Work Unscripted

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. 

What if leadership isn’t about influence at all? In this episode of Work Unscripted, host Marlo Lyons sits down with researcher and leadership expert Dr. Jacob Kashiwagi to explore a radically different leadership philosophy: “no influence leadership.”

Instead of persuading, motivating, or trying to change people, Dr. Kashiwagi argues that great leaders focus on something much simpler and much harder: understanding people and aligning them in the right roles to succeed.

Their conversation challenges some of our more traditional ideas about leadership development and raises important questions for today’s workplace:

• Can leadership actually be taught?
• Why do some leaders succeed in one organization but fail in another?
• What do Gen Z employees really want from work?
• Why are so many corporate decisions based on belief instead of data?

Marlo and Dr. Kashiwagi also explore how authenticity, deep listening, and humility are becoming critical leadership skills in an era shaped by AI, automation, and rapid organizational change.

For leaders, managers, and HR professionals navigating culture shifts, workforce expectations, and performance challenges, this episode offers a powerful reframing: Leadership isn’t about influencing or controlling people. It’s about understanding them.

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

Congratulations, you’ve been promoted! New title. Bigger paycheck. Maybe even that LinkedIn “I got promoted” announcement. Now what?

In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons cracks the code on what really happens after a promotion and why the fastest way to fail in your new role is to keep doing your old job. Because a promotion isn’t a reward. It’s a reset.

Whether you’re early in your career navigating your first leadership role, a mid-career professional struggling to let go of being “the expert,” or a senior leader trying to scale impact instead of staying busy, this episode unpacks the real shifts required to succeed and create long-term career growth

You’ll learn:

• What must change immediately after you’ve been promoted
• Why your expertise can become your biggest liability
• How to transition from doing the work to leading the work
• How to stop being indispensable and start building scalable impact
• The mindset shifts required for sustainable leadership success

If you’ve ever wondered how to succeed in your first 90 days after a promotion, how to step into a new leadership role with confidence, or how to avoid common promotion mistakes, this conversation is for you. 

Because the real question isn’t “Was I ready?” 

It’s: Are you willing to let go of who you were good at being so you can become the leader your new role requires?

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

If the phrase “sell yourself” makes you cringe… this episode is for you. In this episode, executive coach Marlo Lyons sits down with visibility strategist Chardét Ryel to unpack a skill most professionals avoid but desperately need: authentic self-promotion.

Whether you’re pursuing a promotion, navigating a job search, building a business, or stepping into greater leadership visibility, you are pitching yourself every single day. The problem? Most people either overperform, underplay, or completely misunderstand how to communicate their value.

You’ll learn:

• Why self-selling is a leadership skill (not an ego exercise)
• How to drop performative leadership and communicate with authenticity
• The role of emotional intelligence and empathy in effective pitching
• Why podcast visibility can accelerate career advancement

If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable advocating for yourself or unsure how to talk about your strengths without sounding rehearsed, this conversation will shift your mindset. Because leadership visibility isn’t about being louder. It’s about being clearer.

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

Have you ever received feedback at work that made you question your entire career?

In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons cracks the code on five cryptic feedback phrases that derail high performers and shows you exactly how to translate them into actionable career growth.

This is your guide to:

• Developing emotional intelligence and empathy in the workplace
• Turning vague performance review comments into clear next steps
• Improving stakeholder alignment, collaboration, and executive presence
• Positioning yourself for promotion and leadership advancement

Feedback isn’t always clear. But with curiosity, self-awareness, and strategic reframing, it becomes one of your most powerful career tools.

If you’ve ever left a performance review confused, frustrated, or second-guessing yourself, this episode is your translation guide. Because sometimes you just need to decode the corporate riddles.

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

Board seats aren’t reserved for a lucky few, but they are reserved for leaders who understand the game.

In this episode of Work Unscripted, executive coach Marlo Lyons sits down with board career expert and co-author Naomi Kent to unpack their new book, Wanted: A Board Career, and break down what it really takes to build a meaningful, strategic board portfolio.

This is not a job search. And treating it like one is the biggest mistake executives make.

Together, Marlo and Naomi walk through the three phases every successful board career requires:

• Discovery: clarifying your “why,” your values, and your long-term board vision
• Preparation: crafting a board-ready brand, narrative, LinkedIn profile, and pitch
• Execution: building relationships and trust over time (not chasing openings)

They also tackle common myths about board service, the difference between nonprofit, private, and public boards, and why board readiness is about judgment, governance, and mindset.

Whether you’re an executive in transition, a senior leader thinking about your next chapter, or simply curious about board service as a purposeful career move, this conversation will help you think differently — and more strategically — about your path to the boardroom.

Want to learn more? Marlo dives much deeper into the board journey in her new book, Wanted → A Board Career, a step-by-step guide to becoming board-ready and landing a board seat.

Order the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tfMWbF

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

Most executives think they’re one promotion away from the C-suite and C-suite leaders think they're one step away from a board seat.

They’re not. 

They’re one mindset shift away and most never make it. In reality, moving up the corporate ladder into the C-suite or onto a board requires an entirely different way of thinking.

In this Cracking the Code mini episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down the critical mindset shift required to move from executive operator to strategic leader to board-ready advisor. You’ll learn why strong execution alone doesn’t translate to C-suite and boardroom influence, how boards evaluate judgment over résumés, and the key behaviors that separate enterprise thinkers from functional leaders.

This episode is especially relevant for senior leaders, C-suite executives, and high-performing professionals considering board service, governance roles, or long-term leadership legacy.

Want to learn more? Marlo dives much deeper into the board journey in her new book, Wanted → A Board Career, a step-by-step guide to becoming board-ready and landing a board seat.

Pre-order the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tfMWbF

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