So much of how we spend our time is shaped by invisible rules we never agreed to. From how often you check email to how long you take to reply, these “time rules” run in the background - until you stop to question them. In part two of this conversation, New York Times bestselling author Chris Guillebeau joins me to talk about how to break free from these hidden rules and why living well beats chasing productivity hacks any day. Chris shares the question that helps him reset when he feels stuck, ...
Jun 04, 2025•24 min
The big catch with a creative business is that the more successful you get, the more your creative endeavour can feel like a chore instead of a passion. But what if there was one thing you could do to ensure the passion stays? Ben Shewry is head chef and owner of multi-award winning Melbourne restaurant, Attica. Attica has been featured several times in the The World's 50 Best Restaurants and has been named the Best Restaurant in Australia. He is also the author of bestseller Uses for Obsession,...
Jun 02, 2025•7 min
Do you ever get the sense that no matter how much you do, you’re still running out of time? Like there’s something you should be doing, but you can’t quite figure out what it is? In this episode of How I Work , we sit down with New York Times bestselling author Chris Guillebeau to talk about a feeling so many of us carry but rarely name: time anxiety . From guilt over unread emails to the pressure to leave a legacy, Chris shares the practical strategies that helped him stop chasing time - and st...
May 28, 2025•25 min
Worrying can take up so much of our time, especially when most of what we worry about never actually happens. This worrying uses up time that could be better spent on the things that truly count, but how can we reduce this and actually free up that time? Oliver Burkeman is a New York Times bestselling author of books such as ‘Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals’ and ‘Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts’. Oliver is also a regu...
May 26, 2025•6 min
If your to-do list is full but your energy is gone, this episode is for you. In this special crossover episode from the This Is Work podcast, I sat down with Shelley Johnson to talk about energy, deep work, and why true productivity has more to do with cold water and Kindles than hustle and hacks. I also share what’s working (and what’s not) as I write my fifth book on burnout and depletion, including the habits I’ve doubled down on, and the ones I’ve thrown out. In this episode Shelley and I ta...
May 21, 2025•48 min
Do you find yourself set up for a productive day, only to be derailed by your emails? Checking and replying to emails can eat up so much time - and what’s worse is that the false sense of productivity checking email provides can be very addictive. The problem of spending way too much time in my inbox has been bugging me for some time, so I was very excited to find out that Michael Bungay Stanier has had similar problems and has been working on solutions. Michael is a renowned speaker, teacher an...
May 19, 2025•9 min
Your phone isn't just a device – it's a Swiss Army knife of untapped potential sitting in your pocket. In this episode, we dive deep into the secret capabilities your smartphone has been hiding from you, transforming how you'll use technology forever. From instantly identifying any plant on your daily walk to scheduling texts that make you look professionally put-together (even when you're not), these features aren't just clever tricks – they're life-changing hacks the tech companies never bothe...
May 14, 2025•15 min
Do you find yourself setting the same goals year after year, only to leave them unaccomplished? If so, it might be time to try a new strategy for planning your goals. In this quick win I’m joined by ABC broadcaster and Host of ‘This Working Life’, Lisa Leong to talk about why a pre mortem could be the strategy you need to set achievable goals for the year. Lisa shares: What a ‘pre-mortem’ is and how it can help you set achievable goals for the next year How to make sure a ‘pre-mortem’ works if y...
May 12, 2025•7 min
Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes and answering your questions about how I structure my day, manage distractions, and design habits that truly stick. From my early-morning writing sessions to the psychological hacks I use to stay focused (especially on “off” days), I’m sharing what’s genuinely worked for me - and what hasn’t. In this episode, I share: The exact planning process I use every week and month Why I don’t believe in only checking email twice a day How I structure my day around m...
May 07, 2025•22 min
I’m taking a different approach to writing my next book and I want you to join me. My free eight-week experiment starts Monday, 12 May. Receive 3-5 evidence-based energy-boosting strategies each Monday. Complete the application form using the link below (takes less than 1 minute): https://inventium.typeform.com/to/ZZ56wn6u My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin ( https://www.linkedi...
May 05, 2025•6 min
You’re not lazy. You’re just out of capacity — and no amount of to-do lists can fix that. So what do you do when your brain is fried, your calendar is full, and you're still trying to show up for the people (and priorities) that matter most? Neuroscientist Ariel Garten has been there. As the co-founder of Muse, the brain-sensing headband used by over 500,000 people and backed by 200+ clinical studies, she’s learned how to work with her brain, not against it — using real-time feedback, five-minut...
Apr 30, 2025•29 min
Did you know that just like a coffee break, or a toilet break, you can take a self-compassion break? And did you know using regular self-compassion can transform how you respond to setbacks? Professor Kristin Neff is a pioneer in the study of self-compassion with multiple best-selling books on the topic, and she believes a self-compassion break can make all the difference to your wellbeing. Kristin shares: 🎧 A special, full walkthrough experience of how to take a self-compassion break. This is ...
Apr 28, 2025•6 min
BEST OF Are the meetings you lead not actually getting enough done? Are you worried that participants are leaving them feeling annoyed? If so, then this episode is for you. Professor Steven Rogelberg is an organisational psychologist, an award-winning author and the world’s leading expert on workplace meetings. He is an award-winning teacher with over 200 publications and has been cited well-over 12,000 times in the academic literature. Steven’s keynotes on meetings span the globe an...
Apr 23, 2025•26 min
We’ve all been there. A weird vibe in a meeting. A team member who’s clearly not themselves. A tension that hums under the surface. And still—silence. In this mini episode, I share a simple but powerful story about what happened when someone called out my mood (in the best way). It reminded me how transformative it can be to name the obvious—and how rarely we do it at work. We’ll explore: Why unspoken tension is more damaging than we think Ho...
Apr 21, 2025•5 min
BEST OF In the face of uncertainty and change, how do you ensure you don’t feel lost and defeated? More importantly, how do you ensure that doesn’t happen to the team you lead? Dr Gabriella Rosen Kellerman is the Chief Innovation Officer at BetterUp and she sees firsthand their cross discipline research into what can be done to help human flourishing. Professionally she advises Fortune 500 CEOs and CHROs and contributes regularly to Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Revie...
Apr 16, 2025•33 min
Feel like you’re doing all the health things but still hitting that 3pm crash? Same. For years, I chased every gadget, trend, and supplement that promised more energy and better focus. But after a whole lot of trial and error (and more than a few raw sugar incidents — yes, really), I’ve finally landed on three simple health habits that actually work. In this mini episode, I share: Why your Sunday sleep-in might be wrecking your Monday The surprising psyc...
Apr 14, 2025•6 min
Think sustainable living is confusing, expensive, or just plain overwhelming? You're not alone. With so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know what actually makes a difference. Lottie Dalziel is here to set the record straight. Founder of Banish, one of Australia’s most trusted sustainability platforms, Lottie has helped thousands of people and businesses cut through the noise and adopt realistic, impactful changes. Recognized as the NSW Young Australian of the Ye...
Apr 09, 2025•37 min
What if your holiday didn’t just feel good while you were away, but also boosted your wellbeing for weeks after you returned? New research reveals that the benefits of your holiday don’t have to end when you return to work. In this quick episode, I’ll share how to extend that post-break glow far beyond your suitcase unpacking. In this mini episode, I’ll dive into: How to make the most of your time away so the benefits last The holiday activities th...
Apr 07, 2025•6 min
Ever wonder if the advice you’ve been following is actually holding you back? What if playing by the rules is the very thing keeping you stuck? Jake Knapp knows a thing or two about breaking the mold. A designer, investor, and New York Times bestselling author, Jake’s books have been translated into over 20 languages, helping teams around the world rethink how they work. He’s helped over 300 startups bring new products to market—including powerhouses like One Medica...
Apr 02, 2025•35 min
Dom Price was given some pretty bad advice right before he became a father. A well-intentioned friend told him never to share pictures of his overseas work trips with his partner, because it might make her jealous… On his first few long-distance work trips after becoming a dad, Dom didn’t want to tell his partner that he was having a good time in case it made her time home alone with their twins feel even more challenging by comparison. But Dom quickly discovered the opposite was true. Of course...
Mar 31, 2025•7 min
When asked to describe yourself, is one of the first things you mention your job? Why do so many of us form such a strong connection between our identity and our work? And more importantly, is that actually healthy? To explore the complex relationship between self-identity and work, I'm joined by my good friend Sabina Read for another thought-provoking conversation. Sabina is a clinical psychologist who shares her expertise weekly on 3AW and through her popular podcast "Human Cogs." In this epis...
Mar 26, 2025•34 min
Ever seen a viral LinkedIn post, a compelling sales page, or a perfectly crafted pitch deck and thought, how did they make this so good ? Great content isn’t magic—it follows a formula. And with Gen AI , you can crack that formula wide open . In this episode, Inventium’s Gen AI expert, Neo Aplin , joins Dr. Amantha Imber to reveal a powerful reverse engineering trick that lets you analyse high-performing content , uncover its key elements, and apply those insights to your...
Mar 24, 2025•8 min
That beautiful leather-bound journal you bought with the best intentions? The one now gathering dust under a pile of books? You're not alone. After 40 years of failed journaling attempts, Michael Bungay Stanier finally cracked the code to sustainable reflection—and it's likely nothing like what you've tried before. Michael is the author behind the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Coaching Habit (which Brené Brown called "a classic"), with over 1.5 million books sold worldwide. Nam...
Mar 19, 2025•33 min
Ever wished you could bring in a team of experts to weigh in on your ideas instantly—without scheduling meetings or waiting for replies? If you're using ChatGPT+ , you can! In this episode, Inventium’s resident AI expert, Neo Aplin , joins Dr. Amantha Imber to reveal a simple but game-changing trick: creating a custom AI advisory board using ChatGPT’s custom GPTs and the "@" trick. You'll learn: How to set up custom GPT personas for different expertise areas ...
Mar 17, 2025•11 min
Do you find yourself constantly trying to ensure people like you? Bending over backwards to avoid giving bad news or make someone unhappy? What if the extra reassurance, and the fear of being too direct are actually causing more harm than good? To dive into this topic, we’re joined by Laura Henshaw to talk about how she realised her need to be liked was affecting those working under her. Laura Henshaw is a dynamic force in the health and wellness industry. As the co-founder and CEO of the ...
Mar 12, 2025•35 min
Think ChatGPT is the only AI tool you need? Think again. In this episode, we dive into why relying on just one AI tool is holding you back—and how a stacked AI system can dramatically boost your productivity. Inventium’s resident AI expert, Neo Aplin , joins Dr. Amantha Imber to break down: Why AI stacking is a game-changer – The biggest mistake people make when using AI? Thinking one tool can do it all. We break down how combining different AI models can give you b...
Mar 10, 2025•10 min
Ever wondered how to recover from burnout, set better boundaries, or even which dating app led me to my fiancé? In this special Ask Me Anything episode, I tackle listener-submitted questions on everything from managing overwhelm to making mindful career moves. I share practical strategies I personally use—like the ‘Yes, But’ strategy for setting boundaries, the power of cyclic sighing for stress relief, and how hypnosis has been a game changer for me. In thi...
Mar 05, 2025•22 min
Ever feel like AI-generated content just isn’t hitting the mark? That’s because most people expect AI to get things right on the first try—but that’s not how it works. In this episode of How I Work , Dr. Amantha Imber sits down with Inventium’s Gen AI expert, Neo Aplin, to reveal a powerful trick that transforms AI from a basic tool into a true collaborator. The secret? Get AI to interview you first before it generates anything. This simple yet game-changing approac...
Mar 03, 2025•9 min
Are you trapped in an exhausting cycle of achievement without fulfilment? Do you lie awake at night wondering how success or status can feel so empty? What if the gap between your exhausted reality and your greatest life could be bridged by simple mindset shifts? What if transformation required minutes, not months? My good friend Sarah Grynberg has been there, and she made the improvements needed to change her life. Sarah hit a point where she felt exhausted and unfulfilled, even with all she ha...
Feb 26, 2025•38 min
Lisa Leong doesn’t do things by halves - if she’s worried she might not be getting enough sunlight in the dead of Melbourne winter, she goes out and buys an infrared desk light. If she learns cold therapy might be beneficial, she jumps into a sub-zero cryotherapy chamber. So when the ABC Broadcaster started feeling a disconnect between her mind and body, she didn’t just start practicing Qigong (a meditative martial arts practice similar to Tai Chi). No, she wanted to learn it from the master him...
Feb 24, 2025•6 min
