A Productive Conversation
Hosted by productivity strategist Mike Vardy, A Productive Conversation offers insightful discussions on how to craft a life that aligns with your intentions. Each episode dives into the art of time devotion, productiveness, and refining your approach to daily living. Mike invites guests who are thinkers, doers, and creators to share their strategies for working smarter and living more intentionally. From practical tips to deep dives on mindset shifts, this podcast will help you reframe your relationship with time and find balance in a busy world.
Subscribe and join the conversation—because a productive life is more than just getting things done.
551
Efficient Writing with Jim Woods
On this episode of the podcast, Mike speaks with Jim Woods, author, and creator of the "Write Publish Share" course. They talk about the writing process, habits, and the relationship between productivity and getting writing done.
27 min
552
Closing Chapters with Michael Schechter
Michael Schechter, Mike's good friend, and former podcasting partner drops by the show for the first time on his own. The two of them talk about old times, what Schechter has been up to since they stopped producing Workflowing at 5by5, and the challenges behind closing one chapter in your life so you can make greater strides going forward.
39 min
553
The Power of SCALE with Travis Collier
In this edition of The Productivityist Podcast Mike and Travis Collier have a friendly - and short - conversation. Travis is the author of "SCALE: Refuse to Settle, Recognize what Matters, Redefine Success" and the two friends talk about how they met (and how it caught both of them and Mike's former podcast colleague Michael Schechter off guard), and what the power of SCALE can do for you.
22 min
554
How to Deliver a "Do Over" with Jon Acuff
Ever want a do-over with your career? Well, the guest on this episode can help you with that. Jon Acuff is a celebrated (and New York Times best-selling) author whose latest effort, Do Over, can help you figure out how to rescue Mondays, reinvent your work, and avoid getting stuck. In this lively (and efficient) discussion, Jon talks with Mike about Do Over...and they occasionally crack jokes while doing so.
17 min
555
Procrastinating on Purpose with Rory Vaden
The guest on this episode is someone who looks at time management a lot like the podcast host, Mike Vardy does. Rory Vaden is the author of "Take The Stairs: 7 Steps To Achieving True Success" and "Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time." He is an accomplished speaker and entrepreneur and consults individuals and businesses on productivity. In this discussion, Mike and Rory talk about results management, the calendar, and a slew of other productivity-related subjects.
18 min
556
Body Talk with James Hamblin
Dr. James Hamblin, Senior Editor at The Atlantic and the host of "If Our Bodies Could Talk" joins Mike in the show as they talk about the things we can do to help ourselves and our bodies be more effective and efficient and the things we sometimes do that make them function at less than optimum levels.
20 min
557
Getting Things Done with David Allen
In this episode, Mike Vardy talks with David Allen, author of Getting Things Done. They discuss the pull of email, how to wrap your head around working by context, and what's different in the 2015 edition of Getting Things Done.
29 min
558
Message Not Received with Phil Simon
In this episode, Mike Vardy sits down with Phil Simon, author of "Message Not Received." They talk about the problem with email, why clarity is often lost in communication, and what we can do to make sure we have a far better chance of being heard when we send out messages to colleagues and cohorts.
26 min
559
A Look At Meetings
On this episode of the podcast, Mike Vardy and Lee Garrett take a look at one of the biggest productivity drains on the planet: meetings. They discuss why they don't usually work as currently designed and what you can do to make them more effective and more productive.
39 min
560
Moods and Modes with Brett Terpstra
Brett Terpstra is one of the smartest guys on the Internet, and in this episode, Mike and Brett talk about work habits, workflows, and how moods and modes each help them deliver their work on a consistent basis.
32 min
561
Everything Is A To Do with Michael Schechter & ...
Mike is joined once again by Patrick Rhone and reunites with his former podcasting partner-in-crime Michael Schechter on this episode. They discuss the idea of "have to" versus "need to," choices, chaos, caution, and much more.
41 min
562
Building a Better Podcast with Joel Boggess & D...
In this episode, Mike chats with prolific podcasters Joel Boggess and Dr. Pei. They are the husband and wife team behind the creation, development, and explosive growth of ReLaunch, an incredibly popular podcast.
22 min
563
How To Read More (and Read Better)
In this episode Mike flies solo, revealing his reading workflow. This workflow is how he's able to digest a ton of content every week as well as build a reading habit that allows him to read more...and read better.
22 min
564
An Intentional Discussion with Patrick Rhone
Patrick Rhone returns to the show for another free-form discussion with Mike. They talk about intentions, planning, and allocating your time wisely, and eventually get around to talking about what saying 'no' can do for you and for others.
33 min
565
Built Unstoppable with Justin Levy
In this episode, Mike spends time with Justin Levy. The story that has unfolded for him in the past few months has been very inspiring, as he's in the midst of recovering from a series of seizures that seemingly originated from a brain tumor. And even that hasn't slowed him down all that much.
26 min
566
Managing Time Demands with Francis Wade
This episode features a conversation between Mike and Francis Wade, author of Perfect Time-Based Productivity. They have a lively discussion about the difference between time management and time demands, the importance of looking inward when trying to improve your productivity, and what to do when you fall off the wagon with your resolutions for the year.
28 min
567
A Look at Calendar Apps
In this episode Mike explores several calendar apps, offering his thoughts on each of them along with some tips and tricks that he uses when dealing with his calendar. (Note: This won't be the last time he looks at calendar apps, as they are under constant development.)
18 min
568
Shaping a Great Year with David Delp
In this conversation with David Delp of Pilot Fire. Mike and David discuss what it takes to make a great year, how understanding and acknowledging roles can be a real boon to productivity, what goals actually mean, and much more.
35 min
569
The Disconnection Discussion with Patrick Rhone
In this episode, Mike has another conversation with Patrick Rhone. They discuss letter and number grading systems in schools when tech fails you, and more kernels of wisdom in less than a half an hour.
30 min
570
The Procrastination Conversation with Dr. Tim P...
In this episode, Mike has a candid conversation with Dr. Tim Pychyl about procrastination, strategic delaying, and what can get in the way of our productivity no matter what technology or approach we use.
26 min
571
Let Go and Lean In with Daniel Gold
Daniel Gold of DEG Consulting pops by to talk with Mike about letting go, leaning in, and the primary thing you need to keep in mind that will help you take your work, life, and side projects to greater heights.
27 min
572
Leveling Up with Jaime Masters
In this episode, Mike chats with Jaime Masters (formerly known as Jaime Tardy), founder of Eventual Millionaire and author of the book The Eventual Millionaire. They talk about the growth of their respective businesses and the things they did to level up along the way.
21 min
573
The Contexts Conversation: Part Two
After a lengthy thread on Twitter that debated what contexts were (and weren't), Mike invites some of the participants to discuss their thoughts on contexts in more detail in the second of two episodes on the subject. This episode's guests are Mike's old podcasting partner Michael Schechter and Lee Garrett.
28 min
574
The Contexts Conversation: Part One
After a lengthy thread on Twitter that debated what contexts were (and weren't), Mike invites some of the participants to discuss their thoughts on contexts in more detail. For this first part in the two-part series, the guests are Sven Fechner and Kevin Rothermel.
29 min
575
Voices for Vets with Gary Miller Jr. and Daniel...
This special episode of the podcast features interviews that Mike conducted with veterans of the military service, Gary Miller Jr. of GaryMillerJr.com and Daniel & Vanessa Hayes of Simple Life Together as part of the Voices For Vets campaign. These discussions focus on what aspects of the military that they've been able to translate into making their civilian lives fulfilling, and how they prepared for the transitions to their new lives beforehand.
42 min