This week it was my pleasure to welcome Dr. Barry Kudrowitz to the show for a chat about his great book, Sparking Creativity: How Play and Humor Fuel Innovation and Design. Dr. Kudrowitz is a professor of product design and department head in the College of Design at the University of Minnesota. There, he founded and directed the product design program from 2011-2021. Barry received his PhD from the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), studying humor, creativity, and idea generation. He is interested in how creativity is perceived, evaluated, and learned. In addition, Barry has years of experience working with the toy industry and has taught toy design for over a decade. In this episode, we delve into how changing our mindset can transform mundane chores into enjoyable activities, explore why traditional icebreakers often fail, and discuss the vital role of creativity in every aspect of our lives. Barry will share practical examples of how educators and professionals have successfully implemented these concepts to create more engaging environments. Prepare to rethink how you approach work, creativity, and play with insights that blend academic rigor with real-world practicality.  Related Episodes: Creativity Podcast Playlist  Sparking Creativity: How Play and Humor Fuel Innovation and Design ______________________________________ Connect with Barry: Website Book ______________________________________ Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Instagram  ______________________________________ This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m excited to share my conversation with Matt Abrahams. Matt is a passionate, and innovative educator, podcaster, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business he has helped countless presenters improve and hone their communication, including some who have delivered Nobel Prize, TED, and World Economic Forum presentations. Matt is also the founder and principal at TFTS Communications LLC, a presentation and communication skills company based in Silicon Valley that helps people improve their presentation skills.  In this episode, we'll dive into Matt's six-step methodology to mastering the art of impromptu speaking, which he outlines in his latest book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot. Whether you're fielding cold calls or engaging in "small talk", Matt's techniques will teach you to manage anxiety, focus on your audience, and see every speaking situation as an opportunity, not a threat. We also explore the importance of structure in your communication, akin to chefs following a recipe, and how to give feedback that resonates and fosters growth. With Matt's unique blend of experience and insights, get ready to learn how you can transform your communication skills, think on your feet, and express your ideas more effectively, all of which can deepen relationships and expand your ideas. Related Episodes on My New Spotify Playlist: Connect with Matt: Website Podcast LinkedIn Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Instagram  This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m excited to welcome Michael Easter for a conversation about a pair of his books, Scarcity Brain, Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough and The Comfort Crisis, Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self. Michael is the founder of the 2% with Michael Easter newsletter and the New York Times bestselling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain. an author and a professor at UNLV. He writes and speaks on how humans can leverage modern science and evolutionary wisdom to perform better and live healthier lives. His work has been implemented by professional sports teams, elite military units, Fortune 500 companies, and leading universities. In this episode, we delve into the profound realizations that Michael made about the role of discomfort in our lives, stemming from overcoming his own battle with alcoholism and spending 33 transformative days in the Arctic. We'll discuss how our modern world's technological conveniences and constant search for comfort have led to sedentary lifestyles and excessive digital consumption, which Michael refers to as the "scarcity brain." Hear about the dangers of the scarcity loop driven by the endless cycle of wanting more, and explore with us the practical steps we can take towards building a healthier mindset and lifestyle, and why sometimes the path towards improvement involves leaning into discomfort. Michael will also share insights on his "2%" newsletter and how small, intentional actions can have a significant impact on our lives.  ______________________________________ Connect with Michael: Website Newsletter Books  Clear Space App ______________________________________ Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Instagram  ______________________________________ This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m excited to welcome Karl Hebenstreit for a chat about his book, The How and Why: Taking Care of Business with the Enneagram. Karl is a certified executive coach, leadership and organization development consultant, author, and international speaker. His 25+ year career spans the areas of HR and OD in biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and more. Karl holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University.  Together, we'll explore how the Enneagram provides a deeper, more nuanced look into our psyches compared to other personality frameworks like Myers-Briggs or DISC, and why knowing your Enneagram subtype can revolutionize communication and collaboration within your team. We'll delve into the synergy between your instinctual behaviors and core type, uncover how the Enneagram's focus on motivation helps us navigate workplace dynamics, and highlight the practical benefits of this wisdom for everyday interactions. This is a great episode for anyone eager to learn more about implementing Enneagram principles in their professional lives but are not clear on where to start. Related Episodes: Ian Morgan Cron on The Enneagram 101 Ian Morgan Cron on Overcoming the Productivity Hangups of Each Enneagram Type ______________________________________ Connect with Karl: Website Book LinkedIn Karl’s Kids Book on The Enneagram  ______________________________________ Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Instagram  ______________________________________ This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week it’s my pleasure to welcome Carlos Alvarenga for a chat about his new book, The Rules of Persuasion: How the World's Greatest Communicators Convince, Inspire, Lead--and, Sometimes, Deceive. Carlos is an independent researcher and author. Before writing full-time, he worked as a management consultant and adjunct professor at the Robert H.Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Carlos holds a B.A. in Humanities and Classical Greek from Hampden-Sydney College and completed the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Classics at the University of Pennsylvania. In this conversation we delve into the compelling world of persuasion as the art and science that influences every aspect of our lives. Carlos explains how he drew inspiration from Aristotle's foundational work on rhetoric to craft his book. We will unravel the subtleties of persuasion—as the act of shaping beliefs within a community—and how it distinguishes itself from manipulation and coercion. Carlos guides us through his periodic table of persuasion and the vital role language plays in shaping our reality. In addition, we discuss the shifts in teaching persuasion and the emergence of augmented intelligence, and how technology like deep-fakes are testing the limits of authenticity. Carlos also shares personal anecdotes, emphasizing the potency of storytelling, and offers insights into creating messages that resonate deeply with audiences regardless of their background or educational level. ______________________________________ Related Episodes and Links to Content Mentioned In This Episode: Kevin Costner’s Eulogy For Whitney Houston What’s Going On Tops Rolling Stone’s 500 Best Albums of All Time Terri Sjodin on Improving Your Presentation Skills and Public Speaking Kasia Wezowski on Open Body Language & Compassionate Communication Charles Duhigg on the Super Power of Clear Communication at Home and Work ______________________________________ Connect with Carlos: Website ______________________________________ Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Instagram  ______________________________________ This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m excited to speak with Adrienne Bellehumer. Adrienne the founder of Bellehumeur Co. and co-partner of Risk Oversight, based in Calgary, Alberta. Adrienne is also the author of the book, The 24-Hour Rule and Other Secrets for Smarter Organizations: Including the 6 Steps of Dynamic Documentation. In this episode she is here to shed light on the often overlooked yet crucial practice of documentation and its profound impact on both personal productivity and organizational success. As we dive into the conversation, we'll explore the six dynamic steps of documentation—capturing, structuring, presenting, communicating, storing, and leveraging—and learn why both "little d" everyday habits and "big D" corporate initiatives are essential for our effectiveness. Adrienne will share her insights on the 24-hour rule, a powerful strategy for activating information and maintaining momentum. In addition we'll examine common misconceptions around documentation and discover how it can indeed propel individuals and teams forward rather than being seen as a burden. Get ready to rethink your meetings, create buffer times for processing information, and find out how to align your note-taking with your attention span, enhancing focus and productivity. Plus, you'll learn about the collaborative magic of real-time, communal editing, and the art of iterative processes in documentation. ______________________________________ Connect with Adrienne: Website  LinkedIn Risk Oversight  ______________________________________ Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Instagram  ______________________________________ This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m excited to conclude a series of conversations I’ve been having with my friend Jeff Sieh. Jeff is an international speaker and visual marketing consultant. He hosts the Social Media News Live show and podcast and is also “Head Beard” at Manly Pinterest Tips. Jeff has worked with and produced a wide range of content for various companies, including Guy Kawasaki, Kim Garst, Social Media Examiner, and Tailwind. In our previous discussions Jeff and I addressed tools for harnessing your creativity, and tips for repurposing audio and video content to reach a larger audience. This week we are diving into the fascinating and rapidly evolving world of AI tools. We'll be exploring the ethical implications and impact of AI on creativity, touching on its integration into business and content creation. Jeff shares his insights on using AI tools such as Descript, and Midjourney in his business and recommends other specific tools for various tasks. In addition we discuss the intertwining of AI and art, the potential impact of AI on industries such as podcasting and live video content, and the moral considerations necessary when using AI. We'll also share our experiences with AI tools in content creation and storytelling. Get ready to explore this ever-evolving landscape of AI and its impact on creativity in today's world.  ______________________________________ Connect with Jeff: Links  Descript 101 Social Media News Live ______________________________________ Connect with Erik: LinkedIn  Facebook  Instagram  ______________________________________ This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m excited to welcome Francesco D’alessio for a really insightful chat about finding the right productivity tools and apps to meet your unique needs. Francesco is the founder of Keep Productive and co-founder of Tool Finder, the world's best place to discover and learn more about productivity tools. Both Keep Productive and Tool Finder aim to make productivity software easier to understand. There is a tool for everything so they create videos and courses to help you match to the perfect productivity tools for you. Tool Finder’s resources are designed to make productivity software easy to grasp and go deeper if you want to. Built on an independent philosophy around reviews and matching people with the perfect tool, Tool Finder is a growing directory, network, and source of knowledge on the ideal productivity software to pick and adopt for your work, family life, or personal time management. Their 120,000+ readers a month gain insight into what apps are best for them, and what features matter and gain real insight into whether the tool is right for them. Tool Finder has reviewed over 750+ productivity apps and constantly updates its database.  In this episode Francesco provides his unique three-part framework on selecting and sticking with productivity apps, emphasizing the importance of research, trial, and optimization. We also discuss the risks of the "shiny object syndrome" and the future of AI's role in productivity tools – a conversation that promises to give you a glimpse into the future of task management. In addition we touch on the importance of 'rules over tools'—a philosophy that prioritizes frameworks and strategies over the apps themselves. This is a vital episode for anyone looking for professional insights on what makes a great productivity tool and where the future of productivity is going. Connect with Francesco: Website YouTube Twitter ______________________________________ Connect with Erik: Sign Up For Our Newsletter LinkedIn  Twitter  Facebook  Instagram  ______________________________________ This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m excited to welcome Terri Sjodin for a great conversation about her new book, Presentation Ready: Improve Your Sales Presentation Outcomes and Avoid the Twelve Most Common Mistakes. Terri is the Principal and Founder of Sjodin Communications, a public speaking, sales training and consulting firm based in Newport Beach, CA. In addition to her latest book, she is the author of the book, Small Message, Big Impact, which hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists. For over 20 years Terri has served as a speaker and consultant to an impressive list of corporations, associations, academic conferences, CEO's and Members of the U.S. Congress. She is a high-content speaker and her style is fresh, sassy and practical. Terri is considered one of the most sought-after sales, communications and speaking consultants in the country. In this episode, we'll unpack the power of preparation in seizing unexpected opportunities and the underestimated influence of body language. Terri shares her insider knowledge on why public speaking should be embraced as a gateway to new horizons, drawing from her rich personal experiences in speech and debate. We discuss the transforming capacity of verbal communication training and how improving presentation skills can dramatically increase professional competency. In addition Terri advises how to lead conversations with potential clients towards a smooth commitment and how to handle responses that aren't outright rejections. Facing the challenge of last-minute presentations, we'll explore Terri's approach to structure, creativity, and credibility. So join us as we delve into techniques to keep your audience captivated and your presentations impactful. Connect with Terri: Website  LinkedIn  _____________________________________ Connect with Erik: LinkedIn Facebook  Instagram Threads ______________________________________ This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m excited to welcome my friend and the producer of the podcast Todd Bushong back to the show for a laid back chat about the state of television streaming, regulating our media diet, and recapturing some of the communal magic of movies and television. With the Oscars airing this Sunday it got me thinking about how incredibly different media consumption is in the age of streaming and I wanted to talk with Todd about that topic as well as offer up some tips and tricks for maximizing your dollar during the current streaming wars. In the episode we delve into the complexities and even stress caused by the modern streaming landscape. We discuss some of the anxiety that I’ve been experiencing about missing out on many of the Oscar nominated films this year and why that anxiety might be more common than I thought. Todd and I explore the concept of media anxiety, which stems from the overwhelming number of choices available on streaming platforms and the social pressure to keep up with popular shows and films, especially during awards season. In addition we examine the consequences of a fragmented media culture and consider how podcasts have stepped in to fill the void of communal discussion about media. Throughout the episode, we hope to offer practical advice on managing streaming services and consumption, aiming to reduce decision fatigue while maximizing your down time. Some tips include using physical media, being intentional about what to watch, and creating a shared viewing experience with others. We discuss personalizing streaming services to suit your preferences, such as using accessibility features on Apple TV, how to incorporate media into your routine in a controlled manner, and how a healthy media diet is similar to healthy meal planning.  ________________________________________ Related Episodes: Nick Gray on Building Big Relationships with Small Parties or Gatherings Kendra Adachi on Prioritizing the Things That Matter Ryan McRae on Hygge, Pacing and Rest _________________________________________ Connect with Erik: LinkedIn Facebook  Instagram Threads _________________________________________ This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to support the show by checking out the sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices