LISTEN & LEARN
Heather Reisman knows books inside and out. Turns out she knows podcasts too. The Indigo CEO shares her recos with Amil Niazi
How do you beat the winter doldrums in the most doldrum-y year of all? For Indigo CEO Heather Reisman, it’s all about actively searching for happiness. “For me, wellness is finding special moments of joy in each day,” she says. Reisman has been pursuing ways to better her health — from meditation to long walks — throughout the pandemic, with a particular focus on improving her sleep.
True to her role as Indigo’s chief book lover, she’s been learning how to hack her sleep through reading — and she’s been inspired to share what she’s learned with her fellow Canadians via a new podcast, “Well Said.” “I’ve always found that if we learn something that’s meaningful to us, we’ll make the decision to make changes,” she says. Each episode is a clever blend of science and storytelling and features experts (like Dr. Sanjay Gupta) who offer insights into everything from brain health to unplugging your way to happiness. The series takes a friendly approach to serious science and offers an intimate inroad into the wellness industry.
Along the way, Reisman has become a big podcast fan. “I find it both hugely relaxing and a great way to pass the time on my power walks.” So what podcasts does she make a part of her routine? 1.“Well Said”: The latest episode of Indigo’s wellnessfocused podcast features author Tiffany Shlain, who helps listeners practice the art of unplugging. Shlain’s book, “24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week,” is all about taking a “tech shabbat.” 2. “The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge”: “I just love listening to Peter,” says Reisman about this podcast hosted by CBC’s former chief correspondent. “His voice just makes me so happy.” Mansbridge distills the big stories into digestible bite-sized episodes. 3. “Front Burner”: “Front Burner” is hosted by journalist Jayme Poisson and has quickly become one of the city’s most-downloaded shows. Recent episodes have covered the new COVID-19 variants and the impeachment process in the U.S. 4.“Born and Raised”: This podcast from HuffPo Canada digs into the experiences of second-generation immigrants through their identity and family. An episode focused on love stories from Ontario’s version of Ellis Island is a real standout. 5.“The Big Story”: With her super-hectic schedule, Reisman doesn’t always have time for a lengthy download, so she turns to this explainer, which covers the trending topics and big news of the day in 15 minutes or less. Hosted by journalist Jordan Heath-Rawlings, it gives you the news you need to know with a funny twist.
Another great Sunday listen? The Star’s “This Matters” podcast. Visit thestar.com/podcasts/thismatters.html.