No One Knows What They're Doing

Welcome to Season 2 of No One Knows What They’re Doing! 🎉 This season, we’re taking it LIVE—you’re calling in, and I’m giving you real, unfiltered, big-sister career advice on the spot.

And today’s caller? Michelle is ready to quit her job… but she’s TERRIFIED of how her boss and coworkers will react. Why? Because her workplace has that “we’re a family” dynamic (AKA a walking red flag 🚩).

In this episode, we dive into:
✅ How to quit a job when your workplace guilt-trips you into staying
✅ Why you don’t owe your boss a “heads up” before you resign
✅ The exact phrases to use if your boss tries to manipulate you (so you don’t get trapped in a long, awkward convo)
✅ How to stop overthinking your exit and actually just leave

👀 Tune in if you’ve ever felt guilty about quitting a job you KNOW isn’t right for you—and let’s work through it together.

🎙️ Want to be on Season 2 of No One Knows What They’re Doing?
👉 Apply here: AdviceWithErin.com/SHOW

💡 TAKE THE FREE CAREER QUIZ! Find your ideal career based on your personality & lifestyle: advicewitherin.com/quiz
📩 Join my weekly Hyper Helpful Newsletter for career & communication tips: hyperhelpful.com
🔔 Subscribe for more relatable career advice!

00:00 - Welcome to Season 2! Taking calls LIVE 🎉
01:12 - Michelle is ready to quit… but her workplace feels like a family 🫠
02:45 - How to stay calm, confident, and professional when you quit
04:03 - The exact phrases to use if your boss guilt-trips you into staying
06:18 - Why you don’t need to “warn” your employer before quitting
08:30 - Michelle’s biggest fear about quitting—and how to handle it
10:02 - The one question you need to ask yourself before you quit
12:45 - Why your boss’s feelings are not your problem (and how to remind yourself of that)
4:30 - Final pep talk: You are NOT doing anything wrong by leaving!

Drop a 🔥 in the comments if you’ve ever felt guilty about quitting a job—let’s talk about it!

Welcome to Season 2 of No One Knows What They’re Doing! 🎉 This season, we’re taking it LIVE—you’re calling in, and I’m giving you real, unfiltered, big-sister career advice on the spot.

In this episode, we dive into:

✅ How to handle that “OMG, is this my life now?” post-grad panic

✅ Why feeling stuck in your first job doesn’t mean you’re doomed

✅ The TRUTH about entrepreneurship (and whether or not you should make the leap)

👀 Tune in if you've ever felt like the idea of a career makes you claustrophobic—and let’s figure this out together!

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🎙️ Want to apply to be on Season 2 of No One Knows What They’re Doing?

👉 Go to AdviceWithErin.com/SHOW to apply!

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💡 TAKE THE FREE CAREER QUIZ! Find your ideal career based on your personality & lifestyle: advicewitherin.com/quiz

📩 Join my weekly Hyper Helpful Newsletter: Get career and communication tips in your inbox: hyperhelpful.com

🔔 Subscribe for more relatable career advice!

__

Key Moments:

00:00 - Welcome to Season 2! We’re going LIVE!

01:22 - First caller: Tessa just graduated and feels stuck in her 9-5

02:35 - “Am I really going to work 40+ hours a week… forever?” 😳

04:54 - The cognitive distortion making you feel trapped

05:52 - What’s the worst-case scenario if you never take a risk?

07:03 - Signs you might actually be an entrepreneur

08:42 - Step 1: Find 5 people doing what you want to do and study them

10:22 - Why working for someone else first can help your future business

11:00 - BIG takeaway: You’re not stuck. You’re just getting started.

11:29 - FREE Career Quiz & Weekly Newsletter Signup

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Want to apply to be on the show? Go to AdviceWithErin.com/SHOW to apply! 🎙️

In Episode 13, Erin interviews Dr. Meg Jay, a developmental clinical psychologist who specializes in 20-somethings. A recent New York Times profile called Dr. Jay “the patron saint of striving youth” and her TED talk “Why 30 Is Not the New 20” is among the most watched to date. Erin and Meg discuss the current mental health crisis, pros and cons of medication, what the research shows about your 20s, and advice on how to spend your 20s (especially when it comes to feeling stuck or behind in your career!). Enjoy!

➞ In this episode:

0:00-3:39 Introduction

3:40-7:09 Meg Jay's Background

7:10-11:54 Realistic life working as a therapist

11:55-14:09 Fascinating 20-somethings research

14:10-15:39 Why your 20s aren't the best years of your life

15:40-17:24 Advice if you don't know what to do with your life

17:25-22:00 How to pick a job in your 20s

22:01-24:21 Thoughts on a "dream job"

24:22-27:30 Opportunity cost + decision making

27:31-32:34 What is "identity capital"?

32:35-35:59 Gen Z mental health crisis

36:00-38:59 Labels & self-diagnosis

39:00-

In Episode 12, Erin interviews Reshma Saujani, founder of GirlsWhoCode and MomsFirst, an activist and leader with over a decade of experience advocating for women & girls empowerment. In this interview, Erin asks Reshma about being the first Indian American woman to run for U.S. Congress, getting rejected from Yale Law School (but persisting and eventually getting in!), founding GirlsWhoCode and MomsFirst (organizations that have impacted 500,000+ women across the world), paid family leave, childcare affordability, feminism, motherhood penalty, and more (including our love for dogs!).

➞ In this episode:

0:00 Meet Reshma!

2:22 Reshma’s Childhood + Background (& dogs!)

4:41 Growing up the daughter of African/Indian refugees

6:13 School bullies, immigrant parents & growing up as a minority

9:30 Rejection + Yale Law School

19:33 Why we should stop talking about “Imposter Syndrome”

23:23 Current feminist wave

27:37 Running for public office in NYC (and losing)

34:09 Starting GirlsWhoCode

35:50 What is MomsFirst?

38:35 Paid Family Leave in the US

41:22 Why we “don’t love moms”

58:52 Taking care of mental health

1:00:00 PaidLeave.ai

1:03:51 Advice with Reshma + Erin

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↳ Follow Reshma on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reshmasaujani

↳ Follow Reshma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reshmasaujani

↳ Check out GirlsWhoCode! https://girlswhocode.com/

↳ Check out MomsFirst! https://momsfirst.us/

↳ Need some help? Write to us for a chance to have your question answered (anonymously) on the show: https://bit.ly/nokwtd

In Episode 11, Erin interviews Grace Wells, a Gen Z content creator, filmmaker, and self-made commercial director. During the pandemic, Grace was finishing up her bachelors degree in Linguistics when she discovered her passion for video.

She self-taught herself how to film, edit, animate, and produce videos. She started sharing her hobby online and went mega-viral overnight. Today, she has over 3 MILLION followers, was awarded Creator of the Year, signed on as a commercial director with Tool of NA, signed with Whalar, and has been hired to create ads for brands such as Maybelline, Celsius, Pampers, Amazon Prime Video, Adobe, QuickBooks, Old Spice, Kiehls, Cascade, Loreal, and many others.

We also talk about managing finances, social anxiety, COVID, and more. This episode is perfect for anyone looking to work for themselves, become a content creator or filmmaker, especially if you're in your 20s!

➞ In this episode:

0:00 Meet Grace!

3:11 Grace upbringing + background

4:14 Working as a content creator/director

6:28 Going to school in Scotland

11:10 Switching majors & COVID in the UK

19:20 Social Anxiety & Going Viral

22:47 How to teach yourself skills online

25:10 Monetizing internet videos

32:49 Long-term goals/plans/strategy

34:10 Managing finances as a content creator

39:33 Advice with Erin & Grace

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↳ Follow Grace on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gracewellsphoto

↳ Follow Grace on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracewellsphoto

↳ Check out Grace's COURSE! http://bit.ly/3Lh0HC9

↳ Need some help? Write to us for a chance to have your question answered (anonymously) on the show: https://bit.ly/nokwtd

LIVE from Yosemite National Park: Episode 10 is our first ~Special Episode~ ever! Erin interviews her dad, Scranton-born, Maryland-living business owner, speaker, and author (and father of 6 kids). We discuss topics ranging from planning beers, UFO, answering questions in job interviews, deathbed confessions, and much, much more. If you're looking for good ol' fashion life advice from a Dad, you found it!

➞ In this episode:

0:00 Meet Chris McGoff

1:14 Growing up in Scranton in a funeral home

5:19 The Planning Beer

8:55 Seeing a UFO

11:20 Because of/In order to

14:00 Choose vs. Decide

17:04 "Enjoy the Gap"

22:28 How to work with someone you don't like

32:45 Business Card

32:24 Best Career Advice

38:25 Best Financial Advice

40:00 Best Piece of Life Advice Ever

48:49 How to answer "why do you want to work here?"

50:53 Relationship Advice after 43 Years of Marriage

54:40 Concluding Beers & a Dad Joke

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↳ Connect with Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismcgoff/

↳ Buy The Primes: https://amzn.to/3KX3New

↳ Buy Match in the Root Cellar: https://amzn.to/3VRtLpT

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🎙️ Listen on Apple → https://apple.co/3SNBpPu

🎙️ Listen on Spotify → https://spoti.fi/3I6j6Qz

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→ Mics are Rode 🎙️

→ Chairs are from Target 🪑

→ Table is Article 🍸 https://bit.ly/42HJU37

→ Plants are from Bloomscape 🪴 https://bit.ly/48hjC8Y

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↳ AdviceWithErin Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/advicewitherin/

↳ NOKWTD Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nooneknows.show/

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↳ Need advice? Submit here → https://bit.ly/nokwtd

↳ Get my emails → https://advicewitherin.com/show

In Episode 09, Erin interviews Helene Sula (aka @heleneinbetween) to talk about why and how she moved to Europe (twice!). Helene, a Texas native, explains how she left the corporate world to become a full-time travel blogger and content creator. She explains how she moved to Germany, then back to the US, and then to the UK—with her husband and two large dogs. We discuss healthcare, maternity leave, monetizing your social media, being childfree by choice, and the pros and cons of living abroad.

➞ In this episode:

0:00 Meet Helene

2:12 Helene’s childhood + upbringing in Texas

7:52 - Helene quitting her corporate job

12:30 - Side hustles + toxic corporate jobs

18:58 - Moving to Nashville

20:33 - Moving to Germany

23:24 - Moving to Europe with a dog

27:28 - How to monetize blog/social media

29:00 - Being childfree by choice

33:35 - Should you move to Europe?

36:11 - Erin living in the UK

37:42 - Why do Europeans care about US so much?

39:41 - NYC EARTHQUAKE!

40:36 - Advice for people moving to Europe

44:00 - Maternity leave US vs Europe

47:39 - Visa + immigration hurdles

49:20 - Favorite part about living abroad

50:52 - Experience living in Germany

56:00 - Happiest countries in the world?

58:00 Advice with Helene & Erin

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↳ Follow Helene on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heleneinbetween

↳ Check Out Helene's BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/OClock-Tuesday-Trevi-Fountain-Unconventional-ebook/dp/B0C9ZDP2YK

↳ Need some help? Write to us for a chance to have your question answered (anonymously) on the show: https://bit.ly/nokwtd

In Episode 08, Erin interviews Erika Ayers Badan (aka  @WorkWithErika ) to discuss being the first (and only) CEO of Barstool Sports, a company she just left after 8 years. We also discuss boundary setting, taking feedback, working with Dave Portnoy and the "pirate ship", handling criticism, the media landscape, being a woman in the workplace, hiring and firing people, and tips for navigating your career.

➞ In this episode:

0:00-1:27 Introduction

1:28-3:13 Leaving Barstool After 8 Years

3:14-5:43 Growing Up in New England

5:44-8:12 What is Barstool?

8:13-9:24 How Barstool Makes Money $$

9:25-10:14 Barstool Staff Breakdown

10:15-12:44 Growing Barstool from $5M to $300M

12:45-17:43 Advice for Hiring & Firing

17:44-20:01 Judgment Taking CEO Job at Barstool

20:02-23:24 How to Handle Criticism

23:25-30:38 Being the CEO of Barstool as a Woman

30:39-34:39 How to Make Hard Decisions

34:40-41:00 Thoughts on Workplace Boundaries in 2024

41:01-46:13 People Don't Want to Work Anymore?

46:14-47:15 Is Social Media Ruining Us?

47:16-51:41 People Pleasing & Likeability

51:42-52:49 Lesson Erika Learned the Hard Way

52:50-55:28 Erika's New Book: No One Cares About Your Career

55:29 Real Advice with Erin & Erika

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↳ Follow Erika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erika/

↳ Check Out Erika's BOOK! https://amzn.to/4dJfcvt

↳ Need some help? Write to us for a chance to have your question answered (anonymously) on the show: https://bit.ly/nokwtd

In Episode 07, Erin interviews Ryan Stygar (aka, @AttorneyRyan) to discuss Ryan's crazy career journey (from SoCal firefighter to running his own law firm). We also discuss employee rights & legal issues regarding salary, job interviews, career changes, discrimination, pregnancy, and much more!

➞ In this episode:

0:00-2:18 Introduction

2:19-3:42 Growing Up in San Diego, California

3:43-6:18 Parents Careers + College

6:19-7:20 Majoring in Philosophy + First Job

7:20-16:55 Working as a Firefighter

16:56-20:36 Firefighter to Law School

20:37-28:49 Rejected from 13 Law Schools!?

28:50-31:20 Worst Advice EVER

31:21-34:45 WATCH THIS PART (trust me)

34:46-36:38 Lesson Ryan Learned the Hard Way

36:39-38:04 Fake Cases

38:05-41:20 How to Ask a Lawyer a Question

41:21-44:50 Thoughts on Capitalism

44:51-46:51 Missing Paycheck? Try this!

46:51-50:58 How to Quit a Toxic Workplace

50:39-52:21 Asking Coworkers About Salary

52:22-54:20 What are PIPs...?

54:21-55:55 "Right to Work" & "At-Will Employment"

55:56-58:00 Advice for Business Owners

58:00 Real Advice with Erin & Ryan

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↳ Follow Ryan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attorneyryan/

↳Contact Attorney Ryan: https://linktr.ee/attorneyryan

↳ Need some help? Write to us for a chance to have your question answered (anonymously) on the show: https://bit.ly/nokwtd

In Episode 06, Erin interviews Alex Lieberman (aka, @alexlieb) to discuss how he co-founded the wildly successful newsletter, Morning Brew, and sold it a few years later for $75 million—all before 30. We talk about entrepreneurship, being a CEO, starting a newsletter, monetizing online business, raising funds for a startup, dealing with the sudden death of his father, dating, terrible advice, amazing advice, and why Alex didn't buy a Rolex or Ferrari when he became a multi-millionaire.

➞ In this episode:

0:00-2:33 Introduction

2:34-5:39 Growing Up in Jersey

5:39-9:50 College & Caddy-ing

9:51-14:54 Starting Morning Brew

14:55-18:11 Monetizing a Newsletter

18:12-22:35 Quitting His Job

22:36-31:43 Pitching Investors & Raising $750k

31:44-34:43 Selling Morning Brew for $75M

34:44-40:20 Seeing $$$ Hit His Bank Account

40:21-51:30 Alex's Father Dying + Grief

51:31-55:55 Alex's Morning Routine

55:56-56:40 The Worst Advice Alex Received

56:41-58:48 Advice That Changed Alex's Life

58:59-1:00:28 Alex's Role Model

1:00:29-1:01:42 The Definition of Success

1:01:43-1:03:13 How Alex Met His Wife

1:03:14 Real Advice with Erin & Alex

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↳ Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexlieb/?hl=en

↳ Subscribe to Morning Brew: https://www.morningbrew.com/daily

↳ Learn about StoryArb: https://www.storyarb.com/

↳ Need some help? Write to us for a chance to have your question answered (anonymously) on the show: https://bit.ly/nokwtd