Unserious

We all communicate... but are we really saying what matters? So often, the most critical conversations at work are the ones we avoid. We dodge them to keep the peace, to protect ourselves, or because no one ever taught us how to navigate them well. "Anything worth communicating is because you want somebody to know, do, or feel something. If it’s not landing, it doesn’t matter how you said it....

When people feel seen, heard, and needed at work, everything shifts. Motivation, performance, retention and well-being all improve. Too often that sense of significance is missing, and the cost to teams and organizations is massive. In this episode, we talk with Zach Mercurio, author of The Power of Mattering, about how leaders can create cultures where people genuinely feel valued. We explore: -...

In uncertain times, many leaders play it safe: cutting risks, pulling back, and aiming for stability. But what if the better move is to be bold? In our latest Unserious episode, Puck News CEO Sarah Personette reveals how they practice courageous leadership by betting big and speaking up when much of the media world plays it safe by avoiding the line of fire.  We unpack why news still matters, the...

We invest so much time in building a portfolio of skills, experiences, a network of friends, a body of meaningful work - that many of us overlook the critical work of understanding and accepting ourselves. In this episode, J.B. and Molly talk to Helen Min of True Ventures about the impact of avoiding that work and the powerful force-multiplier for good it can be in our lives. "It wasn't...

Most companies are implementing AI backwards: they're starting with the technology and hoping their people will figure out how to use it. For the season opener of Unserious recorded live at the Meltwater Summit , J.B. and Molly sit down with Jennifer Kattula, CMO of Microsoft Advertising who revealed why the organizations actually succeeding with generative AI are doing the exact opposite. Th...

How many of you have that idea for a great business nagging you in the back of your head? The one that you just know will make the judges on Shark Tank swoon? Or maybe it’s another idea altogether… writing a book, an adventure, going back to school to pivot your career? What is it that urges us to take that leap of faith and move forward? It’s not always about a perfectly executed plan. Sometimes...

We all love a comeback story, and live comedy is one of the biggest to emerge from the pandemic. It offer us what we crave more than ever: shared experience, community, and levity. But how does that work in an era when social media has become a comedian's most begrudgingly important platform? In this episode, J.B. and Molly talk with Danny Frenkel, founder and CEO of PunchUp Live, a platform...

They say the average person sees something like 10K ads per day. A constant flood of messages and hooks, all vying for a sliver of our attention. So what does it take to be noticed? To be memorable? To be relevant? One way is to create moments that aren’t just seen, but are lived. In this episode, J.B. explores the extraordinary with Judy Lee, Senior Director of Global Brand Experiences at Pintere...

Preparing for the future doesn’t make a lot of sense at a time when the unknowns feel like they outnumber the knowns. Nowadays we encourage our young people to be quick on their feet and have transferable skills. But what if instead of waiting for the future to happen, we could take an active role in designing it? What would it take to develop the mindset, imagination, and skills, to shape futures...

For a week devoted to gratitude, we decided to revisit this episode with Ryan Modjeski about empathy, compassion, and curiosity, originally aired on November 9, 2023. There are so many great lessons in this episode, but the most important one is that empathy is teachable. Happy Thanksgiving, US listeners! "The culture I try to build is one that is unafraid to try and the only real sin is maki...

Building a movement is truly an art form; one without a single formula or method. It takes more than strategy, and a lot more than just having a great idea. When a movement starts to click, you can feel it. The cogs begin to turn themselves, then turn each other, and the whole thing starts to move as something that’s bigger than any one of its parts. In this episode, J.B. and Molly go behind the s...

A recurring theme on this show is that of the rapidly changing world. Some thrive in the energy that fast-paced change can bring—new challenges, new ideas—while others feel overwhelmed or left behind. But it’s in these uncomfortable moments of change that we find real growth and transformation. In this episode, J.B. uncovers the elements of adaptation with corporate innovator Chris Majer, founder...

This week is election week in the United States, and power has shifted. So we're revisiting this episode with Ebele Okobi on the Dynamics of Power, originally aired on March 21, 2024. Take a listen and take good care out there. "My interest in power is, how do I bring people with me? How do I use this power to create a more radically loving world?" - Ebele Okobi  You can connect wit...

Everyone is trying to influence something or someone to get the outcomes they want, even when we’re not actively thinking about it. As humans we’re hardwired to persuade - at work, in relationships, negotiating dinner. Influence shapes the way we move through the world. But what is it exactly? In this episode, J.B. and Molly are joined by Bess Kennedy, former corporate litigator and the Founding E...

Since the pandemic began, it seems like everyone’s favorite topic is "the future of work." But in all the talk about return to office, remote work, and Zoom fatigue, are we missing the headline here? In 2023, the number of number of independent workers in the US quadrupled to 64 million - that’s 45% of the American workforce.  In this episode, J.B. talks with Noah Lang, founder of Stride...

At work, we all want to be respected, heard, and taken seriously. But for people from non-dominant groups, especially women, gaining respect is anything but straightforward. How can one be seen as competent and assertive, without being labeled as aggressive—or maybe worse, unlikeable? In this first episode of Season 3, J.B. and Molly are joined by Dr. Alison Fragale, distinguished professor of org...

If it doesn't already come naturally, communicating about your work can feel uncomfortable and downright cringey. But like it or not, it's part of the job. What you need is a method and a motivator, and fortunately Courtney Kaplan returns to Upshots to be just that! In this episode, Courtney offers a structured approach to not just build cold case studies but real stories that connect wi...

As working professionals, meetings are so ubiquitous that we just think of them as something that happen to us. We check the weather to see if it's going to rain, the stocks to see what we gained or lost, and the calendar to see how many meetings we have. But we have much more control over meetings than we might think, as hosts and even as attendees. In this episode, we put Upshots host Micah...

With a record 5.5 million businesses starting up last year alone, it's not easy for early stage companies to stand out. Fortunately, John Cantwell, a creative director who specializes in brand and copy startups, is here to share his secrets behind building a memorable and authentic brand. In this Upshots episode, John shares his approach to harnessing the core ideas of founders and key team m...

Ever had a spark of inspiration that fizzled out when you shared it? Or a great idea that was misrepresented when you weren't there? Let's face it, sometimes getting your ideas across is harder than coming up with them in the first place. In this Upshots episode, Micah is joined by fellow Unserious co-founder and host J.B. Skelton to learn how the briefing process can not only organize y...

Most of us have been taught from early childhood that dreams aren't meant to be taken seriously. "Don't worry, it's just a dream," your parent might have said. But as community builder, author, and product leader Sarah Epps shares with Micah in this Upshots episode, dreams can be a potent source of data to be explored for personal and professional growth. Don't miss t...

Building a customer community has been on the goal sheet for most B2B and consumer product companies at some point or another. But do your customers really need one? And are you ready to go all in to make it work? In this episode, Micah is joined by customer community consultant Heather Foeh to break down the elements of successful online communities and some common misconceptions. With actionable...

There are a number of reasons why we might not gel with a co-worker - some personal, some not. But luckily, being chummy isn't a requirement for great work, and there are tactical approaches to working in spite of interpersonal challenges. In this Upshots episode, product and marketing leader Natalie Kubitz shares her insights on identifying signs of difficult interactions to a framework that...

If you're human like us, chances are you've had times where you've felt like you're drowning in commitments. But there's a way to keep your head above water, as Micah learns from Courtney Kaplan, the force behind Iconic Leadership Coaching, who shares a powerful approach for conquering overwhelm. Discover the transformative "whiteboard" technique that helps you v...

When people talk about managing up, they don't usually dig into what that actually means. But becoming your boss's biggest ally can have a profound affect on your career and professional well-being. In this episode, product management leader Katie Bolz, shares her profound and practical insights on aligning with your boss's goals, tackling tasks they might dread, and communicating w...