Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

I’m excited revisit this conversation with  Ximena Vengoechea  to the show to discuss her book, Listen Like You Mean It: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection . Ximena is a user researcher, author, and expert in communication and active listening. Her book explores how we can deepen our conversations, overcome common listening mistakes, and foster meaningful connections in both personal and p...

I’m excited to welcome Michaela Alexis to the show to discuss her new book,  No Fear Networking: A Guide to Building Connections for the Socially Anxious Professional . Michaela is a keynote speaker, LinkedIn expert, and networking coach who helps professionals overcome social anxiety and build meaningful connections in their careers. In this conversation, we cover: Redefining Networking:  Michael...

I’m excited to welcome Mo Hamzian to the show to discuss the future of workspaces and how to optimize environments for focus, productivity, and well-being. Mo is an entrepreneur, real estate expert, and the co-founder of VEL , a company dedicated to redefining workspaces for the modern workforce. In this conversation, we cover: The Evolution of Workspaces:  Mo discusses the rise of remote work and...

I’m excited to welcome Duncan Wardle to the show to discuss his new book,  The Imagination Emporium: The Creative Tools to Change the Way You Think . Duncan is a former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, a global speaker, and an expert in unlocking human imagination. His book presents practical tools for breaking free from conventional thinking and fostering creativity in work and life....

I’m excited to welcome Debra Eckerling to the show to discuss her new book,  52 Secrets for Goal Setting and Goal Getting: How to Stay Focused, Grow Your Network, and Get More Done in Less Time . Debra is a goal-setting expert, author, and the creator of the  DEB Method , which helps individuals and organizations define, plan, and achieve their goals. In this conversation, we cover: The Power of C...

This week, I’m excited to welcome Tyler Moore, also known as Tidy Dad, to the show to discuss his new book,  Tidy Up Your Life: Rethinking How to Organize, Declutter, and Make Space for What Matters . Tyler is a teacher, writer, and advocate for creating intentional, organized spaces that support well-being. Through his Tidy Dad brand, he shares practical strategies for simplifying life and focusi...

I’m excited to welcome Dr. Mithu Storoni to the show to discuss her new book,  Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work . Dr. Storoni is a physician, researcher, and expert in neuroscience and performance optimization. Her latest book challenges conventional productivity methods and introduces a brain-based approach to working smarter, not harder. In this conversation, we...

This week, I’m excited to welcome Ben Orlin to the show to discuss his new book,  Math for English Majors: A Human Take on the Universal Language . Ben is a math educator, writer, and the creator of  Math with Bad Drawings , a blog and book series that makes math more accessible, humorous, and relatable. His latest book approaches mathematics as a language—one that everyone can learn, even those w...

I’m excited to welcome back Ian Morgan Cron to the show to discuss his new book,  The Fix: How the Twelve Steps Offer a Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down-and-Out, and Everyone In Between . Ian is a bestselling author, psychotherapist, Enneagram expert, and host of the Typology podcast. His latest book explores how the Twelve Steps, originally created for addiction r...

This week, I’m excited to welcome back Melissa Urban to the show to discuss her new book,  The New Whole30: A Fresh Approach to Food and Life . Melissa Urban is the co-creator and CEO of the Whole30 program, a New York Times bestselling author, and a respected voice in the wellness community. Her new book reintroduces the Whole30 program with updates based on recent science and her personal evolut...

This week, I’m thrilled to welcome back Dr. Michael Breus to the show to discuss his new book,  Sleep, Drink, Breathe: Simple Daily Habits for Long-Term Health . Dr. Breus, also known as “The Sleep Doctor,” is a clinical psychologist, board-certified sleep specialist, and a bestselling author. Known for making complex health topics approachable, his latest book simplifies wellness into three funda...

This week we are joined by productivity expert Mike Vardy for Parton of a two part series on the A to Z of Productivity. Mike's experience spans years and includes authoring books, creating courses, and hosting his own podcast, "A Productive Conversation." He's a seasoned productivity strategist known for his unique approach to time management and focus techniques. You can catch Part 2 here: https...

This week I welcome back Kendra Adachi to the show to talk about her new book The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius . Kendra Adachi is one part systems expert, and one part permission giver. As The Lazy Genius, she aims to help you be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't. She is the host of The Lazy Genius Podcast , author of The Lazy Genius Way . In t...

This week, I'm revisiting a conversation with Gillian Tietz. Given the topic and the time of year, I felt it was the perfect moment to bring this discussion back to light. Gillian is a biochemist, educator, and entrepreneur who, after struggling with alcohol moderation, found productivity and success in sobriety. She is the host of the Sober Powered Podcast and works as a biochemist in the Boston...

This week I was encouraged to welcome Carlos Whittaker to the show for an honest and compassionate talk about his latest book, " Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human ." Carlos shares his transformative journey through living with monks and the Amish to understand different worldviews and lessen his dependency on technology....

This week I was so happy to welcome Jon Acuff back to the show to discuss his newest book, 'How Teens Win: The Student's Guide to Accomplishing Big Goals' for an insightful conversation about goal-setting, parenting, and supporting teenagers. This powerful new book which Jon co-authored with his two teenage daughters is a must read for parents, educators, and mentors. Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  ...

This week, I'm excited to revisit this conversation with Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst discussing their book, Workstyle: A revolution for well being, productivity and society. They coined the term nearly a decade ago during an inspired conversation at a pub. Little did they know that that conversation would lead them to co-found the multi-million pound social enterprise Hoxby to test and prove the c...

This week, we’re revisiting a conversation that left a lasting impact, where I had the honor and privilege of speaking with Seth Godin about his book, The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams. For most listeners Seth needs no introduction. Seth is perhaps best known for his prolific daily blog , as well as his books Linchpin , Tribes , The Dip and Purple Cow . I’ve been looking forward...

This week I was excited to revisit a conversation I had with Todd Henry. Todd is a prolific author and speaker who focuses on the creatives and dispelling myths about who is and who is not “creative” within corporate or professional workforces. For over a decade Todd has helped readers unlock their creative potential and find new ways to apply their talents.   The Daily Creative is a daily reader...

In this episode, I'm excited to chat with my friend Ian Anderson Gray to dispel the myths and stigmas surrounding ADHD. Ian shares his personal journey of understanding and managing ADHD, shedding light on emotional dysregulation and the pivotal role a family coach played in his life. Discover the inspiration behind Ian's podcast " Smart ADHD ," which aims to offer intelligent strategies for those...

This week I'm excited to revisit a conversation I had with Chris Bailey. Chris has been a guest on the show a number of times, and in this episode, he unpacks the origins, research, and results of his book, How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times. I decided to revisit this conversation as the need for calm has been so important for me in recent weeks and months as...

This week I’m excited to revisit a conversation I had with Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt-Miller about their book, Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts with Your Thinking. Michael is the founder and chairman of Full Focus . Through his coaching program for small business owners, BusinessAccelerator®, and the bestselling Full Focus Planner, Michael has helped hundreds of thousand...

In part 2 of 2 of this conversation, John Drury shares about the importance of retreats and sacred time for rest and rejuvenation. John shares his personal experiences with different forms of retreats, emphasizing the value of eliminating distractions and under-stimulation to foster deeper self-reflection and mindfulness. He introduces practical techniques such as "desert days," quarterly overnigh...

In part 1 of a 2 part conversation I am thrilled to bring my longtime friend of 25 years Dr. John Drury. John and I share an interest in productivity and the Enneagram, particularly the unique insights of Enneagram fives. In this episode, John and I talk about the profound impact the pandemic has had on our routines and spiritual practices, introducing the concept of a "rule of life" as a way to a...

This week I’m excited to revisit an insightful conversation I had with Tiago Forte about his book Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential. Tiago walks us through his groundbreaking framework, PARA—Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives—that aims to revolutionize how we organize information in our digital lives. We'll also explore the...