The Hard at Work Podcast

What does it actually take to build something from scratch—and stay sane while doing it? Ellen talks with Jaebadiah Gardner, founder of Gardner Global, about building wealth, the importance of believing in yourself, and pushing past barriers as a Black and Latino entrepreneur. They get real about hustle culture, staying grounded, and what success looks like behind the scenes (it’s not always as pretty as it seems on the surface). If you’ve ever felt stuck, under-resourced, or underestimated, this one’s for you. A thoughtful, no-BS conversation about drive, ambition, and getting in the room where it happens—even when you don’t know anyone there.

Show Links:

• Find Jaebadiah’s book, Believe in Yourself, here

• Learn more about Jaebadiah’s company, Gardner Global, and all the cool work they are doing in Seattle.

• Connect with Jaebadiah on LinkedIn and Instagram

When life blows up, who do you become next? In this deeply honest episode, Ellen sits down with Merritt Minnemeyer — founder of Master of One Coaching, speaker, and creative powerhouse — to talk about leading through loss, finding your true self when your old story no longer fits, and why so many women keep outsourcing our wisdom to everyone but ourselves.

You’ll hear how Merritt turned unimaginable grief into a mission to help leaders come home to themselves — and what that really looks like when you’re stuck, burned out, or feeling trapped in the life you thought you wanted.

A reminder that the story you’re living now isn’t your final chapter — and you get to write what comes next.

leadership coaching, finding yourself again, rebuilding after loss, conscious leadership, women in midlife, executive coaching, nonprofit leadership, self-reflection for leaders, personal growth, conscious business, arts leadership, living with purpose, coming home to yourself, trapped by choices, how to pivot your career, Merritt Minnemeyer, Master of One Coaching, human-centric work, conscious capitalism, resilience after grief.

In this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen sits down with Robbin Hudson — founder and CEO of Gradient, the Human Equity Think Tank, and an executive and leadership coach. Together, they dig into what it means to truly lead with people at the center — and why so many workplaces still get it so wrong.

Robbin shares her journey from philanthropy and grassroots leadership development to founding Gradient, a consulting and coaching firm that prioritizes human equity over doing things they way they've always been done. She explains how deep listening, brave spaces, and “starting at stuck” help leaders and organizations align who they say they want to be with who they actually are.

They talk about how intergenerational workplaces, burnout, and “golden handcuffs” keep people stuck — and how clarifying your core values and building both a “stay plan” and a “go plan” can help you get unstuck. Robbin also offers real talk for managers trying to create change inside systems that resist it, plus why your story — and your unique leadership DNA — matter.

Whether you’re an executive, a middle manager, or someone trying to survive a system that doesn’t center your humanity, you’ll walk away from this episode with practical wisdom on how to start — right where you are.

Keywords: human-centric leadership, executive coaching, nonprofit leadership, DEI consulting, brave leadership, burnout at work, intergenerational workplaces, leadership DNA, coaching for leaders, storytelling at work, psychological safety, people and culture, human equity think tank, Gradient Consulting, Start at Stuck, values-based leadership, workplace culture change, philanthropic leadership, boundary setting, career clarity, stuck at work

In this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen is joined by Ryan Stadt—Senior Talent and Inclusion Manager at Cengage Group and executive coach—for a conversation that gets real about what it actually takes to support and grow people-centered leaders.

Ryan shares what it looks like when leadership development is fully resourced and taken seriously—and how even organizations without big budgets can design meaningful programs for new managers. From pulse surveys and coaching cohorts to the difference between protecting your team and empowering them, this episode offers both tactical tools and deep insight.

Ellen and Ryan also talk openly about the current backlash against DEI, how to keep doing the work even if you stop using the acronym, and why equity-focused change starts with small but intentional decisions.

Whether you’re a burned-out middle manager, an HR leader trying to shift workplace culture, or just someone trying to lead without losing your mind, there’s something here for you.

Oh—and you’ll definitely want Ryan’s fiction recs.

You’ll hear about: the biggest mindset traps new managers fall into, why slowing down is essential to good leadership, what to delegate (and how), the right way to check in with your team, and why designing your own leadership program might be the best move you can make.

Keywords: burnout, leadership development, delegation at work, people management, workplace equity, DEI backlash, inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence at work, HR best practices, new manager training, psychological safety, executive coaching, workplace flexibility, healthy work culture, employee engagement

This solo episode of Hard at Work is not about inspirational poster values. It's about the real ones—the ones that shape your decisions, your burnout, your boundaries, and your sense of self.
Host Ellen Whitlock Baker digs into why so many of us (especially women) are unclear on what actually matters to us—and how we often end up living by values handed to us by workplaces, families, and old identities. She shares a powerful, simple framework for getting honest about your core values, inspired by Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead values exercise, and explains how clarifying your true values can be the difference between feeling stuck and finally finding clarity.
This episode is for anyone spinning on a big life or career decision—or just feeling disconnected from themselves. You’ll learn how to spot the values that are actually guiding your behavior, and how to start naming what really matters.

🔗 Resources & Links

🧭 Download the Free Dare to Lead Values Exercise
https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/

📚 Learn more about Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead
https://brenebrown.com/book/dare-to-lead/

👋 Interested in coaching with Ellen?
Explore 1:1 and group options at
https://www.ewbcoaching.com/coaching

📬 Get Ellen’s newsletter for future workshops & tools
https://www.ewbcoaching.com/newsletter

📩 Reach out directly via email
[email protected]

In this vulnerable and wide-ranging conversation, personal branding expert Cat Coffrin joins Ellen to unpack what happens when ambitious women hit a wall—and realize they’ve lost themselves in the process. From working in global policy and green building to launching her own consulting firm, Cat’s story mirrors what so many mid-career professionals experience: success on paper, but disconnection underneath. Through honest storytelling, humor, and deep personal reflection, Cat shares how she rebuilt her identity—and how others can too.

You’ll hear why personal branding isn’t just for entrepreneurs or influencers—it’s a reclaiming tool for anyone feeling lost in a job that no longer fits. Ellen and Cat explore the pressures of perfectionism, the emotional toll of caregiving and grief, and the radical act of telling the truth in professional spaces. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m proud of what I’ve built… but I don’t recognize myself anymore,” this episode will speak to your soul.

What happens when you’ve built a successful career—and suddenly realize you don’t want it anymore?

In this solo episode, Ellen Whitlock Baker gets honest about what it feels like to want more from your work—even when you're grateful, even when you’re respected, even when you’re “winning.” From the guilt that creeps in (“Other people would kill for this job”) to the fear of disappointing your team, Ellen unpacks the internal tug-of-war so many women experience when they’re quietly burning out.

Through stories, personal reflection, and one unforgettable quote from the 90s ballet movie Center Stage, this episode is for anyone who’s felt stuck in a role that no longer fits—but doesn’t know how to walk away. You’ll also hear about the “Start Anyway” journaling prompt Ellen uses in her workshops to help people take the first step toward change (without a perfect plan).

If you’ve been hearing the quiet voice in your head saying, “I think I’m done here,” this episode is your permission to listen.

👉 Join the waitlist for the Start Anyway Workshop
https://www.ewbcoaching.com/start-anyway

📬 Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter so you don’t miss the next workshop or new podcast episodes
https://www.ewbcoaching.com/newsletter

❓ Have a question about work? Submit it anonymously for a future episode!
https://www.ewbcoaching.com/ama-about-work

📱 Follow on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ewbcoaching

Empathy doesn’t mean letting people off the hook. In this honest and energizing episode, Ellen sits down with Jaime Hunt—consultant, author of Heart Over Hype, and higher ed veteran—to talk about what it means to lead with heart and hold people accountable.

They dig into the unique challenges of higher education, why so many managers are unprepared for leadership, and what it really looks like to support your team without sacrificing results. From using coaching techniques to having hard conversations with care, Jaime shares actionable strategies for leaders who want to make work better—without burning themselves (or their people) out.

Get your copy of Heart Over Hype, Jaime's book, here!

Plus: when to walk away, how AI can help you practice empathy, and why turtles might be the best coworkers of all.

🎧 You’ll hear about:

How to lead with empathy while still expecting results

Why coaching is underused but transformational in higher ed

Practical strategies for managing overwhelm and supporting struggling employees

What it takes to bust silos and actually lead change

The power of boundaries—and how to set them without guilt

In this solo episode, Ellen Whitlock Baker takes on one of the sneakiest forms of self-sabotage at work: people-pleasing. Especially when it comes wrapped in the flattery of a “you’re next for promotion” promise—with none of the pay or power to match. If you’ve ever been told you’re being “groomed” for leadership but asked to keep doing the extra work without compensation, this one’s for you.

Ellen shares real-world scripts, a spicy mindset shift ("That sounds like a you problem!"), and three actionable options for those dealing with performative promotions—especially in under-resourced workplaces. Plus, a deep dive into why people-pleasing is so common for women, public sector workers, and those socialized to avoid conflict at all costs.

You’ll hear strategies to hold your boundaries without guilt, protect your time and energy, and respond to that late-night Slack message with confidence (and maybe a little sass). Spoiler: It’s okay if not everyone likes you. Also discussed: white supremacy culture, trauma responses, and why your self-worth is not up for negotiation.

Episode Links:

• Submit an anonymous AMA question about work
  Have a tricky work situation or boundary challenge? Ask anonymously and Ellen might answer it on the show.

• Tema Okun’s White Supremacy Culture site
  A thoughtful, nuanced look at the characteristics of white supremacy culture that show up in our workplaces—and how to challenge them.

• Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

  • Book info & purchase link

• The Book of Boundaries by Melissa Urban

  • Book info & purchase link

Busy is a badge we never asked for—and it’s time to put it down.

In this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen sits down with speaker, strategist, coach, and author Kishshana Palmer to talk about what it really means to lead without burning out—and why “busy” has become the badge no one actually wants to wear -- all topics covered in Kishshana's new book, Busy Is a Four Letter Word.

Kishshana shares stories from building her own boutique firm and managing 40-person teams across time zones, showing us how you can create humane, high-performing work cultures—even inside giant bureaucracies. They talk about the power of micro-cultures, why middle managers carry the heaviest loads, and how to build trust on a team without losing yourself in the process.

From pop culture references to practical delegation tips to a love letter to The Golden Girls, this episode is full of perspective-shifting ideas that challenge what leadership is supposed to look like—and what’s possible when we center people, not performance optics.

🎧 You’ll hear about:

• Why “collegial” is more powerful than “corporate”
• How to build a culture of care in rigid systems
• What middle managers really need to thrive (hint: it’s not a productivity tool)
• What The Golden Girls can teach us about leadership, loss, and starting over
• The courage it takes to begin again after failure—and why we need to talk about it more

📥 Plus: Why every team should do a quarterly step-back, how to let go of busywork, and why showing up with empathy is a strategy, not a soft skill.

Buy Busy is a Four Letter Word here

Visit Kishshana's website