Maintaining a work-life balance keeps getting harder - but it doesn&#39;t have to. This podcast is for anyone struggling to rise above the daily challenges of work, family, and building a sense of self.Management consultants by trade, hosts Brian and John shift their skills from helping organizations get better to helping people improve their lives.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/5/31/2/a679687f-84fb-4005-b528-43d21b0db0b4_s02e070.mp3

In this episode, John talks ROI while defending the 76ers... and tries to talk a big game while defending his job as a podcast host against the growing threat of AI creative domination.

In this episode, John talks ROI while defending the 76ers... and tries to talk a big game while defending his job as a podcast host against the growing threat of AI creative domination.

John Talks NBA and Fights a Robot

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/5/17/1/7b9d99c9-8139-458f-bcde-dd1cbc36824c_s02e069.mp3

Quick-hitter format this time: Brian takes a simpler, pared down approach to two topics - How to &#34;sharpen your axe&#34; on one side, and how to avoid freaking out about performance evaluations on the other.

Quick-hitter format this time: Brian takes a simpler, pared down approach to two topics - How to &#34;sharpen your axe&#34; on one side, and how to avoid freaking out about performance evaluations on the other.

Sharpening The Axe & Performance Evals

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/5/2/1/a913a69e-46a3-49d9-8a6d-deda1176c55d_s02e068_-_stop_overcomplicating_your_life.mp3

We&#39;re often compelled to overcomplicate even the simplest decisions in life. Why? All it does it make achieving our goals that much harder (and that much more stress-inducing). In this episode, Brian outlines some of the reasons our brains put us in this predicament... and how we can push back against this overcomplicated default.

We&#39;re often compelled to overcomplicate even the simplest decisions in life. Why? All it does it make achieving our goals that much harder (and that much more stress-inducing). In this episode, Brian outlines some of the reasons our brains put us in this predicament... and how we can push back against this overcomplicated default.

Stop Overcomplicating Your Life

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/4/17/1/5c07975b-fb90-4ff4-a3cf-94e98d4d0d2c_s02e067-ai.mp3

Think your white collar job is safe from being &#34;automated away?&#34; Think again - artificial intelligence is putting knowledge work in the crosshairs. In this episode, Brian and John discuss the positives and negatives associated with automation in the white collar workplace.

Think your white collar job is safe from being &#34;automated away?&#34; Think again - artificial intelligence is putting knowledge work in the crosshairs. In this episode, Brian and John discuss the positives and negatives associated with automation in the white collar workplace.

Will Automation Replace My Job?

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/4/3/1/bad7c936-6453-4042-ba20-e0583916158c_s02e066_-_overemployment.mp3

Remote work has created the perfect environment for some employees to secretly nab multiple jobs (and paychecks) in a single set of hours. How feasible would this be for someone interested in doubling their income, and how do the ethics play out?

Remote work has created the perfect environment for some employees to secretly nab multiple jobs (and paychecks) in a single set of hours. How feasible would this be for someone interested in doubling their income, and how do the ethics play out?

Working Two Jobs at Once

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/3/18/23/7c0e9fa8-46ab-4f7d-bb4c-f0ba06faac5e_s02e065.mp3

The stuff we own describes who we are - so what does your toilet say about you? Brian and John come back from their podcasting break to talk about what they&#39;ve been up to and, more importantly, how bathrooms make great metaphors for life decisions.

The stuff we own describes who we are - so what does your toilet say about you? Brian and John come back from their podcasting break to talk about what they&#39;ve been up to and, more importantly, how bathrooms make great metaphors for life decisions.

We're Back! Let's Talk About Toilets

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/8/11/4/6d4a2a86-55f9-4be2-be7c-82e930897493_s02e064.mp3

Ever had a job you were so sick of that you just... left? No notice, no formality. Here one moment, gone the next. We&#39;ve all thought about doing it, but how feasible would it actually be to ghost an employer?

Ever had a job you were so sick of that you just... left? No notice, no formality. Here one moment, gone the next. We&#39;ve all thought about doing it, but how feasible would it actually be to ghost an employer?

Should You Ghost your Boss?

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/7/27/2/de73d84b-1bf4-4942-b9c6-40ac64797b4f_john_solo_ep_speedrunning__-_7_26_22__10.23_pm.mp3

This week John gives us the skinny on a seldom discussed online community: the video game speedrunning community. What do speedrunners and John have in common? Editor&#39;s Note: John is sorry he mispronounced a word this episode.

World Record...Speedrunning?

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/7/11/19/ddf57ef0-9faf-465d-b505-61e5bdeb75fb__combined_with_music_final__-_7_11_22__3.47_pm.mp3

This week John adopts his new persona of &#34;Joe&#34; and takes us along as he weighs the merits of a platform like Fiverr. Does Joe have a career in voice acting after all?

John (Joe?) Joins Fiverr

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/7/6/3/d429c5a6-4a9b-40ce-8df9-c447dff2734d_s02e061.mp3

In an interview with Shape magazine, Ashley Graham rejected the idea of work-life balance. But did she really? In this episode, Brian quibbles about parlance and cracks open a dictionary (exciting stuff).

In an interview with Shape magazine, Ashley Graham rejected the idea of work-life balance. But did she really? In this episode, Brian quibbles about parlance and cracks open a dictionary (exciting stuff).

Ashley Graham on Work-Life Balance

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/6/28/13/cdbaf84c-e599-4969-a87d-ac69024696aa_s02e060.mp3

Crazy stuff has been happening in Brian&#39;s life... some bad stuff... some lucky. In this throwback episode, we return to an episode from August 2021 where we talked about what it means to be lucky - and how to create our own luck.

Crazy stuff has been happening in Brian&#39;s life... some bad stuff... some lucky. In this throwback episode, we return to an episode from August 2021 where we talked about what it means to be lucky - and how to create our own luck.

Throwback Thursday: Making your Own Luck

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/6/28/3/a9bed350-8acb-459f-b586-3b5335bdaaba_s02e059.mp3

Does your company&#39;s culture hit a little too hard? Do some of your coworkers seem a bit too ready to &#34;drink the Kool-Aid?&#34; You&#39;re not alone - plenty of people out there are asked to give a little too much headspace to the organizational vision. In this episode, Brian talks about what happens when we let that happen.

Does your company&#39;s culture hit a little too hard? Do some of your coworkers seem a bit too ready to &#34;drink the Kool-Aid?&#34; You&#39;re not alone - plenty of people out there are asked to give a little too much headspace to the organizational vision. In this episode, Brian talks about what happens when we let that happen.

Corporate Cults

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/6/20/21/c7a4d652-bf74-40d6-bfbd-756acdcc84fe_ep_final_with_music_6_20_22_-_6_20_22__5.03_pm.mp3

In a rut? How do you dig yourself out? This week John talks tips and solutions to help get out that rut.

Let's Get out of That Rut

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/6/11/19/5476084b-18d0-4d12-b913-dee3c3776ff1_s01e057.mp3

&#34;Money can&#39;t buy happiness.&#34; So say the people with enough money that they avoid having to worry about it. In this episode, Brian and John contradict themselves and, predictably, go on a tirade about American politics.

&#34;Money can&#39;t buy happiness.&#34; So say the people with enough money that they avoid having to worry about it. In this episode, Brian and John contradict themselves and, predictably, go on a tirade about American politics.

Low Paying Jobs

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/6/7/3/8932bd72-b7c9-46e2-a63e-9b0a8cc0caeb_s01e056.mp3

What does it take to prevent yourself from getting burned out? What goes into feeling appreciated by your company? Brian and John read up on some recent articles by expert organizations who claim to have the answers.

What does it take to prevent yourself from getting burned out? What goes into feeling appreciated by your company? Brian and John read up on some recent articles by expert organizations who claim to have the answers.

Preventing Workplace Burnout

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/24/2/e1acece1-6541-4fa7-bc59-d205cf9ebdc6_s01e055.mp3

It&#39;s &#34;do as I say, not as I do&#34; as CEOs demand workers return to the office... while staying at home, themselves.

It&#39;s &#34;do as I say, not as I do&#34; as CEOs demand workers return to the office... while staying at home, themselves.

Is Your Boss a Work-from-Home Hypocrite?

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/17/1/3ecf7e29-e4cb-4e50-b457-b3e6065960c0_s01e054.mp3

In the great game of &#34;getting ahead,&#34; sacrificing sleep is rarely the best strategy long-term. Yet many of us default to staying up a bit longer or waking up earlier to squeeze a few more hours out of a day. In this episode, Brian outlines why this is a bad idea, and gives a few tips on catching more Z&#39;s.

In the great game of &#34;getting ahead,&#34; sacrificing sleep is rarely the best strategy long-term. Yet many of us default to staying up a bit longer or waking up earlier to squeeze a few more hours out of a day. In this episode, Brian outlines why this is a bad idea, and gives a few tips on catching more Z&#39;s.

How To Power Nap (or Just Sleep More)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/3/18/32e0d898-7d89-470c-a799-e8b628428d78_s01e052.mp3

Office relationships can be tricky... especially when they&#39;re with our bosses, and especially when those bosses try to take advantage of them. In this episode, Brian offers advice on drawing a clear line between personal and professional relationships and talks about the importance of saying &#34;no.&#34;

Office relationships can be tricky... especially when they&#39;re with our bosses, and especially when those bosses try to take advantage of them. In this episode, Brian offers advice on drawing a clear line between personal and professional relationships and talks about the importance of saying &#34;no.&#34;

Listener Questions: Office Relationships

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/3/2/76ded39f-060e-4201-9acf-a7518a37454b__ep_final_with_music_5_2_22_-_5_2_22__10.47_pm.mp3

John and Brian have been eagerly awaiting their &#34;new&#34; lives: fatherhood again for Brian and married life for John. This week they explore the anticipation leading up to their big days. But, what about anticipation&#39;s ugly cousin procrastination?

Anticipation and Procrastination

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/4/26/2/95def82e-8387-492e-868c-acc8095f2b36_s01e050.mp3

What&#39;s the best way to tell others we care about them? In this episode, Brian talks &#34;Love Languages,&#34; and how some of them could work in the office (and others could get you fired). Learn more or take the Love Language quiz here: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language Special music this week: Bloom by Purrple Cat | https://purrplecat.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

What&#39;s the best way to tell others we care about them? In this episode, Brian talks &#34;Love Languages,&#34; and how some of them could work in the office (and others could get you fired).

Learn more or take the Love Language quiz here: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language

Special music this week: Bloom by Purrple Cat | https://purrplecat.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Love Languages

A podcast for work, life, and everything in between

Maintaining a work-life balance keeps getting harder - but it doesn't have to. This podcast is for anyone struggling to rise above the daily struggles of work, family, and building a sense of self. Management consultants by trade, hosts Brian and John shift their skills from helping organizations get better to helping people improve their lives.