What do you do when your job prevents you from doing what feels right? In this episode Robin sits down with Tess Gittleman, MA, LMFT and corporate therapist to explore systemic dysfunction, burnout, values and their worst memory that they never saw coming.

Together, they discuss the often invisible emotional infrastructure of organizations: how unchecked emotional labor impacts performance, why misalignment between personal and organizational values fuels burnout, and what leaders get wrong about conflict, communication, and “work-life balance.”

Tess shares a deeply unsettling worst professional memory involving an ethical double bind early in her career—one that still surfaces years later—and unpacks why some professional experiences are supposed to feel unresolved. The conversation expands beyond therapy into leadership, corporate culture, neurodiversity, and the emotional economics of work.

Key topics discussed:

• Emotional economics: the real cost of disengagement, burnout, and unresolved conflict

• Why rupture isn’t the problem—failure to repair is

• The myth of “work-life balance” and what to aim for instead

• Values conflicts at work and how they quietly erode well-being

• Navigating ethical gray areas, shame, and radical acceptance

• Neurodiversity, generational differences, and building inclusive emotional systems

• Why “radical candor” often fails without trust and skill

• How leaders can build communication agreements and emotional infrastructure without a big budget

Key takeaways:

• You can’t avoid conflict—but you can learn how to repair it

• Values misalignment doesn’t mean failure, but it does require honest reflection

• Sustainable work isn’t about perfection or balance—it’s about continual recalibration

• Feeling discomfort or shame can be a signal, not a flaw

• Every day at work is a data point for what you can tolerate, change, or leave

This episode is for leaders, managers, and professionals who want to do meaningful work without sacrificing their mental health—and who are grappling with the uncomfortable truth that sometimes there is no perfect answer, only the most livable one.

From “Hunger Games” Interviews to People-First Leadership with Jon Beck, VP of People at ButcherBox

In this episode of My Worst Memory: A Workplace Safe Space Podcast, host Robin Cohen (Founder of Happier Office) talks with Jon Beck, VP of People at ButcherBox, about one of the most infamous hiring processes of his career — and the leadership lessons it sparked.

What starts as a “Hunger Games–style” interview story quickly unfolds into a conversation every executive should hear: how candidate experience shapes brand reputation, why values-based leadership is non-negotiable, and how people strategy directly drives business performance.

Together, Robin and Jon explore:

• Why candidate experience is as important as customer experience for your brand.

• How values-based hiring creates long-term ROI and retention.

• The case for authenticity and vulnerability as executive leadership traits.

• Onboarding as a strategic lever for productivity and cultural alignment.

• Why investing in benefits, flexibility, and people-first practices is not a cost center but a competitive advantage.

Whether you’re scaling a startup or leading an established enterprise, this conversation challenges you to rethink how hiring and culture directly impact growth.

• Every interview is a brand moment. Poor processes turn top talent away.

• Culture is strategy. Values alignment beats technical skills for long-term performance.

• Onboarding is leadership. First 90 days define engagement and retention.

• Authenticity scales. Vulnerable leaders build trust and unlock stronger teams.

• People investment fuels growth. Benefits and flexibility create loyalty that compounds.

If you’re leading through growth, restructuring, or cultural transformation — this episode will change the way you think about people strategy.

Layoffs delivered with a side of pizza? Sales leader and DEI advocate Jevic Muteba joins Robin to unpack one of the most bizarre workplace stories—and the leadership lessons that followed. They talk layoff survivor guilt, emotional EQ, and how real culture is built in community, not conference rooms.

What do you do when you do everything right, and it still isn't enough? In this episode of My Worst Memory, host Robin Cohen sits down with Demi Tsasis, Founder of Product Growth Coach (ex-AllTrails, MyFitnessPal) to discuss how she survived switching careers during the major Under Armour / MyFitnessPal acquisition. Oh, and don't worry–it definitely wasn't easy, straightforward or intuitive. Formative career moment? ✅

Episode themes: self-advocacy, knowing your worth, salary discrepancies, job changes, personal growth

Chapters

03:00 "Let's circle back"

04:57 When Business Feels Personal

09:06 Demi's Worst Professional Memory

18:12 An Advocate vs. Friend vs. Ally

22:45 STUDY: Debate Training Can Change Your (Work) Life

28:26 Embracing Discomfort for Growth

30:10 Recognizing When to Move On

31:53 The Watercooler: Take It or Leave It

33:48 It's a Scam: Unlimited PTO

Keywords: workplace culture, product management, self-advocacy, corporate jargon, decision-making, communication, career growth, organizational dynamics, employee relationships, professional development

Have you ever thought you were doing great work, only to be blindsided by a terrible review? We're talking so terrible that you might lose your job. You're not alone.

In this episode of 'My Worst Memory,' host Robin Cohen sits down with Colin Dinnie, Employee Experience Specialist & DEIB at Wistia, about the importance of honesty and transparency in the workplace. They discuss the evolving nature of DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging), the challenges companies face in maintaining these initiatives, and the critical role of belonging in fostering a positive workplace culture. Colin shares his personal journey into DEIB, the significance of transparency in hiring practices, and the impact of effective communication on employee experience. The conversation also touches on the importance of self-advocacy, learning styles, and building trust within organizations to enhance overall health and productivity.

Chapters

00:54 Understanding DEI vs DEIB: The Importance of Belonging

02:43 DEI & Politics Today

05:47 How Diversity Benefits Your Customers

08:31 Making The Gold Standard Achievable

09:28 Transparency in DEIB: Sharing Successes and Failures

09:29 The Journey to DEIB: Colin's Background

11:38 Get To Know Colin: Non-Traditional Career Path

14:08 Side Tangent: Microdecisions

14:48 Colin's Worst Memory: The Performance Review

17:42 Manager Enablement

18:51 The Importance of Effective Management

19:29 Let's Run The Numbers: Impact of A Bad Manager

21:23 The Symbiotic Relationship Between Managers and Employees

22:23 The Silver Lining: Honest Communication

23:55 Advocating for Yourself in the Workplace

25:23 How To Advocate For Yourself

28:17 Understanding Learning Styles for Better Communication

29:39 The Watercooler: Learning Styles

33:11 Building Trust and Communication in Organizations

If your job is on the line, how would you perform? In this episode of My Worst Memory, host Robin Cohen speaks with Freddy Dabaghi, Chief Transformation Officer at Crispin, about the time his highly competitive CEO raised the stakes in a client meeting. Option 1: be the best. Option 2: lose your job.

They discuss the importance of self-confidence in leadership, the dynamics of team collaboration, and coping strategies for maintaining forward career progression mid-acquisition. Freddy shares a memorable experience from a high-pressure client meeting and emphasizes the need for a supportive work environment that values diversity and individual strengths. The conversation also touches on the role of personality tests in understanding team dynamics and the importance of open communication among C-suite executives.