Less Than Expert

After a much-needed break, Amanda and Katie are back. In this candid catch-up episode, they share what's been happening behind the scenes: from burnout, grief, stress, and parenting challenges to fitness goals, mental health checklists, dating struggles, and the realities of trying to do all the things. They discuss the habits helping them feel more like themselves again, including prioritizing sl...

We did it. The final episode of our Surviving the Layoff series is here, and it's the one we've been building toward. Getting HR reps to talk to us was not easy. They take confidentiality seriously (and honestly, we respect it). We still interviewed multiple HR professionals (anonymously) across advertising, software, and direct-to-consumer product industries and compiled everything they shared in...

What does a financial advisor actually do when you're staring down a layoff...or trying to avoid one? In this bonus episode of our Surviving the Layoff series, Katie and Amanda sit down with Tina Hoang, a Northwestern Mutual financial advisor with over a decade of experience. Spoiler: she's part financial planner, part career coach, part therapist. Honestly, we could all use a Tina. We talk throug...

AI was everywhere at SXSW 2026, and honestly? A little “ay ay ay” was warranted. In this episode, Amanda and Katie break down the biggest themes from the festival, including the rise of AI in branding, creativity, work, accessibility, healthcare, and infrastructure. From Amy Webb’s now-iconic funeral for the annual trend report to powerful conversations about the hidden environmental cost of data...

Last week we talked about the emotional side of layoffs. This week? We’re talking strategy. In Part 2 of our Layoff Survival Series, Katie and Amanda break down some of the latest layoff stats in corporate America, and get very honest about what’s happening inside our own jobs. Then Amanda walks through exactly what she’s doing to prepare — financially, professionally, and mentally — in case the w...

Surviving the Layoff, Part 1: The Personal Story In Part 1 of our Surviving the Layoff series, we sit down with writer and career coach Allison McNearney to talk about what really happens after you hear, “We regret to inform you…” Allison was laid off in 2024 — and while the experience was destabilizing, it was also clarifying. In this episode, we talk about: The emotional whiplash of being laid o...

After an unplanned but much-needed January break, Amanda and Katie are back behind the mic for a check-in. In this episode of Less Than Expert , we’re catching up on life updates, talking through why we took the month off, and sharing what we’re (loosely) planning for the year ahead…without the pressure of resolutions, reinvention, or pretending we have it all figured out. Think: banter, reflectio...

Lessons Learned, Favorite Gear, and What’s Coming in 2026 Most podcasts don’t make it past Episode 6, but we're proud to say we're committed. In this check-in episode of Less Than Expert , Amanda and Katie reflect on what it’s been like launching a podcast from scratch: what surprised us, what worked better than expected, and what we would not recommend. We’re also sharing our favorite products we...

In this episode of Less Than Expert , we’re talking about something that rarely gets celebrated at work: taking a step back on purpose. We sit down with two women who chose to slow their careers down without walking away entirely. Instead of chasing the next promotion or following a prescribed ladder, they intentionally redesigned their roles to better support their lives, energy, and priorities r...

In this episode, we get into the real numbers behind Katie’s post-divorce finances - what she kept, what she paid out, what’s left, and how she’s rebuilding from here. We talk net worth, budgeting after major life upheaval, the emotional side of financial resets, and the surprisingly empowering moment when you finally see everything on paper. Together, we build an action plan for getting Katie bac...

In this episode of Less Than Expert , Amanda takes you through the real story of how she went from knowing absolutely nothing about money to building a confident, intentional financial life. From early mistakes to slow wins, she shares how she learned to invest, what finally clicked, and why you don’t need to be an expert to build wealth . We cover: The moment Amanda realized she needed a plan Som...

This week, we're diving into The Big D … and no, not that one. We’re talking about Katie’s divorce and the sometimes ridiculous parts of rebuilding your life after everything falls apart. Disclaimer: We discuss divorce, alcoholism, and pregnancy loss. Please listen with care. You’ll hear: What led to their decision to split What she wishes she’d known before filing for divorce How she’s been navig...

In this bite-sized intro episode, we (Katie + Amanda!) kick things off and give you a feel for what this whole “Less Than Expert” thing is about. Spoiler: it’s part life advice, part “we learned this the hard way, please don’t.” We share: Who we are and how this podcast came to be Why we’re calling ourselves “Less Than Expert” (it’s accurate) A preview of the topics we’ll dive into this season - f...