Barely Manageable Podcast

Have you ever wondered what your boss is dealing with that you don't see? In Episode 9 of Barely Manageable , Dana and Mary discuss managing up from a different perspective—understanding the responsibilities, pressures, and expectations that leaders face behind the scenes. As employees move into leadership roles, many are surprised to discover just how much happens above their level that was p...

Why is a strong male leader often called confident, while a strong female leader is called something else? In Episode 8 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary discuss the unique challenges women face in leadership roles. From being labeled "bossy," "intimidating," or "too emotional" to dealing with criticism that has little to do with actual job performance, they explore the double standards and bias...

Are they actually working... or just looking busy? In Episode 7 of Barely Manageable , Dana and Mary tackle one of the most frustrating challenges leaders face: when employees begin operating on their own agenda. From side hustles during work hours and taking meetings from the driver's seat to finding creative ways to appear productive while avoiding accountability, they discuss the red flags...

Growth isn't always exciting—it’s often uncomfortable, messy, and a little awkward. In Episode 6 of Barely Manageable , Dana and Mary discuss the reality of professional growth and why becoming better at what you do often means feeling uncomfortable along the way. From stepping into leadership roles and giving difficult feedback to learning new skills and making mistakes in front of others, gr...

You can’t pour from an empty cup. In Episode 5 of Barely Manageable , Dana and Mary discuss compassion fatigue—the emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that can come from constantly caring for others. Whether you're a leader, healthcare professional, therapist, caregiver, or simply someone who spends their days supporting others, compassion fatigue can sneak up on you when you least expe...

"Per my last email..." 👀 In Episode 4 of Barely Manageable , Dana and Mary dive into one of the most common forms of workplace conflict: the passive-aggressive email. From carefully worded messages and unnecessary CCs to subtle jabs disguised as professionalism, they unpack the emails that leave everyone wondering, "What did they really mean by that?" They share real-life exam...

We’ve all had one… that boss. 😅 In Episode 3 of Barely Manageable , Dana and Mary are talking about the bad bosses we’ve all known—the micromanagers, the poor communicators, the power-trippers, and the leaders who taught us exactly what not to do. From real workplace red flags to leadership horror stories (and a few laughs along the way), this episode dives into how bad management impacts teams,...

Welcome to Episode 2 of Barely Manageable. You worked hard. You knew your job. You were dependable, productive, and probably one of the best on the team… and then one day someone tapped you on the shoulder and said, “Congratulations… you’re the supervisor now.” Suddenly, the skills that made you successful don’t feel like enough anymore. The work you used to love looks different, your coworkers no...

Welcome to the very first episode of Barely Manageable. Somewhere between bad bosses, HR nightmares, burnout, and years of managing people, Dana and Mary found themselves asking one simple question… How did we end up in charge? In Episode 1, they share their leadership origin stories, the unexpected paths that put them in management, the lessons nobody teaches you, and what it really feels like wh...