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.

Business
Careers
Management
151
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
152
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
153
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
154
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
155
Wes Kao talks about Maven, Cohort-based Learnin...
As co-founder of the altMBA, Wes Kao helped create the modern cohort-based education movement with Seth Godin.
40 min
156
Dr. Michael Breus talks about Energy Management...
Learn how to sleep well and manage your energy throughout the day with world-renowned sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus.
36 min
157
Dan Clark talks about Brain.fm, Functional Musi...
Find out how functional music can help you reach your desired mental state from the CEO of Brain.fm, Dan Clark.
36 min
158
Ron Friedman talks about Reverse Engineering Su...
Psychologist and behavior change expert Ron Friedman uncovers how to unlock your creativity by decoding the success of others.
33 min
159
Juliet Funt talks about a Minute to Think
Juliet Funt shares how to reclaim time for thinking and make room for what truly matters. It’s time to interlace our days with more white space.
42 min
160
Jesse Mecham talks about YNAB, Money Management...
Discover how to master your finances and live more freely with Jesse Mecham, Founder of You Need a Budget, aka YNAB.
40 min
161
Pieter Geldenhuys talks about Shoshin Walks, Ex...
How ‘Shoshin’ are you? Find out about this Japanese approach to the beginner’s mindset and how it’s helped entrepreneur Pieter Geldenhuys live more fully.
34 min
162
Jeff Harry talks about Play, Flow and Curiosity
You’re in flow and able to forget about time when you play. Jeff Harry shares how to tap into your true self by playing.
33 min
163
Kristoffer Carter talks about Permission, Purpo...
Kristoffer Carter uncovers how leaning into four types of permission will unlock a purpose-driven life for us all.
24 min
164
Eric Partaker talks about The 3 Alarms
Your alarm can literally help you succeed. Coach and mentor Eric Partaker shares how the simplest system of setting three alarms can transform your health, wealth and relationships.
40 min
165
Pamela Slim talks about the Widest Net
Pamela Slim uncovers how to connect with potential clients and customers using the true breadth of the marketplace.
40 min
166
Lisa Erickson talks about the Art and Science o...
There is a true art and science when it comes to meditation. Meditation teacher Lisa Erickson shares how to build a sustainable practice once and for all.
43 min
167
Perry Marshall talks about Detox, Declutter, Do...
Business strategist Perry Marshall has benefited hugely from the 80/20 principle and having more free time to create. He shares a clear path forward that will help you eliminate wasted effort.
48 min
168
A/J Jackson talks about Music, Glasses and Colo...
Best known as the lead singer for the band Saint Motel, A/J Jackson has taken on another exciting endeavour – AVIEW, an innovative new eyewear brand. Find out how he schedules time to be an artist.
35 min
169
Mike Michalowicz talks about Getting Different
Most things have been done before – it’s about adding your ‘flavor’. Business expert Mike Michalowicz reinvents the way marketing is done through a radically simple marketing system.
36 min
170
Stephen Warley talks about Self-Awareness, Refl...
True productivity comes from slow down. In this conversation with Stephen Warley, we explore the importance of self-awareness and putting aside time to reflect.
37 min
171
Jeff Brown talks about Reading To Lead
Jeff Brown joins the show to share what the most successful leaders have in common: reading. Find out how it unlocks limitless creativity and influence.
44 min
172
Adii Pienaar talks about Measuring Life Profita...
You don’t need to sacrifice your life to run a business – you can have both. Adii Pienaar shares how to measure your Life Profitability to live an extraordinary life.
43 min
173
Yvonne Heimann talks about ClickUp, Project Man...
It’s personal building the right process for your business. ClickUp expert and business coach Yvonne Heimann shares how choosing the right tool will shift your business.This episode is sponsored by Canva Pro. It’s the easy-to-use design platform that has everything you need to design like a pro. It has all you need in one place, including a collection of over 75 million premium photos, videos, audio and graphics. As a Canva Pro subscriber, I love so many of their features including the brand kit, which makes it really easy to collaborate with my team. Claim your FREE 45 day extended trial by signing up via https://www.canva.com/affiliates/TIMECRAFTING/?_branch_match_id=764460006028471630 (Canva.me/timecrafting).This episode is sponsored by Sit Down, Startup, a new weekly podcast from Zendesk. Getting your business off the ground is hard. Find out why customer experience is at the heart of success. The startup’s team chats with Zendesk leaders, founders, and CEOs in a coffee-shop style conversation about starting up when the world is upside down. Catch weekly fresh new episodes on Apple, Google, and Spotify. Head over to Sit Down, Startup https://www.zendesk.co.uk/campaign/sitdownstartup/ (here).From having been a German pub owner to now being a Californian business coach, Yvonne Heimann “sees systems everywhere”. I discovered her work on YouTube when I wanted to move over from Asana to ClickUp – and she massively helped me with this transition. Yvonne helps digital entrepreneurs increase profits and reclaim lost time by teaching how to implement proven processes, systems, using project management tools like ClickUp.As you can tell from our conversation, Yvonne knows her stuff when it comes to simplifying systems and building processes. Listen to find out more about her ‘Daily Method of Operation’, building a successful YouTube channel, why ClickUp is her favorite tool, using visual flow charts – and what it was like being brought up near the Berlin wall. Talking PointsBe clear on your ‘Why’ and ‘What’ (03:48)Being a woman in the productivity industry (06:40)How to find common values within your workflow (09:12)Having patience with setting up your process (11:31)Defining productivity across the US vs European culture (19:01)Journaling and daily routines (28:50)Tips on moving to a different project management tool (30:53)Having a bigger picture with your process (34:33)Quote"Look at the bigger picture, then drill down."Helpful Linkshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQvOnl6ReknBr44YLDKxsFQ (Ask Yvi YouTube)https://www.facebook.com/AskYvi/groups/ (Ask Yvi Facebook Group)https://askyvi.com/ (AskVi.com)Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? https://www.scribd.com/g/9a8d8 (Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.)If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking https://productivityist.captivate.fm/listen (here).
41 min
174
Vernon Foster II talks about the Soul Manual
It’s time to take a pause. Athlete, author, podcaster and mentor Vernon Foster II shares his steps to mindful living.This episode is sponsored by TextExpander. With TextExpander, you can unlock your productivity with its many features. With TextExpander you can make everything you write repetitively available everywhere you type: text documents, spreadsheets, web forms, and more. Unlock your productivity with TextExpander. Visit https://textexpander.com/lp/podcast?utm_source=productivityist-podcastandutm_medium=podcastandutm_campaign=textexpander-Mar-2021 (TextExpander.com/podcast) for 20% off your first year.This episode is sponsored by Sit Down, Startup, a new weekly podcast from Zendesk. Getting your business off the ground is hard. Find out why customer experience is at the heart of success. The startup’s team chats with Zendesk leaders, founders, and CEOs in a coffee-shop style conversation about starting up when the world is upside down. Catch weekly fresh new episodes on Apple, Google, and Spotify. Head over to Sit Down, Startup https://www.zendesk.co.uk/campaign/sitdownstartup/ (here).This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers you access to your own licensed professional therapist – all from the comfort of wherever you are. You can arrange weekly video chats or phone calls, text with your carefully curated counsellor, and do so at an affordable price. And anything you share is confidential. I’ve been using BetterHelp for a while and I am highly impressed. It’s been a huge help for me and I know it can be the same for you. Start living a happier life today with BetterHelp. As a listener, you’ll get 10% off your first month by visiting https://betterhelp.com/timecrafting (betterhelp.com/timecrafting). Give BetterHelp a try today.What’s clear from my conversation with Vernon Foster II is that living a fulfilling life is a lifelong journey. There is no silver bullet or magic pill. Through Vernon’s own personal hardship, and working closely with others, he’s put together all that he has learnt in ‘The 7 Laws of Mindful Living: A Soul Manual’. I first met Vernon a few years ago at the Podcast Movement, so I couldn’t wait to learn more about this latest book. Join our reflective discussion as we spoke about Vernon’s ‘laws’ of mindful living, the power of taking a break, overcoming limiting beliefs, how to not get caught up in the doing – and a potential 8th Law...Talking PointsThe Law of Letting Go (03:23)Limiting identities (05:39)The art of embracing experiences (07:19)Removing judgement (09:55)The Law of Abundance (20:13)The impact of releasing ‘The 7 Laws of Mindful Living: A Soul Manual’ (24:27)Overcoming overwhelm with where to start (29:32)Quote"Craft the narrative that supports who you want to become."Helpful Linkshttps://lnk.bio/vernonfoster (VeronTFoster.com)https://www.the7lawsbook.com/ (The 7 Laws of Mindful Living (Book Website))https://www.amazon.ca/Laws-Mindful-Living-Soul-Manual/dp/B08H6NL5WB/ref=sr_1_1?camp=1789andcreative=9325andcreativeASIN=B08H6NL5WBanddchild=1andkeywords=The+7+Laws+of+Mindful+Living%3A+A+Soul+ManualandlinkCode=gs3andlinkId=33835f10ccd13575a331f69ea0b9c316andqid=1628760623andsr=8-1 (The 7 Laws of Mindful Living (Amazon / Audible))https://podcastmovement.com/ (Podcast Movement)https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Thing-Surprisingly-Extraordinary-bestselling/dp/1848549253/ (‘The One Thing’ by Gary Keller)https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenlights-Raucous-stories-Academy-Award-winning/dp/1472280830/ (‘Greenlights’ by Matthew McConaughey)https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/put-up-a-pretty-light-w-matthew-mcconaughey/id1510058141?i=1000509628854 (Put Up A Pretty Light (w/ Matthew McConaughey))https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eat-That-Frog-Important-Things/dp/1444765426/ (‘Eat That Frog’ Brian Tracy)https://productivityist.com/podcast351/ (Episode 351: Eating Frogs with Brian Tracy)https://productivityist.com/podcast359/ (Episode 359:...
44 min
175
Marli Williams talks about Retreats, Transforma...
Master facilitator Marli Williams shares what you can get out of a retreat – and the real-life transformations you can expect from connecting with the right people. This episode is sponsored by Sovereignty. Sovereignty creates game-changing supplements to take your workouts to the next level, make your endless to-do list feel like a cakewalk, and falling asleep and staying easier than counting sheep. Feel unmotivated or lacking focus? Have the best day, every day, with PURPOSE+ – a blend of CBD, CBG (a mood-enhancing hemp-derived ingredient), 7 clinically studied ingredients with the world’s best adaptogens to deliver results you can feel almost immediately. Visit https://sovereignty.co/ (https://sovereignty.co/) and use the code timecrafting for 20% off your purchase.This episode is sponsored by LinkedIn Jobs. When your business is ready to make that next hire, LinkedIn Jobs can help by matching your role with qualified candidates so that you can find the right person quickly. You can pay what you want and get the first $50 off. Just visit https://linkedin.com/timecrafting (linkedin.com/timecrafting) to get fifty dollars off your first job post. Terms and conditions apply.The episode is sponsored by Streak. It’s a CRM designed to help you stay on top of each part of your email process, without ever leaving Gmail. Streak gives you the tools for tracking, mail merges and snippets, to save you time and scale up your email efficiency. What’s more, you can set up pipelines right inside your inbox to start tracking your email process – in just a few minutes. Go to https://www.streak.com/podcast?utm_medium=podcastandutm_source=v_toneandutm_campaign=timecrafting (streak.com/timecrafting) to get 20% off your first year with the Pro plan, their most popular option. This episode is sponsored by Sit Down, Startup, a new weekly podcast from Zendesk. Getting your business off the ground is hard. Find out why customer experience is at the heart of success. The startup’s team chats with Zendesk leaders, founders, and CEOs in a coffee-shop style conversation about starting up when the world is upside down. Catch weekly fresh new episodes on Apple, Google, and Spotify. Head over to Sit Down, Startup https://www.zendesk.co.uk/campaign/sitdownstartup/ (here).Marli is a master facilitator of transformation who creates magic in beautiful epic places. She’s the founder and director of Camp YES! – a summer camp for women entrepreneurs, leaders and change-makers. She is also a wilderness guide, educator and mentor. Her mission is to create epic, transformational experiences. Join our productive conversation as we discuss the power of taking a retreat, how to stay energized as a facilitator, being creative with virtual retreats, having informal hangout time – and sharing bourbon with Neal Pollack. Talking PointsThe tipping point for taking a retreat (04:00)Retreats vs conferences (07:16)What makes a retreat stand out from the rest (10:46)Co-creating experiences (21:01)Manufacturing transformational experiences online (24:23)Quote"Pay attention to what captures your attention."Helpful Linkshttps://camp-yes.com/ (Camp YES!)https://productivityist.com/captivate-podcast/more-fun-in-done-with-marli-williams/ (Episode 187: More Fun in Done with Marli Williams)https://productivityist.com/captivate-podcast/361/ (Episode 361: Being a Multipotentialite with Vanessa Tharp)https://productivityist.com/thebigready/ (The BIG Ready)https://worlddominationsummit.com/ (World Domination)http://www.maxfuncon.com/ (MaxFunCon)https://thinklivebetter.com/ (Think Better, Live Better)https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jewball-Neal-Pollack/dp/1612187234 (‘Jewball’ by Neal Pollack)https://www.instagram.com/marliwilliams/ (Marli’s Instagram)https://www.facebook.com/marli.williams1 (Marli’s Facebook)https://www.marliwilliams.com/ (MarliWilliams.com)Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast?...
34 min