What do a $10 Old Navy vest, mushroom coffee, and a curling iron that feels like butter have in common? They’ve all earned a permanent spot in Erin and Nicole’s lives.

In this episode, Erin and Nicole swap their usual leadership talk for their Top 10 Products That Have Changed Their Lives in the Last Year—from game-changing health finds to everyday items that just make life better.

You’ll hear:

1.) The back-saving sleep hack Erin swears by

2.) The coffee alternative that secretly slashes inflammation

3.) The beauty tool Nicole thought was a sex toy (spoiler: it’s not)

4.) And of course, the skort that brought Nicole to the dark side (of shorts) 

Is it life-changing? Possibly. Is it hilarious? Absolutely. And hey—there’s still a little leadership talk tucked in there… but mostly, it’s a love letter to the little things making life easier (and more fun) right now. 

Nicole's Products: 

Ryze Mushroom Coffee

Best Hairspray

Language Learning

AI helper

Skorts!

Erin's Products:

Mattress topper

Balanced Femme

Trader Joe's grilled chicken (not meant to buy here but to show you what it looks like  

Old Navy Pleather Vest

1-inch curling iron

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

•  ”When someone shares who they are authentically, it rubs off.”

•  ”Sometimes you have to do less with less.”

•  ”I'm not trying to lose weight, I'm not on Ozempic, even though they tell me I need it all the time.”

•  ”I feel like I'm wearing a skirt, but my hooter is like protected.”

Meet Jesse Cole, the Walt Disney of baseball.

In 2016, Jesse and his family took a chance on a struggling baseball team in Savannah. What happened next? They didn’t just revive the team—they completely reinvented the game. If you've ever wondered "How did the Savannah Bananas start?", this episode dives into the wild journey that transformed them into a global sensation.

Instead of focusing on the sport itself, Jesse became obsessed with one thing: the fan experience. By challenging traditional baseball norms and making entertainment the priority, he and his team built a phenomenon that sells out every single game.

In this episode, Erin and Jesse talk about:

1.) Lessons from their success—how the Bananas became more than just a baseball team

2.) The power of putting fans first (and why most businesses get this wrong)

3.) Why standing out isn’t about being the best—it’s about being different

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader, or just someone looking for inspiration, Jesse's insights will make you rethink how you show up in your own field.

Find Your Yellow Tux

Fans First

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “Every single day, I get fascinated and obsessed with new ideas and new things we can create for our fans.”

• “How you view things is how you do things.”

• “Corporate and public companies are always focused on the next quarter. I'm focused on the next quarter century.”

• “You have to be able to throw away some short-term profits to create long-term fans.”

• “It starts with you being the number one fan of what you're doing.”

• “How can you really create fans if you aren't the biggest fan of what you do?”

• “Follow your energy, not your passion.”

Ever wondered what it really means to be brave at work? Jennifer Pestikas, SVP of Business Development and founder of Brave Women at Work, shares her journey from a shy bank teller to a bold leader, proving that confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build.

In this episode, Jennifer and Erin chat about:

1.) The seemingly simple but bold "ask" that changed her career trajectory

2.) Her greatest leadership challenge and how she took control when things didn’t go as planned

3.) The difference between post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth—and how challenges can lead to unexpected success

4.) Real-life examples of being brave at work—from speaking up in meetings to making bold career moves

5.) The Greek concept of Chronos (bending time)—how to make space for your passions without burning out

If you've ever felt stuck, struggled with self-doubt, or wondered how to make courageous career moves, this episode is packed with lessons that will inspire you to take action.

LinkedIn: @Jennifer Pestikas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravewomenatwork/

Website: https://bravewomenatwork.com/author/jpestikas/

Find out more about Thrive in 2025 here: https://thrive-in25.com/

 

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

•  "I had to write his eulogy on a cocktail napkin and get up in front of like 100 people and then lead his team. And I even went to the CEO at the time who didn’t know what to do with our department. And I said, 'You’re going to let me lead them right out of this.' And that’s pretty brave."

• "Would you rather live with the ‘no’ or the regret that you knew you could have asked, and then you are in a job situation where you’re resentful because you know you could have gotten more money or better benefits?"

• "They didn’t give me the big job. They gave it to somebody else after 18 months. Even after I led everybody. And I had to get cojones again. And I had to be like, 'Screw you all. I love you, but you guys have missed it.'"

• "Most women don’t feel brave. They can be successful business owners. They can be speakers. They can be writers. And they’re still like, ‘No, I’m not brave.’ And I wanted to disrupt that."

In this raw and unfiltered solo episode, Erin chats about the weight of life, work, and the mental roadblocks that hold us back. From personal struggles to coaching insights, she shares what’s been on her mind—including three key mindset shifts that can change how you show up in your career and life.

Erin also gets candid about challenges at home, why reaching out for support is always worth it, and the surprising advice that helped her land a CEO role.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, second-guessing yourself, or waiting for the “right moment” to take action—this episode is for you.

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

•  "Say their names, stop calling them by their title. They are a human. They came in just like you did."

• "When you protect people, you’re only hurting them. When you protect them from tough conversations, you’re only hurting them and the rest of the team."

•  "Nobody ever knows what you want if you don’t tell them. People are not walking around giving two shits about what we’re thinking."

• "The number one quality I want in my team? That they’re not a bobblehead. I don’t need ‘yes’ people—I need people who push back."

This episode is one for the books. Melanie Marshall, a former BBC foreign journalist turned filmmaker, speaker, and coach, joins us with jaw-dropping stories from the world’s most challenging places. She’s witnessed humanity at its worst—and yet, she’s still relentlessly hopeful.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.)How radicalized followers of Osama Bin Laden made her feel welcome in an interview just shortly after his death

2.) What anyone can do to create connection, despite differences

3.) How she defied her boss' (on multiple occasions) to do a story they thought was both dangerous and unnecessary, and the magic that resulted (and goat!)

4.) Stories of how some of the most oppressed women are actually just like you and find joy in their own ways

5.) So many other AMAZING stories, including the time she got repeatedly beat by a man with a feather duster and also the time she saved herself using her most important asset

Melanie’s storytelling is raw, hilarious, and filled with lessons on courage, connection, and seeing the good in the world—even when it’s hard to find.

How you can use Human Connection to drive change | Melanie Marshall | TEDx

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-marshall-237a641/

  Substack: https://imrama.substack.com/

Website:http://melaniemarshall.com

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

•  ”She impacted me, she impacted my friend, she impacted all of these people with her goodness and her fiery spirit. She lived.”

•  ”If you think about the different stages that you get to in your career and  when you reach a new one, you realize, ‘oh, they're all people’”

•  ”I am grateful that I have let myself be impacted so much by the people I have met because I feel a gift and a responsibility to let what I have learned from them go forward.”

• “I am not the lady in a sheet. I am the boss.”

•  ”The story wasn't over. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't over. And that's where I get hope.”

New year, fresh start… or just another round of unrealistic expectations?

In this episode, Erin and Nicole chat about the pressure that comes with the start of the year—why we feel it, how it messes with our motivation, and why setting massive, all-or-nothing goals can actually work against us. 

Oh, and there’s also the story of how Nicole, a state regulator, opened an email full of unsolicited pics. So yeah, this episode has range.

If you’re feeling the weight of it all—personally, professionally, or just existentially—this one’s for you.

 

206: From the Vault: Nicole’s Moving Out, Up, and Onward

Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “ I have to do that shit again and supposedly better? Fuck! Somebody kill me.”

•  ”Motivation is fleeting, but habits have staying power.”

•  ”Have a little grace, have a little perspective and then we have to adopt some tools to make that a reality.”

• “Write down your failures.”

• "All our failures, fumbles, stresses, anxieties, and bad decisions—those are fabulously powerful stories that make us interesting and interested."

In this episode, Erin sits down with Don Barden—a globally recognized expert in leadership and decision-making with a PhD in organizational leadership and behavioral economics—to explore the research behind his latest book, Here Come the Girls.

Don makes a bold declaration: by 2028, the scales of leadership will tip, with women leading the way. But can the data back it up? Erin and Don discuss the systemic barriers, cultural shifts, and surprising factors influencing women’s roles in leadership—and dig into whether women even want to occupy those top spots.

This isn’t an episode packed with immediate action steps—it’s a thought-provoking conversation designed to explore where we can begin.

There’s some pushback, some probing, and a lot to reflect on as we tackle how individuals like us can drive meaningful change. If you’re ready to challenge assumptions and spark new ideas, this is the episode for you.

Here Comes the Girls book

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donbarden/

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “ I always knew that education was the only way for me to break the binds of the past.”

•  ”Women outproduced men in equal business environments, three to one. It's not just in revenue and profits it’s in everything.”

•  ”Women are better at helping their teammates work through critical problem solving issues on their own.”

How can you be successful and stay authentic doing it?

In this episode, Leigh Brown—real estate authority, 3-time author, and speaker—gets real about why chasing money and the top spot left her unfulfilled. 

She shares how redefining success and leaning into her imperfections helped her build deeper connections, stand out, and turn her outrageous authenticity into her ultimate power move.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) How Leigh embraces her 50/50 blend of being her dad/mom to create trust and be unique in the market

2.) The one thing SHE uses to balance work-life on a daily, micro basis and how she also does it on a macro basis

3.) Why attaching your success to things that can be taken away may not be your best strategy

4.) How she makes videos about boring or controversial topics unique and worth watching

5.) The time she drove herself into a chainsaw company and got herself a job

Leigh’s Book: Outrageous Authenticity

From Smoky to Sellable: How to Prep a Smoker's House for Sale

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leighthomasbrown

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

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “ If you're able to connect while asking questions, you can serve people really effectively.”

• “Humor breaks down defenses. It's not about a lack of seriousness. It's about finding a way to reach people.”

•  ”The magic was in me being myself telling the truth in a really relatable way.”

•  ”Your imperfections are the coolest thing about you.”

What happens when you ditch the corporate fluff and give your company a bold, authentic identity?

In this episode, Erin takes us behind the scenes of helping a company embrace the theme “Taking the BS out of E&S” causing a major internal shift that sparked excitement from the top dog CEO to their employees.

Meanwhile, Nicole shares how leading an unconventional office Christmas party embraced their company’s theme—and their colleagues' personalities.

If you’re stuck playing it safe, it’s time to rethink what your audience—and your team—really crave: something real, memorable, and worth talking about.

If you liked this episode, you may also like:

206: From the Vault: Nicole’s Moving Out, Up, and Onward

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

•   ”You can do amazing shit in imperfect circumstances.”

•  ”Having the perfect charcuterie board is not worth your mental sanity.”

• ”Somebody that leaves a legacy is somebody that when people look back, they talk about how that person made them feel.”

• "Having a kind of persona, theme, culture, and some measure of fun and humanity in this work gives you permission when you screw up."

•  ”Don't build culture from the top. You build culture from the trenches.”

• “A theme is almost as powerful as a leader.”

In this episode, we’re tackling a topic that’s both incredibly important and eye-opening—understanding and supporting neurodivergent needs in the workplace. Sounds like a heavy topic? 

Well, it’s actually one that’s filled with tons of practical, real-world tips that could make a huge difference in your work environment. 

From sensory needs to access and support, we’re breaking it all down in a way that’s easy to digest and—dare we say—kind of fun. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your workplace more inclusive (or just want to know what “neurodivergent” even means), this episode is for you.

Pasha Marlowe (she/they), is a trained marriage and family therapist, coach, speaker, and author. She wrote the best selling book "Creating Cultures of Neuroinclusion" and is recognized in Forbes as a neurodiversity expert. She enjoys presenting keynotes and workshops on neurodiversity-affirming practices and policies to organizations around the globe. Pasha proudly identifies as multiply-neurodivergent, disabled, and queer.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) Why we need to get away from talking in terms of functioning labels (ADHD, bipolar disorder, disabled, autism) and instead focus on unique needs

2.) How to focus specifically on three categories of needs: sensory, support, and access

3.) The practical things you can do and ask to be more inclusive of neurodivergent people

4.) How Pasha "Bucks That!" when she gives presentation, and how that can empower you

5.) How to talk with your child or children who might be neurodivergent

Connect with Pasha:

Instagram:@neuroqueercoach

LinkedIn:@PashaMarlowe

If you liked this episode, you may also like:

265: How to Nourish Neurodivergent Minds in a Neurotypical Workplace

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "It took a lot of bravery for me to finally say, 'I haven't been following my innateness. I've been following the script. I've been following the rules. I've been following the norms,' but I don't think they're really me."

• "It's a bit tricky when you have a team with diverse needs, but I find that creating a psychologically safe space goes a long way. It’s important to foster an environment where it’s okay to ask for or claim a need and request accommodations.”

• “ I'm a much happier person if I can do the things that I love and less of the things that just hurt.”

•  ”If you identify as neurodivergent, by definition, you're rejecting the label disorder because you're saying that there are differences. There are not disorders. There are differences and not deficiencies.”