Synopsis
Hosted by productivity strategist Mike Vardy, The Productivityist Podcast is a weekly show that discusses tips, tools, tactics, and tricks that are designed to help you take your productivity, time management, goals, to do lists, habits, and workflow to new heights - both at work and at home. If you're looking to focus your efforts on getting the right things done and start living the good life, then this weekly conversational podcast crafted in the tradition of Slate's Working, Back to Work, and HBR IdeaCast is for you.
Episodes
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Find Your ONE Thing with Geoff Woods
19/05/2021 Duration: 46minWith a simple, powerful concept to focus on what matters most in your personal and work lives, Geoff Woods joins the show to share how you can find your One Thing. Geoff Woods is the Co-Founder & President of ProduKtive®, the training company behind The ONE Thing and the host of The ONE Thing podcast. He’s an advisor to executives ranging from small businesses to the Fortune 500, helping them design the future of work, and create cultures where people are clear on what matters most so they achieve extraordinary results. I loved geeking out with Geoff in this episode, as we muse over the ultimate currency: time. Tune in as we explore having clarity, how to invest more in our time, disabling notifications, when it’s time to switch priorities – and goal-setting for couples. Talking Points The ONE Thing in the nutshell Master the 3 C’s to invest more in your time Why productivity is beyond just efficiency and effectiveness Our relationship with email Getting on the same page with people around you How tool
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Scale Your Services with Shawn Dill and Lacey Book
12/05/2021 Duration: 33minThe business side of things can get messy if you’re a service professional. You need help along the way to truly scale so you can do more of what you love. Shawn Dill and Lacey Book unpack where to start. With a background in chiropractic steeped in neurology, Shawn Dill and Lacey Book help support service professionals grow their business. Through their principles of success in marketing, sales and mindset, I had to bring them on to the show to learn more about how they help small businesses run productively. Join our conversation as we explore neuroplasticity, midday routines, our shared love for simplicity, practical insights from their book ‘None of Your Business: A Winning Approach to Turn Service Providers into Entrepreneurs’ – and what it’s like working with your partner. Talking Points Mastering a midday routine How to not lose track from your routines Finding the harmony between work and home life when you work with your partner The impact of investing in great people Why we need to step back i
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The Patreon Process with Steve Dotto
10/05/2021 Duration: 36minSteve Dotto is an expert in helping people master tech to live the life they want. For over 20 years, as host and executive producer of Dotto Tech, a nationally syndicated TV show, Steve has entertained and educated millions of Canadians on all aspects of technology. A big revenue stream to his business is from his supporters on Patreon. He currently generates over $6,000 per month from his Patreon fans, and he’s generated over $400,000 in revenue to date. I had to have my good friend Steve back on the show to learn more about his success, and his Patreon Boot Camp that I’ve signed up to. Join us as we discuss the 80/20 rule with email subscribers, why relationships are so unique on Patreon, the lessons learnt from my first Patreon launch – and exit strategies. Talking Points Patreon’s origin story serving the musician community How to build a dialogue with your podcast community Steve’s success on Patreon Leverage your email subscribers What kind of perks to offer to your Patreons What you’ll get fro
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Big Picture Planning with Janet Murray
05/05/2021 Duration: 51minBeat content marketing overwhelm by simply planning on a piece of A4 paper. Tune in as Janet Murray shares her framework that you can work on today. Through a fascinating career journey in teaching and journalism, Janet Murray made the big switch to run her own business that helps business owners build and engage their online audience. Janet and I go way back, and we’ve met through various places around the world, so I’m excited to finally have her on the show to learn more about how content planning plays such an important role to business success. Tune in as we explore embracing bigger picture thinking. We discuss daily emails, visual planning, writing with ‘the hook’, learning from journalists, and how Janet time crafts. Talking Points How to plan the bigger picture How our personality types and planning work together Setting structures so you can be flexible Creativity that comes from consistency Finding patterns for your content Quote “The wider your view, the more patterns you see.” Helpful Lin
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Being Time Rich with Steve Glaveski
28/04/2021 Duration: 51minSo many organizations are trapped in a culture of meetings, task-switching and analysis paralysis. Steve shares how you can break this cycle and finally take control of your time. Steve Glaveski joins the show again to talk about his latest findings from his book ‘Time Rich: Do your best work, live your best life’. Steve is the CEO of Collective Campus, an innovation accelerator based in Melbourne and Singapore, that works with large organizations around the globe. As an entrepreneur, author and podcast host, his mission is to unlock the latent potential of people so that they can create more impact for humanity and lead more fulfilling lives. Where “just working” is a socially validated activity, it’s time to switch things up. In this thoughtful conversation we explore time lessons from stoicism, delegating tasks, and how to experiment with shorter workdays. Talking Points Companies that run like C.R.A.P Defining ‘Time Rich’ Automating versus outsourcing The shorter workday experiment Setting metrics f
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Peak Performing Flow with Steven Kotler
21/04/2021 Duration: 01h04minIf you want results, you need to play the long game. Flow expert Steven Kotler shares what peak performers do to achieve their goals – and what you can do. Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist and the founder and executive director of the Flow Research Collective. He is the author of thirteen books, including The Art of Impossible and The Future is Faster Than You Think. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 40 languages, and has appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Wall Street Journal, TIME and the Harvard Business Review. In this conversation, we explore his latest book, The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer. We talk about outcome versus process goals, what is the flow state and why it’s trainable, running towards yourself – and Steven being an old-school punk rocker. Talking Points Why you need to be more specific with your goals Stepping away from ‘hacks’ The habit of
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Be Productive with Uncertainty with David Neagle
14/04/2021 Duration: 37minIt’s been a whirlwind of uncertainty lately. David Neagle shares his practical insights to help you step out of the blame game and embrace uncertainty. David Neagle is the best selling author of The Millions Within, and is one of the architects of the coaching and personal growth industry, having worked alongside well-known mentors like Bob Proctor, Marianne Morrisey and Tony Robbins for decades. I brought David on to learn how we can all thrive alongside uncertainty. We explore understanding people’s agendas, the power of stepping away, morning reflections and verbal journaling. Tune in so you can step back and review your thoughts and beliefs that help (or hinder) you as you navigate through uncertainty. Talking Points How to avoid being caught up by uncertainty Why we seek certainty How to leverage your mornings to best set yourself up for the day End-of-day reflection exercises The uncertainties David deals with How to accept more responsibility Quote “How certain we feel inside ourselves determi
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Purposeful Play with Gary Ware
07/04/2021 Duration: 39minPlay around more when you work to boost productivity. Founder of Breakthrough Play, Gary Ware, shares what you can do today. I’ve known Gary Ware for over 10 years now. He’s a true expert when it comes to play – it’s not just associated with kids. In this conversation, I pick his brains to find out how play can help boost productivity. Day-to-day, Gary helps professionals level-up their confidence, creativity, and happiness using play. He is the Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator and keynote speaker with a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. In this interview, we explore how so many of us have been conditioned to play after we work, purposeful play activities, cliffhangers, and the hustle culture. Talking Points The productive power of play The different forms of play Some distracting play ‘traps’ The infinite versus the finite mindset Practical applications of play you can do today Quote “Play is an advantage.” Helpful Links Episode 90: Productivity & Play with
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Collaborating with Nature with Darren Virassammy
31/03/2021 Duration: 34minPodcast host and entrepreneur Darren Virassammy shares how connecting with nature will cultivate your excellence. Collaborating with nature has been a catalyst for the success of Darren Virassammy. He’s the Co-Founder of 34 Strong, an organization which provides expert team development resources and leadership coaching. He’s also the host of the Nature Advantage Podcast, where he interviews living legends to explore how they collaborate with nature to cultivate excellence in their work, life and organizations. It’s undeniable that pausing and being in nature helps boost our productivity, creativity and ability to problem solve better. Darren is a real opportunist and I loved hearing how nature has really impacted his life. We deep dive into the impact of walking meetings, simple exercises to be more present with nature, some insights from his podcast – and how to pronounce his last name. Talking Points The essence of his new podcast The Nature Advantage Being in ‘attunement’ with nature How to start your
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Meaningful Online Connections with Misha Glouberman
24/03/2021 Duration: 46minMisha Glouberman, communication expert, teaches you how to build meaningful online connections without the Zoom fatigue. Misha Glouberman helps people communicate better. He teaches communication skills, runs meetings and conferences for organizations, hosts live events, and speaks at conferences. He is the author, with Sheila Heti, of the book ‘The Chairs Are Where the People Go’ – which the New Yorker named as one of its top nonfiction books of 2011. He relays everything he knows about communication, conferences, relationships, making friends, monogamy, playing charades and more. 10 years on from writing the book, I catch up with Misha to find out what has been going on in his life. In this episode, we discuss what 99% of conferences aren’t doing, how to make meaningful online connections and the social and technological design considerations for good online networking. Talking Points Misha’s focus on building connections during the pandemic Dissecting the problem with remote events Why so many conferen
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Writing at Middle School with Kristina Naydonova
17/03/2021 Duration: 38minI catch up with the very thoughtful 13-year-old novelist Kristina Naydonova to learn how to carve out our own paths. Kristina Naydonova is hands down the youngest guest I’ve had on the show. Aged 13, she’s already published a novel, The Black Sisterhood Files, and writes for Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global. She’s also a Sunday Times bestselling mystery author, regular podcast speaker, and occasional contributor for Buzzfeed-Books – all while she’s at middle school. I’ve always had a passion for reading and writing from a young age, so it was great to connect with this kindred spirit and fellow night owl. Join our conversation as we explore bullet journaling, handling peer pressure, and how she’s achieved so much success from such a young age. Talking Points Setting time aside to write whilst still being a kid Handling peer pressure Simple ways to practice mindfulness Navigating social media and leveraging its strengths Mastering TikTok Kristina’s daily routines that balance her education and writing
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Being a Multipotentialite with Vanessa Tharp
10/03/2021 Duration: 43minWhen you run a business, you can’t do it alone. The Productivityist’s Chief of Staff, Vanessa Tharp, jumps on to explain how she supports my journey. Vanessa Tharp has over 15 years of education, leadership, community building and event planning. She collaborates with people to help create epic events, conferences, retreats, business strategies and product launches. And I would know – she works with me. As Chief of Staff, she’s assisted the growth of The Productivityist in numerous ways, including the BIG Ready. I found this interview really energizing as we uncovered how to build actionable roadmaps and why she’s not one to niche down. Join us as we discuss being a multipotentialite, leveraging relationships, how she plays an integral part in the business – as well as cupcakes and quicksand training. Talking Points Vanessa’s involvement with the development of The Productivityist How to scale without getting stuck Vanessa’s approach to taking action with big business tasks How to leverage relationships
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A World Without Email with Cal Newport
03/03/2021 Duration: 53minCal Newport is back on the show to uncover his magnum opus on why we work the way we work today, and why we need to change our relationship with email. Email simply doesn’t scale – its back and forth nature is what drove Cal Newport down the rabbit hole of finding a better way to work. This includes all methods of communication, be it Slack, WhatsApp, or Facebook DMs and so on. These tools should just be used as shorthand, and not become your work. In his latest book, A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload, I had to unpick my good friend’s insights. Join us today as we uncover why we need to change our relationship with email. In this brave new world, we touch on how email came about accidentally, finding solutions as a team, context switching, and the fascinating research path that led Cal to writing the book. Talking Points The main elements of email that we need to move away from Why email has taken over our work On Merlin Mann and Inbox Zero The Attention Capital
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The Common Path to Uncommon Success with John Lee Dumas
24/02/2021 Duration: 43minThis candid conversation reveals what John Lee Dumas has learnt throughout his life – which includes interviewing thousands of entrepreneurs on his show – and steps you can take on a common (yet simple) path that can lead to uncommon success. John Lee Dumas is the founder and host of the award-winning podcast, Entrepreneurs on Fire. He’s interviewed thousands of entrepreneurs, including Tony Robbins, Seth Godin, Gary Vaynerchuk, Barbara Corcoran, Tim Ferriss, and many more. So I’m excited to find out more about what he’s learnt through these interviews. In the run up to the launch of his new book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success: A Roadmap to Financial Freedom and Fulfillment, I wanted to find out what you can do to stay ahead of the game. Listen to find out more about producing a daily podcast, how JLD themes his days, keeping the money you make – and butchering Jim Carrey’s commencement speech. Talking Points How to follow a path without being constrained by it Understanding the difference between si
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Calm Your Chaos with Nicola Taggart
17/02/2021 Duration: 38minChaos is a constant. So what can you do to embrace life’s ebb and flow? Nicola Taggart joins the show to share her latest tips. Nicola Taggart is a life and leadership success strategist, coach, consultant, speaker, and author. Nicola helps people discover a more centered and conscious approach to life that increases their presence both in life and in their career. Through her well-being programs, Calm Your Chaos journal and cards, Nicola helps you take stock of what’s going on in your life. We discuss how we can embrace chaos. From implementing timeless habits, powerful journaling prompts, to visual triggers – this episode will help you beat overwhelm. Talking Points The concept of Calm The Chaos How Nicola structures the journal The role of Calm The Chaos Cards in Nicola’s life Grounding activities Quote “What is the experience you want to feel?” Helpful Links Calm the Chaos Journal Calm the Chaos Cards The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor Episode 265: Bringing Gratitude with Karl Staib Episo
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Your Data-Driven Diet with Angelo Poli
10/02/2021 Duration: 50minInternational expert in the field of body transformations, Angelo Poli shares the practical diet strategy that will give you the results you want. Angelo Poli is the Founder of MetPro, the world’s first algorithm-based weight-loss engine, which is fueled by the data you feed into it every day. He’s worked with the likes of NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, among other elite athletes, celebrities, to physique models, entrepreneurs, and politicians. He’s also a speaker and a serial entrepreneur. When I did MetPro’s program, I got the best results. What really stood out to me was the impact of keeping things simple. Tune in as we discuss how to be consistent, why our metabolism is so misunderstood, letting go of any resistance to exercise, and why I keep an old soda can in my room. Talking Points The psychology behind advanced food preparation Being strategic with your diet and fitness Understanding what’s right for your body The power of having faith in yourself results MetPro’s new methodology to track, analyze and
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Get Out of Your Head with Ian Reed Kesler
03/02/2021 Duration: 51minWith so many moving pieces as a creative freelancer, learn what actor Ian Reed Kesler does to keep focused on his projects. Today’s guest, Ian Reed Kesler, is an actor and director best known for Sydney to the Max, Suits and 500 Days of Summer. From a serendipitous conversation on Twitter, I managed to get Ian on the show so I’m super excited to learn how he stays productive as a creative. What’s clear from this interview is that having a creative mind requires you to be able to turn on and off quickly. And that’s not always easy if you’re on set for 16 hours straight. Join our conversation as we discuss easy wins, systems for lazy people, and keeping organized so you can do more of what you love – as well as my IDMb profile. Whether you’re in the creative field or not, there’s something in this for everyone. Talking Points The role of productivity for actors The two kinds of creative freelancers Running a creative company How productivity is evolving Analogue vs digital for ideas and tasks Ian’s go-to
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The BIG Ready Week: Jenna Britton
02/02/2021 Duration: 07minIt's the final bonus episode of the podcast to celebrate The BIG Ready Week! This episode features a new friend and a fellow scribe, Jenna Britton. Jenna Britton is also one of the speakers for The BIG Ready, joining us for the Communication panel. In this final bonus podcast episode leading up to The BIG Ready, Jenna shares more about clarity, delimiting yourself, and communication. Episode Highlights: Why clarity gives focus How dismissing something limits yourself Why clarity comes from action How clarity and communication are both linked to each other This virtual event features 29+ presenters delivering keynote talks, actionable workshops, and engaging panel discussions around the elements of personal and professional growth. Presented by Productivityist. The BIG Ready is a must-attend for anyone who is trying to take the months ahead and be ready to make them have a BIG impact on their lives. The main stage portion of The BIG Ready takes place on February 2nd, 2021 and includes access to the Op
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The BIG Ready Week: Marli Williams
01/02/2021 Duration: 06minIt's a bonus episode of the podcast to celebrate The BIG Ready Week! This episode features the EPIC Marli Williams. Marli Williams is going to be part of the "Retreats" panel discussion at The BIG Ready. In this EPIC episode, Marli shares how to create an EPIC retreat for your tribe. Episode Highlights: Ingredients for a group retreat - making it go from good to epic The key difference between a retreat and a convention Emphasizing the connection of people in the room and crafting the participants' experience How an EPIC retreat can deliver the value of meaningful connections This virtual event features 29+ presenters delivering keynote talks, actionable workshops, and engaging panel discussions around the elements of personal and professional growth. Presented by Productivityist. The BIG Ready is a must-attend for anyone who is trying to take the months ahead and be ready to make them have a BIG impact on their lives. The main stage portion of The BIG Ready takes place on February 2nd, 2021 and
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The BIG Ready Week: Gary Ware
31/01/2021 Duration: 05minIt's a bonus episode of the podcast to celebrate The BIG Ready Week! This episode features one of the "funniest" guys I know, Gary Ware. Gary Ware will be delivering a workshop called "The Productive Power of Play" at The BIG Ready. Gary is here to chat with me about the different forms of play that will make you more creative and more efficient. Episode Highlights: Breaking the pattern of conditionality – unpacking it and realizing there are different forms of play Purposeful play: Priming the brain so that we can be more creative Before burnout, calling a "time out" and doing something that will rejuvenate the self before going back to work Instead of scrolling on social media during breaks, why not do something that is engaging that would help in keeping ideas and creativity flowing? This virtual event features 29+ presenters delivering keynote talks, actionable workshops, and engaging panel discussions around the elements of personal and professional growth. Presented by Productivityist. The