We all communicate... but are we really saying what matters? So often, the most critical conversations at work are the ones we avoid. We dodge them to keep the peace, to protect ourselves, or because no one ever taught us how to navigate them well.

"Anything worth communicating is because you want somebody to know, do, or feel something. If it’s not landing, it doesn’t matter how you said it." - Andrew Blotky

In this episode of Unserious, we dig into what gets in the way of honest dialogue—and what becomes possible when we move through it. Leadership and communications expert Andrew Blotky, author of Honestly Speaking: How the Way We Communicate Transforms Leadership, Love, and Life and founder of Azure Leadership Group joins us to explore:

• Why self-awareness (and knowing your audience) matters more than what you say
• How clarity is one of the most underrated leadership superpowers
• Ways to give (and get) feedback that actually builds trust
• Simple frameworks for listening better, fostering inclusion, and making hard conversations less scary

It’s candid, a little irreverent, and full of practical wisdom you can bring to your next meeting.

Follow Andrew Blotky on LinkedIn and learn more about his coaching and consulting practice at www.azureleadership.com. Honestly Speaking... is available at https://a.co/d/5C3gCal

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When people feel seen, heard, and needed at work, everything shifts. Motivation, performance, retention and well-being all improve. Too often that sense of significance is missing, and the cost to teams and organizations is massive.

In this episode, we talk with Zach Mercurio, author of The Power of Mattering, about how leaders can create cultures where people genuinely feel valued. We explore:

- The difference between mattering, belonging, and self-esteem
- What happens when people feel invisible at work and how to prevent it
- The everyday practices leaders can use to help people feel significant
- Why in the age of AI, our ability to care for one another will be the most essential skill

"Mattering happens through interactions, not through awards, perks or programs. Our next great leadership act is in our next interaction." - Zach Mercurio

Prefer video? Watch on YouTube or Spotify.

Check out Zach's book, as well as free a self-assessment and templates at zachmercurio.com. 

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In uncertain times, many leaders play it safe: cutting risks, pulling back, and aiming for stability. But what if the better move is to be bold? In our latest Unserious episode, Puck News CEO Sarah Personette reveals how they practice courageous leadership by betting big and speaking up when much of the media world plays it safe by avoiding the line of fire. 

We unpack why news still matters, the business Puck is building, and how her team covers a White House that has moved from threatening news organizations to extorting them for cash and silence.

"Courage is a strategy, not a risk. We would all benefit from leading our lives with that perspective." - Sarah Personette

Watch the full video version on YouTube or Spotify.

Follow Sarah on LinkedIn and sign up at Puck.news.

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We invest so much time in building a portfolio of skills, experiences, a network of friends, a body of meaningful work - that many of us overlook the critical work of understanding and accepting ourselves. In this episode, J.B. and Molly talk to Helen Min of True Ventures about the impact of avoiding that work and the powerful force-multiplier for good it can be in our lives.

"It wasn't like one day I woke up and found my mojo, and then I started to join podcasts like this and talk about it. It was a process of finding where can I start out with the most confidence possible." - Helen Min

Watch the full video version on YouTube or Spotify.

Follow Helen on X or LinkedIn and check out the Great Chat Podcast at GreatChatPod.com.

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

Most companies are implementing AI backwards: they're starting with the technology and hoping their people will figure out how to use it. For the season opener of Unserious recorded live at the Meltwater Summit, J.B. and Molly sit down with Jennifer Kattula, CMO of Microsoft Advertising who revealed why the organizations actually succeeding with generative AI are doing the exact opposite. They're starting with their people. 

Follow Jennifer on LinkedIn and check out Microsoft Advertising to revolutionize your ad creation experience with Copilot.

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

How many of you have that idea for a great business nagging you in the back of your head? The one that you just know will make the judges on Shark Tank swoon? Or maybe it’s another idea altogether… writing a book, an adventure, going back to school to pivot your career? What is it that urges us to take that leap of faith and move forward? It’s not always about a perfectly executed plan. Sometimes it’s about resilience, having the right people around you, and more than a little bit of hustle.

In this final episode of season 3, J.B. and Molly kick off their shoes with Bianca to talk about what it takes to turn an idea into a thriving brand, the lessons she carried from Facebook into her own company, and why community is everything in business and in life.

"I never put pressure on myself to start a company. It was like this nagging thing I had to figure out if I could solve." - Bianca Gates

Follow Bianca on Instagram @biancagates and check out Birdies at birdies.com.

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

We all love a comeback story, and live comedy is one of the biggest to emerge from the pandemic. It offer us what we crave more than ever: shared experience, community, and levity. But how does that work in an era when social media has become a comedian's most begrudgingly important platform?

In this episode, J.B. and Molly talk with Danny Frenkel, founder and CEO of PunchUp Live, a platform revolutionizing how comedians connect with their audiences. From his roots in advertising to the grind of startup life, Danny shares what it takes to turn a creative vision into reality. This is a candid exploration of the sacrifices and rewards of following one's dreams, seasoned with wisdom on embracing creativity and the unpredictable nature of the entrepreneurial journey.

"Find something that you care so insanely passionately about that you're willing to put in all the work. Because, again, the only thing that I know is you've really gotta work hard." - Danny Frenkel

Check out punchup.live to connect with some of your favorite comedians, like Larry David, Michelle Wood, Roy Wood Jr., Tom Segura, and Aparna Nancherla! 

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

They say the average person sees something like 10K ads per day. A constant flood of messages and hooks, all vying for a sliver of our attention. So what does it take to be noticed? To be memorable? To be relevant? One way is to create moments that aren’t just seen, but are lived.

In this episode, J.B. explores the extraordinary with Judy Lee, Senior Director of Global Brand Experiences at Pinterest. The conversation is packed with ideas for live events and experiences that work in a new era where inspiration and authenticity take center stage.

 "It's not as much about 'let me take a photo of me being somewhere.' It's more about 'I want to experience something authentic...' We always have to think about who are we serving, how can we be additive to their lives?" - Judy Lee

Follow Judy on LinkedIn and Instagram @judyleebk.
 
Mentioned in this episode:

• North West / Daniel Roseberry take 
• Pinterest Predicts 
• Pinterest Manifestival 
• Pinterest Presents

Producer and editor: Micah Vono
Story producer and editor: Sarah Kuck
Associate producer: Justin Toy

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

Preparing for the future doesn’t make a lot of sense at a time when the unknowns feel like they outnumber the knowns. Nowadays we encourage our young people to be quick on their feet and have transferable skills. But what if instead of waiting for the future to happen, we could take an active role in designing it? What would it take to develop the mindset, imagination, and skills, to shape futures that are equitable, creative, and sustainable?

In this episode, J.B. and Molly explore the process of shaping our futures through creativity and empathy with Laura McBain, Managing Director of the Stanford d.school and author of the book My Favorite Failure.

"Our job is helping people recover the imagination they've always had. How do I not just imagine what that world might be, but how could I start building toward it?" - Laura McBain

You can follow Laura on LinkedIn to see her, in her words, "repost with no comment." 

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

For a week devoted to gratitude, we decided to revisit this episode with Ryan Modjeski about empathy, compassion, and curiosity, originally aired on November 9, 2023. There are so many great lessons in this episode, but the most important one is that empathy is teachable. Happy Thanksgiving, US listeners!

"The culture I try to build is one that is unafraid to try and the only real sin is making the same mistake over and over again." - Ryan Modjeski

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn and on Twitter / X.

Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.