How I Work

Think sustainable living is confusing, expensive, or just plain overwhelming? You're not alone. With so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know what actually makes a difference. 

Lottie Dalziel is here to set the record straight. Founder of Banish, one of Australia’s most trusted sustainability platforms, Lottie has helped thousands of people and businesses cut through the noise and adopt realistic, impactful changes. Recognized as the NSW Young Australian of the Year and a driving force behind sustainability education, she’s been featured on major platforms for her expertise in reducing waste and making eco-friendly choices more accessible. 

In this episode, Lottie and I dive into: 

• The easiest way to drastically cut our energy use at work with one simple change 

• A surprising trick to keep your veggies lasting longer in the fridge 

• The everyday household items that might be leaching microplastics into your food and body 

• The biggest sustainability myths that are wasting your time and money 

• How to make sustainable swaps without breaking the bank 

• Four eco-friendly items you can replace almost every cleaning product with. 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to be ‘perfectly sustainable’ or struggled to separate real impact from greenwashing, this episode is for you. Lottie’s no-BS approach will leave you feeling empowered, not guilty, about making small, meaningful changes. 

Key Quotes: 

“You don’t need to do everything perfectly. You just need to start.” 

“The best sustainability tip? Use what you already have.” 

“One of the easiest ways to reduce your waste is to start composting—it’s simpler than you think and keeps food scraps out of landfills.” 

What if your holiday didn’t just feel good while you were away, but also boosted your wellbeing for weeks after you returned? 

New research reveals that the benefits of your holiday don’t have to end when you return to work. In this quick episode, I’ll share how to extend that post-break glow far beyond your suitcase unpacking. 

In this mini episode, I’ll dive into: 

• How to make the most of your time away so the benefits last 

• The holiday activities that actually boost your wellbeing the longest 
• Why you should mix home and away time for a stronger return 

Key Quotes: 

“The ultimate productivity hack might just be the holiday you’ve been putting off.” 

 “Disconnecting and staying active is key to making your holiday benefits last.” 

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 

Ever wonder if the advice you’ve been following is actually holding you back? What if playing by the rules is the very thing keeping you stuck? 

Jake Knapp knows a thing or two about breaking the mold. A designer, investor, and New York Times bestselling author, Jake’s books have been translated into over 20 languages, helping teams around the world rethink how they work. He’s helped over 300 startups bring new products to market—including powerhouses like One Medical, Uber, and Slack. Before co-founding the venture firm Character Capital, he was a leader at Google, where he created the groundbreaking Design Sprint process, played a key role in building Gmail, and co-founded Google Meet. 

In this episode, Jake and I dive into: 

• Why every day is an experiment—and how you can apply this mindset to make better decisions 

• His powerful Magic Lenses framework for cutting through complexity and making smarter choices 

• A radical way to rethink meetings that could save you hours each week 

• The concept of leaving money on the table—and why it might actually be the smartest move you can make 

• Jake’s top three game-changing tools for productivity, note-taking, and video calls 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by decision-making or struggled to cut through the noise of endless choices, Jake’s insights will give you a fresh, structured way to approach work, creativity, and life. His frameworks aren’t just for startups—they’re for anyone who wants to make smarter, faster, and more intentional decisions. 

Key Quotes: 

• “Oversharing doesn’t build trust, it actually undermines trust.” 

• “Every time you get feedback, you have a choice: Is this from someone I value? Is it useful? And what do I do with it?” 

• “Leaving money on the table isn’t always a bad thing—sometimes, it’s the smartest decision you can make.” 

When asked to describe yourself, is one of the first things you mention your job? Why do so many of us form such a strong connection between our identity and our work? And more importantly, is that actually healthy?

To explore the complex relationship between self-identity and work, I'm joined by my good friend Sabina Read for another thought-provoking conversation.

Sabina is a clinical psychologist who shares her expertise weekly on 3AW and through her popular podcast "Human Cogs."

In this episode, we dive into crucial questions about work identity:

• How to tell if your job is consuming too much of your sense of self
• Practical strategies to create healthy boundaries between work and identity
• If having a personally aligned career can lead to a lack of balance
• How to identify if you are letting your vocation swallow your sense of self
• 1 simple step you can take to make sure your job doesn’t define you entirely

I found Sabina's positive take on work-identity integration particularly fascinating, as it offers a counterpoint to concerns I've personally wrestled with. Whether you're deeply aligned with your career or seeking more separation between who you are and what you do, this conversation offers valuable insights for navigating your relationship with work.

Key Quotes:

“I don’t know where Sabina starts and psychologist ends.”

“If you’re doing that kind of work and your energy feels depleted. I don’t know if I call that identity alignment with your job. I call that work-aholic.”