Time to Reset

Why do smart people make poor decisions? Often, it's not because they lack intelligence. It's because they're only seeing one version of the problem. In this solo episode of Time to Reset , Focusologist Penny Zenker explores how our experiences, assumptions, beliefs, and pressure shape what we notice—and what we completely miss. Through one powerful leadership exercise and practical coaching quest...

What separates breakthrough leaders from everyone else? In this episode of the Time to Reset Podcast, Penny Zenker sits down with renowned leadership expert and motivational speaker Brian Biro , known as America's Breakthrough Speaker, to explore the mindset shifts that create extraordinary results in leadership, business, and life. Brian shares his powerful framework for controlling the controlla...

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your circumstances—it's where your attention is? In this solo episode of Time to Reset , Penny Zenker shares one of her most memorable keynote moments, revealing how our focus shapes our emotions, behaviors, and results. Through a simple audience exercise, she demonstrates just how quickly we can change our cravings, our fears, and even our confiden...

What if the answers you’re searching for aren’t found through logic alone? In this episode of the Time to Reset podcast, Penny Zenker sits down with intuitive coach and former engineer Ali Sweeney for a powerful conversation about intuition, alignment, emotional awareness, and the hidden ways our conditioning shapes decision-making. Ali shares her personal transformation from a data-driven enginee...

Is AI making us smarter—or slowly making us dependent on technology? In this episode of the Time to Reset Podcast , Penny Zenker explores one of the most important questions facing leaders, professionals, educators, and organizations today: Is AI making us dumb? After a thought-provoking conversation with executives and HR leaders, Penny dives into both sides of the debate. Some believe AI is redu...

What’s broken in customer experience today—and why does it feel harder than ever to get real help?   In this episode of Time to Reset, customer experience expert Barbara Khozam reveals why businesses are losing customers despite better technology, faster systems, and more automation than ever before.   The problem? We’ve optimized for efficiency—but forgotten how to connect as humans. &n...

Is inbox zero actually making you more productive… or just more reactive? In this solo episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker challenges one of the biggest productivity myths of the modern workplace: the obsession with clearing your inbox. Penny breaks down why email has become one of the greatest drains on our time, energy, and focus — and why using your inbox to drive your day keeps you stuck in...

What does purpose at work really mean—and why are so many people getting it wrong? In this powerful episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with bestselling author and workplace behavior expert Joshua M. Evans to challenge conventional thinking around purpose, engagement, and fulfillment in today’s workplace. Together, they unpack why modern work culture has “cheapened” the idea of purpos...

What if the key to better decisions, stronger relationships, and less stress was learning how to manage your emotional state in the moment? In this solo episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker explores practical techniques for emotional regulation, shifting your energy, and responding calmly under pressure instead of reacting emotionally. You’ll learn: How to shift your state when feeling stressed,...

In this episode, we sit down with Alex , co-founder and CEO of Fuel , to explore why traditional learning methods are failing—and what’s replacing them. With information overload at an all-time high, simply consuming knowledge is no longer enough. The real advantage comes from applying what you learn in real time. We dive into the science behind the “forgetting curve,” why most learning management...

Feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck in the weeds of your business or life? In this solo episode of Time to Reset , Penny Zenker introduces a powerful concept: The Clarity Compression Effect . Learn how intentionally limiting your time, energy, or resources can actually create sharper focus, better decisions, and higher productivity . Inspired in part by ideas from Tim Ferriss, Penny shar...

Success in modern entrepreneurship often hinges on your ability to build a "parasocial" bond with your audience, and there is no better medium to achieve this for small businesses than podcasting. Productivity guru and entrepreneur Raymond Sidney-Smith joins the show to share the essential blueprint for launching a show that converts listeners into loyal clients by leveraging the "magic" of audio...

Feeling mentally foggy, overwhelmed, or stretched too thin? You’re not alone—and it’s not a lack of discipline. It’s cognitive overload. In this solo episode of Time to Reset , Penny Zenker breaks down why constant inputs are draining your energy, slowing your decisions, and leading to burnout. More importantly, she shares a simple but powerful framework: aligning your inputs with your outputs . L...

Are you frustrated by the ever-changing LinkedIn algorithm and feeling like your content isn't reaching your connections? Today, Penny Zenker hits LinkedIn sales expert Brynne Tillman , CEO of Social Sales Link and co-author of The LinkedIn Edge , with the hard questions about what's actually working in today's environment. Brynne breaks down the new rules of the LinkedIn "game" and shares her com...

Are you constantly doing—but not feeling aligned with who you truly are? In this solo episode, Penny explores the powerful difference between doing and being —and how getting caught in productivity, urgency, and “one more thing” can quietly pull us away from our values, identity, and what matters most. Through real, vulnerable stories (including moments of misalignment, missed presence, and hard-e...

Everyone is talking about AI—but very few are actually using it to drive real results. The truth? AI isn’t a magic button you press for instant success. If you’re treating it like a vending machine, you’re already falling behind. In this conversation, AI expert James Feldman breaks down how to turn artificial intelligence from overwhelming hype into a practical, revenue-generating advantage. From...

Why are 79% of employees disengaged at work —and what can leaders actually do about it? In this solo episode of Time to Reset , Penny Zenker breaks down one of the most overlooked drivers of disengagement: skepticism . This isn’t about attitude—it’s about attention patterns shaped by past experiences, broken trust, and workplace dynamics. When skepticism takes hold, it limits innovation, slows dec...

Trying to control every outcome in life can feel like the safest strategy, but it often leads to more stress, anxiety, and frustration. In this episode, Penny Zenker sits down with Kati Morton , bestselling author and mental health expert, to explore the control trap —the tendency to overmanage our emotions, circumstances, and even other people in an attempt to feel secure. Kati explains why our b...

In today’s hyper-connected world, we have more ways to communicate than ever before — yet meaningful human connection is becoming increasingly rare . In this solo episode, Penny Zenker explores what she calls the growing “connection deficit” and why it is one of the biggest challenges facing leaders and organizations today. Despite constant messaging, video calls, and social media interactions, ma...

Mastering decision-making under stress is the ultimate productivity hack for high-pressure environments. In this episode, leadership trainer and crisis communication expert Kevin McIntyre joins the show to discuss why the brain struggles to process choices during a crisis and how to override those biological impulses. Drawing from his experience coaching over 6,000 leaders, Kevin explains the "hal...

Conferences still matter. But the way we design them must change. With rising costs, economic pressure, and AI reshaping professional development, association leaders can’t afford events that stop at “great content.” In this episode, Penny Zenker shares: Why information is now a commodity What Millennials and Gen Z actually expect from events How to use real-time feedback and live polling to incre...

In today's hyper-complex, information-saturated world, the impulse is often to do more. More tasks, more meetings, more data consumption. But what if the path to true success lies in doing less while achieving more? We sat down with Rich Horwath , a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and the leading authority on strategic thinking, to uncover the crucial insights that separa...

In a world of constant change, uncertainty can feel overwhelming—especially for leaders responsible for guiding others through it. In this solo episode, Penny Zenker shares a powerful reframe: certainty isn’t about predicting outcomes—it’s about anchoring yourself internally. Drawing from real-world leadership challenges, stress neuroscience, and her proven Reset Mindset , Penny explores how leade...

Technical experts are masters of their specific crafts, but they often find themselves dealing with the universal challenges of overwork, burnout, and micromanagement. Penny Zenker sits down with Alistair Gordon , CEO of Expertunity , who shares how he leads the so-called expertship revolution to address this growing problem happening in most workplaces. Alistair sheds light on how experts and spe...

What does it mean to choose a word for the year — and actually live it? In this solo episode, Penny shares why generosity became her word of the year and how it’s shaping the way she moves through each month. Rather than treating generosity as something to do , she explores it as a way of being — one that begins with letting go and unfolds through intentional monthly themes. This episode walks thr...