The Next Big Idea Daily

Latest Episodes:

S29 E3: "Brainhacker: Master Memory, Focus, Emotions, and More to Unleash the Genius Within" by Dave Farrow Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Today, two-time Guinness World Record memory champ Dave Farrow shares practical tips you can use to “rewire” your brain and boost its power.

S29 E2: "Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most" by Cassie Holmes Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Our most precious resource isn’t money. It’s time. We are allotted just 24 hours a day, and we live in a culture that keeps us feeling “time poor.” Since we can’t add more hours to the day, how can we experience our lives as richer?

S29 E1: “Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again” by Johann Hari Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

You may have noticed that the kind of focus we all need to get stuff done is harder and harder to come by. But fear not. To help you get back on track, we've called in some of the smartest writers we know to give us their take on the attention crisis and what we can do about it. All this week, we'll be hearing from them. First up is journalist Johann Hari. Johann is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, and he joins us today to share some key insights from his latest, "Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again."

Encore: Plan on Fridays (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 18, 2023

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In the final installment of the master class based on her book “Tranquility by Tuesday,” productivity expert Laura Vanderkam says nailing your work-life balance comes down to how you use your Fridays.

Encore: Effortful Before Effortless (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 17, 2023

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Do effortful fun before effortless fun. But what's the difference? Laura explains in today's mini masterclass.

Encore: Take One Night for Yourself (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 16, 2023

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To renew your spirits, Laura says you need to take some time for yourself.

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Encore: Have One Big Adventure and One Little Adventure (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

You know what you need? An adventure. That's right. You don't have to wait until your next vacation. You can — and should — make it a habit to do surprising, novel things on the reg. And, yes, we know you're thinking: "How can I fit that in with everything else I have going on?" Don't worry. Laura Vanderkam has a simple solution for making adventures of all sizes part of your routine.

Encore: You Need a Bedtime (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 14, 2023

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In "Tranquility by Tuesday," time management guru Laura Vanderkam shares tools you can use to finally make time for the activities you love. But before you can do that, you need to get a good night's sleep. Today, Laura explains how.

S28 E5: How To Say No To Pushy Askers (Vanessa Patrick) Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

In the final installment of her interview, Vanessa Patrick ("The Power of Saying No") gives us tips for turning down the pushy people in our lives.

S28 E4: Use a Cost-Benefit Framework To Decipher the Asks That Come Your Way (Vanessa Patrick) Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

Today: The difference between "pass the salt" and "bake your favorite lasagna" asks.