

A Productive Conversation
Mike Vardy
Hosted by productivity strategist Mike Vardy, A Productive Conversation offers insightful discussions on how to craft a life that aligns with your intentions. Each episode dives into the art of time devotion, productiveness, and refining your approach to daily living. Mike invites guests who are thinkers, doers, and creators to share their strategies for working smarter and living more intentionally. From practical tips to deep dives on mindset shifts, this podcast will help you reframe your relationship with time and find balance in a busy world.
Subscribe and join the conversation—because a productive life is more than just getting things done.
Subscribe and join the conversation—because a productive life is more than just getting things done.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 30, 2022 • 43min
FROM THE VAULT: Getting Productive With Astrology with Jill Blumenstock
This week's featured vault episode is with guest, Jill Blumenstock!Jill is a certified Yoga Teacher and Vedic Astrologer, and has seen firsthand the impact of tuning into your own natural rhythms. It’s a time guide that’s beyond just your horoscope; you learn how to best manage your time. In this episode, we uncover how to chart your astrological patterns, how to apply it to your daily life – and hear Jill’s live reading of me!Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Jill: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Click here to schedule a Vedic Reading with Jill
Buy Eviatar's book: The Seven Day Circle: The History and Meaning of the Week
Related Conversation: Episode 331: It’s Time to Slow Things Down (Mike Vardy solo episode!)
Related Blog Post: The Speed of Right
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 24, 2022 • 32min
Britt Frank talks about The Science of Stuck
It's never fun to feel as if you're stuck. But there might be some advantages to getting stuck that you may not see, especially when you're actually in that state.That's where Britt Frank comes in.Britt Frank is the author of The Science of Stuck. She is a therapist, teacher, speaker, and trauma specialist who is committed to dismantling the mental health myths that keep us feeling STUCK and SICK.On this episode, she joined me for a discussion about dealing with "stuckness". We also chat about the hidden benefits of staying stuck, Energy Management, and more about her work focusing on empowering people to understand the inner mechanisms of their brains and bodies.Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Britt: Website | Instagram
Buy Britt's Book: The Science of Stuck
Check out Daniel Coyle's book: The Culture Playbook: 60 Highly Effective Actions to Help Your Group Succeed
Related Conversation: Episode 420: Daniel Coyle talks about The Culture Playbook
Related Blog Post: How to Get Unstuck: The Big Paper Exercise
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 17, 2022 • 48min
FROM THE VAULT: A Mindful Conversation with Patrick Rhone
On this vault episode of the podcast, I bring back Patrick Rhone. He is an author and speaker who helps guide people to the balance and peace that comes through mindfulness, introspection, and truth. Patrick and I have lots of great conversations, and not all of them are recorded - so this was a treat to revisit.This time around we focus on reading more (and better), mindfulness (and Patrick’s book “Mindfulness for Mere Mortals), and much more.I always have a blast talking with Patrick. I hope you enjoy the show as much as I enjoyed putting it together.Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Patrick: Website | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Buy Patrick's book: Mindfulness for Mere Mortals
Listen to David Wallace speech: This is Water
Related Conversation: Intentions, Time, and Saying No with Patrick Rhone
Related Blog Post: Doing Productive vs. Being Productive
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 10, 2022 • 39min
Jake Kahana talks about Caveday
The more specific we get about something, the more we pay attention to it - and that's what we did with this episode.Jake Kahana is a designer and entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of Caveday, a company founded to maximize focus for individuals and corporations through facilitated focus sessions training. Their global community has participated in over 50,000 hours of deep work “In The Cave.” As a US faculty member with The School of Life, Jake teaches workshops in emotional intelligence for corporate teams.In this episode, Jake tells us how Caveday came to be with a couple of like-minded friends who wanted to focus on their tasks and build a community - together. We talk about the power of asking the right questions and how being open and vulnerable as an entrepreneur can be life-changing.Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Jake: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
Get a 1-month FREE trial of Caveday
Watch Jimmy Kimmel & Jimmy Fallon's April Fool's prank
Related Conversation: Episode 420: Daniel Coyle talks about The Culture Playbook
Related Blog Post: The Value of Imperfect Focus
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 3, 2022 • 41min
FROM THE VAULT: What Goes Into a Task App with Amir Salihefendic
Mike is back once again with an episode from the vault. If you're a Todoist user or you just love To-do list apps, then you're going to love this episode.Amir Salihefendic is the founder and CEO of Doist (the makers of Todoist). We discuss what prompted him to create Todoist, what system he uses to complete his tasks, and dive deeper into what it’s like to work on developing a task management application in today’s age.Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Amir: Website | Twitter | LinkedIn
Check out Todoist
Systemist: A modern productivity workflow | Todoist Blog
How to create sub-tasks? | Todoist
Todoist Business
Related Conversation: All Things Productive with Carl Pullein
Related Blog Post: Why I Switched To Todoist
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 27, 2022 • 39min
Prasanth Nair talks about The Stack Method
If you're into email management, this conversation is for you.Prasanth Nair has helped tens of thousands of people manage their inboxes through his email, meeting and time/task transformation trainings. An expert in not only productivity, but work-life balance.We've all struggled with email management at one point in our life, including Prasanth! In this episode, we discuss the difficulties around maintaining inbox zero and how he, with much trial and error, discovered The Stack Method. Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Prasanth: Website | LinkedIn
Check out Prasanth's Email Video Series here
Related Conversation: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen
Related Blog Post: Going Beyond Inbox Zero
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2022 • 29min
FROM THE VAULT: The Daily Plan Bar with Mike Rohde
For this vault episode, I'm bringing back Sketchnote creator, Mike Rohde. Mike is not just a friend. He is a sketchnoter, designer, illustrator, self-professed techy, author and speaker who is fond of simple yet impactful design solutions. A sample of such is the Daily Plan Bar which he created to make task management more manageable.Our discussion involves the origins of the Daily Plan Bar, how he came up with it, and the other systems he uses to manage his work tasks and his home life. He has been a huge inspiration to me in helping me bridge the gap between written and visual productivity.This is a really fun conversation and I am excited to bring it back to you as a refresher or maybe you'll be listening to it for the first time. Either way, I hope you enjoy!Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Mike: Website | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Flickr
Get the The Sketchnote Handbook
The Daily Plan Bar
See all of Mike's Sketchnote products
Check out Sketchnote Workshops here
Related Conversation: The Productivityist Podcast: The Staying Power of Sketchnotes with Deborah LeFrank
Related Blog Post: Why Paper Works
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 13, 2022 • 29min
Jake Kelfer talks about The Elevated Entrepreneur
Jake Kelfer is a lifestyle entrepreneur, a life elevator, and a coach to ambitious entrepreneurs, and freedom seekers helping people create incredibly impactful and profitable businesses. Jake is a three-time best-selling author, a high-energy motivational speaker, and the founder of the professional basketball combine that's helped over 70+ NBA Draft prospects turn their dreams of playing pro basketball into reality. He and his work have been featured in Forbes, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and many other major media outlets.In this episode, Jake gives us the inside scoop on his latest book The Elevated Entrepreneur: Unlocking the Secrets of the World's Greatest Coaches, Performers, and Entrepreneurs. He talks about some of his more memorable interviews and the reasoning behind the structuring of the book. And I throw some curve ball questions to really get him thinking.This is a really productive conversation and I think you will get a lot out of it. I'm really happy that I can bring this conversation to you today. Enjoy!Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Jake: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
Buy Jake's Book: The Elevated Entrepreneur: Unlocking the Secrets of the World's Greatest Coaches, Performers, and Entrepreneurs
Related Conversation: Episode 359: The Common Path to Uncommon Success with John Lee Dumas
Related Blog Post: How to Build an Achievement Structure: Getting the Front End Work Done
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 6, 2022 • 1h 2min
FROM THE VAULT: Behind the Scenes with Dexter Guff and Peter Oldring
On this vault episode of the show, I am delighted to have two guests join me. First up is fellow Canadian, thought leader, and podcast host Dexter Guff, host of Dexter Guff is Smarter Than You (And You Can Be Too) and following his appearance, I speak with his alter ego, comedic performer Peter Oldring.While Dexter and I discuss a lot of the usual lifehackery stuff, Peter and I dive deeper into what makes Dexter tick. We talk about how he and his colleagues Pat Kelly and Chris Kelly (no relation) came up with the idea of doing Dexter’s reaction the show has received so far, how the show is crafted every week, and where the show is headed.This is a different kind of episode – and a little longer than usual – but it’s a fun one.Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Dexter: Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Peter: Twitter | Wikipedia
Listen to Dexter's Podcast: Dexter Guff is Smarter Than You (And You Can Be Too)
Hear Peter Oldring on his podcast Dexter is Smarter Than You
The Truth About Fake News | Peter Oldring | TEDxYYC | Youtube
This is That with Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring | CBC Radio
Related Conversation: Episode 274: Humor That Works with Andrew Tarvin
Related Blog Post: How To Stop The Urgent Stuff From Overwhelming You
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 29, 2022 • 37min
Penelope Przekop talks about 5-Star career: Define and Build Yours Using the Science of Quality Management
Penelope Przekop is a corporate quality management expert, entrepreneur, and author of 5-Star Career: Define and Build Yours Using the Science of Quality Management. She has worked with numerous Fortune 100 pharma companies where she has held many leadership positions and is the founder and CEO of PDC Pharma Strategy, where she also serves as the Chief Compliance Officer for Engrail Therapeutics. If you aren't already impressed, Penelope also earned a BS in Biology from Louisiana State University and an MS in Quality Systems Engineering from Kennesaw State University. She is a graduate of the Smith College Program for Women’s Leadership and the Rutgers University Senior Leadership Program for Professional Women. As well as, co-founded Bra in a Box with her daughter in 2018!We dive into her latest book, the science behind quality management, and how to clean your systems so they work for you. Systems don't have to be as scary as they seem and she breaks it all down for us in this episode of A Productive Conversation.Links Worth Exploring
Connect with Penelope: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
See Penelope's Linktree for quick access to all her articles and interviews
Penelope's Book: 5-Star Career: Define and Build Yours Using the Science of Quality Management
Related Conversation: Alignment and Automation with Mridu Parikh
Related Blog Post: How to Start Pacing Your Productivity
Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


