Time to Reset

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 that honors relationships and builds trust. Hilary shares practical, actionable methods like "rocking your awkward" and leveraging playfulness to expand the space between "avoid" and "attack," helping you master the art of the proactive reset to elevate your communication, connection, and business results.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

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 transitions—Penny reveals why feeling “unfocused” isn’t a failure. It’s an evolution. She discusses how the writing of The Reset Mindset unfolded through its own unexpected transformation, and why clarity is not the starting point but the outcome. ShiftIn this episode, you’ll learn:Why periods of uncertainty are often signs of growthHow to recognize whether you're in a season of narrowing in or zooming outWhy focus is not attention—and how to expand your lens with intentionHow embracing exploration can lead to deeper alignment in your next chapterThe mindset shift that frees you from the pressure to “figure it all out right now”If you’ve been feeling lost, disconnected, or ready for a new direction, this conversation offers grounding, clarity, and permission to evolve at your own pace.Listen in, breathe, and give yourself space—your next chapter is already working its way in.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

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 to look beyond paper credentials and be willing to dig deeper into a candidate's story. Success in the modern workforce also demands that companies move beyond cookie-cutter systems by prioritizing a highly personalized onboarding process and recognizing non-monetary "currencies"—such as impact, fulfillment, freedom, and growth potential—to ensure long-term employee retention and engagement.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

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. video1209722628You’ll learn:Why stress isn’t always about your workload — it’s about the lack of recovery between tasks.How AI-powered nudges can scan your calendar and remind you to reset exactly when you need it.The neuroscience behind real mental clarity, including why closing your eyes reduces up to 80% of sensory input.A powerful 60-second breathing technique (“Ninja Breathing”) that brings your executive function back online.How micro-rituals — like scent-based reset anchors — instantly calm or energize your nervous system.Why back-to-back meetings are sabotaging your focus (and what organizations must change).What Penny is building next with AI to help leaders reduce burnout and show up more present.If you want to think clearer, stress less, and work smarter — this episode gives you practical tools you can use today.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

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 obsolete and how to instead focus on how to think, what to believe, and how to prepare for what’s next. They discuss the power of storytelling, differentiation, and filtering faster in today’s crowded marketplace. With humor and clarity, David shares how founders, executives, and thought leaders can build market Eminence that attracts ideal clients, strengthens brand trust, and drives unstoppable growth.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

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 our time, attention, and energy from the constant flood of news, notifications, expectations, and mental clutter.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

What does it take to turn adversity into your greatest advantage? In this episode of Time to Reset, resilience expert and leadership coach Sara Schulting Kranz shares her powerful journey of rebuilding life after trauma—and how she now helps others do the same. 🌄 As the founder of transformational leadership retreats in the Grand Canyon, Sara has guided executives, athletes, and even a blind para-athlete to record-breaking success. Drawing from over 30 years of experience, she reveals her 5-component framework for resilience, designed to help individuals and organizations navigate change with courage, collaboration, and creativity. Tune in to learn how to lead through uncertainty, embrace change as growth, and create a culture of resilience—whether in business, leadership, or your own personal reset. 🎙️ Because when life shifts, the way out is always forward.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

In an age where technology keeps us constantly linked yet emotionally apart, connectability has become an essential skill for leaders, teams, and individuals seeking authentic relationships. Business leader and author Fredric Steck shares the principles behind his book Connectability, revealing how empathy, awareness, and genuine presence can transform both personal and professional interactions. Through stories drawn from his decades in finance, philanthropy, and leadership, Fred explores how emotional intelligence and consistent human connection can replace transactional exchanges with trust, collaboration, and meaning in today’s digital world.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

What if letting go isn’t about losing—but about opening up? 🌿 In this solo episode, Penny Zenker dives into one of the most powerful yet overlooked elements of resilience: the art of letting go. Whether it’s releasing old habits, outdated expectations, or people who no longer fit your life, learning to let go creates space for growth, peace, and new opportunities.Penny shares practical mindset shifts and reflective questions to help you recognize what’s no longer serving you, reduce emotional intensity, and realign with what truly matters. Discover how the Reset Mindset framework—step back, get perspective, and realign—can help you transform frustration into focus and resistance into resilience.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

Overcoming imposter syndrome is a challenge that even high performers secretly face, yet it can also become a hidden advantage when handled with the right mindset. Talent agent, psychology professor, and author Albert Bramante blends performance psychology, hypnosis, NLP and AI strategies to show creators, educators and professionals how to turn self-doubt into a catalyst for growth. Drawing from his work with artists and leaders, he explains why our inner critic exists, how to strip away projections from others, and practical ways to breathe, pause and reframe feedback so you can unlock momentum and your best self.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/