Lauren Recommends
Carefully curated and personally used on my own spiritual development journey, only my favorite tools make this list! I have found inspiration through each resource I share here and continue to uncover new tools everyday.
This list grows as I continue to as well.
I’ll add to this list as I find useful resources to share with you. If you would like to share a resource that has worked for you or work with a tool in the personal development space, please let me know!
I keep talking on the podcast about the Blue Zones, where people live the longest, happiest and healthiest. This is one of the cookbooks with a compilation of recipes from the four regions. There are newer cookbooks, but I like this one.
Blue Zones Cookbook
Hands down, this is my favorite. I give this as gifts, and this is the one I use as a giveaway for contests for 52 Weeks of Hope.
I got one for my BFF, and we filled them out each day together (accountability partners!). I also used this as a secret Santa gift for my book group.
Gratitude Journal
Meditation Cushion
Super comfortable, and now that I’ve learned the “correct” way to sit, this one’s perfect!
Recording Equipment
Best/Favorite Mic Shure SM7B Dynamic Microphone
This mic sounds great and doesn’t pick up extraneous sounds (dogs barking in the other room, the gardener outside, kids playing, etc.). It’s pricy and worth it.
Shure SM7B Microphone Kit
This has the cloudlifter and cables and everything you need.
Shure MV7
(this one I can take when traveling and set up in hotel rooms or a friend’s house). It’s not as good as the SM7B, but close!
Rodecaster Pro
I love this, and you need this or a SoundCloud with the Shure SM7B.
Boom Arm or Stand
Be sure to look at various devices and decide what works for your setup. Feel free to reach out to me as I've tried and tested most of them at this point!
Tech Stack
CASTMAGIC
Hands down the greatest tool to come out helping podcasters. There's nothing better, and the service and Slack community help you every step of the way (although you don't need them). It's an intuitively easy program to use, like Descript.
DESCRIPT
Descript is so easy; I love it! You can edit audio and video just like google or word docs. Just cut and paste audio or video clips. It’s the best. It even edits out filler words and silent gaps. You can take out your mistakes before publishing. Super intuitive and, like I said, easy!
AUDIBLE
This is your link when you want to listen to books instead of reading!
Note: This page includes some affiliate links. Should you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
CANVA
For designing anything from social media to birthday cards and newsletters, nothing beats the ease of Canva.
Book Recommendations
Trusting the Gold
by Tara Brach
A book of vignettes that’s easy to pick up and get messages that are perfect for any moment. A great gift, too!
Think Like a Monk
by Jay Shetty
Enjoyable and enlightening, as well as full of simple tools to start right away.
Limitless
by Jim Kwik
Anything that helps my brain and my memory abilities, I’m all for it! This book’s easy to read, and I love the suggestions.
Untamed
by Glennon Doyle
If you haven't read it yet, omg, just read it now!
I Know Why a Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou
One of the greatest books ever. Any of her books, really.
Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief
by Emily Thiroux Threat
If you listened to her episode (#90), you know why it's on this list. She's amazing!
Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
A novel that’s a fun easy read with depth and meaning.
Lucy by the Sea
by Elizabeth Strout
Anything by Elizabeth Strout, really, you can't go wrong. Her writing is prose.
Less
by Andrew Sean Greer
The main protagonist stays with you for a very long time—another highly enjoyable book.
The Light We Carry: Overcoming An Uncertain Time
by Michelle Obama
No explanation needed