How I Work
Self-Improvement
About
You know those annoyingly successful people who seem to have it all figured out? Time to steal their playbook. Organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber gets world‑class achievers to spill their secrets - the daily strategies behind their success through to life hacks and productivity hacks they’d rather keep to themselves. We’re talking practical tips for boosting your output (including clever AI tools and shortcuts that’ll make you look like a genius), managing overwhelm without losing your mind, and optimising both work and wellbeing. No motivational fluff. Just battle‑tested tactics from people who’ve cracked the code.
Episodes
- How I AI: Agents Explained in 10 Minutes (No Jargon, No Hype)
This episode of How I Work clarifies the concepts of AI agents and agentic AI, explaining their differences and practical uses for both individuals and teams. It addresses common confusion surrounding AI terminology and provides insights o…
- Why you feel busy all the time (even when you’re not), with Laura Vanderkam
Laura Vanderkam joins How I Work to discuss her research on time management. She explains why people often feel busy, even with available free time, and how understanding time usage can change this perception. The episode explores methods…
- Why Most AI Rollouts Fail (And How to Make Sure Yours Doesn't)
This episode of How I Work discusses why most AI rollouts fail in organizations. It covers common mistakes, the importance of leadership involvement, effective training strategies, and overcoming cultural barriers to achieve successful AI…
- Are you an initiator or a responder? Tom Rath on thriving in the age of AI
In this episode, Tom Rath discusses his views on purpose and career. He challenges the "follow your passion" narrative and explains how to reprioritize time. Rath also shares why he believes initiators will thrive in the age of AI.
- What AI capability really looks like in high-performing teams
This episode of How I Work discusses why many organizations struggle to gain value from AI despite high adoption rates. It explores what truly distinguishes high-performing AI-augmented teams and the common pitfalls in measuring AI success.
- This is what AI is actually doing to your brain, with Gabriella Rosen Kellerman
Gabriella Rosen Kellerman joins "How I Work" to discuss "AI Brain Fry," a phenomenon impacting individuals using AI tools intensively at work. The episode explores the effects of AI on productivity, mental fatigue, and organizational well-…
- The #1 mistake people make with AI
This episode of How I Work discusses the common mistake people make with AI: starting from scratch with every new chat. It introduces the concept of a briefing document, a single context file that provides AI with necessary background info…
- Sabri Suby on video sales letters, and the negotiation mistakes almost everyone makes (Part 2)
In this episode, Sabri Suby, founder of King Kong, discusses video sales letters and common negotiation mistakes. He shares insights on building communication skills and effective sales strategies for various business contexts.
- Why you need to talk, not type, to your AI
This episode of How I Work discusses the benefits of using voice to interact with AI, arguing that it can be faster and unlock better ideas than typing. It covers various AI voice modes and dictation software, offering tips on combining vo…
- The Subtraction Method: how Sabri Suby protects his time and focus (Part 1)
Sabri Suby, founder of King Kong and Shark Tank Australia, discusses his "Subtraction Method" philosophy for productivity. He explains his Kings Audit process, deep work routine, and how he protects his time and focus.
- Our #1 favourite AI tool for meetings
This episode explores Granola.ai, an AI tool for transcribing meetings that operates discreetly in the background. It discusses how Granola.ai differs from other recording tools, addresses privacy concerns, and explains its benefits for in…
- The AI playbook of ELMO Software’s President, Joseph Lyons
Joseph Lyons, President of ELMO Software, shares how he uses AI in practical, day-to-day ways, including personalized daily briefs, processing strategy workshops, preparing for tough conversations, and synthesizing information across teams…
- Stop writing like a robot: ban these AI words and phrases
This episode discusses how to avoid AI-generated writing that sounds robotic and lacks a human touch. It covers instructions to make AI output more human and identifies overused AI words and phrases to ban from prompts.
- Ask Me Anything with Dr Amantha Imber: Burnout, AI, Productivity & The Biggest Mistakes Knowledge Workers Make
In this Ask Me Anything episode, Dr. Amantha Imber addresses listener questions about challenges in the workplace, including AI overwhelm, productivity, and burnout. She shares strategies for reclaiming focus, avoiding common productivity…
- How we have automated AI to summarise industry news, trends, and other updates – every single week
This episode of How I Work, with guest Neo Aplin, explores how to automate AI to summarize industry news. It covers providing AI with context, defining trusted sources, structuring reports, and scheduling searches for regular briefings.
- Why visualising success might be sabotaging you, with Nir Eyal (Part 2)
In this episode, Nir Eyal, behavioral scientist and author, explains why visualizing success can be counterproductive. He discusses the surprising power of failure goals, how lucky people often create their own luck, and how leaders shape…
- How to use AI to prioritise when everything feels urgent
This episode of How I Work explores practical ways to use AI for prioritization when facing an overwhelming to-do list. Neo and the host discuss using AI for structured brain dumps, task estimation, and identifying high-stress tasks to imp…
- Struggling to reach your goals? Nir Eyal explains the beliefs holding you back (Part 1)
In this episode of How I Work, Nir Eyal explains how hidden beliefs can shape our perceptions, feelings, and actions. He shares insights from his book "Beyond Belief" regarding how beliefs influence behavior and how to change limiting ones…
- The One Question Every Leader Should Ask About AI
This episode explores the critical question leaders should ask about AI adoption: how to prepare their people for AI. It discusses why successful AI integration is primarily a people-focused change process, not just a technology rollout, a…
- Feel stuck in small talk? Daniel Coyle shares the questions that create real connection.
In this episode of How I Work, Daniel Coyle explores how to build genuine connections, move beyond small talk, and tell compelling stories. He shares techniques for constructing tension and mystery in narratives and offers insights on fost…
- The AI critique system we use to improve our work
This episode of How I Work discusses using AI as a tool for critiquing and improving work. It covers structured prompting, customising review criteria, quality gates, and why AI should be used as a thinking partner.
- The 5 skills that will get you promoted this year, with Tim Duggan
In this episode of How I Work, Tim Duggan identifies five skills crucial for career promotion in a rapidly changing work environment, specifically judgment, storytelling, collaborative intelligence, unlearning, and conflict management. He…
- How to use AI to find a new job
This episode of How I Work explores how AI can support job seekers at various stages of their search. It covers using AI for finding hidden job roles, researching companies, decoding job ads, strengthening applications, and preparing for i…
- The truth about fibre, full-body MRIs and food myths, with Dr Joanna McMillan.
This episode features Dr Joanna McMillan, who debunks common food myths and discusses evidence-based nutrition. She also addresses the potential pitfalls of excessive health testing and offers practical advice on food and health.
- We let AI prep us for a doctors appointment
This episode explores how AI can be used to prepare for doctor and specialist appointments, focusing on summarizing health information, understanding test results, and crafting effective questions. It also addresses privacy concerns and to…
- Walking away from a dream job? Dom Price reveals what really happens in the space after “I quit.”
Dom Price reflects on his departure from Atlassian after 12 years, detailing the process of navigating change, uncertainty, and re-establishing identity. He also addresses current issues leaders face with AI adaptation and the necessary mi…
- How to use AI to save money shopping
This episode of How I Work explores how AI tools can be used to streamline the online shopping experience. It covers using AI to clarify purchasing needs, compare products, find optimal prices, and discover discount codes efficiently. The…
- Some workplaces drain you. Autistic CEO Cherie Clonan explains what's really happening.
In this episode, Autistic CEO Cherie Clonan discusses the impact of workplace design on energy levels, particularly for neurodivergent individuals. She explores topics such as masking at work, sensory overload, and strategies for leaders t…
- (BONUS) The LinkedIn metric most people ignore - Cherie Clonan on return on intimacy.
In this episode of How I Work, Cherie Clonan, founder and CEO of The Digital Picnic, discusses her concept of "return on intimacy" for LinkedIn content. She explains how to create content that prioritizes depth and resonance, design conten…
- Tame your inbox with these 5 AI hacks
This episode of How I Work discusses how AI can be used to manage email inboxes more efficiently. It covers using AI to scan, sort, summarize, and respond to emails, helping users get organized faster after time away from work.
- 13 AI tools we use every single day
This episode of How I Work, featuring Neo Aplin of inventium.ai, discusses 13 AI tools used daily by the hosts. They cover various AI tools for thinking, writing, research, note-taking, and learning.
- BEST OF: Want to make time for the things that count? Oliver Burkeman has your time management answers
In this episode of How I Work, Oliver Burkeman discusses effective time management and productivity. He shares insights on approaching tasks, minimizing worry, and utilizing strategies beyond traditional to-do lists to achieve a sense of a…
- BEST OF: I burnt out completely last year. This is how I recovered.
Amantha Imber and psychologist Sabina Read discuss burnout, covering its signs, external factors, and recovery methods. They share tips for avoiding burnout and differentiate it from exhaustion.
- BEST OF: The People-Pleasing Trap: How Laura Henshaw escaped it (and how you can too)
Laura Henshaw, co-founder of the KIC app, talks about how she recognized and changed her people-pleasing behavior. She shares insights on giving feedback, making decisions, and focusing on effectiveness rather than seeking universal approv…
- BEST OF: Sahil Bloom on building a scoreboard that reflects what matters
Sahil Bloom joins "How I Work" to discuss building a scoreboard that reflects what matters. He shares insights on how to measure progress, align actions, stay grounded amidst chaos, build richer relationships, and create space for reflecti…
- BEST OF: Journaling for people who hate journaling: Michael Bungay Stanier's game-changing method
In this episode of How I Work, Michael Bungay Stanier discusses his breakthrough journaling method designed for individuals who have found traditional journaling challenging. He shares a weekly reflection framework and insights on preventi…
- 25 things 2025 taught us about work, wellbeing, & AI
In this episode of "How I Work", Amantha Imber and Shelley Johnson discuss 25 lessons about work, wellbeing, and AI from 2025. They cover topics including the importance of energy, boundaries, psychological safety, and AI as a coworker.
- Quick Win: The quarterly ritual that bonds teams for months
In this episode of How I Work, Avani Prabhakar, Chief People Officer at Atlassian, discusses their "Intentional Togetherness" framework. This involves bringing distributed teams together quarterly with a clear purpose to build lasting conn…
- How to make sense of 2025 and design your best 2026, with Lisa Leong (Part 2)
In this episode of How I Work, Lisa Leong and the host discuss how to approach designing an intentional 2026. They explore topics such as reframing the year as if it has already happened, designing an "ideal week," and the influence of val…
- Quick Win: What leaders get wrong about saying sorry with Clare Stephens
In this episode, Clare Stephens and Amantha Imber discuss common mistakes leaders make when apologizing. They cover effective ways to handle errors, the importance of simple apologies, and fostering a workplace culture that accepts mistake…
- How to make sense of 2025 and design your best 2026, with Lisa Leong (Part 1)
In this episode, Lisa Leong and the host discuss various tools and rituals for reflecting on the past year, 2025, and planning for 2026. They cover topics such as the Agile Retrospective, an energy audit, and the Life Flow exercise to unde…
- Quick Win: The simple question that stops catastrophising and opens real possibility
This episode of How I Work features educator and author Lael Stone, discussing a mindset shift from focusing on potential negatives to embracing possibilities. The conversation explores reframing the question "How bad could it be?" to "How…
- Ask Me Anything: How I use AI in real life (plus the tech I rely on to work smarter)
This episode of How I Work features Amantha answering questions about her use of AI in daily work, covering research, writing, and organization. She also discusses her rituals and preferred tech tools for maintaining focus and productivity…
- Quick Win: Why your “default behaviour” isn’t actually yours — and how to change it
This episode of How I Work discusses how childhood "imprints," or inherited stories, influence adult behaviors and beliefs. Educator and author Lael Stone explains how understanding these unconscious patterns can help individuals break old…
- The counterintuitive brainstorming rule that made Exploding Kittens a global hit.
Elan Lee, co-creator of Exploding Kittens, shares insights into building a creative culture that thrives on iteration and honesty, and how his team's "no, kill it" rule turned chaos into innovation. He also discusses how Exploding Kittens…
- (BONUS) Exploding Kittens CEO’s “walking with AI” ritual to unlock ideas.
Elan Lee, CEO of Exploding Kittens, shares his method of using AI not to generate answers, but to ask better questions and serve as a creative sparring partner. He explains how this approach helps him stress-test ideas, solve design proble…
- Quick Win: The dangerous AI shortcut that quietly erodes your judgment
This episode of "How I Work" features a discussion with business professor Scott Anthony about the potential dangers of over-reliance on AI. They discuss how to use AI as a tool for brainstorming while retaining ownership of critical think…
- Ambitious CEO and present parent? Dr Catriona Wallace on refusing to choose.
Dr. Catriona Wallace, founder of Flamingo AI, shares her experiences as a CEO and mother, discussing leadership without compromise, ethical AI, and balancing a demanding career with family life.
- (BONUS) How plant medicine transformed Catriona Wallace’s leadership
In this episode of How I Work, Dr. Catriona Wallace shares how plant medicine transformed her leadership approach. She discusses confronting her ego, redefining success, and leading with authenticity and courage. This episode is presented…
- Quick Win: The AI workflow that can replace your morning scroll
In this episode of How I Work, Morgan Brown, VP of Product and Growth at Dropbox, explains his AI workflow. He uses AI to automate routine tasks, including email triage and information curation, and to create a personalized daily AI news d…