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Work Unscripted

Marlo Lyons

Work Unscripted with Marlo Lyons offers a candid exploration into the realities of career advancement and leadership. Hosted by Marlo Lyons, executive career coach and former HR exec, this podcast brings unfiltered insights on work, leadership, and finding your path. Episodes feature in-depth discussions with industry leaders who share real stories and practical tools, and honest insights from Marlo. Work Unscripted is your guide to thriving in the professional world.

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29 episodes
weekly
Avg 23 min
English

Episodes 29

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S1 · E53
June 24 · 6 min
Cracking the Code: Boss Doesn’t Have Your Back - How to Protect Your Career
What do you do when your boss clearly doesn’t have your back? Maybe they talk badly about you to others. Maybe they develop your peers but not you. Maybe decisions are being made about your career in rooms you’re not invited to. Or maybe it’s not subtle at all and you know exactly where you stand. In this Cracking the Code episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down what to do when your boss doesn’t support you, advocate for you, or give you the constructive feedback you need to grow and how to protect your career before it costs you. This kind of workplace dynamic can crush your confidence if you let it. But it can also be the moment you realize something powerful: you cannot rely on one person to manage your career. You’ll learn: How to ask your boss directly for feedback without sounding defensive or confrontational Why building visibility beyond your manager is the most important career protection move you can make How to document your wins and strengthen your professional brand when no one is doing it for you Why workplace anxiety and rejection sensitivity can make a difficult boss feel even more destabilizing. How to decide whether the situation is fixable, or whether it’s time to move on If you’re dealing with a difficult manager, feeling undermined at work, or wondering how to protect your career when your boss doesn’t see your value, this episode gives you practical next steps and an honest reality check. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E52
June 17 · 39 min
How to Reinvent Yourself After a Crisis: Resilience, Fear, and Starting Over with Tammy Levent
What do you do when everything falls apart? Your marriage, your finances, your business, your sense of self? In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with travel entrepreneur Tammy Levent for one of the most honest, raw, and inspiring conversations about resilience, reinvention, and starting over without letting fear lead. Tammy has built a $100M travel empire, pioneered destination weddings as a business model, and survived an armed robbery, major debt, life-threatening cancer, a violent divorce, near homelessness and a devastating car accident involving her children. During COVID, she pivoted into an unexpected Greek donut business, and ultimately relocated to Crete, where she now runs a luxury travel agency and a global training program for travel advisors. This is not abstract motivation This is a real-world blueprint for rebuilding when the old version of your life no longer works. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to start over after divorce, job loss, financial collapse, or professional burnout Why fear can become a decision-maker and Tammy’s practical FEAR framework to stop letting it lead How to reassess your skills, spending, location, and identity when life demands reinvention Why success shifts from money and status to peace, purpose, and calm How gratitude, journaling, and intentional daily focus can help you rebuild momentum after loss Why it’s not too late to reinvent even with debt, dependents and fear. This episode is for you if you’re navigating a career transition, recovering from burnout, rebuilding after divorce, financial loss, questioning whether a fresh start is possible, or wondering if your best chapter is still ahead. Because sometimes starting over isn't failure. It’s finally choosing life. Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E51
June 10 · 7 min
Cracking the Code: How Perfectionism Kills Innovation (And What Kids Can Teach Leaders About It)
Kids in the summer understand something most adults at work have forgotten: curiosity creates momentum. They try things. Change the rules. Build, fail, pivot, and try again. Meanwhile, adults overthink, over-polish, and wait until everything is “perfect” before speaking up or taking action. And that perfectionism? It may look professional, but it often kills innovation. In this Cracking the Code episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down why curiosity beats perfectionism at work, what a growth mindset actually looks like in practice, and what leaders can learn from the fearless, experimental energy of kids. You’ll learn: Why perfectionism at work is often fear disguised as professionalism How a growth mindset fuels innovation, adaptability, and team performance Why "draft thinking" is one of the most underrated tools for psychological safety How leaders can normalize experimentation and calculated risk-taking without lowering standards Simple questions that unlock creativity and curiosity in meetings Why the most successful organizations are the most adaptable and how to build that culture. This episode is for leaders, managers, and high performers who want to build more innovative teams, create psychological safety at work, and stop letting perfectionism stall progress. Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E50
June 3 · 40 min
Stop Networking. Start Connecting: How to Build Real Relationships at Work with Cassandra Thompson
Work moves fast. We optimize for speed, efficiency, tools, and output, but somehow, a lot of people feel more disconnected than ever. In this episode of Work Unscripted, host Marlo Lyons sits down with workplace connection expert Cassandra Thompson to talk about why genuine relationships are the key to employee engagement, trust and career growth. This conversation goes way beyond surface-level networking and awkward LinkedIn messages. Marlo and Cassandra break down how real connection builds trust, improves engagement, reduces workplace loneliness, and makes professional life feel more human. Especially in a world of remote work, burnout, job transitions, and constant change. You’ll learn: Why having a friend at work can improve employee engagement, retention, and well-being How “friction maxing” and small everyday interactions rebuild connection Why micro-conversations and small-talk matter more than you think How to build relationships without feeling fake, forced, or performative A simple relationship-building approach: 10% ask, 20% care, 70% keep in touch Why authentic connection matters more than proving your value How to rebuild your social muscles if connection feels awkward, lonely, or exhausting If work has started to feel isolating, transactional, or harder than it should, this episode is a reminder that connection is not optional. It is one of the most practical career and leadership skills you can build, because work just moves and feels better when people actually know each other. Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E49
May 27 · 8 min
Cracking the Code: Can Work Friends Sabotage Your Career?
Can a work friendship quietly become a career liability? When workplace friendships collide with power, what once felt like casual conversation can quickly become complicated…and costly In this Cracking the Code episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down the hidden career risks of workplace friendships, especially when one person gets promoted and suddenly becomes the boss. In this episode, you'll learn: Why workplace friendships shift after a promotion, even when your intentions don't change How power dynamics create professional liability in relationships that once felt harmless What leaders must do to reset boundaries before a personal relationship becomes an HR risk How to navigate the messy reality of managing someone you once considered a friend Why the cost of staying too close is almost always higher than the cost of creating distance This episode is for anyone navigating leadership transitions, management boundaries, workplace friendships, or the complicated reality of becoming the boss of someone you used to vent to. When power changes, friendship boundaries have to change too. Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
May 20 · 39 min
How to Stop Chasing External Validation and Start Choosing Fulfillment with Trixi Tschiedel Menhardt
What if the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, or the better title still doesn’t make you happy? If success feels empty, you may be caught in achievement addiction – the cycle of chasing external milestones, titles, and validation that never actually delivers lasting fulfillment. In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with executive and life coach Trixi Tschiedel Menhardt to unpack why so many high achievers feel restless, depleted and disconnected, enen when they look super successful on paper. In this episode you’ll learn: What achievement addiction is and why high performers are most vulnerable to it Why external validation leaves professionals feeling empty, overwhelmed, or stuck How burnout rewires your brain and why peace can feel unfamiliar after years of stress How to use self-regulation and the Positive Intelligence framework to break the cycle How to stop chasing external validation and start choosing fulfillment on your own terms This conversation is especially relevant for leaders, executives, and professionals who are tired of feeling like the next milestone will finally be “enough” to feel fulfilled. Are you ready to reclam choice, peace and a sense of purpose that doesn’t depend on a title? Because fulfillment isn’t something you achieve. It’s something you choose. Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E47
May 13 · 4 min
Cracking the Code: Stop Saying “Why” and “Should” for Better Workplace Communication
Two small words you use every day may be quietly damaging your workplace relationships: why and should. In leadership conversations, feedback moments, and everyday team communication, these common words often land differently than intended, triggering defensiveness, shame and disconnection instead of clarity and collaboration. "Why did you do that?" can sound like an interrogation. "You should have handled it differently" can sound like judgment. And when people feel accused or shamed, they stop collaborating and start defending. In this Cracking the Code mini episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down the psychology behind why these words – why and should – undermine psychological safety at work and what to say instead. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why "why" triggers a defensive response and the curiosity-based alternative that opens dialogue How "should" creates shame and shuts down collaboration and the forward-focused replacement that builds trust Simple language swaps any leader or professional can use immediately How to communicate with greater emotional intelligence, clarity, and psychological safety How to keep difficult conversations productive without triggering defensiveness Whether you're a leader giving feedback, navigating team conflict, or simply trying to communicate more effectively at work, the words you choose matter more than you think. Small language shifts. Significant leadership impact. Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E46
May 6 · 42 min
Trust in the Workplace: How It Breaks, Why It Fails, and How to Rebuild It with Drs. Dennis & Michelle Reina
Most workplace conflict isn’t about strategy, performance, or communication. It’s about broken trust. In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with researchers and authors Michelle and Dennis Reina who have spent 30+ years studying how trust is built, broken, and rebuilt in organizations. Michelle and Dennis break down the three essential dimensions of trust: character, communication, and capability. And more importantly, what happens when each one beaks down. In this conversation, you’ll learn: The most common ways trust is broken at work (and why it’s usually unintentionally) Why small trust breaches compound into major breakdowns How to rebuild trust after betrayal without forcing it Why self-trust is the foundation of effective leadership How to build trust intentionally in remote and hybrid teams This episode is for leaders, managers, and professionals navigating team dynamics, cross-functional work, and high-stakes conversations.. Because trust is the foundation of everything. Learn more with the Reina Trust Building® assessment tool: reinatrustbuilding.com/ITS-book Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E45
April 29 · 7 min
Cracking the Code: How to Build Emotional Resilience and Stop Spiraling Under Stress
Building emotional resilience starts with one mindset shift and it works even in the middle of chaos. What’s your first thought when something goes wrong? Do you ask, “Why is this happening to me?” Or… something more empowering? In this Cracking the Code episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks down one of the most powerful mindset shifts you can make to build emotional resilience, self-trust, and confidence, especially in high-stress moments. Through a real-life story (flat tire, tech issues, and a full day of chaos), Marlo walks you through how she moved from reactive thinking to calm, grounded self-leadership, and how you can do the same. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to shift from victim thinking to growth thinking Why nervous system regulation is the first step to emotional intelligence How to separate facts from the story that creates stress A simple 5-step playbook to handle challenges without spiraling How to build confidence and self-trust at work by collecting evidence of your own capability This mindset shift is about learning how to respond, rather than react, when life throws something your way. Because resilience is about becoming the person who can handle them. Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

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