Beyond the To-Do List

26 minutes 2 seconds

Social Media Detox: How to Take a Break from Digital Overload and Get Your Focus Back

What happens when you delete every app off your phone for 21 days? In this solo episode, Erik shares what he discovered during a Christmas break internet break — and what the research says about why so many of us feel like we can't put the phone down in the first place.

In this episode, Erik covers:

How We Got Here Without Deciding To: The boiled frog drift into five-to-seven hours of daily screen time wasn't a choice anyone made — it happened gradually, and the data from researcher Gloria Mark at UC Irvine shows exactly what it's cost our attention spans.
It's Not Just Social Media: Email, Slack, the news app — your brain doesn't distinguish between Instagram and Outlook. The real pattern is letting an outside ping decide what you think about next, and that pattern is everywhere.
The Research That Should Actually Motivate You: Studies from the University of Bath and Beth Israel found measurable reductions in anxiety, depression, and insomnia after just one week off social media — improvements that typically take months of therapy to achieve.
The Five-Level Detox Ladder: From turning off notifications and going grayscale all the way to Cal Newport's 30-day deep reset protocol, Erik walks through a tiered framework so you can pick the experiment that fits your life right now.
The Healthy Cadence Framework: A reset alone isn't enough — Erik lays out how to build purposeful, sustainable habits around when and why you use each channel, so you don't just slide back to baseline.

If you've ever felt less busy the moment you put your phone down — or wondered what your brain might feel like with a little less noise in it — this episode is the permission slip and the practical roadmap to find out.

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7 May 2026, 4:00 am

48 minutes 58 seconds

John Drury on Retreat Rhythms: Monthly, Quarterly, and Annual Practices for Renewal

I’m excited to welcome back my good friend Dr. John Drury for part two of our conversation on the rule of life and how ancient practices can help us live and work with more intention. John is a New Testament scholar, professor, and thoughtful guide when it comes to integrating spiritual rhythms into ordinary life. In this continuation, we move from the big-picture ideas we introduced in part one into the practical how-to of building rhythms that create space for rest, reflection, and renewal before burnout forces the issue.

In this conversation, we cover:

Monthly Desert Days: John explains the idea of a monthly “desert day” or “9 to 4 retreat,” a set-apart block of time for radical understimulation, reflection, rest, and reconnecting with what matters most.
Why Understimulation Matters: We talk about why screens, noise, and constant input keep us from noticing our own lives—and how analog activities, silence, walking, journaling, and slower rhythms can help reset our attention.
Expect Nothing, Expect Everything: John shares why retreat practices work best when we stop demanding breakthrough moments and instead learn to receive whatever emerges without forcing productivity out of rest.
Quarterly and Annual Retreat Rhythms: We explore what longer rhythms can look like, from overnight quarterly retreats to annual time away, and how even a small amount of intentional distance can create clarity and renewal.
Vacation, Visitation, and Vocation: John offers a helpful distinction between true vacation, trips to visit family, and work-related travel—showing why naming the difference can help us be more intentional with our energy and expectations.

This conversation is full of practical wisdom for anyone who wants to move from admiring better rhythms to actually experimenting with them. What I appreciate most is that John doesn’t present this as a rigid formula, but as an invitation to start where you can, pay attention, and let the practice itself teach you what you need. If part one helped you rethink Sabbath and weekly rhythms, this episode helps you start building the next layer.

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21 April 2026, 4:00 am

43 minutes 50 seconds

John Drury on the Rule of Life: How Ancient Practices Can Transform Your Productivity and Rest

I'm excited to revisit this conversation I had with John Drury to the show to discuss how ancient spiritual practices can reshape the way we approach productivity, rhythm, and life itself. John is a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University's School of Theology and Ministry, holding an M.Div. and Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a close personal friend of mine for over 25 years.

In this conversation, we cover:

Rethinking the Rule of Life: John introduces the concept of regula vitae — the rule of life — and explains why the question isn't whether you have one, but what's currently ruling yours.
The Pandemic as a Mirror: We reflect on how COVID-19 disrupted our routines and created an unexpected opportunity for radical understimulation — and what we can learn from the people who actually took it.
Life vs. Work-Life Balance: John challenges the very language of "work-life balance," arguing that life is your time — and work is just one part of it — never the other way around.
Orienting Values and Stabilizing Practices: He walks through his hands-on framework for building a rule of life, including five orienting values and five stabilizing practices across daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual rhythms.
The Sabbath as Productivity Practice: John shares how a 24-hour weekly Sabbath transformed his Fridays, redirected his procrastination, and deepened his connection with family — without a hint of legalism.

If you've ever felt like your schedule is running you instead of the other way around, this conversation will give you the framework — and the permission — to start living with more intention. Learn more about John and his work at Indiana Wesleyan University, and stay tuned for part two of this conversation coming next week.

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15 April 2026, 4:00 am

20 minutes 30 seconds

Productivity Without Burnout: Executing With Agency Instead of the Illusion of Control

Welcome to the first episode of 2026! If you’re feeling that “new year, new me” pressure: goals, plans, fresh calendars, the whole thing—this one’s for you. Because when life inevitably punches your perfectly color-coded week in the throat, the issue isn’t your planning… it’s what you thought planning could control. This episode is all about Control vs. Agency—and how to stay productive when outcomes refuse to cooperate.

In this episode we cover:

• Why Control Breaks (and Agency Doesn’t): Control tries to guarantee outcomes; agency chooses your response when the day goes sideways.

• The Identity Trap of Productivity: What happens when “being on top of things” becomes self-worth—and why that makes disruptions feel like failure.

• The 4-Step Agency Process: Name what you’re trying to control, separate what’s in your hands vs. not, choose one “agency lever,” then replan from reality.

• Stabilization Over Catching Up: Why the goal isn’t to “win the week,” but to stop the panic spiral and choose the next stabilizing move.

• Plan Like a Menu (Not a Script): Scripts make you panic when life changes a line; menus give you options when the day changes the plot.

If you’ve been stuck in the loop of “I did everything right and still lost control,” this episode is your reminder that you don’t need a new system—you need a different stance. You may not control the story, but you do get to choose how you show up on the page.

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8 January 2026, 5:00 am

58 minutes 20 seconds

Productivity A-Z 2025 - Part 2: Letters N-Z

I’m excited to welcome Mike Vardy back to Beyond The To-Do List for one of our ongoing traditions: Productivity A-Z!

This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation — and we split it across both shows. Part 1 is over on Mike Vardy’s podcast, A Productive Conversation. You can also watch the whole two part video here.

Here on Beyond The To-Do List, we pick up the thread and cover letters N-Z.

In this part of the conversation, we cover:

What “Nuance” Actually Means for Productivity: Moving beyond rigid rules and one-size-fits-all advice into decisions that fit real life.
Pacing vs. Speed: Why sustainable progress is less about going hard and more about going smart—without the burnout tax.
Rhythm and Cadence: How to build productivity patterns that flex with your energy, your season, and your responsibilities.
Rest as Part of the System: Why recovery isn’t a bonus feature—it’s a core component of doing meaningful work consistently.
The Middle Ground Between Chaos and Control: How to keep enough structure to stay on track, without so much rigidity that the whole system snaps.

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30 December 2025, 5:00 am

59 minutes 30 seconds

Annie Duke on Better Decisions: How to Decide at Work and Life

I’m excited to revisit this conversation with Annie Duke to the show to talk about her book, How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices. Annie is a former professional poker player turned decision strategist who blends cognitive psychology, high-stakes poker, and practical frameworks to help us make better choices in work and life—even when we don’t have all the information.

In this conversation, we cover:

Luck, Skill, and Outcomes: Annie explains why we need to stop judging our decisions solely by outcomes—and how separating luck from skill leads to better learning and better choices over time.
Thinking in Bets and Living with Uncertainty: Drawing from her poker career and academic background, Annie shows how “thinking in bets” helps us navigate uncertainty, manage risk, and make sound decisions even when the long run is a long way off.
Simple Decision Tools and Knowledge Tracking: We talk about practical decision processes—like writing down what you knew, what you believed, and what you predicted at the time—to close feedback loops faster and improve your judgment without needing 10,000 repetitions.
Escaping Bias, Sunk Costs, and Identity Traps: Annie unpacks how status quo bias, sunk cost fallacy, and “identity-protective cognition” keep us defending past choices instead of seeking truth—and how a better decision process helps us see options more objectively.
Confidence, Quitting, and Knowing When to Pivot: We explore how to calibrate confidence, tell the difference between a mountain and a molehill, and decide when perseverance serves you—and when it’s wiser (and more productive) to climb back down and choose a different path.

Annie’s insights take decision-making out of the realm of “go with your gut” and into a practical, repeatable process you can use for everything from small daily choices to major career moves. If you’ve ever looked back and thought, “If I knew then what I know now…”, this episode will give you tools to reduce those regrets and make more confident, informed decisions going forward.

Learn more about Annie and her work at AnnieDuke.com, where you’ll find her books, talks, and newsletter, along with ways to connect further. You can also find How to Decide wherever books are sold.

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18 November 2025, 5:00 am

55 minutes 30 seconds

Tamsen Webster on Speaking So They Can’t Unhear Your Message

In this shortcast episode, Erik Fisher talks with Tamsen Webster about the hidden structure behind every message that sticks. Tamsen introduces the Red Thread—a framework for crafting ideas that feel obvious in hindsight and impossible to ignore. Whether you’re pitching a project, leading a team, or launching a product, this episode will help you connect what you’re saying to what people are already thinking.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why Belief Comes Before Behavior: Tamsen explains why people won’t act on your idea until it aligns with who they believe they are.
The Red Thread Framework: A practical way to structure your message using five building blocks—Goal, Problem, Truth, Change, and Action.
The Role of Story Without Telling Stories: How you can build narrative logic even if you never tell a single anecdote.
Why Ideas Fall Flat: Tamsen shares the #1 reason messages don’t stick—and how to rework them to resonate deeply.
How to Create Agreement Without Force: You’ll hear why persuasion isn’t about pressure—it’s about showing people what they already believe.

This episode is packed with insights on how to design messages that don’t just land—they last.

To learn more about the Red Thread or grab Tamsen’s latest book Say What They Can’t Unhear, visit tamsenwebster.com.

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8 October 2025, 4:00 am

37 minutes 4 seconds

Margaret Andrews on Manage Yourself to Lead Others

Margaret Andrews is the founder of Mind and Hand Associates, faculty at Harvard Extension School, and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding. In this episode, she breaks down the MYLO framework—a practical, science-based system built around Motivation, Learning, and Opportunity—and explains how leaders at any level can use it to grow with intention, clarity, and effectiveness.

In this episode, we cover:

What Is MYLO? Margaret introduces the Motivation–Learning–Opportunity triangle and why all three are essential for leadership development.
Motivation Beyond Willpower: We explore how autonomy, relatedness, and competence drive sustainable motivation.
Learning as a Leadership Lever: Why deliberate practice, feedback, and humility are key to developing new skills and perspectives.
The Role of Opportunity in Growth: How stretch assignments, visibility, and support systems create the conditions for leadership advancement.
What Gets in the Way: Margaret explains common blocks to growth—like fixed mindset, poor feedback loops, and misaligned expectations.
The Importance of Intentionality: Why “just doing your job well” isn’t enough if you want to lead or level up.
Feedback That Fuels Development: How to ask for, receive, and act on feedback even when it’s vague, hard to hear, or poorly delivered.
How to Craft a Personal Leadership Development Plan: Using the MYLO framework to assess where you are—and what’s missing.
The Case for Self-Compassion and Curiosity: Margaret shares how these two traits amplify resilience and long-term success.
Applying MYLO at Every Level: Whether you’re an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this framework gives you a way to stay sharp and self-aware.

Connect with Margaret on LinkedIn here.

Find Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding wherever books are sold.

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27 September 2025, 4:00 am

45 minutes 50 seconds

Shawn Lemon on Digital Organization: Find What You Need in Seconds

Shawn Lemon is the founder of The Digital Organizer, where he helps individuals and teams eliminate friction and chaos in their digital workflows. In this episode, we go deep into digital file systems, tool audits, naming conventions, AI clutter, and the underestimated cost of daily digital disorganization.

This isn’t about color-coding your folders for fun—it’s about recovering your focus, time, and mental energy by organizing your digital life on purpose.

In this episode, we cover:

What Digital Organization Actually Means: It’s not about perfection—it’s about finding what you need in seconds, not minutes.
The Core Four Systems: Files, email, passwords, and communication tools. Nail these, and everything else falls into place.
Solo Business vs. Teams: Why even solo entrepreneurs create hidden chaos—and how to stop duplicating effort across tools.
Avoiding the Frankenstein Stack: How tool sprawl (Google Docs + Dropbox + Box + iCloud…) is draining your time and brainpower.
The Pitfalls of AI-Generated Clutter: As creation gets easier, organizing what you make becomes more important than ever.
How to Tame GPT Projects and Prompts: Why you need a training folder, naming conventions, and even visual breadcrumbs for your GPT knowledge base.
Digital Hoarding is Real: Most businesses only use 5% of their files regularly—find that 5% and prioritize from there.
The Real Cost of Disorganization: How wasted time and duplicated work affects your bottom line—and what to do about it.
How to Make Digital Organization a Project (Not a Forever Problem): Treat this like a sprint, not a slow drip. Get in, get organized, and get back to work.
Focus Over Friction: Why triaging your tools, tasks, and systems one at a time is the fastest way to reclaim productivity.

Whether you’re a solopreneur juggling too many tools or a leader managing team chaos, Shawn’s approach can save you hours a week—and a ton of mental load.

Start with his quiz at thedigitalorganizer.com/beyond to find your digital organization score and get free access to his file organization guide and resource library.

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11 September 2025, 4:00 am

40 minutes 46 seconds

Harry Cohen on Positive Leadership & Energy Management

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Harry Cohen, a leadership consultant and author of Be the Sun, Not the Salt. In this uplifting conversation, Harry unpacks how small moments of positive energy can have massive ripple effects—and how each of us can show up as a force for good in our relationships, teams, and communities.

In this episode, we explore:

The Heliotropic Effect in Human Behavior: Just like plants gravitate toward sunlight, people naturally respond to warmth, encouragement, and positivity.
How to Be the Sun: Harry shares practical ways to radiate positivity—through micro-moments of kindness, presence, and energy that elevate others.
Avoiding the Salt: We discuss how sarcasm, negativity, and small acts of dismissiveness (a.k.a. “salt”) can quickly erode connection and morale.
Leadership and Character: Whether in the workplace or at home, being the sun is about leading with integrity, empathy, and consistent warmth—not force or charisma.
Training Your Impact: Harry explains how being the sun is a skill that can be developed with intention, awareness, and repetition.

This conversation is a heartfelt and practical reminder that you don’t have to change the world to make a difference—you just have to change how you show up in it.

Learn more about Harry’s work at drharrycohen.com, and get the book Be the Sun, Not the Salt wherever books are sold.

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4 September 2025, 4:00 am

42 minutes 46 seconds

Charles Duhigg on the Secret Power of Storytelling in Communication

This week, we’re revisiting one of our most impactful conversations—with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Charles Duhigg, about his latest book Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. In a world where remote work, digital communication, and polarized conversations are the norm, knowing how to truly connect is more important than ever. This episode couldn’t be more timely.

In this updated revisit, we explore:

The Secret to Better Conversations: Charles explains why so many discussions go off-track—often because we don’t recognize what kind of conversation we’re actually having.
Three Types of Conversations: We break down the crucial distinction between factual, emotional, and values-based conversations—and how misalignment can cause friction.
Supercommunicator Habits: Charles reveals practical skills used by great communicators, from mirroring and labeling to vulnerability and listening with intention.
How to Build Psychological Safety: Learn how to create space for trust, openness, and productive dialogue, especially in high-stakes work or family conversations.
Why This Matters Now: As digital communication accelerates and meaningful connection becomes harder to come by, these tools aren’t just helpful—they’re essential.

Whether you’re leading a team, navigating personal relationships, or just trying to be a better listener, this conversation is packed with insight on how to communicate with empathy, clarity, and intention.

Learn more about Charles and his work at charlesduhigg.com, and pick up Supercommunicators wherever books are sold.

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29 August 2025, 4:00 am