Welcome to Secure the Damn Job, a special series on Five with Fry where I break down what actually works when you're applying for jobs. Sponsored by Hyreable (the career development wing of JenFryTalks), this three-part series covers cover letters, resumes, and interviews with real talk, real strategy, and zero fluff. Whether you're making a career move or entering the workforce, I’m here to help you show up strong and get hired.

We’ve covered cover letters. We’ve fixed your resume. Now it’s time to tackle the part that makes most folks sweat: the interview.

In this final episode of the series, I’m walking you through five key strategies to help you prep with confidence and actually show up ready. From “Tell me about yourself” to “Why do you want this job?”...we’re not winging it. We’re walking in with a plan.

Here’s what we’re digging into:

• Why saving the job description is one of the smartest prep moves you can make
• How to research a company without sounding like you copied their About page
• What to say when they hit you with “Tell me about yourself” (and where not to start)
• How to connect your experience to their needs with a clear, tailored response to “Why do you want this job?”
• And how to prep answers for predictable questions like strengths, weaknesses, and past mistakes—without rambling or blacking out mid-sentence

This episode is all about helping you show up ready to speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose—so you don’t leave the interview wondering what the hell just happened.

Ready to turn awkward interviews into offer letters? Hit play now.

Need some extra help with your resume, cover letter, or interview prep? Head over to Hyreable to work with me directly—and let’s secure the damn job.

Today’s college athletes are navigating a storm of pressures that previous generations never had to face, and it's costing lives.

In this powerful and urgent episode of Five with Fry, Dr. Jen Fry takes a hard look at the mental health crisis devastating college athletics, sparked by the heartbreaking death by suicide of LSU football player Kyren Lacy. It’s a wake-up call we can’t afford to ignore.

Athletes aren’t just competing on the field anymore. They’re performing under a microscope. Every play is dissected by millions online. NIL deals turn teens into business brands overnight. Sports betting adds a dangerous twist, with athletes receiving threats from people who lose money on their games. And all of this is happening while they're still trying to balance classes, practices, and the expectations of coaches, fans, and families.

Telling athletes to “be grateful” misses the point. This is a new game with new rules, and most universities haven’t caught up. Mental health support remains woefully underfunded, even as the demands grow exponentially.

Jen makes it clear: sports psychology isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. This episode challenges all of us to rethink how we support athletes, stop comparing them to "back in the day," and start advocating for the resources they actually need to survive and thrive.

Welcome to Secure the Damn Job, a special series on Five with Fry where I break down what actually works when you're applying for jobs. Sponsored by Hyreable (the career development wing of JenFryTalks), this three-part series covers resumes, cover letters, and interviews with real talk, real strategy, and zero fluff. Whether you're making a career move or entering the workforce, I’m here to help you show up strong and get hired.

Let’s be real: one-size-fits-all resumes are a lie. In this second episode, I’m walking you through the resume strategies that actually move the needle. You'll learn five powerful strategies to help you stand out, including replacing outdated objective statements with a compelling executive summary, incorporating quantifiable achievements with specific metrics, and saving every customized version to build your own personal resume library.

I’ll also show you how to make the job description your “North Star,” tailor your resume for each role, and get through those pesky applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for keywords before a real person even sees your application.

Whether you're switching careers or just getting started, this episode will give you the tools and the mindset to stay in the game. Job hunting is a marathon, not a sprint—but I’ve got your back.

Need some extra help with your resume, cover letter, or interview prep? Head over to Hyreable to work with me directly—and let’s secure the damn job.

Welcome to Secure the Damn Job, a special series on Five with Fry where I break down what actually works when you're applying for jobs. Sponsored by Hyreable (the career development wing of JenFryTalks), this three-part series covers cover letters, resumes, and interviews with real talk, real strategy, and zero fluff. Whether you're making a career move or entering the workforce, I’m here to help you show up strong and get hired.

Let’s talk about cover letters. Everyone loves to hate them, but when done right, they can open serious doors. In this first episode, I’m walking you through five essential strategies to craft a cover letter that actually gets noticed. From formatting musts like 0.4" top margins and no fonts smaller than 11.5, to what actually belongs in each paragraph, I’m giving you everything you need to make your letter clean, clear, and compelling.

We’ll talk about why your cover letter should mirror your resume (yep, I said it), how to highlight your strengths with a sharp four-paragraph structure, and why getting to the point is your new best friend. Whether you're actively job hunting or just refreshing your materials, these tips will change how you approach every application you send.

Need some extra help with your resume, cover letter, or interview prep? Head over to Hyreable to work with me directly—and let’s secure the damn job.

How to Handle the Emotional Side of Entrepreneurship (and Why Community Matters)

Let’s be honest—entrepreneurship is an emotional rollercoaster. In this episode of Five with Fry, I’m back with my mentor Ty Smith for part two of our conversation, and we’re getting into the real stuff: the emotional weight of building something from scratch and how to keep going when things get hard.

We talk about the gut-punch of rejection, the power of hearing “no” as “not yet,” and why learning to take feedback (without taking it personally) is a game-changer. Ty shares stories from the trenches, and we get into how even the most seasoned professionals can find entrepreneurship to be their toughest challenge yet.

Then, we shift gears and talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention: community. Especially for Black and Brown founders, the startup world can feel isolating—but it doesn’t have to be. We break down the dangers of relying only on friends and family for feedback, the trap of scarcity mindset, and the real magic that happens when we choose collaboration over competition.

If you’re building something and feeling the weight of it all, this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone—and that growth comes from both vulnerability and connection. Let’s talk about how to build a business and a community that lasts.

In this bonus episode of Five with Fry, I’m diving into a recent viral moment from the track world that’s got everyone talking—and not for the right reasons. A female athlete was caught on camera deliberately striking another runner during a relay race, then followed it up with a classic “non-apology” that did more harm than good. Sitting next to her parents, she delivered an implausible story about a baton mishap and losing her balance—despite video evidence clearly showing otherwise.

This situation is a textbook case of what happens when we dodge accountability instead of owning our mistakes. As I say in the episode, “Nothing has ever come from someone lying and not apologizing—nothing.” Whether you’re on the track, in a meeting, or navigating personal relationships, authentic apologies matter. They require vulnerability, honesty, and the ability to center the person who was harmed, not our own discomfort.

Tune in for a real talk about accountability, integrity, and why the coverup is almost always worse than the original offense. Let’s break the cycle of fake apologies—and learn how to actually do better.

Follow me on IG, Twitter, and TikTok @JenFryTalks, or connect with me on LinkedIn at Dr. Jen Fry. Stay curious, stay bold, and keep the conversation going.

Avoiding the Traps of Overconfidence: Five Lessons for New Entrepreneurs with Ty Smith

What if the biggest obstacle to your startup’s success is… you? In this episode of Five with Fry, I sit down with veteran lean startup consultant Tyrome "Ty" Smith to unpack the common missteps that trip up new entrepreneurs—like overconfidence, skipping market research, and asking the wrong questions.

Ty shares wisdom from 25+ years of experience, breaking down why customer discovery isn’t just a box to check—it’s the heartbeat of any successful business. You’ll learn how to conduct meaningful customer interviews, avoid the trap of false validation, and embrace the emotional resilience needed to adapt and grow. Inspired by Frank Gehry’s advice not to fall in love with your first idea, this conversation is a must-listen for founders navigating the messy, exciting world of entrepreneurship.

Stay curious, stay bold, and—most importantly—keep asking the right questions. Got a topic you want us to cover? Let us know!

More about Ty: Tyrome ‘Ty’ Smith has over 25 years of consulting and leading executives and their teams by helping them understand human and organizational dynamics. As part of his work, He developed an innovative education program for the Department of Defense, including coaching and mentoring product development teams engaged in an internal incubator. In addition, he has provided support to several organizations either as faculty or entrepreneur-in-residence, including Bowie State University, University of Maryland Innovation Extension Program, StreetCode Academy, Digital Undivided, and TechStars. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

The Soft Skill That Will Make or Break Your Career

We hear a lot about hard skills—degrees, certifications, technical know-how. But what about soft skills? You know, the ones that actually determine whether you thrive in your workplace.

In this episode of Five with Fry, we're talking about the soft skill that people love to avoid: conflict management.

Too often, conflict gets labeled as a workplace problem when, in reality, it’s an opportunity for growth, innovation, and stronger team dynamics. The issue? Most of us haven’t been taught how to navigate it. Organizations talk about wanting leaders, but do they prioritize skills like communication, problem-solving, and de-escalation in their hiring processes?

Here’s what we’re digging into:

• Why the soft skills vs. hard skills debate is misleading
• How conflict resolution can transform work culture (and your career)
• Why companies need to rethink job descriptions to highlight what really matters

Conflict isn’t something to avoid. It’s something to get better at. Tune in to this conversation and start seeing soft skills as the real power moves in your career.

If this episode resonates with you, subscribe, share, and leave a review.

When a Fun Volleyball Trend Becomes a Lesson in Consent

What happens when a seemingly harmless sports tradition gets people fired up about consent?

In this episode of Five with Fry, we’re talking about clipping—a popular trend in volleyball where players pin decorated clothespins onto each other. Sounds fun, right? But what happens when a player doesn’t want to be clipped? What happens when a young girl feels uncomfortable but doesn’t know how to say no?

That’s where this conversation takes a turn.

When I brought up concerns about this in a volleyball moms Facebook group, the backlash was real. People argued that clipping was “just for fun” and that “no harm was meant.” But here’s the thing: intent doesn’t override consent.

This episode isn’t just about sports—it’s about the bigger lesson we should be teaching young girls: how to set and enforce their boundaries. If we don’t give them the space to practice saying no in low-stakes situations, how can we expect them to do it when it really matters?

We’re diving into:

• Why traditions like clipping highlight the challenges young girls face in asserting themselves.
• The difference between good intentions and real consent.
• How early consent education builds confidence and autonomy.
• Why empowering girls to say “no” isn’t about taking the fun away—it’s about ensuring their voices are heard.

This isn’t about overreacting. It’s about recognizing how small moments teach big lessons. And if we want to raise a generation of young women who know how to hold their boundaries, we need to start paying attention.

Tune in to this episode of Five with Fry and let’s talk about why consent always matters—even when it’s “just for fun.”

Not Everything is Meant for You—And That’s Okay

Let’s talk about Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show—the performance that had some people on their feet and others scratching their heads. Was it a cultural masterpiece, or did it just not land for you? Either way, that’s completely okay—because not everything is meant for everyone.

On this episode of Five with Fry, we’re diving into the mixed reactions to Kendrick’s performance—what worked, what didn’t, and why some folks just couldn’t connect with it. We’ll unpack:

• Why audience expectations don’t always align with an artist’s vision
• The importance of understanding that not all art is made for you
• How critiques around politics, sound issues, and style reveal deeper biases
• The wisdom of a white mom teaching her kids that stepping outside their comfort zone is a good thing

If you loved it, let’s talk about why. If you didn’t, let’s explore what that means. Because in a world where entertainment is more than just mindless fun—it’s also cultural, political, and personal—it’s worth asking: What happens when we challenge ourselves to engage with art beyond our own experiences?

Join me for this deep (and fun!) dive into what it means to appreciate, critique, and expand our understanding of performance, culture, and artistic expression.