Undo – How history's outliers got stuff done
Undo – How history's outliers got stuff done
Mark Steadman
An investigation into how history’s oddballs, outliers, and overachievers built systems to help them do their best work. Each episode unearths a so-called productivity hack from history to help you separate the brilliant from the bullshit, so you can build a methodology that works for you. Productivity isn’t about getting more done to feed a money-seeking monster with an ever-growing appetite. It’s about clearing the clutter so you can focus on what you do best. Because if Edison can invent the lightbulb without Inbox Zero, you can probably survive without 10x-ing your toothbrush routine.
You aren’t lazy; you’re fighting a broken system – Ignacio Martín-Baró
Modern work pressures call for some radical resistance, and we’re going to look for it where resistance is needed most: the frontline battle against oppression.Check out our guest's podcast, You Are Not a Frog.Am I Stressed, Overwhelmed... or Burning Out?Get your free guide to help you tell the difference Support the show from $3 and getEpisodes early and ad-freeJoin our listener communityJoin Mark for monthly Q&AsSupport Undo via Patreon
Jun 8, 2025
23 min
“Busy is the New Stupid” – What does Warren Buffett know about real work?
Is there anything this 94 year-old business mogul can teach us about our attitude towards work and busyness?Check out our guest's podcast, You Are Not a Frog.Am I Stressed, Overwhelmed... or Burning Out?Get your free guide to help you tell the difference Support the show from $3 and getEpisodes early and ad-freeJoin our listener communityJoin Mark for monthly Q&AsSupport Undo via Patreon
Jun 1, 2025
22 min
The Hitchhiker's Guide to Productivity
Highlights from Mark's podcast dedicated to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which covers – if not skewers – the subject of productivity in the loving image of Douglas Adams. Support the show from $3 and getEpisodes early and ad-freeJoin our listener communityJoin Mark for monthly Q&AsSupport Undo via Patreon
May 25, 2025
31 min
How to remember everything — Tiago Forte and his Second Brain
We need a system to keep our brain clear of all those nagging little tasks and bits of info we arry with us, so it can focus on having better ideas. Support the show from $3 and getEpisodes early and ad-freeJoin our listener communityJoin Mark for monthly Q&AsSupport Undo via Patreon
May 18, 2025
27 min
How to build a car or plan a wedding using Kanban
We can learn a lot from the world of manufacture and bring it into the work that we do. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 11, 2025
18 min
Why giving less than 100% is better for your health
The whip-cracking "give it all you got" business bro bullshit isn’t just insensitive – it’s actually wrong. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 4, 2025
16 min
Buckminster Fuller and the system of You
Modern work needs a more modern approach than Taylorism's simple "one right way". Enter systems theory, and one of its greatest proponents. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 27, 2025
20 min
What Sherlock Holmes can teach us about productivity and our brains
He’s the world’s first and only consulting detective, and his mind has fascinated us for over a hundred and thirty years. His methods are mysterious and complex, but goddammit he gets results.So what can Baker Street’s most famous resident teach us about how we do our most important work?Special thanks to this week's guest, Matthew Bellringer. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 20, 2025
23 min
How to stick to it when the novelty wears off – Atomic Habits
Could there be more to habit building than “just showing up”? On those days when you can’t find the inspiration, is there anything you can do to help keep you on track? Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 13, 2025
26 min
How to turn your side hustle into your main gig – “The One Thing”
While we might not come up with a paradigm-shifting idea, we are capable of putting a dent in the universe, and putting something on the permanent record of the Internet. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 6, 2025
27 min
Load more