Live+Work More Human

Welcome to Brain Snacks! This tasty morsel of a conversation between your cohosts Alexis and Sally explores how AI can – if used effectively and thoughtfully – be a powerful tool to enhance human work, reduce burnout, and foster trust and creativity within teams. You will learn practical strategies for integrating AI ethically and in a human-centered way.Key topicsAI as an enabler for human workReducing burnout through AILeadership strategies for AI integrationBuilding trust and psychological safetyUsing AI data insights for organizational changeLearn more at www.liveandworkmorehuman.com

Digital connectivity was supposed to make us faster, sharper, and more connected. Instead, it's quietly taxing the very things that make leaders effective: creativity, emotional regulation, real productivity, and trust. In this episode, Alexis unpacks "the digital leader's paradox" — the tension of needing technology to perform while it simultaneously erodes the conditions for high performance.Drawing on the article she co-wrote with Professor Martin Gutmann (Lucerne School of Business) and Dr. Scott J. Allen (SMU Cox School of Business), Alexis walks through the four hidden costs of digital distraction — creative, emotional, productive, and relational — and makes the case that this isn't a personal discipline problem. It's a culture problem. She closes with the practical shifts leaders can make to design for focus, model presence, and lead the paradox rather than pretend it can be solved with a few "no phones after 6pm" rules.In this conversation, we explore:Why digital distraction should be treated as an organisational risk, not just a personal willpower issueHow fragmented attention specifically undermines creativity and strategic thinkingWhy "always on" leadership mirrors athlete overtraining — and what happens without recovery timeThe real cost of interruptions: task-switching can cut productivity by up to 40%, and it can take over 20 minutes to recover focus after a single notificationWhat phubbing is, and how it quietly erodes trust and psychological safety on a teamFive concrete practices high-performing leaders use to protect focus and presence without unplugging from work entirelyWhy the answer isn't more discipline — it's a deliberate shift in team and organisational cultureFind more information about this topic and Alexis' article right here: https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/digital-distraction-alexis-zahner

Welcome to Brain Snacks, bite sized learning moments from Live+Work More Human. In today's Brain Snack, Dara Simkin explores the concept of achievement syndrome, its roots in early programming, and its impact on burnout and authentic living. This succinct conversation delves into systemic influences, personal identity, and strategies for fostering genuine fulfillment.Key takeawaysAchievement syndrome origins and impactSystemic influences on success and burnoutThe role of early programming and societal normsListen to the full conversation with Dara right here, and learn more at www.liveandworkmorehuman.comHappy Brain Snacking!

In this deeply honest conversation, your intrepid cohosts Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke unpack why burnout keeps rising globally despite decades of research, media coverage, and “awareness” — and why it is *never* an individual weakness or failure.Drawing on Sally’s work in burnout prevention and Alexis’s lived experiences across marketing, government, and consulting, we explore burnout as a *perfect storm* of three intertwined layers: societal narratives that glorify work and rugged individualism, organizational cultures that reward unsustainable effort while undermining autonomy, and the internalised beliefs we carry about our worth, productivity, and “being a good worker.”We explore:Why burnout is *never* a sign of personal weakness, poor time management, or not trying hard enough — and why it disproportionately impacts top performers, high‑achievers, and deeply responsible people.Burnout as a “perfect storm”: how societal, organizational, and internalised layers interact to create chronic stress and disillusionment, often in ways that are invisible until people are already burning out.The organizational drivers of burnout, from heavy workloads and poor leadership to bureaucracy, friction, and hypocrisy cultures where wellbeing messages don’t match lived reality.The slow‑burn version of burnout: when work is not just “too much” but too misaligned, too inefficient, and too full of rework — draining spirit and motivation even when you care deeply about what you do.Societal narratives that venerate work and conflating self‑worth with job title, prestige, or salary, including generational dynamics and cross‑cultural differences between places like the US, Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands.How internalised stories about being a “good worker” or a “good girl/boy/person” can keep us stuck on the hamster wheel, over‑accepting responsibility and outsourcing our values to organisations.The existential dimension of burnout: the painful gap between the career and impact we hoped for and the reality of how work feels — and why cynicism, disillusionment, and “what’s the point?” are key warning signs.Self‑knowledge as a burnout antidote: practical reflection questions to unpack where your beliefs about work came from and whether they actually align with how you want your life to look and feel.Why self‑compassion is not indulgent but essential when disentangling self‑worth from productivity, prestige, and external approval.Concrete steps leaders can take right now: friction audits with their teams, small systems changes, and genuine role modelling of healthy behaviour instead of “do as I say, not as I do.”Reframing burnout in this way is not about blaming organisations alone or bypassing personal responsibility; it’s about seeing the whole system we swim in, so we can create more courageous, honest, and sustainable ways of living and working — together.Learn more including all the links you're after and a full transcript at liveandworkmorehuman.com

Your latest Brain Snack explores the evolving relationship with aging, challenging stereotypes, and emphasizing the value of older adults in society and the workplace. Dr. Corinne Auman shares insights on internalized ageism, the benefits of aging, and how to reframe societal narratives.Key takeaways includeInternalized ageism and self-reflectionThe positive aspects of aging and personal growthSocietal narratives and media portrayal of agingLifelong learning and career transitions in older ageEmpowering older adults and challenging stereotypesListen to the full conversation with Dr Auman right here, and learn more at www.liveandworkmorehuman.comHappy Brain Snacking!

In this deeply grounding conversation, Buddhist meditation teacher and author Lodro Rinzler joins Alexis and Sally to explore why so many of us struggle to believe the simple yet radical truth: you are good, and you are enough — exactly as you are.Drawing on his new book You Are Good, You Are Enough: Free Yourself from the Trap of Doubt and Return to Basic Goodness, Lodro unpacks the “trap of doubt,” the societal whisper of not‑enoughness we internalise from childhood, and how it shapes our identities, our work lives, and our relationships. Together, we dive into the Buddhist notion of basic goodness, how shame and guilt keep us stuck in stories that aren’t true, and why reclaiming our inherent wholeness is both an act of inner revolution and a powerful antidote to capitalist narratives that insist we’re broken and must be fixed.This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like they’re fundamentally flawed, not doing or being “enough,” or trying to outrun the feeling of inadequacy through busyness, productivity, or self‑improvement.In this conversation, we explore:Why the title “You Are Good, You Are Enough” feels confronting — and why so many of us instinctively think it applies to everyone except ourselves.The “trap of doubt”: the insidious inner voice that says “if people really knew you, they wouldn’t want to…” and how we begin to loosen its grip.How societal and evolutionary conditioning fuel not‑enoughness, from the “sabre‑toothed tiger” response to modern‑day emails like “we need to talk on Friday.”The “two arrows” teaching: the unavoidable pains of life (first arrow) versus the stories and self‑judgement we layer on top (second arrow) — and why putting down the second arrow is essential for healing.What Buddhists mean by “basic goodness” and how it differs from self‑help slogans or a simplistic “good vs evil” framing.Everyday glimpses of basic goodness: the micro‑moments of okayness we can reliably touch, like closing the laptop and feeling the sun on our face, or being fully present for a hug.How capitalism and consumer culture profit from our insecurity, amplifying narratives that we’re broken and must buy our way into worthiness.Shame and guilt as powerful but often invisible forces in our lives — including Lodro’s story of carrying guilt for years over a teenage breakup and discovering the other person barely remembered it.Why “you don’t meditate to become someone else”: using meditation to interrupt harsh inner commentary, return to the breath, and build new neural pathways that support self‑trust instead of self‑attack.How recognising our own basic goodness changes our relationship with challenge, giving rise to resilience, capability, and a felt sense that “whatever comes up, I can work with it.”Extending basic goodness beyond the self: seeing goodness in other people (including those we dislike or who cause harm) and in society at large, without excusing harmful behaviour.The quiet, rebellious act of rejecting “productivity = worth” in favour of living from intrinsic value and authentic presence.Learn more about Lodro and his work at www.liveandworkmorehuman.com

In this episode, Alexis and Sal explore the “modern credibility crisis”: how information overload and algorithm-driven feeds are making it harder to sort fact from fiction. They unpack why even smart, educated people fall for bad advice online, the role of “surface credibility” (aesthetic polish, confidence, social proof, titles), and how cognitive overload nudges us toward oversimplified, tribal answers. You’ll hear practical prompts for slowing down, vetting sources, and matching your level of scrutiny to the importance of the decision—so you can navigate today’s information tsunami with more clarity and intention.Key takeaways you won't want to miss:How to navigate today’s credibility crisis with clearer thinking.Why cognitive overload pushes us toward mental shortcuts and passivity.What to know about deceptive “surface credibility” cues online.How to question whether someone’s expertise fits the topic.Why algorithms optimise for engagement, not truth or accuracy.How to match decision scrutiny to the stakes involved.What to know about echo chambers shaping your worldview.Why consuming less, higher-quality information is powerful.Learn more at liveandworkmorehuman.com and preorder Alexis' book right here.

In this insightful Brain Snack, author Christopher O Williams explores the multifaceted nature of courage, its key elements, and how to cultivate it in personal and professional life. Discover practical strategies to unmask fear, act decisively, and embody resilience to thrive in challenging situations! Key TakeawaysThe constituent elements of courage: moral compass, purpose, potential, unmasking fear, acting, growth, resilienceStrategies to interrogate and manage fearThe importance of purpose and self-confidence in courageous actsThe role of failure and resilience in personal growthThe impact of calmness and joy on courageous behaviorLearn more in our full conversation with Christopher right here, and discover more at www.liveandworkmorehuman.comHappy Brain Snacking!