Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

In this special Shortcast edition, Baratunde Thurston, shares his experience of unplugging from social media for 25 days—and what he learned about stress, productivity, and the importance of being present. Baratunde reveals how stepping away from constant digital interaction can lead to more meaningful real-world connections and less burnout. In this Shortcast, we explore: The Cost of Constant Connectivity: Baratunde explains how being “always on” took a toll on his mental health, productivity, and relationships, and why unplugging was the antidote. The Value of Presence: By exploring neighborhoods in New York without his phone, Baratunde rediscovered the value of shared experiences, analog socializing, and being grounded in the real world. Social Media as a Second Job: Baratunde highlights how social media transforms everyone into an amateur content creator, adding stress and metrics to everyday life. Challenges of Disconnecting: We discuss why platforms make it difficult to unplug—emotionally and logistically—and how Baratunde navigated the manipulation tactics of social media companies. Reclaiming Leisure and Focus: Baratunde shows how unplugging helped him be more present with others, less distracted, and ultimately more productive. Baratunde’s insights remind us to reflect on our relationship with social media and make conscious choices about how we engage with it. Learn more about Baratunde and his work at Baratunde.com and explore more Shortcasts like this one on ⁠Blinkist⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Melody Wilding, author of Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from People in Charge, joins the show to discuss the often-overlooked skill of managing up. Melody shares insights on how to communicate more effectively with those in higher positions, ensuring that you get the support and guidance you need for your career while maintaining a positive working relationship. In this conversation, we explore: What “Managing Up” Really Means: Melody explains that managing up isn’t about manipulating your boss, but about clear communication, setting boundaries, and ensuring your needs and expectations are understood. The Importance of Alignment: We discuss how aligning with your manager’s goals and expectations can help you achieve personal success while contributing to the team’s overall objectives. Building Healthy Communication: Melody emphasizes how open and honest communication is key to reducing friction and increasing productivity, especially when you’re managing different working styles. Creating Visibility: We talk about how to make sure your contributions are recognized and how to ensure your value is communicated in a way that aligns with both your goals and your manager’s. Boundaries and Feedback: Melody shares strategies for setting healthy boundaries with your manager, giving constructive feedback, and advocating for yourself in the workplace. Melody’s approach to managing up is a practical guide for anyone looking to improve their relationship with their boss, gain clarity about expectations, and move forward in their career with confidence. Learn more about Melody and her work at ManagingUp.com, and find Managing Up wherever books are sold. Connect with Erik: ⁠LinkedIn⁠  ⁠Facebook⁠  ⁠Bluesky⁠ This Podcast is Powered By: ⁠Descript⁠ ⁠Descript 101⁠ ⁠Castmagic⁠ ⁠Ecamm⁠ ⁠Podpage⁠ ⁠Rodecaster Pro⁠ ⁠Top Productivity Books List⁠ Make sure to support the show by⁠ checking out the sponsors⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Courtney Carver, author of Rest More, Stress Less: How to Live the Life You Actually Want, shares her transformative approach to prioritizing rest and reducing stress. Courtney, a simplicity and decluttering expert, discusses how rest is not just a reward but a necessity for productivity, creativity, and overall well-being. In this conversation, we explore: • The Importance of Rest: Courtney explains why rest should be prioritized, not as a reward, but as an essential part of life and work. She discusses how our productivity and creativity improve when we take time to rest. • The Three Seasons of Gentle: We dive into the book’s three-part structure: Rest, Less, and Rise. Courtney explains why rest is the foundation that allows us to simplify our lives, reduce stress, and ultimately rise into the life we truly want. • Breaking Free from the Busyness Trap: Courtney reveals how our society’s overemphasis on constant productivity can lead to burnout, and how intentionally doing less can lead to more meaningful results. • The Power of Decluttering: We discuss how simplifying our physical environment by letting go of excess stuff can ease mental clutter and reduce decision fatigue, making space for more peace and joy. • Energy Management and Chronic Illness: Courtney shares her personal experience managing multiple sclerosis and how counting “spoons”—a way to measure limited energy—can help in making mindful choices about how we use our time and energy. Courtney’s approach to living with less, embracing rest, and prioritizing what truly matters offers practical solutions for anyone feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. Her insights provide a roadmap for living a life with more meaning, purpose, and peace. Learn more about Courtney and her work at bemorewithless.com, and find Rest More, Stress Less wherever books are sold. Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Bluesky This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Shortcast edition, Jeremy Kubicek, author of The 100X Leader: How to Become Someone Worth Following, shares how we can lead with both support and challenge to help others reach their full potential. Drawing inspiration from Sherpas guiding climbers on Mount Everest, Jeremy illustrates what it means to lead others by being fully for them and helping them succeed—not just in tasks, but in personal growth. In this Shortcast, we explore: What Makes a Leader Worth Following: Why being “for” the people you lead matters more than authority or performance. The Sherpa Analogy: Leaders should guide, support, and empower others like a Sherpa helps climbers summit Mount Everest—and then helps them down again. Support + Challenge = Growth: Jeremy outlines how to calibrate the right mix of support and challenge in your leadership style to avoid extremes like fear-based or overly permissive leadership. Calling Up vs. Calling Out: A key leadership shift is learning to call people up to who they want to be, rather than calling them out with shame or frustration. From Subjective to Constructive Feedback: How shifting from judgment to objective, prescriptive feedback builds trust and lasting influence. Whether you’re managing a team, parenting, or looking to grow personally, this episode offers simple but powerful strategies to lead with empathy, clarity, and effectiveness. Check out Jeremy’s book The 100X Leader and explore more Shortcasts like this one on Blinkist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Angus Nelson, author of Confidence Comes Later, discusses his journey of building confidence through action and embracing uncertainty. Angus, an entrepreneur and personal development coach, explores how to disrupt your life by taking bold steps instead of waiting for confidence to appear, and how this can lead to personal growth and transformation. In this conversation, we explore: • The Myth of Confidence: Angus explains why confidence is often misunderstood as something you wait for, and how true confidence is built through action, learning, and perseverance, not certainty. • Certainty vs. Confidence: We discuss how the need for certainty can hold us back, and how embracing uncertainty allows us to take the next step, even when we can’t predict the future. • The Power of Small Sprints: Angus introduces the concept of short-term “sprints” to focus on incremental progress, stressing that it’s the small, consistent steps that lead to big changes over time. • The Fluid Self: We talk about the importance of remaining fluid and adaptable, whether in your career or personal life, and how flexibility allows for growth and overcoming obstacles. • Disrupting Yourself vs. Waiting for Life to Disrupt You: Angus discusses how proactively disrupting your own comfort zone leads to growth, whereas life’s inevitable disruptions can leave you unprepared if you aren’t willing to make the first move. Angus shares powerful insights on how to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start taking action, creating momentum, and embracing the lessons that come from both success and failure. His approach will inspire you to live boldly and confidently. Learn more about Angus and his work at AngusNelson.com and connect with him on LinkedIn here. Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Bluesky This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julie Fast, author of 'Getting It Done When You’re Depressed', shares her journey with bipolar disorder and effective strategies for boosting productivity despite mental health challenges. She highlights the crucial link between action and motivation, debunking the myth that motivation must precede action. Julie emphasizes establishing manageable routines, creating realistic workspaces, and taking small steps to combat feelings of inertia. Acknowledging one's mental state while still pushing through is key, and she offers practical tips for enhancing daily productivity.

In this episode, Sara Sherman, author of Resonant Minds: The Transformative Power of Music, joins the show to discuss the powerful and often underestimated role of music in our lives. Sara, a classical musician and educator, explores how music can not only enhance our emotional well-being but also improve focus, productivity, and social connections.In this conversation, we explore:• The Power of Music Beyond Entertainment: Sara shares how music goes beyond being something we enjoy to something that can be used as a tool for mindfulness, focus, and emotional regulation.• Creating Shared Musical Experiences: We discuss the concept of creating collective experiences through music, how listening in groups creates a sense of connection, and why it’s so important for building community.• Purposeful Passive Listening: Sara talks about how we can use music for passive listening with intention, such as using classical music for focus or creating playlists to suit different moods and tasks.• Music and Memory: We dive into the deep connection between music and memory, especially how music can activate certain parts of our brain that help us recall memories, even in individuals with Alzheimer’s.• Music’s Role in Mental Health: Sara explains how music can be integrated into mental health practices, offering ways to boost mood, reduce anxiety, and improve overall well-being.Sara’s insights demonstrate how music can be a powerful and accessible tool in everyday life, from improving productivity to building emotional resilience.Learn more about Sara and her work at Mozart for Munchkins and find Resonant Minds on Amazon and other retailers.Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Bluesky This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anne-Laure Le Cunff, author of "Tiny Experiments" and founder of Ness Labs, dives into rethinking success in our goal-obsessed world. She critiques traditional goal-setting, highlighting its drawbacks like burnout. Instead, she advocates for small, experimental approaches that foster curiosity and personal growth. Anne-Laure introduces the concept of Kairos, emphasizing qualitative time over productivity anxiety. Listeners gain insights on balancing structure and creativity and practical tips for implementing tiny experiments in daily routines.

In this episode, Madelin Mann, author of Reverse the Search: How to Turn Job Seeking into Job Shopping, joins the show to share her expert advice on transforming the traditional job search process. With years of experience in HR and recruiting, Madelin provides valuable insights into how to stand out in today’s competitive job market by shifting from a job seeker to a job shopper.In this conversation, we explore:• Reversing the Job Search: Madelin explains how to rethink job seeking by focusing on human interactions and leveraging networking rather than relying solely on online applications.• The Problems with Traditional Job Applications: From AI filtering to an overwhelming number of applications, Madelin breaks down why the traditional job application process is broken and how to avoid getting lost in the noise.• The Power of Networking: Madelin shares how building meaningful relationships can lead to unlisted job opportunities and help you land roles before they even hit the job boards.• Interviewing Like a Pro: We discuss how to position yourself as the perfect fit for a role by focusing on both competency and likability during interviews, and why you should approach interviews as collaborations.• Negotiating with Confidence: Madelin offers a fresh perspective on salary and benefits negotiation, emphasizing collaboration rather than competition to secure the best offers.If you’re currently in the job search process or just want to improve your career strategy, Madelin’s approach will help you become the sought-after candidate that companies are eager to hire.Learn more about Madeline and her book Reverse the Search at ReversetheSearch.com.Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Bluesky This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Ximena Vengeochea, author of The Life Audit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Discovering Your Goals and Building the Life You Want, shares her approach to re-evaluating life’s priorities and making intentional changes. Ximena, a former LinkedIn leader, uses her background in user research to help others take a fresh, introspective approach to crafting the life they truly want.In this conversation, we explore:• The Life Audit Concept: Ximena discusses the origins of the Life Audit and how applying the tools from user research can help us examine our own desires, goals, and life direction.• Generative Phase of the Life Audit: We dive into the brainstorming process, where Ximena recommends taking an hour to jot down all your desires—no matter how big or small—and explore how to get started without self-censorship.• Analyzing Your Desires: Ximena shares how grouping and recognizing patterns in your wishes can uncover deeper insights into what’s important to you, and how to let go of societal “shoulds.”• Turning Insights into Action: Ximena explains how to break down big dreams into smaller, actionable goals, and how to prioritize the most meaningful goals for your year ahead.• Creating Space for Self-Reflection: Ximena emphasizes how making space for introspection allows our true desires to emerge amidst the noise of external expectations and pressures.Ximena’s methodical yet flexible approach helps you reconnect with your intuition, allowing you to align your life’s decisions with what truly matters to you. Whether you’re experiencing a career shift, entering a new phase of life, or just need a reset, the Life Audit process is a powerful tool for reflection and transformation.Learn more about Ximena and her work at XimenaVengeochea.com, and find The Life Audit and its companion journal wherever books are sold.Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Bluesky This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices