WorkLife at Home

Remote working is pretty clearly the way forward for many of us. Even once we're fully re-opened — and many countries are still struggling — people and companies have discovered the benefits of working from home. It's not right for everyone, obviously. But it's right for a lot of us. And managing remote teams effectively will be a critical skill for leaders everywhere. Lucasz Szyrmer is the au...

Even after this pandemic is over and things return to "normal" — whatever that ends up looking like — many, many of us will still be working from home. And managers will have to figure out how to build strong, connected teams of folks who are located... well...everywhere and anywhere. Kate Gigax is a certified Executive Coach, facilitator, and the founder of Development Corps, a group that hel...

If you're trying to make a difference in the world and nobody's noticing, maybe what you need are the skills of a Hype Artist. The hustlers, the cult leaders, the promoters all have something to teach us about human psychology and how to connect with people emotionally. Whether you're starting a band or a company, whether you want to advance your ideas or your career, understanding hype can be...

World renowned artist David Hockney has a special way of working at home, and a special home in Normandy where he can do it every day — at age 83. Hockney is inspired, creative and incredibly productive. This feature story about him by Barbara Isenberg deserved to be shared. So I did — in this special bonus episode.

When you work from home (or anywhere else) your time is your most valuable resource. Using it badly can lead to frustration and even depression. And using it well can change your life. John Sindelar, is CEO of Seedcode and the creator of DayBack, a system for managing your calendar and reclaiming your day. John talks with us about where this idea came from, how it's being used, and how it can h...

Way back before the pandemic, before Zoom, before LinkedIn, the ad agency Chiat/Day (creators of the infamous "1984" spot that introduced the Apple Macintosh) figured working virtually was a viable way to run a company. Zach Rosenberg was on the task force that declared working from home — or from anywhere for that matter — was the future of advertising, and figured out to how to make it work. ...

When you work remotely, it's easy to become invisible. In a world of Zoom calls and emails, it's harder to have an impact on your organization. It's harder to bond with your boss and your co-workers. It's harder to get noticed and valued. But not impossible. Leah Ryder writes extensively about working remotely. As the Brand & Content Marketing Lead at Trello, her distributed team manages fiv...

Working from home during a pandemic isolates you from your friends, your family and your community. If you’re a spiritual leader, how do you keep your flock thriving? Mike Moses is founder and lead pastor of Lake Forest Church, a self-described rock ’n roll congregation. Raised in the South, he was in LA during the Rodney King verdict riots, and that shaped a lot of his work and his focus on ju...

Working from home can be a welcome change, but it can also be hard on the psyche. In this episode, mental health expert Nikki Lee offers insights and recommendations for those of us who may be feeling isolated, stuck, frustrated or simply bored out of our minds. Our conversation is full of good advice, resources and empathy. Kids? Spouses? Partners? Whether you're a despondent extrovert who mis...

Remote learning? Budget cuts? How are our schools coping? Linda Greenberg lives at the nexus of parents, teachers and administrators. As head of the Santa Monica Education Foundation, she hears both the complaints and the solutions — while her nonprofit raises millions of dollars to support education. How can she do all that from home? Listen and find out.

Love movies? Me, too. And you’ve probably seen the campaigns that promote them during Oscar season. Which means you’ve seen Andrew Stachler’s work. High pressure creativity. Near-instant turnaround. Teams in the U.S. Manila and Buenos Aires. How can they do that while working from home? Listen and find out.

What happens when disaster strikes your community and the local workers lose their jobs? If you’re one of my oldest friends, Ron Blitzer, you roll up your sleeves and raise $180,000 in 5 days. From home, of course. Find out how this serial entrepreneur and I first went into business together, and how he started his international operation from an office over his garage. We talk about fund-raisi...

One of the most successful social media content studios in the country is run by Seth Sliver from his home high in the mountains above Los Angeles. Social Control is the go-to social content resource for some of the nation's biggest ad agencies, getting attention for brands like AT&T, Coca-Cola, Honda, Shell, Panera, Ford and Cisco. Find out why he thinks that all agencies should be run virtual...

How do you run a 300-person team from your desk at home? And how does that team manage to function during this crazy time? Erika Abrams, lately of Encore VFX, has some answers. Her take on the weirdness of Zoom meetings, the need for empathy coupled with clarity, and the changing landscape for people of color makes for a fascinating — and far-reaching — conversation.

How do you sell learning systems on four continents while managing a remote team — all from home? Adam and I discuss that and more in a deep dive into online education, home schooling, coping with time differences and learning from video games. Find out why he's getting rid of their offices and committing the whole team to working from home full time.

How do you teach a hands-on university class from home? Especially when you’re a self-professed “ink and paper” guy? David Mayes shares the trials and tribulations of a sudden transition, all while holding down his day job as a printing rep from his home office. We talk about the museum show he mounted, his networking experience, sneaking back to the office, and the long walks that keep him sane.

What happens to open houses when everyone’s locked down? Paul Small talks with us about social media, video walking tours, the 5 AM Club and the value of finding the One Thing. Then we contemplate the roles of artists and agents in enriching the world. Not your usual episode!

Patrice Varni shares her workout obsession, her working setup, her love of teams and her enviable quarantine by the lake. All in service of her transition from corporate exec to home-based entrepreneur.

Patrick Fredrickson talks with us about managing a creative team — while managing to home-school his 9-year old son. We discuss the post-virus future, maintaining professionalism, and the value of boredom.

Gabe Freeman is a 26-year-old User Experience Researcher who started at Facebook late last year, after having worked in a conventional office at a B2B software company. All was well. But now he has to work from home, along with three roommates! We talk about how he's adapted, how he's staying sane, and how he keeps Zoom conferences looking professional while working from (gulp) his bedroom.

Wondering what WorkLife at Home is all about? Here's a quick answer. And you can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.