What if the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, or the better title still doesn’t make you happy? If success feels empty, you may be caught in achievement addiction – the cycle of chasing external milestones, titles, and validation that never actually delivers lasting fulfillment.  

In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with executive and life coach Trixi Tschiedel Menhardt to unpack why so many high achievers feel restless, depleted and disconnected, enen when they look super successful on paper.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What achievement addiction is and why high performers are most vulnerable to it
• Why external validation leaves professionals feeling empty, overwhelmed, or stuck
• How burnout rewires your brain and why peace can feel unfamiliar after years of stress
• How to use self-regulation and the Positive Intelligence framework to break the cycle
• How to stop chasing external validation and start choosing fulfillment on your own terms

This conversation is especially relevant for leaders, executives, and professionals who are tired of feeling like the next milestone will finally be “enough” to feel fulfilled. Are you ready to reclam choice, peace and a sense of purpose that doesn’t depend on a title? Because fulfillment isn’t something you achieve. It’s something you choose. 

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Two small words you use every day may be quietly damaging your workplace relationships: why and should.

In leadership conversations, feedback moments, and everyday team communication, these common words often land differently than intended, triggering defensiveness, shame and disconnection instead of clarity and collaboration.

"Why did you do that?" can sound like an interrogation. "You should have handled it differently" can sound like judgment. And when people feel accused or shamed, they stop collaborating and start defending.

In this Cracking the Code mini episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down the psychology behind why these words  – why and should – undermine psychological safety at work and what to say instead.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Why "why" triggers a defensive response and the curiosity-based alternative that opens dialogue
• How "should" creates shame and shuts down collaboration and the forward-focused replacement that builds trust
• Simple language swaps any leader or professional can use immediately
• How to communicate with greater emotional intelligence, clarity, and psychological safety
• How to keep difficult conversations productive without triggering defensiveness

Whether you're a leader giving feedback, navigating team conflict, or simply trying to communicate more effectively at work, the words you choose matter more than you think.

Small language shifts. Significant leadership impact.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Most workplace conflict isn’t about strategy, performance, or communication. It’s about broken trust. In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with researchers and authors Michelle and Dennis Reina who have spent 30+ years studying how trust is built, broken, and rebuilt in organizations.

Michelle and Dennis break down the three essential dimensions of trust: character, communication, and capability. And more importantly, what happens when each one beaks down. In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• The most common ways trust is broken at work (and why it’s usually unintentionally)
• Why small trust breaches compound into major breakdowns
• How to rebuild trust after betrayal without forcing it
• Why self-trust is the foundation of effective leadership
• How to build trust intentionally in remote and hybrid teams

This episode is for leaders, managers, and professionals navigating team dynamics, cross-functional work, and high-stakes conversations.. Because trust is the foundation of everything.

Learn more with the Reina Trust Building® assessment tool: reinatrustbuilding.com/ITS-book

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Building emotional resilience starts with one mindset shift and it works even in the middle of chaos. What’s your first thought when something goes wrong? Do you ask, “Why is this happening to me?” Or… something more empowering? In this Cracking the Code episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down one of the most powerful mindset shifts you can make to build emotional resilience, self-trust, and confidence, especially in high-stress moments.

Through a real-life story (flat tire, tech issues, and a full day of chaos), Marlo walks you through how she moved from reactive thinking to calm, grounded self-leadership, and how you can do the same.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to shift from victim thinking to growth thinking
• Why nervous system regulation is the first step to emotional intelligence
• How to separate facts from the story that creates stress
• A simple 5-step playbook to handle challenges without spiraling
• How to build confidence and self-trust at work by collecting evidence of your own capability

This mindset shift is about learning how to respond, rather than react, when life throws something your way. Because resilience is about becoming the person who can handle them.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Let’s talk about money. It’s the thing we all think about… but rarely talk about honestly. In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with career and life coach Wendy Sterling to unpack the deeper forces shaping how we earn, spend, and experience wealth, way beyond budgets, strategies, and spreadsheets.

Because here’s the truth: most high-achieving professionals aren’t stuck because they don’t work hard enough. They’re stuck because they’re operating from hustle culture, money anxiety, and misalignment they don’t even realize is there.

Wendy introduces the concept of Energetic Intelligence (the new EI) - understanding how your nervous system, money mindset and emotional patterns drive your life decisions. Today she shares how they directly impact your decisions, your income, and your career trajectory.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why your money story may be quietly limiting your growth
• How nervous system regulation impacts decision-making, income, and burnout
• The hidden cost of hustle culture and why slowing down actually creates better results
• What it really means to raise your standards in work, money, and life
• How to shift from stress and scarcity into alignment, clarity, and sustainable success
• How to overcome money blocks and build wealth without burnout.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right”… but still not experiencing the level of success, ease, or fulfillment you want, this episode will challenge how you think about money, work, and your next level.

Because building wealth isn’t just about what you do. It’s about how you think, feel, and show up while doing it.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

“Executive presence.” It’s the feedback everyone gets and no one can clearly define. In this Cracking the Code mini episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down what executive presence actually means, why so much of the feedback around it is vague, biased, and frustrating and what behavioral science says you can actually do about it.

Marlo challenges the traditional narrative and reframes executive presence as your
ability to create confidence, clarity, and trust in high-stakes environments – not how loud, dominant, or polished you appear.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

● Why executive presence is often shaped by bias and outdated leadership norms
● How to respond when you’re told you “lack presence” at work
● The difference between authenticity and ineffective communication habits
● How to build presence through self-awareness, audience awareness, and
intentional behavior
● Practical ways to strengthen your communication, visibility, and leadership
impact

If you’ve ever been told to “be more strategic,” “have more edge,” or “look more like a leader,” this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to define executive presence on your own terms.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

You can be successful… and still be completely exhausted. In fact, for many high-achieving leaders, that’s exactly what’s happening. As we head into Q2, the pace picks up, the pressure builds, and for a lot of professionals, stress, burnout, and reactivity start to feel like the norm.

In this episode of Work Unscripted, host Marlo Lyons sits down with coach Margo Boster to talk about what it really means to be “successfully exhausted” and why so many high performers don’t recognize it until they hit a wall.

Margo’s new book “Mindfully Exhausted” details how stress shows up in the body, how our brains are wired to react (not relax), and why pushing harder isn’t the solution.

You’ll learn practical, science-backed tools that help leaders regulate stress and show up differently:

• How to recognize early signs of burnout (before it’s too late)
• Why you can’t “think” your way out of stress and what actually works
• Simple brain, body, and breath techniques to calm your nervous system
• How to move from reactive to responsive leadership
• Small daily practices that create long-term change

This conversation is for anyone who looks successful on paper… but feels anxious, depleted, or constantly “on” behind the scenes. Because real success isn’t just about performance. It’s about how you feel while you’re achieving it.

Learn more about Margo’s book and coaching work on her website: margoboster.com

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Ever gotten feedback that worked… for about three days? In this Cracking the Code mini episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down why most workplace feedback doesn’t lead to lasting change and what actually does.

Drawing on behavioral science and real workplace dynamics, Marlo unpacks why feedback often fades fast and inevitably triggers defensiveness, confusion, or short-term compliance instead of real growth. And more importantly, she gives you a clear, practical framework to turn feedback into sustained behavior change.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why feedback can actually decrease performance for some employees
• The real reason people revert to “factory settings” after feedback
• How to close the gap between intention and action
• A simple if–then framework to make behavior change stick
• How leaders can give feedback that drives ownership, not resistance

Whether you’re a leader, manager, or individual contributor, this episode will completely change how you think about constructive feedback, emotional intelligence, and performance improvement at work.

Because lasting change doesn’t come from “do better.” It comes from building systems that make “better”… inevitable.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Too many people are doing their jobs and doing them well… and wondering why it’s not enough. In a workplace shaped by layoffs, stalled hiring, burnout, and limited development opportunities, simply “doing your job well” is no longer a strategy for career growth. In this episode of Work Unscripted, executive coach Marlo Lyons sits down with HR executive and gamification expert Casey Webster to explore what it really means to think like a CEO, no matter your role or level.

Marlo and Casey talk through:

• What it means to think like a CEO, even early in your career
• How to build cross-functional influence and break down silos
• A simple four-part framework to increase visibility, engagement, and career growth
• Why gamified learning resonates more than traditional training and sticks long-term 
• How to take ownership of your development when your company won’t

This conversation is especially relevant for employees, leaders, and HR professionals navigating today’s uncertain work environment and looking for practical ways to grow, adapt, and stay competitive.

Because real career advancement comes from thinking differently about the work you do and the value you create.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Feeling stuck in your career? Thinking about quitting your job? Telling yourself you want more…but not sure what that actually means? 

In this Cracking the Code episode of Work Unscripted, executive coach Marlo Lyons challenges the story you tell yourself: What you want isn’t always what you need.

You may think you want: 

• A new job
• A promotion
• More money
• Less stress
• More autonomy

But what you actually need is clarity, alignment, courage and space to reflect. 

This episode explores why we’re quick to invest in short-term comforts like daily lattes, impulse spending, staying busy yet hesitate to invest time, money and energy into our long-term career growth and personal fulfillment.

Through a powerful story about a solo bike trip through Europe that changed the trajectory of her life, Marlo shares how creating space to think can reveal what you truly need in your career and life.

You’ll learn:

• How to know if you need a new job or a new perspective
• The difference between career dissatisfaction and career misalignment
• Why investing in yourself isn’t about money. It’s about courage
• How to stop chasing career symptoms and start addressing the source
• How to rethink your time and energy like your future depends on it
• Simple ways to create space for career clarity

If you’re feeling stuck in your career…
If you’re overwhelmed, burnt out, or restless…
If you keep saying “I want more” but don’t know what that means…

This episode is your reset.

Because clarity and alignment create fulfillment, and fulfillment can’t be compartmentalized.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
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Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.