This episode was originally published September 21, 2021.

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In this deep dive episode, Kris and Erik discuss Cal Newport's most recent book "A World Without Email." Newport argues that email and messaging apps (asynchronous communication) have led to what he calls "the hyperactive hive mind." Newport explains that email is taking up too much of our time at work and proposes several solutions to make us more efficient.

SHOW NOTES

Key concepts:

*Email is abused and we spend too much time writing emails

*We often offload our brains using email. It's easier to ask questions via email than find answers ourselves.

*Email, like physical mail and instant messaging, is a form of asynchronous communication.

*Our work has become more reactive than proactive. Newport says email and messaging apps have led to the "hyperactive hive mind" approach to work.

*Boundaries around email can be implemented on a personal basis (i.e. Deep Work strategies), but real change has to be institutional (processes and expectations).

Other books by Cal Newport:
*Deep Work
*Digital Minimalism

Tools for collaboration:
*Trello
*ITP Metrics

EDTECH EXAMINED CONTACT:
Website: edtechexamined.com
Email: hey@edtechexamined.com
Twitter: @EdTechExamined

TEAM INFORMATION

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Twitter: @egchristiansen
Blog: tech-bytes.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
Twitter: @KrisHans
Market Grade: marketgrade.com

Christopher Hoang, Audio Producer & Sound Engineer
Website: chrishoang.ca

In this episode, Erik and Kris do their Fall 2025 productivity tips roundup and summarize some advice from author David Pink. They also compare sleep tracking apps, cover some mindblowing Microsoft data centre news, and share some early impressions of the new Apple Watch SE 3.

SHOW NOTES

• AutoSleep app
• Streaks habit tracking
• Daniel Pink's advice
  • Schedule Dr appointments in the morning
  • Delay drinking coffee in the morning
  • Showering in the morning vs evening (pros and cons)
  • Morning vs evening exercise
  • "Caffine naps"
  • The "fresh start" effect
• Calendar scheduling hacks: Time blocking and batching
• Benefits of a paper planner for time blocking
• Logging time spent on priority activities helps build accountability
• Apple Watch workout friends (motivation)
• 2/5 minute rule: If it takes 2 minutes or less, it’s better to just do it now
• Permission to be rubbish (Greg McKeown)
• Built-in dictation feature in Microsoft Word
• Microsoft: Inside the world’s most powerful AI datacenter
• PC Magazine Apple Watch SE 3 review

TIME STAMPS

00:01:33 - Autosleep App vs Apple Sleep Score

00:08:35 - Daniel Pink's productivity advice

00:23:13 - Co-host productivity hacks and apps

00:42:59 - Microsoft's mega datacenters

00:47:37 - Apple Watch SE 3 impressions

00:53:05 - Wrap up

CONTACT:

Website: examining.ca
X: @examiningpod
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

TEAM INFORMATION:

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
X: @egchristiansen

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
X: @KrisHans

Following up on episode 74 on the September 2025 Apple event, Erik and Kris discuss Apple’s newly released operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and macOS. This year brings perhaps the largest design overhaul since 2013’s iOS 7. Across all its operating systems, Apple has introduced a new concept, “Liquid Glass,” a new material and design philosophy that is both new and old. The co-hosts talk about how Liquid Glass is both different and familiar, comparing it to the original macOS and Windows 7, and also review the major feature changes in each operating system.

SHOW NOTES

Apple’s introduction of Liquid Glass for WWDC 2025

Six Colors Blog operating system reviews

• iOS 26 review
• iPadOS 26 review
• WatchOS 26 review
• macOS 26 Tahoe review

Apple operating system standards on Figma (and other platforms)

Steve Jobs introduces Mac OS X, 2000 part 2 and part 3

Windows 7 design principles (transparency)

TIME STAMPS

00:03:46 What is Liquid Glass?

00:13:20 What’s old is new again

00:29:17 iOS 26

00:38:41 iPad OS 26

00:47:08 macOS 26 Tahoe

00:53:37 The future of Liquid Glass

CONTACT:

Website: examining.ca
X: @examiningpod
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

TEAM INFORMATION:

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
X: @egchristiansen

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
X: @KrisHans