In this special anniversary episode, Charlie Gilkey and Maghan Haggerty reflect on the five-year milestone of Start Finishing, diving deep into its impact on their lives, the lives of their community, and Productive Flourishing’s evolution over the past 17 years. They explore how doing your best work transforms you as an individual and creates ripple[...]
Topics We Explored:* Mo Bunnell’s new book Give to Grow and why it makes sense to focus on relationships and a giving mindset as the foundation for long-term business success.* How to define business development and distinguish it from pure sales, as well as the importance of strategic helpfulness in developing a business or career.[...]
Note to the reader: Team Habits, my most recent book, was released one year ago this week. You might also be aware of Productive Flourishing’s sister publication, Better Team Habits, a spin-off of the book. We’ve had incredible moments over on BTH in the past year. For those not subscribed to both publications I’d like[...]
Earlier this month Leadership Beyond Borders re-released an episode I did with them a while back, alongside host Kimberli J. Lewis. The conversation centered on how team habits apply in international, remote, and diverse organizations, and to change management. We discussed the need for clear communication as a team habit, with specific channels and protocols,[...]
I had the pleasure of joining forces recently with Andy Kaufman, current host of The People and Projects Podcast, to discuss team habits — specifically, the high cost of ignoring them — and how and why team habits ultimately shape team culture and performance. Our conversation touched on a variety of generative topics, including offering[...]
Gary Bertwistle (of Mojo Sessions fame) and I had this meeting of minds back in February — truly jamming together over substantial territory: from the need to acknowledge change and challenges in the modern workplace, to building trust and autonomy in teams, and techniques for aligning habits, communication, and belonging. I hope you’ll get as[...]
Many of us would likely agree on the fact that the dominant, central power structures that make up our system need some reform. That goes for institutions large and small, whether we’re talking about a particular startup company or the global economy.But what is change supposed to look like, and how does it come about?If[...]
Key Takeaways:[3:24] Charlie’s background and why he decided to become an entrepreneur.[9:16] It typically takes 18 months to 36 months just to figure out what you're doing as an entrepreneur.[13:13] Mark talks about his career journey from going to film school to going to a corporate company at a franchise company making videos. There, he[...]
Key Takeaways:[2:57] Ruby and Eric discuss some of the unique delights and challenges of being part of a writing trio.[7:45] What is the bridge between this book and Morag’s book Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationship?[8:05] What are the intentional choices you can make to build ally relationships?[12:44] Ruby and Eric break down the five[...]
Key Takeaways:[6:20] We are in a media environment that is saturated with messages about how much more we could be doing.[7:27] Charlie, Jenny, and Tara define capacity and what that means to them.[10:51] What are some of the things that can make working in a team overwhelming?[14:17] When our world gets too big, we tend[...]
Key Takeaways:[3:13] Jennifer discusses finding her voice in the workplace equality movement as a professional, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and someone who recognizes their privilege.[5:25] Jennifer talks about carrying the LGBTQ identity as a source of challenge, and using it as a vehicle to transform her own leadership.[12:22] When getting leaders and insiders[...]
Can magic strike twice? As we learn in this episode, it most certainly can. Charlie welcomes Jadah Sellner, best-selling author, business coach, and the host of the Lead with Love podcast. Jadah shares wisdom from her own experience of going from the “green smoothie girl” to an anti-hustle and pro-sustainable leadership business coach. Jadah talks[...]
Key Takeaways:[4:36] Tara talks about what led her to create the What Works book, a blend of her own personal quest to re-establish her relationship with work and goals, mixed with conversations with people who had all sorts of different relationships to productivity and goals.[6:08] In the process of Tara’s research for the book, it[...]
Key Takeaways:[4:17] Mark talks about the experience of almost dying from a rare form of lymphoma when he was in his 30s, and how it was the introduction to facing the unavoidable work of the friction that comes with life.[5:32] We must face what is done to us, but we are more than what has[...]
Key Takeaways:[4:54] Lisa would consider herself mentally ambidextrous. She likes structure and hard problems but also enjoys free thinking. Both these qualities help her as a storyteller and entrepreneur.[5:04] Lisa talks about deciding that she wanted more out of early retirement than sitting and eating pancakes all day![8:36] As a polymath, you can both be[...]
If you’ve ever wanted to do interesting projects with friends and family but traditional business ownership models didn’t feel quite right, this episode is for you. Kate Strathman is an artist, writer, and rebellious spirit. As a multidisciplinary business owner, Kate taps into each of these traits to help others build equitable team structures and[...]
This week, New York Times bestselling author and essayist Esmé Wang joins the show. Esmé first talks about growing up with immigrant parents, and how that shaped her ideas of accomplishments and what it meant to succeed as a creative. She details how she went on to go to Yale, became a scientist, and then[...]
Tara Newman is the Founder and CEO of the Bold Profit Academy and host of the Bold Money Revolution. She joins the show today for a conversation about the importance of remembering why most of us start businesses and seek out entrepreneurship, how common growth strategies can lead to a lack of resiliency, and how[...]
Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and founder and executive director of the Flow Research Collective. He joins the show to talk about how we can access flow and empathy during times of crisis, and how we can learn from the innovation over the pandemic and keep it as[...]
In this episode, Angela is back as we discuss why it’s important for founders, business owners, and entrepreneurs of all kinds to consider a sabbatical or a “slowbatical.” Just as it sounds, a slowbatical is a time to slow down, recover, and recharge from career stresses. As a society, we have reached a critical point[...]
In this episode, Jenny Blake joins Charlie on the show to talk about free time and how systems can help us create more of it in our busy lives. The real goal of effective systems is to help us do our best work, free up our energy, and pursue what matters to us. Jenny and[...]
In this episode, Productive Flourishing team members Cory Huff, Steve Arensberg, and Maghan Haggerty join Charlie on the show to talk about the Start Finishing Field Guide, the workbook version of Charlie's best selling book, Start Finishing. In this behind-the-scenes chat with some team members who helped bring the field guide into existence, hear more[...]
In this episode, Angela joins Charlie on the show after a long hiatus to talk about her concussion rehabilitation process and what she has been going through since July when she experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Angela has been going through an intensive rehabilitation program, and it has been an exhausting experience for her.[...]
Ashley Zuberi, yoga teacher, author, and former teammate of Team Productive Flourishing, joins Charlie on the show to discuss how we can reframe yoga, spiritual practices, and mindfulness so that we can integrate them into our days and make them work for us. Spiritual practices and philosophy are best suited to help us live our[...]
Jeffrey Davis, branding consultant, repeat guest, and author of the new book, Tracking Wonder, joins Charlie on the show to discuss how we can reconcile productivity and wonder. Our culture’s obsession with productivity has a bias against wonder and yet wonder is essential for our creativity, satisfaction, and belonging. They discuss how these seemingly opposing[...]
Pam Slim, business coach, speaker, and author of the new book The Widest Net, joins Charlie on the show to discuss how building your business from an ecosystem paradigm instead of an empire paradigm changes everything — from how you do marketing to your approach to partnerships. They discuss the importance of having a focused[...]
KC Carter, meditation teacher, executive coach, and author, joins Charlie on the show to discuss the four permissions that will help us live a fuller life and be great leaders. They touch on how some of these permissions are sneakily radical, and KC’s process of setting aside the time to make his new book Permission[...]
Andrea Owen returns to the show to talk about her new book, Make Some Noise. She and Charlie talk about the unlearning we all need to do to be able to speak our minds, with a specific focus on how challenging this is to do for women, and why. They also discuss the importance of[...]
Larry Robertson returns to the podcast for this episode to talk about his new book and way of thinking about leadership, Rebel Leadership. He and Charlie talk about why the times we are living in now will be the norm for the century, the upshot of this uncertainty, why future proofing is inevitably going to[...]
Key Takeaways:[2:15] - The elephant is not the only creature in the room. The idea behind naming the mouse in the room is that sometimes you have to acknowledge the more subtle things in the room - they’re not always as big as an elephant. When we don’t name our mice, we’re more disconnected from[...]
Today’s guest is Kris Putnam-Walkerly, author of Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail to Achieve Change and What They Can Do to Transform Giving. She and Charlie talk about the barriers philanthropists face in making change happen, and Kris shares some of what she writes about in her book on ways to overcome them. Most importantly,[...]
In this episode, Charlie and Angela talk about managing the business in the midst of also having to take care of family. Currently in Arkansas to help take care of both sets of parents, they talk about how we sometimes have to shift our priorities for different seasons of life, and how to utilize skills[...]
Today’s guests are Dustin Granger and Danielle Granger Nava, the brother-sister duo behind Toujours Planning. Toujours is a full service wealth management firm that caters to professionals and pre-retirees across the US. They join Charlie today to talk about what it’s like to work with a sibling, and how they have been able to foster[...]
Today’s guest is Karwanna Dyson, an entrepreneur helping other women and minorities build successful and sustainable businesses by becoming government contractors. She shares her story of growing up in a poor urban community to becoming a thriving small business owner. Karwanna and Charlie talk about the unique opportunity small businesses have to change and support[...]
Angela is back on the podcast today! Charlie and Angela sit down to talk about some of the big growth edges they’ve had this year, especially in this crazy year that none of us expected. They talk about some of the changes for Productive Flourishing, as well as the personal changes they’ve discovered and embraced. Key[...]
This week, Charlie is joined by author, teacher, and consultant Nir Eyal to talk about his book “Indistractible,” and how to maintain focus in a world full of distractions. They discuss habits and techniques to gain traction back once it has been lost. Nir posits that willpower is not a finite resource but a mood[...]
Executive coach Amiel Handlesman joins Charlie on the show to talk about how we talk to each other. They illuminate the different kinds of conversations we have, and how to navigate them. Amiel talks about different conversational micro-habits that can help improve the quality of our communication, especially during this time when intentional conversation is[...]
Today’s episode is an interview Charlie gave to the founder of Record the Journey, a non-profit that provides outdoor adventures and photography training to military veterans and their families to make the process of transition easier. Charlie wanted to share this interview to bring light to challenges transitioning veterans face and to amplify Rachael’s great[...]
Martha Alderson joins Charlie on the show today to talk about her new book, Boundless Creativity. They talk about the key insights of the book, the Universal story, and the importance of making space for creative pursuits during COVID times. There is an overlap between Martha’s ideas and Charlie’s ideas from Start Finishing, so some[...]
Today’s guest is Cara Chace, a Pinterest marketing strategist, writer, and social media strategist. While those are her areas of expertise in career, this episode is about integrating creative and analytical thinking in ways that make both better. The real trick is learning which brain is better for the task at hand, and approaching a[...]
Authors Alexandra Jamison and Bob Gower join Charlie on the show today to talk about what it’s like to write a book with your partner. Their book, Radical Alignment, focuses on a four-layered approach to structured conversation, and how they used this approach on the journey to writing this book. They also discuss the application[...]
Eric Zimmer joins Charlie on the podcast today to talk about spiritual and habitual practices. They talk about the relationship between behavior change and spiritual practices, and why it’s especially important now. They also talk about how to get back on track when you’ve fallen out of your habits and practices. Key Takeaways:[2:10] - Eric shares[...]
Charlie sits down with Angela to reflect on this time we’re experiencing in our world with COVID-19, and what life has been like for them and their business. They talk about where they were before the pandemic, and how that set the stage for how they are handling this time. Together, they share their routines,[...]
Jeff Harry is an international speaker and consultant who shows how play enhances problem-solving and innovation. Play is not just childish fun, but can be found in day-to-day work. Charlie and Jeff talk about the hidden objection most people have to play, and ways you can overcome that to invite play into every aspect of[...]
Today’s guest is Jennifer Louden, author of the new book Why Bother: Discover the Desire for What’s Next. She joins Charlie today to talk about how we can find the spark to engage with and create what’s next for us. If desire is a word you’re uncomfortable with, today’s episode is for you! Key Takeaways:[2:15] -[...]
Today’s guest is John Jantsch, author and entrepreneur that specializes in marketing for small businesses. He is on the show today to discuss his new book The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur. He and Charlie discuss the inspiration for his book, including transcendentalist authors of the romantic period. John shares some of his favorite sections from the book,[...]
Michael Bungay Stanier joins Charlie on the show to talk about his new book, The Advice Trap. His book provides ways leaders can be more mindful of how they are coaching their team. In today’s episode, Michael and Charlie jam about some of the negative effects of falling into the advice trap too quickly. They[...]
Today’s guest returns to the show to talk about his new book, The 50 75 100 Solution. Bryan Falchuk shares ideas to create better relationships in his new book, and how his writing process has changed over the course of his two books. This is a great episode for anyone who is looking to better[...]
Angela joins Charlie on the show today to break down some of the recent events they’ve experienced in this last season of the year, focusing on a recent trip they went on and some lessons they learned from that trip. Key Takeaways:[1:35] - Charlie’s new book, Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done is[...]
Today’s guest is Erin Pheil, founder of the MindFix Group. She joins Charlie to jam about why it’s so hard to rewrite stories and change self-sabotaging scripts. They also talk about some things you can do when you’re tired of the same choices leading to the same actions. Key Takeaways:[0:05] - Charlie’s new book, Start Finishing:[...]
As the release date for the book draws nearer, Charlie reflects on the ups and downs of the journey of this book. Angela joins Charlie on the podcast to ask some questions about the book. In this episode, Charlie shares some of the ideas and dichotomies around productivity, and how his book seeks to help[...]
Mark Nepo returns to the show as today’s guest to talk about his new book, Drinking From the River of Light: The Life of Expression. Charlie and Mark talk about why it’s so important that we express ourselves, the tensions we live in as we seek to express ourselves as creative people, how we are[...]
Today’s guest is Bobby Herrera, co-founder and CEO of the Populus Group, an army veteran, and the author of The Gift of Struggle. He joins Charlie to talk about the power of sharing your stories of struggle with your team and those around you. Listen to hear how Bobby changed his stories of struggle, and[...]
On today’s episode, Charlie talks with Andrea Owen, author of “How to Stop Feeling Like S**t: 14 Habits That Are Holding You Back from Happiness.” She joins Charlie for a more personal episode, as they tackle topics like their fitness journeys, shame stories around needing to get help, and how communities help enable growth but[...]
Author of eight books now, Cynthia Morris joins Charlie for a second time to talk about her new book, The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book. She and Charlie talk about how writing a book is empowering, why busy women have different challenges with writing books that are often overlooked, plus the top[...]
Sebastian Marshall joins Charlie on the podcast today to talk about productivity from a different perspective. Sebastian is the co-founder of Ultraworking, a company building technology to help people hit flow states and peak performance more often in their work. He and Charlie talk about peak performance, and how the path to peak performance often[...]
Paul Jarvis joins Charlie on the show today to talk about the ideas in his new book, Company of One. Some of the things they discuss are why we should question business growth, how having an upper limit in our business growth creates sanity and durability, and the relationship between intentionally keeping our businesses too[...]
Dr. Samantha Brody is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist. She joins Charlie on the show today to talk about her book Overcoming Overwhelm: Dismantling Stress From the Inside Out. In today’s episode, they talk about more expansive ways that overwhelm may be showing up, as well as some underappreciated considerations about the relationships between[...]
Seth Godin returns to the show to talk to Charlie about his new book, This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See. They discuss how Seth defines marketing, how changing the wording of your marketing can make a huge impact, and how to measure what’s working in your marketing. Seth also[...]
Author, poet, and teacher Mark Nepo joins Charlie on the show today to talk about the power of true community. Throughout this episode, Mark talks about how community manifests itself in his new book, More Together than Alone. The book talks about eight worldviews and practices we can apply to our lives. He challenges us[...]
Angela joins Charlie on the episode today to share a special announcement. Along with their announcements, they discuss the seasons of change in our work and projects, and how you know if it’s time to take a break.Key Takeaways:[1:15] - The podcast is going on a season break between Season 4 and Season 5. Charlie[...]
Today’s guest joins us on the show for the fourth time. Susan Piver is the New York Times best-selling author of eight books, and the founder of The Open Heart Project, a completely virtual meditation center. Today, she and Charlie discuss the four noble truths of love, which is also the title of her new[...]
Liz is the founder and CEO of Sseko Designs, an ethical fashion brand that works to educate and empower women around the world. She joins Charlie on the show today to talk about how and why her brand started with employing high-potential women from Uganda, and what it does today for every woman in the[...]
Today’s guest is an avid runner, and part of a group that has run marathons on all 7 continents (yes, even Antarctica!). He joins Charlie today to talk about running these marathons, and the different and important lessons he learned on each continent. On the surface, the conversation is about marathons, but Charlie and Mike[...]
On today’s episode, Angela sits down with Charlie to talk about debt. As they come to the end of this podcast season, they wanted to share some of the conversations they’ve had in their household as well as with their clients. We can think of debt as how much money we owe others, or economic[...]
Marc and Angel Chernoff return to the podcast today to talk with Charlie about some of the key insights they’ve learned about finding your happiness, and always coming back to the rituals that create happiness each and every day. Taking ideas from their book, Getting Back to Happy, they also talk about how letting go[...]
Laurence McCahill is the co-founder of The Happy Startup School, a global community that’s now 100,000 people strong. He joins Charlie today to discuss the idea of the “happiness trap,” a belief that many entrepreneurs have that they can either make money, do good, or be happy, but not all three at the same time.[...]
Amber Rae is the author of Choose Wonder Over Worry. She joins Charlie on the podcast today to talk about how worry shows up in our lives, and how we can convert our worry stories to wonder. This episode can be very helpful for creatives in the midst of finishing their best work, as they[...]
Mary Shores is the author of Conscious Communications, a step-by-step guide to harnessing the power of your words to change your mind, your choices, and your life. She joins the show today to talk about how neurophysiology, our words, and other people’s behavior affect our ability to create the life we want to live. Today’s[...]
Stan Tatkin is a PACT developer, and co-founder of the PACT Institute. PACT stands for Psycho-biological Approach to Couples Therapy. Stan joins Charlie on the show today to discuss why couple relationships are so hard, at the same time that they are so great and necessary. The main challenges stem from the fact that we[...]
Ash Beckham is today’s guest on the show. She frequently speaks on empathy, respect, and the power of having real conversations. Her two TedX talks have over 10 million views on YouTube. She joins Charlie to talk about how we can master real, and sometimes hard, conversations in an age of combativeness. Hint: It’s not[...]
Today’s guest is Parker Stevenson, a musician turned corporate manager, turned member of Evolved Finance. Evolved Finance is a bookkeeping, financial consulting, and business education company dedicated to helping online entrepreneurs create profitable and healthy businesses. Charlie and Parker talk about using business financial awareness as a fuel for growth. They discuss the mistakes entrepreneurs[...]
Angela joins Charlie on the show today to talk about communication technology in our lives. This is an engaging conversation about how our connection to technology affects our connections and relationships with the people around us. They talk about creating healthy boundaries with communication technology that allow us to focus more time on things that[...]
Tara Gentile is an author and business strategist, who works with entrepreneurs and helps them design their personal “quiet power strategy” that will tap into their strengths and help them lead themselves where they want to go. She teaches her clients how to find what makes them most effective. Her work has been featured in[...]
Bryan Caplan is a Professor of Economics at George Mason University, blogger for Econ-log, and author of The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money. He joins Charlie on the show today for a vibrant discussion of why education is a waste of time and money, and why[...]
Kathleen Kelly Janus is a social entrepreneur, author, and lecturer at Stanford University. She recently released her book called Social Startup Success. She joins Charlie today to discuss how nonprofits maximize their impact by adopting some of the same strategies that modern, for-profit organizations are using. They also touch on how the non-profit sector unintentionally[...]
Bryan Falchuk is the author of Do a Day, a book that shows readers how to learn to make each day contribute to the life they want to live. He joins Charlie on the show today to talk about how his transformation - from being obese and depressed, to a marathon-running, top executive - gave[...]
On today’s episode, Angela returns to the show to talk with Charlie about boundaries. They did a joint presentation at the Think Better, Live Better conference, which was an interesting process for them. Since not all of their listeners were at the conference, they decided to bring a taste of their presentation to the podcast[...]
Sharon Rowe is the founder of EcoBags, and an award-winning entrepreneur. She joins Charlie today to talk about what she’s learned in steering her almost 30 year career as an entrepreneur. They also discuss what’s different about today’s business landscape, the relationship between your why and your financial metrics, and how important going is for[...]
Tama Kieves is the best-selling author of four books, with her latest being Thriving Through Uncertainty: Moving Beyond Fear of the Unknown and Making Change Work for You. She joins Charlie on the show today to talk about the mindset and practice shifts that we need to embrace to not let fear of uncertainty keep[...]
Christina is an attorney who wanted a more creative path, and started The Contract Shop, a contract template store for creative entrepreneurs, wedding professionals, and coaches. In this episode, Christina and Charlie discuss her transition from the risk-averse field of law into entrepreneurship, the challenges she faces as a new entrepreneur, and how the way[...]
Today’s guest, Debbie Reber, is a New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, and speaker. She joins Charlie today to discuss how she made the transition from working in television to becoming a best-selling author, and how the birth of her neurologically-different son altered her body of work and how she got it done. While her[...]
Ryan Haack is a writer, speaker, and blogger who was also born with one hand. Today’s episode is a re-run of episode 45, which is a Productive Flourishing favorite because it highlights that we’re each different, but it’s how we handle our differences that makes all the difference. Ryan uses what makes him different to[...]
Carey and Demir Bentley are the founders of Life Hack Bootcamp. This husband and wife team joins Charlie to talk about how radical self-care is the key to unlocking better work and more happiness. This topic is important to us all, because so many people think about their work as getting more work done –[...]
Barb Suarez is a health educator who specializes in the transformational events of pregnancy, birth, and parenting. She joins Charlie and Angela today to talk about the often unspoken realities of new parenthood, including how the process is identity-shaping for all three people, how to have a smooth transition that increases bonding, and how parenting[...]
Today’s show features Andrea Owen, proud author of 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life and How to Stop Feeling Like S**t: 14 Habits That are Holding You Back From Happiness. Andrea joins Charlie today to talk about the habits and shame stories that hold us back from success. In this episode, they discuss how[...]
Today’s guest, Kerra Bolton, is a journalist turned political communication strategist turned consultant who helps people and businesses get involved in their communities through business activism. Kerra joins Charlie on the show today to discuss what business activism is, and how it’s easier and safer than people think it is. You don’t have to pick[...]
As the year comes to a close, we have a natural inclination to look back on what’s happened over the past year. Many of the Productive Flourishing readers and listeners have been asking questions about ways to do annual reviews or think about assessing the year. In today’s episode, Angela and Charlie talk through their[...]
Lee Rankin, owner of Apple Hill Farm, an award-winning agri-tourism business in North Carolina. Lee joins Charlie on the show today to talk about the challenges and triumphs of starting a farm from scratch, and growing it while being a single mom in the middle of North Carolina. While the story is primarily about the[...]
Mike Vardy, a show regular, joins Charlie to jam about using energy as the basis of your plans and reflections, rather than just time. They also talk about using feelings as a gauge for productivity, rather than mere output. A key goal of their work is to feel better physically and emotionally, and it’s important[...]
Courtney Carver returns to the show today to talk about some of the ideas in her new book, Soul Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More. Many people think of minimalism and un-stuffing as merely a way to get rid of stuff, but there is actually a very important tie between[...]
Today’s guest, Penelope Trunk, was diagnosed with Asperger’s when she was 37 years old. She joins Charlie on the show today to discuss how and why women with autism are massively under-diagnosed. They also discuss how schools aren’t built to foster creativity. Penelope is the founder of four start-ups, and has been named one of[...]
Both Charlie and Angela work as coaches. In this episode, Angela and Charlie talk about how to know when it’s time to work with a coach or a consultant. The conversation gets to the heart of some of the ways that we don’t allow ourselves to get the help and support that we might be[...]
Today’s jam is all about stepping out of your comfort zone: why it’s challenging, how we avoid it, and how people do it successfully. Our guest, Andy Molinsky, will also share some of the surprising revelations of his research findings. Andy is the author of the books Reach and Global Dexterity, and is a professor[...]
In today’s episode, Leah and Charlie discuss an array of topics, like how mindfulness may be unintentionally excluding people from different religious faiths, and how people in organizations can make room for an inclusive conversation about introspective practices that respect everyone’s beliefs. They also discuss the traps of creating “universal” solutions that stamp out individuality[...]
Sometimes, we’re in a business or a career, and it’s not suiting us for one reason or another, but we’re not sure in which new direction to move. In this episode, Charlie and Breanne explore what to do when you need to make a shift, but you’re not sure what to shift into. They focus[...]
In today’s episode, Charlie and Angela discuss what it means to live away from family when they are dealing with health challenges and medical issues. Whether you are close or far from your relatives, you may have to be part of the healthcare journey of aging parents or grandparents. Charlie and Angela talk about different[...]
In today’s episode, Jacquette Timmons and Charlie discuss how the ways we make and spend money are more based on our feelings and identities than on cold, hard logic. They also talk about how to pay attention to the data we’re getting as we make decisions about earning and spending. Jacquette Timmons is author of[...]
ADHD can make focusing on creative work particularly difficult. Today’s guest, Ryan McRae, was diagnosed with ADHD and works with people who have ADHD. In today’s episode, Charlie and Ryan explore what it’s like when you have ADHD and you’re trying to be productive and focused. While people with ADHD have a harder time focusing,[...]
Jessica Abel is the author of La Perdida, and the Chair of the illustration program at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Both within and outside the academy, she helps creative people with big ideas get past procrastination and anxiety, and get on to do their best work. In today’s episode, Jessica and Charlie talk[...]
What do we do when we’re feeling guilty about not being productive? Today’s episode is a discussion on the topic of productivity guilt. Charlie and Angela discuss some of the different ways productivity guilt can manifest itself, as well as provide some perspective and encouragement about whether we’re truly not being productive. These guidelines can[...]
The decision to go all in can be a big one. Today’s guest, Ronen Gafni, founder of Fresh Biz and co-author of The New Entrepreneurs, joins Charlie to discuss the importance of going all in and betting on yourself. In addition to discussing some misconceptions about what it means to go all in, they also[...]
Ishita Gupta is a leadership and business strategist who was the head of media of the Domino Project for two years, and is a sought-after speaker. She joins Charlie today to talk about rebuilding her life and business. After a confluence of major life transitions, Ishita went home to refortify herself with her parents, only[...]
Today’s guest, best-selling author Vanessa Van Edwards, joins Charlie to talk about human interaction and succeeding with people. You might think that someone who writes about people is a raging extrovert, but that’s not always the case. Vanessa refers to herself as a “recovering awkward person.” In today’s episode, she and Charlie talk about how[...]
In today’s episode, Angela joins Charlie to talk about personal change. Most of the work that’s done at Productive Flourishing is around personal transformation and self-mastery. In Angela’s new coaching role, she’s been doing more and more of this with others. Charlie and Angela share some of the changes they’ve made in their personal lives[...]
Michael “Gebbs” Gebben joins Charlie on today’s episode. Michael founded Gebbs TV only to realize he was building something that was making him miserable. After reconfiguring his business to work for him, he realized that he had a major problem: his use of credit cards disguised his understanding of the success of his business and[...]
Jeffrey Davis is the founder of Tracking Wonder, a consultancy that mentors entrepreneurs, creatives, and brands to have influence with integrity. In his third appearance on the show, he and Charlie discuss why it’s so hard for leaders to stand for something, even after they’ve figured out what it is they stand for. It’s not[...]
Michelle Jones, founder of the Wayfinding Academy, joins Charlie on the show to talk about the college experience for students at the Wayfinding Academy. Instead of spending two to four years taking classes and then figuring out who they want to be in the world, students learn to live life on purpose and then use[...]
Larry Robertson, author of two award-winning books, joins Charlie on the show today to talk about growth, creative edges, play, uncertainty, and how our relationship with our work changes the longer we do it. This episode is a bit of an extension of a post Larry wrote for Productive Flourishing.Key Takeaways:[2:12] - What do we[...]
In this episode, Angela joins Charlie to discuss how they are balancing service work and volunteerism within their personal and professional lives. Both Charlie and Angela have taken on new commitments with various organizations, and they’ve been examining how much time they’re giving to service and volunteerism, as well as making some important decisions about[...]
Patricia Bravo runs “Bravo for You,” a consultancy that accelerates leader capability through the use of empathetic leadership. She joins the show today to discuss empathy and leadership, and to share why it can be so hard to weave empathy and leadership together, even though it seems they should be natural partners.Key Takeaways:[2:10] - Even[...]
In today’s episode, New York Times Best-Selling author of eight books and creator of the Open Heart Project Susan Piver, joins Charlie to talk about the links between mindfulness and creativity. During the discussion, both Charlie and Susan share some of what they’ve learned in their own practices that help them go back in when[...]
Meighan is a digital strategist who previously ran My Love For You, and was recruited by Yahoo! to work as a social media strategist. On today’s episode, she shares some of what she’s learned during her years in the digital trenches of creative work. Meighan and Charlie cover topics like the role of her community[...]
In this episode, Angela joins Charlie to talk about tipping points in your career or business that require you to change something. These tipping points could be changing in family arrangements, burn out, or a number of different things. They look at these periods of time when you’re going through something and you can’t do[...]
Today’s guest is Bryce Bladon, author of Hell to Pay 2: Everything a Freelancer Needs to Earn Good Money, and editor-in-chief of Clients From Hell. He joins Charlie to discuss the differences between being an entrepreneur and a freelancer. So many creative professionals get stuck and confused because they are unsure about what type of[...]
In today’s episode, Cory Huff joins Charlie to discuss how to think through whether to start a new business, to jump to another project, or to not grow your business as you consider dimensions of your life that you’d like to advance. Cory’s advice comes after a year of deciding to scale his business and[...]
In today’s episode, Fiona Dawson and Charlie talk about fluid identities in sexuality, the role that the US military plays in social change, and what happens on the other side of success. Fiona is the director of the New York Times short-opinion documentary “Transgender, at War and in Love.” Her other projects elevate stories about[...]
In this last episode of the Creative Giant Show, we discuss why we’re ending it and what comes next. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe
This episode is a requested reading of a previous post on Productive Flourishing named “12 Simple Ways to Be Present.” This post shares twelve simple ways to be more present in your day-to-day life, and to take a pause when life wants to push you headlong.Key Takeaways:[0:53] - Learning to be present helps us refrain[...]
In this episode, fathers/entrepreneurs Mike Bruny and Jeremie Miller join Charlie to talk about how they’ve learned to balance entrepreneurship and fatherhood. In addition to being fathers, both Jeremie and Mike have been pursuing entrepreneurial projects. In this episode, they talk about some of the challenges of being a dad, being an entrepreneur, being a[...]
In the 11th question and answer episode, Angela and Charlie answer questions from the Productive Flourishing Community and the Campfire. The answers focus on habit stacking, how to focus on important but not urgent projects, and a few tips on Medium.[1:17] - The first question from the Campfire: Are there any resources, links, or suggestions[...]
We may think creativity and grief wouldn’t normally go together, and yet, creativity and grief are very much related. Cath Duncan and Kara Jones join Charlie to talk about how grief and creativity are related, and why it’s important to do our grief and creativity our own way.Key Takeaways:[3:34] - Cath introduces herself and how[...]
Today’s episode is a requested reading of a previously published post on Productive Flourishing. The article shows how using the lens of cash flow, opportunity, and visibility is useful for sorting through complex business decisions to determine your most relevant next step. In this reading, Charlie talks about how working through each of the lenses[...]
A lot of people have a love-hate relationship with systems. On one hand, they can help clear up a lot of mind chatter and resolve frustrations. On the other hand, they’re not that fun. Many creative people tell themselves they just don’t get systems. In today’s episode, Marina Darlow joins Charlie to discuss the relationships[...]
In this Q&A, Angela joins Charlie to answer questions from the Campfire about why they have a no electronics rule in the bedroom or dining room area, how to determine if your current focus block isn’t going to work and how to switch to something else, and how to conduct a mid-month review.Key Takeaways:[1:02] -[...]
A lot of creative people thrive on having multiple side projects, but at the same time, having side projects may cause your main projects to suffer. Nicole Stevenson joins Charlie to jam about how having side projects might help you with your main projects. She brings her vast experiences as an entrepreneur - clothing line[...]
Today’s episode is a requested reading of a previously published post on Productive Flourishing named “5 Ways to Get Through the Creative Red Zone.” This article lists five ways to get projects that are almost done into the finished stage. Key Takeaways:[0:48] - The creative “red zone” is when you have a project that is almost[...]
As entrepreneurs and small business owners, we can help create solutions that create positive social change - promoting diversity and inclusion, distributing wealth, creating opportunities, and promote flourishing. In today’s episode, Pam Slim joins Charlie to talk about how small business owners can lead the way for this change. Tune in today to hear their[...]
In the 9th Q&A episode, Angela joins Charlie to answer questions from the campfire about decision fatigue, business growth problems, and how to manage multiple projects when you’re already overwhelmed. Key Takeaways:[1:06] - The show must go on! As a precursor to the depth of this episode, Charlie and Angela talk a bit about balancing hectic[...]
Larry Robertson, author and thought leader, joins Charlie to jam about creativity. In this episode, they cover everything including what creativity is, where breakthroughs come through, unhelpful myths that prevent us from understanding creativity, the roles space and time have for the creative process, and the different modes of creativity. Key Takeaways:[0:56] - Charlie gives an[...]
Today’s episode is a requested reading of a previous published post on Productive Flourishing. Charlie answers a question about making time to plan and how he uses certain materials to organize and remind. The key idea is that you have to make time for planning, so that you save or don’t waste time when you’re[...]
Mike Vardy, a friend and fellow productivity teacher, joins Charlie to talk about the power of defaults, theming your week, how to use creative/focus blocks, and how effective scheduling, planning, and decision making is really about being kind to yourself. Key Takeaways:[2:25] - Productivity should be fun! It is important to find a harmony between frameworks[...]
Angela joins Charlie as he tackles three questions revolving around how to take action on a good idea without it being overwhelming, how to discuss goals and finances with your business team without it being awkward, and which of the Productive Flourishing planners to use to get to your creative energy flowing. Key Takeaways:[1:25] - Alison[...]
In this episode, Charlie and Jennifer cover the “behind the scenes” of how Charlie gets stuff done. Tune in to find out everything from why he joined the army and how he applies that to his work to his workout and self-care routines. If you like “behind the scenes” or “making of,” you’ll love this[...]
Today’s episode is a requested reading of a previously published post on Productive Flourishing named “Stop Lying and Start Creating.” The key idea is that we creative people are particularly adept at making up stories and lies that keep us from doing work - especially when it comes to research. Key Takeaways:[0:57] - Creative people have[...]
Toku McCree joins Charlie to jam about what they’ve experienced in themselves and their clients, and how to move through the guilt of getting what you want to achieve success. Key Takeaways:[2:16] - Obsession with tactics and doing and how it stifles their business and personal growth. Often times when people reach a certain level of[...]
Angela joins Charlie as they tackle another question & answer session, exploring the priority cage match, how to bring in more diversity into your company, and what to do when your plans are too intense. Key Takeaways:[0:54] - Can you elaborate more on the priorities cage match? How do you allot time to things in the[...]
Kristin Reinbach joins Charlie to discuss the question of whether happiness is dependent on the culture we’re from. They talk about the difference between social norms of success and happiness versus our personal concepts of success and happiness. Key Takeaways:[2:45] - How did Kristin get to where she is today? What inspired her to get into[...]
Today’s episode is a requested reading of a previously published post on Productive Flourishing called “Welcome to Project World.” The key idea is that we no longer live in a world defined by careers, but rather by projects. What we finish is more important than what we’ve been doing and working on. Key Takeaways:[0:51] - Charlie[...]
Charlie and Angela talk about values and expectations, priorities, and boundaries in order to amp up your holidays without amping up your stress. Key Takeaways:[1:25] - Intentionality during the holidays: what do we want this time to look like?[3:22] - There are a lot of expectations surrounding the holiday season. It is important to have conversations[...]
Our host, Charlie and his wife, Angela answer community members’ questions about networking, project post-mortems, and share real experiences of how they work together as a married couple. Key Takeaways:[1:04] - As a solo entrepreneur, how do we go about figuring out how to be the one that gives instead of the one who takes? How[...]
Mary Fran Bontempo joins Charlie to discuss how aging can be a gift, and how to make words like change, fear, and fine not be dirty words. They also discuss how much of our identities is fixed by the stuff we accumulate. Key Takeaways:[1:19] - Introduction to Mary Fran Bontempo and how she got started in[...]
Today’s episode is a requested reading of a previously published post on Productive Flourishing named “Shake It, Don’t Break It.” The key idea from this post is that you can walk to edge of the known world you see, and shake things up without completely breaking up and burning down everything you know and have[...]
Angela joins Charlie Gilkey answer your questions and discuss how to determine what to delegate in your business, how to focus on high-value work, what low prices say about your products and services, and what to do when your getting off your schedules and productivity schedules. Key Takeaways:[1:15] - Open invitation to share your questions and[...]
This episode is going to be a conversation between Angela and me about different learning styles and really getting to the bottom of how you learn, how you process and how you polish. The reason we’re going through this is because we’re both doing a lot of different creative things and we’ve found ourselves either[...]
Remember MacGyver, the ingenious action-adventure hero from the 80’s who was able to do things like disarm bombs with a toothpick, swiss army knife and duct tape? MacGyver was a huge influence on me as a kid and his creator, Lee Zlotoff, joins me today to discuss the genesis of MacGyver, as well as the[...]
Today’s episode is a requested reading of a previously published post on Productive Flourishing, named “Your Art is For You”. So many creatives and change makers get stuck because they feel torn between the art they want to create and the art others want. And by art, I mean that special medicine that only you[...]
Today Angela joins me again for a jam and we’re talking about grief, transitions and health. This comes because we have gone through some death and grieving recently and it’s something that people ask Angela about a lot, and I do get questions sometimes, so we’re going to go ahead and do a jam about[...]
After seeing how much more fun it was to have Angela with me on the Q&A’s, we’ve decided that it’s the new standard. Today we answer questions people send in about preventing overwhelm when goal-setting, dealing with a bad day and hiring someone when you don’t have the immediate cash to do so. Ready? Let’s[...]
Jonathan Fields joins me for a second time today to discuss his new book, How to Live a Good Life. The journey of writing this book has been a particularly interesting one, for the process required him to step into a very uncomfortable role at the same time as it required him to immerse himself[...]
Today’s episode is a reading of a previously published post on Productive Flourishing named “What I’m Here to Do”. The post shares some stories that have informed why I show up in the world the way I do — I’m a bridge builder that helps people flourish. Ready? Let’s do this! Key Takeaways:[00:46] Follow Charlie as[...]
In today’s episode, Jason Van Orden joins me and shares what he’s learned about influence and helping others become top influencers in their field. Given that we often teach what we most need to learn, we also discuss what his work has revealed for him and the surprising tensions that have come up for him[...]
Angela joins me on today’s episode to learn how to align your goals and projects with your seasonal energy. This is a bit of a follow up from episode 102 with Megan Roop, based on questions readers have been asking us. But, it’s also prompted by the transition from summer to fall that we’re currently[...]
Angela joins me for this Q&A to discuss how to form a success pack, how to brainstorm your goals, and the biggest leadership lesson I’ve learned in business. We made the switch to Angela joining me on this because it’s way more fun doing these with someone else and you’ll soon hear how much better[...]
Thanks so much for joining me on this quick episode. On this solo riff, I talk about why productivity gets a bad rap, and how instead of focusing on all the reasons why productivity is bunk, we’re better off focusing on finishing the stuff that matters. Ready? Let’s do this! Key Takeaways:[0:25] SaneBox can help[...]
In today’s episode, Arna Baartz joins me to share her journey, from a child of creative parents to an artist who teaches people to become more emotionally intelligent. Along the way, we discuss how she weaves in being a mother of 8 children, and her discovery and exploration of the art of Kundalini. Ready? Let’s[...]
Thanks for joining us today! In this special episode of The Creative Giant Show, Charlie does a Q&A session with topics ranging from: triggers, the root of people’s resistance, and how to reconcile one’s innate nature with what seems to be an almost unnatural act of being an employee. Are you ready? Let’s do this! Key[...]
Srinivas Rao returns to The Creative Giant Show to jam about his new book, Unmistakeable: Why Only Is Better Than Best. We dive right in and discuss how ‘only’ isn’t enough, how the myth of easy creativity keeps us from doing our unmistakeable work, and the neurotic creative process the Unmistakeable Team goes through to[...]
Megan Roop joins Charlie today to talk about how quiet adventures helped her find herself battling the pursuit of being perfect. Along the way, she’s woven her experience with the Peace Corps, selling outdoor equipment, teaching yoga, and helping people overcome eating disorders, into a unique body of work. Listen in as we discuss the[...]
In this special edition of The Creative Giant Show, Charlie reads from the Productive Flourishing blog post, Get Up and Take Care of Your People. This gripping story tells of how a combat experience in the military revealed to him both parallels and valuable lessons in leadership, which apply today in the battleground of business. Key[...]
The tables are turned in this episode, as Andrea J. Lee puts me in the spotlight. The questionnaire becomes the questioned. This one is coming right after I started sharing more of my thoughts on race, identity, equality and justice. So, a good bit of the conversation focuses on how we might show up as[...]
Whether we’re content creators, managers, leaders or customer service reps, we’re all in the teaching business. Breanne Dyck joins me again, to continue the conversation about making better learning experiences that work for our learners and work for us. Hint - it’s not about the content.A quick plug here - come join us at The[...]
In this episode, Lisa Robbin Young and I discuss the blog post she wrote for Productive Flourishing on the 3 Types of Creative Entrepreneurs. Even if you don’t consider yourself creative or an entrepreneur, this is worth the listen because we’re really talking about different modes of creativity and why it’s important to lean into[...]
A common growing pain for Creative Giants is the pressure to be just one thing in the world. To just be a doctor or a writer or a programmer or CO or whatever it is. The truth of it is that we’re all multi-dimensional, so resisting that only leads to us living less rich lives.[...]
Peter Droppers said, the only things that evolve by themselves in an organization are disorder, friction, and malperformance. In a similar vein, it seems that businesses and organizations naturally tilt towards complexity, much to the dismay and frustration of the people and those who interact with them. You can’t beat complexity with more complexity. Ken[...]
There are two myths about being a successful creative that get us into a lot of troub. One, that doing it by yourself is better and two, that having a creative partner would make life so much easier. It turns out that neither is true, at least for most people. Leah Heinz and Naz Murphy[...]
Today’s episode is a rerun of one of my favorite episodes, episode 3 with Seth Godin. We’re doing a rerun today for several reasons: 1) I wanted to share some of our past episodes, that were fantastic, with new listeners who may not have scrolled all the way to the bottom of the episode list[...]
While a lot of career paths aren’t linear, Creative Giants in particular often seem to have dramatically, nonlinear career progressions. One of the reasons for this is that we’re often actually pursuing multiple passions or growth edges at once. Kristoffer Carter (K.C.) joins me today to share his journey from a corporate sales guy to[...]
The pursuit of happiness is often tied to the acquisition of more stuff. But we should instead be asking how the stuff in our lives prevents us from being happy, creative and connected to the ones we love. Courtney Carver, from bemorewithless.com, joins me to discuss how simplicity and minimalism is a path to love[...]
It’s easy for coaches to not walk their talk. Especially, since we are so focused on transformation and transitions. While the outcome of transformations and transitions are great, the process isn't comfortable for anyone, including the coaches who facilitate said growth. Andrea Lee joins me today to share her transition from one of the top[...]
This is our first Q & A episode and I’m excited about it. In today’s episode I discuss: 1) creative ways to use the results from your productivity heat map, 2) how I suggest people approach heat mapping when their schedule is largely determined by somebody else, and 3) what tools I use for blogging.[...]
Think about what comes to mind when I ask you to think about a marketer or sales person. Be honest! Did you think of a smart, soft spoken, insightful woman? If not, I hope today’s episode changes that for you. Sonia Simone is a marketing trend setter and founding partner of Rainmaker Digital, formerly Copyblogger[...]
This is a jam between Angel and I on what happens when you go against your daily rhythms and having awareness and synchronicity with your natural biorhythms. We also chat about creative energy, adapting to schedule shifts, peak creative times, “screen sucking”, schedule optimization, and more. Ready? Let’s do this! Key Takeaways:[0:32] Thank you to SaneBox.com[...]
As uncomfortable as it is to make big changes in life no matter what those changes are, fear kicks into overdrive when you’re changing great careers and great jobs. Michelle Bushneff joins me today to share her purpose-filled pioneering journey from software companies to Athleta to her own consultancy and now back to more full-time[...]
A lot of our decisions revolve around enhancing our own freedom. The challenge is that there are two distinct kinds of freedom that are often in tension and lead us to making decisions that keep us from flourishing and being our best selves in the world. In today’s solo riff, I’m going to explore the[...]
Each of us wears a different mask every day, whether that mask is being a mother, a creative person, a brother or a manger. Knowing when we’re wearing the right one and which ones not to reveal, is key to our success and happiness. Dr. Atira Charles joins me today to jam about how the[...]
Something we don’t talk about enough is that many entrepreneurs and small business owners realize being in that space isn’t necessarily right for them. Sometimes it’s about business models and market trends, and yet other times it has nothing to do with those external conditions. But given that being an entrepreneur or small business owner[...]
Every one of us has our own unique set of challenges and negative beliefs that keep us from living life to the fullest. To thrive, we have to develop rituals, practices and methods that help us root out the negative thoughts and beliefs that are hurting our productivity, goals, health and relationships. Marc and Angel[...]
All too often, exercise and movement are put in a different bucket of activities than those that count towards being productive. Unfortunately, that’s backwards. Exercise is a foundation for success, so focusing on our health and fitness is one of the most productive things we can do. Mike Goncalves joins me today to talk about[...]
Jasmine Burton, an inspirational 24-year-old running a startup in Africa, hopes to improve women’s health via redesign of water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure - sparking the foundation of Wish for Wash. In this episode, you’ll learn how a variety of waste management gaps exist despite how far the western world has advanced the human experience.[...]
Many modern men are caught in a strange space. For one, we can’t and don’t want to be like our fathers and grandfathers, but we also don’t want to be some shade of Homer Simpson. And yet, there’s not much space to talk about this in public either. Add in the fact that many of[...]
If you’ve ever considered being a fine artist or have talked to an artist you know, you’ve probably heard or accepted some variate of ‘the gallery myth’, which is that the goal is to have your art featured in a gallery and then you’re set for life. Buyers will flock to you, critics will appreciate[...]
Let’s face it, the legal, tax and financial aspects of our businesses and creative ventures are areas that many of us avoid. We’ve been conditioned to be afraid of them, in the case of financial and tax matters; and diving into the financial realm, naturally makes people feel uncomfortable. But avoiding them is like trying[...]
Cynthia Morris joins me today to jam about creativity, talent and Capturing the Wow that comes up as we travel through our days. This is a particularly good episode to listen to if you’re at the beginning of your mastering journey with a creative form, whether that form is writing, painting, music, programming or blogging,[...]
What does depression, strategy, financial intelligence and specialization, all have in common? They’re all related to choices. In the case of depression, sometimes feeling like you don’t have any. They’re also topics Tara Gentile and I jam about. Ready? Let’s do this! Key Takeaways:[0:53] Charlie is delighted to have Tara on the show again. She also[...]
We all know that death is a part of life, but it’s the part of life that we, as a society and individuals, often would rather not talk about. And yet, not talking about it isn’t making it go away; and in fact, makes death and dying so much harder for us to process. Kathy[...]
Angela is joining me today to jam about the emotional journey that happens as you’re growing and scaling your business. There are a lot of ups and downs, but a lot of times we’re not talking about the leaders or founders’ journey of grief, excitement, freedom, and fear that happens as they start letting go[...]
Though we wear cloths every day – at least most of us do – many of us don’t think about the entrepreneurial and economic aspects related to the cloths we wear. Like many other business industries, the fashion industry is going through a massive disruption, making it a great time to be an entrepreneur and[...]
Many of us get stuck in life, because for some reason or the other we’re resistant to change. Being resistant to change is like being resistant to gravity, we might be able to counter some the effects of it, but it’s always going to be there. There are some amazing gifts that come from embracing[...]
Most people don’t put managing their money and being creative together. Especially since one seems to be what you have to do, whereas the other seems to be what you get to do. But managing your money is a creative process and whether you like it or not, it’s an emotional process too. Luna Jaffe[...]
Part of being a Creative Giant is learning to be fully you, however you might show up. That’s a hard enough journey but it can feel even more daunting to learn to do that while in a romantic relationship with another Creative Giant. Dr. Laura Ciel and Bill Poett join me to talk about their[...]
Mentors often make the difference between us successfully finishing the stuff that matters and just thinking or dreaming about it. This is especially the case for young adults and new entrepreneurs, who often times get so much well meaning, but bad advice from other people who’ve never gone where the ‘would be mentee’ is trying[...]
While we like the idea that we can simply think ourselves into certain beliefs and instincts, the truth of the matter is that our personality is partially determined by our evolutionary history. There might be some things lurking down there that we don’t want to address, but we can’t ignore them either. Professor Tod Kashdan[...]
Finishing creative work is challenging because sometimes you can’t just push through, as doing so will lead to creative burnout. And yet, you can’t give up when it gets hard or you’ll never really do the work that matters. Jennifer Louden joins me on this episode to share how her wearing away from creative burnout[...]
A common myth is that scaling a business means you have to compromise the core values, culture and human-friendly qualities that the business originally started with. In today’s episode, Laura Novak Meyer joins me to share what she learned in the process of scaling her business while keeping it true to its core. Laura is[...]
Coaching is a powerful way of being with people, because it unlocks human potential and transforms the way you relate to others. It is also really misunderstood, misrepresented, and when done right it is hard to do. Michael Bungay Stanier is an award winning coach and he joins me today to work through some powerful[...]
You were probably in the goal setting mode for 2016 or maybe you just want to set the right goals. It turns out that making great goals is often a matter of asking the right questions. Jeffrey Davis and I think a particularly good question is, "what will you stand for, this year?" and that's[...]
Branded a "Moxie Maven" by The White House Office of Public Engagement for her unique and effective approach to leadership development, through her 'Step Into Your Moxie' platform, Alexia has become the go-to expert for helping entrepreneurs, executives, online experts, and other thought leaders create, pitch, and perform their spotlight talks and design and execute[...]
It's the time of year where we're thinking about setting new goals and new resolutions. On this final episode of 2015, Angela and Charlie wanted to take the time to talk about some things to think about as you’re setting intentions and new plans for the New Year. They’re excited to jump into the show.[...]
The stories we often hear and tell ourselves about entrepreneurs, are that successful entrepreneurs somehow had it in their blood or it was always what they wanted to be. The problem is that a lot of people who are now entrepreneurs never thought they'd be one or even have a hard time owning the title[...]
Email has become the primary tool many of us use to communicate with others. We both love it and hate it, because like money, email can be a great servant but a terrible master. Dmitri Leonov joins Charlie Gilkey to jam about ways you can make email work for you rather than against you. Email[...]
The imposter syndrome is a major road block for many of us when it comes to doing our best work, especially if doing it requires us to start something new. “Who are you to do it?” rings so loudly inside us that we often can’t hear the other more helpful stories or see the other[...]
Kristin Meekhof is a licenced Masters level social worker. She's a speaker, contributor to Huffington Post, a Maria Shriver “Architect of Change”, and the author of A Widow's Guide to Healing. She has been seen on Huffington Post Live, featured on American Greetings and at ABC Headquarters in New York. She has also been a[...]
Sometimes, you commit to a few things and then life intervenes and throws a few more things on your plate, and it can sometimes get away from you. You feel like "how am I going to do all of this?", "what do I need to let go?", "how do I handle my own expectations for[...]
Jordan Agolli is a young, but highly experienced entrepreneur who is also the host of the Teenage Entrepreneur. He started his first business when he was 14-years-old, and grew the company to 20 employees by the time he was 18-years-old. In 2014, he founded Teenage Entrepreneur, which is a platform focused on educating and inspiring[...]
Rebecca is a serial entrepreneur who creates problem solving consumer goods that are in the hands of over half million people around the world, and have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, multiple episodes of ABC's Shark Tank, Good Morning America and more. Rescate began her entrepreneurial career at the age of 25 in[...]
Susan Piver makes a reappearance on this week's episode to talk about meditation. Susan was featured on episode four of The Creative Giant Show, so be sure to check out her first interview with Charlie after you listen to this one. Susan Piver has an international reputation for being an exceptionally skillful meditation teacher and[...]
Angela Wheeler joins Charlie Gilkey in today's podcast episode. Charlie and Angela talk on how sometimes it's difficult to practice self-care and take care of all of your responsibilities at the same time. The two explore the subject of self-care and talk on why they're not feeling 100% at the best on the show. Key Takeaways:[2:05][...]
Nathalie Molina Niño launched her first tech startup at the age of 20 and then later graduated with a degree in playwriting at Columbia University. In 2012, Nathalie co-founded a non-profit at the Athena Center for Leadership studies of Barnard College at Columbia University, where she advises young women entrepreneurs. Nathalie talks on how she[...]
Charlie Gilkey and Angela Wheeler have been together for over 18 years and discuss on today's podcast what's it like working with each other. Angela shares her struggles on leaving her academia career, catching up with Charlie's four year learning curve in the business, and surviving a near-death experience. Charlie and Angela talk on the[...]
Linda Kaplan Thaler is an advertising luminary and author who is also the cofounder of the Kaplan Thaler Group and chairman of Publicis New York. She has created many iconic advertising campaigns such as Kodak Moments and the Aflac duck. She is a native New Yorker who has co-authored three bestselling books: Bang!: Getting Your[...]
Jacquette Timmons is a financial behaviorist who helps her clients figure out how to connect their money to life in a real and meaningful way. She offers unbiased advice and helps people gain insight and clarity that they might not otherwise get on their own. She helps people blend the emotions of money with the[...]
Sarah Jones is the founder of Introverted Alpha, a place to help introverted men attract women naturally. Her work has been featured in various places including Cosmo and Business Insider and many other. Along with being a dating coach, Sarah also uses Introverted Alpha to help support the cause of ending human trafficking. She joins[...]
Charlie takes a few minutes in this episode to discuss the future of the show and the direction he would like to take it. Key Takeaways:00:47 – “Bullets, cannonballs, and tripwires.”01:36 – Why Charlie wanted to get to 50 episodes.03:33 – People saying they want more of Charlie on the podcast.04:28 – Charlie not wanting the[...]
Brigitte Lyons is a media specialist who founded B, a boutique PR agency helping organizations and individuals move their ideas. She teaches entrepreneurs how to take media outreach into their own hands. Brigitte is an advocate for emerging talent, and those she has helped have gone on to get coverage from cnn.com, The Huffington Post,[...]
Ryan Haack is an author, blogger, and speaker who was born without a left hand. In 2011, he launched his website, livingonehanded.com, in an effort to help people embrace the things that make them different and realize that they are still valuable and important. He writes about his experiences as someone who was born with[...]
Willie Jackson is the founder and publisher of Abernathy, a magazine for black men. He is also a tech consultant and a member of Seth Godin’s Domino Project. He is an advisor and has worked with several bestselling authors and entrepreneurs as well as speaking regularly at conferences. Previously, he served as the director of[...]
Many of us don’t know exactly what we want to be. We wander through life dissecting our likes and our wants without realizing this is a process which gives our calling time to present itself. Life’s dopamine shots of getting it now can interfere with your ability to share your gift. If you write call[...]
The impression that you make while connecting on social media can help you land the perfect job or it can haunt you. Your online personal brand is what the world sees so, make certain it is authentically you. It may be difficult in the future to cover up any regrets. In this 24 hour socially[...]
Charlie talks briefly on the show today about an old Native American parable about an evil wolf and a good wolf and which wolf we feed. It’s about the battle that goes on inside of us. Do we choose to feed the good or the bad in us? He addresses that in this week’s show. Key[...]
James Victore is a graphic artist, author, and activist who describes his art as “sexy” and strives to help people find their creative courage through talks and workshops. He has numerous high-profile clients and his posters have been displayed in places like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Library of Congress,[...]
Known as the Suitcase Entrepreneur, Natalie Sisson has been traveling the world and living out of her suitcase since 2006 while also running a successful online business from her laptop that generates a six-figure income. She is a number-one bestselling author, podcaster, speaker, and adventure and is on a mission to help entrepreneurs create true[...]
Sergeant Kevin Briggs is a retired California Highway Patrol officer who spent most of his time on the Golden Gate Bridge encouraging people not to commit suicide by jumping. He was nicknamed the guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge and has helped over 200 people make the decision not to end their life. After retiring,[...]
The smartest thing Carla ever did with regards to writing her book is collaborating with a person who was just as emotionally involved as she was. She was so used to going full throttle all the time she needed to learn that you can ask for help or even quit it for a while and[...]
Ali Luke is an author, blogger, entrepreneur, and mother who blogs about writing on her website Aliventures. She is also the creator of Writers’ Huddle, a teaching community site for writers. She started writing online in 2008 and has since become a regular blogger on popular websites. She is also the author of Publishing E-Books[...]
Andrew Bennett is a former Fortune 500 corporate executive and started his career working as H. Ross Perot's personal assistant. Andrew teaches corporations his transformation framework, which he developed through his passion and understanding of magic. He uses three principles for incorporating change into a company – appear, disappear, and restore and in the episode[...]
Melissa evangelizes that feeding your creative hungers is one of the fastest routes to happiness. As a happiness catalyst and creativity instigator Melissa empowers people to find and follow their callings, create their art and share their work because that’s how you will change the world.An artist in multiple forms Melissa models living a full[...]
Charlie talks today on the show about what it means to be a creative giant and why he uses that term, challenges a creative giant may face, what it means and how to “stand tall,” and more. Key Takeaways:01:13 – What creative giants are.03:20 – The challenges creative giants face.07:52 – Why the term “giant”?09:05 –[...]
Mary Trunk has many titles to her name including painter, dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker and has been making documentary films for over 20 years. Her first feature length film, The Watershed, screened at over 30 film festivals worldwide and has won numerous awards. She then spent seven years filming her latest documentary Lost in Living.[...]
Joan Sotkin is an author, coach, and businesswoman who helps people understand why they do what they do with their money and how to change their financial behaviors. In the 1980’s Joan built her own mail order business selling crystals and making over $30,000 a month, but her lack of business and financial skills led[...]
Breanne Dyck is a strategist, coach, and consultant whose expertise is in distilling information, drawing key insights, and helping her clients achieve light bulb moments. She helps microbusinesses grow their revenues and their impact by applying the principles of adult learning. Her clients include speakers, authors, coaches, consultants, and other microbusiness owners, and she helps[...]
Val Groth is a former school social worker in the inner city schools of Chicago. She holds dual masters degrees in social work and educational leadership, which has helped her work with students in crisis. After her career as a social worker she entered the field of life coaching and works with clients around the[...]
Srinivas Rao is a bestselling author and the host and founder of The Unmistakable Creative Podcast where he has interviewed over 500 people in an effort to inspire and encourage his listeners to stand out by being unmistakable. He is also the creator of The Instigator Experience conference and self-published his book The Art of[...]
Tara Gentile is an author and business strategist, who works with entrepreneurs and helps them design their personal “quiet power strategy” that will tap into their strengths and help them lead themselves where they want to go. She teaches her clients how to find what makes them most effective. Her work has been featured in[...]
Chris Brogan is the CEO of Owner Media Group, a highly sought after professional speaker, coach, consultant, and author. He provides education and tools to help make people’s lives and businesses thrive by teaching them how to own the game they most want to win. He offers events and courses to help get them to[...]
Cory Huff is an actor and storyteller who also has a career in Internet marketing. He discovered search engine marketing in social media in 2004 and since then has worked on marketing and software programs for some of the world’s biggest companies. He started his business The Abundant Artist in 2009 as a way of[...]
Julie Daley is a teacher, writer, and coach who works with people around the world in emotional intelligence, conscious embodiment, leadership potential, spontaneous awakening, the sacred feminine, finding one’s purpose, healing the pain of the past, and disconnecting from negative conditioning. She started her journey in 2001 when she became a certified creativity and business[...]
Wendy McClelland is a lifelong entrepreneur who started a small typing business after her divorce that eventually grew to what The New York Times called one of the best biz sites on the ‘net. She has overcome incredible odds, raising 3 children under 10 while running her growing business and then contracting E. coli, which[...]
John Warrillow is a successful entrepreneur who is the founder of The Value Builder System and author of the bestselling book Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You, which was recognized by both Fortune and Inc. Magazine as one of the best business books of 2011 and has been translated into[...]
Sarah Bray is a wife and homeschooling mom who has spent the past nine years working with clients as a strategic designer, front-end developer, and nation-builder. She has consulted with over 100 clients on content strategy, product design, marketing strategy, brand and identity development, and online business development. Now she is mostly a writer who[...]
Jennifer Boykin is the creative visionary behind the midlife reinvention movement “Life After Tampons” who speaks, teaches, and writes about women who rise. She frequently contributes to major Internet sites and blogs regularly for The Huffington Post. Jennifer has experienced many losses in her life, including the death of her only daughter over 20 years[...]
In 2013, when Jake Ducey was 19, he dropped out of college to backpack the world. That then inspired him to write his first book Into the Wind, which he self-published, and it ended up making it to the top 300 on the Amazon bestseller list. He used the money from that book to build[...]
Thursday is the cofounder of Urgency, Inc., an online marketing agency focused on technical clients. She’s been blogging for over 10 years and has written for a variety of publications. She is a true renaissance woman whose interests include diversity in tech, the use of punctuation, crypto currencies, analytics impact on content strategy, gifs, and[...]
Jonathon Button and Quinn Vandenberg left everything behind at age 25 and moved to Nicaragua. After 6 months of living among the locals, surviving off of just $2.00 a day, and immersing themselves in the culture, Life Out of the Box was formed. They work with local artisans to create unique handmade products that they[...]
Mike Ambassador Bruny’s mission is to help individuals discover their greatness and live it out. His latest project, Brand Inside a Brand, focuses on personal branding for the working professional. He is the author of Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip-Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life, as well as a speaker, certified life coach,[...]
Lucy Pearce is a number one bestseller on Amazon and has written several books on the subject of motherhood and women. Some famous titles include Moon Time, The Rainbow Way, and the Moods of Motherhood. She also has her own publishing company, Womancraft Publishing, that helps empower women and get their voices and books published.[...]
Johnny B. Truant is the co-founder of a publishing company called Sterling and Stone. He has written many fiction books like Unicorn Western, The Beam, Fat Vampire, and more. Johnny and Charlie go way back and have known each other for quite some time. On today's show, Johnny talks about his dreams in wanting to[...]
Todd Sattersten loves business books. He helps experts publish books and is the founder of BizBookLab. He is also the co-author of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. He talks with Charlie today on the show about how he got started, why he decided to help others in the publishing industry, and more.[...]
Terry "Starbucker" St. Marie is a writer, consultant, start up investor, and more. He has recently started an online magazine called BuiltOregon.com, which was crowd funded in December 2014. Terry has had his own business since 2010 and was named top 100 Leadership and Management Experts by Inc. Magazine. He sits down with Charlie to[...]
Glenda Watson Hyatt is a blogger, motivational speaker, and more. She has cerebral palsy, which limits some of her function. On the show you may hear the use of additional technology to help her communicate her message to the Productive Flourishing audience. She delivers an inspiring message on the show today and Charlie talks a[...]
Todd Kashdan is a public speaker, psychologist, professor, and author. He has published over 150 peer reviewed journal articles about the meaning of life, strength and development, stress, and more. He is the author of Curious? and, his most recent book, The Upside of Your Dark Side; which he talks a little bit about on[...]
Laura Coe is an entrepreneur, coach, and writer. She teaches her clients special spiritual techniques to help them live better emotionally stable lives. Laura co-founded Litholink Corporation, a healthcare company that helped over 350,000 patients a month nationally. When she sold Litholink to a Fortune 500 company, she decided it was time to pursue her[...]
Mark is a fourth-generation entrepreneur who has written 7 different programs and a number of classes for entrepreneurs. He runs a distribution business and is also a paramedic in the San Francisco Bay Area. He sits down with Charlie today to talk about doing what you love, making the money you want, and making a[...]
Jeffrey Davis is a creativity consultant who helps connect his clients to what really matters. He is a writer and the author of the book entitled The Journey from the Center to the Page. He also has had several essays, articles, and short stories appear in both print and on the web publications all over[...]
Tara Sophia Mohr is an expert on well-being and women's leadership. She has a book entitled, Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message and Tara has been featured on Maria Shiver, Huffington Post, and more. She talks to Charlie today about some of the problems women face in modern times, self-doubt, launching her[...]
Jonathan Fields is an entrepreneur, husband, dad, and an award-winning author. Jonathan is currently focused on the Good Life Project, which is a global movement that helps educate, inspire, connect, and support mission-driven people to achieving more connected and engaged lives. He talks to Charlie today about acting on your thoughts and being the best[...]
Susan Piver is a New York Times bestselling author of 7 books and a Buddhist teacher. She has been practicing Buddhism since 1995 and became authorized to teach Shambhala Buddhist meditation in 2005. Today on Productive Flourishing, Susan talks about The Open Heart Project, an online meditation community, and how she wanted to help people[...]
Seth Godin is a best selling author and has written 17 books that have sold all over the world. Some of his more famous books include The Dip, Tribes, Purple Cow, and Linchpin. Along with his multiple book successes, he is also the founder of Squidoo.com, a website that allows users to sell products or[...]
Steve Errey had been diagnosed with CFS for 5 years before he decided to walk his very first 26 mile marathon. People who suffer from CFS often can not take care of themselves, get out of bed, and even the simplest of physical activity hurts. He created the RunforMe website to bring awareness to his[...]
Pamela is an award-winning author, a motivational speaker, and the creator of the blog Escape from Cubicle Nation. She has recently released a new book called Body of Work and talks a little bit about her book, her journey in creating it, and answers some great questions from your host Charlie Gilkey on Productive Flourishing. Mentioned[...]
Productive Flourishing (formerly the Creative Giant Show) explores how to do the work that matters to become your best self in the world. Host Charlie Gilkey and occasional co-host Angela Wheeler take listeners on a deep dive into the lives of leaders, changemakers, creatives, and entrepreneurs who are thriving in life and business by doing work that matters. Listen in to see how they cultivate meaning, success, and happiness as well as their approach to productivity, business, health, and the challenges (yes, even the deep, dark ones) that show up in their lives. www.productiveflourishing.com
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All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are directy attributed to Charlie Gilkey or their podcast platform partner. If you believe your copyrighted work is in use without your permission, you can follow our process outlined here. See terms of use.
All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are directy attributed to Charlie Gilkey or their podcast platform partner. If you believe your copyrighted work is in use without your permission, you can follow our process outlined here. See terms of use.
