

21st Century Work Life
Pilar Orti
Brought to you by Virtual not Distant, the 21st Century Work Life podcast looks at leading and managing remote teams, online collaboration and working in distributed organisations.
Join Pilar Orti, guests & co-hosts as they shine the spotlight on the most relevant themes and news relevant to the modern knowledge worker.
Join Pilar Orti, guests & co-hosts as they shine the spotlight on the most relevant themes and news relevant to the modern knowledge worker.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 16, 2025 • 29min
WLP374 Booknotes: Because Internet
Another episode from the season: Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from: Because Internet: Understanding how language is changing by Gretchen McCulloch Listener Roberta recommends: It’s Not Magic. The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders by John Amaechi and the fiction book: No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister. Pilar in turn recommends Roberta Sawatzky’s memoir Between here and Where? Embracing life’s transitions and the novel Home Stretch by Graham Norton And don’t forget to check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book! Part 2 Updates from Pilar: The interview on The Creative Penn podcast episode 831: How to Pivot Careers, Co-Write Books, And Stay Connected As A Remote Creative With Pilar Orti The importance of attending Pilates classes as a student The workflow for this show pilarwrites.com

Oct 2, 2025 • 35min
WLP373 New season! Booknotes: How to Have a Good Day
The 21st Century Work Life podcast is back - with a different kind of content and format. The Booknotes season starts and will last... for a while. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from How To Have A Good Day: The Essential Toolkit for a Productive Day at Work and Beyond by Caroline Webb Chris Coladonato’s (the connection catalyst) colour book: Color Me Unplugged: Mindful Patterns Inspired By Nature Walks - A Coloring Book for Rest, Relaxation, and Creativity Teresa Douglas, author of Secrets of the Remote Workforce: By Employees, For Employees, recommends The Murder Bot Diaries Part 2 Updates from Pilar -her books and what she's up to. Don’t forget to check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book! pilarwrites.com

Jan 2, 2025 • 6min
It's Time for a Pause after 10 Years...
The host reflects on a decade of podcasting, marking a moment of pause for exciting new writing projects. Plans include a memoir on remote work and an e-book from blog posts. The journey to becoming a Pilates instructor is highlighted, emphasizing its personal growth benefits. There's a celebration of listener contributions and thoughts on evolving the podcast into a more intimate platform, with hints at future collaborations and content. It's a heartfelt goodbye for now, but stay tuned for what’s next!

11 snips
Dec 17, 2024 • 48min
WLP372 What's Going On: Let's Not Blame Remote
Maya Middlemiss, a consultant at Remote Work Europe, talks about the complexities of remote work environments for digital nomads. They discuss the pressing need for collaboration between local governments and educational institutions to create supportive ecosystems. Maya highlights the rising employee turnover as remote work becomes more favored, especially among skilled workers. The conversation also touches on the societal impacts of remote work, including rental price hikes and changes in local economies, urging a reevaluation of common misconceptions about this work style.

Dec 12, 2024 • 1h 1min
WLP371 Using Frameworks for Connection and Back to Basics
Listener Richard de Villiers reached out to host Pilar Orti after hearing the episode on the 3 A’s of Connection. He has plenty to say on the subject of connection in remote teams, and many different frameworks to share to help other listeners think through change programmes and their own leadership. Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddevilliers/ For detailed show notes, head over to https://www.virtualnotdistant.com/podcasts /connection-frameworks

Nov 28, 2024 • 19min
WLP370 A Curated Experience in Romania for Digital Nomads and Remote Professionals
In this episode, host Pilar Orti interviews Andreea Gătin an event and community manager who is organising a unique experience for digital nomad and remote workers in Romania. Andreea discusses her goals for the experience, which include showcasing Romania as a destination for digital nomads and fostering a sense of community among participants. It’s happening in March 2025, so check it out! Find an episode summary over at www.virtualnotdistant.com/podcasts/experience-romania Find out more about Andreea and the experience she’s creating: Information and Registration Form Connect with Andreea Ioana Gătin on LinkedIn

Nov 14, 2024 • 49min
WLP369 Strategy Leader with a Heart
In this episode, host Pilar Orti talks to Sagar Chandni, who describes himself as a distributed work practitioner and a strategy leader with a heart. We talk about the nuances of these terms and the evolving nature of work, particularly in India where Sagar is based. Sagar discusses his work with startups and the challenges and opportunities they face, and shares his approach to informed leadership, ethical business strategies, and workplace inclusiveness, as well as the importance of embracing a mindset shift and approaching work in a way that fosters meaningful connections and positive impact both personally and professionally. He also gives us a view of the startup landscape in India. Yes, we cover a lot in this episode! Find out more about Sagar and his work: Connect with Sagar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagarchandni/ Check out his LinkedIn show Virtual Global Leadership Podcast Subscribe to his newsletter: https://strivewithsagarchandni.substack.com/ For a written summary check out https://www.virtualnotdistant.com/podcasts/leader-with-heart

Oct 17, 2024 • 33min
WLP368 How do You Build a Hub of Talent?
Host Pilar Orti is joined by Doug Haines, the founder of Kalium and Marketing Pros. Doug's entrepreneurial journey began with Kalium, where he successfully recruited talent from South Africa. This positive experience inspired him to launch Marketing Pros, an agency connecting South African marketing professionals with global opportunities. In this episode, Doug discusses the development of both ventures and his strategies for maintaining a robust talent pool. For the full show notes check out www.virtualnotdistant.com Find out more about Doug Haines and his companies: Marketing Pros: https://www.marketingpros.co Kalium: https://www.kalium.co.uk/ If you’re looking to expand your team and want to talk to Doug about your best options, find him on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/doughaines/ or email him as per the end of the interview.

Oct 3, 2024 • 25min
WLP367 The 3 A's of Connection and other things I've been up to
In this episode, host Pilar Orti shares her new framework showing how we connect at work, and talks about some of her other projects. If you'd like to be alerted when the Remotely Shakespeare wall calendar comes out, head over to remotelyshakespeare.com For more information check out www.virtualnotdistant.com

16 snips
Sep 19, 2024 • 31min
WLP366 The Multiple Challenges of "Hybrid"
Kevin Eikenberry, a leadership author, and Wayne Turmel, an expert on hybrid workplaces, dive into the complexities of modern work. They explore whether the hybrid model is a compromise or a transition into an uncertain era of knowledge work. Trust and culture in hybrid environments take center stage, addressing the challenges of balancing in-office and remote dynamics. The duo emphasizes the importance of aligning expectations with performance and fostering an inclusive culture to enhance collaboration in this new working landscape.