b Cause Work Doesn't Have to Suck

Erin and Nicole couldn't let this holiday season pass without a nod to their original, and highly relatable, "The Twelve Days of Work-mas" episode.

So, to start your holiday off right, we've decided to revisit this fan-favorite and send you off with a few laughs. Plus, Nicole surprises Erin with her work rendition of Santa Baby. I mean, can it get any better?

The Twelve Days of Work-mas

12 hour workday

11th hour deadline

10 interns sleeping

9 hours of meetings

8 corporate trainings

A 7 year-old Intern

6 feet of distance

5 gooooldeeen handcuffs...

4 minute break

3 PowerPoints

A 2-percent raise

And a promotion to a trainee

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: [email protected]

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 totally prepared, I got cash, wine, pizza bagels, and snow melt."

• "Cash and cleavage is going to get you through."

• " I'm just gonna stand out there and my like sexiest snowsuit with my desperation and my cash a wavin'."

Life's full of tough situations and tricky people—and nope, you can't always dodge them. Sometimes, you've got to face them head-on.

In this episode, we've got former trial lawyer turned entrepreneur, author, speaker, and conflict expert, Gabe Karp. He's sharing how to handle tough situations—and even tougher people—with more grit, less regret, and a whole lot more control.

Gabe's strategies will not only help you tackle conflict, drive growth, and fuel success, but also leave you feeling empowered and happier while doing it.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) The phenomenon of their always being two tokens to choose from

2.) 5 traps that turn conflict against you/businesses and how to detox from them

3.) Gabe's least proud leadership moment and what he learned from it

4.) Why you should use your Shopping List Voice when things take a wrong turn

5.) The thing you might be doing that's depriving someone from being the best person they can be

Website: GabeKarp.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-karp-1b772a1b

Check out Gabe's TED Talk, How To Thrive With Difficult People: https://youtu.be/ggOQg6uUV2M?si=nKviXwvHJkGgvLGk

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: [email protected]

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

• "Everyone knows what "better" looks like—they just don't know where to start."

• "When you really screw something up for a client, that is an opportunity to make the relationship stronger and better."

• "Mistakes are inevitable and a real true test of character is how we react once we recognize we've made a mistake."

• "You cannot drive growth and innovation without conflict."

• "What do you get out of being mad?"

Your money, your rules, your life.

Ditch the tired financial narratives that keep you stuck and create strategies that help you live authentically—right now. Because building wealth isn't just about numbers; it's about crafting a legacy that feels as good as it looks.

Enter Karen Coyne. A certified financial planner, founder of Clarity Planning, and host of Money Without Math, Karen "deals in the real." She's the antidote to shaming and "shoulding," bringing clarity and empowerment to your financial journey.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) Why the financial planning world obsession of "size and performance" is misguided

2.) Why the strategy of accumulation, accumulation, accumulation can be harmful

3.) Some basic and tangible tips regarding Estate Planning

4.) What the "Great Wealth Transfer" is and what it means to you

5.) Her son's advice on what you have to do to be #1

Website: https://www.raymondjames.com/clarity

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

Podcast: Money Without Math

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: [email protected]

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

• "Be brutally honest with yourself—don't hide behind the numbers."

• "If you're incapacitated, a power of attorney is crucial—it lets someone manage your finances and medical decisions. Without it, even parents of adult children lose the authority they once had."

• "In order to be number one, you have to be odd."

• "Showing up is the first step—again and again—because building financial confidence is like learning a language: it takes reps, not perfection."

How thoughtful are you really being when hiring your next employee? Do you have a solid strategy in place, or are you just picking random questions from an AI-generated question bank? No judgment here, we've all been there! But what if you had a system? What if taking a little extra time and care in your hiring process could actually help you retain top talent and avoid costly mistakes? This week's guest can help you with that.

Konstanty Sliwowski is the founder of the School of Hiring and has conducted over 12,000 documented interviews and will help completely change your strategy and perspective on interviewing others.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) The cost and ramifications of shitty interviewing practices

2.) The importance of a Hiring Blueprint rather than a job description

3.) His few favorite questions to ask and why he asks them

4.) Why applications via Application Tracking Systems have grown by 50% (and what that means for you)

5.) Why people "Rust Out" and how you can be sure you don't

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

https://schoolofhiring.com/

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https://schoolofhiring.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: [email protected]

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

• "Being a better interviewer makes you a better interviewee."

• "Defining who you need is not just about saying, 'Here's the list of skills I need this person to have.' It's about defining what success looks like in the role."

• "In order to be an effective leader, you need to learn to hire. That's a skill you need to invest in."

• "Unless you're growing and learning in your work, then you're stagnant."

Networking: you either love it, or you're counting down the minutes 'til you're out of there. But what if you were more intentional? What if you walked into every networking event with a game plan to make those chats actually matter?

This week's guest knows the tricks to turn small talk into smart moves—and they're spilling the goods to help you up your networking game.

Robbie Samuels is an event design consultant, executive Zoom producer, and business growth coach, recognized as a networking expert by NPR, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Inc.

He's the award-winning author of three books, and founder of the Biz Book Publishing Hub, helping entrepreneurs become successful authors with launch teams and a strong review pipeline.

Since 2016, he's hosted the On the Schmooze podcast and the #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hour.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) Why you need to be less of a bagel and more of a croissant at events

2.) The importance of planning your business card and follow up strategy

3.) The one thing that you most need for an effective virtual meeting

http://robbiesamuels.com/tedx

http://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiesamuels

BombBomb:https://bombbomb.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: [email protected]

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

• "Culture can be shifted, but you need the intention from both sides."

• "Go into those spaces specifically looking to make connections."

• "Follow-up is something that you actually have to be thinking about before, during, and after if you want to be successful."

• "Serendipity is more likely to happen when you know what you're looking for."

ADD and ADHD are finally getting some much-needed recognition in the workplace, but here's the real question—are leaders ready to keep up?

It's one thing to acknowledge these neurodivergent traits, but it's another to actually adapt, ditching outdated systems and embracing new ways to lead. Spoiler alert: it's not just about letting people fidget or work in bursts—it's about creating a culture where everyone thrives, distractions and all.

So, are leaders truly on board? Well, one leader is and she's telling you how she's doing it.

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: [email protected]

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'm over the slutty costume phase and now I'm in my inflatable era."

• "If you want a deep study in human psychology, just watch Toy Story. It's got all the characters you'll meet in real life."

• "Not every neurodivergent person will be a Mark Zuckerberg or a cult leader. Many are just trying to be in society."

• "We have to protect ourselves, we have to protect our team and our own energy. If we can't show up to this job feeling decent and good every day, it's a downhill spiral."

Does work-life balance exist? According to our guest, it can. In fact, she believes you can have a big, full life AND have the freedom to enjoy it.

Cherylanne Skolnicki is the founder and CEO of Brilliant Balance, including her top-rated podcast. She's on a mission to redefine what it means to have it all.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) How you need to diagnose WHY you are doing things for your kids

2.) What is "cognitive overload" and the tangible steps you can take to unload the overload

2.) What is "cognitive overload" and the tangible steps you can take to unload the overload

3.) The impact of us often thinking that future us is kinda a loser

4.) The invisible belief you likely have regarding your overfull work plate and how to change that

5.) What happened when her client took specific steps to get more balance (it involves P!NK!)

Website: https://brilliant-balance.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylanne-skolnicki-brilliant-balance/

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: [email protected]

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 want a big, full life and the freedom to enjoy it."

• "Sometimes we think 'future us' is a bit of a loser."

• "What really drives up the cognitive load that we're carrying is unmade decisions...when we have certain decisions that we sort of resist making and they're running on like an open loop in our minds, that takes up a lot of brain space."

• "You have to live the story you want to tell."

Is your work lingo working against you?

In this episode, Erin chats with Julie Holunga—a leadership advisor, executive coach, and TEDx speaker on a mission to help professionals amplify their influence and impact.

Julie spills her secrets on how some seemingly innocent phrases might be stealthily sabotaging your career and more golden nuggets you won't want to miss!

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) What she learned while working at Harvard...and what she had to unlearn

2.) The biggest words and phrases that can sabotage your career

3.) Tips for influencing people NOT reporting to you

4.) The 3 biggest components to Lazy Leadership...and simple habits to change to be less lazy

5.) Simple replacement phrases for the 3 most dreadful (and commonly said) phrases in business

Ready to find out which common phrases you need to ditch—and what to say instead?

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

Website: https://www.julieholunga.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: [email protected]

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

• "Leaders who communicate with trust, see conflict as a necessity, and behave with integrity."

• "I wrote 'pubic' instead of 'public'. So, spellcheck didn't catch that."

• "Even though they may be an expert in their company, we're an expert in what we do and we have to remind ourselves of that."

• "Instead of saying, 'I think,' say, 'I recommend' or 'I suggest.' If they're hiring you for your expertise, don't downplay that expertise."

Curious what really makes those elusive HR professionals' brains itch? Us too. So we knew we had to bring in the big guns to ask. In this episode, we sit down with Bruce Wallace, Chief People Officer at Newman's Own.

Bruce became Chief People Officer at Newman's Own in September 2020, overseeing Human Resources for both Newman's Own, Inc. and Newman's Own Foundation. He brings over 25 years of HR experience across industries including healthcare, retail, consumer products, and financial services.

Before joining Newman's Own, Bruce served as VP and Senior HR Business Partner at Prudential Financial, where he provided HR support to key areas such as Product & Pricing, Sales, and Operations. His career began in sales and sales management before transitioning into HR, where he gained experience working with start-ups and Fortune 50 companies.

Bruce holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of Connecticut, a Master's in Human Resources and Finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an executive coaching certification from Columbia University.

On the personal side, Bruce has three daughters -- two taxer-payers, and one college junior – and lives in the Greater Hartford area with another HR professional, his wife of 25 years.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

- What he believes is the Career Advancement Conundrum and how to get through that

- The #1 thing he looks for when he's keeping an eye on talent that'll rise

- The biggest misstep you can make in an interview

- Newman's Own's innovative 50% Ruled initiative

- The 3 things he needs every day to make work suck less

Connect with Bruce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-wallace-0613/

Newman's Own LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newmans-own/mycompany/

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: [email protected]

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

• "As long as you're learning and staying open to where each step can take you, you'll remain adaptable in how you grow and apply your experience. This flexibility allows you to move within an organization without being locked into one path."

• "Everyone has different perspectives. So it's really just allowing the perspective of each person to contribute to the success of the organization."

• "The best days I have are when I get three belly laughs."

• "Our number one job as leaders is to knock down barriers and give people the things they need."

The 50% Rule is out TODAY! If you're all about actionable advice, a dash of salty language, and motivational stories that pack a punch, this book was made for you.

Want to hear a little more about the book? Well this episode has you covered there too.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) Why bowling for Alzheimer's is a thing—because fun can do good.

2.) The 50 percent rule—why aiming for 100 percent all the time is just unrealistic (and not necessary).

3.) What to expect from the book—spoiler: it's something you'll want on your shelf.

4.) The idea of a book mascot—is it ridiculous? Yes. Is it happening? It definitely needs to.

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: [email protected]

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's not my doing, it's my DNA!"

• "It's more than just permission to not be perfect. It's more than just a self-help tool. It's the thing that can help you stand out and build a product that is super successful without working harder. It's the way to get noticed. It's a way to do work and life differently."

• "I call it an authenticity hack. It's an innovation hack. It's a permission to release your perfectionism."

• "It is a permission to be more authentic, but it's also a motivator. It's also a thing that helps you stand out from the crowd."