If you’re aiming for a promotion this year, here’s a slightly awkward thought: the skills that got you here might not be the ones that get you there.

Work is shifting fast. Not incrementally. Fundamentally. And according to LinkedIn data, around 70% of the skills we’ll need over the next five years are about to change.

In this episode, I sit down with bestselling author of Work Backwards, Tim Duggan, to unpack the five skills that are becoming disproportionately valuable right now.

Tim has identified five capabilities that are becoming increasingly valuable: judgment, storytelling, collaborative intelligence, unlearning, and conflict management.

We explore what each of these really looks like in practice, why they matter more than ever in the age of AI, and how to start building at least one of them straight away.

Tim and I discuss:

• Why judgment is becoming a critical skill as AI produces more work for us

• How to strengthen your judgment muscle, even without decades of experience

• Practical tools I use, like pre-mortems and avoiding “whether or not” decisions

• Why storytelling roles are on the rise and how to make your ideas stick

• A simple framework for better stories

• What collaborative intelligence really means and how to work with AI without outsourcing your brain

• How Tim uses AI as a research partner

• The true cost of workplace conflict and why avoiding it is not a strategy

• The one tiny word that can completely change how you handle conflict

Key quotes

“This is a skill that would not have existed two years ago.”

“Pick one skill, try one small shift.”

Connect with Tim Duggan on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn and his website, read his column at The Sydney Morning Herald, and check out his latest book Work Backwards.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Job hunting can feel like a full-time job in itself. Scrolling listings, second-guessing roles, and trying to stand out in a sea of applications. In this How I AI episode, we walk through how AI can quietly take some of that invisible work off your plate without doing the thinking for you.

We talk through how AI can support you at each stage of the job search. From spotting roles that never make it onto LinkedIn or Seek, to getting a clearer picture of what a company is really like, and making sense of job ads that feel fuzzy or overcomplicated.

We also cover how to use AI to strengthen your cover letter and CV without losing your own voice, and how it can help you prepare for interviews by practicing questions and refining your answers.

Neo and I discuss

• How scheduled AI searches can monitor company job pages and surface hidden roles

• Using AI to research companies through annual reports, industry context, and social chatter

• What AI can and cannot realistically find on platforms like Reddit and Glassdoor

• How to use AI to decode job ads and understand what the role actually looks like day to day

• Why the strongest cover letters still start with your own words

• Using AI to critique and tailor your CV without rewriting your experience

• How AI can help you prepare for interviews by generating questions and giving feedback

• Practising interview answers using voice or dictation mode for extra confidence

Download the Job Application Pro GPT:

https://amantha-imber.kit.com/09db426fdd

Connect with Neo Aplin on LinkedIn and via inventium.ai, where he leads Inventium’s AI training and upskilling work with organisations and teams.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials:
Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every week there’s a new study telling us what not to eat.

Coffee is bad. Eggs are dangerous. Spinach blocks nutrients. Or so we’re told.

Add in cholesterol numbers, preventative scans, detox trends and a constant stream of “toxic” food warnings online, and it’s easy to start second-guessing what’s on your plate.

Eating was never meant to feel this stressful. So I sat down with Dr Joanna McMillan - nutrition scientist, dietitian, author of The Fibre Factor, and one of Australia’s most trusted voices in evidence-based nutrition to cut through the noise.

Joanna has spent decades translating complex research into practical advice, and she brings much-needed sanity to the way we think about food and health.

If you’ve ever panicked over a blood test result, felt unsure about whether to book another scan, or wondered who to trust when it comes to nutrition advice, this conversation will steady you.

Joanna and I discuss:

• The risk of becoming part of the “worried well” and over-testing your health

• The big ticket preventative checks Joanna prioritises at milestone ages

• What a coronary calcium score is and when it might be useful

• Why full body MRI scans may not be the smartest health investment

• The biggest nutrition myths circulating online, including anti-plant rhetoric

• Joanna’s core eating philosophy as a plant-rich omnivore

• Why diversity of fibre matters more than just soluble vs insoluble

• What actually happens in your gut when you suddenly double your fibre intake

• The supplements Joanna personally takes and how to assess supplement quality

• Why joy at mealtimes might be one of the most underrated health habits

Key quotes

“There is a risk of overdoing it. We talk about the worried well, and sometimes you can become so worried about your health, you forget about celebrating the things that are good.”

“Your body, given the right tools, does detox beautifully all by itself.”

Connect with Dr Joanna McMillan on Instagram, LinkedIn, and her website, and check out her latest book The Fibre Factor.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doctor and specialist appointments are expensive, time-limited, and often overwhelming. It’s easy to walk in underprepared and walk out wishing you’d asked better questions or understood more of what was said.

We talk through how we use AI to prepare for doctor and specialist appointments so the time is spent on diagnosis and solutions, not rambling explanations or missed details. We cover how to use AI to get your medical story clear and concise, make sense of test results before an appointment, and walk in with smarter questions.

We also talk about privacy considerations and the tools we use to record and transcribe appointments so nothing important gets lost.

Neo and I discuss

• How to use AI to turn a rambling health story into a short, clear summary for your doctor

• Using voice and dictation tools to “talk it out” with AI before an appointment

• Asking AI to interview you and identify gaps in your medical story

• Making sense of blood test results and medical terms before you see the doctor

• Why AI should help you understand results, not diagnose you

• Using AI to prepare better, more targeted questions for your appointment

• Privacy tips for using AI with medical information, including de-identifying data

• Recording appointments so you don’t miss critical information

• Tools we use to record, transcribe, and review doctor consultations

Connect with Neo Aplin on LinkedIn and via inventium.ai, where he leads Inventium’s AI training and upskilling work with organisations and teams.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials:
Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 12 years as the Work Futurist at Atlassian, Dom Price made the decision to leave a role so intertwined with who he was that even introducing himself meant saying those two things in the same breath. In this episode, Dom and I explore the human side of change - the fog, the discomfort, the loss of structure, and the surprising freedom that comes when you finally say out loud, “I don’t know yet.”

Dom walks me through the reflection process that led to this moment, how he’s sitting with uncertainty rather than trying to outrun it, and the identity untangling that comes with stepping away from a global brand. We also dive into what he’s seeing inside boardrooms right now, why so many leaders are struggling to adapt to AI, and the mindset shift that separates those who thrive from those who wait it out.

Dom and I discuss:

• The realisation that it was time for change - even without knowing what came next

• How Dom uses the “five Ls” every 90 days to check in on what’s working and what’s not

• The emotional rollercoaster of losing structure, status, and the adrenaline of a big corporate role

• How trusted friends helped Dom challenge his assumptions and experiment with “trying before buying” in his next chapter

• What leaders are getting wrong about AI and transformation - and the three patterns Dom sees repeatedly in boardrooms

• The human side of tech change and why organisations must upgrade their human systems, not just their technical ones

• Why productivity gains don’t matter unless you know how to reinvest the time

• The leadership behaviours that matter most in times of rapid change

KEY QUOTES

“Even though it was just one word, it felt like the wrapper around my whole identity.”
“I had to say out loud, I’m okay not knowing what that is — and that was the hard bit.”
“When you take away those foundations, it’s like a shot of discomfort I hadn’t felt for a long time.”

Connect with Dom Price on Instagram, LinkedIn and his website.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shopping should be simple. But for most of us, it’s turned into tabs open everywhere, conflicting reviews, and that lingering doubt that you’ve either missed a better option or paid more than you needed to.

We walk through how we actually use AI tools when we’re buying something, from working out what problem we’re trying to solve, to comparing products without getting lost in specs and opinions.

We also dig into some of the most frustrating parts of shopping, like finding the best price, checking historical lows, tracking price drops, and hunting down discount codes without trawling scammy websites.

Neo and I discuss:

• How AI helps at the very start of the buying journey by clarifying what problem you’re actually trying to solve

• Using AI to compare products side by side, including features, pricing and versions

• Why AI is especially useful for complex purchases like electronics and appliances

• The differences between Perplexity, Google AI mode and ChatGPT when researching products

• How to use AI to find the best price and check historical price lows

• Setting up scheduled prompts to monitor prices and alert you when they drop

• Using AI to search for discount codes without trawling scammy or spammy websites

Connect with Neo Aplin on LinkedIn and via inventium.ai, where he leads Inventium’s AI training and upskilling work with organisations and teams.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials:
Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some workdays leave you tired. Others leave you completely wiped, even when you have done everything right. In this episode, I explore why that happens and what it reveals about how work is really experienced.

I sat down with Cherie Clonan, founder and CEO of The Digital Picnic, to talk about neurodivergence, energy, and what happens when workplaces are not designed for the people in them.

Cherie was diagnosed with Autism as an adult and has spent more than a decade building a business while quietly masking in environments that drained her nervous system. We talk about what masking actually looks like at work, why some workplaces feel exhausting even when you love your job, and how leaders can create cultures that raise energy instead of depleting it.

We also go deep into Cherie's hardest year in business, the moment she was forced into action, and the non-negotiables she rebuilt from scratch to protect her energy, her team, and her company.

Cherie and I discuss:

• What masking really looks like for autistic women at work and why it is so exhausting

• How sensory overload, constant social decoding, and back-to-back meetings drain energy

• Spoon theory as a practical way to understand energy, capacity, and recovery

• Why businesses do not fail when they run out of cash but when founders run out of energy

• The cultural non-negotiables Cherie introduced to rebuild trust, respect, and momentum

• How removing unnecessary demands can benefit every neurotype at work

Key quotes

“Businesses do not go out of business when they run out of cash. They fail when the founder runs out of energy.”

“Energy loss is data. It is telling you something important about what you are tolerating.”

Connect with Cherie Clonan on Instagram and LinkedIn and check out The Digital Picnic.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LinkedIn can feel pretty soulless right now, with endless AI-generated posts and very little that actually sticks.

In this bonus episode, I chat with Cherie Clonan, founder and CEO of digital agency The Digital Picnic, about a different way to think about content that doesn’t chase reach or virality. We unpack her idea of return on intimacy, how she designs LinkedIn content across the funnel, why depth and resonance matter more than volume, and how she uses AI for idea generation and hooks without losing her human voice. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a simple lens to use the next time you’re wondering what to post and why.

Cherie and I discuss:

• What return on intimacy really means and why it changes how you create content

• How top, middle, and bottom of funnel content works on LinkedIn

• Why being someone’s saved post or screenshot matters more than impressions

• How to measure sentiment and depth when performance metrics fall short

• Using AI for idea generation and hooks without sounding generic or soulless

Key quotes

“Return on intimacy is what I crave, not return on investment.”

“Don’t ask how many people might see it. Ask whether someone would screenshot it.”

Connect with Cherie Clonan on Instagram and LinkedIn and check out The Digital Picnic.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.