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Back to Work - Podcast

Back to Work

Back to Work is an award winning talk show with Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin discussing productivity, communication, work, barriers, constraints, tools, and more.

Society & Culture Careers Creativity Business Technology
Update frequency
every 8 days
Average duration
83 minutes
Episodes
643
Years Active
2011 - 2024
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Episode 243: The Device at Hand

Episode 243: The Device at Hand

TOPIC: It's Business All the Way Down.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about joys and frustrations of contemporary consumer technologies. So great yet so frustrating. So powerful yet so hobbled. It's…

01:35:05  |   Tue 20 Oct 2015
Episode 242: Not My Bird

Episode 242: Not My Bird

TOPIC: Procrastination is a life sentence.

This week, after some high-level discussion on the topics of Marvel and media reduxes, Dan and Merlin (maaaaybe) wrap up their initial and very positive im…

01:33:26  |   Wed 14 Oct 2015
Episode 241: We Went to Princeton

Episode 241: We Went to Princeton

TOPIC: iOS Amazement

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about Dan's new iPad Air 2 and continue their discussion of how much iOS 9 on modern devices is already changing how we do our work.

Also, some n…

01:38:40  |   Tue 06 Oct 2015
Episode 240: The Third Phase Is Now

Episode 240: The Third Phase Is Now

TOPIC: Speed, Reliability, and Expectations

This episode, Dan and Merlin talk about this week's massive leaps forward with the pairing of iOS 9 and iPhone 6s.

Links for this episode:

01:43:18  |   Tue 29 Sep 2015
Episode 239: Starving African Child

Episode 239: Starving African Child

TOPIC: Block! Block! Body blow! Uppercut!

This week, Dan and Merlin talk less about ad-blocking and more about what kind-of feels like (but might not actually be) a point of change for web advertisi…

01:49:28  |   Wed 23 Sep 2015
Episode 238: A 100-Year Problem

Episode 238: A 100-Year Problem

TOPIC: Knowing what you'll need to know.

This week, Dan and Merlin answer a listener question about how the "slow your roll" thought technology can apply to learning new skills.

Links for this epis…

01:55:53  |   Tue 15 Sep 2015
Episode 237: Slow Your Roll

Episode 237: Slow Your Roll

TOPIC: Stop that train!

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about some ideas for noticing and then battling the surfeits of negative thought that sometimes threaten to overrun us.

Also: talk of a cool n…

01:38:23  |   Tue 08 Sep 2015
Episode 236: Finished for Now

Episode 236: Finished for Now

TOPIC: Practice, practice, practice.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the perilous wonders of practice of all kinds.

Links for this episode:

01:35:01  |   Tue 01 Sep 2015
Episode 235: This is a Thing

Episode 235: This is a Thing

TOPIC: Losing hit points.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the stuff you have to do to stay healthy and well—and the rocky path to realizing when you have to actually "make it a thing."

There's…

01:22:57  |   Tue 25 Aug 2015
Episode 234: Two Inches Behind the Board

Episode 234: Two Inches Behind the Board

TOPIC: Compensatory muscles

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about how much emotions can become like physical injuries—and what happens when we try to overcompensate for either.

Links for this episod…

01:41:45  |   Tue 18 Aug 2015
Episode 233: Emotional Density

Episode 233: Emotional Density

TOPIC: Can I ask you a question?

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the complexities of communicating effectively via email. They also begin to sketch out a unified field theory for escalating com…

01:19:49  |   Tue 11 Aug 2015
Episode 232: You Got This.

Episode 232: You Got This.

TOPIC: Don't just be the meatbag in the room.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about "the fill-in guy," TV shows they're loving, listener feedback, improving presentations, The Smiths, the evolution o…

01:53:54  |   Wed 05 Aug 2015
Episode 231: Hot Rod Hospital Ship

Episode 231: Hot Rod Hospital Ship

With Merlin on sabbatical (returning next week), Dan is once again joined by John Roderick. They discuss the significance of dreams, sleep paralysis, unexplained phenomenon, alien abductions, a relat…

01:58:37  |   Tue 28 Jul 2015
Episode 230: My Emotional Reservoir

Episode 230: My Emotional Reservoir

With Merlin on sabbatical, Dan is joined by John Roderick to talk about being a candidate, taking care of yourself, managing introversion, trying on ideas without fear, the Thirty Years War, and the …

02:08:32  |   Tue 21 Jul 2015
Episode 229: Shrimp in the Desert

Episode 229: Shrimp in the Desert

TOPIC: The perils and joys of just getting started.

This week's episode is chockablock with awesomeness, from the sublime to the ridiculous. It ends on a very inspiring note. But, en route:

  • Mexica…
01:32:52  |   Tue 14 Jul 2015
Episode 228: Tibet's Next Top Buddha

Episode 228: Tibet's Next Top Buddha

TOPIC: What kind of "perfect" can you tolerate?

This week, Dan and Merlin have a big week. A huge week.

Opening with a thank you to generous listeners, the boys then proceed to tackle some FU on th…

01:18:29  |   Tue 07 Jul 2015
Episode 227: The Treasure Room

Episode 227: The Treasure Room

TOPIC: Learning to shut up and relax.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the challenges and benefits of getting out of your own head.

Links for this episode:

01:21:46  |   Tue 30 Jun 2015
Episode 226: Only Child*

Episode 226: Only Child*

TOPIC: Hitting and sharing and dietetic lunch.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about having and not having siblings (and what it may or may not actually mean) as well as addressing some of the rapid …

01:25:20  |   Tue 23 Jun 2015
Episode 225: A Different Kind of Happy

Episode 225: A Different Kind of Happy

TOPIC: You can't have ALL the phone calls.

This week, Dan and Merlin battle Skype to talk about Dan't hissing floor, text editing on iOS, plus more followup on WWDC announcements.

Spotlight on a se…

01:30:50  |   Tue 16 Jun 2015
Episode 224: Sugar Pills and a Pack of Cigarettes

Episode 224: Sugar Pills and a Pack of Cigarettes

TOPIC: Poundsign Communication

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about evolutions in how we do and don't communicate with each other.

Links for this episode:

01:52:15  |   Tue 09 Jun 2015
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