of programs for sale on download and CD on their website at HumanMedia.org. Their podcast series provides captivating excerpts from their programs. Currently on the feed they feature shows with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, comedian Sid Caesar, mind-body researcher Herbert Benson, and many other interested guests. Enjoy these free podcasts from HumanMedia.org.

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:
The Breakout Principle: Maximize Creativity, Athletic Performance, Productivity and Personal Well-Being by Greg Mortenson
When God Smiles by Archbishop Desmond Tutu

And we also feature over a dozen titles from the Human Media archive available on audio download:

Human Media Audio Downloads

8. Barnes & Noble.com's Meet the Writers Podcast

Listen to this series of 15-minute interviews offered by Barnes & Noble. Host Steve Bertrand talks with authors of many of the most popular books available asking questions about their writing career and their latest books. Their list of podcasts extends back to 2006 with over 200 interviews! Some of the authors interviewed include James Bradley, John Hodgman, Sarah Vowell, Naomi Wolf, Arthur Agatston, M.D., Simon Winchester, Cokie Roberts, Arianna Huffington, Jimmy Carter, Martha Beck, Marilu Henner, Samantha Power, Dean Ornish, John Gray, Ph.D., Newt Gingrich, Tommy Lasorda, Madeleine Albright, David Sedaris, Anne Geddes, Yann Martel, Paula Deen, Anthony Bourdain, Judy Blume, Dave Barry, Garrison Keillor, Joyce Carol Oates, Tony Dungy, Michael Beschloss, Michael Ondaatje, Khaled Hosseini, Robert Kurson, Michael Chabon, Chuck Palahniuk, Elaine Pagels, Anne Lamott, Thomas Ricks, Tavis Smiley, Mireille Guiliano, Eric Schlosser, Chuck Klosterman, Joan Didion, Augusten Burroughs, Frank McCourt, Tim Russert, and David Maraniss. Plenty of podcasts to choose from!

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:
The South Beach Diet Supercharged by Dr. Arthur Agatston & Dr. Joseph Signorile
Word by Word by Anne Lamott
The Gospel of Thomas by Elaine Pagels

9. IntegralNaked.org Podcast

This generous podcast from Ken Wilber and the Integral Institute features dozens of podcasts with leading thinkers from the diverse realms of spirituality, psychology, philosophy, science, art, entertainment, and business all tying back to Wilber's integral theory of consciousness.

Hear from Way of the Peaceful Warrior author Dan Millman, from singer Alanis Morissette, from artist Alex Grey, from spirituality author Deepak Chopra and many other fascinating thinkers at the top of their fields.

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:

A Brief History of Everything by Ken Wilber
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
The Power to Change by Dan Millman

And we also feature over 30 titles from the Integral Naked archive available on audio download:

Integral Naked Audio Downloads

10. SimonSays Podcast

The publisher Simon & Schuster Audio has been podcasting for two years now, and they currently feature 100 podcasts covering books they've released during this period. These podcasts feature interviews with authors and excerpts from their audio books.

Podcasted excerpts are available from Rhonda Byrne's The Secret, numerous Ernest Hemingway stories, Jimmy Carter narrating pieces of his last three books, advice from Stephen R. Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and excerpts from authors such as essayist Chuck Klosterman, historian David McCullough, autobiographer Frank McCourt, among many others.

Also listen to fascinating interviews with childhood chessmaster and martial arts Tai Chi Chuan World Champion Josh Waitzkin on his book The Art of Learning, James D. Scurlock, who authored the book Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders, and various authors of diet books including Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz discussing their book YOU: On a Diet.

Other authors featured include Sean Covey, Stephen M.R. Covey, Stephen R. Covey, Jimmy Carter, Mike Dooley, Glenn Beck, Joel Osteen, Khaled Hosseini, Lee Iacocca, Marcus Buckingham, Chuck Klosterman, Gary Zukav, and many other unique thinkers. You'll be sure to find something you're interested in from one of the most popular audio book publishers on the planet: Simon & Schuster Audio.

Audio books by leading thinkers on this podcast:
The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey
Notes from the Universe by Mike Dooley
Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham
It's Your Time by Joel Osteen

Enjoy this massive collection of audio downloads from leading thinkers!

New & Old From Sounds True

We've recently added 15 new audio learning courses to our audio downloads catalog from the self development and spirituality publisher Sounds True:

Sounds True Audio Downloads

Some of these titles are newer releases from Sounds True and some of them are Sounds True classics which they've recently digitized. Here are some of the new courses:

Break Through Pain by Shinzen Young

Conscious Relationships by Dr. John Welwood

The Diamond Approach: A Path of Inner Discovery by A.H. Almaas

Energy Clearing by Cyndi Dale

The Good Life of Helen Nearing by Helen Nearing Guided Meditations for Love and Wisdom by Sharon Salzberg

Self-Healing with Energy Medicine by Andrew Weil & Ann Marie Chiasson

Transforming Trauma by Caroline Myss & James Finley

The Wisdom of the Breath by Bodhipaksa

You're It! by Alan Watts

And Sounds True has just released 7 titles from their archives by American poet & psychoanalyst Clarissa Pinkola Estés:

Bedtime Stories

The Creative Fire

The Faithful Gardener

The Gift of Story

How to Love a Woman

The Red Shoes

Women Who Run With the Wolves

You'll find over 400 downloadable titles covering healing, meditation & prayer, creativity, relationships, and much more offered by Sounds True, right here at LearnOutLoud.com:

All Sounds True Downloads

Valentine's Day Audio

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone from LearnOutLoud.com!

For Valentine's Day we've put together this list of top relationship audio programs available to download on our site. This list covers everything from dating and finding that special someone to enhancing your marriage and your romance. Download one of these relationship audio programs today to improve yourself and your relationships in the coming year.

Sexual Intimacy Program: Guided Experiences for Intimate Heart Awakening by John Selby
John Selby has integrated ancient meditative approaches to sexual fulfillment with new cogntiive-therapy methods for breaking beyond inhibitions and negative attitudes, into a truly spiritual exploration of sexual intimacy.

21 Great Ways to Meet and Marry the Woman of Your Dreams or 21 Great Ways to Meet and Marry the Man of Your Dreams by Brian Tracy
A series of simple yet powerful strategies you can use immediately to meet and attract more and better significant others than you ever thought possible.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Dr. Gary Chapman identifies five basic languages of love and then guides couples towards a better understanding of their unique languages of love.

How To Heal A Painful Relationship by Bill Ferguson
Featured on Oprah, this book shows, step-by-step, how to end conflict and restore love in any relationship. You will learn what creates love and what destroys it.

Secrets of a Passionate Marriage by David Schnarch
If you think you need to change your marriage, think again. It may well be that your marriage is trying to change you.

From Anger to Intimacy: How Forgiveness Can Transform a Marriage by Gary Smalley & Ted Cunningham
Smalley and Cunningham explore this often maligned and God-given emotion known as anger, and explain five specific tactics to deal with anger and rage and replace those feelings with forgiveness.

How to Make Someone Love You Forever! in 90 Minutes or Less by Nicholas Boothman
Drawing on his expertise in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Boothman charts a three-step plan that will help anyone find the love of his or her life.

The Relationship Cure by John M. Gottman, Ph.D.
Leading relationship expert and best selling author Dr. John Gottman presents a revolutionary five-step program for repairing troubled relationships - with spouses, children, friends, and even colleagues.

Change Your Brain, Change Your Relationships by Daniel G. Amen & Earl Henslin
Your brain is involved in everything you do, especially your relationships. In this audio program, relationship expert and psychologist Earl Henslin teams up with psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel Amen to explore how the brain both helps and hurts your love life.

Romantic Relationships by Marianne Williamson
This collection of Marianne Williamson audio includes her popular lectures on Relationships.

Enlightened Sex by David Deida
With Enlightened Sex, listeners will learn how to open as love and see the light, literally, through the skillful dance of masculine-feminine ravishment.

The Many Levels of Mars and Venus by Ken Wilber & John Gray
John Gray and Ken Wilber explore the integral model and how it can be applied to gender and relationship issues.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dating by Dr. Judy Kuriansky
You're no idiot, of course! But if the dating game is making you feel down, take heart. Best selling author Dr. Judy Kuriansky can help put you in top form with this audio program.

A Lover's Gift from Her to Him and A Lover's Gift from Him to Her
Some of the greatest poets and lovers in the English language speak of their love in this seductive and romantic collection.

Harriet Lerner on Intimacy by Harriet Lerner
Perhaps nothing is more important in our lives than enhancing relationships with our friends, lovers, and family.

The Best of The New Man: Season 1
Learn the secrets to a living a rewarding and more meaningful life from The New Man. The series represents the best of over 100 hours of interviews on career, relationship, sex and purpose.

Finding and Keeping Love
With Finding and Keeping Love, this world-renowned relationship therapist brings you the most important practices and insights from Imago therapy distilled from more than three decades of working with singles, couples, and parents.

The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
In The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan ingeniously demonstrates how people and domesticated plants have formed a reciprocal relationship. He masterfully links four fundamental human desires (sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control) with the plants that satisfy them: the apple, the tulop, marijuana, and the potato.

And to express our love for you we put together this list of the top ten free love & relationship titles on our site. Download these podcasts and free MP3 downloads to aid your growth in love in all of your relationships.

1. Why Mars and Venus Collide by John Gray

2. A Discourse on the Passion of Love by Blaise Pascal

3. Marriage: A History and The Way We Never Were by Stephanie Coontz

4. The Spinster Book by Myrtle Reed

5. Law of Attraction and Relationships by Pramod Uday

6. Sex, Love and Intimacy Podcast with Host Chip August

7. SPN: Single Living Podcast with Host Rich Gosse

8. Relationship Radio Podcast

9. Conscious Relationship Seminars Podcast

10. Social Psychology Podcast: webcast.berkeley Course - Psych 160 taught by Professor Serena Chen