The Unbuzzed Podcast

Subconscious. The word we all use…but do we really know what it means? On this episode of The Unbuzzed Podcast, I sat down with hypnotherapist Janna to decode one of the most powerful and misunderstood buzzwords in the self-help space: the subconscious. We talked about: Why the human mind remains more powerful than any algorithm But how our subconscious can cling to outdated patterns that no longe...

🔗 Unbuzzing Communications, Part Two: M-Dashes, AI, and the Career Curveball Prompt Engineering as the New Copywriting There are few things rarer than a second date in podcast land, but when the first one leaves you nodding, laughing, and rethinking how leadership show up in internal comms, a round two becomes inevitable. Roberto showed up as he always does: sharp, human, and refreshingly unafrai...

Unbuzzing Burnout: What Caitlin Taught Me About Listening to My Body Some people save your life in dramatic ways. Caitlin saved mine with a handful of needles and the gift of listening. We met years ago in Prague, after a neck spasm left me doped up on morphine and desperate for help. At 3 a.m., I found her website and sent a frantic email. Caitlin cleared her schedule, took one look at me, and di...

🎙️ Episode 21 of The Unbuzzed Podcast: #Language with Drew ‘Dox’ Brown  🔗 From Sky to Chair: The Language That Binds Us In this episode, I sat down with the remarkable Dox Brown, and what unfolded was a deep dive into the powerful truth that language is much more than words; it's the bridge that connects us across the vast expanse of human experience. Dox eloquently shared that “language is a...

What if your mind could be mapped—not by personality tests or vague traits, but by how you respond to something as specific as fries or a car ad? In this episode, we welcome back legendary scientist Howard Moskowitz and first-time guest Tim Morford—a high school grad turned AI innovator, mayor, and builder of tools that can quite literally save lives. Together, they introduce a mindset-typing AI t...

This one hit close to home. In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Susan Miraftabi, and we crack open that familiar, messy topic: having a seat at the table. Susan doesn’t just talk theory — she’s lived it, across startups and global giants, sometimes pulled in, sometimes pushed out, but always showing up with her sleeves rolled.

Episode 18 of The Unbuzzed Podcast: #Communications (Comms) with Roberto Munoz   🔗 Conversations That Land There’s an art to saying what you mean — and having it actually reach people. In this episode, I get to sit down with Roberto Munoz, a person who doesn’t just understand that art, he lives it. Roberto leads with heart, not noise, and helps organizations speak in a way that feels true on the...

In this episode, we delve into the nuanced world of dissent with our thoughtful guest, Hannah. With her experience supporting C-suite executives, she sheds light on the importance of pausing to reassess our approaches, especially in the hustle and bustle of high-pressure environments. 🔍 Why You Should Tune In I learned a great deal from Hannah during our time working together. I often found mysel...

🎙️ Episode 16 of The Unbuzzed Podcast: “Executive” — The Word That Wears Too Many Hats Featuring Conrad Goldstein, Executive Search Expert, Entrepreneur & Realist-in-Residence The word “executive” carries weight. Or at least it thinks it does. Depending on the room you’re in, it can signal prestige, responsibility, or simply a better parking spot. Lately, we’ve heard it tossed around with the...

🚀 The Unbuzzed Podcast: Innovation, Disruption & The Language of Business 🎙️ 💡 What do pasta sauce, Uber, and AI-powered HR tools have in common? If you said absolutely nothing, you haven’t met Howard Moskowitz—a pioneering innovator who transformed how companies understand and predict consumer behavior. 👀 How I met Howard… A few years ago, I was on a red-eye flight from Vancouver to New Yo...

Let’s be honest: ‘coach’ is one of those words that’s been stretched, overused, and misapplied so much that it barely resembles its original form. Like the word artisan—which once meant skilled craftsmanship and now applies to everything from overpriced toast to scented candles—coaching has suffered a similar fate. Enter Chris. Chris is the person who finally helped me uncringe the word coach—a wo...

I am excited to present Episode 13 of The Unbuzzed Podcast, featuring the delightful Jamie Jackson, the self-proclaimed Chief Meme Officer and the clever mind behind the popular accounts Humorous Resources, Millennial Misery, The Chief Meme Officer, and Parody Parenting.  With a combined following of over 3 million, Jamie has crafted spaces where professionals can laugh about their corporate escap...

Last week, I stepped far outside my comfort zone in conversation with Kory—one of the most unapologetic humans I’ve had the good fortune to meet and now call a friend. This week, I did it again, this time with Tatyana, a fellow Gen Xer whose viral Instagram account, @corporategenxmom, hilariously (and painfully accurately) captures the absurdity of workplace culture. Her journey started with an al...

In the latest episode of The Unbuzzed Podcast, I had the distinct pleasure of conversing with Kory, a millennial whose boldness and transparency compelled me, a Gen Xer, to confront my preconceived notions about his generation as we unbuzzed the term ‘millennial’. While Kory certainly does not represent all millennials, he provided a revealing glimpse into the unapologetic and daring spirit that d...

Initially, I had hoped to feature him on the Unbuzzed podcast to explore the nuances of legal language and its potential to create swirl amongst employees in workplaces as a buzzword. Nevertheless, as you will hear in this episode, his authentic demeanor, both as an individual and as a leader and professor, guided our conversation away from the mere term "legal" within workplaces to the...

What happens when you examine a buzzword that makes your skin crawl? In this episode, I sit down with the inspiring Pallavi Jain to unpack “empowerment,” a term that often leaves me questioning its true essence. As an HR professional, I’ve seen it twisted into something superficial—an empty call to action rather than a profound inward journey. With a playful wager on the table, I challenged Pallav...

In this episode, I’m once again joined by the insightful Mauro Gonçalves Filho, and we dissect the buzzword “strategy” amid the backdrop of frequent reorgs and the rapid onset of AI. As layoffs and shifting structures become the new normal, we examine what it truly means to be strategic in these uncertain times. We'll examine whether organizational reorgs are the result of careful planning or mere...

In this episode, Zayne Imam joins me to unpack the often-maligned term consultant—accused of generating the very buzzwords they’re hired to clarify. With humor and insight, Zayne reveals how good advice turns into jargon and shares his spiritual approach to work, a perspective that challenges how we think about language, purpose, and connection in the workplace. Don’t miss this engaging and though...

“Strategy” is the word that launches a thousand eyerolls in meetings—and yet it’s the reason people are passed over for promotions or projects. But what does it really mean to be strategic? In this episode, I’m joined by Mauro Gonçalves Filho, a master of strategy who breaks it down so clearly, we needed two sessions. Mauro’s insights are as sharp as his resume, but what makes him unforgettable is...

Jonathan Z. Cohen ran 58 miles and did 1,000 pull-ups for charity—but his real superpower is turning self-doubt into action. On this episode of The Unbuzzed Podcast, we break down how resilience isn’t about being fearless but about facing fears one step at a time. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about persistence, mindset, and what it takes to keep going when everything in you says stop.

In this episode of The Unbuzzed Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Jen Fisher, who shares her journey through cancer, burnout, and the surprising revelation that burnout was the harder battle. Jen’s story is a powerful reminder of the hidden toll burnout takes and why well-being at work is more than just a buzzword. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, self-care, and redefini...

In 2009, a rare marvel occurred in the world of HR: a simple deck about culture went viral. Netflix’s famed culture memo, a manifesto for what HR could and should be, struck a chord so deep that I found myself borrowing from it shamelessly. Yet, from 2009 to 2021, I never once applied to work at the very place that birthed it. Fate intervened when I was referred for a VP role in finance but then I...

I first met Autumn three months into my role as Chief HR Officer at MEC, a specialty outdoor retailer in Canada. Fresh from orientation, I eagerly penned my observations and posted them on the company intranet, Mondo. Feeling quite proud, I awaited feedback—and Autumn delivered. Her wit and humor had me laughing out loud, even as I realized she was critiquing me. Then I had to look up five words—y...

For the pilot episode, I am delighted to welcome my friend Dr. Jake, a clinical psychologist who profoundly shaped my perspective during our time at Netflix. HR is often seen as the principal’s office or the judge, but having Jake as part of the team transformed how I supported employees. With his insights into neuroscience and mental health, he helped reframe my approach to managing change and it...

Over the past 20 years, working in 13 countries has introduced me to remarkable individuals and diverse perspectives. As an immigrant and refugee who left Iran as a child and moved often, I developed not just a tolerance for change but a deep appreciation for the discomfort and growth it brings. Every move exposed me to new languages, ways of thinking, and cultural expressions of work and art. One...