Modern Mentor

4.4 (43)
MANAGEMENT
UPDATED WEEKLY

Rachel Cooke is your guide to leadership and communication, helping you craft a workplace environment you can feel good about. She’ll share tips to help you balance your work and personal life, effectively invest your time, and be mindful about where you’re devoting your energy. Let Rachel help you navigate your path to success—however you define it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 DAYS AGO

Are these antipatterns stopping you from being productive?

888. We think we're being productive. But some of our most intentional habits are quietly costing us. Rachel explores four antipatterns that could be robbing you of your best work. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 min
10 MAR

The Creative Pulse: Why humanity is the lynchpin of business, with Andy Pizza

In this episode, Rachel sits down with author and illustrator Andy Pizza to explore why a "creative pulse" is the essential, make-or-break component of any successful career. Andy argues that while business often relies on data and logic, the true differentiator is the ability to show up with a unique, human point of view. The conversation covers: Strategic vs. exploratory creativity: How to use creativity to solve specific business problems by working backward from a goal. The "input diet": Why being mindful of what you consume—from art to fiction—is vital for generating fresh ideas. The heroine’s journey: A collaborative approach to success that prioritizes collective effort over the "solo hero" myth. Writing on stage: A method for testing creative hunches in low-stakes environments to build confidence and skill.Creativity in the age of AI: Why tapping into the "humanity side" remains the most important skill as technology evolves. Andy Pizza's website Andy's Creative Pep Talk podcast Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

40 min
3 MAR

The expertise trap | Why your best people might be blocking innovation

886. Is your team's deep knowledge actually preventing them from seeing the next big breakthrough? In this episode, Rachel explores the "expertise trap"—the moment when having all the answers stops us from seeing new possibilities. She explains why traditional brainstorming often fails and how a "catalog of failures" can cage an expert's thinking. Rachel introduces a practical tool, the Curiosity Hour, designed to flip the script on problem-solving by prioritizing "dumb" questions over expert solutions. Learn how to find the "gardeners" in your organization to challenge the status quo and unlock the fresh thinking your team has been missing. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 min
24 FEB

How to stop talking about change and actually start doing it

885. In a world of constant meetings and shifting priorities, why does it feel like we’re repeating the same "to-do" list every six months? This week, Rachel gets into the "bad patterns" that keep teams stuck in a loop of false comfort. We often mistake saying we need to change for actual progress, while our health and productivity suffer the consequences. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: Master strategic prioritization: Why half-assing seventeen goals is costing you more than saying "no" to fourteen. Demystify AI upskilling: How to move past AI paralysis by building "warm-up" experiments for your team. Solve meeting fatigue: Why the answer isn't always fewer meetings, but shifting the lens to high-value dialogue. Build an innovation culture: How to create "safe sandboxes" for experiments that turn potential failure into actionable data.Stop letting the cost of inaction hold your team back. It’s time to move beyond the refrain and start doing the hard things that drive real success. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 min
17 FEB

The neuroscience of persuasion: How to engineer unforgettable communication, with Carmine Gallo

884. In this episode, Rachel Cooke and author Carmine Gallo explore the biological reality that the human brain is hardwired to ignore anything it deems "boring". If you want your message to land, you have to work with the brain’s chemistry, not against it. Engineering Memory: Learn how to use "Emotionally Competent Stimuli" (ECS) to act as a mental Post-it note for your audience.The 10% Strategy: Since audiences forget 90% of what they hear, Carmine explains how to strategically engineer the 10% they actually retain.The Brain's Evolution: Why our ancestors' survival depended on storytelling, and why that same wiring dictates modern business success.Get Carmine Gallo's book, VIRAL VOICES. Find Carmine Gallo on social media: https://www.instagram.com/carminegallospeaker/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carminegallo/ https://www.tiktok.com/@carminegallospeaker http://www.youtube.com/@CarmineGalloTV https://x.com/carminegallo Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

42 min
10 FEB

What actually drives productivity in 2026?

883. Rachel shares how the productivity conversation has evolved - and what actually drives getting things done today. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 min
3 FEB

Motion versus meaning: Build operating rhythms that work

882. Rachel shares how to design operating rhythms that create space for meaningful work instead of just adding more meetings to your calendar. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 min
27 JAN

Why is your team moving fast but staying stuck?

881. We’re all under pressure to move faster, ship earlier, and do more. But as Rachel Cooke explains this week, "speed" often looks a lot more like chaos when the foundation isn't there. If your team is missing deadlines or burning out, the issue probably isn't a lack of effort—it's a lack of the "unsexy" structure that makes agility possible. Rachel looks at how to spot the difference between true agility and "panic with better marketing." She shares how to talk to leaders about conflicting priorities, how to stop casual executive brainstorming from turning into accidental team directives, and why establishing operating rhythms is the only way to kill the constant "fire drill" culture. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 min

See All (914)

Stever Robbins

Host
Rachel Cooke

Host

4.4

out of 5

43 Ratings

Fun and Useful

02/04/2016

mummymunt

I don't even work at the moment, being a stay-at-home Mum, but there's still usually something useful to be found in every episode. If nothing else, I enjoy Stever's energy and enthusiasm, and definitely his sense of humour. I imagine if I was actually out in the workplace I'd find this podcast invaluable.
Sexy Stever!

14/02/2018

Little.Bird.87

Even if the topic has no relevance to my life, I am always excited to see a new episode has been posted because I find Stever so sexy! His constant referencing of nerd pop culture gold, such as Little Shop of Horrors, is hilarious and right up my alley! Plus he has a sexy voice. His topics and tips are also great though - with just the right amount of detail, with the occasional helpful free document templates available on his site. Stever is fantastic, and I wish he was my schmoopy (sadly as I live in Australia it might be a bit difficult)!
Thanks Stever!

25/07/2013

Gavin0021

I love GIDG's podcast - it is a favourite listen. His strategies for dealing with the things of life and work are really practical. He delivers them in a great manner and style. GiDG and the GG lead me to some of the other QDT network podcasts. Check them all out today. I have even bought their audio books. Thanks Stever and Mignon.
Good in parts, but self-contradictory

10/06/2014

Statisticus

I came across this podcast recently and was impressed at first at the useful advice. Then I hit several episodes which stressed the importance of reducing time spent on repetitive tasks and showed how even a tiny time saving could add up to serious time wasted in the long term. The contradiction? Invariably this advice was interrupted by advertisements embedded in the middle of the podcast, the biggest time waster of all. So I took Stever's advice, and unsubscribed.

Rachel Cooke is your guide to leadership and communication, helping you craft a workplace environment you can feel good about. She’ll share tips to help you balance your work and personal life, effectively invest your time, and be mindful about where you’re devoting your energy. Let Rachel help you navigate your path to success—however you define it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.