This week I was encouraged to welcome Carlos Whittaker to the show for an honest and compassionate talk about his latest book, "Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human." Carlos shares his transformative journey through living with monks and the Amish to understand different worldviews and lessen his dependency on technology. Initially struggling with the absence of his phone, Carlos learns the healing power of solitude and forms deep connections within these communities.
Carlos returns with practical life skills and a new perspective on screen time, emphasizing the importance of solitude and offline activities for personal growth and deeper relationships. He also discusses his significant decrease in phone usage and how it has positively affected his life and those around him. The episode explores strategies to reduce screen addiction, the balance between online and offline connections, and the broader implications of leading a more present and engaged life.
Carlos Whittaker Learns About the Genetic Predisposition to Dementia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kab34ZYfXM8
Carlos was previously on this show here: https://www.beyondthetodolist.com/carlos-whittaker-on-sharing-life-beyond-our-differences/
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This week I was so happy to welcome Jon Acuff back to the show to discuss his newest book, 'How Teens Win: The Student's Guide to Accomplishing Big Goals' for an insightful conversation about goal-setting, parenting, and supporting teenagers.
This powerful new book which Jon co-authored with his two teenage daughters is a must read for parents, educators, and mentors.
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This week, I'm excited to revisit this conversation with Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst discussing their book, Workstyle: A revolution for well being, productivity and society. They coined the term nearly a decade ago during an inspired conversation at a pub. Little did they know that that conversation would lead them to co-found the multi-million pound social enterprise Hoxby to test and prove the concept of workstyle.
Today Hoxby has helped thousands of workstylers around the world to set, project and respect their own workstyles. They have set up their own longitudinal research study into the link between autonomy, productivity and wellbeing and have delivered projects for some of the biggest businesses in the world including Unilever, Amazon, AIA, and Merck. Forbes.com have described them as 'creating the freelance revolution 3.0' and they have been featured in the FT, Times, Telegraph, Stylist, Marie Claire, Metro and The Guardian, among others.
I really enjoyed this book and believe that it will start to help countless people and businesses find relief from their work conditioning, inspire them to create a workstyle for themselves, and enable them to take part in the most significant change to working practices since 1817. By giving you the complete freedom to identify and pursue a way of working which fits around the unique nature of your lifestyle, this book can teach us how to be well, work better and do great things on our own time.
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This week, we’re revisiting a conversation that left a lasting impact, where I had the honor and privilege of speaking with Seth Godin about his book, The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams. For most listeners Seth needs no introduction. Seth is perhaps best known for his prolific daily blog, as well as his books Linchpin, Tribes, The Dip and Purple Cow. I’ve been looking forward to this conversation for a long time now, and Seth of course did not disappoint.
In our chat, we unpack the purpose and passion that led Seth to write this impactful book. For anyone familiar with Linchpin, The Song of Significance is, in many ways, the spiritual sequel and companion piece to that book. If Linchpin was all about being indispensable on an individual level, The Song of Significance explores how to work together as a team of Linchpins.
This conversation remains as relevant as ever, offering encouragement to anyone feeling anxiety about how their skills or unique voice fit into the modern workforce, or for those considering a freelance or entrepreneurial journey. Seth and I explore how the desire for agency and dignity lies at the core of the modern employee’s aspirations. Despite the many innovations and progress since the Industrial Revolution, these two key components have often been overlooked.
The purpose of this book, and our discussion, is to help teams and individuals rediscover this dignity and autonomy, reminding people of their unique voice—a voice that no amount of technology, AI, or automation can replace. This is truly a book to be read as a team, fostering discussions and action steps to build a team, organization, or business that empowers and trusts everyone to deliver their best work and harmonize together.
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This week I was excited to revisit a conversation I had with Todd Henry. Todd is a prolific author and speaker who focuses on the creatives and dispelling myths about who is and who is not “creative” within corporate or professional workforces. For over a decade Todd has helped readers unlock their creative potential and find new ways to apply their talents.
The Daily Creative is a daily reader for busy professionals, creative and otherwise, designed to help you gain focus for your day and advance toward your goals. In this new book Todd explores the benefits of reflecting on creative practices on a daily basis by creating a daily guide which succinctly and contemplatively welcomes readers to reflect upon both their creative potential and the ways that creativity can be applied in the most unlikely of work and life circumstances.
Even if you don't think of yourself as creative, you'd probably be surprised by how many creative tools you use every day. You solve problems, design, write, invent, or in other words―create. But the pressure we feel to continually create value with our minds can cause tremendous stress and eventually neutralize our ability to be effective in our roles long term.
Todd’s previous appearances on the show:
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In this episode, I'm excited to chat with my friend Ian Anderson Gray to dispel the myths and stigmas surrounding ADHD. Ian shares his personal journey of understanding and managing ADHD, shedding light on emotional dysregulation and the pivotal role a family coach played in his life. Discover the inspiration behind Ian's podcast "Smart ADHD," which aims to offer intelligent strategies for those with ADHD, and how it empowers individuals to harness their unique strengths.
Listen as Ian discusses the deep emotional intensity experienced by people with ADHD and the importance of tools like focus music, noise-cancelling headphones, and apps like Notion and Brain FM. Learn how environmental factors, creativity, and the necessity for community and accountability can influence those with ADHD. Ian also breaks down the connection between ADHD and entrepreneurial pursuits, addressing the highs and lows that come with it.
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This week I'm excited to revisit a conversation I had with Chris Bailey. Chris has been a guest on the show a number of times, and in this episode, he unpacks the origins, research, and results of his book, How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times. I decided to revisit this conversation as the need for calm has been so important for me in recent weeks and months as I suspect it has been for you as well. In our chat Chris and I discuss the events that led up to him writing this book while exploring a number of techniques, and tips for finding presence and calm that he developed and practiced along that journey.
We discuss digital fasting, the advantages of analog items for productivity, and how slowing down your lifestyle can often lead to speeding up your efficiency! Chris Bailey is a productivity expert, and the bestselling author of two books about productivity: Hyperfocus and The Productivity Project. Chris writes about productivity at chrisbailey.com, and speaks to organizations around the globe on how they can become more productive, without hating the process.
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This week I’m excited to revisit a conversation I had with Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt-Miller about their book, Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts with Your Thinking. Michael is the founder and chairman of Full Focus. Through his coaching program for small business owners, BusinessAccelerator®, and the bestselling Full Focus Planner, Michael has helped hundreds of thousands of achievers reach their biggest goals. Megan Hyatt Miller is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Full Focus and alongside Michael co-hosts the popular Business Accelerator® podcast. In this conversation, we explore how the narratives we tell ourselves influence our decisions and outcomes both personally and professionally.
From personal anecdotes about overcoming disempowering stories to actionable techniques for rewriting those internal narratives, this episode is packed with insights on leveraging the neuroplasticity of the brain and the power of intuition. Plus, Michael and Megan discuss practical steps for transforming fear into confidence, backed by performance psychology and neuroscience. Discover the significance of surrounding yourself with trusted counsel, the impact of language and coaching, and the potential for reprogramming your thinking to unlock new pathways to success. Tune in for a deep dive into how shifting your mindset can pave the way for achieving your goals and enriching your life.
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In part 2 of 2 of this conversation, John Drury shares about the importance of retreats and sacred time for rest and rejuvenation. John shares his personal experiences with different forms of retreats, emphasizing the value of eliminating distractions and under-stimulation to foster deeper self-reflection and mindfulness. He introduces practical techniques such as "desert days," quarterly overnight retreats, and shorter, regular practices to incorporate these into the business and personal life of busy individuals.
Erik and John also discuss the distinctions between vacations, visitations, and vocations and how expectation of each affects personal energy and relationships. John offers a variety of suggestions for integrating restful practices into everyday life, such as journaling, spiritual friendship, and practicing an "hour on, hour off" method during retreats. They underscore the importance of approaching these practices with an open mind, ready for unexpected insights and personal growth.
Make sure to go back and listen to part 1 of 2 this conversation here.
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In part 1 of a 2 part conversation I am thrilled to bring my longtime friend of 25 years Dr. John Drury. John and I share an interest in productivity and the Enneagram, particularly the unique insights of Enneagram fives.
In this episode, John and I talk about the profound impact the pandemic has had on our routines and spiritual practices, introducing the concept of a "rule of life" as a way to anchor ourselves with orienting values and stabilizing practices. We explore the balance between over stimulation and under stimulation, drawing rich parallels to ancient desert monasticism and how these dynamics influence our modern lives.
John also shares his personal Sabbath practices, revealing how a 24-hour period of rest from work illuminates a path to increased productivity and deeper connections with family. We'll discuss the fluid nature of identifying and living by our values, the importance of intentional under stimulation, and the need for holistic time management that integrates both work and life harmoniously.
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This week I’m excited to revisit an insightful conversation I had with Tiago Forte about his book Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential. Tiago walks us through his groundbreaking framework, PARA—Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives—that aims to revolutionize how we organize information in our digital lives. We'll also explore the CODE methodology—Capture, Organize, Distill, Express—that helps manage and make sense of the influx of ideas and tasks we face daily.
Tune in as we draw compelling parallels between digital and physical organization, delve into the art of building a dependable "second brain," and discuss the immense benefits of externalizing our thoughts. This episode promises to offer actionable insights for everyone—from online content creators to everyday knowledge workers—on mastering the chaos of information overload. Plus, get a sneak peek into upcoming topics on enhancing productivity, effective communication, and more. So, grab your notepads as we embark on this journey to cleaner, more efficient digital lives with Tiago Forte!
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