Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! We're talking about banter - you know, shooting the breeze with your coworkers. Those “water cooler” moments build company culture and boost productivity. Yet, the expectations around social interactions can make some professionals feel left out or excluded.

In this episode, we discuss:

Some key takeaways are:

Resources (links):

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with your hosts Karen and Anee! Today, we’re diving into racism at work, specifically for Black professionals. Many Black professionals have had interactions at work that hurt or just feel icky. After the experience, we are left asking ourselves “Was that racist or nah?”

In this episode, we discuss:

• The subtle ways racism and anti-Blackness shows up at work
• The interactions that feels racists at work
• The ways Black employees can respond to racists or uncomfortable interactions at work

Some key takeaways are:

• Dr. Jean’s SNAPS (strategically navigating anti-black in professional spaces) decision-making model provides practical skills for navigating and responding to anti-Blackness.
• Black employees should always prioritize self in responding to racist interactions at work.

Resources (links):

• Dr. Pearis Jean website and resources
• Coqual Being Black in Corporate America

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with Karen and Anee. We're talking about success — and the story we’re often told about how it’s earned. That success requires struggle. That you have to “pay your dues” to deserve it. But is that actually true? Have we collectively accepted the idea that success can’t exist without hardship?

In this episode, we discuss:

• The adage of “paying dues” which often means enduring a toxic environment and a lack of transparency and inclusion. Paying dues often leads to burnout and high turnover.
• How Millennials and Gen Z professionals are pushing back on the outdated mindset of “paying dues”.

Some key takeaways are:

• Challenges and suffering are different. Challenges are about development while suffering erodes your personhood and well-being.
• Growth and development does not require exploitation. You can be intentional and explicit about learning and growth opportunities, without being unethical.

Resources (links):

• Post from Jasmine McCall on LinkedIn
• Article: Organizational Culture: Paying Your Dues

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with your hosts Karen and Anee! Today, we’re diving into today’s job market and the best strategies to land your next gig. We are joined by executive recruiter, Rory Verrett. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• The job marker as we know it has changed. The Trump Administration with the help of DOGE gutted many federal agencies. The government shutdown furloughed many employees, and other sectors are facing shrinking budgets and increased tariffs. Not to mention, AI is threatening to “replace” human workers.
• Black women have been impacted disproportionately by layoffs with more than 300,000 Black women out of the workforce.

Some key takeaways are:

• Your worth isn’t defined by any organization, role, or title. Your worth is determined by the purpose you create.
• The career algorithm can help professionals define their values and strengths to be used in a variety of capacities.

Reaching Rory Verrett:

• My Sovereign Path
• Protege Search

Resources (links):

• 300,000 Black Women Have Lost Their Jobs
• Black Women Are Reclaiming Their Identity Beyond Work
• Half A Million Women Left Their Jobs

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

❤️ Follow: Connect with us on LinkedIn.

🎙 Subscribe: Follow Don’t Do That! on your favorite podcast platform.

⭐ Leave a Review: Your feedback helps boost the show and lets others know what to expect.

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with Karen and Anee. Today, we’re diving into the complicated reality of quitting — and staying — in today’s workplace.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How workplace loyalty has shifted — the median tenure is now just 3.9 years (BLS 2024)
• Why 75 % of workers plan to stay put through 2027 (Forbes 2025)
• What “quiet quitting” really means (Gallup 2024)
• How social media shapes career expectations (Frontiers in Psychology 2021; LinkedIn 2023)
• What quitting well looks like — even in a tough economy

Some key takeaways are:

• The average employee tenure is now under four years (BLS 2024) — not because people are disloyal, but because the relationship between workers and employers has changed.
• Job hugging and quiet quitting aren’t laziness; they’re survival strategies in an unpredictable economy.
• Social media has made work feel public and comparative — it’s easy to question your path when everyone else seems to be “living their dream.”
• Quitting well starts with honesty — about what you need, what you can give, and what you’re no longer willing to trade for stability.

Resources:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024), Employee Tenure Summary
• Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report (2024)
• Forbes (Oct 2025), “Job Hugging: 75 % of Workers Staying Put Through 2027”
• Fortune (Aug 2025), “Why Workers Feel Stuck”
• Schmuck et al. (2021), Frontiers in Psychology, “Social Comparison on Social Media Increases Career Ambitions and Dissatisfaction”
• LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index (2023)

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

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⭐ Leave a Review: Your feedback helps boost the show and lets others know what to expect.

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Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with your hosts Karen and Anee. Today, we’re talking about the language of work — and how “professional speak” has become its own dialect. You know the one: “Let’s align,” “I’m at capacity,” “Let’s take this offline.”

In this episode, we unpack how trendy corporate buzzwords have quietly replaced clear communication — and why that matters. From email urgency bias to garbage language, we look at what all this jargon says about the culture of work, and how we can sound smarter by keeping things simple.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why businesses lose over $1 trillion a year to poor communication
• The rise of “email urgency bias” and what it’s doing to our brains
• How “corporatese” shapes power, clarity, and belonging at work
• The evolution of buzzwords — from “buy-in” to “alignment”
• What true professionalism sounds like in 2025

Key Takeaways:

• The clearest message is usually the most powerful one.
• Jargon doesn’t build credibility—clarity does.
• If you want to sound smart, say it simply.

Resources:

• Grammarly State of Business Communications Report 2024
• It’s time to streamline how we communicate at work
• "Per My Last Email" — Can Your Corporate Jargon Be Discouraging Individuality?-
• Gen Z Slang is Revolutionizing Work Jargon

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

❤️ Follow: Connect with us on LinkedIn.
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⭐ Leave a Review: Your feedback helps boost the show and lets others know what to expect.
📢 Share: If you found today’s discussion insightful, pass it along to colleagues and friends!

Welcome to another episode of Don’t Do That! with your hosts Karen and Anee! Today, we’re diving into the idea of work-life balance. We unpack what aspects of work culture support or prevent work-life balance.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The negative impacts of America’s “always-on” work culture
• How employers can support well-being through flexible work hours, more vacation days, and better benefits.

Some key takeaways are:

• Work-life balance is not one size fits all.
• Work-life balance is not given to you. You must reclaim it.

Resources:

• Work-Life Balance: Is the American Model Getting a Bad Reputation?
• Survey: 82% of Employees Expect Employers to Support Work-Life Balance

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

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⭐ Leave a Review: Your feedback helps boost the show and lets others know what to expect.
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In this episode of Don’t Do That!, we’re reflecting on our first season of the podcast. We are joined by Jael Henry, podcast producer. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• The most memorable episodes and what resonated as co-hosts and producer.
• The most surprising moments and what we learned about podcasting!

Some key takeaways are:

• Start the thing and find the people to take it from ok to great!

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

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Today, we’re getting personal. We’re talking about our leadership styles. We dive into the experiences that have influenced our approach to leadership, including characteristics we want to model or avoid. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• Tips to develop your personal leadership style
• The life experiences that shape our leadership style and how we want to keep growing

Some key takeaways are:

• Leadership styles start from within, not outside yourself.
• Due to bias, women can be perceived as less smart when they are warm and less approachable when they are competent.
• Cultivate your leadership style now. Don’t wait for a specific title or role.

Resources:

• 4 Tips for Developing your Personal Leadership Style by Emily Ostermeyer

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

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⭐ Leave a Review: Your feedback helps boost the show and lets others know what to expect.

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In this episode of Don’t Do That!, we talk about the intersection of social media and the workplace. From personal brand-building to blurry boundaries, we explore how professionals can use their online presence to amplify their work—without crossing the line.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Arnold Ford, an educator and vice principal at a school in Philadelphia, uses his platform as a timeline cleanse to share joy
• How professionals can decide what to post and what to keep IRL (in real life)

Some key takeaways are:

• Engaging with social media is not without its risks. Professionals should think about their responsibility online.
• Social media platforms give everyone a brand. Professionals should be choiceful in creating a brand that represents them well.

Resources:

• Follow Arnold Ford on Instagram @unklearnold

If you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

❤️ Follow: Connect with us on LinkedIn.
🎙 Subscribe: Follow Don’t Do That! on your favorite podcast platform.
⭐ Leave a Review: Your feedback helps boost the show and lets others know what to expect.
📢 Share: If you found today’s discussion insightful, pass it along to colleagues and friends!