Recharge with David Ko

Season 1 of Recharge with David Ko, the CEO of Calm, brought listeners inside powerful, intimate conversations with icons like Kevin Bacon, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Jordan Chiles, sharing intimate and candid conversations about their personal journeys, managing their mental health and how they recharge in a world that never slows down.

This fall, Recharge the podcast is back for Season 2 with deeper stories, new names, and more takeaways you can use every day.  In honor of World Mental Health Day, this season turns the mic toward today’s most influential voices: CEOs reimagining leadership, athletes redefining resilience, and thought-leaders shaping culture worldwide. 

From beating burnout to building connection, from overcoming loneliness to unlocking lasting well-being, these honest conversations aren’t just inspiring—they’re a roadmap for living and leading with purpose.

Listen to Recharge on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Episode 1: Matthew McConaughey – October 1

Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey, author of the new book Poems and Prayers, opens up about his lifelong relationship with sleep, his fight against cynicism, and how belief shapes his outlook as a leader, parent, and partner. He shares how growing up in a household where “sleep was a sin” shaped his habits, why he’s unapologetically a 9½-hour sleeper now, and how daily rituals—from family dinners to naps, puzzles, or even quiet time with his wife—help him recharge. McConaughey also reflects on leadership as both responsibility and joy, the importance of solitude, and his vision of being inspired by “myself in ten years” and who his children are becoming.

Episode 2: Dr. Vivek Murthy – October 10

Dr. Vivek Murthy joins David to talk candidly about why mental health is “the defining public-health issue of our time,” and how leaders can protect their own battery and their teams’ well-being in a chaotic year. He lays out practical habits that fill (sleep, movement, meditation, time with loved ones) vs. drain (doom-scrolling, excess news, the wrong meetings) our “emotional tank,” and shares how modeling boundaries at work turns minutes of true presence into real impact. Murthy connects sleep to resilience (including his own shift from “badge-of-honor” sleep loss to disciplined routines), explains why loneliness is a health epidemic with physical consequences, and offers a simple prescription for volatile times: rebuild community through relationships, purpose, and service.

Episode 3: Malala Yousafzai – October 14

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai joins David Ko to discuss her new memoir Finding My Way and her journey of reclaiming her own story. She opens up about the weight of being thrust into the global spotlight as a teenager, the transformative role of college in helping her find her identity, and her candid experiences with mental health—including panic attacks and therapy. Malala reflects on the cultural stigmas around mental health in Pakistan, how she is redefining traditions for women and girls, and why sleep, friendship, and support systems are as vital as activism. In a year marked by global volatility, she offers a powerful reminder that even leaders need to rest, recharge, and find balance between tradition and modern life.

Episode 4: Arianna Huffington – October 21

Arianna Huffington, founder of Thrive Global and longtime advocate for sleep and well-being, opens up about her collapse from burnout, raising awareness of mental health through her personal and family story, and the importance of sleep as a “keystone habit.” She and David explore how leaders must “unlearn” unhealthy habits, embrace vulnerability, and prioritize spiritual and mental recharge in a world of uncertainty, AI disruption, and nonstop pressures at work.

Episode 5: Karen S. Lynch – October 28

Episode 6: Nick Jonas – November 4

Musician and actor Nick Jonas shares his journey living with Type 1 diabetes for 20 years, the mental toll of managing a chronic condition, and why community and technology like Dexcom G7 have been game-changers. He connects this personal health journey to resilience in leadership and fatherhood, underscoring how physical health and mental health are inseparable.

Episode 7: Chloe Kim – November 11

Season 1 Episodes

Episode 1: Recharge with Kevin Bacon: From Footloose to Philanthropy

Hollywood legend Kevin Bacon joins David Ko to discuss his iconic 40+ year career spanning from “Footloose” to “Apollo 13” and “A Few Good Men.” Beyond the spotlight, Kevin reveals his commitment to giving back through SixDegrees.org, demonstrating how fame can become a platform for meaningful change. He also opens up about the #IGETIT campaign, a new initiative aimed at promoting empathy, understanding, and meaningful action around mental health.

With refreshing candor, he reflects on his early hunger for fame before eventually embracing the true craft of acting.

Kevin shares valuable life lessons about personal growth, humility, and one regret that might surprise listeners: wishing he’d said “no” more often throughout his career. His perspective emphasizes that longevity matters more than perfection, and that even disappointing experiences contribute to professional development and personal wisdom.

The episode blends humor with profound insights, offering listeners both entertainment and practical wisdom about navigating life’s unpredictable journey with grace and resilience, regardless of whether you’re pursuing stardom or simply seeking inspiration.

Episode 2: Recharge with Chelsea Handler: Unapologetic Resilience

Comedian and author Chelsea Handler joins David Ko to discuss her seventh New York Times bestseller “I’ll Have What She’s Having” and her remarkable journey to self-acceptance. Chelsea recounts her entrepreneurial childhood—from spiked lemonade stands to a neighborhood babysitting business—before sharing how a disastrous Montreal Comedy Festival performance paradoxically launched her career.

With heartfelt appreciation, she credits her third-grade teacher Mrs. Schekman for instilling the confidence that would define her career. Chelsea’s therapeutic journey becomes a central theme as she discusses processing grief, family dynamics, and developing unshakable self-assurance despite public criticism.

The conversation explores practical mental health practices including meditation and quality sleep, while Chelsea offers refreshingly straightforward advice on resilience: embrace failure as essential to growth and maintain authenticity regardless of consequences. 

Chelsea reveals her personal recharging methods—skiing in beautiful environments and helping others—while emphasizing the transformative power of gratitude. The episode balances humorous anecdotes with thoughtful reflections on finding joy and purpose in a highly visible career, concluding with details about her upcoming standup special and Las Vegas residency.

Episode 3: Recharge with Jordan Chiles: Olympic Triumphs & Resilience

Olympic champion Jordan Chiles joins Ko for a memorable talk about excellence, authenticity, and the power of self-expression. Not only does she dish on her viral performances and her friendship with Simone Biles, but she also reflects on finding the strength to overcome negativity. Chiles’ journey is all about resilience and inspiring the next generation to be bold.

Episode 4: Recharge with Common: Rhythms of Resilience

Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy winner Common joins Ko to discuss creativity and living with purpose. In a soulful conversion, the singer reflects on how he stays mentally strong and what he wants others to know about protecting their own wellbeing. With wisdom and warmth, Common, who also authored the book, “And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self,” shares lessons on ambition, humility, and the power of art.

Episode 5: Recharge with Sheryl Lee Ralph: Emmy Magic & Unstoppable Joy

“Abbot Elementary” fans will want to hear star Sheryl Lee Ralph open up to Ko about her inspiring career, including her historic Emmy win at 66. The actress and founder of the DIVA Foundation also discusses turning tragedy into activism, fighting for Black representation, and being a champion for mental health and racial equity. Ralph encourages listeners to push forward, “build [their] own tables” when they face exclusion, and have the courage to be themselves.