The Unlearning Work Podcast

When It’s Not You… Now What? Last week, we talked about something that’s easy to miss when you’re in it. Sometimes your role stops working. And it’s not you. It’s how the work is set up. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down what to do once you realize that. Because knowing it’s not you doesn’t fix the problem. You still have to show up, do the work, and figure out how to move forwa...

  When It’s Not You: What to Do When Your Role Stops Working Most people think if they keep doing good work, things will move. But at work, effort doesn’t always convert into opportunity. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down what’s actually happening when you feel stuck in a role that used to work for you. The issue isn’t always your performance. It’s how work is set up around...

Stop Trying to Be Right: The Strategic Shift That Gets Your Work to Move Most people think being strategic means having the best idea. But at work, the best idea doesn’t always win. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down why smart, capable people often get labeled as “not strategic” and what’s actually going on underneath it. The issue isn’t your thinking. It’s how decisions really g...

Why Your Team Isn’t Moving at the Same Speed (And What to Do About It) Most leaders think misalignment comes from people not trying hard enough—but what’s actually happening is much simpler. People process, decide, and act at different speeds. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down cognitive agility in real terms—why some people move too fast, others move too slow, and how both creat...

  Stop Solving Everything: The Leadership Skill That Changes Conversations Most people think they’re good listeners—but often, they’re just fast problem-solvers. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down a simple but powerful shift: knowing when to listen, when to give advice, and when to solve. When you respond too quickly, you take over the thinking. When you slow down and match...

  The Story Your Brain Is Telling You at Work A lot of the pressure people feel at work doesn’t come from the work itself. It comes from the story our brain creates about what’s happening around us. A short Slack reply, a quiet meeting moment, or a quick hallway interaction can suddenly feel loaded with meaning. But often those interpretations aren’t based on what’s happening now — they’re ec...

  Stop Letting Work Decide How You Feel About Yourself When work becomes your emotional anchor, everything feels heavier than it should. In this episode of Unlearning Work , Erin shares a simple but powerful reframe: treat your company like a client, not an identity . When work stops being the place you look for validation or fulfillment, clarity returns and so does steadiness. You’ll hear: W...

The Pause That Changes the Room Have you ever walked into a work conversation already knowing how it would go only to leave frustrated when it didn’t? In this episode of Unlearning Work , Erin shares a simple pause that helps interrupt the mental shortcuts we build with familiar people at work. You’ll learn why your brain fills in the story too fast, how that creates tension, and one small exercis...

Why does work feel hard, even when you’re capable and committed? Often, it’s not burnout, poor focus, or lack of motivation. It’s the way work is set up and passed between people. In this episode of Unlearning Work , Erin Merideth breaks down why work becomes exhausting when expectations are unclear, decisions never quite land, and everything feels urgent. When work has no clear shape or stopping...

Why does work feel exhausting even when you care and work hard? Often, it’s not burnout or lack of motivation—it’s unclear systems. In this episode of Unlearning Work , Erin Merideth explores how workplace systems shape behavior, stress, and self-doubt. When expectations are fuzzy, feedback is vague, and priorities keep shifting, people don’t disengage—they start guessing. This conversation helps...

Most employees believe their biggest challenge is the organization—unclear priorities, inconsistent leadership, or constant change. But in reality, 80% of performance friction comes from something far simpler—our own clarity, ownership, and feedback habits. When expectations are fuzzy, ownership is reactive, and feedback loops break down, even great employees end up spinning their wheels. The good...

 Most leaders think their biggest challenge is people: motivation, attitude, or accountability. But in reality, 80% of leadership problems come down to something far simpler— clarity. When expectations are fuzzy, actions are vague, and follow-through is inconsistent, frustration builds on both sides. The good news? You can fix most of it with one formula. Clear Expectations + Actions + Accoun...

We live in a world obsessed with speed. Instant messages. Auto-replies. One-click everything. But behind all that convenience lies a secret: companies use sludge—intentional friction—to shape your behavior. Ever tried to cancel a subscription and ended up trapped in a maze of “Are you sure?” pop-ups? That’s sludge. A behavioral barrier designed to slow you down and protect their goals. In this epi...

We’ve all been there: a colleague doesn’t reply to your email, your boss doesn’t give feedback on a presentation, or a friend doesn’t text you back. And almost immediately, the stories begin: “They must not value me. I must have failed. Something’s wrong.” But here’s the thing, those stories aren’t facts. They’re interpretations. They’re the “why” your brain creates to fill the silence. And most o...

We all know about income tax, sales tax, even luxury tax. But there’s another tax you’ve been paying silently and it may be costing you more than all the others combined. The emotional tax is the hidden toll you pay every day at work: the overthinking after meetings, the late nights staying “visible,” the self-editing in emails, and the pressure to prove your worth again and again. It doesn’t show...

 September has always carried a certain energy. Fresh notebooks. New routines. A clean slate. Even if you don’t have kids in school, this time of year feels like a natural reset. But at work, we rarely give ourselves the same permission. Instead, we drag old habits, stale meetings, and unfinished projects into a new season—and wonder why we feel stuck. In this episode of Unlearning Work , Eri...

You’ve bought the planner, downloaded the app, color-coded the calendar… but a few weeks later, it’s buried under papers or deleted from your phone. In this episode of Unlearning Work , Erin unpacks why productivity systems often fail — not because you’re undisciplined, but because they weren’t built for the way your brain actually works. We explore the hidden costs of forcing yourself into someon...

You’re checking boxes, staying busy, and moving fast… but something still feels off. In this episode of Unlearning Work , Erin unpacks a common trap high performers fall into: doing more—but not doing what matters. We explore how productivity theater, the urgency effect, and avoidance disguised as action are keeping you stuck in motion without momentum. Erin breaks down the real reason burnout is...

  In this episode of Unlearning Work , host Erin Merideth tackles a common—but rarely named—struggle: what if you’re not unmotivated or undisciplined… just using the wrong system? Through the lens of neuroscience and coaching experience, Erin introduces the four brain-based Work Styles that shape how we process motivation, time, and structure. If you’ve ever felt like you “just can’t follow t...

    If motivation were enough, you'd already be doing it. Episode Number: 13 Host: Erin Merideth Website:   unlearningwork.com   🔍 What this episode is about: In this episode of Unlearning Work , Erin exposes the myth of motivation and unpacks what actually drives behavior change—simple, repeatable systems. Backed by insights from BJ Fogg ( Tiny Habits ) and James Clear ( Atom...

  Episode Number: 12 Host: Erin Merideth Website: unlearningwork.com Episode Summary In this episode of Unlearning Work , host Erin Merideth explores the neuroscience behind why we avoid certain tasks at work—and how to finally stop dreading them. Through the lens of behavioral science and real-world leadership coaching, Erin unpacks the paradox of the Law of Least Effort : even though our br...

From Reality TV to Real-World Leadership: Lessons in Drama, Conflict, and Performance 🎙 Episode Title: From Reality TV to Real-World Leadership: Lessons in Drama, Conflict, and Performance 📅 Episode Number: 11 🎧 Host: Erin Merideth 🔗 Website: unlearningwork.com Episode Summary In this episode of Unlearning Work , host Erin Merideth takes a surprising look at how the world of reality TV can teac...

Clarity Over Chaos: Making Decisions When You’re Stuck in Your Head Episode Title:  Clarity Over Chaos: Making Decisions When You’re Stuck in Your Head Episode Number: 10 Host: Erin Merideth Website: unlearningwork.com Episode Summary In this episode of Unlearning Work , host Erin Merideth explores the messy middle of decision-making—those moments when you're stuck in your head, spiraling in...

Should Happens: How Language Shapes Our Work and Creates Self-Sabotage Episode Title: Should Happens: How Language Shapes Our Work and Creates Self-Sabotage Episode Number: 9 Host: Erin Merideth Website: unlearningwork.com Episode Summary In this episode of Unlearning Work , host Erin Merideth breaks down how one simple word— “should” —shapes our work, limits our leadership, and sabotages our side...

Breaking the Imposter Syndrome Loop: How to Build Confidence Through Action Episode Title: Breaking the Imposter Syndrome Loop: How to Build Confidence Through Action Episode Number: 8 Host: Erin Merideth Website: unlearningwork.com   Episode Summary In this episode of Unlearning Work , host Erin Merideth unpacks a common but rarely discussed challenge for high performers: imposter syndrome....