Workday Playdate

What if slowing down is actually the fastest way to get better work done?  In a work culture obsessed with speed, pausing can sound a little counterintuitive. But for leaders, a deliberate pause is about creating enough space to think clearly, focus on what matters, and make better decisions.  In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin talks with Shawn Vanderhoven, author of Pause: How to...

What if waiting to feel ready is actually holding your career back?  For high achievers, it’s easy to think you need one more sign that you’re ready before making the big career move. But sometimes, the next step only becomes clear after you take it.  In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin talks with Erika Johnson, Senior Vice President of Member Experience and Community at Chief, abo...

What actually makes a people strategy work?  It’s not just having the right talent in the right seats. It’s building a workplace where people feel trusted, included, challenged, and connected to something bigger than their job description.  For HR and people leaders, that can feel HUGE. You’re balancing employee engagement, leadership development, retention, performance, culture, and bus...

Should you quit your 9-to-5 and start a business or build your idea while you’re still employed?  For aspiring entrepreneurs, that question can feel HUGE. You’re craving more freedom, creativity, or control, but leaving a stable paycheck can feel like jumping off a financial cliff.  But what if you don’t have to choose between playing it safe and burning it all down?  In this episod...

For high-achieving women, that belief can run deep. We’re taught to be capable, composed, productive, and independent, and to keep going no matter what. But what happens when “I can handle it” becomes burnout? In this episode of Workday Playdate, Meghan French Dunbar joins Erin for a candid conversation about burnout, leadership, vulnerability, women at work, and what it really takes to build huma...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with entrepreneur, speaker, and author Brent Freeman to unpack what happens when external success stops feeling like success. After building billion-dollar growth machines, Brent found himself burned out, disconnected, and asking a much bigger question: What if the life I’m building isn’t actually the life I want? Brent shares how a “one-degree d...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin talks with Cassandra Worthy—founder and CEO of Change Enthusiasm Global — about the emotional side of AI-driven change, and why “just adapt” isn’t exactly a strategy. As AI reshapes jobs, workflows, teams, and professional identities, Cassandra explains why people are experiencing a very real sense of loss, or what she calls “AI grief.” Cassandra breaks do...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin shares the story of how one question—“How do people actually do this?”—helped her go from improv workshop facilitator with zero keynote bookings to speaking on stages at Amazon, LinkedIn, and major association conferences. Along the way, she discovered that curiosity is a career-building practice.  Erin breaks down the five curiosity practices she use...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Yana Carstens, an integrative executive coach, to explore why high performers often burn out faster than anyone else—and why the solution isn’t always to simply lighten the workload. Yana makes the case that burnout is often a reflection of our internal operating system: the beliefs, identities, and patterns that shape how we respond to pres...

“There is enough for everyone. Enough time, enough opportunity, enough resources, enough love, enough patience.” -Tiffany Sauder In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Tiffany Sauder, founder of Life of And, for a conversation about working motherhood, burnout, ambition, and building a life that actually feels sustainable. Tiffany challenges the idea that women simply need to “do...

"Your next opportunity probably won't come from your resume. It'll come from a conversation." – Erin Diehl In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin shares the true story of how one cold email, one coffee meeting, and one unexpected dinner led to improve it!'s very first paying client. If networking has ever felt awkward, transactional, or downright exhausting, this episode will completely re...

"The goal isn't to collect more gold stars. It's to create a life that's achingly beautiful." – Lani Gonzales In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Lani Gonzales to explore why so many high achievers end up feeling exhausted, disconnected, and stuck chasing the next accomplishment. After leaving a successful legal career and walking more than 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago,...

“The real failure of inclusion happens in the moments when someone hesitates.” – Rachel Shaw In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Rachel Shaw to explore what it really takes to build inclusive workplaces that work in real time. In a world full of well-intentioned initiatives, Rachel makes the case that true inclusion is ultimately a human skill. If you've ever wondered how lead...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Emmy Award-winning writer, actor, comedian, facilitator, and longtime improve it! family member Nnamdi Ngwe to explore why the most valuable career skills often come from the places you least expect. From playing college soccer to performing with The Second City, creating viral content, facilitating workshops for global organizations, and wi...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores why speaking up at work has far less to do with competence and far more to do with confidence. If you've ever left a meeting thinking, "I should have said something," you're not alone—and you're probably more prepared than you think. If you've ever had the perfect idea thirty seconds too late, watched someone else say what you were thinking, or st...

“Sometimes you have to leave home to see home.” In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin takes listeners on a journey through Shanghai, Singapore, and Bali to unpack what a month abroad taught her about thinking on her feet and appreciating the life waiting back home. What starts as an international travel adventure quickly becomes a masterclass in working parenthood, and the improv mindset requi...

“Connection is the foundation of effective leadership.” -Dr. Rosalind Cohen In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Dr. Rosalind Cohen to explore why authentic human connection is the foundation of effective leadership. In a world filled with engagement surveys, Dr. Roz makes the case that what people truly want at work is something much simpler: to feel seen, valued, and like the...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Phylicia McLeod to explore why thinking on your feet has less to do with having the right answer and more to do with trusting yourself. As an improviser, facilitator, teacher, and performer with the The Second City National Touring Company, Phylicia has built a career around navigating uncertainty in real time. If you've ever found yourself...

In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores why your intuition might be the most underutilized leadership skill you have. In a world obsessed with data and overthinking, Erin makes the case for trusting the wisdom you've already earned through experience. If you've ever ignored a gut feeling only to say, "I knew it," two weeks later, this episode is for you. Using cognitive science to...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with John Ulrich and Olga Flores to explore how improvisation can help teams think faster without panicking. As leaders at Antunes, John and Olga have spent the last three years partnering with improve it! to build a culture of adaptability, communication, and creativity across their organization. If you've ever wondered how to help your team res...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Anne Libera to explore how improvisation can unlock stronger leadership. From flow states and vulnerability to humor and human behavior, Anne shares why improv is about discovering what's possible. If you've ever wanted to lead with more creativity, communicate with more confidence, or simply become more yourself at work, this episode is for...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Catharine Savage to explore why failure might not be something to avoid after all. As an improviser, facilitator, educator, and performer, Catharine has spent years helping people discover that growth often lives on the other side of discomfort. If you've ever avoided taking a chance because you were afraid to fail, this conversation offers...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin dives into the exhausting tango between burnout and overthinking, and why these two troublemakers love to keep us stuck in our heads. Erin shares tips for how to stop performing a one-person show in your life and work. Inside This Episode: The Scene Reset Framework: Learn Erin's five-step improv-inspired reset for moving from mental chaos to present-moment...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Laurie Jadick to explore what it really takes to lead people through change in today's rapidly evolving workplace. With decades of experience in human resources, leadership development, and executive onboarding, Laurie shares why successful transformation is about people first. If you've ever struggled to help your team embrace new ways of w...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with workplace researcher, organizational psychologist, and meeting culture expert Rebecca Hinds to tackle one of the biggest drains on modern work: bad meetings. If you've ever stared at a packed calendar or wished collaboration felt more energizing, this conversation is packed with practical ideas to help you reclaim your time and redesign how...