Work Besties Who Podcast

If your title disappeared tomorrow, would anyone still listen to you?

Leadership is easy to claim when the org chart says people have to listen. The real test is how people experience you when they do not have to.

In this episode, Jess and Claude break down five everyday moments that reveal what kind of leader you really are: how you respond when someone makes a mistake, when someone disagrees with you, when a quieter voice needs roo...

We almost didn’t have an episode this week.

Then at Jess's birthday dinner — two people telling the exact same story in completely different ways — reminded us just how much the way you tell your story matters.

Because storytelling at work isn’t just for interviews or presentations. You’re telling stories every time you explain your impact, talk about how you’ve grown, show how you’ve stepped...

You did the work. You have the data. You know the answer. So why does someone else say almost the exact same thing five minutes later—and suddenly everyone remembers it?

That’s not always an expertise problem. Sometimes, it’s a visibility problem.

Jess and Claude sit down with actress, director, keynote speaker, and storytelling expert Sabine Kvenberg to talk about what actually makes someone memorable in a room&mda...

What if the thing that made you feel different is actually one of your greatest strengths?

In this episode of Work Besties Who Podcast, Jess and Claude sit down with storyteller, writer and advocate Thomas R. Wilson to explore how owning your story can help you build confidence, embrace creativity and feel more seen.

Thomas shares how storytelling became a source of connection and belonging in his own life—and why creativity is...

September on Work Besties Who is all about storytelling and visibility: finding your voice, owning your story, communicating your value, and allowing yourself to be seen—not only for the work you produce, but for the person you are and the perspective you bring.

And because storytelling is one of Jess’s greatest strengths, there was only one way she could begin the month: by telling the story of someone who is an enormou...

What happens when being the reliable one slowly turns into being responsible for…everything?

This week, Jess and Claude sit down with author, speaker, and creator of The Yes Test Method, Paula Mathias, to talk about how women become the unofficial “office mom” — taking the notes, ordering the snacks, planning the celebrations, fixing the problem — and why being good at something doesn’t automatic...

What if the voice telling you “you’re not ready” isn’t telling you the truth — it’s trying to keep you safe?

In this episode, Jess and Claude sit down with psychologist, talent agent and self-sabotage expert Dr. Albert Bramante to unpack the mental roadblocks that can keep talented people playing small.

Albert explains why self-sabotage can actually be a protective mechanism, how fear of failure AN...

Summer Friday: The Boundaries You Forget to Set

What if burnout isn’t only about how much you’re doing — but how much you’re still carrying that could be shared?

In this Summer Friday bonus, we’re continuing our conversation with Karen Ann Dwyer-Tesoriero from Episode 112 and digging into the boundaries we often forget to set — at work and at home.

We talk about how your physical work environment ca...

What does it really mean to own your seat at the table—especially when part of you is still wondering whether you belong there?

In EP116, Jess and Claude sit down with Dr. Christiane Schroeter, leadership strategist, TEDx speaker, author, and creator of Petite Practice®, to talk about confidence, imposter syndrome, and why waiting until you feel completely ready can keep you stuck.

Christiane shares her STEP approach to buildin...

Have you ever stayed quiet because someone else probably knew more than you—or finished something difficult and immediately focused on what you could have done better?

In this episode, Jess and Claude unpack the confidence trap: the belief that we need to feel completely confident before we speak up, share an idea, apply for an opportunity, or take the next step. They explore how imposter syndrome can show up at work through o...

One of us went to Greece and completely disconnected from work. The other planned a relaxing beach vacation—and got shingles instead.

In this honest and unexpectedly funny conversation, Jess and Claude explore the difference between choosing to rest and being forced to stop. Claude shares how she prepares her team so she can take a real vacation without checking emails, while Jess opens up about ignoring the warning signs of b...

What if being tired does not mean you are more committed?

In Episode 113, Jess and Claude sit down with leadership speaker, coach and author Naomi Asher to challenge the idea that exhaustion is proof we are working hard enough.

Naomi shares how she found herself completely burned out in a role that offered more money and less responsibility—and why her research revealed that burnout is often driven by something deeper than work...

What if staying busy is not just part of your schedule—but the way your nervous system feels safe?

In this episode, Jess and Claude sit down with licensed clinical social worker Karen Dwyer-Tesoriero to explore the connection between high achievement, people-pleasing, hypervigilance and burnout.

Karen explains why high achievers may feel anxious when they stop working, why setting a boundary can initially feel more uncomfortabl...

Have you ever walked away from a difficult conversation and suddenly thought of the perfect response?

There is a reason that happens.

We loved Jennifer Prendergast’s explanation of the “flipped lid” in Episode 105 so much that we wanted to revisit it and give it more space in this Summer Friday Bonus.

Jennifer guides us through the hand model of the brain to explain what happens when stress activates our nervous syst...

Because burnout does not always arrive all at once. Sometimes it starts quietly: one ignored boundary, one skipped break, one more “I’ll just handle it,” one more “I’m fine” when you are absolutely not fine.

In this episode, Jess and Claude talk about the silent drain of burnout and how work besties can help us catch it before it becomes a crash. They break down what burnout is, what it is not, an...

What if your work, your ideas, and even your relationships were meant to function like ecosystems, not deadlines?

In this episode, we sit down with Tigrilla Gardenia, a nature-inspired mentor and plant neurobiology expert, for one of our most surprising and thought-provoking conversations yet. Tigrilla shares her journey from music, technology, Microsoft, and Cirque du Soleil to living in a spiritual eco-community in Northern Italy ...

New Summer Friday Bonus episode is live!

We are back with more from Jodie Goldberg, and this time we are talking about collective intelligence, leadership, and how to bring out the wisdom already sitting inside your team.

Because sometimes the leader does not need every answer — they just need to create the space for the best ideas to rise.

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Bad meetings are not just annoying. They are expensive.

In this episode of Work Besties Who Podcast, Jess and Claude sit down with Jodie Goldberg to talk about how meetings can either build connection, clarity, and trust — or completely drain the room.

Jodie shares why better meetings start with intention, not just an agenda. From setting a clear purpose to creating meeting norms, managing over-talkers, making quieter voices fe...

Have you ever said yes when you really wanted to say no? Or walked away from a conversation feeling drained, anxious, or unsure why it affected you so much?

In this episode of Work Besties Who Podcast, Jess and Claude sit down with therapist, coach, author, and YouTube creator Shannon Petrovich to talk about toxic communication patterns, people-pleasing, narcissistic behavior, and how healthy boundaries can help us protect our peace...