EQ Applied: Emotional Intelligence in the Real World

Justin Bariso built his reputation writing about emotional intelligence for Inc.com, where he became one of the publication's most popular columnists. His book EQ Applied sold well enough to land him features in TIME, CNBC, and Forbes, and the podcast is a natural extension of that work. Each episode focuses on a single practical tip, trick, or psychological principle that you can actually use the same day you hear it. The format is tight and focused: Bariso draws from years of executive coaching experience to walk through specific emotional scenarios, like how to stay composed when someone pushes your buttons in a meeting or how to rebuild trust after a conflict at home. He covers how thoughts and habits shape emotions, why certain emotional reactions are harder to control than others, and what the research says about replacing destructive habits with healthier ones. The episodes are on the shorter side, which makes them easy to stack into a commute or a lunch break without committing to an hour-long conversation. Bariso's writing background shows in how clearly he structures each episode, moving from concept to example to takeaway without unnecessary tangents. This is a good fit for people who want actionable emotional intelligence advice rather than abstract theory, especially anyone in a leadership or management role where interpersonal dynamics matter every day.