Your colleague doesn’t reply to your email. Days pass. Your mind spins - do they not like me, do they not want me on the project, or are they just busy? It’s these unhelpful stories that quietly drain our energy. But what if there were two simple questions that could reset your perspective in moments like these? 

In this episode of How I Work, I sit down with educator and author Lael Stone, whose new book Own Your Story explores how the stories we tell ourselves shape the way we live and work. 

Lael shares the two reflection questions she uses daily to interrupt spirals of self-doubt and comparison. She also coaches me through my own struggles while writing my fifth book, showing how shifting perspective can help us feel lighter, more energised, and in flow. 

By the end of this chat, you’ll have a practical mental reset you can use any time - whether at work, at home, or in the middle of a 3am overthinking spiral. 

We discuss: 

• The two questions Lael uses every day to reset perspective
• How to pause spirals of self-doubt with “What am I making this mean?”
• Why “What do I want this to look like?” opens us up to new possibilities
• Lael coaching me through my own writing doubts and pressures
• How comparison keeps us stuck and what to do instead
• The role of childhood imprints in shaping our beliefs about work, money, and relationships
• Why most of us never learned what a healthy boundary looks like - and how to create them as adults
• Why setting boundaries is an act of self-love 

Key Quotes 

“What am I making this mean? Can be a pattern interrupt question to actually stop and go, what is the story here?” 

“It feels very freeing to realise I could actually change this. I could change what this means for me.” 

Connect with Lael Stone on Instagram, LinkedIn and her website, and check out her latest book Own Your Story. 

 

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.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

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

Get in touch at [email protected] 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So many of us strive to find that ‘perfect job’, but once we get there, do we run the risk of having it become our sole focus, to the detriment of everything else in our lives?

I asked my very close friend Sabina Read to join me on a deep dive discussion into work and identity to try and get to the bottom of this. Sabina is a clinical psychologist, regular contributor on 3AW and co-host of the popular podcast Human Cogs.

Sabina and I discuss:

• Why having an occupation that aligns with our personal identity is a good thing
• If having a personally aligned career can lead to a lack of balance
• An easy way to identify if you are letting your vocation swallow your sense of self

Listen to the full interview with Sabina here.

Connect with Sabina via her website, Instagram, or check out her podcast Human Cogs.

 

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.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

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

Get in touch at [email protected]

 

Credits:

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you think AI is all about saving time and cutting corners, think again. 

In this conversation with futurist Bob Johansen, we explore how AI can be used as a thinking partner - to help you generate ideas, build clarity, and make better decisions in a chaotic, unpredictable world. Bob argues that the real power of AI lies in augmented intelligence, not artificial intelligence. 

Bob Johansen is a distinguished fellow with the Institute for the Future in Silicon Valley. For more than 50 years, Bob has helped organisations around the world prepare for and shape the future. He has written 15 books and his latest one Navigating the Age of Chaos, is out on October 28. 

He walks us through: 
- The key skill that will future-proof your career 
- How to use AI to get unstuck and think more creatively 
- Why clarity beats certainty in a BANI world (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible) 
- The leadership traits needed to thrive in the AI-first decade 

Whether you’re excited about AI or sceptical, this episode will shift your mindset and give you a roadmap for working with AI, not against it. 

Want to learn more about AI upskilling? Check out this episode with Neo Aplin on how to go from AI gunslinger to AI architect on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Bob’s new book Navigating the Age of Chaos: A Sense-Making Guide to a BANI World That Doesn't Make Sense is out October 28. Pre-order it here  

Key quotes 

“Ten years from now, almost all leaders will be augmented or you’ll be out of the game.” 

“I don’t trust AI for answers. I use it to stretch my mind.” 

 

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.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

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

Get in touch at [email protected] 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re rushing through the day, it’s easy to lose sight of what actually matters. 

In this Quick Win episode, New York Times bestselling author Chris Guillebeau shares the reflection question he asks himself to reset and stay focused. Chris also reveals how a simple 40-minute check-in can help you course-correct in the moment, without relying on complicated productivity systems. 

Chris and I talk about: 

• The reflection question Chris uses to decide if the day was valuable 

• Why he believes the ordinary moments in life matter just as much as the big milestones 

• The 40-minute check-in that helps him reset and make the most of his time 

• How Chris uses these reflections as a reset—not a rigid system 

• Why Chris doesn’t stick with one method forever (and that’s okay) 

Key Quotes: 
“Every day has something, at least one thing, that is special.” 
“If the last 40 minutes weren’t that valuable, what do I want to do differently next?” 

Listen to the full interview with Chris here.

Connect with Chris on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn and his website, Listen to his podcast Side Hustle School, and check out his latest book Time Anxiety. 

 

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.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

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

Get in touch at [email protected] 

  

Credits: 

Host: Amantha Imber 

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgie Holt set herself a radical challenge: Could she completely remove herself from the operational side of her job using AI? In this conversation, Georgie shares how she used ChatGPT tools to build systems that dramatically reduced the time she spent on hiring, communications, and day-to-day decision-making.

Georgie is the co-founder and CEO of Flight Story, which she co-founded with Stephen Bartlett. It’s the media company that is home to The Diary of a CEO - the second biggest podcast in the world, with over 1 billion streams and over 11 million YouTube subscribers. 

Georgie walks us through her process for identifying what to automate, how she built a custom GPT to handle interviews, and why she believes this technology can be a game-changer - especially for women in leadership.

You’ll learn:

• How Georgie saved 20–25 hours a week with AI
• The custom GPT she built to run candidate interviews
• Why she created a "writer’s room" AI model inspired by Hollywood
• How AI can help leaders double down on emotional intelligence
• The two areas Georgie now spends her reclaimed time on

This is part one of a two-part conversation that explores the future of work, leadership, and how to use AI to elevate (not erase) your humanity.

Follow Georgie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-holt/

Listen/watch Diary of a CEO: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDiaryOfACEO 

My new 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
Instagram

Want more tips to improve the way you work and live?
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for practical, science-backed strategies:
https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

For full show notes from all episodes, visit:
https://www.amantha.com/podcast

Get in touch: [email protected]

Credits
Host: Amantha Imber
Episode Producer: Sam Blacker, The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special bonus episode, Georgie Holt (co-founder of Flight Story alongside Stephen Bartlett) takes us behind-the-scenes to look at how her team is redefining media and podcasting using AI.

Georgie shares the story of an internal AI competition that led to the creation of 48 new tools, saving over 62,000 hours of work and $1 million in efficiencies. She takes us inside the tools powering Diary of a CEO, including “Unicorn Hunter” and “Prewatch,” and explains how AI helps the team identify cultural moments, book high-impact guests, and tailor content to maximise engagement.

You’ll learn:

• How Diary of a CEO finds the right guest at the right moment using AI
• The strategy and psychology behind a company-wide AI challenge
• How Diary of a CEO uses data to refine content before it even goes live
• The importance of community and loyalty in building media that lasts
• Georgie’s candid feedback for How I Work 

This is Part 2 of my chat with Georgie Holt. Be sure to listen to Part 1 if you haven’t already. 

Follow Georgie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-holt/

Listen/watch Diary of a CEO: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDiaryOfACEO 

 

My new 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
Instagram

Want more tips to improve the way you work and live?
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for practical, science-backed strategies:
https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

For full show notes from all episodes, visit:
https://www.amantha.com/podcast

Get in touch: [email protected]

 

Credits
Host: Amantha Imber
Episode Producer: Sam Blacker, The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your inbox is overflowing and you can’t shake the guilt of unanswered emails, you’re not alone. In this Quick Win episode, New York Times bestselling author Chris Guillebeau shares his email strategy for fighting time anxiety - including why he’s totally fine with ignoring some emails (even if it ticks people off). 

Chris also explains how email bankruptcy helped him reset his inbox every year, and why trying to be an “email ninja” can backfire when you’re focused on the wrong things. 

Chris and I talk about: 

• Why “inbox guilt” is so hard to shake—and how Chris reframed it 

• The bold email strategy Chris uses to stay sane 

• Why he’s been doing email bankruptcy for the last 5–6 years 

• The real reason he’s okay with not replying to every email 

Key Quotes: 

“If I am always responsive, that means I’m not doing other things.” 
“I just archive everything that’s in the inbox that I haven’t responded to.” 

Listen to the full interview with Chris here.  

Connect with Chris on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn and his website, Listen to his podcast Side Hustle School, and check out his latest book Time Anxiety. 

 

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.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

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

Get in touch at [email protected] 

  

Credits: 

Host: Amantha Imber 

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens to our ability to think critically when we start outsourcing it to AI?

Professor Scott Anthony is one of the world’s leading experts on innovation and disruption and he believes the way we use AI today will shape the future of our judgment, creativity, and even our careers.

Scott is a professor at the Tuck School of Business, the former managing partner at Innosight (the firm co-founded by the late Clayton Christensen) and author of several books, including his latest, Epic Disruptions.

In this conversation, Scott shares how AI is transforming the way he teaches, consults, and thinks - and why he draws a firm line on where he will never let AI do the work. You’ll learn exactly how to leverage AI as a teammate without letting it hollow out your critical thinking skills, and why protecting your judgment is more important than ever.

If you’ve ever wondered, Am I thinking less deeply than I used to?—this episode might just change the way you work.

Check out Scott’s new book Epic Disruptions.

***

My new 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.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

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

Get in touch at [email protected]

 

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Episode Producer: Sam Blacker at the Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you stuck in autopilot, drifting through life without a sense of direction? This episode can help you get back in touch with what really matters. 

In this Quick Win, I’m joined by Dr. Emily Musgrove - clinical psychologist, author of Unstuck, and resident Psych on The Imperfects podcast. We unpack the signs you’re disconnected from your values and the simple ways to reconnect with them, like the “80th birthday” exercise and a values questionnaire. 

Dr. Em shares: 

• How values misalignment shows up in therapy and life 

• Why “stuckness” signals you’re out of touch with your values 

• The 80th birthday exercise for identifying what really matters to you 

• The power of questionnaires in surfacing your core values 

• Why values are bidirectional (hint: kindness to yourself counts too) 

Key Quotes: 

“The presence of avoidance often signals a values disconnection.” 

“Being kind includes being kind to yourself - sometimes that means setting boundaries.” 

Connect with Dr. Em on Instagram, LinkedIn and her website. Check out her new book Unstuck. 

Listen to the full episode here. 

 

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.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanthai 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

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

Get in touch at [email protected] 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who wants to be led by someone who’s burnt out? That’s the question I asked myself in 2024 - and why I kept pushing through and pretending I was fine. Until everything nearly broke. 

In part two of this interview, I’m back with psychologist and friend Sabina Read to unpack how I came out the other side of the hardest year of my professional life. 

We talk about what finally pulled me out of burnout, how I rebuilt trust inside Inventium, and the ripple effects of radical transparency. I also reflect on the shadow side of long tenure, the cost of silencing my instincts, and the surprising moment I knew our culture had truly shifted. 

If you’re leading a team, facing change, or quietly wondering if you’re the problem - this episode is for you. 

Sabina and I discuss: 

• The shift that helped me rebuild confidence after burnout 

• Why tenure can quietly sabotage growth and innovation 

• How I nearly missed a 7-figure opportunity (and what changed) 

• The difference between radical transparency and oversharing 

• What helped our team go from fractured to thriving 

• Why metrics matter - but they’re not enough 

• The cost of hiding how hard things really were 

Key Quotes 

• “Hope is not a strategy - but that’s what I was relying on.” 

• “If just one person doesn’t feel psychologically safe, that can do a lot of damage.” 

• “Radical transparency means being honest in a way that serves your team.” 

Connect with Sabina via her website, Instagram, or check out her podcast Human Cogs. 

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.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanthai 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

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

Get in touch at [email protected] 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.