Learn and Work Smarter

What makes someone a strong leader? How do you manage people without micromanaging? And how do systems help you lead with clarity and calm?

In this expert interview, I talk with Richard Regitano, Managing Director of Engineering and Operations, about the real-world habits and mindsets that support effective leadership. We talk about emotional intelligence, team trust, recurring one-on-ones, and why every leader should know...

Ever feel like you're smart and trying—but still constantly behind?

You might be missing the one set of skills that makes everything else possible: executive function.

In this episode, I break down the 10 executive function skills you actually need in the real world—skills like starting tasks, managing your time, organizing your space, regulating emotions, and following through on long-term goals.

These aren’t just school skills....

Ever feel like your calendar should be manageable—but you’re still totally maxed out? In this episode, I unpack one of the most frustrating time traps we all fall into: the invisible overhead that comes with saying yes.

I’m not talking about classic time management tricks today. Instead, I’m digging into why your schedule feels heavier than it looks, and how all the “invisible” tasks—like prep, logistics, and mental energy—add up fa...

What does it really mean to “think critically”? In this episode, I chat with college professor Mark Massaro about how students can build critical thinking skills through reading and writing—and why these skills matter way beyond the classroom. 

We talk about everything from resume writing and job interviews to recognizing bias and reading the room in high-stakes situations. If you’ve ever wondered how analyzing a short story could h...

Do you ever find yourself wasting time at work or between college classes, even though you want to be productive? Despite your best intentions, you’re just NOT getting done what needs to get done?

In this Q&A episode, I answer two listener questions — one from a remote marketing professional and one from a college sophomore — about how to actually get work done instead of spinning their wheels.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why an admin ...

We all know that feeling — Monday morning hits, and suddenly we’re overwhelmed, scrambling to figure out what’s due, what meetings we have, and where the weekend even went. But what if we could prevent that Sunday night dread with a simple reset routine?

In this episode, I walk through five core elements of a solid Sunday Reset — plus ten optional add-ons—to help us start the week with clarity and confidence. 

A Sunday Reset doesn’t ...

We all know that feeling: you sit down to start something challenging, and suddenly, everything else feels more appealing. Your phone, a snack, even cleaning out your sock drawer. Anything to avoid the hard thing in front of you.

But here’s the truth: being able to do hard things is one of the most valuable skills you can develop.

In this episode, I’m sharing seven practical strategies to help you move forward when something feels im...

You know how satisfying it is to have a good, solid productive day — a day where we accomplish what we set out to accomplish and make progress on our goals. 

We feel balanced, rested and like it was a day well spent.

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share my personal strategy for having a productive day. I’ve been using this method for years (can I call it a method? I’m going to) and I figured if sharing it on...

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I tackle two questions submitted by listeners – both about email overwhelm and procrastination. If your inbox feels like a chaotic mess or you find yourself avoiding certain emails, you're not alone!

📩 Question 1: Where do I start when my entire email inbox is a mess? The unread emails are out of control and I'm tempted to delete everything and start fresh.

📩 Question...

Preparing for meetings isn't just about avoiding embarrassment. (Although it's certainly about that too!) 

Preparing adequately for meetings not only makes it easier to do our job, but doing so also gives the impression that we take our jobs seriously.

Plus, being unprepared is unprofessional -- and that's not a look we're going for, is it?

In this week's episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share ...

Workplace conflict is inevitable. That's because relationships with our colleagues are just like any relationship: they require communication, compromise and compassion.

In this interview with international HR expert Jessica Alvarez (think JetBlue and HubSpot!), we have a strategy-packed conversation about how to handle workplace conflict productively and effectively -- while using it as an opportunity for growth.

New profession...

Getting and staying organized can be challenging for people with ADHD. While intricate systems and high-tech tools might seem appealing at first, they often don’t align with how the ADHD brain works.

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share seven practical organization strategies designed specifically for students and professionals with ADHD. These approaches are simple, effective, and rooted in executive funct...

In this week's Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners.

Question 1: A working professional headed to graduate school asks about choosing online grad programs vs. in-person grad programs.

Question 2: A college student asks whether they should explore internships or go back to their standard summer job this summer.

🎙️Other Episodes + Resources Mentioned

• Episode 22: Tips for S...

Adding a part-time job to your student resume has many benefits: skill building and college applications just to name a few.

But working while going to school is also very demanding, which is something that many students don't consider beforehand.

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share 20 practical strategies that can help students balance school and a part-time job -- without going ba...

It’s the first interview episode on the Learn and Work Smarter podcast!

I have an enlightening conversation with college and career expert Lisa Marker Robbins of Flourish Coaching. 

Lisa sheds light on the importance of choosing a college major with intention and clarity — and shares a valuable resource for high school students (and their parents) to ensure they’re fully informed of their college major options.

We Cover:

→ When to star...

Ever heard of body doubling? If not, you’re SO in the right place. 

In this episode of Learn and Work Smarter, I talk about the power of body doubling to improve focus and productivity.

Body doubling is fairly well-known in the ADHD community, but the cool thing about this strategy is that it can be effective for people without ADHD too.

We cover:

→ What body doubling is

→ Why body doubling works (the psychology)

→ How to choose the idea...

We watch as people around us get the promotion, pass the exam, reach the goal...and we wonder what they have that we don’t have.

The truth? It’s not what they have, it’s what they do.

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, we shed light on the number one secret ingredient behind every accomplishment ever, whether big or small, public or private, yours or someone else’s. 

Tune in to find out the clo...

In this monthly Q&A episode of the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast, we’re answering two questions submitted by listeners.

Question One: A working professional asks for strategies for completing tasks when time management isn’t the real issue, even though at first glance it sure looks that way.

Question Two: A working professional asks for advice about setting boundaries between work and home, but in a way that doesn’t make him loo...

In this episode of Learn and Work Smarter, we’re diving into the world of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and workflows. We cover what they are, why they matter, and how to create and use them effectively.

Whether you’re a student looking to streamline your study routine or a professional aiming to boost productivity, these tools can help you save time, reduce stress, and get consistent results day after day.