What's on Your Bookshelf?

What's On Your Bookshelf
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This is a life and leadership podcast where we live out loud the pages of books on our bookshelves. Hosted by Denise Russo, Sam Powell, and produced by Zach Elliott woyb.substack.com

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    162 Joy at Work: Tidying Digital Work

    In this episode of What’s on Your Bookshelf, Sam Powell and Denise Russo tackle one of the most overwhelming areas of modern work: digital clutter. From overflowing inboxes to endless notifications, this conversation explores how our devices may be quietly draining our focus, energy, and performance. In this episode we discuss: * Why digital clutter (emails, files, apps) creates constant distraction and hidden stress. * How to decide what to keep using three simple filters: * Do I need this for future work? * Will this inspire or inform me? * Does it bring any sense of value or joy? * The reality that more storage isn’t a solution — it’s often just avoiding the decision to clean things up. * Why notifications, emails, and messaging tools can interrupt deep work and lower performance. * How intentional boundaries (filters, rules, turning off notifications) can help you take back control of your time and attention. One Big Takeaway Digital clutter isn’t just sitting in your inbox. It’s sitting in your attention — pulling you away from the work that actually matters. Why This Episode Matters If your day feels scattered, reactive, or constantly interrupted… there’s a good chance your digital environment is part of the problem. This episode gives you a simple starting point: Filter. Delete. Simplify. Reclaim your focus. Coming Next In the next episode, Sam and Denise take it one level deeper — exploring how to declutter your time and focus on what actually deserves your energy. 📖 Buy the book and come along on the adventure with us. We’re so excited you’re here and would love to hear from you. How to reach us: Denise: LinkedIn | Substack | School of Thoughts LinkedIn Sam: LinkedIn | Substack | LeadtheGame’s Career Locker Room | Website Subscribe and Review on Apple and Spotify.Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woyb.substack.com

    29 min

  2. 6 MAY

    161 Joy at Work: Tidying Your Workspace

    In this episode of What’s on Your Bookshelf, Sam Powell and Denise Russo continue through Marie Kondo’s The Joy at Work with a practical conversation about tidying your physical workspace — and why your desk may be affecting more than your productivity. In this episode we discuss: * Why clearing your workspace can help clear your mind — especially when work already feels chaotic. * How to tidy by category, not one random item at a time. * Why decluttering often brings up deeper questions about money, guilt, identity, and sunk costs. * The role of gratitude in letting things go instead of treating tidying like a cold purge. * How the things we keep can reveal our values, priorities, and next version of ourselves. One Big Takeaway Tidying your workspace isn’t really about having a prettier desk. It’s about deciding what still belongs in the life and work you’re trying to build. Why This Episode Matters If your desk, office, or job search space feels cluttered, this episode gives you a practical place to start: Sort by category. Decide with intention. Let go with gratitude. Coming Next Next week, Sam and Denise move from physical clutter to digital clutter — including emails, files, and the inboxes that quietly run our lives. 📖 Buy the book and come along on the adventure with us. We’re so excited you’re here and would love to hear from you. How to reach us: Denise: LinkedIn | Substack | School of Thoughts LinkedIn Sam: LinkedIn | Substack | LeadtheGame’s Career Locker Room | Website Subscribe and Review on Apple and Spotify.Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woyb.substack.com

    25 min

  3. 29 APR

    160 Joy at Work: If You Keep Falling Back to Clutter

    In this episode of What’s on Your Bookshelf, Sam Powell and Denise Russo continue their conversation on Marie Kondo’s The Joy at Work by digging into a question almost everybody knows too well: Why do we keep falling back into clutter — even after we clean things up? This episode moves beyond tidying as a task and gets into the deeper mindset, identity, and work-life vision needed to actually sustain change. In this episode we discuss: * Why clutter isn’t just about mess — it’s often a sign of unclear priorities, unclear identity, or an unclear vision for how you want to work. * The powerful link between mindset and maintenance — and why people who stay organized usually start with a clear picture of the life and work style they want. * How to visualize your ideal work life in practical detail, including your environment, schedule, energy, and daily rhythms. * Marie Kondo’s three categories of workplace joy: * things that directly spark joy * things that provide functional joy * things that lead to future joy * Why tidying is not really about throwing things away — it’s about keeping what supports your best self and removing what gets in the way. One Big Takeaway You don’t stay organized just because you cleaned up once. You stay organized because you got clear on who you want to be and what kind of work life actually supports that version of you. Why This Episode Matters This one gets to the real game: Not just how to tidy.But how to stop rebuilding the same mess. Because clutter usually comes back when your systems don’t match your life. Coming Next In the next episode, Sam and Denise get into the practical step-by-step process of tidying — how to sort, what to keep, and how to create a workspace that actually works for you. 📖 Buy the book and come along on the adventure with us. We’re so excited you’re here and would love to hear from you. How to reach us: Denise: LinkedIn | Substack | School of Thoughts LinkedIn Sam: LinkedIn | Substack | LeadtheGame’s Career Locker Room | Website Subscribe and Review on Apple and Spotify.Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woyb.substack.com

    29 min

  4. 22 APR

    159 Joy at Work: Why Tidy?

    In this episode of What’s on Your Bookshelf, Sam Powell and Denise Russo begin their journey through Marie Kondo’s The Joy at Work and explore how clutter at work affects more than just your desk — it impacts your stress, focus, energy, and even your sense of purpose. This conversation is about more than tidying. It’s about creating a work life that feels lighter, calmer, and more intentional. In this episode we discuss: * Why physical clutter at work creates mental clutter too — and how it quietly drains productivity, motivation, and peace. * The surprising connection between messy environments, higher stress, and rising cortisol levels. * How clutter shows up in more than your office — including emails, meetings, papers, and unfinished decisions. * Why creating a tidy, intentional workspace can improve not just performance, but also confidence, self-esteem, and clarity. * A deeper reframe on tidying: it’s not just about neatness — it’s about discovering what kind of work style actually supports the life you want. One Big Takeaway A cluttered workspace doesn’t just slow your work. It can quietly shape your stress, your attention, and the way you feel about your life. Sometimes the first leadership move is simpler than we think: Clear the space. Why This Episode Matters If work has felt heavy lately, this episode offers a different question: What if the problem isn’t only the workload…but the clutter surrounding how you do it? Coming Next In the next episode, Sam and Denise dig into why people fall back into clutter — and what it takes to actually create a work environment that stays aligned with what matters most. 📖 Buy the book and come along on the adventure with us. We’re so excited you’re here and would love to hear from you. How to reach us: Denise: LinkedIn | Substack | School of Thoughts LinkedIn Sam: LinkedIn | Substack | LeadtheGame’s Career Locker Room | Website Subscribe and Review on Apple and Spotify.Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woyb.substack.com

    28 min

  5. 15 APR

    158 Joy at Work: Introduction

    In this episode of What’s on Your Bookshelf, Sam Powell and Denise Russo shift the conversation from internal mindset work to how clutter shows up in your work and daily life. This discussion explores how mental clutter doesn’t just stay in your head — it spills into your environment, your schedule, and ultimately your performance. In this episode we discuss: * How mental clutter and physical clutter are deeply connected — and how one reinforces the other. * Why being “busy” can actually be a sign of disorganization rather than effectiveness. * The hidden cost of clutter on focus, decision-making, and productivity. * Simple ways to start creating clarity in your environment and your thinking. * Why intentional structure isn’t restrictive — it’s what creates freedom and control. One Big Takeaway Clarity isn’t something you find. It’s something you create — by removing what doesn’t belong. Why This Episode Matters Most people try to solve performance problems by doing more. But often the real move is the opposite: Clear space. Simplify. Focus. Because when your environment is cluttered… …your thinking usually is too. Coming Next In the next episode, the conversation builds on this by exploring how to create systems and structure that actually support consistent performance — without burning yourself out. 📖 Buy the book and come along on the adventure with us. We’re so excited you’re here and would love to hear from you. How to reach us: Denise: LinkedIn | Substack | School of Thoughts LinkedIn Sam: LinkedIn | Substack | LeadtheGame’s Career Locker Room | Website Subscribe and Review on Apple and Spotify.Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woyb.substack.com

    32 min

  6. 8 APR

    157 Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: Neurocycling as a Daily Mind-Management Routine & Conclusion

    In this episode of What’s on Your Bookshelf, Sam Powell and Denise Russo wrap up their journey through Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess by focusing on how to actually live this work day-to-day. After unpacking the science, habits, and patterns throughout the book, this final conversation brings everything together into one core question: How do you turn awareness into a real, repeatable lifestyle? In this episode we discuss: * Why knowledge alone doesn’t create change — and why your daily routine is where transformation actually happens. * How your morning routine sets the tone for your entire day — and why grabbing your phone first might be working against you. * The reality that we’re more connected than ever — yet more distracted, overwhelmed, and disconnected internally. * A practical breakdown of Dr. Leaf’s daily system — including mental habits, “thinker moments,” and intentional resets throughout the day. * Why real change isn’t about adding more time — it’s about integrating better thinking into the life you already live. One Big Takeaway You don’t need a completely new life to change your mind. You need a new way to run your current one — intentionally, daily, and on purpose. Why This Episode Matters This is where the book stops being theory. And starts becoming a playbook. Because the difference between knowing and changing… …is what you do when you wake up tomorrow. Coming Next Next up, the conversation shifts from the mind to the workplace — exploring how to unclutter your work and rethink how you show up professionally. 📖 Buy the book and come along on the adventure with us. We’re so excited you’re here and would love to hear from you. How to reach us: Denise: LinkedIn | Substack | School of Thoughts LinkedIn Sam: LinkedIn | Substack | LeadtheGame’s Career Locker Room | Website Subscribe and Review on Apple and Spotify.Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woyb.substack.com

    26 min

  7. 1 APR

    156 Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: Neurocycling to Break Bad Habits and Build Good Lifestyle Habits

    In this episode of What’s on Your Bookshelf, Sam Powell and Denise Russo explore the chapter on habits and toxic thinking patterns from Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. The conversation shifts from understanding your thoughts to changing them — breaking patterns that no longer serve you and building ones that do. In this episode we discuss: * Why toxic thoughts can become habits — and how they quietly shape your behavior over time. * The difference between managing a thought vs. rewiring it at the root. * How the brain forms automatic thinking patterns — and why awareness is the first step to change. * Using the Neurocycle process to interrupt and replace unhelpful mental habits. * Why lasting change requires intentional repetition, not quick fixes. One Big Takeaway You don’t just “have” thoughts. You practice them — over and over — until they become your default. Change the practice, and you change the pattern. Coming Next In the next episode, the conversation builds on this foundation by exploring how to create sustainable mental routines that support clarity, focus, and long-term growth. 📖 Buy the book and come along on the adventure with us. We’re so excited you’re here and would love to hear from you. How to reach us: Denise: LinkedIn | Substack | School of Thoughts LinkedIn Sam: LinkedIn | Substack | LeadtheGame’s Career Locker Room | Website Subscribe and Review on Apple and Spotify.Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woyb.substack.com

    27 min

  8. 25 MAR

    155 Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: Neurocycling to Detox Trauma

    In this episode of What’s on Your Bookshelf, Sam Powell and Denise Russo tackle one of the most challenging chapters in Dr. Caroline Leaf’s book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess — the chapter on trauma and how our minds process painful experiences. The conversation explores why suppressing difficult thoughts often makes things worse and how learning to process them intentionally can help us heal and move forward. In this episode we discuss: * The difference between “Big T” trauma and “Little t” trauma — and why both deserve attention and validation. * Why avoiding painful thoughts can actually harm our long-term mental and physical health. * How the Neurocycle process can help people reconceptualize painful memories instead of suppressing them. * Practical grounding techniques like box breathing and the 5-4-3-2-1 sensory exercise to calm the mind during stressful moments. * Why healing trauma often takes time, patience, and repeated cycles of reflection and processing. One Big Takeaway Healing isn’t about pretending painful things never happened. It’s about learning to look at those experiences differently so they no longer control your thoughts, reactions, or future. A Note for Listeners This episode discusses trauma and emotional healing. While the ideas in the book can be powerful tools, professional therapy and support can also play an important role when working through deeper experiences. Coming Next In the next episode, the conversation shifts from trauma toward breaking bad habits and building healthier mental patterns that support long-term resilience. 📖 Buy the book and come along on the adventure with us. We’re so excited you’re here and would love to hear from you. How to reach us: Denise: LinkedIn | Substack | School of Thoughts LinkedIn Sam: LinkedIn | Substack | LeadtheGame’s Career Locker Room | Website Subscribe and Review on Apple and Spotify.Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woyb.substack.com

    29 min
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About

This is a life and leadership podcast where we live out loud the pages of books on our bookshelves. Hosted by Denise Russo, Sam Powell, and produced by Zach Elliott woyb.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    What's On Your Bookshelf
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    170
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © What's On Your Bookshelf
  • Show Website
    What's on Your Bookshelf?