In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Zack Arnold, an award-winning editor, director, and founder of Optimize Yourself. He’s also a father of two and a two-time American Ninja Warrior, which is pretty cool if you ask me. We had a productive conversation about how to pursue fulfilling careers without sacrificing our health, relationships, or sanity. Zack’s work has been featured in various publications, and he’s known for his expertise in productivity and entrepreneurship. One thing that stood out to me was how Zack optimized his podcast process, which he shared with u ..read more

Hamza Khan is a best-selling author, global keynote speaker, and respected thought leader whose TEDx talk “Stop Managing, Start Leading” has garnered nearly two million views. He is trusted by prominent organizations such as Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Salesforce to optimize performance and enhance human potential, and has been featured in notable media outlets like VICE and Business Insider. As the Co-Founder of SkillsCamp, Hamza aims to empower organizations to thrive in the future of work through soft skills training, and regularly shares actionable insights on leadership, resilience, an ..read more

On the surface, it seems logical to have an overly specific calendar when it comes to scheduling every minute of our day. After all, we cannot manage what we don’t measure. However, there are risks associated with being too specific on your calendar. When we try to micromanage every detail of our day, we forget to leave room for the unexpected. We may become so focused on sticking to our plan that we miss opportunities for spontaneity and creativity. Moreover, being overly specific on our calendars can lead to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. When we look at our schedule and see a long list ..read more

Amber Hawley is a licensed therapist and lifestyle strategist who works with entrepreneurial individuals and couples with the emotional side of business. She is the owner of a therapy practice in Silicon Valley, host of The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur and Couples Fix podcasts, wife, mom of three kids, and Marvel movie super fan.  Amber’s journey from working in the tech industry to becoming a therapist is truly inspiring. Her passion for people and building meaningful relationships was at the center of every decision she made. We delved into topics such as work-life bal ..read more

As a society, we’ve been taught to glorify early risers. We look up to those who are up at the crack of dawn, feeling energized and ready to tackle their day. We associate waking up early with productivity, success, and even morality. But what if I told you that becoming an early riser might not be the best thing for you? In fact, what if I told you that it could be doing more harm than good? The Fight Against Your Body Clock As a night owl who has tried to become an early riser, I can tell you from personal experience that fighting your body clock can be a losing battle. Sure, waking up at 5 ..read more

If you’re interested in human performance and personal growth, I highly recommend checking out this episode with Steven Kotler. He has been studying human performance for over 30 years and has taught hundreds of thousands of people how to achieve peak performance evolved around Steven’s latest book, Gnar Country, which addresses how to stay “rad” as you grow older. As someone who’s pushing 50, I found Steven’s insights on aging and how to maintain a sense of vitality fascinating, and I’m sure many listeners will find them useful as well. Steven shares his own experiences and struggles as we d ..read more

I’ve made no secret about my night owl tendencies. But whether you’re a night owl like me or not, it’s important to begin your day before bed. Not sure what you can do to make that happen? Well, these 20 tips are perfect for anyone who wants to start their day feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to tackle whatever comes their way. The List of Twenty You don’t need to do all 20 of these things. Just select what works for you now and then either add or modify the list to work for you over time. But I suggest you start with at least one thing that you’re not already doing now. Plan out your ..read more

I was so happy to have Ryder Carroll back on show. It’s always great to hear from the creator of the Bullet Journal, especially as the approach continues to evolve and gain in popularity.  In this episode, we cover a lot of ground, diving into the history of Bullet Journaling and exploring how it has developed over the years. It’s always fascinating to hear about the origins of the method and how Ryder’s approach has changed over time. Whether you’re a seasoned Bullet Journal’er or new to the approach, there’s something here for everyone. We touch on a wide range of topics, fro ..read more

Too often, we get caught up in the daily grind of our lives. We forget to take a step back and really examine how we’re spending our time. We go through the motions: ticking things off our to-do lists, taking endless (and sometimes senseless) meetings, and going to appointments. But we don’t stop to ask ourselves if we’re really making the most of the precious hours we have each day. That’s where taking a “time tour” comes in. It’s a simple concept but it can have a profound impact on your relationship with time. It’ll also improve your ability to be productive and your overall satisfaction w ..read more

In this episode of A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy – we have special guest Yaro Starak. Yaro is the co-founder of Inbox Done. He shares his insights on why email management and delegation can be a challenge for some people and how to overcome these obstacles and we delve into the various types of clients that Inbox Done serves. We both share our thoughts on how Inbox Done has helped our clients streamline their email and become more productive. This discussion is very informative about the ins and outs of email management and the importance of delegation. It is both educational and ..read more