Erin Diehl - Workday Playdate
Workday Playdate
TOP 1% GLOBAL PODCAST for People-First Leaders Formerly the "improve it! Podcast." #9 in BEST 100 SELF LEADERSHIP PODCASTS. I’m Erin Diehl, keynote speaker, business improv edutainer, and founder of improve it! (AKA your work bestie). Every Wednesday, Workday Playdate with improve it! helps HR professionals, people leaders, and culture-driven humans bring more laughter, levity, and purpose to their workdays. Because work is better when you play. This is not your average leadership podcast. You’ll get research-backed strategies, improv-inspired tools, and candid conversations with top leaders,...
Author
Erin Diehl - Workday Playdate
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Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 8, 2026
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Episodes
279: The DEI Dilemma: Why Cutting Diversity Programs is Hurting Companies & How Improv Training Can Help Fill in the Gaps 26.02.2025 31:26
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have been a driving force behind innovation, employee retention, and workplace culture—but now, many companies are slashing these initiatives, leaving employees feeling unseen, unheard, and disconnected. In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin dives into the corporate DEI backslide and the very real consequences of these cutbacks. But she’s no...
Snack 2: The One Improv Trick to Build Inclusion in 5 Minutes 24.02.2025 8:44
You care about your people, but leadership can feel like an uphill battle—burnout, disengagement, awkward silences. Sound familiar? Enter: Radical Empathy. In today’s Workday Playdate “Snack,” Erin gives you a quick-win improv activity that you can try in your next meeting: 1. Pair up your team members (or do this in a group!). 2. One person starts making simple movements—raising an arm, n...
278: Radical Empathy at Work: Stories from 'I See You! 19.02.2025 28:45
Think empathy is just a “soft skill”? Think again. It’s your leadership superpower—one that builds trust, fuels innovation, and keeps teams engaged. But here’s the kicker: real empathy isn’t just about feeling—it’s about leading with it. In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin takes you beyond the pages of her book I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy to un...
Snack 1: How to Let Empathy Shape Your Leadership Style 17.02.2025 9:33
Welcome to Workday Playdate—new name, same mission, more fun! If you're a leader looking to energize your team, you're in the right place. You care about your people, but leadership can feel like an uphill battle—burnout, disengagement, awkward silences. Sound familiar? Enter: Radical Empathy. In today’s Workday Playdate “Snack,” Erin gives you a quick win improv activity that you can try in y...
277: Why Wendy Gonzalez Fires Herself Every Year, and Why You Should Too! 12.02.2025 43:17
Radical empathy in leadership isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a game-changer. But practicing it? That takes intention, self-awareness, and a willingness to evolve. In this episode of the improve it! Podcast, Erin sits down with Wendy Gonzalez to dive deep into what it truly means to lead with radical empathy. Wendy is the CEO at Sama and is passionate about building high-performing, high-functioning te...
276: Lead with Empathy in 2025: The 2-Step Shortcut 05.02.2025 19:32
Empathy at work (and outside of work) is simpler than you think, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In Episode 276 of the improve it! Podcast, Erin discusses why mastering empathy will unlock deeper connections, increase employee engagement, and give you more meaningful results. Erin gives you her 2-step shortcut for leading with empathy that you can bring to work tomorrow. She also gives you the de...
275: From Hot Mess to Goal-Getter: Real Talk on Intentions 29.01.2025 36:27
What if the secret to empowering your team and reclaiming your day wasn’t about setting more goals, but about leading with intention? Imagine turning your 'hot mess' moments into clear, purpose-driven leadership—this framework will show you how. 1. Self-Reflection: Know Your "Hot Mess" Moments Before you can set meaningful intentions, you need to identify where you are today. Effective...
274: Step Into Their Shoes: Intentional Empathy with Virtual Reality with Vivian Acquah 22.01.2025 40:26
Vivian Acquah is paving the way for more inclusive and equitable workplaces. She’s not just a DEI consultant; she’s a force of nature dedicated to helping leaders like you create cultures where everyone belongs. As the founder of Amplify DEI, Vivian combines innovation, empathy, and practical tools to inspire lasting change. You can connect with her on LinkedIn at the link below and get ready to f...
273: Hey, Overthinkers! Let’s Simplify Your Intentions 16.01.2025 35:13
Are you stuck in the endless loop of overthinking? Maybe you’ve rewritten the same email five times, hesitated to act on a great idea, or turned your to-do list into a novel. Overthinking doesn’t just waste time—it keeps you from living fully. In today’s episode, Erin tackles how to break free from the analysis paralysis and take intentional, meaningful steps forward. Here’s what you need to know:...
272: How Can You Eliminate Imposter Syndrome to Optimize Your Performance with Victoria Jenn Rodriguez 08.01.2025 42:40
Imposter syndrome—two words that can stop even the most ambitious professionals in their tracks. But what if we told you that it’s not a roadblock, but a signal of growth? In today's episode, Erin sits down with the inspiring Victoria Jenn Rodriguez to flip the script on imposter syndrome. Victoria reveals why feeling like an imposter can actually be a good thing, and shares powerful strategies fo...
271: Spark Joy, Set Goals: Intentional Leadership Tips that Work 01.01.2025 37:40
What if the key to thriving under pressure was simpler than you thought? In today’s episode, Erin tackles one of the toughest challenges leaders face: staying positive and intentional during high-pressure situations. Whether you're leading a team through tight deadlines or navigating unpredictable circumstances, this episode offers actionable insights to help you lead with clarity and joy. Below...
270: Lessons, Laughs & Leadership: improve it! Podcast Year in Review 25.12.2024 36:18
2024 was a year of radical insights, heartfelt stories, and transformative lessons in leadership—and we’re wrapping it all up with a bang! If you’re ready to relive the top moments that took your leadership game from ‘meh’ to magnificent, buckle up because this isn’t just a recap; it’s your ultimate guide to starting 2025 stronger, more inspired, and more intentional than ever before. In this po...
269: What Are the Most Effective Ways to Navigate Difficult Conversations at Work? A Conversation with Justin Jones-Fosu 18.12.2024 39:28
What if the seeds you plant today could transform the world tomorrow? In today's episode, Justin Jones-Fosu challenges leaders to leave their "home base," embrace curiosity, and cultivate inclusion to create real impact—at work and beyond. Justin Jones-Fosu, founder of Work. Meaningful., joins Erin to share powerful lessons about leadership, communication, and humanity. Drawing from his...
268: How Can Top Corporate Leaders Use Negotiation to Drive Unstoppable Success? Unlocking Secrets with Kwame Christian 11.12.2024 51:53
Did you know that you negotiate every single day—and not just in boardrooms or sales meetings? From discussing PTO with your boss to deciding dinner plans with your partner, negotiation is everywhere. But how often do we approach these conversations with strategy and confidence? In this episode of the Improve It! Podcast, Erin uncovers the secrets to navigating everyday negotiations with expert Kw...
267: Warning: This Vision Setting Strategy Might Actually Work! 04.12.2024 28:05
What if the success of your team hinged on a single, powerful choice: which wolf you feed? Inside every leader lies the potential to cultivate either chaos and confusion or unity and inspiration. The secret? A clear, compelling vision that your team not only understands but wholeheartedly embraces. In this episode of the improve it! Podcast, Erin delves into the transformative power of vision-sett...
266: What Does It Take for Women to Gain Respect, Power, and Influence in the Workplace? Alison Fragale Spills the Tea 27.11.2024 49:11
What if the key to unlocking your full potential wasn’t just about working harder or climbing the ladder, but about understanding the invisible forces that shape how others see you? In today's episode, Erin dives into a transformative conversation with Alison Fragale, an expert on power, status, and the subtle art of influence. Her groundbreaking insights from her book, Likeable Badass, offer a po...
265: Breath Control for Better Decision-Making: A Conversation with Samantha Skelly 20.11.2024 41:34
What if the secret to conquering chaos, leading with confidence, and transforming stress into ease was as simple as your next breath? This week on the podcast, I sat down with breathwork expert Samantha Skelly to uncover the transformative power of intentional breathing. As the Founder of Pause Breathwork, Samantha Skelly is on a mission to help others unlock their infinite potential though breath...
264: Want an Easy Five Minute Gratitude Practice You Can Implement Today? We’ve Got Your Back! 13.11.2024 28:13
What if five minutes could change everything about how you lead, connect, and thrive? In today's episode, I reveal the powerful daily gratitude practice that shifted my mindset from scarcity to abundance—fueling not only my own growth, but transforming my team dynamics and leadership resilience. If you’re ready for a simple, impactful habit to elevate your life and work, this post is for you! Here...
263: How Do You Balance the Holiday Season While Prioritizing Self Care? 06.11.2024 30:41
If you don’t take the time for yourself, the time will take itself and go elsewhere. Sound familiar, especially during the holidays? Yup, you’re not the only one. In today’s episode, Erin shares her 4-step strategy for finding balance between giving to yourself and giving to others during the holiday season. Erin also shares: What a “Bliss List” is and why you need to make one Why you should start...
262: Job Hunting Got You Drained AF? Steal These Top Strategies for Avoiding Burnout with Daisy Auger-Dominguez 30.10.2024 46:32
Does your job search feel like it’s its own full-time job that’s not leading anywhere and also not paying you? You’re not alone. In response to this Q, Daisy Auger-Domínguez--a cross-sector global leader, speaker, author, and advisor on future readying workplaces, fostering inclusion, and addressing burnout at work—joins Erin today to discuss 4 strategies to avoid burnout while you’re in the heat...
261: Empowering Inclusion While Battling Isolation At Work? Here's How to Cope 23.10.2024 29:03
When you're building inclusion for those around you at work, but you yourself are not feeling included, what do you do about that? This question from a listener really begs us to consider what’s within the locus of our control vs. what's not when it comes to inclusion at work. In response to this Q, Erin gives you 5 ways to go from excluded by others to including yourself and 5 ways to cope if lea...
260: What are the Benefits of Encouraging Men to Practice Mindfulness at Work? 16.10.2024 49:15
Jon Macaskill and Will Schneider are hosts of the Men Talking Mindfulness Podcast—a project geared towards breaking barriers, fostering resilience, promoting peace, and developing a new masculine. Jon is a retired Navy SEAL and leadership consultant, and Will is a wellness consultant and teacher. In today’s episode, Jon and Will join Erin to discuss all things mindfulness in response to a listener...
259: What Should You Do When You Start to Outperform Your Boss? 09.10.2024 26:03
In today’s episode, Erin answers a question from a listener about what to do when you start to outperform your boss. It’s juicy, it’s complicated, and...it’s manageable. Erin gives you a six-step strategy for how to handle a situation like this, especially if you’re overperforming and underappreciated. Erin also shares: The differences between Upset U and Upward U How to be the leader you want to...
258: Is the Way You Think About Money Holding You Back? Dr. Darnyelle Reveals THE Million Dollar Mindset Secrets 02.10.2024 41:51
Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon is a business consultant, keynote speaker, and corporate trainer whose “it” in life is to demystify money so that people can walk into their wealth in abundance. In today’s episode, Dr. Darnyelle shares her Million Dollar Mindset ways of thinking to get you unstuck, paid for your true value, and detached from what’s not meant for you in the long-run. Dr. Darnyelle also...
257: What Are the Secrets to Transforming Siloed Teams into Collaborative Powerhouses? 25.09.2024 31:21
Ever inherited a team that has a different work culture than what you’re used to? You’re definitely not the only one. In today’s episode, Erin gives you her 6-step process to create a fully-realized team environment whether you’re an emerging leader, new leader, or experienced leader. Erin also shares: Why having one-on-one conversations with your team members is essential (and what 4 questions to...
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