2 Minute Takeaway Podcast

Hosted by Ken Okel

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your performance and productivity at work. Motivational keynote speaker, Ken Okel, engages audiences with actionable and creative solutions. Your audience will enjoy Ken's relatable approach to improving your performance at work. For more, visit www.KenOkel.com Ken Okel learned the value of high performance and productivity, when failure was not an option, during careers in TV News, hurricane relief, and professional ballet. Let Ken's customized presentations and original stories fill your meeting with memorable and clever takeaways. Today, as a motivational keynote speaker, audiences enjoy his creative solutions to their problems. Ken is the author of the the books, Stuck on Yellow and Get Better, hosts The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast, and has marketed everything from global brands to a three legged kitten. Today people know about Ken Okel for his leadership presentations to companies and associations. Audiences are engaged and entertained as they learn from his experiences and gain the tools necessary to transform their professional lives. Ken continues to use his broadcasting skills in interviews, as a Master of Ceremonies, and in webinars. He also appears on-camera in his weekly productivity tips. Ken is a Past President and two time Member of the Year of the Florida Speakers Association and a 20 year member of the National Speakers Association. You'll also enjoy Ken's insights on his YouTube channel.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 23, 2026Episode 8073 min

The Leadership Skill AI Can't Automate

The leadership skill AI can't automate isn't technical expertise or the ability to process information. It's your judgment. AI can analyze a problem, suggest solutions and give you a list of options in seconds. I know, it's really cool. But knowing which option to choose, when to take a risk and when to trust your instincts still requires human leadership. And as AI becomes more capable, that skill may become even more valuable. Find out more, on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

October 16, 2026Episode 8064 min

When Being Busy Becomes Part of Your Identity

When being busy becomes part of your identity, slowing down can feel surprisingly uncomfortable. You may even feel guilty when your calendar has a little breathing room. After all, if you're not busy, are you really contributing enough? But there's a difference between being productive and being constantly occupied. And that difference can affect your leadership, your performance and even how you see yourself. Let's dive into this common challenge, on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

October 9, 2026Episode 8053 min

Change Fatigue Starts Innocently

Change fatigue can start innocently in your business and end up causing serious problems. And that should worry you, before you launch your next big project or try to solve an oncoming challenge. While you need your team to be focused, they may be checked out. Because when every few weeks brings a new priority, technology, process or strategy, employees can become skeptical about whether any of it will actually last. Find out how leaders can keep people engaged when change itself becomes routine, on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

October 2, 2026Episode 8043 min

Stop Asking How Can We Do More?

Stop asking, "How can we do more?" It sounds like a strange thing to say in a workplace that is constantly trying to improve productivity. But sometimes the better question is, "What can we stop doing?" Because adding more work to an already busy team doesn't automatically create better results. Sometimes the biggest performance improvement comes from removing something that never needed to be there in the first place. Let's talk about this common business challenge on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

September 25, 2026Episode 8014 min

When AI Makes You Look Smarter Than You Are

When AI makes you look smarter than you are, it can create a very interesting workplace problem. You can write a polished report, answer a complicated question, or give a sophisticated presentation with help from AI. But what happens when someone asks you a simple follow-up question and you don't really understand the answer? Do you quickly reach for your AI app on your phone? AI can improve your output. But there's a difference between looking knowledgeable and actually becoming more knowledgeable. Let's talk about this challenge on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

September 18, 2026Episode 8023 min

The AI Experiment Nobody Wants to Talk About

The AI experiment nobody wants to talk about is the one that didn't work. As you may have noticed, Artificial Intelligence is being tested in workplaces everywhere. Some experiments save time. Others create unexpected problems. And sometimes, the biggest challenge isn't the technology. It's admitting that the experiment needs to change. Let's talk about this issue on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

September 12, 2026Episode 8014 min

The AI Shortcut That Makes You Worse at Your Job

The AI shortcut that makes you worse at your job may be the one that saves you the most time. That sounds strange, especially when we're being encouraged to use AI to work faster and accomplish more. But there's a question worth asking: What happens when AI doesn't just help you do your job, but starts doing the parts of your job that actually make you better at it? That's what I want to explore today, on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

September 4, 2026Episode 8003 min

How to Podcast for 800 Episodes

When it comes to how to podcast for 800 episodes, there's not a one big secret I can share. But as I celebrate this milestone, I realize some strategic decisions, that I made more than 15 years ago that have served me very well. So let's throw out the format this week and talk about those decisions, as well as all the episodes we have enjoyed together. And a big thank you to everyone who is joining me on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

August 28, 2026Episode 7993 min

When AI Becomes the Easiest Person on Your Team to Talk To

When AI becomes the easiest person on your team to talk to, leaders may have a problem they didn't anticipate. Because AI is available almost instantly. It doesn't interrupt you. It doesn't look distracted when you ask a question. And you don't have to worry about whether you're bothering it. That can be incredibly convenient. But what happens when employees start turning to AI before they turn to each other? That's where today's conversation gets interesting, on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

August 21, 2026Episode 7985 min

When AI Gives You the Wrong Answer With Confidence

When AI gives you the wrong answer with confidence, it's easy to believe it . The response may be polished, specific, and delivered with exactly the kind of certainty we associate with someone who knows what they're talking about. The challenge with AI isn't always recognizing an obviously bad answer. Sometimes the real challenge is recognizing an answer that sounds completely reasonable but happens to be wrong. And that creates an important question for leaders and professionals: How do you know when to trust the technology and when to slow down and verify it? You can trust me to answer this question on this episode of The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast. Want more? Learn more about my new book, Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors with this link . Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author, and Broadcaster, Ken Okel, believes in creating memorable meetings. He understands the challenge of change on the job and the need to perform at a high level, every day. He's embraced it and shares his unique career lessons and takeaways with audiences. The 2 Minute Takeaway Podcast gives you easy to implement tips that will improve your productivity, performance, and profits. For more about Ken, clips of his live speaking presentations and workshops, plus his weekly productivity tips, visit KenOkel.com . And yes, Ken does present virtually, which sometimes makes him look a little taller.

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