Based on the December 2025 LinkedIn article In the Middle Of Vacation. Thoughts From A Refreshed Mind by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode looks Stephen's recent PTO trip, burnout, and tips to avoid workplace burnout. Our AI hosts, Lily and Ethan discuss how consultants often burn hot and don't take time to recharge.

At the end of October, Stephen, launched his new business Mid (Break) Out and a new program targeted at early career consultants on corporate professions.

The (Break) From Here program is a 5-month small group mentoring program with interactive sessions, one-on-one mentoring, and a private online community to connect with your crew. Check out ⁠www.midbreakout.com⁠ to learn more and grab one of the 8 limited spots for the session starting in 2026.

Based on the November 2025 LinkedIn article series Leading in the Consulting World by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode looks at the challenges of being a new people leader. Our AI hosts, Lily and Ethan discuss how consulting companies often do not prepare individuals for their first role guiding others.

At the end of October, Stephen, launched his new business Mid (Break) Out and a new program targeted at early career consultants on corporate professions.

The (Break) From Here program is a 5-month small group mentoring program with interactive sessions, one-on-one mentoring, and a private online community to connect with your crew. Check out web.midbreakout.com to learn more and grab one of the 8 limited spots for the session starting in mid-Jan 2026.

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article series Consulting of Past, Present, & Future by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode is a bonus wrap up of the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan connect the dots of the four articles from September and provide highlights of the series.

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article The Ghost of Consulting Future: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 4 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode concludes the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the details where Stephen thinks consulting may be headed and how AI is impacting the industry.

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article TThe Ghost of Consulting Present: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 3 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode continues the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the details on some current events in the US and how that ties into the current state of consulting.

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article The Ghost of Consulting Past: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 2 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode continues the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the details on consulting roots going back to the 1800s up through present day as they look at how the industry has built up to where it is today.

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article My Career Can Rent a Car Next Year: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 1 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode kicks off the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the origin story of Stephen's consulting career and how it influenced him over the years.

Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn 4 week article series, You Can Be A Winner in The Game Of Consulting, from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode recaps the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week in the extended podcast our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss the staffing game, the performance review game, the imprints of clients in the consulting game, and the consultant's role as the commodity product within the consulting game. The provide their insights and tie some connections between the month's theme.

Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article You, Consultant, Are The Commodity: You Can Be A Winner in The Game Of Consulting - Part 4 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode continues the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss the good and bad aspects of employees being the commodity resource of the consulting machine.

Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article Short and Long-Term Wins with Client Relationships: You Can Be a Winner in the Game of Consulting - Part 3 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode continues the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss the importance of clients in the "game of consulting" and more importantly great relationships with clients.