We adapt and adjust our personalities and personas based on our environment. We cover, cope, and often mask our authentic selves. But why? We unpack these learned behaviors and how we can push back on them by being a little more punk rock every day.

Read the companion article here: Punk Rock Training Guy

Your Preschooler’s Developing Personality: 6 Tips for Parents (WebMD)

When do children show evidence of self-esteem? Earlier than you might think. (The Conversation)

Normal Social Expectations by Age (Brain Balance)

Baby Begins to Develop Self-Awareness (Parenting Counts)

Identify Covering at Work - A Majority Phenomenon (Tanenbaum)

The Costs of Code Switching (Harvard Business Review)

Impression Management: Erving Goffman Theory (SimplyPsychology)

Surface Acting at Work: What it is and how to cope in a post-COVID world (Thunderbird School of Global Management)

First Impressions: Making up your Mind After a 100-Ms Exposure to a Face (Association for Psychological Science)

Are you yearning for the ultimate super hero team up - Batman and Shrek? We aren't...until now... We asked ChatGPT about some of the weird and funny requests it has received. The results did not disappoint.

Does the phrase "corporate casual" make you cringe? Have you ever been sent to the principal's office for a too-short skirt or inappropriate t-shirt? Then you are in good company. This week we dress down dress codes.

Oppressive Dress Codes Need to Go: https://www.vice.com/en/article/its-time-to-rethink-eurocentric-office-dress-codes/

Dress Codes: A Racist, Sexist History and Why They Must Go:

https://www.idra.org/resource-center/dress-codes-a-racist-sexist-history-and-why-they-must-be-changed/

Most Workplace Dress Codes Are Immoral:

https://blog.apaonline.org/2025/01/28/most-workplace-dress-codes-are-immoral/

The Evolution of Business Wear:

https://www.harvieandhudson.com/the-evolution-of-business-wear/

Our calendars are lousy with meetings. We asked ChatGPT to fix meetings for us. We all have to be in them, so let's add some levity.

After a brief gap year-rumspringa-time off to find ourselves we are back with a new episode about creativity. This you aren't creative? Think again!

So many things feel like they might be in or headed to the toilet lately. So here is an episode about work and public bathroom etiquette to provide a little levity during these strange times.

So many emails, responsibilities, budgets, meetings, crap to do. You might be inspired to put a blanket over it and then set the blanket on fire. But try some of these less incendiary techniques first.

This week we have a short episode about resumes and cover letters. If you are actively in the job market or just trying to keep your options open maintaining a killer resume is essential.

Cram people together in an office building and there are bound to be some nerve-testing behaviors. Here is a humorous take that will hopefully help you chuckle rather than grumble the next time someone stinks up the break room microwave.

On March 11th 2025 the US Department of Education announced that it would reduce its workforce by 50% laying off 1,300 workers in addition to the 600 have that have resigned in recent weeks. What work were these public servants doing? What are we at risk of losing?

Show Notes:

School House Burning:

https://www.derekwblack.com/schoolhouse-burning-public-education-and-the-assault-on-american-democracy-copy

Educational Inequality and School Finance:

40611407-educational-inequality-and-school-finance

Department of Education: Senate Confirms Linda McMahon

https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-senate-confirms-linda-mcmahon-13th-secretary-of-education-0

U.S. Department of Education Initiates Reduction in Force:

https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-initiates-reduction-force

Public School Revenue Sources:

https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cma/public-school-revenue

An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education: 

https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-overview/an-overview-of-the-us-department-of-education--pg-1

A History of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):

https://sites.ed.gov/idea/IDEA-History

Education for All Handicapped Children Act:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-89/pdf/STATUTE-89-Pg773.pdf