Earning Grey

Some phone calls seem ordinary until you realize there won't be another one.

In this deeply personal episode of Earning Grey, I share memories of my dad, a man with a contagious laugh, a love of terrible horror movies, and a talent for turning even poorly planned adventures into unforgettable stories.

From childhood weekends and family vacations to one familiar voicemail I wish I'd saved, this is a story about love, laughter, loss, and the unexpected ways grief continues to show up as we grow older.

Because sometimes, earning grey means realizing that you never really stop finding new reasons to miss someone.

I love music. When I was fresh out of school, I landed an internship at a company that represents bands. Clearly, my music-industry career was about to begin…assuming my car cooperated.

In this episode of Earning Grey, I revisit listening to demos, discovering a local band called Black Market Special, and an unexpectedly lasting introduction to Microsoft Excel.

Along the way, I reflect on the guidance I needed fresh out of college and the questions I didn’t yet know to ask. Sometimes, the experience you gain takes you somewhere you never planned to go.

At 23, I became a manager at the UNC Library. There was just one problem: I wasn't particularly good at managing people.

Difficult conversations? Avoided them. Shielding my team from unnecessary criticism? Hadn't figured that out yet. Navigating workplace politics? Let's just say I had some growing up to do.

But somewhere between my managerial missteps, I discovered something unexpected: I was actually pretty good at other things.

In this episode of Earning Grey, I look back at the job that taught me as much about my weaknesses as it did about my strengths, and how the skills I discovered more than two decades ago would quietly shape the rest of my career.

Because sometimes the job you're not particularly good at is the one that teaches you the most.

If I knew then what I know now...

Every grey hair has a story. This is where mine begins.

In the first episode of Earning Grey, I introduce myself and the idea behind the podcast: telling true stories from work and life, then looking back at what I believed at the time versus what I understand now.

Expect humor, a little sarcasm, and honest reflection on the experiences that shape us. I’m Stephanie Garrett, and I’ve earned a few grey hairs. Here are the stories behind them.