Should you call a Christmas podcast 'Best Bits'? My decision - yes. So take a listen and see if you agree that these are Zestology 'Best Bits', or maybe you'll just think they're Zestology Average Bits! Coming up.
I've really enjoyed this year - doing my podcast Zestology as well as my telly work with Sky.
So I've compiled a review of the year. Call it Best Bits if you like.
Three of my favourite Zest moments were chatting with Dave Asprey on injecting stem cells into your unmentionables!, Meghan Currie on switching off, and getting away from screens. And interviewing the author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, John Gray on his trip to London. They're in here, as are many more personal highlights.
This week, a slightly different format on Zestology, it's my first ever 'Zestology Stories' podcast. And it includes Julia Immonen, a friend of mine and colleague at Sky Sports.
Having known Julia for many years, I was astonished when one day she casually announced, "I'm going to row the Atlantic". Astonished because she'd never before mentioned rowing, and you'll hear in this interview how in fact, she'd never even rowed on open water before. Genuinely crazy.
We recorded the interview in our lunch break at Sky, and she told me about some terrifying moments in the middle of the Atlantic. Talk about dealing with fear. It is alongside a couple of other good stories on Zestology podcast this week featuring other short interviews that I've recorded recently.
I have given this a lot of thought recently...
Obviously I work as a sports journo for Sky Sports News, and I love that. I love sport, love reading about sport, love watching sport and so on. I'm also bit of a news junkie as well, often taking part in shows on Sky News and being a pretty avid watcher when not at work. But as well as being a news junkie, I recognise the value of occasionally switching off. Getting home and stepping away from the TV and my phone. Some stories leave me feeling pretty alarmed at the moment, the state of the world I care about and it worries me. So is it ever a good idea to switch off a little?
Look, I don't want news which is solely stories of cats that were lost and found. I want to be well informed and make a difference, so I'm looking for the right balance.
I recorded a podcast where we explored these themes of leadership and whether we can make a difference by switching off. Tayo Rockson was on Zestology (his stuff on mentorship, leadership, and following your gut is especially good.) And I was on his podcast too, where you'll hear my thoughts on switching off the news some more.