Diana sits down with Eric Nehrlich to explore how embracing personal agency can help you navigate burnout, rethink career expectations, and create more meaningful impact at work. This episode unpacks the hidden costs of chasing success and how reclaiming choice can transform your career.

• The concept of personal agency and why it matters in your career

• How burnout develops—even in high-achievement environments

• The hidden dangers of chasing promotions you don't actually want

• Why doing work that drains you accelerates burnout

• The role of leadership and business understanding in career growth

• How to evaluate trade-offs and make intentional career choices

• Reframing "being stuck" into active decision-making

• The importance of accepting consequences to unlock real choice

⏳ Timestamps 02:00 Eric's background: from physics to tech and leadership 06:30 Music, STEM, and blending skills in teams 10:00 Transitioning from engineering to business and leadership 15:30 Learning the importance of understanding the money 20:00 Becoming a translator between technical and executive teams 24:30 Chief of Staff role and impact at Google 30:30 Burnout story: working 100-hour weeks 34:00 When the "next promotion" isn't actually worth it 38:00 The moment of realizing you have a choice 42:00 Accepting consequences and reclaiming agency

💡 Take Action 🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away from your job? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📢 Connect with Eric Nehrlich 🌐 Website → https://www.toomanytrees.com🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehrlich/

📲 Follow Me LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt

What actually happens behind the scenes in recruiting? In this episode, Diana Alt sits down with Kelli Hrivnak, founder of Knak Digital, to unpack how recruiting really works from sourcing candidates to the business model behind recruiting firms. If you've ever wondered how recruiters evaluate candidates or why the hiring process can feel confusing, this conversation pulls back the curtain.

• The difference between internal recruiters and agency recruiters

• How recruiters are measured and how recruiting firms make money

• What "sourcing" actually means in modern recruiting

• What makes a candidate easier for recruiters to find and evaluate

• How mass applications and auto-apply tools are affecting hiring

• Signals recruiters look for that suggest someone may be open to a new role

• The reality of backdoor references and reputation management

• The controversy around reverse recruiting services

⏳ Timestamps 01:00 Kelli's unconventional path into recruiting (restaurant management and wine sales) 05:00 Nonlinear career paths and mid-career reassessment 09:10 Internal recruiters vs. agency recruiters explained 12:00 How internal recruiters are measured (time-to-fill and sourcing metrics) 14:20 How agency recruiters make money and how recruiting fees work 18:00 Contract recruiting, markups, and how staffing firms operate 23:10 What a "full desk recruiter" is 25:40 What sourcing means and how recruiters actually find candidates 30:00 How candidates can make themselves easier to find 32:10 Why hard skills and industry keywords matter in recruiter searches 34:20 How mass applying and auto-apply tools are changing hiring 39:00 Signals recruiters use to identify candidates who may be open to change 41:20 Backdoor references: what they are and why companies use them 47:30 Reverse recruiting and why it's controversial 52:00 Job search shortcuts vs. doing the work that actually matters

💡 Take Action

🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away from your job? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📢 Connect with Kelli Hrivnak

🌐 Knak Digital → https://www.knakdigital.com🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellihrivnak/

📲 Follow Me

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt

Bosky Mukherjee shares her journey from corporate executive to founder of SheTrailblazes and explains what truly differentiates high-performing functional leaders from business operators. They discuss commercial fluency, executive presence, sponsorship, burnout, entrepreneurship, and what it means to build a career that works on your terms.

If you're aiming for senior leadership or considering building your own path, this episode offers practical insight into what it really takes to be seen, sponsored, and strategically positioned.

• Why commercial fluency is non-negotiable for senior leadership

• The identity shift from functional leader to business operator

• Mentorship vs. sponsorship and why women need both

• Building influence in male-dominated executive environments

• Moving between corporate leadership and entrepreneurship

• Designing work that aligns with life and long-term fulfillment

⏳ Timestamps

00:00 Intro and guest introduction 04:10 Early career pivots and entrepreneurial experiments 12:15 Developing commercial fluency inside corporate 19:40 Executive communication and the director-level shift 28:20 Mentors vs. sponsors — what actually drives promotion 37:05 Women, power dynamics, and executive influence 46:10 Entrepreneurship, identity, and building your own table 55:30 Final thoughts on ambition, flexibility, and fulfillment

💡Take Action 🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com 📢 Connect with Bosky Mukherjee 🌐 SheTrailblazes → https://www.shetrailblazes.com/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/bosky/ 📲 Follow Bosky on Social Media: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/boskymukherjee TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@bosky_mukherjee

📲 Follow Me On Social Media LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt

In this reflective solo episode, Diana shares what she's learned after one full year of podcasting. She walks through the practical decisions, systems, and guest strategy behind the show but more importantly, the internal shifts that came from committing to something imperfect and staying consistent. If you've ever wondered what a year of sustained effort could do for your confidence, credibility, or career direction, this episode will resonate.

• Why consistency matters more than perfection

• The identity shift that comes from public commitment

• Building authority without writing a book

• Creating systems that make creative work sustainable

• Delegation, trust, and building a support team

• Choosing aligned guests intentionally

• Courage to reach out to bigger platforms

• What happens when you "do the thing" instead of overthinking it

⏳ Timestamps

00:00 Intro and one-year reflection 02:04 Why she started the podcast 03:24 Imperfect production and starting scrappy 04:55 Staying consistent and building a backlog 05:47 How she chooses podcast guests 08:14 The intentional guest mix and perspectives 11:54 Identity shifts after a year of podcasting 15:37 Delegation and building systems 16:24 Consistency as authority 17:07 Collaboration and deepened relationships 18:22 Lessons about starting before you're ready 19:54 The mission behind Work Should Feel Good 20:34 What's next for the podcast 21:22 Gratitude for the team and guests 22:23 Final encouragement and closing

💡Take Action

🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📲 Follow Me On Social Media LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt

Getting laid off can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you, but what if the real work begins after the shock fades?

In this episode, Diana sits down with Steve Jaffe, author of The Layoff Journey, to talk about the often-overlooked emotional side of job loss. From surviving four layoffs to helping others process theirs, Steve shares what professionals get wrong about "bouncing back" and why grieving your job is not weakness, it's necessary.

Key Topics or Themes

• Steve's career journey from advertising to author of The Layoff Journey

• What layoffs during the dot-com crash and post-9/11 taught him about resilience

• The seven stages of grief as they apply to job loss

• Why skipping emotional processing can hurt your job search

• Shame, dignity, and identity after a layoff

• How to manage anger and disappointment during a prolonged job search

• Practical self-care strategies that actually support career recovery

• What companies and leaders can do to handle layoffs more humanely

• Why "job security" is largely a myth — and what to focus on instead

⏳ Timestamps 00:00 Intro & meet Steve Jaffe 02:24 The "What Happens in Vegas" campaign story 06:09 First layoff during the dot-com crash 17:35 Multiple layoffs & career pivots 26:37 The seven stages of grief after job loss 31:20 Why emotional recovery matters before job searching 38:00 The role of shame, identity, and dignity 46:20 How leaders can handle layoffs more humanely 52:10 The hardest parts of layoffs people don't expect 57:45 Lightning round & final advice

💡 Take action 🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📢 Connect with Steve Jaffe 🌐 Website → https://thestevejaffe.com🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaffesteve/ 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/stevejaffethelayoffjourney/ 📘 Grab Steve's book The Layoff Journey → https://www.amazon.com/Layoff-Journey-Dismissal-Discovery-Navigating/dp/B0DXSDCQPY

📲 Follow me on social media: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedianaalt

#CareerGrowth #WorkShouldFeelGood #LayoffRecovery #CareerResilience #JobLossSupport

You're doing great work… So why hasn't that promotion happened yet? Diana breaks down the five real reasons promotions get delayed and why your output alone won't get you to the next level. This solo episode dives deep into what really drives advancement inside companies, from internal politics to system constraints to strategic visibility.

Whether you're early career or gunning for the C-suite, this is a must-listen if you want to stop getting overlooked and start being seen as ready.

• Why "do great work and get promoted" is bad advice

• The 5 hidden drivers of promotion: System, Positioning, Readiness, Signal, Advocacy

• How to play the internal game without losing your integrity

• Why visibility matters more than you think

• How to evaluate if your org can actually promote you

• What leadership is really looking for at each level

⏳ Timestamps 01:10 The myth of merit-based promotion 02:11 Why promotion isn't just about your performance 03:12 Understanding "the system" 06:45 Role availability, funding, and timing 08:56 Positioning: experience and direction 11:29 Readiness: proving you're capable of more 15:54 Signal: do decision-makers know who you are? 20:19 Advocacy: who's carrying your papers? 23:24 Final thoughts on playing the game 23:34 CTA: Is it time to walk away?

💡 Take Action 🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away from your job? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📲 Follow Me LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt

What's more valuable at work, being good at your job, or looking like you are?

Diana reconnects with longtime friend and guest Sarah Gallagher, President of The Persimmon Group and creator of the popular LinkedIn newsletter Big Dumb Questions. They dive into a lively, honest conversation about why confidence often outpaces competence in career advancement and why that might not be a bad thing. They also unpack Sarah's career journey, her sobriety story, and how she's redefining leadership on her own terms.

• Where the idea for Big Dumb Questions came from

• Confidence vs. competence at work

• Career growth myths and when they break

• Sarah's journey from Middle Eastern Studies to PM consulting

• Why project managers are not product managers

• Navigating sobriety, leadership, and life balance

• What leaders actually need from their teams

• Creating a job instead of waiting for one

⏳ Timestamps 02:18 The origin of Big Dumb Questions 07:06 PM vs BA vs Product Manager – untangling the mess 15:00 Career lessons from real-life project experience 21:30 Sarah's unconventional career path 30:30 From Gantt charts to consulting: how she made the leap 34:40 Becoming president… days before the pandemic 38:30 Sobriety and leadership: getting real 43:50 Why outside outlets matter when you lead 47:48 Work-from-home as a leadership strategy 49:00 Confidence vs. competence in promotions 54:00 What leaders can do to counter hiring bias 59:50 Final thoughts on creating work that fits

💡 Take action 🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📢 Connect with Sarah Gallagher 🌐 The Persimmon Group → https://www.thepersimmongroup.com 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahgallagher

📲 Follow Me LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt

Fake recruiters. Phony resume "fixes." Learn how to protect yourself from a rising scam that's catching even the smartest job seekers off guard.

Scams targeting job seekers are getting more sophisticated and more personal. In this solo episode, Diana Alt exposes the latest trend in fake recruiter scams designed to exploit your job search anxiety. From LinkedIn messages to fake ATS feedback, she walks through how the scam works, red flags to watch for, and what ethical resume support really looks like.

Whether you've already been targeted or just want to protect yourself, this episode offers practical advice for staying safe and smart during your search.

• How fake recruiters lure job seekers with phony feedback

• The real psychology behind why smart people fall for scams

• Red flags to watch for in resume "optimization" offers

• What ethical resume writers and recruiters actually do

• How to respond and recover if you've already been scammed

⏳ Timestamps 00:00 Intro – Job seekers are getting scammed 01:27 How the scam works 03:30 The psychology of pricing and urgency 05:52 Why the recruiter's role is so deceptive 07:20 ATS anxiety and fear-based decision making 10:30 Resume critique red flags 13:10 Thin LinkedIn and Fiverr profiles 15:03 Reverse image search and fake headshots 16:33 What to do if you've been targeted 18:29 Ethical practices of real recruiters and resume writers 21:46 Final thoughts – Trust your gut and pause

💡 Take Action 🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away from your job? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📲 Follow Me LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt

Burned out or misaligned at work? Here's how a break could change everything. What if taking a break from your career wasn't a setback, but a strategic step forward? In this episode, Katrina McGhee, career break coach and author of Taking a Career Break for Dummies, joins Diana to explore how to plan, fund, and return from a career break with clarity and confidence. From burnout to intentional reinvention, Katrina shares powerful insights from her own 20-month break and the 200+ clients she's helped since. If you're craving change but unsure how to make space for it, this episode is your permission slip.

• Katrina's path from actuary to world traveler to career break coach

• How burnout, betrayal, and blossoming reveal the need for a break

• What a "career break" actually looks like (hint: it's not a gap year)

• How to plan, fund, and protect your break

• Strategies for reentering the workforce confidently

⏳ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:22 How Katrina and Diana connected 02:31 Katrina's journey from math major to career break expert 06:03 The misalignment that led to her 20-month break 08:30 Breaking down the "Three B's" model: Burnout, Betrayal, and Blossom 13:40 Understanding self-betrayal and its impact 17:04 Using a break for discovery, not just recovery 20:53 Preventing career jumping vs. intentional pivots 24:37 How the job market shift has changed break dynamics 26:35 Talking about your break without sabotaging your story 30:58 What reentry actually looks like — and how long it takes 36:00 Katrina's job search post-break (and 5 offers in 5 weeks) 40:55 Internal vs. external narratives during reentry 43:38 Common mistakes: rest guilt, reentry panic, and LinkedIn doomscrolling

💡 Take Action 🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away from your job? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📢 Connect with Katrina McGhee 🌐 Website → https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcghee-katrina/

📲 Follow Me On Social Media LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedianaalt

Want to follow through on your New Year's goals instead of fizzling out by February? Diana breaks down exactly why most resolutions fail and how to turn your intentions into real progress.

In this solo episode, she shares three common mistakes that sabotage follow-through and how to avoid them with a better approach to planning, prioritization, and progress tracking.

Whether you're building healthier habits or launching something new in your business, this episode will help you set goals that actually stick.

• Why resolutions often fail by February

• The "boiling the ocean" trap and how to escape it

• How to select the right goals for your current season

• Turning vague intentions into measurable plans

• The importance of evaluating progress—and celebrating wins

⏳ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:26 Why good intentions fall apart 03:24 Mistake #1: Trying to change everything at once 07:20 Focus vs. quitting – the mindset shift 09:26 Mistake #2: No concrete plan 12:54 Defining what success looks like 14:41 Mistake #3: Not assessing or celebrating progress 17:42 Simple ways to review and reward your efforts 19:56 Final thoughts and encouragement

💡 Take Action 🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt 📖 Grab my Resume Don'ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts ❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com 🚪 Wondering if it's time to walk away? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com 💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📲 Follow Me LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt