Productivity with Zest

In this very special father-and-daughter episode, I sit down with my dad, Dr John Kirkby CBE to talk about productivity, resilience and purpose that lasts a lifetime. John is the Founder of the Isaiah 61 Movement and Christians Against Poverty , an international charity that’s helped thousands of people break free from debt and find hope again. He’s a three-time Sunday Times Best Leader award winn...

Ever found yourself drowning in planners, apps, or endless to-do lists yet somehow still feeling unorganised? You’re not broken. You’re just over-planned and under-focused. In this birthday episode of Productivity with Zest (yes - the podcast turns 1 this week 🎉), Jasmine shares a sneak peek from the More Zest private podcast inside The Productivity Gym® - all about simplifying your planning so i...

(Sneak Preview from More Zest, the private podcast from inside The Productivity Gym®) Ever feel like you’re doing all the things but still exhausted by mid-afternoon? Or that you're snapping at your partner, inhaling snacks, or staring blankly at your screen, not because you're lazy, but because you’re just done ? This episode is all about one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) p...

What happens to your productivity when the results don’t sit neatly in your own hands? In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend (and brilliant human) Edd Parker , Product Innovation Manager at Christians Against Poverty. Edd has worked everywhere from Tanzania to the UK leading digital transformation projects, but his focus is always on people first, problems second . Together we dive into:  ...

We’re taught that yes is good and no is bad. Yes feels helpful, friendly, positive. No feels sharp, awkward, and guilt-inducing. But... not every yes is a good yes. In this sneak peek from More Zest (the private podcast inside The Productivity Gym®), I’m digging into why some yeses actually drain your time, energy, and joy and how learning to say an Excellent No can transform the way you work and...

If you’ve ever found yourself faffing about on Canva, “researching” on social media, or pouring hours into busywork that doesn’t actually move the needle then this one’s for you. I’m joined by the brilliant Anna Green, founder of Direct Selling Success and host of the Direct Selling Success Podcast . Anna helps business owners (especially network marketers) ditch the hustle, set boundaries, and bu...

Join my FREE 5-Day Fierce Focus Challenge starting 6th October and reset your focus! Procrastination isn’t laziness – it’s a signal. In this special sneak peek from More Zest (my private podcast inside The Productivity Gym®), we’re diving into procrastination with a totally fresh perspective. Instead of beating yourself up for putting things off, what if you treated procrastination as a signpost p...

Ever fallen down a scroll hole and told yourself it was 'research'? (Yep, guilty 🙋‍♀️). If distraction is your middle name, you’re going to love this episode. I’m joined by the brilliant Rachel Beck - entrepreneur and founder of Vigor Vitamins, who brings a refreshingly honest take on productivity when your brain has a mind of its own. Rachel shares what it’s really like to run a busine...

This week I’m back with a solo episode - just you and me - and we’re looking at one of my favourite topics: productivity fitness. Think of productivity like a muscle. You wouldn’t expect to run a marathon without training.... the same goes for how you work.  Your productivity is made up of different “muscles” - things like prioritisation, boundaries, energy management, focus, planning, mindset… an...

If your to-do list is starting to look like the world’s longest shopping list and you’re wondering how on earth you’re meant to get it all done… this one’s for you. This week I’m joined by Chloe Weatherhead, founder of Andiamo Business Assistance and all-round behind-the-scenes business lifesaver. Chloe’s the kind of VA who can take your chaos, give it a tidy, and hand it back feeling calm, organi...

Is it brain fog… or just your to-do list playing tricks on you? In this powerful and practical episode, I am joined by Vikki Ellison , Advanced Menopause Specialist Nurse Practitioner and founder of the Calm Menopause & Wellbeing Clinic, to explore the real impact of perimenopause and menopause on how we work, think, and feel. Whether you're running a business, leading a team, juggling ki...

What if the secret to more sales wasn’t doing more ... but doing less, better? After chatting with this week’s guest, I found myself seriously rethinking how often my love of efficiency turns into just ticking things off the to-do list, without enough thought, intention, or breathing space. Lisa York challenged me (in the best way) to slow down, get clear on what actually moves the needle in my bu...

You know the one. You signed up with the best intentions. It felt like this was going to be the thing. But now it’s somewhere between Module 1 and "Where did I put that login again?" In this episode of Productivity with Zest , we are going to explore how we take courses and actually learn from them, because it’s not about cramming more in, it’s about learning in a way your brain actually...

This one’s part productivity chat, part wizardry. I’m joined by the brilliant Amy Downes – the Content Wizard herself – for a refreshingly real convo about juggling business, mum life, and social media without losing your mind or your mission. We dive into:  📱 How to scroll mindfully (and stop frying your brain)  🧙‍♀️ The Hogwarts Express of productivity tools  ♻️ Why reusing content is smarter...

The doors are officially open! This is your invitation to join The Productivity Gym, a completely different kind of membership for business owners, professionals, and anyone tired of trying to figure it all out on their own. No more abandoning planners after two weeks. No more trying to fix everything at once. No more doing it alone. In this episode, I share: Why I created The Productivity Gym (an...

We’re back! In this special Season 2 opener, I’m sharing the top takeaways from the podcast listener survey, what to expect in this new season, and revealing a BIG announcement…  Introducing: The Productivity Gym. Sweat Less, Achieve More. Tired of learning productivity tips but struggling to follow through? You’re not alone… and that’s exactly why I created The Productivity Gym (TPG). The Product...

We did it – Season 1 is complete! 🎉 After 6 months, 25 episodes, nearly 3,500 downloads, and listeners from 385 cities across 49 countries, I’m officially wrapping up Season 1 of Productivity with Zest . In this short announcement episode, I share the journey we’ve been on so far—from quick productivity hacks to exploring what it really means to work in a way that feels aligned, purposeful, and f...

Lou thought she knew her goal... until this coaching session flipped everything. What if the goal you’ve been working towards isn’t actually serving you? What if it’s not even fully yours ? In this experimental episode, I’m lifting the lid on something I’ve never done before on the podcast – a real, raw coaching session. You’ll hear me coach the brilliant Lou through something I see time and time...

Meetings are devouring our workdays at an alarming rate. The average UK worker spends over 23 days annually in meetings—almost an entire working month! When we honestly examine our calendars, many of us discover that meetings consume more than half our available work time, forcing us to complete actual tasks during personal time. This episode tackles the meeting problem head-on with practical solu...

We’re often told that decisive people get ahead—quick decisions, fast action, no hesitation. But what if I told you that sometimes, the most productive move you can make is to pause a decision? In this episode, we’re diving into the hidden power of deferring a decision with purpose. You’ll learn: ✔️ Why decision fatigue drains your productivity (and how to prevent it) ✔️ The key signs that now isn...

In this episode of Productivity with Zest , we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges remote workers face: mentally clocking out at the end of the day. With 41% of people in the UK working from home at least part-time, it’s all too easy to fall into the 'always-on' trap - where work bleeds into your evenings and weekends, leaving you feeling burned out and overwhelmed. But what if the...

You’ve closed your laptop, left the office (or at least your desk), and told yourself you’re done for the day… yet your brain has other ideas. 👉 You’re mentally replying to emails while brushing your teeth. 👉 You’re replaying a conversation from earlier. 👉 You’re worrying about tomorrow’s to-do list instead of enjoying your evening. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Work-life boundaries have be...

Ever tried a productivity hack that just didn’t work for you? 🙋‍♀️ Maybe you love structure, but time-blocking made you feel trapped. Or you tried digital planning, only to realise you need the feel of pen and paper. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to productivity! In this episode, we’re diving into productivity experiments - how to test different methods, figure out what...

Take the Productivity Quiz now ! Ever feel like your day disappears in a blur of distractions? You sit down to work, but within minutes, you’re checking your phone, switching between tabs, or getting pulled into yet another email. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone! In this episode of Productivity with Zest , I’m diving into what I believe is my biggest productivity superpower: FOCUS . And...

NEW Grab Your Freebie: Productivity Quiz - What is holding you back? Take the quiz now and take targeted action Perfectionism might feel like a good thing - it makes us strive for excellence, right? But in reality, it often slows us down, fuels procrastination, and keeps us from finishing (or even starting) important work. In this episode of Productivity with Zest , we’re breaking down why perfect...