Modern Mentor

Modern Mentor

Rachel Cooke is your guide to leadership and communication, helping you craft a workplace environment you can feel good about. She’ll share tips to help you balance your work and personal life, effectively invest your time, and be mindful about where you’re devoting your energy. Let Rachel help you navigate your path to success—however you define it.

Episodes

June 17, 2025 17 mins

In the third installment of our series of shorter form interviews, Rachel sits down with Brett Underhill, who heads up talent acquisition and learning and development at Taboola. They discuss the benefits of using a pilot approach to implement changes and initiatives within an organization. Brett shares insights into setting up a pilot, including clear timelines, project objectives, and engaging key stakeholders. They also explore ...

Mark as Played

In the second of a series of shorter form interviews, Rachel sits down with Mike Jacobson, VP of People Operations at Steno. They discuss why traditional feedback methods often fall short and how to create a more effective system for career growth. Mike shares insights on building customized learning environments that incentivize genuine engagement, as well as the hidden value of lateral career moves for long-term fulfillment. He a...

Mark as Played

In the first of a series of shorter form interviews we're releasing in June, Rachel sits down with Alex Salas, Assistant Chief People Officer at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and head of the NYC SHRM chapter. They discuss key strategies for improving employee experience, the competitive talent landscape, the importance of trust, leadership challenges, and practical advice for achieving workplace success. Alex share...

Mark as Played

Burnout doesn’t end with one big fix. Here’s how to build real, lasting relief by trading perfection for momentum—one reset, one decision, one human moment at a time.

Check out all four episodes in this special series on this Spotify playlist.

Find a transcript for this episode here: https://modern-mentor.simplecast.com/episodes/sustaining-momentum-in-the-battle-against-burnout/transcript

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at...

Mark as Played

You're not "either burned out or not burned out." Healing is a gradual process of chipping away at what drains you. Join Rachel Cooke, your Modern Mentor and founder of Lead Above Noise, in Part 3 of our burnout series. We move beyond simply identifying the problem and begin to rebuild with intention. Discover the Activation framework – Deliver, Develop, Connect, Thrive – and learn how to use each pillar to reflect on your work and...

Mark as Played

Managers are burning out—not just from doing too much, but from carrying too many roles that were never meant to be theirs. Let’s name the burden and start letting go of what was never yours to hold.

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to th...

Mark as Played

Team challenges can feel overwhelming to tackle head-on. Here’s how leaders in a recent Activation Bootcamp found ways to infuse small but meaningful relief into their teams—without trying to fix everything.

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscri...

Mark as Played

Rachel sits down with DEI strategist Lily Zheng for a candid conversation on the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. They explore why real progress depends on focusing less on performative programs and more on outcomes that drive lasting change.

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Fi...

Mark as Played

Some work relationships feel easy. And some… don’t. When a relationship feels rocky—even without a big conflict—there’s a path to a more collegial working relationships, even if you never become best friends.

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscr...

Mark as Played

Rachel sits down with Bonnie Davis, co-founder of HuWork, to answer your questions about building more human-centered workplaces. You’ll also hear how Bonnie and her co-founder built HuWork by combining their corporate experience, research, and coaching backgrounds along with why celebrating strengths is key to sustainable change.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Find Modern Mentor o...

Mark as Played

Everyone’s motivation dips sometimes. But when it does, we often default to the wrong solutions. Here’s how to get curious, not critical, and reignite your inner spark in some of the most common situations.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success.

Modern Me...

Mark as Played
April 1, 2025 9 mins

You want to run an offsite for you team. You're craving the connection, the alignment, the levity and the action plan. You just don't know where to begin. Well, it's here. You begin here.

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter...

Mark as Played

In this insightful conversation, executive coach Jerry Colonna joins The Modern Mentor Podcast to explore the transformative power of empathy in leadership. He shares lessons from his work with top executives, his experiences with Startup Podcast, and his perspective on fostering belonging in the workplace. 

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us a...

Mark as Played

Tired of always fixing what’s broken? What if instead, you focused on what’s working well and built from there? Today, we’re talking about using an Appreciative Inquiry approach to problem-solving in the workplace. Let’s shift from frustration to forward momentum.

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Find Mod...

Mark as Played

Low morale seems to be rampant in the workplace today. So many people are feeling it - without a sense of empowerment (or budget) to change it for the better. But there are plenty of no-cost ways to drive morale in the right direction. Today let’s talk about 7 of my favorites.

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips...

Mark as Played

Rachel welcomes bestselling author AJ Jacobs, known for his immersive "method writing" approach. They discuss how curiosity, gratitude, and risk-taking can reignite creativity and combat workplace burnout. From living biblically for a year to becoming the healthiest person alive, AJ shares how diving deep into new experiences fuels his work and how you can apply the same principles to rediscover your spark. 

Modern Mentor is hosted ...

Mark as Played

What does kindness really mean in a business context, and how can it drive retention, culture, and success? Linda Cohen, The Kindness Catalyst, joins the Modern Mentor podcast to explore the tangible impact of kindness in leadership, how it differs from simply being nice, and actionable strategies to create a more engaged and motivated workforce.

You can find Linda Cohen, The Kindness Catalyst and her work here:
LinkedIn

Instagram

Webs...

Mark as Played
February 18, 2025 7 mins

Ever feel like your ideas get ignored while someone else says the same thing and gets immediate buy-in? It’s not about speaking louder—it’s about how you position your idea. Here’s how to get people to listen—and act—on what you have to say.

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Find Modern Mentor on Facebook,...

Mark as Played

Struggling to stand out on LinkedIn? Rachel welcomes Danielle Hughes, Chief Personality Officer, to discuss how to build a genuine personal brand without oversharing. She shares tips on how to showcase your personality professionally, make meaningful connections, and grow your career with confidence.

For more information on Danielle's work... check out her website https://www.morethanwordscopy.com/

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel C...

Mark as Played

The world of work isn’t slowing down, and success isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Here are five essential skills to cultivate for sustained success in today’s workplace.

Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.

Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success.

Modern Mentor is a...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    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.

    Dateline NBC

    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

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.