In this mini-episode, Kathy dives into seven practical techniques from bestselling author Daniel Pink that will help you remember more from the books you read - especially non-fiction, business and personal development books.

Because let’s be honest, we all adore buying books.We feel wildly optimistic while reading them.

And then… poof. The knowledge disappears like a Post-it note in a strong breeze.Inside this short, sharp episode, you’ll discover:

– Why you should (brace yourself) “torture” your books

– The powerful S&H Method (Summarise and Harvest) for locking in key ideas

– How to build a simple “second brain” for book highlights – Why re-reading the right books changes everything

– What it means to be a T-shaped reader (and why depth + breadth both matter)

– The surprisingly liberating formula for quitting books guilt-free

– And why reading is a privilege, not a performance sport

There’s also a small detour via Wuthering Heights, windy moors, and the uncomfortable realisation that teenage romance standards were…questionable.

If you love personal development, productivity books, business reading, or simply want to stop forgetting everything you consume - this episode will give you practical, doable strategies to improve information retention without turning reading into homework.

For more on this topic, check out Daniel Pink’s YouTube video “How to Be a Better Reader”.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xaXLPRpJzwM?app=desktop

In this episode of Productivity Nerd, host Kathy Soulsby is joined by “the email whisperer” Kim Arnold, coach, consultant, and author of Email Attraction.

Together they dive into the psychology of inboxes, persuasive communication, and why badly written emails are one of the biggest hidden drains on productivity.

Kim and her team have worked with major organisations to transform dull, bloated emails into clear, compelling messages that actually get opened, read, and actioned.

Because productivity doesn’t just live in planners and colour-coded task lists - it lives in how we communicate.

Inside this episode, they explore:

• The shocking statistic about how long we spend in email (brace yourself)
• Why most workplace emails are boring, confusing, and wildly inefficient
• How unclear emails create unnecessary meetings, endless chasing, and cognitive overload
• The difference between a “meh” email and a persuasive, action-driving one
• How to write subject lines that cut through (including Kathy’s legendary “How are you on Robot Lawn Mowers?”)
• The balance between clarity and kindness in professional communication
• The emotional weight of managing email, Slack, Teams and WhatsApp all at once
• Why we procrastinate over hitting “send” ...and how to overcome email perfectionism
• Simple frameworks and habits to write better emails without sounding robotic

Kim explains why email is where productivity and psychology meet - and how small shifts in tone, structure and persuasion can save hours every week.

If your inbox feels more like a swamp than a springboard, this episode will give you practical tools to write sharper emails, reduce overwhelm, and get faster results.

Whether you’re a founder, consultant, executive, or simply someone drowning in notifications, this conversation will change how you think about email forever.

Go check out Kim's website for more email advice: http://www.email-attraction.com

And give her a follow over on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/karnoldcomms/

Inbox Zero. Two words guaranteed to make some people twitch.

In this mini episode of Productivity Nerd, Kathy Soulsby makes a passionate (and slightly sweary) case for why Inbox Zero isn’t the problem...inbox overwhelm is.

If you’ve ever opened your email, seen four figures glaring back at you, and quietly closed the tab again… this one’s for you.Kathy shares:

• Why leaving thousands of emails unread is far more extreme than clearing them
• A horror story involving a volunteer inbox, zero structure, and a folder optimistically titled “To Do”
• Why “select all → archive” is not reckless behaviour
• And how treating your inbox like a runway (not a storage unit) can instantly calm your brain

There’s talk of haunted inboxes, anxious ghost emails, and why using your inbox as a task manager is like storing your shoes in the fridge - technically possible, deeply unhelpful.

Inbox Zero isn’t about perfection. It’s about visibility, sanity, and not living under a pile of unread receipts and vague FYIs.

What do mood swings, motivation dips, and your productivity have in common? Hormones, baby.

In this episode of Productivity Nerd, host Kathy Soulsby chats to nurse and clinical hypnotherapist Liz Sherlock about how our hormonal cycles can mess with our mojo - and what to do about it.

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel like Superwoman one week and a sentient sock the next, you’re not imagining it. From the gym to the boardroom, hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, and cortisol can have a huge impact on how we work, think, and feel.

Kathy and Liz cover:

– How to work with your cycle, not against it

– The impact of perimenopause and menopause on productivity (hello, brain fog)

– Tips for men who live, love or work with women (hint: don’t say “calm down”)

– Why ignoring your hormones is like trying to schedule a strategy meeting during “crying over burnt toast” week

Whether you’re tracking your cycle with military precision or just vaguely aware something’s up, this episode offers science-backed advice and practical hacks to stop fighting your hormones and start flowing with them.

Because productivity isn’t just planners and Pomodoro timers. Sometimes it’s knowing when to rest, when to push, and when to eat chocolate and hide in a duvet fort.

If you want to learn more visit Liz's website: https://sherlockhypnotherapy.com/

Ever feel like no matter how much you get done, it’s never quite enough? Like you're on a hamster wheel powered by colour-coded to-do lists and vague guilt?

In this episode, Kathy talks about toxic productivity - that sneaky voice that tells you to "try harder" even when you're running on fumes. We’ll meet the ancient metaphor of the “hungry ghost” (spoiler: it’s not just a spooky concept, it might actually live in your inbox) and explore why modern hustle culture leaves so many of us feeling hollow.

This isn’t a productivity pep talk. It’s a gentle, tea-sipping nudge toward ambition without self-punishment. Because yes, you can want more ... without believing you’re not enough.

In this episode of Productivity Nerd, Kathy Soulsby is joined by her fellow productivity enthusiast Claire Ennion for a deep dive into Living Forward by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy. This isn’t your standard self-help hustle fest. It’s about escaping “the drift” - that sneaky slide into autopilot - and creating a Life Plan that helps you live on purpose.

They chat legacies (yes, there’s talk of funerals again), life “accounts”, and why your weekly planner might need a spiritual check-in alongside the school run and sales calls.Expect thoughtful takeaways, a few tangents (including haunting people via stationery sabotage), and some very honest reflections on what it means to design your life when life itself feels a bit… unscheduled.

In this bite-sized January episode, Kathy (planner addict, colour-code enthusiast, and long-time hot water bottle evangelist) dives into the art of staying warm without melting your budget.Because it’s 2026, energy bills are still soaring, and frankly no one should have to freeze just to get through their inbox.From USB hand warmers to bubble-wrapped windows (yes, really), this cosy listen is packed with practical tips, historical oddities, and the science behind warm socks and better focus. You'll hear why heating you beats heating the whole house, how to build a “thermal productivity zone,” and what medieval straw-insulated floors have to do with your 3pm slump.Perfect for anyone trying to stay productive, semi-sane, and vaguely defrosted this winter.So, grab a brew (or two), wrap yourself in something fleece-adjacent, and enjoy.Stay warm, stay nerdy...and remember: the only thing that should be frozen in January is the peas in your freezer.

In this episode, Kathy is joined by the marvellous Helen Taylor for what might be the boldest experiment yet: attempting to break up with their phones. Or at least see less of them.

Inspired by How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price, they dive into the weirdly intense relationship we have with our screens. From dopamine doom-scrolling to the panicked need to check WhatsApp mid-Netflix.

Together, they explore:
– Why our phones are basically clingy exes in our pockets
– How they’re quietly trashing our attention spans (and possibly our empathy)
– What a 30-day digital detox actually looks like
– And which small changes have actually stuck

Expect shocking stats (yes, during sex), emotional confessions, and the sort of gentle accountability that only comes from trying to read Deep Work and failing because a dancing parrot popped up.

It's not about ditching your phone entirely, more about setting some boundaries, reclaiming your brain cells, and maybe remembering what it’s like to finish a book without checking three apps in between chapters.

Until next time: may your notifications be few, your focus deep, and your phone…occasionally face-down in another room.

Hello shiny new year, fresh notebooks, and big plans!

In this mini episode of Productivity Nerd, Kathy kicks off 2026 with a thought experiment inspired by productivity favourites Ali Abdaal, Will MacAskill (maybe?), and Stephen Bartlett.

It’s a bit of a mash-up - like most good ideas - and it all centres around how we spend our time.

Think of your hours like casino chips. You get 100 a week (after life’s essentials like sleep, snacks and showers). How are you spending them... and more importantly, would you choose to fast forward through some of them?

Kathy introduces the “Fast Forward Test” , a simple but brilliant way to check in with how you’re using your time.

Are you speeding through your days like a bad audiobook on 1.8x speed, or are you actually enjoying the moments that make up your life?

It’s a gentle nudge to be more present, notice what brings real satisfaction, and maybe tweak the parts of your week that feel more chore than choice.

Perfect for business owners, freelancers and permanently exhausted pigeons looking to make 2026 feel a little more intentional.

Nothing says “festive cheer” like a looming tax deadline, right?

In this not-at-all-scrooge-y episode of Productivity Nerd, Kathy is joined by resident tax whisperer Laura Green for a surprisingly comforting chat about self-assessment. Whether you’ve already filed, haven’t started, or are deep in denial, this one's for you.

Expect:

📆 The key dates you really shouldn’t ignore
💸 What happens if you miss them (brace yourself)
📎 Common mistakes people make (and how to dodge them)
🧾 When to call in an accountant (or just call it quits and outsource)
📬 And what to do if you open your return to find a scary number you can’t pay

Plus, Kathy shares a cautionary tale about one very lost Government Gateway number, a swearing fit, and a smug dad with two coffees and a completed return.

So, if you’d prefer your January to involve less panic and more smugness, pop this in your ears. Filing may not be fun...but it can be a whole lot less faffy.