Are you a Thermometer or a Thermostat?

In this episode of Grossly Competent, hosts Steve and Patrick get into a subject that everyone could use a little bit more of in the world today: Emotional Intelligence. Patrick unveils his expertise in this world while Steve actively listens and interrupts accordingly, just as nature intended.

But before then, the boys take the opportunity to plea to the masses for help in being a unified front to take out the most pressing of concerns in the world today: Cold-Messaging Scammers on Social Platforms (that may rhyme with 'Stinked-In').

Want in? Connect with us on Instagram and we'll hook you right up!

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: we're Grossly Competent!

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
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• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!

Wink twice and strap in for this ride!

In this episode of Grossly Competent, Steve battles the tail end of a cold and unveils a skill that may categorize him as the world's worst X-Men mutant while Patrick counters with his incredible inability to do extremely simple gestures and details the woes of women not succumbing to his 'double wink' siren song.

Afterward, the boys discuss TV shows that have been cancelled too soon and how it has turned into a bit of a self-fulfilling cycle for streaming services (here's looking at you, Netflix). Whether it's Love Monkey, Mindhunter, or The OA, the boys chat about them and somehow figure out a way to circle everything back to the professional world.

• Reddit: What is a TV show that got cancelled that you are still upset by?
• Love Monkey (Wikipedia / IMDb)
• MIndhunter (Wikipedia / IMDb)
• The OA (Wikipedia / IMDb)

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: we're Grossly Competent!

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
• LinkedIn: Steve
• LinkedIn: Patrick
• Follow us on Instragram: @grosslycompetent
• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!

Glad to see you again, Whats-her-name / Whats-his-nut?

In this episode of Grossly Competent, Steve and Patrick decide to change things up and not talk trash about LinkedIn... just kidding. After making a mockery of the prototypical 'cold message connection', the boys decide to actually have a nice and thoughtful conversation about Crucial Conversations. You know, those super awkward interactions that each of us has to come face to face at some point in our lives.

Well, luckily for you Steve and Patrick layout some ideas on ways to make them a little less painful and a bit more empowering for all parties involved. Because if anyone knows how to handle that conversation with HR about being too ugly, it's these two chuckleheads (with a little help from Simon Sinek, of course).

Simon Sinek - Having an Uncomfortable Conversation

Say the Right Thing: How to talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: we're Grossly Competent!

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
• LinkedIn: Steve
• LinkedIn: Patrick
• Follow us on Instragram: @grosslycompetent
• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!

Come get your tickets to the show, folks!

In this episode of Grossly Competent, Steve and Patrick reprise their original discussion of building trust in training from Episode 2 ('Never Let Go, Jack') and expanding it around building trust as a new employee or recipient of a new role. Between the two of them, there are enough synapses firing to at least achieve some solid ideas.

Before that, Steve decides to take the low-road and introduce the world's worst LinkedIn InMail scam he was the recipient of and does some light doxxing along the way. And finally, Patrick helps introduce some of the wonderful events you can expect at UggFest 2026* that are sure to delight and amaze for one low-price.

(*This is not an actual event but Steve and Patrick will gladly pretend it is.)

Oh, and come check out Innovation Overload and tell them Steve says 'Hi!'

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: we're Grossly Competent!

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
• LinkedIn: Steve
• LinkedIn: Patrick
• Follow us on Instragram: @grosslycompetent
• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!

Welcome to the New Year, Gang!

In this episode of Grossly Competent, Steve and Patrick take on the beginning of the year by tackling resol-A-tions and making bold predictions and hot-takes about the state of Learning and Development in 2026.

What will they predict correctly? What will they fail to obviously see? Will Patrick be right AGAIN!?

But first, witness Steve fail to pronounce basic words while Patrick enlightens everyone on the benefits of drinking faux-faux-Jager at a Non-Alcoholic event, and more!

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: we're Grossly Competent!

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
• LinkedIn: Steve
• LinkedIn: Patrick
• Follow us on Instragram: @grosslycompetent
• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!

Gro-Ho-Ho-Hos-Oss!

'Tis the season to lower your expectations for Steve and Patrick to deliver holiday cheer on this episode of Grossly Competent!

The two abominations - accompanied by their friend 'Jeeves' - go over some festive holiday out of office messages, air their annual grievances, and touch on their favorite holiday films to wrap up the year.

There are callbacks, shoutouts, and an incredible telling of the Night Before Grossmas that absolutely should not be missed!

Here are some links to some of the fun the boys brought up for your viewing delight:

Lowered Expectations - MadTV

A Review of the Greatest Christmas Movie according to Steve

AskJeeves - Remember that guy!?

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: We're Grossly Competent.

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
• LinkedIn: Steve
• LinkedIn: Patrick
• Follow us on Instragram: @grosslycompetent
• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!

What's Crack-a-lackin, Listeners!?

In this episode of Grossly Competent, Steve goes ROGUE and tells Patrick that he's actually capable of learning something! And that something is called The Two Token Theory, an interesting take on how our reactions to problem-solving can impact how others respond.

But before that, Patrick brings up the life policy of DBAD when things go wrong and there is nothing that can control it. Plus, there's other stuff, like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE - The Gourds - Gin and Juice

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: We're Grossly Competent.

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
• LinkedIn: Steve
• LinkedIn: Patrick
• Follow us on Instragram: @grosslycompetent
• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!

In this episode of Grossly Competent, Steve and Patrick set the record straight: They are not robots! Instead, they are Uggos sent from the basement of a townie bar to the modern world. (They can see how that could be confusing.)

While they aren't making Beeps and Boops or doing their best Tim Allen voiceover impression, the boys dive into benefits and disadvantages of Feedback in the Workplace, when to take it seriously and when it's OK to look beyond the noise.

And in case you're feeling extra wily and want to read up on NPS, here's a book.

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: We're Grossly Competent.

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
• LinkedIn: Steve
• LinkedIn: Patrick
• Follow us on Instragram: @grosslycompetent
• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!

In this episode of Grossly Competent, Steve and Patrick discuss whether or not it's necessary to chain yourself to industry-specific models / theories to find success or is it acceptable - if not beneficial - to just go rogue.

Along the way, the boys also chat about couches that silently judge and finish off with Patrick answering the deepest questions of the new kid on the LinkedIn block.

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: we're Grossly Competent!

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
• LinkedIn: Steve
• LinkedIn: Patrick
• Follow us on Instragram: @grosslycompetent
• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!

In this episode of Grossly Competent, Steve and Patrick come off their guest-high to bring you another installment of 'LinkedInfluencer Beatdown'!

That's right, this week Steve and Patrick slam down on disingenuous, whiny LinkedIn posts and provide meaningful methods to better connect with folks to build your network (that doesn't make you the target of ire).

Lastly, Patrick introduces a new and exciting way to connect which prompts Steve to come up with a listener contest!

For your reading and viewing pleasure:

• A disengenuous view of not connecting with everyone on LinkedIn
• You're better than this, Erin McGoff (but seriously, follow her if you don't already)
• This apron is cooler than everyone I know

Come for the chat, stay for the laughs, and run from our faces: we're Grossly Competent!

Support the show

Connect, chat, or chastise us, and here's how:

• Check out our website!
• LinkedIn: Steve
• LinkedIn: Patrick
• Follow us on Instragram: @grosslycompetent
• Email: [email protected]

Stay Ugly out there!