The Greg McKeown Podcast

This intervention episode introduces us to Anika – PhD student, traveler, and mother. Anika and Greg discuss her experience finding the essential path and making her dreams a priority. They expand on the fears and challenges involved in making adjustments along that journey, and maintaining clarity on what the underlying dream is. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends a...

Banks Benitez (Co-Founder and CEO, Uncharted) tells us how his organization has transitioned from experiment to execution of a four-day workweek. He and Greg go into detail on the challenges involved, the advantages in prioritizing the larger context of life outside work, and the importance of Essentialism in navigating the ongoing journey. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers &...

Gretchen Rubin (author, The Happiness Project) shares her insight and work on human nature. Her and Greg discuss some of their own creative motivations, understanding different types of personalities, and the importance of relationships and self-knowledge in leading a happier life. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and earn rewards: https://refer.fm/essential 1 Refe...

On this second inaugural episode of the all-new What’s Essential podcast, Anna McKeown and Greg discuss the importance of escape. They talk about the value of relaxation, disconnecting from productivity, and deliberately creating space in order to find focus and insight. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and earn rewards: https://refer.fm/essential 1 Referral - Acce...

Wall Street attorney turned podcaster, Jordan Harbinger, gives us a detailed perspective on elite time management and higher value relationship building. Jordan and Greg discuss the importance of intentional structure over reaction, and explore efficient systems to apply these methods practically in our own lives. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and earn rewards:...

In this intervention episode, Joanna Davey shares how Essentialism has been a catalyst to positive, life changing decisions. Joanna and Greg explore familiar domestic challenges, and discuss the importance of creating time, prioritization, and practice in crafting a meaningful life along an essentialist path. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and earn rewards: https...

In this intervention episode, Grigory and Elizaveta Kharitidis share the uncertainty they have faced in choosing the best path for their family, while encountering challenges to find a community they can call home. The Kharitidis’ and Greg discuss the importance of establishing roots, nurturing opportunity for our children, and creating a culture of values that can be intergenerationally shared. S...

Former monk turned purpose coach Jay Shetty (author, Think Like a Monk) shares his transition from corporate lifestyle to one of service and self-mastery. He and Greg discuss the importance of showing compassion and refining your intention. They explore how meditation as a lifestyle, exercise, and alignment in all internal aspects is a way to achieve genuine happiness. Share the What’s Essential p...

In this week’s episode, Derrick Johnson (NAACP President and CEO) shares his perspective and experience as a black man in America. Derrick and Greg have a candid dialogue about the current climate and the differences in how they have had to interface with the world. Together, they explore the importance of embracing that which makes you unique and discuss ways we can all be a part of the often unc...

Former Ironman triathlete turned CrossFit competitor and coach Ben Bergeron (author, Chasing Excellence) shares his perspective on what it takes to obtain ultimate fulfillment and personal success. Ben and Greg discuss the core values and actionable guidelines in creating a winning mindset through an Essentialist path. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and earn rewa...

Robert Glazer (author of Elevate, and founder of Acceleration Partners) and Greg discuss the all too common problem of overworking our physical capacity and the obstacles to prioritizing self-care. They expand on practical solutions to ensuring a balance between elevated productivity and essential well-being. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and earn rewards: https...

This intervention episode introduces us to Danielle LaGrone — college professor, wife, and full-time mom. Danielle and Greg discuss the struggle in choosing between outward accomplishments in the corporate domain and the type of fulfillment that comes from a life centered around family. They ponder the influence of society and family on creating this false dichotomy and the empowering clarity to d...

How exactly does everything from parenting style to ancient literature influence our accomplishments and constant pursuit of more? Ryan Holiday (The Daily Stoic and Stillness Is the Key) and Greg explore the impact of elite-level motivation, discipline, and introspection on finding essential fulfillment in our personal success.  Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and...

Cal Newport, the author of Digital Minimalism and Deep Work, shares his research about the inevitable noise of technology and social media in our minds. He and Greg explore practical methods to unplug digitally and cover essential strategies to find deep focus. Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Avi Gandhi, Brent Mont...

This intervention episode explores the mind of BJ Fogg, author of Tiny Habits, and founder of Stanford's Behavior Design Lab. BJ and Greg discuss the challenges of balancing the demand of an ever-busy work schedule and cultivating optimal quality of life. They discuss how the resolution can be achieved by simply applying small changes with an Essentialism approach. Greg McKeown Twitter: https://tw...

Eve Rodsky, author of Fairplay, and Greg discuss the age-old universal problem of gender imbalance when it comes to allocating domestic responsibilities. They dive into the toll this has on couples and families, and explore real, essential solutions to rebalance life at home through organizational and time management strategies. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and...

Patrick McGinnis, creator of the term FOMO, and Greg discuss the anxiety we all sometimes feel, globally known as the fear of missing out. From its roots as a biological response to a term amplified in culture through social media, this episode helps us to understand how to combat this feeling through practical decision making, prioritizing what is essential, and turning FOMO into a positive minds...

This special intervention episode takes you through the eyes of a frontline nurse working through a global pandemic. Emily Stewart (National Health Service) and Greg discuss that authentic struggle we can all relate to. Finding the balance between work and family, putting it all on the table, and having something left at the end of the day. They identify real-life, actionable steps we can all take...

David Allen, author of Getting Things Done, and Greg discuss the practical ways and key specifics to immediately begin the journey of cutting out what is non-essential, both personally and professionally. They go back and forth on the deeper and visionary elements of why it’s beneficial to focus on doing what matters most. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and earn...

Rachel Hollis (CEO of The Hollis Co) & Greg discuss the silver lining of quarantine, taking time to appreciate the things you love, and never being afraid to fail in order to succeed. This powerful episode also touches upon the difficulties of female entrepreneurship, and the importance of living life to the fullest.  Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and earn rewar...

Greg and Arianna Huffington discuss growing up as an outsider, the challenges and silver linings of COVID-19, and the importance of prioritizing your life before you get to a point of burning out. Tune in to hear a new side of Arianna's life, journey, and successes pre-Huffington Post and Thrive Global. Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & friends and earn rewards: https://ref...

Drew and Linda Scott go into detail on their vastly different upbringings, and how their parents and families have molded them into the people they are today. Greg, Drew and Linda discuss how the world can be changed for the better, and the individual steps it takes each person along the way to create an effective and lasting change.  Share the What’s Essential podcast with your co-workers & frien...

Greg interviews Dr. Dean Helen Easterling Williams, Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology. In an upfront and candid conversation, Greg and Dean Williams explore the difference in their experiences as academics, leaders, and human beings. Dean Williams' perspective as a black woman, academic, and leader on everything going on in America, and how to most effectively move...

Greg's first guest is his wife, Anna – listen in as they go back in time to the start of Essentialism, on that day when Greg realized he got it all wrong. Greg and Anna discuss the importance of family, gratitude, and not over-extending yourself and your time in order to create a positive home environment.  Greg McKeown Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregorymckeown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com...

Hello, my name is Greg McKeown, and welcome to the Essentialism podcast! Ever since I made the mistake of leaving my hours old baby and my wife, Anna, in the hospital as I went to a non-essential client meeting, I've been on a mission: to get into conversations with the people I meet to encourage them to explore what is essential, how they can eliminate what is not, and to make it as easy as possi...