WordPress Blog Designed w/ Simple Functionality and Ability to Self-Edit

I'm looking to get a simple, beautiful WordPress site developed. I'll provide the hosting and domain.

All the elements I need are:

1. Mobile-responsive header.
2. Mobile-responsive sidebar including:
-Cues to follow me on social
-Cues to subscribe to my mailing list
-Popular articles
3. Mobile-friendly blog that allows me to easily add new articles, images, etc. (I know the basics of HTML, so I just need a fantastic template that looks good "out of the box" when I write new stuff).
-Will be adding in podcast episodes, embedded videos, etc., as well as plain text articles, so a format that allows me to easily publish any format I have would be huge
4. Embedded email opt-ins (I have a mailchimp account, but happy to use something else if easier)
5. Like buttons, FB comments, other social elements on all blog articles
6. "About" page and contact page, extremely simple
7. All the best plugins for site speed, social sharing, SEO, etc.

Very simple project - just need something that I can edit and add articles to easily, that looks good on every browser and device, and that has all the "best in class" plugins and tools that allow my articles to get shared, liked, spread, and found as efficiently as possible.

Additionally, if you can help to set up my RSS feed, podcast, etc. and get all my social and media formats integrated into the site itself, that would be truly ideal

Will provide all content, design preferences, etc., but to give you an idea of something I like for its simplicity (and pretty darn close to what I want to build):



Let me know what questions you have, and please send me examples of blogs you've built so I can take a look at previous work!

Looking forward to working with you,
-Anthony