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.
Episodes
When you gain agency over your time—whether stepping out of a traditional 9-to-5 job or shifting into self-employment—it can feel liberating… and overwhelming. Kerry Hoffman knows this tension well. As someone who helps individuals and teams make sense of what they’re doing and when they’re doing it, she offers a refreshingly practical approach to task management and planning that embraces both the structure and spontaneit...
What happens when the host becomes the guest? In this special episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit on the other side of the mic as Tim O’Hare—an active and insightful member of the TimeCrafting Trust Premium community—interviews me about my latest book, The Productivity Diet.
We explore why this book took years to come together, what makes it different from typical productivity guides, and how it offers a more sustai...
In this episode, I reconnect with productivity strategist Yvonne Heimann—aka AskYvi—who’s not only made a bold geographic shift but is navigating personal and professional freedom with intention and clarity. We explore what it looks like to trust the systems you’ve built, especially when life throws curveballs or invites you into a new chapter.
Yvi shares her journey from San Diego to Vancouver Island, a leap that challenge...
It was a real treat to welcome Keith Ferrazzi back to the show—especially to discuss his latest book, Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship. Keith’s work has long pushed beyond traditional leadership models, and this conversation builds on that legacy with his fresh concept of “teamship.”
We dig into how the book is structured like a workbook, intentionally concise but rich with practices, diagnostics,...
This episode is the latest in our monthly PM Talks series, where Patrick Rhone and I go deep on foundational elements of productiveness. And for this one—our 600th episode, no less—we dive into a topic that touches everything from our to-do lists to our dinner prep: focus.
What does it really mean to focus? And more importantly, how do we hold onto it when the world (and our brains) are pulling us in a million direction...
When I first heard the term conative, I was surprised I hadn’t come across it before. After all, I live in the productivity space. But after my conversation with David Kolbe, it became clear just how crucial it is to understand this third part of the mind—especially if we want to work more naturally and avoid burnout.
David is the CEO of Kolbe Corp and co-author of the book Do More, More Naturally: Empowering Effortless Suc...
It was a real treat to reconnect with Austin Kleon for this episode of A Productive Conversation. Before we got into the heart of the conversation, Austin gave us a quick update: his next book Don’t Call It Art is in the works, inspired by the playful creativity he’s witnessed in his kids. He also mentioned that his once-weekly newsletter has now doubled in frequency—and it continues to be one of the best things I read onl...
In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit down with Krish Ramineni, co-founder and CEO of Fireflies.ai. Krish has had an impressive journey—from being one of Microsoft’s youngest product managers to launching Fireflies, an AI-powered meeting assistant. He’s also been named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and has guest lectured at Stanford on deep learning and machine learning.
We cover a lot in this conversation—how AI can...
This episode of PM Talks is all about curiosity—how it drives us, how it gets suppressed, and how it intertwines with trust and judgment. Patrick Rhone and I dive deep into the forces that shape our thinking, from societal conditioning to personal experiences. As always, we take a thoughtful (and sometimes humorous) approach to unpacking these ideas.
We explore why curiosity is often discouraged, how judgment can be a short...
In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit down with Anne-Laure Le Cunff, neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and founder of Ness Labs, to discuss her new book Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World. Anne-Laure is known for blending science with practical strategies for thinking, learning, and working better—without burning out.
We explore how small, low-risk experiments can lead to big changes, wh...
Over the years, I've had plenty of insightful conversations on this podcast, and one that still stands out is my discussion with Charlie Gilkey about his book Start Finishing. This Flashback Friday episode brings that conversation back, but with a twist—we start with an update from Charlie on what he's been up to since then.
Charlie is someone who has spent years helping people make meaningful progress, and since our last c...
In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit down with Kerry Ann King, the founder and CEO of Eluminate Labs. Kerry Ann has spent more than a decade working inside the tech industry to promote human-centered approaches to well-being. She’s now leading the charge in decolonizing tech, creating inclusive solutions that put people first.
Our conversation explores the transactional nature of productivity, the intersectio...
In this Flashback Friday episode, I revisit my 2018 conversation with Dan Schawbel, a thought leader in workplace trends and human connection. We originally spoke about his book Back to Human: How Great Leaders Create Connection in the Age of Isolation, which explores how technology can be used as a bridge—not a barrier—to meaningful relationships.
Since then, Dan has continued to shape conversations around workplace dynami...
In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit down with Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter to explore the themes of their book, Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide for Designing a Thriving Future. As leaders at Stanford's d.school—Scott as Creative Director and Carissa as Academic Director—they've spent years shaping design education and innovation.
Our discussion goes beyond traditional design thinking and into the complexiti...
Fifteen years into her journey of simplicity, Courtney Carver continues to inspire people to do more with less. In this special Flashback Friday episode of A Productive Conversation, we revisit a past conversation from March 2020 about Project 333, her minimalist fashion challenge that has helped thousands streamline their wardrobes and their lives. But before that, we catch up on her latest book, Gentle: Rest More, Stress...
The latest episode of PM Talks is here, and this month, Patrick Rhone and I dive into alignment—a concept that is critical for making meaningful progress in both work and life. As we move beyond the fresh-start energy of January, February is often when things begin to fray. That’s why now is the perfect time to step back and examine whether our actions are truly aligned with our intentions.
Alignment isn’t just about gettin...
In this Flashback Friday episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit down with Joshua Becker to discuss his book Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life. Joshua is known for his work on minimalism, but this book goes beyond decluttering physical possessions—it’s about eliminating the distractions that keep us from focusing on what truly matters.
Our conversation explores the distractions ...
Ideas shape our lives—sometimes without us even realizing it. In this episode, I sit down with Nathan J. Murphy, founder of Prepolitica and author of The Ideas That Rule Us, to explore how the ideas we inherit, adopt, and hold onto influence our decisions, beliefs, and behaviors.
Nathan brings a deep, research-driven approach to understanding the power of ideas, questioning why we cling to certain concepts while rejecting o...
In this Flashback Friday episode of A Productive Conversation, I talk with Nir Eyal, the bestselling author of Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Nir offers actionable strategies for avoiding distractions and making time for what matters most.
We discuss the difference between traction and distraction, how internal triggers influence our actions, and the power of identity in shaping habits. ...
In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I chat with Shawn Lemon, digital organizer and founder of The Digital Organizer. Shawn has helped countless individuals and organizations regain control of their digital lives, offering practical solutions to manage clutter, streamline workflows, and achieve “digital peace.”
We explore the hidden challenges of digital organization, why redundancy and backups are crucial, and how...
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