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Recharge with David Ko

David Ko

Recharge with David Ko is a podcast series hosted by David Ko, CEO of Calm, the podcast invites listeners to explore the central question of his bestselling book, Recharge: Boosting Your Mental Battery, One Conversation at a Time: How do we recharge our mental energy when the world feels draining?In each episode, David engages in intimate, candid conversations with celebrities, thought leaders, and mental health experts about their personal journeys to recharge, recharge techniques, and how they manage mental wellness in a fast-paced world. Drawing from David’s own story and the themes of his book, the series will normalize mental health conversations, reduce stigma, and empower listeners to assess and replenish their mental energy.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 29 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S4 · E7
    June 2 · 28 min

    N.B. Patil, Co-Founder, CEO of Ozlo Sleep Joins David Ko (Fmr. CEO of Calm)

    N.B. Patil is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Chief Technology Officer of Ozlo Sleep, a sleep technology company revolutionizing how people rest through science-backed innovation. After 22 years at Bose Corporation, where he rose from firmware engineer to Head of Corporate Concept Group, Patil made the unprecedented move to acquire the intellectual property behind Bose's discontinued Sleepbuds and launch Ozlo in 2022. Under his leadership, Ozlo has raised over $10 million, become the #1 InDemand campaign in Indiegogo history, raised $8M+, shipped to 40+ countries, won Best of CES (CNET's Best Health/Wellness Tech Award 2025), been named one of TIME's Best Inventions in Wearable Technology, AND built a loyal, community-driven customer base. A must listen for people who want to learn more about sleep and mental wellness!

  • S4 · E6
    May 26 · 31 min

    Min Woo Lee (PGA Tour Player) Joins David Ko (Fmr. CEO of Calm)

    Min Woo Lee is one of golf's most exciting young talents, known for his charismatic personality, powerful game, and engaging social media presence. As a professional athlete competing at the highest level, he faces immense pressure, travel, and scrutiny, making him an ideal guest to discuss mental resilience, coping mechanisms, and how he maintains well-being amidst a demanding schedule. His "Let Him Cook" persona also offers a unique angle on confidence and self-belief. We want to explore the intersection of his lived experience as a pro golfer, living life in the public eye, the mental demands of the sport, and how he manages to stay "charged" both on and off the course.

  • S4 · E5
    May 21 · 23 min

    Part 2 (EXCLUSIVE): Amy Harder (One of the Nation's Premier Journalists) and David Ko (Fmr. CEO of Calm)

    Amy Harder is one of the nation's leading energy and climate journalists, with more than 15 years of experience covering the energy transition, climate policy, and clean technology. She is currently the National Energy Correspondent for Axios and the inaugural Journalism Fellow at the University of Chicago's new Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, where she co-hosts the "Shocked" podcast with Director Michael Greenstone. Harder has built a reputation as a uniquely balanced and influential journalist with respect across the political spectrum. She believes in seeing energy infrastructure firsthand - touring everything from underground coal mines in West Virginia to wind farms in Australia to carbon capture facilities in Norway - and bridging the gap between what industry leaders say and what everyday people care about. Her journalism focuses on distilling complex energy and climate issues into understandable formats relevant to people outside the industry.

  • S4 · E4
    May 19 · 26 min

    Part 1 (EXCLUSIVE): Amy Harder (One of the Nation's Premier Journalists) and David Ko (Fmr. CEO of Calm)

    Amy Harder is one of the nation's leading energy and climate journalists, with more than 15 years of experience covering the energy transition, climate policy, and clean technology. She is currently the National Energy Correspondent for Axios and the inaugural Journalism Fellow at the University of Chicago's new Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, where she co-hosts the "Shocked" podcast with Director Michael Greenstone. Harder has built a reputation as a uniquely balanced and influential journalist with respect across the political spectrum. She believes in seeing energy infrastructure firsthand - touring everything from underground coal mines in West Virginia to wind farms in Australia to carbon capture facilities in Norway - and bridging the gap between what industry leaders say and what everyday people care about. Her journalism focuses on distilling complex energy and climate issues into understandable formats relevant to people outside the industry.

  • S4 · E3
    May 14 · 18 min

    Part 2 (EXCLUSIVE): Healthcare Icon Dr. Jack Rowe (fmr. CEO of Aetna) and David Ko (Fmr. CEO of Calm)

    Jack Rowe is the former chairman and CEO of Aetna. He led one of the most dramatic turnarounds in healthcare history, transforming a company from near bankruptcy into a billion-dollar enterprise. He is the pioneer gerontologist who co-authored the groundbreaking book, Successful Aging. In this episode, we recharge with the one and only Dr. Jack Rowe to discuss his "prescription" for a life well-lived and a career that redefined an industry.

  • S4 · E2
    May 12 · 22 min

    Part 1 (EXCLUSIVE): Healthcare Icon Dr. Jack Rowe (fmr. CEO of Aetna) and David Ko (Fmr. CEO of Calm)

    Jack Rowe is the former chairman and CEO of Aetna. He led one of the most dramatic turnarounds in healthcare history, transforming a company from near bankruptcy into a billion-dollar enterprise. He is the pioneer gerontologist who co-authored the groundbreaking book, Successful Aging. In this episode, we recharge with the one and only Dr. Jack Rowe to discuss his "prescription" for a life well-lived and a career that redefined an industry.

  • S4 · E1
    May 5 · 30 min

    Recharge with Legendary Kenneth Cole and David Ko, fmr. CEO of Calm

    Kenneth Cole is an American fashion designer and social activist who founded Kenneth Cole Productions in 1982. While known globally for his footwear and accessories empire, Cole is equally renowned for pioneering "cause and commerce" - using his fashion platform to drive social change for over 40 years. In 2020, he founded The Mental Health Coalition (MHC), a nonprofit uniting the nation's leading mental health organizations to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Cole calls mental health "the greatest epidemic of our time." The Mental Health Coalition brings together 50+ organizations, provides 500+ free mental health resources, and has created innovative campaigns like "How Are You, Really?" and the annual Wellbeing at Work Day initiative. Cole has received the 2025 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion for his transformative leadership in mental health advocacy.

  • S3 · E8
    March 12 · 18 min

    Part 2 (EXCLUSIVE): Nicole Avant and David Ko, CEO of Calm

    Nicole Avant is an American producer, author, philanthropist, and former diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to the Bahamas from 2009 to 2011 - the first Black woman and youngest person to hold that position. The daughter of music mogul Clarence Avant ("The Black Godfather") and philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, she has produced critically acclaimed projects including the 2019 Netflix documentary on her father The Black Godfather and The Six Triple Eight (2024), a World War II film directed by Tyler Perry. Following the tragic murder of her mother in December 2021, Nicole channeled her grief into her USA Today bestselling memoir Think You'll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude (2023), becoming a powerful voice on resilience, mental wellness, faith, and the healing power of music. She is married to Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix.

  • S3 · E6
    March 10 · 35 min

    Part 1: Former US Ambassador, Film Producer & Author (Think You'll Be Happy) - Nicole Avant & David Ko, CEO of Calm

    Nicole Avant is an American producer, author, philanthropist, and former diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to the Bahamas from 2009 to 2011 - the first Black woman and youngest person to hold that position. The daughter of music mogul Clarence Avant ("The Black Godfather") and philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, she has produced critically acclaimed projects including the 2019 Netflix documentary on her father The Black Godfather and The Six Triple Eight (2024), a World War II film directed by Tyler Perry. Following the tragic murder of her mother in December 2021, Nicole channeled her grief into her USA Today bestselling memoir Think You'll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude (2023), becoming a powerful voice on resilience, mental wellness, faith, and the healing power of music. She is married to Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix.

  • S3 · E5
    March 3 · 36 min

    Recharge with Kelly Carlin and David Ko, CEO of Calm

    Kelly Carlin is an actress, producer, screenwriter, podcast host, and the only daughter of the late comedian George Carlin. Her fascinations range from discovering how to live a true and deep life, to freedom of expression, to the evolution of consciousness and the American psyche. She’s a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, has a master’s in Jungian psychology, and comes from a family steeped in comedy, big ideas, and warm hearts. She is also the founder of Women on The Verge, a coaching practice that encourages women to make deep, long-lasting changes within so that they can finally be valued, paid, and recognized.

  • S3 · E4
    February 24 · 28 min

    Recharge with Legendary VC Bill Gurley and David Ko, CEO of Calm

    Bill Gurley is a general partner at Benchmark, a leading venture capital firm in Silicon Valley. Over his venture career, he has invested in and served on the board of such companies as Nextdoor, OpenTable, Stitch Fix, Uber, and Zillow. Born in Dickinson, Texas, Gurley earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Florida and later received an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2025, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas alumni association. For more than two decades, Gurley has written about technology and other subjects on his popular blog, Above the Crowd, and on his social media accounts.

  • S3 · E4
    February 17 · 28 min

    Exclusive Part 2: Recharge with John Driscoll and David Ko, CEO of Calm

    Exclusive Part 2 Episode with John Driscoll and David Ko, CEO of Calm. Recap: John Driscoll is a healthcare executive, board leader, and author known for pioneering approaches to home-based care and advocating for fair wages as a pathway to employee wellbeing and business success. He is a member of the Patriotic Millionaires and a Senior Advisor to Walgreens Boots Alliance and the EQT Group. Previously, he was the CEO of CareCentrix, Group President for New Markets at Medco, and Executive Vice President at Walker Digital. Currently serving as Chairman of UConn Health and multiple corporate boards, John co-authored the 2024 book Pay the People! Why Fair Pay is Good for Business and Great for America, with Morris Pearl.

  • S3 · E3
    February 10 · 24 min

    Part 1: Recharge with John Driscoll and David Ko, CEO of Calm

    John Driscoll is a healthcare executive, board leader, and author known for pioneering approaches to home-based care and advocating for fair wages as a pathway to employee wellbeing and business success. He is a member of the Patriotic Millionaires and a Senior Advisor to Walgreens Boots Alliance and the EQT Group. Previously, he was the CEO of CareCentrix, Group President for New Markets at Medco, and Executive Vice President at Walker Digital. Currently serving as Chairman of UConn Health and multiple corporate boards, John co-authored the 2024 book Pay the People! Why Fair Pay is Good for Business and Great for America, with Morris Pearl.

  • S3 · E2
    February 3 · 35 min

    Recharge with Jennifer Wallace and David Ko, CEO of Calm

    Jennifer B. Wallace is an award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of the Mattering Institute, whose mission is to create cultures of “mattering” in schools. Her work centers on the idea that feeling valued and adding value is fundamental to our mental and emotional well-being. She is a “maternal mental health advocate” at Calm, a consultant at Netflix, and frequent media contributor and commentator on issues around parenting, kids, and education. She lives in New York with her husband and 3 kids. Her new book, Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose discusses how the sense of “mattering” impacts not only our day-to-day mood and feelings of personal value, but also our overall health, workplaces, and communities.

  • S3 · E1
    January 27 · 30 min

    Recharge with Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt and David Ko, CEO of Calm

    Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt is a New York Times best-selling author, animal advocate, daughter, sister, wife, mother, step-mom, and host of the podcast, BDA Baby. A passionate animal advocate, Katherine works as an Ambassador for Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends.org) and the ASPCA (aspca.org). She is also a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics, and lives with her family in Los Angeles.

  • S2 · E8
    Nov 18, 2025 · 29 min

    Recharge: All About Sleep

    In this Special Season 2 Finale, David Ko presents a timely end-of-year gift: a compilation of advice on the single most crucial element for good mental health—sleep. This episode features the collective wisdom and top tips from all of this season's amazing guests, providing actionable insights to help you achieve a restful night's sleep.

  • #7
    Nov 10, 2025 · 36 min

    Recharge with Karen Lynch (Former CEO of CVS Health and President of Aetna)

    David sits down for a candid conversation with Karen Lynch, a trailblazing leader known for her transformative work at the helm of major healthcare organizations like Aetna and CVS Health. Karen shares her deeply personal journey of vulnerability and resilience from the childhood tragedy that shaped her passion for mental health and reflects on the leadership lessons she’s learned throughout her career. She shares her personal strategies for finding balance, knowing when to recharge, and offers invaluable insights for leaders at any stage of their career.

  • S2 · E6
    Nov 4, 2025 · 26 min

    Recharge with Nick Jonas and David Ko, CEO of Calm

    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 continuous glucose monitoring) 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.

  • S2 · E5
    Oct 28, 2025 · 36 min

    Recharge with Chloe Kim (Professional Snowboarder and Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)

    Two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim joins David Ko, CEO of Calm, to talk about the mental side of elite performance and the pressures of being a global icon at such a young age. She shares her experience stepping away from snowboarding after the 2018 Olympics to protect her mental health, the role therapy and sleep have played in her recovery, and how she’s learning to balance ambition with joy. In a year when so many people feel stretched thin and overexposed, Chloe offers an honest look at burnout, identity, and what it really means to RECHARGE!

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