The Clopen Effect

Cancer is not funny. Let’s be clear about that. But sometimes the situations we find ourselves in as retail workers leave us so stunned, all we can do is laugh or cry.

In this episode, Cassandra shares one of those moments. A customer casually dropped a very personal and medically graphic detail mid-conversation, leaving her wondering, “What do I even say to that?”

We unpack why this happens, why customers share so much with retail workers, how we’ve unintentionally become emotional support humans, and why nothing really shocks us anymore.

And honestly? It might be Cassandra’s fault. She has the most caring eyes in the business. People look at her and spill the info.

All The Clopen Links:

https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs!

https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

👕 Buy Our Cool Merch:

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💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen!

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Cassandra survives a sizzling Vegas heatwave and finally sees her first Elvis impersonator. Meanwhile, Meredith has a moment: she thought she saw a woman with no arms… but it was just a cold-shoulder shirt. Laugh with us this week! It's a good one!

All The Clopen Links:

https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs!

https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

👕 Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen!

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

We chat about how much time we actually spend in our cars, from sitting at red lights and waiting to turn left, to crawling through construction traffic and waiting in drive-thru lines. We also talk about how those minutes add up to days each year. We discuss coffee creamers and how we plan to make millions real soon.

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! PLUS, you receive early episode releases and fun gifts!

https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Do Not Engage Button: https://www.zazzle.com/do_not_engage_button-256862309992586518

Do Not Engage Keychain: https://www.zazzle.com/do_not_engage_keychain-256802771451075287

All The Clopen Links:

https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

👕 Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen!

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

One of us now knows the danger of Dry Ice in a closed vehicle. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide (CO₂). When it “melts,” it doesn’t become a liquid; it sublimates directly into a gas. That means it turns into carbon dioxide gas, which displaces oxygen in the air.

All The Clopen Links:

https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs!

https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

👕 Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen!

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

What the heck is a WigglyBush!? We dug into America’s $176B landscaping obsession, wild HOA rules (no red mulch?!), and Cass’s yard glow-up thanks to Johnny. From mulch math to HOA drama, we laughed, learned, and maybe judged a lawn or two. Cass even aced the landscaping quiz, and Meredith learned about helicopter seeds. 🌱🎙️

All The Clopen Links:

https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs!

https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

👕 Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen!

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Can Cassandra guess all the grocery words before time runs out? PLUS, we dish on Costco culture and share some real talk about surgery recovery (yes, even the parts no one warns you about).

All The Clopen Links:

https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs!

https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

👕 Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen!

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Happy 200th Episode to The Clopen Effect! Let's talk about mattresses.

Helpful Links:

All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Support the Show & Keep Us Recording: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: Available wherever you listen!

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

In this episode, Meredith and Julia talk pizza, pasta, and the Pope while traveling in Italy. Cassandra brings the sunny (and sometimes chaotic) energy of Florida. No deep dives here, just funny moments, quirky details, and the little differences we noticed between these two worlds. It’s all about enjoying the stories, sharing some smiles, and maybe leaving you craving a slice of pizza or a beach chair by the end.

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

🔗 Helpful Links:

✨ All The Clopen Links:

https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

☕ Support the Show & Keep Us Recording:

https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

👕 Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen!

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Kristen, owner of Aeon Gallery in Richmond, IL. joined us for laughs and a sneak peek into her Absinthe Lounge’s incredible upcoming vendor event, Spring Awakening, on April 27th! We chatted about her haunted photo book and the mysterious forces that knocked Moscow Mule mugs off the hooks. Good vibes, great art, and maybe a ghost or two - just how we like it. (Well, Cass is really only a fan of drinking spirits, not talking to them!)

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

🔗 Helpful Links:

✨ All The Clopen Links:

https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

☕ Support the Show & Keep Us Recording:

https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

👕 Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen!

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Many choose Retail as a fast-paced, people-driven career for the energy, flexibility, and growth opportunities (sort of). It’s not always easy, but it builds strong skills, opens doors, and can even lead to big money at the top. We’ve also got some hilarious retail-themed movie quotes and titles to share because if you’ve worked retail, you know it’s basically a comedy show!

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

🔗 Helpful Links:

✨ All The Clopen Links:

https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

☕ Support the Show & Keep Us Recording:

https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

👕 Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.