Libsyn Directory

Productivity Breakthroughs With Liane Davey - TWMJ #1046

Release Date: 07/26/2026

High Performing Teams With Ron Friedman - TWMJ #1058

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1058 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). is an award-winning social psychologist, bestselling author, and expert on the science of high performance (he’s also a personal friend). His previous books, and , explored how organizations can create better workplaces and how individuals can learn from the world's most successful performers. Now, in his new book, , Ron turns his attention to a deceptively simple question: What separates extraordinary teams from everyone else? Drawing on research involving thousands of professionals across...

How Change Really Works With Julia Dhar - TWMJ #1057

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1057 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). is a leading voice in behavioral science and organizational transformation, and the founder of the at . A three-time Champion and known for her work on productive disagreement, Julia has spent much of her career exploring a deceptively simple question: Why do organizations invest so much time, money, and human potential in change... only to fail so often? In her new book, , co-authored with and , she challenges the conventional wisdom that people are naturally resistant to change. Instead, she argues...

The Human Side Of Business With Mike Michalowicz - TWMJ #1056

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1056 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). has spent much of his career trying to solve a problem he describes simply: eradicating entrepreneurial poverty. As the bestselling author of and numerous other books on entrepreneurship and business, Mike has built a body of work around challenging conventional wisdom and finding practical systems that work with human behavior rather than against it. He's also an old friend, which means our conversations have a tendency to wander into some unexpected places... and this one certainly does. His latest...

Axios And The Art Of Simplification With Roy Schwartz - TWMJ #1055

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1055 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). is the co-founder of and CEO of , where he has helped redefine how organizations communicate in an age of information overload. Before launching Axios alongside and , Roy helped build into one of the most influential political news organizations in the world. Today, Axios reaches millions of readers through its distinctive format, while Axios HQ helps some of the world's largest organizations communicate more clearly and effectively. In his new book, , Roy argues that our biggest challenge isn't a...

Creating The Apple Store And Reinventing Retail With Ron Johnson - TWMJ #1054

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1054 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). is one of the most influential retail innovators of the modern era. Best known for creating the (alongside ), he helped redefine what a physical store could be, transforming retail from a place that simply sold products into a destination centered on service, learning, and human connection. Before , Ron helped reshape 's merchandising strategy through groundbreaking designer collaborations, and later served as CEO of during one of the industry's most ambitious retail transformations (and it did not go...

Great Companies With Eric Ries - TWMJ #1053

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1053 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). is one of the most influential entrepreneurs and management thinkers of the past two decades. Best known as the creator of the movement, his ideas fundamentally changed how founders, innovators, and established organizations build products, test ideas, and bring innovation to market. His work has shaped startups, Fortune 500 companies, governments, and nonprofits around the world, earning him recognition as one of the defining voices on modern entrepreneurship. In his latest book, , Eric turns his...

The Power Of Brands With Lifang He - TWMJ #1052

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1052 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). has spent more than two decades helping some of the world's most influential technology companies build products that people don't just use... they love. A global brand strategist and product marketing leader, she has led branding, go-to-market, and growth initiatives for companies including , , and . During her time at Apple's longtime creative agency, , she helped shape global launches, giving her a front-row seat to one of the most successful product introductions in history. Her new book, , argues...

Data Inspired With Sebastian Wernicke - TWMJ #1051

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1051 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). has built his career at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, economics, and decision-making. He leads the Data Science and AI team at , one of Europe's leading economics consultancies, and has become widely recognized for his ability to make complex ideas about data both accessible and deeply human. Many people first encountered Sebastian through his memorable , which cleverly used data to satirize TED Talks themselves, but his work has always been driven by a much bigger question:...

Navigating Future Shock With Fredric Marshall - TWMJ #1050

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1050 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). has spent decades helping people navigate change. An entrepreneur, investor in AI startups, CEO of , and advisor on leadership and transformation, he has watched multiple waves of technological disruption unfold from the inside. His latest book, , revisits 's famous concept of "" and argues that today's anxiety isn't a personal failing... it's the predictable result of living through an era where change, information, and technological progress are arriving faster than most people can absorb. In this...

AI Mindsets With Farid Mheir - TWMJ #1049

Thinking With Mitch Joel

Welcome to episode #1049 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). has spent four decades at the intersection of engineering, business strategy, and digital transformation. Trained as a microelectronics engineer, he helped pioneer online grocery commerce with in the mid-1990s before building e-commerce platforms for major retailers across North America and Europe. Today, through his , and as a faculty member at the , Farid advises executives on AI strategy and organizational transformation. His new book, , distills decades of experience into thirty-one practical...

More Episodes

Welcome to episode #1046 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation).

Dr. Liane Davey has spent her career helping leaders and teams perform at their best. As an organizational psychologist, bestselling author, trusted advisor to companies around the world and dear friend, she has long explored what separates high-performing teams from those that quietly struggle beneath the surface. Her latest book, Thoughtload - Manage The Madness And Free Your Team To Do Great Work, introduces a deceptively simple but powerful idea: the biggest challenge facing today's organizations isn't workload... it's thoughtload. While most leaders focus on reducing tasks and increasing productivity, Liane argues that the real drain on performance comes from the invisible cognitive, emotional, and energetic burden people carry every day. In this conversation, we explore why organizations have become obsessed with measuring outputs instead of outcomes, how constant urgency creates the illusion of productivity while undermining effectiveness, and why many of today's workplace frustrations... from endless meetings to return-to-office debates to AI-generated "work slop"... are symptoms of a much deeper problem. We also discuss what thoughtful leadership looks like in an era of intelligent machines, why collaboration breaks down when people are cognitively overloaded, and how AI might eventually become a tool for reducing thoughtload rather than amplifying it. More than a conversation about burnout or workplace wellness, this is a discussion about attention, focus, judgment, and what it will take to build organizations where people can once again do their very best work. Liane is also the author of You First and The Good Fight and have been a guest of this show countless times. Enjoy the conversation...

Running time: 51:58.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.
Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.
Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel.
Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn.
Check out ThinkersOne.
Here is my conversation with Dr. Liane Davey.
Thoughtload - Manage The Madness And Free Your Team To Do Great Work.
The Good Fight.
You First.
Follow Liane on LinkedIn.
Follow Liane on Instagram.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Understanding Thoughtload.
(02:46) - The Productivity Trap.
(05:56) - Measuring Outputs vs. Outcomes.
(09:00) - The Role of Management in Work Value.
(12:02) - Identifying Worthwhile Work.
(15:00) - Managing Thought Load Effectively.
(17:50) - The Impact of Office Environment on Thoughtload.
(21:09) - Navigating the Return to Office.
(24:11) - The Future of Work and Thoughtload.
(27:10) - Navigating Work Culture and Diversity.
(27:57) - Attention Span and Modern Content Consumption.
(30:08) - The Illusion of Speed in Work.
(32:13) - Thoughtload and Workplace Dynamics.
(35:12) - The Impact of AI on Work and Thoughtload.
(38:58) - Prioritization in the Age of AI.
(43:05) - Collaboration Challenges and Thoughtload.
(45:59) - AI as a Tool for Managing Thoughtload.
(48:00) - The Cost of Being You and Personal Reflection.

TOPICS