How I Work

Latest Episodes:

All about aesthetics - Lucy Feagins gives your home office a makeover Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

Working from home used to sound like the dream, didn’t it? If you work from home, you’re always at home! But I think we’re all starting to realise the flip-side of the WFH movement - if you work from home, you’re also always at work.

And for most people, the move to working from home has been quite sudden, and you likely don’t have the space for a designated office. A lot of us are working from our dining room tables, but according to Lucy Feagins, editor of The Design Files, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the beauty of your workspace.

Lucy walks you through how she sets up her own space at home, and teaches you the importance of having a set-up and pack-down ritual if you’re working from a shared living space.

She also shares her favourite tools and trinkets to make her home office enjoyable to work in, and reflective of her personality - which is especially important in the age of Zoom!

Follow these links to find all the things Lucy recommends in our chat:

Muji storage

Steelcase office chairs

Connect with Lucy on Twitter or Linkedin, at her website or on Instagram

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode producers: Jenna Koda and Liam Riordan

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shape your own identity with Phantom of the Opera’s Josh Piterman Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

As the Phantom of the Opera, Josh Piterman’s story is already pre-written for him. But as an actor and a person, Josh writes that narrative himself.

Josh shares how repeating the same esoteric ritual before every show helps him enter a flow state. For him, focusing on being present ensures that every performance feels like a brand new show.

He also breaks down how journaling and teaching meditation make him a more generous and grateful person, and how working with a world-famous mindset coach has changed his life.

Connect with Josh on Twitter or at his website

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode Producer: Jenna Koda

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A simple phrase to motivate yourself to do things you don't want to do Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

What do you have to do today?

A long, detailed report? A whole slew of meetings? Make dinner, do laundry, somehow squeeze in a workout? I feel you! Between work, family, friendships and looking after our health, there’s a lot we feel like we have to do. But therein lies the problem…

Thinking that we have to do something automatically makes it feel like a burden. Your self-talk is really powerful, but thankfully, it works both ways.

Turia Pitt, the bestselling author, two-time Ironman and survivor of a devastating near-death experience teaches you how one simple phrase can help you reframe those to-dos into “get-to-do”s.

Connect with Turia on Twitter or Linkedin

You can find the full interview here: Turia Pitt’s Next Tuesday rule, hacks for dramatically improving self-talk, and how to be useful when someone is going through a rough time

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BONUS: Nespresso’s Jean-Marc Dragoli teaches you to make a great brew and learn a new language Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Nespresso Professional.

In previous episodes of How I Work, we’ve talked about the value of “micro-breaks” for maintaining energy over a long day at the office. Nespresso’s Jean-Marc Dragoli takes this to a new level, stealing away for a “coffee moment” seven to ten times a day!

He teaches you how a cup of coffee can facilitate anything from quiet reflection to a sense of connection with farmers on the other side of the globe. He also gives you the low-down on caffeine content and decaf, as well as suggestions for brewing your own cup at home.

Jean-Marc is also a serial language learner, speaking at least “five and a half” languages in his estimation. He shares his secrets for learning and maintaining multiple languages, and why it’s a critical skill if you want to connect with a new culture.

Connect with Jean-Marc Dragoli on Twitter or LinkedIn

Check out the Nespresso Professional range: https://www.nespresso.com/pro/au/en/

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode Producer: Jenna Koda

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BEST OF: How to bring more comedy into your next stand-up meeting, with Naomi Bagdonas Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

***BEST OF HOW I WORK***

Does business really need to be so serious?

Stanford Business School humour lecturer Naomi Bagdonas believes there’s always room for humour, even when you’re trying to accomplish very serious things.

She’s found utilising humour can boost innovation, foster creativity, and bolster resilience through hard times.

Naomi says bringing levity into your day-to-day exchanges can diffuse tension and help your colleagues understand you on a deeper level.

She shares tips from her book Humor, Seriously, written with Jennifer Aaker, on how to incorporate humour into presentations and meetings, how to write a joke, and tips for bringing comedy into your emails.

Naomi teaches humour as part of a purpose and leadership course at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. She also coaches top executives in the art of comedy.

Assess your own personal humour style: https://quiz.humorseriously.com/

Get your copy of Humor, Seriously: https://www.humorseriously.com/

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode Producer: Jenna Koda

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Favourite Tip: Sam Corcos - Plan a “think week” so you don’t miss the forest for the trees Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Levels CEO and digital nomad Sam Corcos teaches you how to get a bird’s-eye view of your company with a quarterly “think week.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BEST OF: Why Adam Grant wants you to schedule a regular life check-up Sep 22, 2021

Show notes

When his past students complained of being stuck in jobs they hated, organisational psychologist and best-selling author Adam Grant decided he needed to find a remedy. He says we should all be scheduling regular life check-ups.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Favourite Tip: Kara Swisher - Imposter syndrome is an illusion Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

Kara Swisher doesn’t have imposter syndrome… And for good reason. She’s a celebrated journalist, opinion columnist for The New York Times, the host of the Sway podcast, and the co-host of Pivot.

Kara teaches you how to be practical in your self-evaluation, which often means you need to give yourself some praise. She reflects on how society’s views on her sexuality and gender have forced her to advocate for herself when no one else would. That’s given her an unbreakable self-confidence over the course of her career.

Connect with Kara on Twitter or Linkedin

You can find the full interview here: Why NYT journalist Kara Swisher has never had imposter syndrome

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The maths of mentoring: Holly Ransom on the equation of getting help by giving it Sep 15, 2021

Show notes

Do your knees shake at the thought of public speaking? Are you intimidated before a big interview? Do you worry about finding the right mentor?

Holly Ransom, Fulbright Scholar and author of The Leading Edge, says it’s because you’re thinking about yourself. All those nerves will fall away if you re-frame and focus instead on the value you can bring to others. And if you’re hoping to find a great mentor, you have to be willing to pay it forward.

Holly also shares how you can better manage your days by doing an energy audit, taking micro-breaks, and setting the right number of goals.

Connect with Holly on Twitter or Linkedin

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production support from Deadset Studios

Episode producers: Jenna Koda and Liam Riordan

Sound engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Favourite Tip - Cal Newport: How to take advantage of scheduling software and “office hours” Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

Cal Newport gets a lot done. He’s a computer science professor at Georgetown University, he’s written several bestsellers on productivity, and he now hosts the popular Deep Questions podcast.

He shares the secrets to getting more done in less time by eliminating the bottle-necks in your organisation. Back-and-forth messages to organise meetings and unstructured chat in the office can pile up fast - and before you know it, you’ve run out of time for the truly important work.

Cal suggests you use scheduling software and borrow the university concept of “office hours” to streamline your communication at work.

Connect with Cal at calnewport.com

You can find the full interview here: Cal Newport on how to eliminate 80% of emails in your organisation

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber