Listen Now

When was the last time someone said or did something that triggered you? How did you feel – frustrated, angry, unsafe? What did you say? The chances are you reacted in one of two ways, either by shutting down, avoiding the conflict or by saying something defensive back because conflict begets conflict. In this episode, I share a story, things I am learning, and leave you with a specific action you can take right now to be able to respond rather than to react to the conflict in your most important relationships. You will be able to use your words to redirect the negative force of others towards a positive outcome. Resources mentioned: Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion Learn more about my books and courses at https://GregMcKeown.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wanted to increase your influence with someone who is really important to you? In this episode, I'll teach you a mindset shift to immediately 10x your influence with those who matter most to you. I'll also give you a tool to discover exactly what's most important and what's not significant to them. Learn more about my books and courses at https://GregMcKeown.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 2, and new version of my podcast! In this episode, I share my new and exciting mission to help you advocate and negotiate your way to remarkable results without burning out. Come with me on this journey every Tuesday and Thursday as we examine the most essential areas of our lives. Learn more about my books and courses at https://GregMcKeown.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final episode of the What's Essential podcast, my wife, Anna, interviews me about what's next in our lives, the podcast, and we invite you to join us on a new and exciting journey. Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, and Ed Simpson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like it was too late for you? That life has passed you by – that your dream is gone? Or maybe too many awful things have happened to you or you’ve made too many mistakes? In this 100th episode of the podcast, I explore these questions and teach you how to have hope again.  The most important thing is not what you have done. The most important thing is what you do next. Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, and Ed Simpson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where do you want to be in 5 years? So many of us have a difficult time answering this question. And it’s not because we don’t know what we want to do. Often it’s because we lack the clarity to know where to begin. Join me for an impromptu coaching session with actor and author Matthew McConaughey. Together we explore Matthew’s big goals for his future, define what these goals might look like, and examine possible first steps he can take toward achieving them. There is magic in this conversation. And I hope it sparks some magic for you. What's Essential Podcast Twitter Facebook Greg McKeown Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Scratch Audiohouse Instagram LinkedIn Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery and Ed Simpson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever pushed yourself past the point of exhaustion and woke up the next day completely burned out?  In this episode, I explore how setting a sustainable pace allows you to reach peak performance, not for a day, a week, or a month but your entire life. You'll learn why rest is a critical component for performing at your best and why one of the most important things high achievers can do is learn how to relax.  If you struggle with the tension of not doing enough and doing too much, then this episode is for you. Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson and Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I am joined by my friend Stephen M.R. Covey to talk about his new book, Trust & Inspire. You'll learn how the right leadership produces effortless results and relationships. For fifty years we have heard that we need to move away from "command and control" leadership. But nobody has named what we should do instead. That's what Stephen M.R. Covey boldly and brilliantly does in this episode:Trust & Inspire. Isn't that what we want? Fifty years from now nobody will speak of command and control without saying 'trust and inspire'. It's going to become a part of our language, a part of what management itself means. As a great leader himself, Stephen will, in this episode, unleash the greatness within you. You can get a copy of Trust and Inspire at your local bookstore.  Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery and Ed Simpson  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two weeks ago I shared some thoughts on "the genius of routines" and the response from listeners was off the charts. Questions poured in. In this Q&A episode, my wife Anna joins me to respond to these questions and share immediately applicable and realistic ways to apply routines in families. This podcast episode is not just for people in the c-suite: it's for parents, managers, employees: and everyone who wants to put routines to work for them in the real world. Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery and Ed Simpson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever feel like you have so many important things to do that it’s impossible to prioritize them? Even knowing where to start can be challenging. In this week’s episode, I talk with prioritization expert Dr. Bjorn Lomborg. Through his think tank, The Copenhagen Consensus, Dr. Lomborg has prioritized the most significant challenges facing the world today.  In this episode, you will learn three principles that will help you prioritize what's most important in your life and discover specific strategies you can use to make decision-making easier. Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson and Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most significant setbacks of the last few years has been the dismantling of many of our boundaries and routines. I think we have all felt this. Whether you are living out of your inbox, overwhelmed with texts and notifications, or have found yourself caught up in a zoom-eat-sleep-repeat lifestyle, it's an exhausting way to live. Join me this week to learn how you can reestablish boundaries and routines that will allow you to take back control of your calendar - and your life - making it easier to accomplish what’s most important.   What's Essential Podcast Twitter Facebook Greg McKeown Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Scratch Audiohouse Instagram LinkedIn Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson and Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever find that your mind always seems to drift from what you're doing now to something else no matter how hard you try? Well, I have some welcome news. According to Dr. Amishi Jha, Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami and author of the new book PEAK MiND, there is nothing wrong with your brain. It was built to be distractable.  In this episode, Dr. Jha shares how you can stop missing out on what's most important by training your brain to pay attention more effectively in just 12 minutes a day. What's Essential Podcast Twitter Facebook Greg McKeown Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Scratch Audiohouse Instagram LinkedIn Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery and Ed Simpson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in a noisy world by any estimation. And while we need people, we also need solitude.  This week I’m speaking with Adam Shoalts, who was named one of the “greatest living explorers” by Canadian Geographic. Adam is an author, speaker, and adventurer who has learned to tap into the rejuvenating power of solitude.  In our conversation, Adam reminds us about the importance of the solo adventure in life to reconnect with ourself and rediscover what matters most. I hope you will feel inspired to create more space than you have right now.  Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson and Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest lessons I have learned over the last few years is that you can’t design a life that really matters without a community of people who support each other. Yet too often, we try to go it alone.  In this week’s episode, Jennie Allen, author of the new book Find Your People, joins the show to discuss how you can find your people, begin to build your community a new, and plot out your life.  Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson and Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your life is anything like mine, you probably have far more problems than you can solve in one day. It’s easy to become overwhelmed.  When this happens, it is often our most important relationships that suffer.  But the good news is there is a solution. Taking just a few moments to celebrate small wins, especially with those that matter most, can change the equation in your favor.  In this episode, my wife Anna and I explore concrete ways you can reinforce good behavior at home, avoiding the temptation only to see what someone is doing wrong, and how to use microbursts of effort to improve your relationships. Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson and Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does saying no make you feel awkward? Are you worried about missing out on an opportunity? Or are you fearful of rocking the boat? In this episode, I’m talking about practical ways to make saying no easier and sharing simple strategies you can use to deliver a graceful no.  Learning to say no takes practice. But once you’ve mastered it, you will find you can handle almost any request from almost anybody with grace and dignity.  What's Essential Podcast Twitter Facebook Greg McKeown Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Scratch Audiohouse Instagram LinkedIn Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson and Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How often have you heard someone say they want to live their life with no regrets? Our society often teaches us that a successful life is one lived without regrets. But in his new book The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward, best-selling author Dan Pink offers a different perspective. Regret, he suggests, is a valuable raw material that allows us to learn from our mistakes and make the imperfect more perfect.  In this week's episode, Dan shares five counterintuitive ways you can use regret to your advantage and design a life that really matters.  What's Essential Podcast Twitter Facebook Greg McKeown Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Scratch Audiohouse Instagram LinkedIn Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson and Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How well are you listening to your life?  Truly listening is one of the greatest gifts you can give. And we can all get better at doing it. That’s why I invited Ximena Vengoechea, author of Listen Like You Mean It, to join me on this week’s episode of the What’s Essential podcast.  In our conversation, we explore how becoming a better listener will make your life better. And Ximena shares ideas on how you can reclaim genuine connection in our age of distraction.  Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery, Ed Simpson and Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m talking with my friend, entrepreneur, and television star Rob Dyrdek.  Every time I speak with Rob, I leave with a clearer view of what it takes to get to a completely different level in my life.  The secret Rob has learned that allows him to be so successful is that not all effort is created equal. Rob has carefully designed his life around systems that deliver effortless results today, tomorrow, and forever.  Join us as Rob shares how you can build systems in your life that will allow you to reap residual results.  Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery and Ed Simpson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How clear are you on what’s essential in your life right now?  Pretty clear? Really clear? Completely lost and overwhelmed? Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, becoming clear on what’s most important will help you find purpose and direction in your life.  In this episode, I discuss how you can gain greater clarity by creating an essential intent. And I share the simple structure I use to create my own essential intent.  What's Essential Podcast Twitter Facebook Greg McKeown Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Scratch Audiohouse Instagram LinkedIn Credits: Hosted by Greg McKeown Produced by Greg McKeown and Scratch Audiohouse Executive Produced by Greg McKeown, Brent Montgomery and Ed Simpson Produced by Derrial Christon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices