A Productive Conversation

Hosted by productivity strategist Mike Vardy, A Productive Conversation is a podcast that discusses tips, tools, tactics, and tricks that are designed to help you take your productivity, time management, goals, to do lists, habits, and workflow to new heights - both at work and at home. If you're looking to focus your efforts on getting the right things done and start living the good life, then this weekly conversational podcast – crafted in the tradition of Slate's Working, Back to Work, and HBR IdeaCast – is for you.

Business
Careers
Management
101
Neill Williams talks about How to Unbusy Your Life
29 min
102
Michael Clinton talks about Roar into the Secon...
Michael and I discuss life longevity, as well as, revisiting your younger self to find and rekindle those buried ambitions.
33 min
103
Loretta Breuning talks about Status Games
Loretta and I talk about the role happy brain chemicals play in your status and the importance of navigating a healthy serotonin mindset.
32 min
104
Marshall Goldsmith talks about The Earned Life
30 min
105
Daniel Coyle talks about The Culture Playbook
Daniel Coyle joins me for a conversation about culture – where it comes from, what "belonging cues" have to do with it, and how it factors into the sustainable success of my favourite NBA team.
37 min
106
Adrienne Smith talks about playing football, gi...
I'm joined by Adrienne Smith to talk about her life in professional football, going beyond football to build businesses and forge communities, and ultimately giving back to the game she loves through the invention of Blitz Champz.
35 min
107
Joshua Becker talks about Things That Matter
I'm elated to have Joshua Becker return to the program for a conversation about things that matter... which is also the title of the book he knew he had to write.
31 min
108
Cameron Herold talks about being The Second in ...
On this episode, I'm joined by Cameron Herold to talk about situational leadership, why learning to delegate needs to happen more than it is, and the story of the second in command.
33 min
109
A Very Special Episode: Liam Martin talks about...
On this bonus episode of A Productive Conversation, I'm joined by Liam Martin to talk about the evolution of the way organizations work and the role that remote work plays in it.
36 min
110
FROM THE VAULT: Chris Bailey talks about Hyperf...
In this conversation from August 2019, Chris Bailey and I talk about focus, and how it plays a massive role in his book "Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction."
32 min
111
Ian Morgan Cron talks about The Story of You
I'm joined on this episode by Ian Morgan Cron, author of "The Story of You: An Enneagram Journey to Becoming Your True Self" to discuss how to break free of the broken story that is holding you back... among other fascinating things.
37 min
112
A Very Special Episode: Austin Kleon Returns!
This year marks the 10th anniversary of what many consider to be Austin Kleon's seminal work, Steal Like an Artist. That's why I'm glad I was able to score this productive conversation with him on the day of the release of the anniversary edition of this fantastic book.
29 min
113
Joe Chura talks about being Not Almost There
Joe Chura joins me on the podcast to have a productive conversation about the idea of being "not almost there" and how that idea has really sparked a fire in him in so many ways.
44 min
114
Mohammad Anwar and Chris Pitre talk about Love ...
I'm joined by Mohammad Anwar and Chris Pitre to talk about their concept of embracing love as a business strategy... and why they wrote a book about it.
34 min
115
Brittany Wagner talks about not giving up, taki...
Brittany Wagner, star of the hit series "Last Chance U" and author of "Next Chance You: Tools, Tips, and Tough Love for Bringing Your A-Game to Life" joins me on this episode of the podcast.
43 min
116
FROM THE VAULT: Justin Jackson talks about Maki...
On this episode from April 2017 I speak with my good friend Justin Jackson, founder of several SaaS companies, including Transistor.fm and Meeps.
29 min
117
Michael Diettrich-Chastain talks about CHANGES
Michael Diettrich-Chastain joins me on the podcast to talk about change – and how he addresses change in his book "CHANGES: The Busy Professional's Guide to Reducing Stress, Accomplishing Goals and Mastering Adaptability."
39 min
118
Luke Burgis talks about Wanting, Journaling, an...
I'm joined by Luke Burgs, the author of "Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life" for a productive conversation that I've been wanting to have ever since I discovered (and started devouring) this deeply rich book.
35 min
119
Thomas Anderson talks about Being Vulnerable
Thomas Anderson, author of The Vulnerable Man, opens up about the importance of vulnerability during this productive conversation.
41 min
120
BONUS EPISODE: Charlie Gilkey talks about Momentum
Charlie Gilkey and Mike talk about Momentum and the 2022 Kickstarter campaign for this productivity app in the making.
47 min
121
FROM THE VAULT: Rob Walker
On this episode from the vault, I have a conversation with Rob Walker about "The Art of Noticing."
27 min
122
Perrine Farque talks about Inclusion
On this episode I'm joined by author, speaker, and inclusion expert, Perrine Farque to talk about how inclusion is integral to an organization's success.
29 min
123
Becca Ribbing talks about Clarity, Getting Unst...
Becca Ribbing joins me to discuss meditation, getting unstuck, and the story behind The Clarity Journal.
40 min
124
Stacy Tuschl talks about The Implementation Code
Stacy Tuschl returns to the podcast to chat with me about her book "The Implementation Code."
35 min
125
John Meese talks about Profit, Growth and Thriving
Find out how to move from survival to thriving with your business with economist-turned-entrepreneur John Meese.
35 min