Ben Elijah, author of The Productivity Habits, joins Brett to talk about productivity, creativity, and solving the long-time question of “contexts” in the “Getting Things Done” philosophy.
154: A Rational Basis with Sean Schbley
Sean Schbley joins Brett for an enlightening discussion about the history of religion and politics in the Middle East.
153: Hidden Delight with Jeff Highsmith
Jeff Highsmith joins Brett to talk about his experiences building installations for a children’s museum, and how an outdoorsman had robotic tinkering become both a hobby and a job.
152: Ace in the Hole with Jillian Armenante
TV and film Actor/Director Jillian Armenante (Judging Amy, North Country, Fresh Off The Boat) joins Brett to talk about life as an actor, projects that range from her start in the industry to the present (Kittens in a Cage), Rock and Roll, and the finer points of low-tech Holiday decorations.
151: Compete to Relax with Steve Lambert
Steve Lambert talks with Brett about self control (the act and the app), things that work on paper (but not in the real world), and the importance of activism.
150: Building Core Memories with Georgia Dow
Georgia Dow takes on many roles in many fields: psychotherapist, Brazilian Jiujitsu badass, technology writer, and multi-podcaster. She and Brett discuss martial arts, accepting the importance of negative emotions, and they unpack the complexity of Georgia’s reaction to Pixar’s Inside Out.
149: Pants-Leg Intimate with Gerry Hayes
Gerry Hayes repairs and designs guitars, and has recently published Sketchy Setups, a book about setting up specific instruments. He and Brett talk about guitars, writing, and personal touch.
148: Ten Jokes Out of a Thousand with David Wain
Writer/actor/director/producer/return guest David Wain is back for his third appearance on Systematic. He reveals secrets (or not) about Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, updates us on his standard workflow tools, and endorses the use of phanton children as a GTD device.
147: Building Systems with Glenn Fleishman
Glenn Fleishman is a writer, former Jeopardy! champion, and autodidact. Since an early age, he’s been very aware that he has “story bones”. He and Brett (unintentionally) discuss the power of deadlines and different types of currency: monetary systems built by children, cryptocurrency, and the not-so-common currency shared by their respective minds.
146: Shower Evolution with Brad Go
Brett talks romance, serendipity, and getting out of your comfort zone to become more comfortable (no really) with Hush Project creator and musician Brad Go. Get ready to appreciate different varieties of showers.
145: Adjectives Not Verbs with Sarah Johnson
Sarah Johnson is/isn’t/is sort-of a mental health therapist and consultant working out what answering “what do you do” really involves.
144: Resident Neuropsychologist with Howard Buddin
Neuropsychologist Howard Buddin makes his third appearance on the show, but for the first time, he’s doing so having made the move to private practice. He and Brett discuss those challenges, Brett’s changes in his own self-care, music, and Howard’s appointment to a permanent post on the show.
143: Love Actuarilly with Eddie Smith
An episode about brainstorming and notetaking? It seems like it was meant to be. Eddie Smith shares how mind mapping and other tools work into his daily life, at work, and at play.
142: Birds and Bones with Rich Siegel
Rich Siegel talks with Brett about the origins of BBEdit (going back to 1989), marrying into birds, and the equal importance of engineering and art in your work.
141: Spare Spare Time with Aaron Mahnke
Aaron Mahnke makes the recently launched podcast Lore in addition to working as a designer and writer. He and Brett discuss Aaron’s various projects (especially Lore) as well as their mutual introductions to the horror genre, Stephen King novels and otherwise.