Time to Reset

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...

Stop letting fear of the wrong choice lead to the biggest mistake of all: no decision making at all. Join the conversation as host Penny Zenker sits down with neuroscientist, researcher, and keynote speaker Lorne Epstein , who consults with senior leaders on improving decision making outcomes. They dive into how to navigate today's volatile, uncertain, chaotic, and ambiguous (VUCA) world by identi...

Clarity doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by intention. In this episode, Penny explores the overlooked moment at the start of every day that determines whether you lead with focus or fall into reaction mode. Learn how clarity creates a filter for your energy, helps you challenge false urgency, and allows you to right-size your effort for what truly matters. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, revi...

Are you ready to dive deep into personalizing the sales process in a world saturated with AI? Nikki Rausch , CEO of Sales Maven , author, and podcast host, joins the conversation to explain why people still buy from people and how a "high-tech" world demands an even more "high-touch" approach. Discover her game-changing techniques for fostering authentic connections, including her specific, powerf...

Expectations quietly shape our experiences—and often steal our joy. In this solo episode, Penny explores how releasing expectations can reduce stress, create more ease, and help you reset as you move forward. A timely reminder that joy grows when we focus on what’s within our control. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Stop running away from the tough conversations—start cultivating Fruitful Friction® instead. Our guest, Hilary Blair , CEO, CSP Speaker, Leadership Coach, and Group Facilitator, is here to explain why embracing that "messy middle" is essential for true innovation and team co-creation. She unpacks how to move beyond merely being polite, which can act as a wall, to adopt a kindly direct approach tha...

Are you feeling scattered, unfocused, or like something inside you is shifting? You’re not alone. In this reflective solo episode, Penny explores the season of expansion —a powerful transitional phase where clarity hasn’t arrived yet, but transformation is underway. Drawing from personal experiences—becoming an empty nester, changing homes, reinventing her work, and navigating major life transitio...

The landscape of career search and hiring is being rapidly redefined by technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence, which, while simplifying the application process, is causing companies to overlook some of the most qualified candidates whose value doesn't translate well onto an automated resume. Mitch McDermott from Talent Ascension Group explains that this challenge requires organizations...

Feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or constantly racing from one meeting to the next? In this episode, Penny Zenker pulls back the curtain on her newest AI experiments — including her custom-trained AI agent built on her books, exercises, and leadership tools — and reveals how simple, science-backed reset moments can transform your day. video1209722628 You’ll learn: Why stress isn’t always about you...

Market Eminence is more than visibility; it’s the art of earning respect, influence, and recognition by thinking differently. In this energizing conversation with keynote speaker and marketing strategist David Newman , host Penny Zenker explores how leaders can rise above the noise and become the “only” in their space rather than just the best. David reveals why the old “how-to” approach is obsole...

We consume more information in a single day than most people a century ago encountered in their entire lives. No wonder we feel overwhelmed, distracted, and constantly “behind.” In this episode, Penny breaks down why the real challenge today isn’t keeping up — it’s learning how to filter faster . Penny introduces her framework of Gatekeepers — the personal systems we use (or should use) to protect...