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In this Wisepreneurs Podcast episode, host Nigel Rawlins speaks with Czech publisher and technologist Tomáš Baránek about the enduring value of curated publishing in a world saturated by fast content and generative AI. Tomáš shares how his team at Melvil Publishing selects nonfiction titles with long-term value, from authors like Yuval Noah Harari and David Grann, and why translating a book well is just as much a craft as writing it.

They unpack the risks of over-relying on AI for writing, thinking, and decision-making, and how misinformation and loss of cognitive depth are very real challenges. Tomáš, now studying machine learning in his 50s, gives honest reflections on critical thinking, resisting digital overwhelm, and why slow, intentional reading still matters.

The conversation aligns with three Wisepreneurs categories:

• AI-Augmented Work – The limits of automation in creative publishing

• Cognitive Vitality & Longevity – The role of learning, deep reading, and continuing education

• Resilient Transitions & Support – Navigating knowledge work and reinvention in midlife and beyond

Topics Covered:

•Curated nonfiction publishing in Czechia

•Why Melvil limits its annual titles to focus on quality

•The dangers of AI hallucinations and misinformation

•The challenge of maintaining cognitive engagement in an automated world

•Going back to university at 53 to study machine learning

•Why book translation is about cultural resonance, not just language

Books Mentioned:

•Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

•Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari

•The Wager by David Grann

•End of Procrastination by Petr Ludwig

•The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow

Tools & Topics:

•Readwise, Roam Research, Logseq

•GPT models and AI assistants

•Translation workflows, agents, and AI hallucinations

Where to Find Tomáš:

•LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomasbaranek/

•BlueSky Profile ‪https://bsky.app/profile/tombarys.bsky.social

•Melvil

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What happens when a distinguished accounting professor decides there's more to life than academia? In this captivating conversation, 66-year-old Kim Watty reveals her remarkable journey from emeritus professor to entrepreneur, co-founding The Main Act with her daughter Prue.

After three decades teaching accounting at prestigious Australian universities, Kim felt pulled toward a different purpose. That calling materialized as a business helping women design purposeful retirements that transcend the typical financial focus. "Pop 'retirement for women' in your browser," Kim explains, "and nine out of ten references will be about finances." The Main Act fills this gap by addressing the emotional, social, and purpose-driven aspects of this major life transition.

Their flagship "Retirement by Design" program—built on Stanford Business School methodology—guides women through an eight-week journey of self-discovery and intention-setting. Participants create three "odyssey plans" for different possible futures, developing the tools and confidence to design their next chapter with purpose. The carefully curated small groups bring together women with similar mindsets around curiosity and action, creating powerful community connections.

Kim's personal transformation mirrors what she hopes to inspire in others. The former accounting professor now starts her days swimming in Melbourne Bay with the Icebergers (wetsuit-free, even in winter!), practices meditation and yoga, and has completely transformed her reading list from academic journals to books on mindfulness and life design. Working alongside her daughter brings the added dimension of cross-generational perspectives.

The statistics are striking—62% of women wish they'd planned better for retirement, with half wishing they'd started earlier. By reframing retirement not as an ending but as taking greater control of how you spend your time, The Main Act helps women see this transition as an opportunity rather than a loss. As Kim wisely observes, "Retirement isn't about finishing work; it's about taking more control of the different activities that make up your life."

Ready to design your next chapter with intention? Explore u

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Episode Summary

In this episode of Wisepreneurs, host Nigel Rawlins sits down with Filip Drimalka, an AI strategist, digital transformation expert, and author of The Future of No Work. Filip shares game-changing insights on AI-driven productivity, automation, and the evolving workplace.

Is AI replacing jobs—or redefining them? Filip challenges traditional ideas of expertise, explaining how entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent professionals can leverage AI to stay competitive and unlock new opportunities.

They also explore the AI mindset, the rise of AI-powered generalists, and how automation is transforming industries. Plus, Filip introduces workations—blending work and travel to create a flexible, fulfilling career.

If you’re a knowledge worker, entrepreneur, or creative professional looking to optimize your work with AI, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Themes Discussed

• The AI Mindset – Why developing AI fluency is essential for career success.
• Automation & Job Evolution – How AI is transforming industries and redefining roles.
• Generalists vs. Specialists – Why will those integrating AI have a competitive advantage?
• AI & Work-Life Flexibility – How AI enables remote work, freelancing, and workations.
• AI as an Extension of Human Capability – Practical ways to enhance daily workflows and productivity.

Notable Mentions & Influences

People: Tim Ferriss (The 4-Hour Workweek), Ethan Mollick (AI & work expert), Sam Altman (OpenAI).
Companies & Tools: Klarna, OpenAI, NVIDIA, ChatGPT, Claude, NotebookLM, SavvyCal, Starlink.

Connect with Filip Drimalka

Website: drimalka.com

Book: The Future of No Work → nowork.ai

LinkedIn: Filip Drimalka’s Profile

Newsletter: Subscribe for AI, productivity, and future-of-work insights

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website https://wisepreneurs.com.au/
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In this episode, we sit down with Michal Novotný, a distinguished physiotherapist and fitness coach who has worked with elite athletes such as Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, and Hollywood stars including Orlando Bloom and Chris Hemsworth.

Michal shares his journey from his early career in ATP tennis to developing groundbreaking approaches, and authoring Czech Republic bestsellers Sport is Pain and The Secret of Healthy Movement.

Listeners will learn about the transformative power of prevention, the role of personalized wellness strategies, and how holistic approaches to health can extend professional and personal longevity. Michal provides actionable insights into how movement, diet, and mindfulness intersect to support sustainable success for self-employed professionals and independent creators.

Key Themes Discussed:
• The importance of prevention in avoiding injuries and enhancing performance.
• Personalized health strategies tailored to individual needs.
• The interplay between physical wellness, career demands, and long-term resilience.
• Insights into maintaining fitness and health at different life stages.
• Lessons from working with global sports icons and Hollywood stars.

Mentions:
• Individuals: Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Orlando Bloom, Chris Hemsworth, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Bukowski.
• Organizations: ATP Tennis, Real Madrid University, University of Murcia, Hollywood studios.

Contact Details:
• Michal Novotný’s books, Sport is Pain and The Secret of Healthy Movement (available in Czech, with plans for translation).

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michal-novotn%C3%BD-92333331/

Website
https://www.novotnymichal.com/en/home

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In this episode of The Wisepreneurs Podcast, host Nigel Rawlins speaks with Anna Burgess Yang, a former FinTech executive turned freelance content writer and solopreneur. Anna shares her journey from corporate to self-employment, balancing her career with raising three children. She highlights how she uses automation, lean thinking, and generative AI to stay organized, streamline workflows, and maintain a successful business.

Listeners will learn how Anna leverages tools like Airtable and Zapier to simplify repetitive tasks, builds a personal brand through authentic LinkedIn updates, and integrates work and family life with disciplined habits like starting her day at 4 a.m.

Whether you’re a self-employed professional looking for practical tips or an entrepreneur seeking fresh insights, Anna’s story offers valuable lessons on balancing priorities and enhancing productivity.

Key Themes Discussed:

• Leveraging automation tools for workflow optimization.

• Incorporating lean principles to refine processes and prioritize key tasks.

• Building a personal brand that authentically attracts clients.

• Balancing work, personal growth, and family responsibilities.

• Using generative AI to repurpose and expand creative output.

Mentions in the Episode:

Airtable, Trello, Zapier.

Guest Offers and Contact Information:

Anna Burgess Yang provides free resources and insights for solopreneurs and small business owners through her newsletter and blog. Explore her work and connect:

• Website: start.annabyang.com

• LinkedIn: Anna Burgess Yang

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In this episode of the Wisepreneurs Podcast, host Nigel Rawlins sits down with Krisna Hanks, a metabolic health expert, to discuss how prolonged sitting can undermine even the healthiest habits. With decades of experience and her role as Director of Employee Wellness Programs at Ovadia Heart Health, Krisna highlights the importance of small, frequent “metabolic sparks” to boost resilience and mental clarity. She introduces the concept of the “active couch potato”—people who work out yet still sit for long hours—and offers actionable tips to help professionals over 50 maintain physical and cognitive vitality.

Key Themes

• The Impact of Sedentary Behavior: Effects on metabolic markers, cognitive function, and overall health.
• Metabolic Health Essentials: Importance of core metabolic markers like blood pressure, glucose, and triglycerides.
• ‘Metabolic Sparks’ for Everyday Life: Short activity breaks can boost energy and mental clarity.
• Employee Wellness in the Workplace: Moving beyond disease management to proactive wellness.
• Aging with Independence: Ways to maintain physical and cognitive resilience as we age.

Mentions

• Individuals: Dr Philip Ovadia, Dr Neville Owen, Dr Georgia Ede, Dr Christopher Palmer
• Organizations: Ovadia Heart Health, Stanford Health Promotion Network, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Offers
Ovadia Heart Health's—free whitepaper on the impacts of sedentary behaviour can be downloaded at ovadiahearthealth.com/wellness.

Get in touch with Krisna

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisnahanks/

Director Employee Wellness Ovadia Heart Health
https://ovadiahearthealth.com/

Square1wellness
https://www.square1wellness.com/

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In this episode of The Wisepreneurs Podcast, host Nigel Rawlins speaks with Tonianne DeMaria, co-author of Personal Kanban, about her inspiring journey from fashion to becoming a productivity expert. Tonianne highlights how visual systems like Personal Kanban empower independent professionals and business owners to streamline their workflow, manage energy, and create sustainable habits for long-term success. The discussion also dives into the neuroscience of productivity, addressing cognitive biases and how to balance personal well-being while achieving business growth.

Tonianne introduces Dr. David Rock’s SCARF Model, a framework that helps professionals understand human needs in the workplace. It complements traditional models like Maslow’s hierarchy.

Key Themes:
• Using Personal Kanban to visualize work and achieve effectiveness
• The SCARF Model by Dr. David Rock: Understanding Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness
• Managing energy and overcoming cognitive biases for better productivity
• Building resilience and creating humane systems for knowledge workers
• Importance of mentorship and creating trust in teams and collaborations

Mentions:
• Personal Kanban: Mapping Work and Navigating Life (Book by Tonianne DeMaria and Jim Benson)
• Dr. David Rock and the SCARF Model: Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness, a cognitive framework similar to Maslow’s hierarchy
• Tools like Trello, Miro, and Kanban Zone for visualizing and managing work
• Francesco Cirillo and the Pomodoro Technique for time management
• Modus Institute – Training on productivity and visual management

Listener Offer
Save 30% off Modus Institute's Personal Kanban class, Value Stream Mapping class, and Lean-Agile Visual Management (LAVM) program with the coupon code WISEPRENEURS. See https://modusinstitute.com/courses
Or, you can join the modusinstitute.com community for free.

Connect with Tonianne DeMaria

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In this episode of The Wisepreneurs Podcast, host Nigel Rawlins interviews Peter Compo, author of The Emergent Approach to Strategy. Drawing on 25 years of experience at DuPont, Peter illustrates how businesses can adapt and thrive in unpredictable environments by employing an emergent thinking framework.

He emphasises that identifying key obstacles, eliminating bottlenecks, and guiding decision-making are crucial steps in maintaining progress, especially when a shift in direction becomes necessary.

Peter’s methodology offers a structured design framework to manage uncertainty, which is very relevant for independent professionals and consultants, especially those in their sixties. He underscores the value of remaining creative, continuously adapting, and tackling challenges with both discipline and flexibility. Peter’s insights deliver practical advice to help you survive, grow, and thrive in your business.

Key Themes:

• Emergent Strategy: How businesses can adapt to change and grow through emergent thinking.
• Overcoming Bottlenecks: Identifying and tackling the biggest obstacles to success.
• Adaptive Design: How strategic rules help guide decision-making in uncertain times.
• Creative Innovation: Applying concepts from music and science to business strategy.
• Navigating Uncertainty: Embracing agility and adaptability in a fast-changing market.
  
  

Connect with Peter Compo

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/petercompo/

Website https://emergentapproach.com/

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