Workin' it Out Podcast

In the final part of our Survivor’s Remorse series, The Daily Drum dives deep into the emotional weight federal workers carry as layoffs roll through government agencies. Our guest, "Dr. C," a current federal employee, shares her real-time experience navigating shrinking teams, budget cuts, and rising job pressure—all while managing guilt and anxiety for still being employed. 

Host Molette Green is joined once again by Dr. Vanessa Weaver, an organizational psychologist with decades of experience helping employees and leadership manage emotional fallout during workplace transitions. 

What We Cover: 

• Survivor’s remorse: What it is and how to spot it 
• How job cuts affect workload, morale, and mental health 
• What conversations sound like after a Reduction in Force 
• Quiet quitting, guilt, and how to protect your peace 
• The role of leadership and HR during crises

As federal and government-related layoffs continue, those left behind aren’t necessarily feeling lucky. In Part 2 of our special series on Survivor’s Remorse. Exploring the emotional weight carried by federal workers still on the job, especially team leaders balancing survival with support. 

Guests include Dr. Vanessa Weaver, a nationally recognized Organizational Psychologist, and Dr. Andrea Boudreaux, a pediatric psychologist and government contractor who shares her first-hand experience managing uncertainty and morale in the face of possible job loss. 

Discussion Topics Include: 

• Why staying employed doesn’t always feel like winning 
• The emotional toll of leading teams through layoffs 
• Survivor’s guilt: symptoms, coping strategies, and resources 
• When is it okay to show vulnerability as a leader 
• How repeated job insecurity impacts mental health

We begin a powerful three-part series: "Survivor’s Remorse: The Emotional Fallout of Federal Layoffs." 

Across federal agencies, job cuts continue to shake departments to their core, but what happens to those who remain? 

Clinical psychologist Dr. Vanessa Weaver joins us to unpack what survivor’s remorse looks like in the workplace and how it impacts mental health, morale, and job performance. 

Topics Discussed: 

• What is survivor’s remorse in the workplace? 
• Why employees feel guilty after layoffs, even when they’re spared 
• Signs that it’s affecting your mental health or performance 
• Strategies to cope with grief and isolation 
• How managers can support teams during turbulent times 
• When to seek professional help

Join the conversation in the comments. Have you experienced survivor’s guilt at work? How did you cope? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for Parts 2 and 3 of this timely series.

In today's episode, Dr. Vanessa Weaver explores imposter syndrome's impact on diverse groups, joined by renowned spiritual coach Iyanla Vanzant. Tune in to unravel strategies for overcoming self-doubt and embracing greatness.

Resources:

https://iyanla.com/

https://www.whut.org/

https://www.alignmentstrategies.com

Patricia Mota, President and CEO of the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) joins Dr. Vanessa Weaver to speak about the challenges that Hispanic/Latino workers face in corporate America.
 

In this Episode

·      Introducing Patricia Moto and discussing her work in HACE, or the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement

·      Discussing the wage gap between Hispanic/Latino families and white families, feelings of alienation at work, dealing with ethnic discrimination and a higher unemployment rate

·      What HACE is doing to mitigate the increasing racial polarization that the nation is currently facing

·      How Ms. Mota’s approach to leadership has helped Hispanics and Latinos in business

·      What companies can do to ensure the success of their Latino employees

 Resources

·      Patricia Mota

·      Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE)

·      Dr. Vanessa Weaver

·      Alignment Strategies

·      Dismantling Barriers to Career Advancement for Latinos

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Shayla Atkins, CEO of the Atkins Impact Consulting firm and Author of Black Women Lead With S.P.I.C.E., joins Dr. Vanessa Weaver to speak about the challenges facing Black women in business and the solutions to these issues.

In this Episode

·      A brief introduction to Shayla Atkins, her work as a leadership and authenticity coach for women of color, and how she leverages her talents to help Black women

·      The high rates of workforce participation for Black women and their adverse experiences with their colleagues

·      Discussing Shayla’s book Black Women Lead with S.P.I.C.E. and the elements Savvy, Performance, Image, Communication, and Exposure (S.P.I.C.E) 

·      Shayla’s own journey to becoming an authentic leader, how her approach to business has helped Black women in the workplace, and what companies are doing to step up and support Black women 

·      What individuals can do to ensure their success and the support their workplaces can offer

 Resources

·      Shayla Atkins

·      The Atkins Impact Consulting Firm

·      Dr. Vanessa Weaver

·      Alignment Strategies

·      Black Women Lead With S.P.I.C.E.

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Sue Ann Hong, President and CEO of The Center for Asian Pacific American Women, joins Dr. Vanessa Weaver to speak about how Asian American women are navigating a post-COVID-19 workplace and society.
 
 

In this Episode

·      A brief introduction to Sue Ann Hong and her work as President and CEO of The Center for Asian Pacific American Women

·      Disparities in and barriers to representation in senior leadership roles for Asian American women, including the bamboo ceiling

·      The racialization of the COVID-19 pandemic, its direct ties to a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes, and how it affects the well-being of Asian American women in the workplace and beyond

·      How the Center for Asian Pacific American Women addresses the issues faced by working Asian American women

·      How audience members can get involved in bettering Asian American women’s working lives and experiences

 Resources

·      Sue Ann Hong

·      The Center for Asian Pacific American Women

·      Dr. Vanessa Weaver

·      Alignment Strategies

·      Asian American women fall off by 80% at corporate leadership levels, a new report says

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Dr. Andrea Boudreaux, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s School Services under Children’s National Hospital, joins Dr. Vanessa Weaver to speak about economic disparities in children’s healthcare and how Dr. Boudreaux uses her services to address them.

In this Episode

·      An introduction to Dr. Andrea Boudreaux and her work in healthcare and mental health with people of color, in addition to that of children

·      Addressing the socioeconomic conditions that drive health outcomes for residents of Washington, D.C., including unemployment, household income, and education, and the stark differences between them when accounting for race or ethnicity

·      How poor socioeconomic factors impact the health of children of color, and what Dr. Boudreaux’s firm does to reverse these effects 

·      Measurements to determine how and if Children’s School Services are making a positive impact on the health of children of color in the D.C. area

·      How listeners and viewers can get involved with Children’s School Services to bring about greater impacts in the D.C. area, or how they can be inspired to support local initiatives similar to CSS

 Resources

·      Andrea Boudreaux

·      Guest’s website

·      Dr. Vanessa Weaver

·      Alignment Strategies

·      The Health of African Americans in the District of Columbia

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Forest Harper, CEO of INROADS, joins Dr. Vanessa Weaver to speak about closing the racial wealth gap in America by disrupting standard practices of the corporate culture.

In this Episode

·      Forest Harper’s beginnings in social justice and DEI work, along with his role as the Chief Executive Officer of INROADS

·      Corporate America’s commitment to eliminating racial bias in the wake of the death of George Floyd, and how CEOs disrupt corporate culture to advance racial equality and justice in their companies

·      How INROADS’ starts with high school students across the country and prepares them through college for jobs in Corporate America

·      Study reveals Black and Brown INROADS alumni outperform their white peers, and 

·      What companies that haven’t acted on closing the racial wealth gap can do

 Resources

·      Forest Harper

·      INROADS

·      Dr. Vanessa Weaver

·      Alignment Strategies

·      Despite Some Back Pedaling on DEI Commitments, INROADS CEO Forest Harper Believes Corporate America is Still on the Right Track

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Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, Vice President/Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer of Allegheny Health Network joins Dr. Vanessa Weaver to speak about racism and misogynoir in the medical system and how they impact the maternal health and lives of Black women.

In this Episode

·      An introduction to Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew and her work in the DEI space at Allegheny Health Network and in the space of maternal health for Black women

·      Figuring out how to establish and practice racial health equity within the healthcare system, along with increasing workforce inclusion

·      Discussing the high rates of maternal mortality among Black women, both in perinatal and postnatal health, and how the racism that Black women face can alter their emotional, mental, and physical health for the worst, thus leading to complications during and after pregnancy and childbirth

·      What Highmark Health is doing to prioritize the maternal health of Black women and other women of color to reduce the rates of maternal mortality among these groups of women, including identifying social determinants of maternal health and putting Black babies into the care of Black physicians 

·      A reminder of self-advocacy for women of color in the healthcare system and seeking out groups and individuals who can advocate for said women

 Resources

·      Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew

·      Allegheny Health Network

·      Dr. Vanessa Weaver

·      Alignment Strategies

·      Highmark Health Enterprise Equitable Health Institute

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