

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

Oct 27, 2021 • 24min
Kristoffer Carter talks about Permission, Purpose and Fear
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.Kristoffer Carter is a spiritual teacher at the intersection of consciousness and business. He is the founder of This Epic Life, a website and podcast devoted to conscious living, which has created a daily meditation practice for thousands. He is also an author, international speaker and executive coach. In his latest book ‘Permission to Glow: A Spiritual Guide to Epic Leadership’, he reveals how to lean in to what makes us all ‘glow’.I had a great time catching up with Kristoffer, and hearing about his relationship with fear. We also spoke about the four types of permission such as feeling ‘the feels’, the power of compounding effects, how to overcome ‘work for work’s sake’ – and some interesting parallels with WrestleMania. Talking Points
Why we need to give ourselves more permission
The four types of permission
Lessons learnt from wrestlers
Leaning in to your big scary dream
Working with coaches and the power of practising
Quote"Learn to dance with the ever-presence of fear."Helpful Links
This Epic Life
‘Permission to Glow’ by Kristoffer Carter
‘A Minute to Think’ by Juliet Funt
Peter Gabriel - Don't Give Up (ft. Kate Bush)
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.

Oct 20, 2021 • 40min
Eric Partaker talks about The 3 Alarms
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.Eric Partaker coaches and mentors entrepreneurs and leaders throughout the world, helping them reach peak levels of performance, in both their businesses and lives. He draws from his world-class work experiences at McKinsey, Skype, and Chilango, cutting-edge research and behavioral science from Stanford University, and the approaches and techniques used in the worlds of elite sports and the military – areas where peak performance is key.In this conversation, we uncover some key insights from his latest book ‘The 3 Alarms: A Simple System to Transform Your Health, Wealth, and Relationships Forever’. We also discuss peak performance traps, visual reminders, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – and the cost of a plane landing in an emergency. Talking Points
What Eric discovered from his near-death experience
The IPA triggers
What we mean by ‘antifragile’
The power of the words we use and how identity drives behavior
What the superhero version of you looks like
Eric’s Three Alarms
Quote"In some shape or form, you’re already doing ‘The Thing’."Helpful Links
‘The Three Alarms’ by Eric Partaker
‘Antifragile’ by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Black Swan (2010)
Episode 266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir Eyal
Eric Partaker on Identity, Purpose and Change - Beyond the To-Do List
‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear
Episode 227: Why You Need Atomic Habits with James Clear
EricPartaker.com
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.

Oct 13, 2021 • 40min
Pamela Slim talks about the Widest Net
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.Pamela Slim is an author, community builder, consultant and former corporate director of training and development at Barclays Global Investors. Since 2005, Pam has advised thousands of entrepreneurs as well as companies serving the small business market such as Infusionsoft, Progressive Insurance and Prezi.In her latest book, The Widest Net, Pam explains how to build strong diverse relationships, identify and connect with new partners, expand markets and find new customers in places you may never have considered. It’s been a long time coming having Pam join the show. Join us as we discuss stress-testing a framework, the always/ never list, books tours – and unintended puns.Talking Points
Putting together the Widest Net framework
Pam’s variation of the customer avatar exercise
Understanding your ecosystem
The Accordion principle and setting boundaries
Beginning a business with a mission statement
Fostering the right business relationships
Finding your ‘Peanut Butter and Jelly’ partners
Quote"Running a business is always a team sport."Helpful Links
‘Widest Net’ by Pamela Slim
K’é Main Street Learning Lab
Episode 103: The Unmistakable Srinivas Rao
Episode 388: Mike Michalowicz talks about Getting Different
You Need A Budget
‘Quiet’ by Susan Cain
PamelaSlim.com
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.

Oct 6, 2021 • 44min
Lisa Erickson talks about the Art and Science of Meditation
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.Lisa Erickson is an energy worker, writer, and meditation teacher specializing in women’s energetics and sexual trauma healing. She has trained in multiple contemplative traditions and energy healing modalities, and is certified in mindfulness meditation instruction, kundalini activation, and trauma sensitivity.I found Lisa's new book ‘The Art and Science of Meditation’ as such a powerful resource. It guides you through ways to overcome common obstacles, easy-to-understand explanations of classic spiritual texts, guidance on choosing meditation teachers and retreats, and much more. In our conversation we explore how to build a sustainable meditation practice, how to find a style that suits you, the health benefits, walking habits – and doing nothing for 60 seconds. Talking Points
Why meditation is such a valuable practice
Setting realistic goals and the power of micro-meditation
The parallels with diet and nutrition
The role of consistency when building new habits
Mixing up your meditation styles
Overcoming the myth of ‘conquering’ meditation
Why chakra meditation is Lisa’s go-to practice
Guided meditations and apps
The role of supplements
Quote"Trust that change is happening."Helpful Links
‘Creative Quest’ by Questlove
The Muse headband
‘The Art & Science of Meditation’ by Lisa Erickson
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.

Sep 29, 2021 • 48min
Perry Marshall talks about Detox, Declutter, Dominate
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.Endorsed in FORBES and INC Magazine and has authored eight books, Perry Marshall is one of the most expensive business strategists in the world. At London’s Royal Society he announced the world’s largest science research challenge: the $10 million Evolution 2.0 Prize. His reinvention of the Pareto Principle is published in Harvard Business Review, and his Google book laid the foundations for the $100 billion Pay Per Click industry. He has a degree in Engineering and lives with his family in Chicago.I found Perry’s latest book ‘Detox, Declutter, Dominate: How to Excel by Elimination’ truly fascinating (it reveals a lot in just 36 pages), so it was great to unpack some of his key insights. In this productive conversation we discuss the elimination mindset, freewriting, email response times, morning walks and written down bucket lists.Talking Points
The breaking point that lead Perry to write his book ‘Detox, Declutter, Dominate’
The key to Renaissance Time
How to get past “I don’t have time for XYZ”
The two types of work: instructional and creative
Finding out what creates your creative juices
The principle of the $2700 espresso machine
Perry’s morning journal routine
Quote"Space in your life starts here."Helpful Links
‘Detox, Declutter, Dominate’ by Perry Marshall
Episode 351: Eating Frogs with Brian Tracy
‘Hemingway’ documentary
‘The Art of Impossible’ by Steven Kotler
Understanding the Job – Clayton Christensen talk
‘The 80/20 Principle’ by Richard Koch
Episode 385: Adii Pienaar talks about Measuring Life Profitability
‘Life Profitability’ by Adii Pienaar
42: the wildly improbable ideas of Douglas Adams – Kickstarter
PerryMarshall.com
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.

Sep 22, 2021 • 35min
A/J Jackson talks about Music, Glasses and Color Theory
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.A/J Jackson is an American filmmaker, musician, songwriter, record producer, and the lead singer for the band Saint Motel. From feeling too limited to one color choice with his own eyewear – A/J Jackson took the leap and created interchangeable tinted lenses. He’s now the founder of AVIEW, which helps you experience a new way of wearing glasses where you can swap out colors whenever you feel like it. Colors can affect your mood, productivity, and general sense of well being.I really enjoyed speaking with A/J Jackson and learning how he maintains his ‘creative muse’. In this episode we discuss how it went from making music to glasses, finding a team of experts to work with, color theory – and the 3D printer at his local library. Talking Points
Taking on new creative projects
Color theory and its impact on mood and productivity
The meaning behind ‘rose-tinted glasses’
The power of changing your working environment
Experimenting with hyper-scheduling
On being a disciplined artist
Quote"By chunking your time, you’re starting afresh each time."Helpful Links
AVIEW.com
‘Hemingway’ documentary
‘The Authentic Swing’ by Steven Pressfield
‘The War of Art’ by Steven Pressfield
Jerry Seinfeld: Comedian
A/J Jackon’s Instagram
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.

Sep 15, 2021 • 37min
Mike Michalowicz talks about Getting Different
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.Mike Michalowicz is an American author, entrepreneur, and lecturer. He is currently an author of seven business books published by Penguin Random House, including ‘Profit First’ and ‘Clockwork’, and is the former host of the "Business Rescue" segment for MSNBC's Your Business. It’s an honor and a privilege to have Mike on the show as we get to explore how to truly succeed through marketing your business.We explore how to be in control of your leads, Mike’s ‘DAD’ methodology, being different ‘enough’, plain text emails – and fun houses.Talking Points
What inspired Mike to write ‘Get Different’
The attitude of experimenting vs planning
How to specify your audience
Being ‘different enough’
Seeking inspiration from other industries
Learn how to instantly analyze your marketing campaigns
Quote"The creation of new is an improvement of old."Helpful Links
GoGetDifferent.com
‘Clockwork’ by Mike Michalowicz
Clickup
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.

Sep 8, 2021 • 37min
Stephen Warley talks about Self-Awareness, Reflecting and Life Skills
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.I’m excited to finally have my good friend Stephen Warley on the show today. He founded Life Skills That Matter in 2016, a platform that teaches individuals how to create a business that is in alignment with their values, needs and abilities. He is also the host of the Life Skills That Matter Podcast, where he has interviewed 500+ people who have made the transition from employment to working for themselves... and all the different ways they’ve done it.Tune in to this productive conversation as we discuss scheduling time for reflection, journaling, creating healthy habits, what Stephen does to slow down – and learning how to ski.Talking Points
How to cultivate self-awareness
Stephen’s workshop at the BIG Ready 2021
Scheduling time for reflection and meditation
Finding activities to stimulate mindfulness
Building habits before tools
Creating a retreat for yourself
Quote"Are your habits taking you where you want to go?"Helpful Links
Life Skills That Matter Podcast
The BIG Ready
LifeSkillsThatMatter.com/GetStarted
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.

Sep 1, 2021 • 44min
Jeff Brown talks about Reading To Lead
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.Jeff Brown was a reluctant reader at school, but he fell in love with it when he had to learn more about marketing in his career. Jeff is a podcaster, mentor, and speaker, with a mission to help people like you bridge the gap between intention and implementation. He does this primarily through public speaking, mastermind groups, membership platforms, courses, coaching, and consulting.I’m excited to learn more about his latest book, which co-authored with Jesse Wisnewski, ‘Read to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career’. In this productive conversation we explore book clubs, speed reading, being a co-author, the free library movement – and why there will always be a place for books. Be sure to check out the links for all the books we mentioned in this interview!Talking Points
Jeff’s relationship with reading
The co-authoring experience
Reading books digitally versus physically
When to keep or let go of books
The books Jeff re-reads the most
Interesting findings from writing the book
A process for skim reading
The benefits of having a book club
Quote"We are all lifelong learners."Helpful Links
‘Read To Lead’ by Jeff Brown and Jesse Wisnewski
Episode 343: Consistency Over Authenticity with Seth Godin
‘Purple Cow’ by Seth Godin
How to Be a Better Reader - YouTube
Episode 360: A World Without Email with Cal Newport
Episode 229: Exploring Digital Minimalism with Cal Newport
Episode 73: Deep Work with Cal Newport
‘Digital Minimalism’ by Cal Newport
‘Punch Failure in the Face’ by David Knapp-Fisher
‘Anything You Want’ by Derek Sivers
‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team’ by Patrick M. Lencioni
‘Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day’ by Todd Henry
Episode 340: Your Motivation Code with Todd Henry
Episode 54: Voice Lessons with Todd Henry
‘Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smart’ by Liz Wiseman
‘How to Take Smart Notes’ by Sönke Ahrens
‘Getting Things Done’ by David Allen
Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen
‘Greenlights’ by Matthew McConaughey
‘The Greatest Salesman in the World’ by Og Mandino
ReadToLeadBook.com
Read To Lead Podcast
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.

Aug 25, 2021 • 44min
Adii Pienaar talks about Measuring Life Profitability
This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.Today’s guest, Adii Pienaar, is not a fan of labels, but he’s a true life-first entrepreneur and avid writer. He also co-founded WooThemes in 2007, founded Conversio in 2014. His latest book, Life Profitability: The New Measure of Entrepreneurial Success distills a new perspective for becoming self-aware, recognising your values, and understanding your impact. I found it really impactful, so I couldn’t wait to bring Adii on to the show.Listen to this conversation as we take a step back and review how to live an enriched life AND run a successful business. We discuss the power of language, journaling, what ‘harmony’ means to Adii – and cultivating ‘breadcrumbs’ of writing. Talking Points
Being a seeker
The pros and cons of ambition
Why we shouldn’t strive for ‘work-life balance
Measuring qualitative goals
How to maintain and sustain your life profitability
How journaling has helped Adii
Breaking old patterns
Quote"Seek the newer versions of your truths."Helpful Links
‘Life Profitability’ by Adii Pienaar
‘Motion’ by Adii Pienaar
The Toxicity of Relentless Ambition
‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi
Episode 226: How to Build a Company of One with Paul Jarvis
‘Siddhartha’ by Hermann Hesse
‘The Values Factor’ by Dr. John DeMartini
13 Questions with Dr John Demartini
Adii.me
Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium. Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.


