Workday Playdate

In today’s snack-sized dose of Workday Playdate, Erin’s flipping the “fear your boss” script and serving up an improv-inspired reframe that’ll help you manage up with confidence, not chaos. Spoiler: It starts with a Slack message and ends with you owning your power. The Problem: You get a vague “Let’s chat” from your boss and spiral. Are you getting fired? Forgotten something? Turns out, you’re no...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles one of the trickiest parts of professional growth: keeping your mentor relationship alive and thriving. Finding a mentor is like landing the perfect avocado - rare, precious, and you don’t want it to spoil. This episode is packed with improv-inspired strategies to help you nurture that connection, create a two-way relationship, and turn “one coffee...

In today’s snack-sized dose of Workday Playdate, Erin’s flipping the mentorship script and serving up a strategy that’ll make your mentor want to shout your name from the rooftops. Spoiler: It’s not about being the smartest in the room. It’s about showing up with intention. The Problem: We all say mentorship matters, but too often mentees treat it like a vending machine: insert question, get answe...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin unpacks what employee engagement really looks like in today’s world with Dr. Angela Jackson, founder of Future Forward Strategies. Forget the ping pong tables and perk-loaded culture decks. This is about centering worker voice, listening with intention, and designing workplaces that actually work, for everyone. Whether you’re leading a team, managing up, o...

In today’s snack-sized dose of Workday Playdate, Erin’s serving up a spicy truth: no amount of kombucha or karaoke can fix what’s really broken when it comes to employee engagement. The Problem: Only 33% of U.S. employees are engaged at work. And, spoiler alert: swag won’t save us. Connection is the missing link, not cold brew on tap. The Improv Hack to Try: The Scene Partner Swap Flip the script....

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin flips the mentorship script. No more waiting for a career fairy godparent to swoop in with the perfect job offer—this is about building real relationships that actually move the needle. Whether you're fresh out of school, mid-pivot, or just tired of one-sided networking coffee dates, Erin delivers a refreshingly practical (and improv-inspired) five-step fr...

In today’s snack, Erin’s busting the myth that a mentor is just going to magically appear and fix everything. The Problem: We’ve all heard it—“You need a mentor!” But asking for one feels like proposing after two dates. We freeze, wait, and convince ourselves no one has time for us. The Improv Hack to Try: The Spotlight Flip Instead of waiting for someone to spotlight you, flip the light on THEM....

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin throws out the five-year plan, the “dream job” myth, and that tired advice to just “follow your passion.” Instead, she’s joined by creative powerhouse and Mighty Forces founder Amanda Hirsch to help you rethink what career ownership actually looks like today. From office misfit to author, storyteller, and mom, Amanda shares the real talk behind taking back...

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, Erin's busting one of the biggest myths in the career playbook: that the “perfect job” will just... show up and fix everything. Spoiler: It won’t. And waiting for it? That can keep you stuck. The Problem: 52% of workers are eyeing a career change. 70% feel disengaged. Why? Because they’re waiting. For the dream job. For clarity. For permission. But it's important...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles the awkward elevator small talk, the lukewarm return-to-office bagels, and the actual leadership challenges of hybrid work. From re-establishing team rituals to defining the “why” behind your office days, this episode is a field guide for anyone trying to rebuild connection in a flexible work world without burning out. Whether you're managing Zoom...

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re tackling the hybrid work headache—and no, we’re not talking about the flickering office lights or the ancient coffee machine no one remembers how to clean. We’re talking about the emotional fog that creeps in when your team is half-on-Zoom, half-in-person, and 100% disconnected. The Problem: You’ve asked your team to return to the office a few days a week....

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores what every team—at work and at home—needs more of: play. Joined by real-life partners and improv powerhouses Greg Tavares and Amber Nash, this episode dives into how playful communication can defuse tension, deepen connection, and make conflict feel a whole lot less... combative. Greg, an improv teacher and facilitator with decades of experience h...

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re talking about the kind of conflict resolution that doesn’t involve a six-part text thread or passive-aggressive dishwasher loading. We’re diving into how playfulness—yes, even mid-fight—can be your secret weapon for stronger, happier relationships. Whether it’s your partner, roommate, or that one family member who treats the group chat like a TED Talk… this...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles one of the toughest parts of leadership: layoffs. When budgets shrink and change feels unavoidable, how do you show up with empathy, clarity, and integrity? Spoiler: it’s not just about delivering the news—it's about leading through uncertainty with heart. From the emotional toll of workforce reductions to the ripple effects on culture and trust, E...

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re talking about the kind of trust fall that doesn’t involve closing your eyes and hoping Linda from Accounting catches you. Nope—we’re talking about the invisible, emotional kind. The one that happens during reorgs, layoffs, and those delightfully vague “strategic shifts” when your team is quietly wondering, “Are we safe? Can we trust you? Or should I start u...

In this powerful episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Reshma Saujani—founder of Girls Who Code, CEO of Moms First, and author of Pay Up—for a no-holds-barred conversation about what it really takes to thrive as a woman in today’s workplace. Spoiler: it's not just about negotiating harder or leaning in. It's about rewriting the entire playbook. From the impossible pressures of pandemic...

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re serving up some truth for anyone who’s ever screamed into their steering wheel after a one-on-one like, “How does Brad STILL make more than me?” If you’ve ever been underpaid, undervalued, or under-celebrated—this snack is for you. The Problem: Here’s the tea: Women are doing the absolute most. More emotional labor. More coordinating. More everything. And y...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin flips the script on traditional leadership by spotlighting the power of the quiet ones. Through a playful and practical lens, she explores how introverted teammates can be supported, celebrated, and set up to thrive—not just survive—in today’s fast-paced work environments. Erin shares five improv-inspired leadership strategies that help draw out the brilli...

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re sending a leadership love letter to the quiet ones—the deep thinkers, the spreadsheet whisperers, the back-row observers who see everything. Because if you’ve ever left a meeting thinking, “Why didn’t they speak up?” or “I wish I’d said that…”—this snack’s for you. The Problem: Okay, picture this: You’re in a team meeting. The extroverts are riffing, the wh...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin welcomes keynote speaker, facilitator, and introverted powerhouse Cristy von to the mic for a conversation that redefines what it means to lead from a place of quiet strength. Together, they dig into the surprising overlap between improv and introversion, showing how safe spaces, self-awareness, and a little bit of “yes, and” can transform leadership from...

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re giving the quiet leaders in the room a standing ovation—and a strategy. Because if you’ve ever felt invisible in loud leadership spaces, this one’s for you. The Problem: Corporate culture often rewards the boldest brainstormer, the fastest talker, the loudest voice. But what if you’re the deep thinker, the one who shines in 1:1s, and recharges solo? Too oft...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin takes the mic solo to spotlight a crucial topic often overlooked in hustle culture: self-care as a leadership strategy. Drawing from her own experience, she unpacks the often-misunderstood concept of introverted leadership and why rest, boundaries, and joy aren't just nice-to-haves, but non-negotiables for modern leaders. Erin shares a Top 10 list of creat...

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re tackling the kind of tired a nap can’t fix. Because if your soul is sighing—not just your body—this one’s for you. The Problem: You’re not just exhausted from meetings, deadlines, and life logistics. You’re tired because you’re performing all day and rarely just being. You’re juggling ten roles at once—boss, parent, mentor, inbox warrior—but none of them fe...

Rha Goddess (Intentional Ambition: Redefining Success in a Post-Pandemic World) is a soul coach, author, cultural innovator, and founder of Move The Crowd. Rha Goddess returns to Workday Playdate to unpack what it means to lead with clarity, rest, and purpose in a world still recovering from burnout. She and Erin explore how our definitions of success have evolved, why rest is a leadership skill,...

In today’s Workday Playdate snack, we’re talking about moving beyond the checklist version of success—and finding work that actually energizes you. The Problem: You’ve hit the career milestones, but something still feels off. You’re busy, sure—but not fulfilled. That’s not laziness or burnout. It’s misalignment. The Improv Hack to Try: “The Commercial Break” Take 30 seconds and pitch your dream jo...