About the Host

Toby Brooks is a seasoned podcaster and academic who embarked on a transformative podcasting journey nearly three years ago. He is the creator of the "Professor's Playbook" and "Becoming Undone" podcasts, through which he has engaged with a diverse array of individuals, including Olympians, entrepreneurs, and executives. Toby has completed 105 episodes of "Becoming Undone," where he has delved into the lives and stories of 85 high achievers from across the globe, incorporating insights from his varied conversation partners to enrich his own life and career. Apart from podcasting, Toby Brooks is also an accomplished professional with a newly acquired MBA, and he is pursuing leadership roles that align with his passion.

Episode Summary

In this engaging episode of "The Professor's Playbook," Toby Brooks reflects on his three-year journey in podcasting, offering insights into how the medium has shaped his life and career. Despite his initial venture, Better Every Week, being brief, it fostered meaningful connections with his daughter. This eventually led to the creation of his current project, "Becoming Undone," which since January 2023 has grown into an impactful platform with 105 episodes. Brooks shares how his conversations with 85 distinguished personalities have broadened his horizons, providing him a platform to interconnect with Olympians, Grammy Award winners, former Navy SEALs, and accomplished executives. His narrative underscores the transformative power of podcasting in forging meaningful connections and uncovering new perspectives.

Brooks emphasizes the pivotal impact a single episode had on his life: an inspiring conversation with former student and TEDx presenter Dr. Ram Hadas. Despite setbacks during the Covid pandemic, Ram Hadas' resilience in pursuing an MBA motivated Brooks to undertake his own journey toward an advanced business degree, illustrating the podcast's profound influence on his personal growth. This experience led Brooks to initiate a Google search for online MBA programs and successfully graduate with a 4.0 GPA, underscoring a critical lesson: hope is not a strategy; taking action is. Brooks challenges listeners to consider if their own passion projects or podcasts have similarly opened new opportunities, reinforcing the idea of podcasting as a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.

Key Takeaways

• Podcasting has the power to connect individuals, foster meaningful relationships, and open new doors in both personal and professional arenas.
• Inspirational stories, like that of Dr. Ram Hadas, can spur personal growth and motivate others to pursue new educational paths or career goals.
• Hope alone isn't a strategy; taking decisive action, like enrolling in an MBA program, can lead to significant career advancements and personal fulfillment.
• Despite life challenges, maintaining dedication to projects and personal growth can yield satisfying and rewarding outcomes.
• Engaging with diverse, high-achieving individuals can profoundly impact one's perspectives and aspirations.

Notable Quotes

• "My first effort… helped me connect and spend time with my daughter Brendan."
• "Becoming Undone, it's no exaggeration to say that my life has been changed for the better."
• "In the aftermath of the lockdowns… everything he'd worked for had basically evaporated overnight."
• "Just getting older and continuing to apply was not a strategy. It was hope. And hope is not a strategy."
• "I now get to do what I love in a place where I feel renewed and appreciated."

Resources

• Connect with Toby Brooks via email at toby@undonepodcast.com
• Join the Undone Community on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/theundone
• Subscribe to Undone Podcast: undonepodcast.kit.com

Tune into this episode of "The Professor's Playbook" to explore how podcasting can be a powerful catalyst for personal and professional metamorphosis, and stay tuned for more inspiring content that drives growth and enlightenment.