When Work Becomes Your Whole Identity (and How to Take It Back)
05/05/2026 | 38 mins.
Ever feel like work doesn’t end when you close your laptop? Psychologist and TED speaker Guy Winch joins Lauren to explain why work stress is so hard to switch off—and how to reclaim your mental space without hurting your career, drawing from his book Mind Over Grind. You’ll learn: Why high performers are especially vulnerable to burnout The psychology behind Sunday dread and work rumination Simple boundaries that help you disconnect from work and recover
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW
Guest Resources: Guy Winch: https://www.guywinch.com/ Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life: https://www.guywinch.com/books/mind-over-grind/
Career Contessa Resources Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/
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3 Toughest Leadership Problems— Solved
04/28/2026 | 37 mins.
Leadership isn’t just about big wins—it’s about navigating pressure, tough decisions, and influence when things get messy. In this episode, leadership expert Dr. Katie Best shares a practical framework to help you lead with clarity—even when it feels hardest. You’ll learn: How to avoid reactive decision-making by clearly defining the real problem The difference between stress vs. strain—and how to prevent burnout A simple framework to lead with more clarity, confidence, and influence under pressure
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW New Manager Manual: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/the-new-manager-manual
Career Contessa Resources Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/
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Why Are We Racing? How to Navigate The Modern Rat Race
04/21/2026 | 38 mins.
Why are we racing—and who decided the pace? In this episode, Lauren sits down with UCLA Anderson career coaches Jenna Migliaccio and Jessica Christopher, co-founders of Glimmers, to unpack the modern rat race and how to build a career rooted in clarity, not comparison. If you’ve felt busy but misaligned, this conversation will help you slow down strategically—without falling behind. You’ll learn: How to tell the difference between healthy ambition and misalignment Why “clarity comes from engagement” (and how to experiment without derailing your career) A simple mindset shift to stop running someone else’s race and start running your own
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Book career coaching w/ Jenna: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/profile/Jenna-Migliaccio/71365/ Alan Watts “Life & Music” video: https://youtu.be/eUzgSyfiF2s?si=pATgHCaRd_lI_MT6
Career Contessa Resources: Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/
Sponsors: Head to vitaclean.co and use code CONTESSA at checkout for 20% off your first purchase. Open a Found account for FREE at Found dot com. That’s F-O-U-N-D dot com. Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How to Design & Run Effective Meetings
04/14/2026 | 40 mins.
Are your meetings driving results—or just draining your calendar? This week, Lauren sits down with organizational scientist and Your Best Meeting Ever author Dr. Rebecca Hinds to rethink how meetings are designed, measured, and led. Learn how to eliminate meeting debt, reclaim your time, and turn collaboration into a competitive advantage. You’ll learn: Why “meeting debt” is costing companies trillions—and how to reset your calendar The simple design shifts (like ROTI and the Rule of Halves) that instantly improve meetings How to run inclusive, energizing hybrid meetings people actually want to attend
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW New Manager course: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/the-new-manager-manual/ Efficient Meetings course: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/building-efficient-meetings/
Career Contessa Resources Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/
Sponsors Go to momentumshake.com/careercontessa to get a free Welcome Kit and Travel Collection ($70 value) to get you started! Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/careercontessa. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Soft Incompetence: The Subtle Drain on Your Time & Energy
04/07/2026 | 33 mins.
Ever feel like the default project manager at home or work? In this episode, Lauren sits down with Dr. Regina Lark to unpack soft incompetence—a subtle dynamic that quietly shifts emotional labor onto one person, often with good intentions. Learn how to spot it, talk about it, and rebalance responsibility without resentment. You’ll learn: How soft incompetence differs from weaponized incompetence. Early signs of emotional labor imbalance. One simple shift to redistribute responsibility more fairly.
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW
Guest Resources: Dr. Regina Lark: https://www.reginalark.com/
Career Contessa Resources Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/
Sponsor Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month Shopify trial today at shopify.com/careercontessa. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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