PPP 484 | Coping with Digital Overwhelm Without Logging Off, with author Craig Mattson
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Release Date: 11/21/2025
PPP 494 | How to Stay Poised When Everything Starts to Slip, with author Andrew Wittman
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Andrew Wittman, former Marine, police officer, federal agent, and leadership coach, about his new book . If you lead projects and teams, you already know pressure is coming. The real question is what you do when it arrives. Andrew explains why the brain can work against you under stress, and how the questions you ask yourself shape the options you can see. You’ll learn the Two Minute Rule and how it can help you shift from “we can’t” thinking into problem-solving mode. Andy and Andrew also explore how filters and assumptions influence what...
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PPP 493 | How to Future-Prep Your PM Career with AI Tools and Critical Skills, with Olivia Montgomery
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Olivia Montgomery, Associate Principal Analyst at Capterra and a PMP. They discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping project management tools, skills, and expectations. Olivia brings a rare perspective, combining hands-on experience leading a PMO with years of research into how organizations evaluate, adopt, and struggle with project management software. Olivia and Andy explore why buying AI-powered tools is often easy, but realizing real value from them is much harder. Olivia explains the shift from buying software based on seat count to buying...
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PPP 492 | The Hidden Costs of Hybrid Teams, with Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh, co-authors of . In a world still grappling with virtual work, Peter and Ranya challenge us to take a fresh look at the workplace. Not just where we do work, but how that space shapes learning, culture, visibility, and performance. In this conversation, you’ll hear what gets lost when teams are always virtual, why hybrid work often underdelivers, and how proximity plays a surprising role in mentoring, innovation, and even career progression. Peter and Ranya explore how organizational culture shifts when people are...
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PPP 491 | What a Children’s Book Can Teach Leaders About Fear, with former news anchor Lynn Smith
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Lynn Smith, former NBC News, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News anchor, executive communication coach, and author of . Lynn is best known for helping Fortune 500 leaders turn pressure into presence, but her newest book takes an unexpected form: a children’s story about fear, resilience, and perseverance. That surprising choice is exactly what makes this conversation so relevant for leaders. Andy and Lynn explore why the same fears that stop CEOs are often the ones that show up in kids, how our inner critic or “Brain Bully” shapes behavior under...
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PPP 490 | Why Psychology Might Be Hurting Your Team, with Barry Wolfe
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Barry Wolfe, author of . Barry is a seasoned HR executive and business leader who has built a reputation as one of the rare “HR guys who actually has a head for business.” In this frank and eye-opening conversation, Barry challenges many of the tools and ideas we’ve come to rely on in leadership and management. Andy and Barry discuss why frameworks like Maslow’s hierarchy may be doing more harm than good, how personality assessments can become limiting narratives, and why our obsession with “fit” often backfires. But this isn’t just a...
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PPP 489 | Blindspots That Derail Project Managers and How To See Them, with author Marty Dubin
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Martin Dubin, psychologist, former CEO, executive coach, and author of . Marty brings a rare combination of clinical insight and real-world leadership experience to a topic that affects every project manager and frontline leader: the blindspots that quietly shape our behavior, decisions, and impact. Together, the discussion explores how motives often drive our actions without us realizing it, why strengths can become liabilities when overused, and how emotion acts as one of the most powerful and least discussed forces in leadership. Marty explains his...
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PPP 488 | How to Be a Less Terrible Boss, with Joel Hilchey
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Joel Hilchey, speaker, facilitator, and author of . Joel brings humor, honesty, and a refreshing amount of grace to a topic many leaders quietly struggle with: becoming a boss without training, preparation, or a clear roadmap. Andy and Joel explore what it really means to be an “accidental boss” and why most bad bosses are not bad people. They unpack the four quadrants every leader must balance: tasks vs. people and short-term vs. long-term, and why focusing only on tasks can quietly erode trust and engagement. You’ll hear practical ideas for...
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PPP 487 | Why Humor Is a Serious Leadership Skill, with comedian Adam Christing
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with comedian and corporate emcee Adam Christing, author of . If you have ever hesitated to use humor at work because you were unsure it would land, or worried it might backfire, this conversation offers both encouragement and a practical path forward. Adam shares how his early influences shaped his approach to humor and why he believes every human is also a “humor being.” You will hear why humor is more than chasing chuckles, including how it can build trust, improve learning, and strengthen relationships on teams. Adam introduces the concept of "laugh...
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PPP 486 | How to Solve Some of the Toughest Leadership Problems, with business coach Dr. Katie Best
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Katie Best, leadership coach and author of . Drawing on years of coaching leaders across industries, Katie shares practical insights that help you tackle high-stakes leadership moments—especially when a coach isn't available. They explore Katie’s SOLVE framework for problem-solving under pressure, the danger of performative busyness, and how to make better decisions when trade-offs and uncertainty rule the day. You’ll also hear how to unlock authentic influence without manipulation, foster healthy debate on overly “nice” teams, and support...
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PPP 485 | What Project Teams Can Learn From Sketch Comedy, with author John Krewson
People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with John Krewson, co-author of . John’s journey spans software development, acting, and even a stint with Saturday Night Live. He now leads Sketch Development, where he helps teams build products people actually want, faster and with more joy. In this conversation, John explains why project teams should behave more like creative troupes than traditional org charts. You’ll hear how laughter can be a feedback loop, why messy first drafts matter, and how simple tools like sticky notes, Elmo cards, and Lean Coffee can radically improve your team’s...
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In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Craig Mattson, professor of communication and author of Digital Overwhelm: A Mid-Career Guide to Coping at Work. Rather than encouraging digital detoxing or escaping technology, Craig offers a refreshing way to understand and navigate the pressures of modern work. He introduces the idea of digiwhelm, explains why so much of our stress comes from the communication modes we inhabit, and shows how leaders can respond with intention rather than overload.
You will hear Craig describe why email can be more than information transfer, how mode switching differs from context switching, and why one-way communication sometimes matters more than dialogue. Craig also shares why signals like silence, gestures, and tone often communicate more than words. Before closing, he draws connections to life at home, offering ideas for families that feel overwhelmed by devices and demands.
If you are looking for practical insights to reduce digital overwhelm, improve communication, and lead with greater clarity and calm, this episode is for you!
Sound Bites
- "Instead of digital minimalism, I recommend something like digital flexibility."
- "Humans are essentially users and switchers of modes."
- "What is going to be the defining overwhelm of my life?"
- "You are always overwhelmed by something."
- "Flexibility is the wisdom that my book is urging."
- "Your words do things."
- "Think about the voice of the email."
- "A mode is an approach, it is a posture, it is a way of relating."
- "Is there a way in which this is actually good for me and actually good for other people?"
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:33 Start of Interview
- 01:42 Early Life and Influences
- 02:57 Growing Up with Technology
- 04:11 What is Digiwhelm?
- 06:26 How Does It Compare to Overload?
- 08:35 The Impact of a David Ford Quote
- 10:34 Understanding Mode Switching
- 16:20 A Day in Communication Modes
- 22:04 Email as Conversation
- 24:29 Writing Email Like You Talk
- 27:24 Dissemination in Practice
- 32:00 Signals Leaders Should Notice
- 39:00 Coping with Digiwhelm at Home
- 43:04 End of Interview
- 43:44 Andy Comments After the Interview
- 48:14 Outtakes
Learn More
You can learn more about Craig and his work at DigitalOverwhelm.com.
For more learning on this topic, check out:
- Episode 144 with Cal Newport. Craig references Cal's book Deep Work in Digital Overwhelm, making this a great companion conversation.
- Episode 269 with Nir Eyal, about his book Indistractable. Nir shares insights about shaping your day to be less distracted.
- Episode 377 with Cassie Holmes, about her book Happier Hour. It is not only about managing your time but focusing on what really matters.
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Talent Triangle: Power Skills
Topics: Digital Overwhelm, Leadership, Communication, Project Management, Email Effectiveness, Team Culture, Listening Skills, Collaboration, Productivity, Decision Making, Stakeholder Engagement, Psychological Safety
The following music was used for this episode:
Music: Echo by Alexander Nakarada
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Music: Energetic Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license