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This presentation on the Inbox Zero email methodology was delivered by Merlin Mann on July 23, 2007 at a Google Tech Talk in Mountain View, CA. Its audio is republished here with the kind permission of Google. For more information — and to view a free full-length video of this presentation — visit http://www.inboxzero.com/. . The original Google Video also can be downloaded in several formats from Google.com.

There’s as rich a body of literature about (and tools for) Productivity as most any subject you can imagine. To avoid becoming an unproductive dilettante, make sure your practice of Productivity always takes precedence over your talmudic scholarship on the subject. AKA: All the reading in the world won’t teach you as much as your first french kiss. (Running Time: 03:47)

Merlin talks with MacWorld Magazine’s Jason Snell and DaringFireball.net’s John Gruber about the likely future of applications for the recently announced iPhone. Who will be allowed to play? How does it affect the ostensible competition? Will this end up feeling more like an phone with an iPod, a Mac with a phone, or something altogether different? (5:48)

This is a compilation of the eight podcast episodes of Productive Talk which ran on 43folders.com and davidco.com in the fall of 2006. (1h:26m) Episode 1: Procrastination Episode 2: Patching Leaks Episode 3: The Someday Maybe List Episode 4: GTD for Teams Episode 5: Email Episode 6: Interruptions Episode 7: Implementing GTD Episode 8: GTD 2.0? More at http://www.davidco.com/ & http://www.43folders.com/ Note: An enhanced, AAC version of this podcast (with chapters for iPod browsing) is available for download at 43 Folders.

In this episode, Merlin asks David one of the most popular questions about GTD; if he could write the book all over again today, what would he do differently? David addresses how people’s understanding of GTD evolves on repeated exposures, as well hinting at future plans for making GTD easier for people to start and maintain. He makes some great points on learning to pay attention to your “higher altitudes,” and wraps up by underscoring the importance of not having to rethink every task throughout the day. (13:11) More at: http://www.davidco.com/ & http://www.43folders.com/<

In this episode, David and Merlin look at best practices for implementing Getting Things Done. David shares some great advice on firewalling review time and warns us how to avoid the perils of “cruise control.” (9:37) More at: http://www.davidco.com/ and http://www.43folders.com/<

In this episode David and I talked about interruptions. How you can minimize the bad interruptions and make the best of the good ones. (10:17) More at: http://www.davidco.com/ http://www.43folders.com/

In this episode David and Merlin talk about email. We learn that David coaches people to deal with a high volume of messages by treating them like you would any other input. More at: http://www.davidco.com/ http://www.43folders.com/

In this episode, David and Merlin talk about the role of GTD in teams and how to lead by example. More at: http://www.davidco.com/ and http://www.43folders.com/<

43 Folders welcomes guest commentator Ian Shoales on the subject of “Wasting Time” (2:20) http://www.ianshoales.com/<

In this episode, David and Merlin talk about how people use their someday/maybe list, as well as look at some ways you can make best use of your project list and support materials. David also makes a case for capturing 100% of whatever has your attention. (10:22)

In this episode, David and Merlin talked about ways to patch the leaks in your GTD system—including the role of ubiquitous capture and scrupulous review. (10:33)

In this episode, David and Merlin talk about a very popular topic on 43 Folders—procrastination. They discuss where procrastination comes from and how GTD can help get you back to cranking widgets. More at: http://www.davidco.com/ http://www.43folders.com/

Short sample from the “Productive Talk” podcast series, featuring conversations between David Allen (author of “Getting Things Done”) and Merlin Mann (editor of 43folders.com). More at: http://www.davidco.com/ and http://www.43folders.com/<

43folders.com – Just get through it the first time. You can try that stuff you read about in magazines later. (2:35)

43folders.com – To make the “(10+2)*5 Procrastination Dash” work, you have to actually take the break. Make a modal change, get away from the computer, and catch up on your neighbors’ mail. (2:04)

43folders.com – Are you enjoying your coffee or just obsessing about the cup you put it in? (3:25)

43folders.com – Little tricks for juggling your projects, plus a few words from our readers. (5:32)

43folders.com – In which I undertake writing a book on productivity.

43folders.com – Ubiquitous index cards; you’ll look completely insane, but feel really relaxed. Just as God intended. (3:10)