A different kind of episode today! We're back with two voices, and this time, instead of Pilar sharing notes from a book, she speaks to her co-author Bree Caggiati, about their latest book, "Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams". They cover some of the book's topics, how the research has moved on, and for Part 2, they've got some connection-related personal updates. In today's episode: Part 1 Check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book!

1. Book and Project Origins

Bree and Pilar explain how their 2019 podcast project on connection and disconnection evolved into their recently published book.

2. Evolution from Remote to Hybrid Work How remote work went from a "niche" concept in 2019 to the mainstream adoption of hybrid models post-pandemic, and the common mistake of forcing traditional office-based practices into remote environments and the benefits of establishing intentional remote-first frameworks.

3. Diversity and Inclusion in Connection: Individuals experience belonging differently and how designing for specific needs can benefit an entire team.

4. Structure and Themes of the Book An overview of the core topics addressed in the book.

5. New Research on Monthly Meetups A new study by Nick Bloom suggesting that bringing fully remote teams together just once a month can significantly boost productivity and reduce quit rates.

6. The "3A Framework" of Connection & Shared Responsibility A breakdown of three ways people connect at work., and the "overarching thesis" that connection is a shared duty between the organisation, the manager, and the individual, requiring deliberate design rather than just hoping it happens.

7. The Connection Quiz A ten-question, quiz to test Bree's memory of key concepts from the book, such as the health risks of chronic loneliness and the "remote-first" approach.

8. Generative AI and Rapport How AI chatbots might replace small human interactions, potentially impacting the bonding and trust-building typically found in quick feedback loops.

Part 2: Personal Updates Talking "Away from the Work", but still connected to today's topic of connection!

Another episode from the season Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:

Code Dependent: How AI Is Changing Our Lives

by Madhumita Murgia

"The problem that we have is not the algorithms, but the humans."

And don't forget to check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book!

Part 2: Personal Updates Pilar shares some of the ways in which she's using generative AI to help with the writing of her book.

If you're interested in All the World's a Workplace, sign up here.

Another episode from the season Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:

Make Time: How to focus on what happens every day

by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky

Four Thousand Weeks: Embrace your limits. Change your life. Make your four thousand weeks count

by Oliver Burkman

"The technologies we use to try to 'get on top of everything' always fail us, in the end, because they increase the size of the 'everything' of which we're trying to get on top."

And don't forget to check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book!

Part 2: Personal Updates Pilar is reading this novel, which she's really enjoying: In a Good Light by Clare Chambers An announcement: Pilates for Remote Workers is in the making… Feedback has come through for All the World's a Workplace Pilar has to go back to re-writing the cozy mystery in third person…

pilarwrites.com

Another episode from the season: Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:

The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary

by Catherine Gray

Favourite highlight:

"Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have."

And don't forget to check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book!

Part 2: Personal Updates If you're interested in the future book The A to Z of Spanish Refrains, sign up here: https://atozofspanishculture.com/2025/01/16/n-is-for-un-libro-nuevo/

Pilar talks about her recent experience recording for an audioguide (the producer was great!), how her writing is going (the cozy mystery, not so great) and her ongoing learnings as Pilates teacher.

pilarwrites.com

Another episode from the season: Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:

The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life

by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

Favourite highlight:

I love my weeds as much as my unblossomed roses. (Which actually comes from a letter received by one of the author's students.)

Part 2 Recommendations for other reading: Mark Kilby's newsletter Staying Human with Tech

Practical Presenting: 100 Actionable Tips by Guy Michaels

And don't forget to check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book!

Personal Updates

Hello to Andrew and Mike from Blue Goat Books, thank you for listening! Pilar tells of what she learned from having a substitute teacher for her choir singing class. And how she experienced cognitive load herself while teaching Pilates. pilarwrites.com

Another episode from the season Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:

Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation by Kevin Roose

Favourite highlight:

"It's on us—the people who love technology but worry about its use—to explore this adjacent possible and push for the best version of it."

Part 2 Updates from Pilar:

A fiction recommendation: You Are Here by David Nicholls

The struggles writing the chapter on leadership for All the World's a Workplace. What Pilar is learning through choir singing lessons.

pilarwrites.com And don't forget to check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book!

Another episode from the season: Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:

Because Internet: Understanding how language is changing by Gretchen McCulloch Listener Roberta recommends: It's Not Magic. The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders by John Amaechi and the fiction book: No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister. Pilar in turn recommends Roberta Sawatzky's memoir Between here and Where? Embracing life's transitions and the novel Home Stretch by Graham Norton

And don't forget to check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book!

Part 2 Updates from Pilar:

The interview on The Creative Penn podcast episode 831:

How to Pivot Careers, Co-Write Books, And Stay Connected As A Remote Creative With Pilar Orti

The importance of attending Pilates classes as a student The workflow for this show pilarwrites.com

The 21st Century Work Life podcast is back - with a different kind of content and format. The Booknotes season starts and will last... for a while. In today's episode:

Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from

How To Have A Good Day: The Essential Toolkit for a Productive Day at Work and Beyond by Caroline Webb

Chris Coladonato's (the connection catalyst) colour book: Color Me Unplugged: Mindful Patterns Inspired By Nature Walks - A Coloring Book for Rest, Relaxation, and Creativity Teresa Douglas, author of Secrets of the Remote Workforce: By Employees, For Employees, recommends The Murder Bot Diaries

Part 2 Updates from Pilar -her books and what she's up to. Don't forget to check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book! pilarwrites.com

A very short episode where I (Pilar Orti) share the reasons why the 21st Century Work Life podcast is going on pause. Stay subscribed though, as you never know when new episodes might drop! Thank you very much for listening and all the best for 2025. Get in touch: https://www.virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us

It's the end of the year, but we're not making any predictions - things are moving way too fast! Instead, Pilar and Maya review some of the issues that have been blamed on "remote".

For an extensive summary of the episode, check out www.virtualnotdistant.com/podcasts/dont-blame-remote-work

You can message Pilar through the Virtual not Distant website: https://www.virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us and get hold of Maya over at Remote Work Europe: https://www.remoteworkeurope.eu/ .

Listener Richard de Villiers reached out to host Pilar Orti after hearing the episode on the 3 A's of Connection. He has plenty to say on the subject of connection in remote teams, and many different frameworks to share to help other listeners think through change programmes and their own leadership.

Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddevilliers/ For detailed show notes, head over to

https://www.virtualnotdistant.com/podcasts /connection-frameworks