The Unobstructed Podcast

In this episode of The Unobstructed Podcast, Rachael and I talk about emotional endurance vs. resilience—and why most people confuse the two. Because they’re definitely not the same. And conflating them is a big part of why burnout sneaks up on so many of us. We chat a lot about how learned helplessness encourages us to tolerate bad conditions instead of navigating to better ones. We also get get...

In this episode of The Unobstructed Podcast, Rachael and I traced the root of neurodiverse confidence, and what it looks like when you grow up feeling like the problem. We talk about school, labels, work, parenting, and a lot more. Like the invisible cost of teaching kids to “be good” instead of honest. It starts with a conversation about neurodiversity. Ok, no. Not it doesn’t. It starts off with...

In this episode of The Unobstructed Podcast, Rachael and I talk about misaligned expectations. We share personal stories about burnout, being vulnerable with managers, and feeling pressure to say “i’m fine” when you’re not. What starts as a conversation about mental health in the workplace quickly opens into something bigger: The invisible penalties of full honesty at work and why post-COVID “flex...

In this episode of The Unobstructed Podcast, Derek and Rachael untangle the evolving role of AI in day-to-day work life. AI is changing the way you can do business, but it can't sidestep bad data. *** The Unobstructed Podcast: Listen in on big thoughts and small steps for navigating agency, grief, and creativity in daily life. New episodes every month. About the hosts: Derek MacDonald — writer, th...

What separates those who shape their path and those who wait for direction? Creativity, communication, and self-discovery...agency plays a role in all of it. We get into the "how" of adopting new ideas, embracing technology, and taking ownership of our personal and professional growth. *** The Unobstructed Podcast: Listen in on big thoughts and small steps for navigating agency, grief, and creativ...

Why is workload visibility is so broken—especially in remote and hybrid work? Things like untracked work and why it leads to burnout, misaligned tools that make work way harder than it needs to be, and task lists beyond what’s assigned—the things that pile in from email and Slack. Work is measured in output, not hours. But if nobody knows what’s actually on your plate, how do you set expectations....

The shift to solo work isn’t just about work. It’s changing how we save, invest, and plan for the future. In this conversation, we cover morning routines, hustle culture’s war on mental health, and what happens when employment isn’t connected to retirement planning. And why this leads to fewer workers, fewer retirement plans, and fewer returns—for everyone. So, if AI agents and solo work are the f...

Let's talk about the importance of creating space get work done (ya know, instead of just talking about doing the work in back-to-back meetings). Derek and Rachael also share openly about navigating workplace conflicts, building psychological safety, and what the real impact of culture does to productivity. As someone with ADHD, Derek has tried a million of those time management “hacks”…and says t...

Who’s responsible for work-life balance—companies or individuals? Derek and Rachael discuss the role of personal boundaries in the workplace, being intentional about taking time off, and the ways routines impact our perception of time. *** The Unobstructed Podcast: Listen in on big thoughts and small steps for navigating agency, grief, and creativity in daily life. New episodes every month. About...

The biggest barriers to growth are the assumptions we don’t question. In this episode, Derek and Rachael chat about how vulnerability enhances leadership. We also dive into the dynamics of managing up, the nuances of adult learning theory, and the significance of understanding the "why" behind a person's actions in the workplace. *** The Unobstructed Podcast: Listen in on big thoughts and small st...

The Unobstructed Podcast: Listen in on big thoughts and small steps for navigating agency, grief, and creativity in daily life. New episodes every month. About the hosts: Derek MacDonald — writer, thinker, coffee drinker. Started Becoming Unobstructed after 15+ years in marketing, software systems, outdoor education, and leadership development to share what he's learned with others. Rachael Sink —...