Mike Vardy's Blog, page 22
August 17, 2022
Episode 436: A Mindful Conversation with Patrick Rhone

On this vault episode of the podcast, I bring back Patrick Rhone. He is an author and speaker who helps guide people to the balance and peace that comes through mindfulness, introspection, and truth. Patrick and I have lots of great conversations, and not all of them are recorded – so this was a treat to revisit.
This time around we focus on reading more (and better), mindfulness (and Patrick’s book “Mindfulness for Mere Mortals), and much more.
I always have a blast talking with Patrick. I hope you enjoy the show as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post Episode 436: A Mindful Conversation with Patrick Rhone appeared first on Productivityist.

August 10, 2022
Episode 435: Jake Kahana talks about Caveday

The more specific we get about something, the more we pay attention to it – and that’s what we did with this episode.
Jake Kahana is a designer and entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of Caveday, a company founded to maximize focus for individuals and corporations through facilitated focus sessions training. Their global community has participated in over 50,000 hours of deep work “In The Cave.” As a US faculty member with The School of Life, Jake teaches workshops in emotional intelligence for corporate teams.
In this episode, Jake tells us how Caveday came to be with a couple of like-minded friends who wanted to focus on their tasks and build a community – together. We talk about the power of asking the right questions and how being open and vulnerable as an entrepreneur can be life-changing.
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post Episode 435: Jake Kahana talks about Caveday appeared first on Productivityist.

August 3, 2022
Episode 434: What Goes Into a Task App with Amir Salihefendic

Mike is back once again with an episode from the vault. If you’re a Todoist user or you just love to-do list apps, then you’re going to love this episode.
Amir Salihefendic is the founder and CEO of Doist (the makers of Todoist). We discuss what prompted him to create Todoist, what system he uses to complete his tasks, and dive deeper into what it’s like to work on developing a task management application in today’s age.
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post Episode 434: What Goes Into a Task App with Amir Salihefendic appeared first on Productivityist.

July 27, 2022
Episode 433: Prasanth Nair talks about The Stack Method

If you’re into email management, this conversation is for you.
Prasanth Nair has helped tens of thousands of people manage their inboxes through his email, meeting and time/task transformation trainings. An expert in not only productivity, but work-life balance.
We’ve all struggled with email management at one point in our life, including Prasanth! In this episode, we discuss the difficulties around maintaining inbox zero and how he, with much trial and error, discovered The Stack Method.
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post Episode 433: Prasanth Nair talks about The Stack Method appeared first on Productivityist.

July 20, 2022
Episode 432: The Daily Plan Bar with Mike Rohde

For this vault episode, I’m bringing back Sketchnote creator, Mike Rohde. Mike is not just a friend. He is a sketchnoter, designer, illustrator, self-professed techy, author and speaker who is fond of simple yet impactful design solutions. A sample of such is the Daily Plan Bar which he created to make task management more manageable.
Our discussion involves the origins of the Daily Plan Bar, how he came up with it, and the other systems he uses to manage his work tasks and his home life. He has been a huge inspiration to me in helping me bridge the gap between written and visual productivity.
This is a really fun conversation and I am excited to bring it back to you as a refresher or maybe you’ll be listening to it for the first time. Either way, I hope you enjoy!
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post Episode 432: The Daily Plan Bar with Mike Rohde appeared first on Productivityist.

July 13, 2022
Episode 431: Jake Kelfer talks about The Elevated Entrepreneur

Jake Kelfer is a lifestyle entrepreneur, a life elevator, and a coach to ambitious entrepreneurs, and freedom seekers helping people create incredibly impactful and profitable businesses. Jake is a three-time best-selling author, a high-energy motivational speaker, and the founder of the professional basketball combine that’s helped over 70+ NBA Draft prospects turn their dreams of playing pro basketball into reality. He and his work have been featured in Forbes, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and many other major media outlets.
In this episode, Jake gives us the inside scoop on his latest book The Elevated Entrepreneur: Unlocking the Secrets of the World’s Greatest Coaches, Performers, and Entrepreneurs. He talks about some of his more memorable interviews and the reasoning behind the structuring of the book. And I throw some curve ball questions to really get him thinking.This is a really productive conversation and I think you will get a lot out of it. I’m really happy that I can bring this conversation to you today. Enjoy!
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post Episode 431: Jake Kelfer talks about The Elevated Entrepreneur appeared first on Productivityist.

July 6, 2022
Episode 430: Behind the Scenes with Dexter Guff and Peter Oldring

On this vault episode of the show, I am delighted to have two guests join me. First up is fellow Canadian, thought leader, and podcast host Dexter Guff, host of Dexter Guff is Smarter Than You (And You Can Be Too) and following his appearance, I speak with his alter ego, comedic performer Peter Oldring.
While Dexter and I discuss a lot of the usual lifehackery stuff, Peter and I dive deeper into what makes Dexter tick. We talk about how he and his colleagues Pat Kelly and Chris Kelly (no relation) came up with the idea of doing Dexter’s reaction the show has received so far, how the show is crafted every week, and where the show is headed.
This is a different kind of episode – and a little longer than usual – but it’s a fun one.
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post Episode 430: Behind the Scenes with Dexter Guff and Peter Oldring appeared first on Productivityist.

FROM THE VAULT: Behind the Scenes with Dexter Guff and Peter Oldring

On this vault episode of the show, I am delighted to have two guests join me. First up is fellow Canadian, thought leader, and podcast host Dexter Guff, host of Dexter Guff is Smarter Than You (And You Can Be Too) and following his appearance, I speak with his alter ego, comedic performer Peter Oldring.
While Dexter and I discuss a lot of the usual lifehackery stuff, Peter and I dive deeper into what makes Dexter tick. We talk about how he and his colleagues Pat Kelly and Chris Kelly (no relation) came up with the idea of doing Dexter’s reaction the show has received so far, how the show is crafted every week, and where the show is headed.
This is a different kind of episode – and a little longer than usual – but it’s a fun one.
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post FROM THE VAULT: Behind the Scenes with Dexter Guff and Peter Oldring appeared first on Productivityist.

June 29, 2022
Episode 429: Penelope Przekop talks about 5-Star career: Define and Build Yours Using the Science of Quality Management

Penelope Przekop is a corporate quality management expert, entrepreneur, and author of 5-Star Career: Define and Build Yours Using the Science of Quality Management. She has worked with numerous Fortune 100 pharma companies where she has held many leadership positions and is the founder and CEO of PDC Pharma Strategy, where she also serves as the Chief Compliance Officer for Engrail Therapeutics. If you aren’t already impressed, Penelope also earned a BS in Biology from Louisiana State University and an MS in Quality Systems Engineering from Kennesaw State University. She is a graduate of the Smith College Program for Women’s Leadership and the Rutgers University Senior Leadership Program for Professional Women. As well as, co-founded Bra in a Box with her daughter in 2018!
We dive into her latest book, the science behind quality management, and how to clean your systems so they work for you. Systems don’t have to be as scary as they seem and she breaks it all down for us in this episode of A Productive Conversation.
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post Episode 429: Penelope Przekop talks about 5-Star career: Define and Build Yours Using the Science of Quality Management appeared first on Productivityist.

June 22, 2022
Episode 428: Create Good Mornings with Craig Kulyk

This conversation is a special one. Not just because it is from the vault, but because this guest is no longer with us.
Craig Kulyk and I met at the World Domination Summit and it was an absolute pleasure to have called him my friend. I am attending the WDS while this episode airs, and what better way to honour his memory than to release this great conversation from the vault.
Craig was known for his morning routines and his ideas on how to customize your morning to build better habits and be more productive. In this episode, we spoke about intentionality, how routines set the tone for the day, how you can shift and adapt your rituals over time, and more.
Want to support the show? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page.
There you will find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life.
Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.
Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

The post Episode 428: Create Good Mornings with Craig Kulyk appeared first on Productivityist.
