The Middle of Consulting Podcast

Based on the June 2026 LinkedIn article series Escaping the Exhaustion of 40 Hrs/Wk of Workplace Cosplay to Be the Authentic You by StephenG Smith’s In the Middle of Consulting  newsletter⁠⁠ . In this episode hosts Lily Young and Ethan Jensen explore the hidden exhaustion that comes from acting like the version of a consultant you think the workplace expects. More polished. More formal. More serio...

Based on the May 2026 LinkedIn article series  In the Middle of Consulting: Lessons From the Last Big Shift  by StephenG Smith’s  In the Middle of Consulting  newsletter . In this episode, AI hosts Lily Young and Ethan Jensen look back at the early 2000s consulting world, when the dot-com crash, Y2K spending freeze, 9/11, and the rise of outsourcing reshaped the industry Stephen entered as a new c...

Based on the April 2026 LinkedIn article You Need More Connection. Back with "Season 2" of In The Middle Of Consulting by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this kicks off Season 2. Our AI hosts, Lily and Ethan are back. They talk about the 4-month podcast / Stephen's hiatus, share details on the focus of 2026 / "Season 2", an...

Based on the December 2025 LinkedIn article In the Middle Of Vacation. Thoughts From A Refreshed Mind by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode looks Stephen's recent PTO trip, burnout, and tips to avoid workplace burnout. Our AI hosts, Lily and Ethan discuss how consultants often burn hot and don't ta...

Based on the November 2025 LinkedIn article series Leading in the Consulting World by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode looks at the challenges of being a new people leader. Our AI hosts, Lily and Ethan discuss how consulting companies often do not prepare individuals for their first role guiding others. At th...

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article series Consulting of Past, Present, & Future by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode is a bonus wrap up of the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan connect the dots of the four articles from Se...

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article The Ghost of Consulting Future: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 4 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode concludes the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the details where Steph...

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article TThe Ghost of Consulting Present: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 3 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode continues the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the details on some curre...

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article The Ghost of Consulting Past: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 2 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode continues the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the details on consulting roots g...

Based on the September 2025 LinkedIn article My Career Can Rent a Car Next Year: Consulting of Past, Present, & Future Part 1 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode kicks off the September theme of "Consulting of Past, Present, & Future". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan share the origin story of Stephen&#39...

Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn 4 week article series, You Can Be A Winner in The Game Of Consulting, from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode recaps the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week in the extended podcast our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss the staffing game, the performance review game, the im...

Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article You, Consultant, Are The Commodity: You Can Be A Winner in The Game Of Consulting - Part 4 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode continues the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss the good and bad aspects of employees being the comm...

Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article Short and Long-Term Wins with Client Relationships: You Can Be a Winner in the Game of Consulting - Part 3 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode continues the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss the importance of clients in the "game of consulting"...

Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article Play the Performance Game Like a Champ: You Can Be a Winner in the Game of Consulting - Part 2 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode continues the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discuss actions that can help you play the performance game in consulting and...

Based on the August 2025 LinkedIn article Landing the Roles You Want: You Can Be A Winner in The Game Of Consulting - Part 1 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠ this episode kicks off the August theme of "The Game of Consulting". This week our AI hosts Lily and Ethan discusses how, like a board game, there is a strategy to landing a role that aligns with your...

Based on the July 2025 LinkedIn article ⁠Making Work and the World Better From the Middle: Exploring the Power of the Middle, Part 4 and the first 3 July articles by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode discusses the overall theme of "The Middle" from the July series. The episode recaps topics from the month's articles and ad...

On July 22, 2024, Stephen G Smith posted an article on his LinkedIn page to reflect on a recent promotion and the long journey at the manager level. This podcast discusses the insights and stories shared in that article that kicked off Stephen's desire to create his LinkedIn series, In the Middle of Consulting newsletter.

Based on the July 2025 LinkedIn article ⁠Igniting Change From the Middle: Exploring the Power of The Middle, Part 3 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode discusses how important the Middle is to driving transformation and change. Hear about how just talking with others is a key of any change journey. See how the adopters in the middle, not e...

Based on the July 2025 LinkedIn article ⁠An Outsider in a Bridge Role: Exploring the Power of The Middle, Part 2 by ⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠ this episode discusses how an how being the bridge between different groups is a bread and butter consulting skill. Hear about how, as an outsider, consultants can have a broader view of a client's project and pla...

Based on the July 2025 LinkedIn article ⁠Being the "Geekspeak" Translator: Exploring the Power of The Middle, Part 1 by ⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠ this episode discusses how an how being the bridge between different groups is a bread and butter consulting skill. Hear about Stephen's experience of being the translator between IT and business...

An extended recap episode from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠⁠ In the Middle of Consulting newsletter ⁠⁠ for the June 2025 theme of What Improv Taught Me About Consulting . This episode discusses topics from all four June articles including highlights on getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, consulting should be a team sport with radical support, and sharpening your mind to be quick, a...

Based on the June 2025 LinkedIn article ⁠ Y es and...What Improv Taught Me About Consulting, Part 4 by ⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠ 's ⁠⁠ In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠ this episode recaps the prior three articles from June and provides some additional insights on how the improv concept of "Yes, and" can help build radical support.

Based on the June 2025 LinkedIn article ⁠Sharpening Your Mind to Be Quick: What Improv Taught Me About Consulting, Part 3 by ⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠ 's ⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠ this episode discusses how an insight from improv on building those quick on your feet skills that are so helpful in growing your consulting career.

Based on the June 2025 LinkedIn article ⁠ Consulting Should Be A Team Sport: What Improv Taught Me About Consulting, Part 2 by ⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠ 's ⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter ⁠ this episode discusses how an insight from improv on the way an improv team supports one another should be the model for consulting teams.

Based on the June 2025 LinkedIn article ⁠Getting Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: What Improv Taught Me About Consulting by ⁠StephenG Smith⁠ 's In the Middle of Consulting newsletter this episode discusses how an insight from improv to "f(ace) his fear" helped him take more risks in the workplace.