How I Work

Today, we are launching How I AI, a new weekly show dropping straight into your How I Work feed every Monday. Over the past few years, I’ve become deeply interested in AI – not because I’m a tech geek, but because I’ve seen what happens when the right tools are used in the right way. You get time back. You think more clearly. And the work itself gets better.  I’m joined by Neo Aplin, who heads up inventium.ai, our AI training arm at Inventium. Neo spends his days testing tools, platforms and models so the rest of us don’t have to.   In today’s show, Neo and I walk through the 13 AI tools we use every day.   We cover:  How Neo and I use different large language models for different kinds of thinking, writing and research  Why Gemini has become my go-to for deep research  How I capture meetings without recordings using Granola  Privacy-first alternatives for note-taking and meetings  Using Consensus to explore science-backed answers and academic research  Why Perplexity is brilliant for product research and comparisons  The podcast app I rely on to save ideas without breaking my listening flow  How Wisprflow has replaced most of my typing  Using NotebookLM to learn faster from long YouTube videos  Turning spoken thoughts into journal entries with Letterly  Running AI models locally for privacy, security and offline work  Connect with Neo Aplin on LinkedIn and via inventium.ai, where he leads Inventium’s AI training and upskilling work with organisations and teams.  And here are links to all the tools we spoke about:  ChatGPT – best for thinking things through, research, and talking out rough ideas. Claude – the go-to when writing or editing and wanting something that actually sounds human. Gemini – strongest for deep research, especially when comparing results across tools. Microsoft Copilot – an AI EA inside Microsoft, working across emails, files, and documents. Granola – frictionless meeting notes that quietly capture transcripts and build smarter notes. Hyprnote – a privacy-first, local alternative to Granola that runs on your own computer. Otter – meeting transcripts with speaker labels, useful for in-person conversations. Consensus – science-backed answers pulled directly from academic research. Perplexity – ideal for product research, comparisons, reviews, and smarter shopping. Snipd – a podcast player that saves key moments with one tap, without breaking flow. Wispr Flow – fast, intelligent dictation that formats and corrects as you speak. NotebookLM – turns long YouTube videos into quick, searchable insights. Letterly – voice-based journalling that turns spoken thoughts into clean written entries.    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 amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber and Neo Aplin Sound Engineer: Martin Imber See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**BEST OF** In an effort to make time for ourselves, many of us fall back on using To Do lists and time blocking. But often these strategies can end up with the same result: getting lost in chasing productivity. So how do we make time for the things that truly count? 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 regular columnist for The Guardian. If there is anyone who truly understands the philosophy and psychology of time management and happiness, it’s Oliver. Oliver shares: The mindset you should be using when you first approach a task if you want it to be achieved easily How you can free up time by minimising time spent on worrying The strategy you should be utilising instead of a to-do list to actually create a sense of achievement Why being open to distractions can actually be beneficial Key Quotes:"Don't start from the position that unexpected things happening must be bad." “There is this tendency to set things up in your mind so that you can never feel like you’ve done something well enough." Connect with Oliver via his website, or get his latest book, Meditations for Mortals, 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 amantha@inventium.com.au   Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast ButlerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**BEST OF** In our modern workplaces, is suffering from burn out now simply a matter of when, rather than if? For a slightly different episode, I’m joined by Sabina Read to discuss my own personal experience with burn out and how you can manage it if it hits you. Sabina is a distinguished Australian psychologist who makes regular appearances on Radio 3AW's Afternoons program, works as SEEK's Resident Psychologist and co-hosts the top-rated podcast Human Cogs. This is a dive into the world of burnout so you can understand why it happens, what influences it and how you can survive it. Sabina and I share: The signs of incoming burnout that many of us miss The external factors that can cause you to burn out Sabina’s tips on what you can do to avoid burnout The very specific thing that helped me recover from burnout Key Quotes: “This is not something you wrap in a bow and neatly take forward so you never burn out.” “We do need to differentiate burn out from exhaustion.” 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 amantha@inventium.com.au   Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast ButlerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**BEST OF** 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 incredibly successful KIC app and community, she leads a mission to reshape how people perceive wellness and their relationship with themselves. And they are certainly having an impact, with the KIC app currently sitting at over 2.5 million users and reaching people in over 120 countries. Outside of business, Laura co-hosts the chart topping Kicpod podcast, where she engages in candid conversations on health, wellness, and personal growth. She also shares her insights through a monthly column in Vogue. Laura shares: The ways your people-pleasing could be holding you back. Why giving feedback as a "shit sandwich" doesn’t actually work. How she changed her people-pleasing behaviour. Why you’ll never succeed at getting everyone to like your decisions. The one thing you should prioritise over kindness when giving feedback. Key Quotes: “How hard I work has nothing to do with how worthy I am as a person.” “Most decisions you make there is going to be someone that’s not going to like the decision.” Connect with Laura on Instagram, subscribe to KIC APP and follow KIC Pod   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 amantha@inventium.com.au   Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast ButlerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**BEST OF** You can be ticking off goals, crushing deadlines, and still feel like you’re missing the point. If your time and energy aren’t going where they should, it might be because you’re tracking the wrong scoreboard. In this episode, we explore how to reset the way you measure progress - so your actions align with what truly matters.  I’m joined today by Sahil Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of The Five Types of Wealth and Managing Partner of SRB Ventures. Sahil shares how to stay grounded in the middle of chaos, build richer relationships, and create space for reflection - without needing a complete life overhaul.  We unpack how to spot when you’re drifting, what a broken scoreboard looks like, and why tiny rituals can have an outsized impact when life gets overwhelming.  Sahil & I discuss:  Why the scoreboard you use shapes your priorities and choices  Sahil’s monthly “think day” and how it helps him course-correct  A mindset shift that radically simplified his business and life  His “buyer or seller” test for deciding what to drop  A 3-minute journaling ritual that helped him survive book launch  The underrated power of sending thoughtful messages to friends  What “social wealth” really means—and why it’s the key to a great life  How he fuels creativity through reading, walking, and reflection  His cautious take on AI’s future impact on work and society  A simple way to start your day that replaces doomscrolling with curiosity  Key Quotes  “If you have the right scoreboard, your actions align around the right things. If your scoreboard is broken, your actions will be too.”  “When you think something nice about someone, let them know right then.”  Connect with Sahil Bloom on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn and his website. Check out his latest book The Five Types of Wealth.  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 amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**BEST OF** 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. Named the #1 Thought Leader in Coaching by Thinkers50, his insights have been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company. In this conversation, Michael shares: His surprisingly simple journaling breakthrough that eliminates the most common barriers to consistency A powerful weekly reflection framework that drives tangible results (not just empty introspection) The counterintuitive boundary system he uses to prevent work overload while maximizing impact Why he rejects popular "word of the year" goal-setting (and what he does instead) Whether you're a serial journal abandoner or simply seeking more intentional reflection practices, Michael's practical approach offers a refreshing alternative to traditional journaling methods that actually sticks. Key Quotes: “One thing that is really helpful is just to know I don’t have to say yes right away.” “I have failed to successfully journal since I was 16. I’m now 57, so I’ve been attempting to journal for 40 years.” “If you just start asking yourself what you want day in and day out it just starts forcing a deep clarity.” Connect with Michael via his website, Instagram, LinkedIn, or buy the Do Something That Matters Journal.   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 amantha@inventium.com.au   Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast ButlerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special crossover episode with my mate Shelley Johnson from This Is Work, we sat down with printed lists and compared notes on 25 things that 2025 taught us. Along the way, patterns emerged around how we show up, where our energy gets spent, and the ways our work is changing beneath us.   Shelley and I discuss:  Why energy has become the most useful lens for thinking about performance, focus and resilience  How boundaries, rest and creating margin changed the way I worked this year  Why embarrassment can be an unexpected teacher and a healthy check on the ego  The difference between psychological safety and psychological comfort at work  Why connection matters more than charisma when it comes to influence  How AI has shifted from being a tool to something closer to a coworker  Why deadlines, postmortems and focusing on the problem instead of the person improve team dynamics  Small posture and workflow changes that made a big difference to how I felt at work    KEY QUOTES  “Energy is the new KPI.”  “The wins are never as good as you think, and the losses are never as bad as you think. Keep going.”  Connect with Shelley Johnson on Boldside HR’s Instagram, LinkedIn, and listen to her podcast This Is Work.     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 amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if your team could feel more connected without ever mandating office days?  In this Quick Win episode, I’m joined by Avani Prabhakar, Chief People Officer at Atlassian. With over 13,000 employees scattered around the globe, Atlassian has learned that connection doesn’t come from casual coffee chats or watercooler moments. Instead, they’ve built a framework called Intentional Togetherness – bringing teams together once a quarter with a clear purpose. It’s a practice that creates bonds lasting far beyond a handful of office days.  Avani and I discuss:  Why “remote” and “distributed” work are not the same thing  The myth that office attendance automatically creates connection  How Atlassian’s “Intentional Togetherness” framework works  The quarterly gatherings that build bonds that last for months  Why purposeful collaboration beats sporadic in-office days  Key Quotes  “Connection wasn’t built by sporadic office attendance – it was built when you bring people intentionally together with a purpose.”   Connect with Avani on LinkedIn.  Listen to the full interview with Avani 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 amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking ahead to a new year can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time, especially when you’re not quite sure what you want the next chapter to feel like.  In part 2 of my end-of-year reflection episode with my good friend and ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong - we explore the questions, habits, and small structural tweaks that can help shape a more intentional 2026 - the things that genuinely influence how your days unfold.  If you’re planning out your 2026 and want a more thoughtful way to do it, this episode will give you plenty to play with.  Lisa and I discuss:  The simple reframing that helps you imagine your next year as if it has already happened  How Lisa approaches designing an “ideal week” and why I’m thinking about a “perfect average day”  The role of the reticular activating system and why vision boards work for some people  How values shape the projects and choices you prioritise for the coming year  The habits we’re keeping, the ones we’re changing, and how identity influences behaviour  Why I’m stepping back from Instagram (again) and rethinking my relationship with email  How a “dumb phone” or burner phone can help create healthier digital boundaries  Our favourite prompts from the Year Compass, including the surprising question that reveals your “secret wish” for the year ahead    KEY QUOTES   “Instead of asking what would have been, I love writing it like it’s already happened — it changes how you think about the future.” “I want to design a perfect average day, because it’s something I can actually live up to and repeat.”  Connect with Lisa Leong on Instagram and LinkedIn. Listen to her show This Working Life, and check out her book with Monique Ross, This Working Life     If you want to try one of the reflection tools I mentioned in this episode, you can download the free Year Compass booklet here: https://yearcompass.com/  Listen to part 1 of my chat with Lisa 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 amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever caught yourself rehearsing what to say at work - terrified one wrong phrase could spark backlash?  In this Quick Win, I speak with Clare Stephens, former Editor-in-Chief at Mamamia, about the fear of getting it wrong, how to handle mistakes, and why the most powerful apology is often the simplest one.  Clare learnt the hard way that over-explaining a mistake can make things worse. After facing public criticism early in her career, she reframed her approach to errors – both online and in leadership. Her advice? Keep apologies short, unreserved, and genuine. Then move on.  Clare and I discuss:  Why leaders fear saying the wrong thing in today’s workplace  How to create a culture where mistakes are met with grace, not blame  The fine line between accountability and people-pleasing  Why long, detailed apologies rarely work  The simple framework for owning mistakes and moving forward    KEY QUOTES  “The best apology is short and unreserved. There’s no excuses. Just, ‘I’m apologising,’ and then you move on.”  “You’re actually a worse leader if you can’t be direct.”  Connect with Clare Stephens on Instagram, LinkedIn and check out her latest book The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done here.  Listen to the full conversation with Clare 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 amantha@inventium.com.au    Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some years slip by in a blur, and others demand you stop and ask yourself why certain moments changed you more than you expected. This was one of those years for me. So in the first episode of this two-parter, I sit down with my good friend and ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong to compare the tools, questions and rituals we each used to make sense of 2025 - including the surprises neither of us saw coming.  If you're craving a clearer, kinder way to understand what actually shaped your year, this conversation will give you plenty to explore.   Lisa and I discuss:  Lisa’s favourite reflection tool: the Agile Retrospective  The energy audit I’m doing with my husband, including what energised us, what drained us, and the surprising things that lit us up.  How I use an interviewing GPT to challenge my thinking, dig deeper and unpack problems.  The Life Flow exercise: how mapping highs and lows reveals patterns.   How the people around us shaped our year - who influenced us most, and who we influenced.  The importance of letting go and deciding what emotional or practical baggage you don’t want to carry into the next year.     KEY QUOTES  “I still think with these reflection pieces, you should just go with what comes to you naturally, because it’s when we overthink things that we get away from a true reflection.”   “Looking back on a year is never really about the events themselves, it’s about what they reveal.”   Connect with Lisa Leong on Instagram and LinkedIn. Listen to her show This Working Life, and check out her book with Monique Ross, This Working Life   If you want to try one of the reflection tools I mentioned in this episode, you can download the free Year Compass booklet here: https://yearcompass.com/    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 amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re on the edge of a big leap, do you spiral into everything that could go wrong? What if you asked a different question instead - one that opens the door to possibility rather than fear?  In this Quick Win, I speak with educator and author Lael Stone about the powerful mindset shift from “How bad could it be?” to “How good could it get?”   It’s a simple reframe that changes how we approach risk, success, and self-sabotage - and helps us recognise when fear is keeping us small.  Lael and I discuss:  Why our brains are wired to fixate on danger and protection  The one question that flips fear into curiosity: “How good could it get?”  How family patterns can quietly shape how we define success  The hidden guilt that makes some of us sabotage our achievements  A practical exercise to break free from old stories and step into growth  KEY QUOTE  “When you ask, ‘How good could it get?’, you open yourself up to possibilities you didn’t even know existed.”  Connect with Lael Stone on Instagram, LinkedIn and her website, and check out her latest book Own Your Story.  Listen to the full conversation with Lael 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 amantha@inventium.com.au   Credits:   Host: Amantha Imber   Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**Record a question for Amantha’s next Ask Me Anything here: https://www.speakpipe.com/howiwork **     I talk about AI a lot - but if you’ve ever wondered how I actually use it in my own work, not just to experiment but to genuinely save time and think better, this episode is for you.  In this Ask Me Anything episode I’m sharing the exact ways I use AI to research faster, write smarter, and stay organised - along with the simple rituals and tech tools that help me cut through distraction and get things done with more focus and flow - plus a sneak peek into my next book, The Energy Game, coming in July 2026.  In this episode, I share:  How I use AI every day for research, writing, and personal decisions  My favourite AI tools - and how each one helps me save time  Weekly and daily rituals for managing tasks and priorities  How to minimise context switching when juggling multiple roles  Building psychological safety through trust and vulnerability  My favourite tech tools for meetings, focus, and idea capture  An update on my upcoming book The Energy Game    Amantha recommends:  These are the AI tools I rely on every week - from research to writing and everything in between.  Consensus App: https://consensus.app - My go-to AI tool for sourcing and summarising academic research.  Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai - Great for quick, high-quality overviews when I’m deep in research mode.  Notion: https://www.notion.com - My digital home for ideas, projects, and deep work tracking.  If you struggle to stay focused across competing roles, these tools help protect your attention.  Freedom app: https://freedom.to - Blocks distracting websites and apps across all devices.  Forest app: https://www.forestapp.cc - Keeps me off my phone while I’m doing deep work (and grows a tree while I focus).  OneSec app: https://one-sec.app - Prompts a mindful pause before opening apps like Instagram.  These are the tools that make my workday smoother and help me capture ideas fast.  Wispr Flow: https://wisprflow.ai - Converts speech to text instantly. Perfect for emails, notes, and writing without typing.  Granola: https://www.granola.ai - A seamless way to capture meeting notes without awkward recording bots.  Snipd: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/howiwork - My go-to podcast app for saving and summarising the best bits from what I listen to.  How I Work conversations that dive deeper into today’s themes:  Elan Lee interview: The counterintuitive brainstorming rule that made Exploding Kittens a global hit  Aly Solly interview (Part 1): Inside the hardest year at Inventium (Part 1)  Aly Solly interview (Part 2): Inside the hardest year at Inventium (Part 2)  If you’re ready to seriously up your AI game, check out Inventium’s latest AI programs for 2026 - designed to help you use AI strategically and creatively in your work. https://www.inventium.ai/     Have a question you want me to answer in the next AMA episode? Reach out via email (amantha@inventium.com.au) or socials – I’d love to hear from you!     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 amantha@inventium.com.au     Credits:   Host: Amantha Imber   Sound Engineer: Martin Imber See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the way you argue with your partner or push yourself at work isn’t actually yours - but something you absorbed decades ago?  In this Quick Win, I’m joined by educator and author Lael Stone, who explains how the stories we inherit in childhood silently shape our beliefs about relationships, money, and success. Lael calls these “imprints” - and once you start recognising them, you can finally begin to choose your own patterns instead of replaying old ones.  Lael and I discuss:  What “imprints” are and how they form through family dynamics.  The surprising ways childhood beliefs can dictate our career choices and relationships.  Why understanding our imprints helps us break unconscious habits.  How to recognise when fear or loyalty to family stories is keeping us stuck.  The freeing realisation that changing your story isn’t disloyal—it’s growth.    KEY QUOTE  “A lot of the imprints we have are deeply unconscious. We don’t even know they’re there.”     Connect with Lael Stone on Instagram, LinkedIn and her website, and check out her latest book Own Your Story.  Listen to the full conversation with Lael 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 amantha@inventium.com.au   Credits:   Host: Amantha Imber   Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you lead a team that kills thousands of ideas - and still keep everyone excited to create again the next day?  That’s business as usual for Elan Lee, co-creator and now CEO of Exploding Kittens. You might not know his name, but there’s a good chance you’ve played one of his games.  Exploding Kittens became one of the most backed Kickstarter campaigns in history - raising nearly $9 million from over 200,000 backers in just 30 days - and has since sold more than 60 million games worldwide.  In this episode, Elan and I dive into how he’s built a creative culture that thrives on iteration and honesty. He shares the psychology behind turning casual players into superfans, why creative constraints beat blue-sky brainstorming every time, and how his team’s “no, kill it” rule turned chaos into innovation.  Elan and I discuss:  How Exploding Kittens became one of Kickstarter’s biggest success stories  The psychology behind turning casual players into superfans  Why creative constraints spark better ideas than “blue-sky” brainstorming  How Elan runs design retreats that generate thousands of ideas in days  The “no, kill it” rule that keeps creativity high and egos low  Balancing creativity with commercial success - knowing when to walk away  How a single question - “Do you want to play again?” - determines when a game is done  KEY QUOTES  “Games shouldn’t be entertaining - they should make the people playing them entertaining.”  “Every great idea starts out terrible. You just have to give it room to evolve.”  “We don’t use ‘yes, and…’. We use ‘no, kill it,’ because we know we can generate a thousand more ideas.”  Explore Elan’s games at explodingkittens.com and connect with him on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.   If you haven't already, listen to the bonus episode where Elan talks about how he uses AI to unlock creative ideas 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 amantha@inventium.com.au       Credits:   Host: Amantha Imber   Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The secret to using AI well might actually be teaching it to shut up.  In this bonus episode, I’m joined by Elan Lee - the brilliant mind behind Exploding Kittens and Throw Throw Burrito. While you might expect someone like Elan to use AI to design wild new worlds or characters, that’s not what he does at all.  Instead, he’s found a way to make AI his creative sparring partner - one that never interrupts, never judges, and somehow helps him think more clearly.  In this chat, Elan shares how he uses AI to stress-test ideas, solve tricky design problems, and even guide his morning creative walks. His approach flips the script on AI - using it not to generate answers, but to ask better questions.  Elan and I discuss:  How Elan uses AI to uncover blind spots in game instructions  Why he treats AI as a creative sparring partner, not a substitute for imagination  The surprising way he uses AI to fix in-game economies and balance point systems  His daily three-hour “thinking walks” with ChatGPT - and the prompt that changed how he works  The one mindset shift that turns AI into a powerful tool for creativity and reflection  KEY QUOTES  “When you are working with AI, you don’t let it answer questions for you - you let it ask you questions.”  “The best ideas come from combining old ideas in new ways. AI just helps me see those connections.”  Explore Elan’s games at explodingkittens.com and connect with him on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.     If you haven’t yet listened to my full conversation with Elan - where we dive into creativity, failure, and how he built a global game company that thrives on iteration - you can find that 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 amantha@inventium.com.au       Credits:   Host: Amantha Imber   Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI can feel like the ultimate shortcut – no blank pages, no stuck moments. But what happens when you hand over too much of the thinking?  In this Quick Win, I chat with business professor and author Scott Anthony about how he uses AI as a sparring partner for ideas, and why keeping ownership of the hard thinking is essential if we want to stay sharp.   Scott and I discuss:  Why AI can easily replace the discomfort that leads to original thinking  How Scott uses multiple AI models (ChatGPT and Claude) to brainstorm from different perspectives  The importance of setting context and personas when prompting  Where Scott draws the line between useful AI help and losing his “thinking muscle”  A simple test to check if you’ve outsourced too much of your thought process  KEY QUOTES  “Use AI to brainstorm, to challenge, to widen the lens – but keep ownership of the hard thinking.”  “Once you stop struggling with the blank page, you risk losing the very skill that makes your ideas valuable.”  Check out Scott’s new book Epic Disruptions.  Listen to the full conversation with Scott 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 amantha@inventium.com.au   Credits:   Host: Amantha Imber   Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s one thing to be told you can’t have it all. It’s another to be told you can’t be both a CEO and a mother.  When an investor said exactly that to Dr Catriona Wallace, she didn’t flinch. She refused to choose and went on to found Flamingo AI, one of the world’s first artificial intelligence companies, becoming one of only two women in history to list a female-led tech company on the ASX.  In this conversation, Catriona and I talk about what it takes to hold your ground in the face of sexism and scrutiny, how she stayed true to herself while leading a global company, and why she believes you can be both an ambitious leader and a present parent.  We also dive into her work in ethical AI, exploring how she uses AI tools not just to improve productivity but also to reflect, make better decisions, and even coach her own AI companions toward self-awareness.  Catriona and I discuss:  The investor who told Catriona she couldn’t be both a CEO and a mother - and why she refused to choose  The million-dollar investment she walked away from (because of her nose ring)  How she learned to lead without compromising who she is  What “non-linear thinking” looks like when you’re raising five kids while running a global company  How she uses AI companions for reflection, productivity, and even spiritual insight  The eight core principles that guide ethical AI development  Why authenticity - not conformity - is the future of leadership    KEY QUOTES  “The moment you start to compromise and change, more things will compromise and change - and you lose who you are.”  “I’m in deep love with AI, even though I’m one of the people saying it might kill us - so we’d better do it ethically.”  Connect with Dr Catriona Wallace on Instagram, LinkedIn, and via her website. Check out her book Rapid Transformation for more on how to embrace change through technology and leadership.    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 amantha@inventium.com.au       Credits:   Host: Amantha Imber   Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five years ago, Dr Catriona Wallace drank ayahuasca for the first time - expecting enlightenment but instead meeting her shadow. What followed was seven hours of confronting ego, identity, and the parts of herself she’d spent years avoiding.  In this bonus episode, I sit down with Dr Catriona Wallace to explore how her experiences with plant medicine completely reshaped the way she leads, tells the truth, and understands her purpose.  Catriona shares how facing her darkest parts helped her release control, redefine success, and lead with greater authenticity and courage.  Just a quick note - nothing you’ll hear in this episode is medical or legal advice, and we’re definitely not suggesting anyone try anything that’s illegal where they live. Think of this as an open conversation, not a recommendation.  Catriona and I discuss:  The unexpected transformation that came from Catriona’s first ayahuasca experience  How confronting ego and identity shifted her leadership style  Why she believes truth-telling is the foundation of authentic leadership  The powerful reframe from “What’s my purpose?” to “What is needed of me?”  How plant medicine taught her the importance of surrender, service, and alignment    KEY QUOTES  “Seven hours of ayahuasca is like seven years of psychotherapy.” “Instead of asking, ‘What’s my purpose?’, I now ask, ‘What is needed of me?’”  Connect with Dr Catriona Wallace on Instagram, LinkedIn, and via her website. Check out her book Rapid Transformation for more on how to embrace change through technology and leadership.  If you haven’t listened to my full conversation with Catriona - where she opens up about leading with authenticity, standing firm in the face of sexism, and the now-famous moment she walked away from a million-dollar investment because she refused to compromise who she is. You can find that 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 amantha@inventium.com.au       Credits:   Host: Amantha Imber   Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if every morning you woke up to the biggest breakthroughs in your industry - already summarised and ranked before your first sip of coffee?  In this Quick Win episode, I speak with Morgan Brown, Vice President of Product and Growth at Dropbox, about how he uses AI to simplify his workday - from automating his inbox to designing a daily AI briefing that scans and summarises the entire landscape of research papers, newsletters, tweets, and podcasts. Starting with one simple prompt, Morgan built a system that cuts through noise and delivers only what really matters.  Morgan and I discuss:  How Morgan uses AI to automate routine tasks like email triage and information curation.  The process he followed to build a personalised daily AI news digest.  Why his approach started not with coding, but with one simple question: What do I keep checking every day?  How he refined his system through prompts, iteration, and feedback loops — just like editing a great piece of writing.  The mindset shift from consuming more information to filtering for signal over noise.  KEY QUOTES  “I realised there was no way to stay on top of that volume consistently - so I started with a prompt.”  “I didn’t start with coding or fancy tools. It started with asking, what sources do I keep checking and how can I pull them together?”    Connect with Morgan Brown on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and his website https://www.morganbrown.co/   Check out Morgan’s book Hacking Growth.   Get your hands on Morgan’s AI research prompt here.  Listen to the full conversation with Morgan 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 amantha@inventium.com.au    Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.