Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work & Life Erik Fisher

This week it was my pleasure to welcome Dr. Barry Kudrowitz to the show for a chat about his great book, Sparking Creativity: How Play and Humor Fuel Innovation and Design. Dr. Kudrowitz is a professor of product design and department head in the College of Design at the University of Minnesota. There, he founded and directed the product design program from 2011-2021. Barry received his PhD from the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), studying humor, creativity, and idea generation. He is interested in how creativity is perceived, evaluated, and learned. In addition, Barry has years of experience working with the toy industry and has taught toy design for over a decade.
In this episode, we delve into how changing our mindset can transform mundane chores into enjoyable activities, explore why traditional icebreakers often fail, and discuss the vital role of creativity in every aspect of our lives. Barry will share practical examples of how educators and professionals have successfully implemented these concepts to create more engaging environments. Prepare to rethink how you approach work, creativity, and play with insights that blend academic rigor with real-world practicality. 
Related Episodes:
Creativity Podcast Playlist 
Sparking Creativity: How Play and Humor Fuel Innovation and Design
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Connect with Barry:
Website
Book
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Instagram 
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This week I’m excited to share my conversation with Matt Abrahams. Matt is a passionate, and innovative educator, podcaster, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business he has helped countless presenters improve and hone their communication, including some who have delivered Nobel Prize, TED, and World Economic Forum presentations. Matt is also the founder and principal at TFTS Communications LLC, a presentation and communication skills company based in Silicon Valley that helps people improve their presentation skills. 
In this episode, we'll dive into Matt's six-step methodology to mastering the art of impromptu speaking, which he outlines in his latest book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot. Whether you're fielding cold calls or engaging in "small talk", Matt's techniques will teach you to manage anxiety, focus on your audience, and see every speaking situation as an opportunity, not a threat. We also explore the importance of structure in your communication, akin to chefs following a recipe, and how to give feedback that resonates and fosters growth. With Matt's unique blend of experience and insights, get ready to learn how you can transform your communication skills, think on your feet, and express your ideas more effectively, all of which can deepen relationships and expand your ideas.
Related Episodes on My New Spotify Playlist:
Connect with Matt:
Website
Podcast
LinkedIn
Connect with Erik:
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Facebook 
Instagram 
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This week I’m excited to welcome Michael Easter for a conversation about a pair of his books, Scarcity Brain, Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough and The Comfort Crisis, Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self. Michael is the founder of the 2% with Michael Easter newsletter and the New York Times bestselling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain. an author and a professor at UNLV. He writes and speaks on how humans can leverage modern science and evolutionary wisdom to perform better and live healthier lives. His work has been implemented by professional sports teams, elite military units, Fortune 500 companies, and leading universities.
In this episode, we delve into the profound realizations that Michael made about the role of discomfort in our lives, stemming from overcoming his own battle with alcoholism and spending 33 transformative days in the Arctic. We'll discuss how our modern world's technological conveniences and constant search for comfort have led to sedentary lifestyles and excessive digital consumption, which Michael refers to as the "scarcity brain." Hear about the dangers of the scarcity loop driven by the endless cycle of wanting more, and explore with us the practical steps we can take towards building a healthier mindset and lifestyle, and why sometimes the path towards improvement involves leaning into discomfort. Michael will also share insights on his "2%" newsletter and how small, intentional actions can have a significant impact on our lives. 
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Connect with Michael:
Website
Newsletter
Books 
Clear Space App
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Connect with Erik:
LinkedIn 
Facebook 
Instagram 
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This week I’m excited to welcome Karl Hebenstreit for a chat about his book, The How and Why: Taking Care of Business with the Enneagram. Karl is a certified executive coach, leadership and organization development consultant, author, and international speaker. His 25+ year career spans the areas of HR and OD in biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and more. Karl holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University. 
Together, we'll explore how the Enneagram provides a deeper, more nuanced look into our psyches compared to other personality frameworks like Myers-Briggs or DISC, and why knowing your Enneagram subtype can revolutionize communication and collaboration within your team. We'll delve into the synergy between your instinctual behaviors and core type, uncover how the Enneagram's focus on motivation helps us navigate workplace dynamics, and highlight the practical benefits of this wisdom for everyday interactions. This is a great episode for anyone eager to learn more about implementing Enneagram principles in their professional lives but are not clear on where to start.
Related Episodes:
Ian Morgan Cron on The Enneagram 101
Ian Morgan Cron on Overcoming the Productivity Hangups of Each Enneagram Type
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Connect with Karl:
Website
Book
LinkedIn
Karl’s Kids Book on The Enneagram 
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Connect with Erik:
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Facebook 
Instagram 
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This week it’s my pleasure to welcome Carlos Alvarenga for a chat about his new book, The Rules of Persuasion: How the World's Greatest Communicators Convince, Inspire, Lead--and, Sometimes, Deceive. Carlos is an independent researcher and author. Before writing full-time, he worked as a management consultant and adjunct professor at the Robert H.Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Carlos holds a B.A. in Humanities and Classical Greek from Hampden-Sydney College and completed the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Classics at the University of Pennsylvania.
In this conversation we delve into the compelling world of persuasion as the art and science that influences every aspect of our lives. Carlos explains how he drew inspiration from Aristotle's foundational work on rhetoric to craft his book. We will unravel the subtleties of persuasion—as the act of shaping beliefs within a community—and how it distinguishes itself from manipulation and coercion. Carlos guides us through his periodic table of persuasion and the vital role language plays in shaping our reality. In addition, we discuss the shifts in teaching persuasion and the emergence of augmented intelligence, and how technology like deep-fakes are testing the limits of authenticity. Carlos also shares personal anecdotes, emphasizing the potency of storytelling, and offers insights into creating messages that resonate deeply with audiences regardless of their background or educational level.
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Related Episodes and Links to Content Mentioned In This Episode:
Kevin Costner’s Eulogy For Whitney Houston
What’s Going On Tops Rolling Stone’s 500 Best Albums of All Time
Terri Sjodin on Improving Your Presentation Skills and Public Speaking
Kasia Wezowski on Open Body Language & Compassionate Communication
Charles Duhigg on the Super Power of Clear Communication at Home and Work
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Connect with Carlos:
Website
______________________________________
Connect with Erik:
LinkedIn 
Facebook 
Instagram 
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This Podcast is Powered By:
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This week I’m excited to speak with Adrienne Bellehumer. Adrienne the founder of Bellehumeur Co. and co-partner of Risk Oversight, based in Calgary, Alberta. Adrienne is also the author of the book, The 24-Hour Rule and Other Secrets for Smarter Organizations: Including the 6 Steps of Dynamic Documentation. In this episode she is here to shed light on the often overlooked yet crucial practice of documentation and its profound impact on both personal productivity and organizational success. As we dive into the conversation, we'll explore the six dynamic steps of documentation—capturing, structuring, presenting, communicating, storing, and leveraging—and learn why both "little d" everyday habits and "big D" corporate initiatives are essential for our effectiveness.
Adrienne will share her insights on the 24-hour rule, a powerful strategy for activating information and maintaining momentum. In addition we'll examine common misconceptions around documentation and discover how it can indeed propel individuals and teams forward rather than being seen as a burden. Get ready to rethink your meetings, create buffer times for processing information, and find out how to align your note-taking with your attention span, enhancing focus and productivity. Plus, you'll learn about the collaborative magic of real-time, communal editing, and the art of iterative processes in documentation.
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Connect with Adrienne:
Website 
LinkedIn
Risk Oversight 
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Connect with Erik:
LinkedIn 
Facebook 
Instagram 
______________________________________
This Podcast is Powered By:
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