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, speakers, improvisers and authors who are rethinking how we work and lead. Our promise is to give you tangible takeaways you can use immediately, plus a few laughs along the way. Interested in partnering with us? Workday Playdate reaches thousands of people-first leaders who care about workplace culture, leadership, and team development. Contact info@learntoimproveit.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. We promise laughs, impact, and zero awkward small talk. Think ROI with a side of LOL’s. Let’s make it happen!
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores a freeing idea that might just change how you approach your life and work: stop setting goals for the sake of setting goals and start setting intentions instead.
Erin unpacks why traditional goal-setting often creates pressure, panic, and perpetual dissatisfaction. She shows how intention-setting brings us back to alignment, and introduces a simple five-step framework to he...
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin welcomes Neil Ghosh—purpose-driven leader, social impact advocate, and author of Do More Good—to explore a relieving idea: you don’t need to be perfect to make a meaningful difference.
Together, Erin and Neil unpack what purpose-driven leadership actually looks like in real life. They dig into why empathy is a practice, how imperfection builds trust and innovation, and why lasting c...
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin unpacks a simple idea: your words are wands. AKA, the way you talk to yourself is actively shaping what happens next.
Erin introduces the concept of “Words Are Wands,” exploring how inner dialogue influences confidence, creativity, opportunity, and action. Drawing from improv, neuroscience, and real-life moments, she breaks down why most of us are stuck in negative, repetitive thoug...
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin welcomes Margaret Andrews—Harvard professor, leadership expert, and architect behind Harvard’s #1 leadership course—to unpack why this class has everyone talking.
Together, Erin and Margaret explore why the most effective leaders manage themselves first; how vision setting starts with exploring possibilities rather than forcing answers; and why play, creativity, and emotional awaren...
In this milestone episode of Workday Playdate, Erin celebrates five years of learning, laughter, pivots, and powerful conversations. From the early days as “Failed It!” to today’s “Workday Playdate,” Erin reflects on how staying open to evolution have shaped the show and the community behind it.
This special anniversary episode spotlights the Top 10 listener-favorite episodes of all time. These conversations sparked breakth...
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with well-being activist, global people leader, and resilience champion Nathan Andres. Together, they explore what it really takes to live and lead with authenticity. Known as “Nate the Great,” Nathan shares his personal journey toward purpose, presence, and proactive well-being. He introduces his powerful REAL Model for building resilience: Reality, Energy, Authenticity,...
In today’s solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin unpacks one of the most quietly dangerous—and completely universal—experiences at work: burnout. Specifically, how to talk to your boss about burnout the right way with confidence, clarity, and zero shame.
Through her own personal burnout stories, Erin breaks down why speaking up is an act of leadership, how self-awareness accelerates support, and why proactive conversations...
In today’s episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Michelle “Mace” Curran—a combat veteran, former fighter pilot, author, and only the second woman ever to fly Lead Solo for the Thunderbirds—to unpack how humor, perspective, and playfulness can transform the way we work and live.
From high-stakes cockpit lessons to everyday team dynamics, Michelle shares why the stakes are usually not as high as we think, how findi...
In today’s solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin dives head-first into one of the most catalytic leadership levers we have at work (and honestly, in life): feedback—how to give it, how to get it, and how to grow from it.
From improv-infused communication strategies to mindset shifts that build resilience, this episode breaks down why feedback is your greatest growth tool, how clarity accelerates trust, and how adopting a “...
In today’s episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with powerhouse communicator and leadership expert Nada Nasserdeen to unpack one of the most underrated success superpowers: effective communication.
From self-confidence to emotional intelligence, this episode dives into how influence, mindset, and “soft skills” (or as Nada calls them, success skills) shape the way we show up at work and in life.
Through inspiring stori...
In today’s episode of Workday Playdate, Erin unpacks one of the most game-changing skills in work and life: confidence. Whether you’re pitching a new idea, speaking on stage, or leading a meeting, Erin shares how to turn every presentation into a moment that sticks.
Through humor, improv-infused insights, and real-life stories, Erin reveals the secrets to building self-trust, authenticity, and audience connection. She’ll sh...
In Episode 313 of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with global leadership coach Sabina Nawaz to unpack an idea that feels counterintuitive in a world obsessed with doing: the power of doing nothing.
From radical presence to redefining productivity, this conversation explores how creating “blank space” can unlock creativity, clarity, and calm. Erin and Sabina dig into what it means to show up with every cell in your body, wh...
In Episode 312 of Workday Playdate, Erin unpacks the not-so-secret sauce behind every unforgettable presentation: research. Whether you’re delivering a keynote, leading a team meeting, or pitching a new idea, understanding your audience is what turns a talk into a transformation.
Erin walks you through her playbook for audience research — a repeatable process that helps you craft keynotes that actually land. You’ll learn ho...
In Episode 311 of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Paula Davis — former lawyer, author of Beating Burnout at Work, and founder of the Stress and Resilience Institute — to unpack why burnout isn’t an individual failure, it’s a team dynamic.
Together, they explore how leaders can prevent burnout by fostering empathy, connection, and intrinsic motivation. Paula introduces her powerful concept of TNTs (Tiny Noticeable Thi...
In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin breaks down a five-step, improv-inspired framework to help you calm your nerves in real time whether you’re stepping on stage, leading a meeting, or speaking up in front of a room.
From understanding how your amygdala triggers fight-or-flight to learning simple techniques that regulate your nervous system, Erin shares practical tools to transform performance anxiety into focus...
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Lareina Yee, Director at McKinsey Global Institute, to explore how women can thrive at the intersection of time management, technology, and radical empathy.
From the promise of AI to the power of experience capital, Lareina shares data-driven insights and practical strategies for navigating the barriers women face in tech and beyond. Whether you’re wrestling with the...
In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles one of today’s biggest workplace challenges: overwhelm. With 66% of employees reporting burnout, it’s clear we’re all carrying too much and running on empty. But here’s the good news: a reset doesn’t have to be complicated. Erin shares her simple, science-backed 10-Minute Time Reset Hack to help you recharge your energy, sharpen your focus, and calm your nervous system...
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Amy Green Smith—life coach, hypnotherapist, and boundary-setting powerhouse—to explore the fine line between being kind and being a doormat. If you’ve ever found yourself saying “yes” when every cell in your body was screaming “no,” this conversation is your wake-up call to stop people-pleasing and start leading with self-worth.
Through raw insights and actionabl...
In today's solo episode, Erin pulls back the curtain on how she went from chaotic multitasking to a calmer, more productive workday without adding more hours to her week. If your calendar feels like a game of Tetris you never signed up for, this episode is your permission slip to stop the scramble and start managing your time with intention.
Through real-talk stories and proven strategies, Erin shares the exact methods...
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Dr. Zach Mercurio—researcher, author, and leading voice on meaningful work—to unpack a quiet crisis in today’s workplaces: anti-mattering. If you’ve ever felt invisible at work or noticed your team going through the motions, this episode will give you the language and tools to change that.
Instead of brushing past the small moments, Dr. Mercurio shows how everyda...
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!