Learn and Work Smarter

In this monthly Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast.

Question one comes from a student. He asks me to weigh in on the most underrated parts of college. (Oof, there are a lot!)

Question two comes from a working professional. She asks for some ways to use her blank (untimed) planner to manage work tasks without using time blocking.

What You Learn:

• Why office hours are o...

Some of the most powerful influences on your success aren’t your calendar, your study techniques, or your productivity apps. They’re quieter, more hidden, and easier to overlook. 

In this episode, we explore three surprising areas of life that deeply affect how well you show up at school and work… even though they have nothing to do with school or work on the surface.

If you've built decent systems but still feel like you'r...

Failing hurts. But the better we can extract meaning from our failures, the faster we can bounce back from them. 

In this (slightly vulnerable) episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share my personal experiences with failing and the strategies I use to now view those “failures” as some of the best things that have ever happened to me.

What You'll Learn:

• Why failure hurts so much and how to make it hurt less
• How to d...

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I interview Dr. Jackie Parke, founder of Through the Waters and a psychologist who specializes in helping teens and college students cope with anxiety. 

In this value-packed and emotional episode, Dr. Parke shares important insights that can help both students and professionals suffering from anxiety at school or work. The key takeaway? You don’t have to suffer.

What You'll ...

In this monthly Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the show. 

Question One: A college student asks whether taking a year after graduation to travel will impact their hiring prospects. My answer might surprise you!

Question Two: A professional asks me to weigh in on some common productivity advice about email. I'll bet you've heard this advice before, too ... and I issue some words of caution i...

Grad school can be a terrific way to gain industry knowledge, career advancement and a financial bump. But it’s also expensive, time-consuming, and not always necessary.

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share a unique framework (the WNC Framework) for deciding whether graduate school is the right option for you. We also discuss alternatives to grad school that might still get you exactly what you want.

What Yo...

Got a big project you’ve been avoiding? Or one you just need to make massive progress on, fast? In this episode, I walk you through one of my favorite strategies for intense productivity: the work sprint.

I’ll define what a work sprint is, walk you through exactly how to set one up (logistics, mindset, and all), and share real-life examples of using this method to get massive things done.

What You'll Learn

▶ What makes ...

Most ADHD productivity advice skips something essential: the internal dialogue, the fear of being judged, and the deep self-doubt. 

In this episode, I’m joined by ADHD thought leader and creator of ADHDKlub Lindsay Roberts to talk about what happens beneath the surface of an ambitious ADHD mind. We have a raw and honest conversation about rejection sensitivity, identity wounds, and the emotional resistance that sabotages so many peo...

Is it okay to work on weekends? And what’s going on when you sit down to work during the week but just… can’t? 

In this Q&A episode, I’m answering two listener-submitted questions that get at the heart of time, focus, and burnout.

We’ll talk about when weekend work can actually serve you, and when it’s just masking deeper problems. I’ll also walk you through the most common reasons people lose weekday focus (hint: it’s not lazine...

If you’re overwhelmed, distracted, or constantly wondering where your day went, time-blocking can help. 

And if you've tried time blocking before and thought it “didn’t work”, I invite you to try it again using the strategies I teach in this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast.

Listen in as I break down how to use time-blocking to improve focus and productivity without cramming more into your schedule. Whether you&apos...

Most of us have a digital calendar… but few of us are using it to its full potential. 

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I’m walking you through 10 practical ways to turn your digital calendar into a true productivity tool.

Part 1 covers 6 calendar power moves. These are simple but game-changing ways to make your calendar work for you instead of against you.

Part 2 is all about building a reliable calendar habit s...

What if your college education could cost just $1,500? Seem too good to be true?

In this expert interview episode, I chat with Dave Peterson of Scholarship GPS about how he helped his own son do exactly that. Now, he now helps other families across the country find and win scholarships to pay for school without student loans.

What You’ll Learn:

✅The actual best time to start applying for scholarships

✅Common myths that stop students fr...

Should you change jobs or change companies? And how do you protect your time at work without feeling guilty? In this Q&A episode, I answer two powerful questions submitted by listeners. 

The first question dives into a major career decision: whether to change jobs within your current company or look for new opportunities elsewhere. I share practical steps for making this decision, including how to assess your skills, talk to you...

Want to get better at something, but not sure how? Do you read more about it? Practice more? Ask someone for help? Close your eyes and wing it?

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share a two-pronged strategy for improving at anything, whether it’s a skill for school, a work task, or a personal goal.

You’ll learn why most people only use one side of the strategy (and stay stuck), and how you can use both sides to...

In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, we tackle one of the biggest energy drains no one talks about: unfinished projects.

You’ll learn how to get clarity on your half-done tasks, make intentional decisions about what to finish (and what to release without guilt), and reignite your momentum for what matters most.

Whether you’re a working professional with unfinished work projects, or a student with unfinished academic...

Why do you still forget tasks even though you write everything down? And how are you supposed to keep up with grad school reading when there’s more than you could ever finish — and you’re already behind?

In this Q&A episode, I answer two listener questions that hit close to home for so many of us. 

The first question comes from a professional who says his system feels “full of holes” — he’s writing things down but still missing t...

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...