The Whole Assistant Podcast

By Annie CronerBusiness Education Self-Improvement How To Careers

The Whole Assistant Podcast episodes

May 14Top 3 Focus Hacks I Rely On
You’re invited to Empowered Seat, my membership designed to help you grow, lead, and rise alongside other powerhouse assistants.
Join Here → https://www.wholeassistant.com/empoweredseat
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Do you struggle to focus on what matters most?
In this episode, I share the top three focus hacks that have transformed how I work, both as an executive assistant and now as a business owner. These strategies aren’t about hustling harder, but about working smarter, creating intentional blocks of deep work, and designing your environment for fewer distractions. Whether you’re drowning in notifications or tethered to your inbox, you’ll walk away with actionable steps to reclaim your attention and elevate your impact.
In this episode, you will discover:
How batching and time blocking can help you reclaim up to 40% of your productive time.
Why reducing (or eliminating) phone notifications is key to maintaining deep focus, and how to do it without missing what’s important.
The power of closing out your inbox (even for just 20 minutes) to carve out true heads-down work time, plus scripts and strategies for setting expectations.
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

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Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
13 min
May 07The Top 3 Tools I Use on Repeat
You’re invited to Empowered Seat, my membership designed to help you grow, lead, and rise alongside other powerhouse assistants.
Join Here → https://www.wholeassistant.com/empoweredseat
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In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the top three tools I use on repeat in my business and recommend to executive assistants everywhere. These tools are game-changers that simplify workflows, save hours each week, and help you shine in your role. I'll walk you through exactly how I use each one and why they've become my go-tos, plus share a few guidelines to help you use them effectively and responsibly.
In this episode, you will discover:
How to leverage Text Blaze for effortless email and document templating that saves you hours and eliminates repetitive typing
What makes Cabinet a must-have calendaring app for executive assistants, including smart scheduling features and insightful calendar audits
Ways to use ChatGPT (and similar AI tools) to improve communication, spot process gaps, and support both your professional and personal growth—without risking sensitive information
Practical tips for evaluating and implementing new tools, plus essential reminders about following your company’s AI policies
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Tools I. mentioned:
Text blaze: https://blaze.today/
Cabinet: https://www.joincabinet.com/
Chat GPT: https://chatgpt.com/
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

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Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
14 min
April 30AI and the Elevated EA with Ebony Belhumeur
You’re invited to Empowered Seat, my membership designed to help you grow, lead, and rise alongside other powerhouse assistants.
Join Here → https://www.wholeassistant.com/empoweredseat
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Are you overwhelmed by the relentless hype around AI and unsure how it actually fits into your role as an executive assistant or support professional?
If so, you’re absolutely not alone. This episode is for you. I sit down with AI entrepreneur and former world-class EA Ebony Belhumeur to pull back the curtain on what AI really means for our industry, how we can move beyond the noise, and why support pros aren't as “replaceable” as the headlines might have you believe. We talk practical strategies for maximizing ROI with AI at work, the skills you actually need to thrive.
In this episode, you will discover:
Why most organizations (and individuals) are struggling to extract real value from AI tools, and what needs to change
The difference between basic prompt engineering and the deeper skill of context engineering, and why both matter for getting quality results
How AI is fundamentally transforming (not destroying!) the scope of assistant and support roles, and what this evolution means for your career path
Ready to future-proof your skills and see how you, uniquely, can thrive in the age of AI? Let’s dive in!
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Connect with Ebony on LinkedIn.
Sign up for early access to DappleAi.
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.
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Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
27 min
April 16The Smarter Way to Use Memberships (Without Burning Yourself Out)
For a limited time only, grab your Admin Week Bundle: https://www.wholeassistant.com/bundle
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If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “getting your money’s worth” from a course or membership, this episode is for you. I break down how I show up as a program participant, and share how to use any program or membership sustainably, guilt-free, and without burnout. Let’s flip the script on how participation can look, so you can get maximum value your way.
In this episode, you will discover:
How to rethink what “maximizing” a membership really means
Why showing up live isn’t required
The power of committing to “get what you came for” in any program or group, no matter your style of engagement
Why taking just one or two actionable nuggets from each lesson can add up to big transformation over time
Ready to reset your expectations and stop beating yourself up? Let’s dive in!
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

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Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
16 min
April 09The Power of Coaching Yourself with Lisa Philyaw
You’re invited to Empowered Seat, my membership designed to help you grow, lead, and rise alongside other powerhouse assistants.
Join Here → https://www.wholeassistant.com/empoweredseat
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Want to discover the secret to coaching yourself through any situation?
Every assistant faces moments when they feel tossed about by uncontrollable events or difficult colleagues. In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Philyaw; a life coach, community manager, and self-coaching advocate, to unravel how developing the skill of coaching yourself can transform your resilience, resourcefulness, and outcomes both at work and beyond. Together, we share personal stories (think: anxiety spirals and birth plans gone awry), practical frameworks, and emotional tools from the world of professional coaching.
In this episode, you will discover:
How to identify when you’re stuck in a thought versus an actual fact, and why this shift in perspective puts the power back in your court
The essential frameworks and mindset tools for coaching yourself through anxiety, uncertainty, and life’s unplanned events
How to process and leverage your emotions as powerful guides rather than hurdles
Ready to access your most resilient, resourceful self? This episode is for you!
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

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Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
31 min
April 02Crucial Conversations: Capability, Capacity, and Core Function
You’re invited to Empowered Seat, my membership designed to help you grow, lead, and rise alongside other powerhouse assistants.
Join Here → https://www.wholeassistant.com/empoweredseat
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Are you constantly taking on more and more just to prove your worth, but you’re still worried someone will think you aren't doing enough?
This episode is a game-changer for support professionals who keep saying "yes" and feel overwhelmed or undervalued.
As I write my book and reflect on the core challenges in our industry, I realize how many of us struggle to have honest conversations about our true capacity, our actual capabilities, and what the core function of our roles should be.
Today, I’m diving into why these conversations are non-negotiable if you want to avoid burnout, step into strategic partnership, and design a role that truly fits your strengths.
In this episode, you will discover:
Why discussing your capacity, capability, and core function is vital to your career growth and mental health
Why you may be avoiding these conversations, and the sneaky thoughts underpinning these reasons
The cost of avoiding these crucial conversations
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

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Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
18 min
March 19 Permission to Leave a Toxic Role
You’re invited to Empowered Seat, my membership designed to help you grow, lead, and rise alongside other powerhouse assistants.
Join Here → https://www.wholeassistant.com/empoweredseat
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In this episode of the Whole Assistant Podcast, I dive into what it means to work in a chaotic, less-than-ideal environment, why it’s okay to leave, and offer you the unequivocal permission to prioritize your own well-being.
If you’ve ever felt overly responsible for others’ emotions or questioned whether your situation is just a season, or your lasting reality, this episode will help you come back to yourself and get clarity on your next steps.
If this episode resonates, I’d love to hear from you at [email protected]. Let’s embrace your badassery and remind you: you don’t have to stay somewhere that doesn’t fit.
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

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Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
10 min
March 12E189 - Answers to Listener Questions
You’re invited to Empowered Seat, my membership designed to help you grow, lead, and rise alongside other powerhouse assistants.
Join Here → https://www.wholeassistant.com/empoweredseat
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In this episode of the Whole Assistant Podcast, I tackle a handful of your most burning questions, all focused on real-life challenges assistants face every day.
In this episode, you will discover:
How to set boundaries with your executive, especially when emergencies crop up, and why boundaries don’t have to be rigid to be effective.
Strategies for working alongside a Chief of Staff, clarifying responsibilities, and maintaining healthy working relationships when roles overlap.
How to handle being caught in the crossfire between disagreeing leaders, and the importance of facilitating resolution rather than absorbing their conflict.
If you've been craving practical answers, validation, and a dash of empowerment to tackle your day-to-day, this episode is for you.
Course on finding your next role: https://www.wholeassistant.com/dream-position
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
23 min
March 05My Personal Path to Better Boundaries
You’re invited to Empowered Seat, my membership designed to help you grow, lead, and rise alongside other powerhouse assistants.
Join Here → https://www.wholeassistant.com/empoweredseat
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In this episode, I open up and share my deeply personal journey with boundary setting, starting from a time in my life when I was operating on empty, people-pleasing, and struggling to find my footing both personally and professionally.
I reveal the pivotal moment (a health crisis) that forced me to reassess everything about my work, relationships, and self-worth. Through the ashes of burnout and hardship, I learned the power of boundaries and why they’re essential to thriving, not just surviving.
In this episode, you will discover:
How burnout, resentment, and lack of alignment can be key signals that boundaries are needed, and how I recognized these in my own life.
Why boundaries aren’t about pushing people away, but about creating a safe, dependable container for healthy relationships, including with your executive and colleagues.
Practical tips for identifying where boundaries are needed, how to set them intentionally (not reactively), and what to do when they’re tested.
Whether you’re an assistant, a support professional, or anyone learning to prioritize your well-being, my story will show you that even if you’ve been “unboundaried” for years, you can turn things around—one intentional step at a time.
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------
Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
26 min
February 26The 5 Pillars of Strategic Partnership
Check out The Leveled-Up Assistant course.
Learn more here → https://www.wholeassistant.com/levelup
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In this episode, I break down the 5 essential pillars that define a strategic partnership between assistants and their executives.
Drawing from my 20 years of boots-on-the-ground experience and coaching thousands of hours in the admin space, I share the core framework that has helped countless support professionals level up their impact, build genuine trust, and create thriving, fulfilling careers. Whether boundaries feel impossible or your systems need an upgrade, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to transform the way you approach your role.
You will discover:
Why finely-tuned systems and processes are the non-negotiable foundation for dependability and trust
The power of strategic alignment
How boundaries are key to preventing burnout and performing at your best
The role mindset plays in elevating your career
Ready to embrace your badassery and take your partnership to the next level? Let’s dive in!
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Have burning questions you've been dying to ask? Submit your question to Ask Annie Anything by clicking here.

----------------------------------------------

Enjoy what you're hearing on the podcast? Please rate and review wherever you're listening.
Stay Connected:
Snag your free strategic planning session guide.
Visit the website.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Send me an email: [email protected]
15 min

About The Whole Assistant Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to The Whole Assistant Podcast! I’m your host Annie Croner. I’m a former assistant who is passionate about the profession, and a certified coach who is invested in your success. You’ve come to…