A Productive Conversation

In the latest episode, I sit down with Rob Shallenberger—CEO of Becoming Your Best Global Leadership and one of the world’s foremost authorities on productivity and time management. Rob’s background is as dynamic as it is inspiring: from flying F-16s and serving as an Advance Agent for Air Force One to training Fortune 500 companies and governments alike.We focus on the updated second edition of his bestselling book Do What Matters Most, diving deep into the transformative power of pre-week planning, the productivity quotient, and why it’s crucial to schedule your priorities rather than just prioritize your schedule. Rob’s mission is clear—help people lead lives by design, not by default.Six Discussion PointsHow task saturation leads to misprioritization—and how to combat itRob’s four-step pre-week planning system and how it creates peace and balanceThe productivity quotient: why aiming for 70–80% is the sweet spotReal-life stories that show how planning changes lives—including generational impactHow Rob's military background shaped his approach to time and leadershipThe role of AI in planning—why it’s a tool, not a replacement for human intuitionThree Connection PointsDo What Matters Most – Second Edition (Amazon)Rob’s Planner Tools and ResourcesBecoming Your Best WebsiteThis conversation with Rob left me both inspired and affirmed in my belief that quality productivity stems from intentional design. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or stuck in reactive mode, Rob’s framework provides both structure and flexibility. I encourage you to test out his pre-week planning approach—just four weeks can make a meaningful difference.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

In this very special "Ask Mike Anything" edition of the podcast, the tables turn. TimeCrafting Trust Premium member and all-around thoughtful guy Tim O’Hare steps in to host and ask me questions submitted by listeners—and some of his own. From the value of journaling to the nuances of urgency, we explore what it truly means to right the ship when your time management feels off course.This is a raw and reflective episode, recorded live with audience interaction. We talk through everything from tech transitions and app overload to the dangers of measuring productivity purely by numbers. If you've ever felt like you know what to do but still can’t quite get it done, there’s something here for you.Six Discussion PointsWhy journaling is my go-to tool for daily course correction—and why it’s easier than most people thinkHow to close the gap between vision and reality using urgency, importance, and thoughtful task breakdownNavigating forced software transitions without losing your workflow (or your mind)How AI can help (or hurt) your attention and task clarity, depending on how you use itHow to make progress on tasks you’re procrastinating—even if you "know better"Why I focus more on productiveness than productivity, and how to measure what really mattersThree Connection PointsMonk Manual (GET 10% OFF)Watch the recording of this episode on YouTubeTim's BlogWhether you’re new to TimeCrafting or a longtime practitioner, this conversation highlights what so many of us wrestle with: the difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it. If you’ve been stuck, scattered, or just seeking clarity, I hope these answers light a way forward.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

What does it mean to truly listen to your intuition—and why is that more vital than ever in today’s overstimulated world? In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I’m joined by Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir: Icelandic thought leader, author, and director of the documentary InnSæi: The Power of Intuition. Her new book, InnSæi: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times, explores the art and science of tapping into your deepest knowing—and how to protect it from modern noise.We discuss the Icelandic concept of “InnSæi,” which translates to “the sea within,” and unpack what it looks like to live and work in alignment with that quiet inner compass. From managing burnout to navigating complexity with grace, Hrund’s insights offer a refreshing call to reconnect with the deeper wisdom already within us.Six Discussion PointsWhat “InnSæi” really means—and why it goes far beyond the word “intuition”How to recognize and rebuild trust in your own judgmentThe danger of becoming biased against your own intelligenceWhy attention is the key to accessing intuition (and how to protect it)How journaling reveals patterns that intuition already sensesFinding alignment in a world that demands speed, certainty, and resultsThree Connection PointsWatch InnSæi: The Power of IntuitionHrund’s WebsiteListen to APC Episode 475: Megan Hyatt Miller talks about Minding Your MindsetThis conversation with Hrund reminded me how easy it is to lose track of our inner compass in the noise of modern life—and how powerful it can be when we stop, breathe, and listen to the quiet voice within. Her work beautifully bridges the poetic and the practical. I hope it helps you, as it did me, recalibrate what productivity really means.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

What if “fun” isn’t the opposite of “work”—but the missing ingredient? In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit down with Bree Groff, workplace culture expert and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously). We dig into how play, permission, and presence can transform not only the way we work—but the way we live.Bree draws on her deep experience guiding Fortune 500 leaders through complex organizational change to offer a refreshingly human perspective on professionalism, productivity, and yes, pajama pants. This is more than a talk about workplace dynamics—it’s a conversation about reclaiming your days.Six Discussion PointsWhy wishing away the workweek is wishing away your lifeHow “fun” at work is often less about ping-pong tables and more about permissionThe myth of performative professionalism (and the case for stretchy pants)The role of novelty, creativity, and risk in making work feel meaningfulEnvironment as a silent force shaping our work habits and cultureHow a simple question—“Was today fun?”—can reframe your entire lifeThree Connection PointsBree’s WebsiteBree's SubstackEpisode 470 – Mike Rucker talks about The Fun HabitTalking with Bree reminded me that the best kind of productivity—the kind I advocate for—is rooted in presence, play, and people. Her perspective is a timely nudge toward joy, and Today Was Fun is a book I’ll keep close for those days when the calendar feels heavier than it should. I hope this conversation lightens yours.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

This episode is the latest in our monthly series, PM Talks, where I’m joined by my friend and fellow thinker, Patrick Rhone. This time around, we dig into something that often gets overshadowed by its louder cousin: sustainability. From routines and rhythms to systems and seasons, we talk about what it really means to sustain—across time, attention, and action.Patrick and I explore the real difference between consistency and sustainability, and how too many people mistake momentum for something lasting. We share stories about summer, parenting, gardening, and even the war against weeds—all as metaphors for figuring out what’s actually worth sustaining.Six Discussion PointsWhy consistency often gets more attention than sustainability—and why that might be a generational biasThe subtle but critical difference between momentum and long-term viabilityHow unsustainable systems mask themselves through short-term resultsThe role of short-term maintenance in supporting long-term sustainabilityGardening as a metaphor for attention, patience, and the reality of diminishing returnsWhy paper systems and analog tools often outlast their digital counterpartsThree Connection PointsPatrick Rhone’s workGet Chris Ducker’s book, The Long Haul LeaderGet The Productivity Diet by Mike Vardy on AmazonThis episode reminded me—again—that sustainability is about more than staying the course. It’s about choosing what’s worth continuing. Whether you’re managing time, energy, or a tomato plant, the wisdom is in knowing your limits and working with them, not against them. I hope this episode helps you rethink not just what you're doing, but whether you can—and should—keep doing it.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit down with Ben Chelf—co-founder and CEO of Sol, the company behind the innovative Sol Reader. This single-purpose device is designed to help people reclaim focused, meaningful reading time by stripping away digital distractions.We explore the relationship between attention, technology, and time—and how the Sol Reader aims to improve our pre-sleep routines by reducing screen fatigue and supporting deeper, more intentional reading. Ben’s journey from software pioneer to mindful hardware innovator is a fascinating one, and his perspective on presence, attention, and boundaries is deeply aligned with the work I do.Six Discussion PointsWhy the Sol Reader isn’t just another piece of wearable tech—it’s a shift in mindset.The value of single-purpose devices in a multi-tasking world.How constraints create freedom, especially in pre-bedtime routines.Ben’s personal journey from dopamine-driven distraction to deep reading.Why packaging and physical product design still matter in a digital age.How reading Infinite Jest (yes, really) rekindled Ben’s attention span—and how Sol aims to help others do the same.Three Connection PointsSol Reader websiteListen to Episode 339: Focused Writing with Adam LeebWhenever I can find a way to share this in a relevant way, I willBen’s work speaks directly to something I talk about often: reclaiming agency over our attention. Whether you're trying to read more, sleep better, or simply stop doomscrolling before bed, this conversation offers some meaningful insights—and perhaps a new tool to help you get there.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I'm joined by Jenny Wood — author of the book Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It. Jenny and I dive deep into the nine supposedly “negative” traits she reclaims as powerful tools for getting what you want in work and life.From her 18-year journey at Google, rising from entry-level to executive, to launching the company’s massive Own Your Career program, Jenny shares stories that challenge the conventional wisdom around being “too much.” Whether it’s being nosy, selfish, or bossy — Jenny reframes these traits as strengths that fuel progress, self-awareness, and courageous action.Six Discussion PointsWhy Jenny reclaims words like selfish, bossy, and reckless — and what they actually mean.How Wild Courage was born from a homework assignment… and a subway love story.The role of nuance and reframing in personal development and leadership.Lessons from Google on prioritization: “Say yes to the big, say no to the small.”When obsession is a strength — and when it turns into burnout.Permission slips, spotlight effects, and overcoming fear of judgment.Three Connection PointsRead Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get ItJenny's websiteRead How to Decide When to Say "No"Jenny doesn’t just write about boldness — she lives it. This conversation will nudge you to reexamine how you show up, reframe what’s holding you back, and redefine what courage looks like in your life and work. If you’ve ever felt like you had to shrink to succeed, this episode offers another path — one rooted in wild, unapologetic courage.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I dive into a topic that’s often overlooked when discussing productivity: conflict. But not just any conversation about conflict — this one’s with Dana Caspersen, conflict engagement specialist, TEDx speaker, and author of Conflict Is an Opportunity: 20 Fundamental Decisions for Navigating Difficult Times.Dana brings a rare combination of deep analytical insight and artistic fluency to the conversation, shaped by decades of work as both a mediator and an award-winning performing artist. We explore how the way we approach conflict — in work, relationships, and even with ourselves — is a direct reflection of how we manage time, attention, and energy.Six Discussion PointsWhy conflict isn’t a distraction from productivity — it’s a part of it.The four fundamental elements of conflict: emotion, needs, interests, and strategies.How assumptions derail conversations and curiosity keeps them alive.Replacing complaints and demands with thoughtful requests.The role of journaling in conflict clarity and attention calibration.Dana’s “20 Decisions” framework and how to work with — not against — your conflict habits.Three Connection PointsDana's websiteGet Conflict Is an Opportunity: Twenty Fundamental Decisions for Navigating Difficult TimesInterested in a related conversation? Then also listen to Episode 354: How To Decide with Annie DukeThis episode reminded me that conflict isn’t something we need to fear or avoid — it’s something we can navigate with purpose. Dana’s thoughtful framework is more than theory; it’s a guide you can return to anytime you feel stuck, misunderstood, or simply out of sync. If you want to turn tension into transformation, this conversation is a must-listen.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

This episode is the latest installment in our monthly PM Talks series, where Patrick Rhone and I dive deep into ideas that shape how we manage time, energy, and focus. This month, we explored a topic that sneaks into our workflows and sustains our best efforts when used wisely—momentum.Momentum isn’t just a starting gun. It’s a rhythm, a flow, a throughline. In this episode, we break down what momentum looks like at different stages of a project or practice, how to recognize its many disguises, and ways to harness it without burning out or blowing past friction points that deserve your attention.Six Discussion Points:Why starting with a satisfying, low-friction task can set the tone for your entire dayThe difference between “Gomentum,” “Slowmentum,” and everyday momentumHow to align your energy and environment to keep momentum goingWhat friction can teach us—and how to treat it as a signal rather than a stop signThe dual role of a creator: sustaining promotion while starting the next meaningful thingHow to tell if a diversion is worth following or just a cleverly disguised distractionThree Connection Points:Patrick Rhone’s WebsiteWatch a sneak peek of my conversation on The Science of Revenge with James Kimmel Jr.Listen to APC Episode 586: Nir Eyal Talks About Becoming Indistractable and Managing DistractionsWe left a lot on the table this time—and that’s intentional. Next month, we’ll be diving into the idea of sustainability, how it differs from consistency, and why it’s essential for any lasting creative or productive work. If you’ve got thoughts, comments, or suggestions for season three, drop them wherever you listen or find me online. Until then, keep the momentum going.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.

Light is something we often take for granted. We flip a switch, our rooms brighten, and we move on with our day. But what if the light we’re exposed to is impacting our sleep, health, and overall longevity? Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, a pioneer in circadian science, joins me on A Productive Conversation to discuss the powerful role light plays in our lives. His latest book, The Light Doctor: Using Light to Boost Health, Improve Sleep, and Live Longer, dives deep into how modern lighting affects our bodies and what we can do to make healthier choices.In this episode, we explore the unseen effects of artificial lighting, how night owls (like me) can optimize their routines, and why the right type of light exposure is as critical as nutrition and exercise. If you’ve ever wondered why you feel wired at night, sluggish in the morning, or just can’t seem to get restful sleep, this conversation will shine a light—literally—on what might be going on.Six Discussion PointsThe critical role of light in our health and why it’s as important as food, water, and airHow modern artificial lighting disrupts our circadian rhythms and contributes to health issuesWhy night owls struggle more with artificial light exposure and what they can do about itThe hidden dangers of LED lighting—why Dr. Moore-Ede compares it to DDT and asbestosSimple strategies for optimizing light exposure throughout the day to improve sleep and overall healthThe future of lighting and the push for healthier, circadian-friendly solutionsThree Connection PointsGet Dr. Moore-Ede's book, The Light DoctorDr. Moore-Ede's websiteRead Dr. Moore-Ede's SubstackThe way we interact with light is more powerful than we realize. Dr. Moore-Ede's insights will make you rethink everything from your morning routine to the bulbs in your home. Tune in for an illuminating discussion on how to harness light for better productivity, health, and longevity.Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive PotentialIf you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.