Claim OwnershipTime to Reset
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In a world full of challenges, complexity, and distractions, Time to Reset is your guide to tackling any obstacle with clarity, focus, and a fresh perspective. Join your host, 2 times #1 best-selling author and international keynote speaker, Penny Zenker. Each episode offers actionable strategies, inspiring stories, and practical insights for time management tips, innovation strategies, leadership lessons, problem-solving, business growth, and more. Take this Time to Reset.
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Trying to control every outcome in life can feel like the safest strategy, but it often leads to more stress, anxiety, and frustration. In this episode, Penny Zenker sits down with Kati Morton, bestselling author and mental health expert, to explore the control trap—the tendency to overmanage our emotions, circumstances, and even other people in an attempt to feel secure. Kati explains why our brains crave control during uncertainty, why anger often masks deeper emotions like hurt or fear, and how tools like the feelings wheel can help us better identify what we’re actually experiencing. She also shares practical strategies for setting boundaries, managing workplace emotions, and reducing anxiety in a world full of digital distractions—revealing why letting go of unnecessary control can actually create more clarity, resilience, and focus.
In today’s hyper-connected world, we have more ways to communicate than ever before — yet meaningful human connection is becoming increasingly rare.In this solo episode, Penny Zenker explores what she calls the growing “connection deficit” and why it is one of the biggest challenges facing leaders and organizations today.Despite constant messaging, video calls, and social media interactions, many teams feel more disconnected than ever. With workplace disengagement reaching record levels, leaders must rethink how they create trust, belonging, and meaningful collaboration.Penny shares practical examples of how organizations like Shopify, Atlassian, and GitLab intentionally design connection into their cultures — and how leaders can do the same.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why we are experiencing a modern connection deficit • How shallow communication is impacting employee engagement and leadership • The key psychological drivers behind real human connection at work • Why trust and vulnerability accelerate execution and collaboration • Simple practices leaders can use to design deeper connections in meetings and teamsAs technology and AI continue to reshape the workplace, the organizations that succeed will be the ones that intentionally cultivate human connection, trust, and purpose.Because in a digital world, connection doesn’t happen by accident — it must be designed.
Mastering decision-making under stress is the ultimate productivity hack for high-pressure environments. In this episode, leadership trainer and crisis communication expert Kevin McIntyre joins the show to discuss why the brain struggles to process choices during a crisis and how to override those biological impulses. Drawing from his experience coaching over 6,000 leaders, Kevin explains the "half-life of adrenaline" and shares tactical tools—like combat breathing and power posing—to reset the nervous system in less than two minutes. Whether you are managing a corporate reorganization or a personal emergency, Kevin’s insights into risk aversion and Prospect Theory provide a framework for maintaining executive presence and making optimal choices when the stakes are highest.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Conferences still matter. But the way we design them must change.With rising costs, economic pressure, and AI reshaping professional development, association leaders can’t afford events that stop at “great content.”In this episode, Penny Zenker shares:Why information is now a commodityWhat Millennials and Gen Z actually expect from eventsHow to use real-time feedback and live polling to increase engagementA practical framework for embedding accountability into your conferenceHow AI can personalize and extend impact long after the event endsBecause the real ROI of a conference isn’t inspiration.It’s implementation.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
In today's hyper-complex, information-saturated world, the impulse is often to do more. More tasks, more meetings, more data consumption. But what if the path to true success lies in doing less while achieving more? We sat down with Rich Horwath, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and the leading authority on strategic thinking, to uncover the crucial insights that separate successful leaders from those stuck on the activity treadmill. Horwath, Founder of the Strategic Thinking Institute and author of Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence, argues that relying on AI to think for us is a critical mistake. Instead, leaders must intentionally carve out time to gain the "fuel insights"—learnings that lead to new value.In this must-read post, learn how to: Stop reacting and start acting on your own agenda.Implement simple, daily "Reset Practices" to capture one valuable insight a day.Use strategic reflection to clarify success and double down on what’s working.Leverage your time, talent, and attention for maximum strategic advantage.Discover why doing less leads to more strategic achievement and how you can develop the mindset required to thrive in a complex world.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
In a world of constant change, uncertainty can feel overwhelming—especially for leaders responsible for guiding others through it. In this solo episode, Penny Zenker shares a powerful reframe: certainty isn’t about predicting outcomes—it’s about anchoring yourself internally.Drawing from real-world leadership challenges, stress neuroscience, and her proven Reset Mindset, Penny explores how leaders can reduce emotional intensity, regain clarity, and take the next right step, even when the future feels unclear. You’ll learn why logic alone can’t solve emotional overload, how to move out of reactive mode, and how a simple three-step practice—step back, get perspective, and realign—can restore calm, focus, and confidence.This episode is especially relevant for leaders, executives, HR professionals, coaches, and wellness practitioners navigating cognitive overload, market volatility, and emotional fatigue—both in themselves and their teams.If you’re looking for practical leadership tools that support both performance and well-being, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and lead with intention—no matter what’s happening around you.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Technical experts are masters of their specific crafts, but they often find themselves dealing with the universal challenges of overwork, burnout, and micromanagement. Penny Zenker sits down with Alistair Gordon, CEO of Expertunity, who shares how he leads the so-called expertship revolution to address this growing problem happening in most workplaces. Alistair sheds light on how experts and specialists are often trapped in their “technical bubbles,” causing them to be extremely underappreciated and typically overwhelmed. Find out how to regain agency, set clear priorities, and push back on unreasonable demands to finally get the recognition you truly deserve.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
What does it mean to choose a word for the year — and actually live it?In this solo episode, Penny shares why generosity became her word of the year and how it’s shaping the way she moves through each month. Rather than treating generosity as something to do, she explores it as a way of being — one that begins with letting go and unfolds through intentional monthly themes.This episode walks through the structure behind the practice, offering a grounded, sustainable approach to living generosity with clarity, presence, and purpose throughout the year.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Stop letting fear of the wrong choice lead to the biggest mistake of all: no decision making at all. Join the conversation as host Penny Zenker sits down with neuroscientist, researcher, and keynote speaker Lorne Epstein, who consults with senior leaders on improving decision making outcomes. They dive into how to navigate today's volatile, uncertain, chaotic, and ambiguous (VUCA) world by identifying unconscious bias, the critical role of cognitive flexibility, and why you need to master your personal 'reset moment' to filter out the noise and find your signal. Lorne also shares insights on his novel psychometric assessment for teams and explains how AI can be a great advisory tool in your decision making process.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Clarity doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by intention.In this episode, Penny explores the overlooked moment at the start of every day that determines whether you lead with focus or fall into reaction mode. Learn how clarity creates a filter for your energy, helps you challenge false urgency, and allows you to right-size your effort for what truly matters.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Are you ready to dive deep into personalizing the sales process in a world saturated with AI? Nikki Rausch, CEO of Sales Maven, author, and podcast host, joins the conversation to explain why people still buy from people and how a "high-tech" world demands an even more "high-touch" approach. Discover her game-changing techniques for fostering authentic connections, including her specific, powerful questions to ask in a sales conversation, the strategic power of replacing "if" with "when" in your language, and why she believes the most important word for a salesperson's presence right now is "generous."Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Expectations quietly shape our experiences—and often steal our joy. In this solo episode, Penny explores how releasing expectations can reduce stress, create more ease, and help you reset as you move forward. A timely reminder that joy grows when we focus on what’s within our control.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Stop running away from the tough conversations—start cultivating Fruitful Friction® instead. Our guest, Hilary Blair, CEO, CSP Speaker, Leadership Coach, and Group Facilitator, is here to explain why embracing that "messy middle" is essential for true innovation and team co-creation. She unpacks how to move beyond merely being polite, which can act as a wall, to adopt a kindly direct approach that honors relationships and builds trust. Hilary shares practical, actionable methods like "rocking your awkward" and leveraging playfulness to expand the space between "avoid" and "attack," helping you master the art of the proactive reset to elevate your communication, connection, and business results.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Are you feeling scattered, unfocused, or like something inside you is shifting? You’re not alone. In this reflective solo episode, Penny explores the season of expansion—a powerful transitional phase where clarity hasn’t arrived yet, but transformation is underway.Drawing from personal experiences—becoming an empty nester, changing homes, reinventing her work, and navigating major life transitions—Penny reveals why feeling “unfocused” isn’t a failure. It’s an evolution. She discusses how the writing of The Reset Mindset unfolded through its own unexpected transformation, and why clarity is not the starting point but the outcome. ShiftIn this episode, you’ll learn:Why periods of uncertainty are often signs of growthHow to recognize whether you're in a season of narrowing in or zooming outWhy focus is not attention—and how to expand your lens with intentionHow embracing exploration can lead to deeper alignment in your next chapterThe mindset shift that frees you from the pressure to “figure it all out right now”If you’ve been feeling lost, disconnected, or ready for a new direction, this conversation offers grounding, clarity, and permission to evolve at your own pace.Listen in, breathe, and give yourself space—your next chapter is already working its way in.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
The landscape of career search and hiring is being rapidly redefined by technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence, which, while simplifying the application process, is causing companies to overlook some of the most qualified candidates whose value doesn't translate well onto an automated resume. Mitch McDermott from Talent Ascension Group explains that this challenge requires organizations to look beyond paper credentials and be willing to dig deeper into a candidate's story. Success in the modern workforce also demands that companies move beyond cookie-cutter systems by prioritizing a highly personalized onboarding process and recognizing non-monetary "currencies"—such as impact, fulfillment, freedom, and growth potential—to ensure long-term employee retention and engagement.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or constantly racing from one meeting to the next? In this episode, Penny Zenker pulls back the curtain on her newest AI experiments — including her custom-trained AI agent built on her books, exercises, and leadership tools — and reveals how simple, science-backed reset moments can transform your day. video1209722628You’ll learn:Why stress isn’t always about your workload — it’s about the lack of recovery between tasks.How AI-powered nudges can scan your calendar and remind you to reset exactly when you need it.The neuroscience behind real mental clarity, including why closing your eyes reduces up to 80% of sensory input.A powerful 60-second breathing technique (“Ninja Breathing”) that brings your executive function back online.How micro-rituals — like scent-based reset anchors — instantly calm or energize your nervous system.Why back-to-back meetings are sabotaging your focus (and what organizations must change).What Penny is building next with AI to help leaders reduce burnout and show up more present.If you want to think clearer, stress less, and work smarter — this episode gives you practical tools you can use today.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
Market Eminence is more than visibility; it’s the art of earning respect, influence, and recognition by thinking differently. In this energizing conversation with keynote speaker and marketing strategist David Newman, host Penny Zenker explores how leaders can rise above the noise and become the “only” in their space rather than just the best. David reveals why the old “how-to” approach is obsolete and how to instead focus on how to think, what to believe, and how to prepare for what’s next. They discuss the power of storytelling, differentiation, and filtering faster in today’s crowded marketplace. With humor and clarity, David shares how founders, executives, and thought leaders can build market Eminence that attracts ideal clients, strengthens brand trust, and drives unstoppable growth.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
We consume more information in a single day than most people a century ago encountered in their entire lives. No wonder we feel overwhelmed, distracted, and constantly “behind.” In this episode, Penny breaks down why the real challenge today isn’t keeping up — it’s learning how to filter faster.Penny introduces her framework of Gatekeepers — the personal systems we use (or should use) to protect our time, attention, and energy from the constant flood of news, notifications, expectations, and mental clutter.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
What does it take to turn adversity into your greatest advantage? In this episode of Time to Reset, resilience expert and leadership coach Sara Schulting Kranz shares her powerful journey of rebuilding life after trauma—and how she now helps others do the same. 🌄 As the founder of transformational leadership retreats in the Grand Canyon, Sara has guided executives, athletes, and even a blind para-athlete to record-breaking success. Drawing from over 30 years of experience, she reveals her 5-component framework for resilience, designed to help individuals and organizations navigate change with courage, collaboration, and creativity. Tune in to learn how to lead through uncertainty, embrace change as growth, and create a culture of resilience—whether in business, leadership, or your own personal reset. 🎙️ Because when life shifts, the way out is always forward.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
In an age where technology keeps us constantly linked yet emotionally apart, connectability has become an essential skill for leaders, teams, and individuals seeking authentic relationships. Business leader and author Fredric Steck shares the principles behind his book Connectability, revealing how empathy, awareness, and genuine presence can transform both personal and professional interactions. Through stories drawn from his decades in finance, philanthropy, and leadership, Fred explores how emotional intelligence and consistent human connection can replace transactional exchanges with trust, collaboration, and meaning in today’s digital world.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/
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