Workday Playdate

"The goal isn't to collect more gold stars. It's to create a life that's achingly beautiful." – Lani Gonzales

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Lani Gonzales to explore why so many high achievers end up feeling exhausted, disconnected, and stuck chasing the next accomplishment. After leaving a successful legal career and walking more than 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago, Lani discovered that sustain...

“The real failure of inclusion happens in the moments when someone hesitates.” – Rachel Shaw

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Rachel Shaw to explore what it really takes to build inclusive workplaces that work in real time. In a world full of well-intentioned initiatives, Rachel makes the case that true inclusion is ultimately a human skill.

If you've ever wondered how leaders can create cu...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Emmy Award-winning writer, actor, comedian, facilitator, and longtime improve it! family member Nnamdi Ngwe to explore why the most valuable career skills often come from the places you least expect. From playing college soccer to performing with The Second City, creating viral content, facilitating workshops for global organizations, and winning an Emmy, Nnamdi's career is p...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores why speaking up at work has far less to do with competence and far more to do with confidence. If you've ever left a meeting thinking, "I should have said something," you're not alone—and you're probably more prepared than you think.

If you've ever had the perfect idea thirty seconds too late, watched someone else say what you were thinking, or struggled to find your voice in...

“Sometimes you have to leave home to see home.”

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin takes listeners on a journey through Shanghai, Singapore, and Bali to unpack what a month abroad taught her about thinking on her feet and appreciating the life waiting back home.

What starts as an international travel adventure quickly becomes a masterclass in working parenthood, and the improv mindset required when every plan goe...

“Connection is the foundation of effective leadership.” -Dr. Rosalind Cohen

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Dr. Rosalind Cohen to explore why authentic human connection is the foundation of effective leadership. In a world filled with engagement surveys, Dr. Roz makes the case that what people truly want at work is something much simpler: to feel seen, valued, and like they belong.

If you've eve...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Phylicia McLeod to explore why thinking on your feet has less to do with having the right answer and more to do with trusting yourself. As an improviser, facilitator, teacher, and performer with the The Second City National Touring Company, Phylicia has built a career around navigating uncertainty in real time.

If you've ever found yourself overthinking a decision, freezing u...

In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores why your intuition might be the most underutilized leadership skill you have. In a world obsessed with data and overthinking, Erin makes the case for trusting the wisdom you've already earned through experience. If you've ever ignored a gut feeling only to say, "I knew it," two weeks later, this episode is for you.

Using cognitive science to practical exercises for better deci...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with John Ulrich and Olga Flores to explore how improvisation can help teams think faster without panicking. As leaders at Antunes, John and Olga have spent the last three years partnering with improve it! to build a culture of adaptability, communication, and creativity across their organization.

If you've ever wondered how to help your team respond instead of react under pressur...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Anne Libera to explore how improvisation can unlock stronger leadership. From flow states and vulnerability to humor and human behavior, Anne shares why improv is about discovering what's possible. If you've ever wanted to lead with more creativity, communicate with more confidence, or simply become more yourself at work, this episode is for you.

Inside This Episode:

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Catharine Savage to explore why failure might not be something to avoid after all. As an improviser, facilitator, educator, and performer, Catharine has spent years helping people discover that growth often lives on the other side of discomfort.

If you've ever avoided taking a chance because you were afraid to fail, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on ...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin dives into the exhausting tango between burnout and overthinking, and why these two troublemakers love to keep us stuck in our heads. Erin shares tips for how to stop performing a one-person show in your life and work.

Inside This Episode:

• The Scene Reset Framework: Learn Erin's five-step improv-inspired reset for moving from mental chaos to present-moment action: Drop the Scr...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Laurie Jadick to explore what it really takes to lead people through change in today's rapidly evolving workplace. With decades of experience in human resources, leadership development, and executive onboarding, Laurie shares why successful transformation is about people first.

If you've ever struggled to help your team embrace new ways of working, this conversation of...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with workplace researcher, organizational psychologist, and meeting culture expert Rebecca Hinds to tackle one of the biggest drains on modern work: bad meetings. If you've ever stared at a packed calendar or wished collaboration felt more energizing, this conversation is packed with practical ideas to help you reclaim your time and redesign how your team connects.

Inside T...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Meredith Stepien to explore how small moments of joy can become anchors during life's most chaotic seasons. Known for her work as a performer, writer, musician, improviser, and creative leader, Meredith shares why chasing massive life-changing moments isn't always the answer, and how cultivating sparks of delight can help us stay grounded.

If you've ever felt overwhelm...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles AI anxiety and how to address it on your own and with your team at work. If you've ever wondered whether AI is coming for your job, felt overwhelmed by new technology, or weren't sure where to begin, this episode offers a practical, human-centered approach to navigating AI with confidence. Erin shares a simple framework to help leaders and teams embrace AI without losing the creativ...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Kelly Burlage, Chief Human Resources Officer at Lineage, to explore how our relationship with failure changes as we grow in our careers. From early-career mistakes that feel world-ending to high-stakes leadership decisions that impact entire organizations, Kelly shares why failure is something to learn from.

If you've ever found yourself replaying a professional setbac...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with wellness expert, bestselling author, and intuitive healer Inna Segal to explore the powerful connection between emotional wellbeing and physical health. If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, burned out, or disconnected from yourself, this conversation offers practical tools to help you unlock your body's innate ability to heal.

Inside This Episode:

• Your Bo...

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Rosie Moan to talk about one of the most challenging combinations many women face: becoming a new mom while navigating uncertainty in work, identity, and life. If you've ever felt like you're simultaneously capable and completely overwhelmed, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that confidence is about trusting yourself through the unknown.

Inside This Episo...