Shows
The Hard at Work Podcast34. Stop Performing “Authenticity” at Work — with Jodi-Ann BureyIn this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen is joined by critic, speaker, and author Jodi-Ann Burey (Authentic: The Myth of Bringing Your Full Self to Work) for an honest conversation about why “bring your whole self to work” has become one of the most misleading—and dangerous—ideas in modern workplace culture.Jodi-Ann shares that she wrote the book because she wanted to have a conversation about authenticity that she could recognize. She explains the concept of "ops," or the "agents of the status quo," who she describes are the people in the workplace who help to keep...
2026-01-2859 min
The Hard at Work Podcast33. Why We Have to Stop Expecting Work to Love Us Back -- with Sarah JaffeSarah Jaffe on capitalism’s “labor of love,” grief, and why you can’t meditate your way out of a rigged systemWhat if the heaviness you feel at work isn’t a personal failing — but capitalism doing what capitalism does? Labor journalist and author Sarah Jaffe (Work Won’t Love You Back and From the Ashes) joins Ellen for a wide-ranging, deeply grounding conversation about why so many of us feel exhausted, disillusioned, and even heartbroken by our jobs. Together, they explore how “do what you love” culture, hustle narratives, and nonprofit martyrdom have trained us to...
2026-01-211h 14
The Hard at Work Podcast32. Why Trust at Work is Breaking Down -- and How Rebuilding It Changes Everything with Minda HartsA practical conversation about leadership and how trust (not control) drives retention, productivity, and healthier workplaces.In this episode of the Hard at Work podcast, host Ellen Whitlock Baker sits down with Minda Harts—author of Talk to Me Nice and a leading voice on workplace trust and leadership—to explore why trust is the missing foundation in so many modern workplaces. Drawing on Minda’s concept of the seven trust languages, the conversation breaks down how trust is built, eroded, and repaired at work—and why its absence fuels burnout, disengagement, turnover, and loneline...
2026-01-1456 min
The Hard at Work Podcast31. Inside the Nonprofit Death Spiral with Ariel Glassman BarkwickA systems-level look at why “do more with less” is collapsing nonprofit leadership—and what sustainable organizations do instead.What happens when passion-driven missions collide with unrealistic growth goals, broken governance, and chronic underfunding? In this episode of Hard at Work, I’m joined by nonprofit strategist and systems thinker Ariel Glassman Barwick for a powerful, honest conversation about what she calls the nonprofit death spiral—the cycle of overextension, undercapitalization, burnout, turnover, and declining impact that’s quietly unraveling organizations across the sector. We unpack how aggressive revenue targets, pressure to “do more with less,” an...
2026-01-071h 06
Designing Healthcare that Cares PodcastFrom Burnout to Better Leadership: Practical Tools with Ellen Whitlock Baker | Ep51Burnout rarely shows up all at once. It creeps in quietly — disguised as overwhelm, responsibility, and “this is just how work is.”Ellen Whitlock Baker knows this firsthand. After nearly 20 years in higher education leadership, she hit a breaking point that forced her to confront something deeper than stress: misalignment between her values, her identity, and the systems she was operating inside.In this conversation, Ellen and Dr. Laura Suttin explore why burnout isn’t an individual failure, but a predictable outcome of workplaces that rely on overwork, blurred boundaries, and mission-driven guilt. They unpack how iden...
2025-12-1531 minDesigning Healthcare that Cares PodcastFrom Burnout to Better Leadership: Practical Tools with Ellen Whitlock Baker | Ep51Burnout rarely shows up all at once. It creeps in quietly — disguised as overwhelm, responsibility, and “this is just how work is.”Ellen Whitlock Baker knows this firsthand. After nearly 20 years in higher education leadership, she hit a breaking point that forced her to confront something deeper than stress: misalignment between her values, her identity, and the systems she was operating inside.In this conversation, Ellen and Dr. Laura Suttin explore why burnout isn’t an individual failure, but a predictable outcome of workplaces that rely on overwork, blurred boundaries, and mission-driven guilt. They unpack how iden...
2025-12-1531 min
The Hard at Work Podcast30. This is heavy, Doc -- What's Next for the Future of Work?After 30 episodes of saying the quiet part out loud, host Ellen Whitlock Baker closes out Season 1 of Hard at Work with a reflective and forward-looking finale. From people-pleasing and perfectionism to systemic burnout and the stubborn pace of change since the movie "9 to 5" came out 45 years ago, Ellen unpacks what she’s learned about why work still isn’t working — and what it will take to change it.She looks back on the guests, the lessons, and the quiet revolutions happening in real workplaces, while issuing a challenge for the hiatus: take one step, howeve...
2025-10-1513 min
The Hard at Work Podcast29. On Wednesdays, We Hype Women with Erin GallagherIn this episode of Hard at Work, host Ellen Whitlock Baker welcomes author, two-time founder, and Hype Women CEO Erin Gallagher for a candid conversation about women, work, and the shift from competition to collective power. Erin shares the origin of the Hype Women movement—including that now-famous photo of Jamie Lee Curtis celebrating Michelle Yeoh—and explains why hype is a verb: it’s the choice to convert admiration into action by promoting, buying from, hiring, referring, and amplifying other women.Together, Ellen and Erin name the conditioning that teaches women to compete for scarce...
2025-10-0854 min
The Hard at Work Podcast28. Micro-Yeses, Major Change: Neuroscience for Real Life with Britt FrankIn this high-energy episode, host Ellen Whitlock Baker welcomes licensed neuropsychotherapist Britt Frank, author of The Science of Stuck and Align Your Mind, for a fast, practical tour of how your brain actually works—and how to get it working for you at work and at home. Britt explains that anxiety isn’t all bad; it’s the brain’s check-engine light, an alarm that asks for investigation rather than suppression. Britt shares how we can convert overwhelm into forward motion using micro-yeses, comically tiny steps (think: shoes by the door, one sentence on the page) that slip pas...
2025-10-0153 min
The Hard at Work Podcast27. Awareness --> Structure --> Habit: How Thriving Cultures Get Built with Melissa FacklerIn this Hard at Work episode, host Ellen Whitlock Baker sits down with business coach Melissa Fackler of One Team Partners for a conversation about what it really takes to create a thriving, people-centric workplace. Melissa explains why most organizations don’t have a “work problem” so much as a “how we work” problem—and why band-aid solutions (like free yoga at lunch) won’t fix burnout, turnover, or disengagement. Instead, she offers a simple but powerful cycle leaders can use immediately: Awareness → Structure → Habit. First, awareness: surface the real issues, name tradeoffs honestly, and acknowledge that d...
2025-09-241h 00
The Hard at Work Podcast26. Three Leadership Mistakes I'll Never Repeat (and How to Avoid Them)In this solo episode of Hard at Work, Ellen Whitlock Baker shares three leadership mistakes she wishes she could go back and do differently — and the practical steps you can take to avoid them.From listening less and talking too much, to modeling unhealthy work habits, to relying on vague job descriptions and biased review processes, Ellen unpacks why these common traps harm teams and what managers can do instead.You’ll learn how to:Listen with curiosity instead of defensivenessModel boundaries and healthy work habits (instead of hustle)Create clear job plans and fair...
2025-09-1820 min
The Hard at Work Podcast25. Unlearning, Values, and Leading with Courage: A Conversation with Lindsey T.H. JacksonWhat does it mean to actually live your values — even when it costs you something? In this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen sits down with executive coach, speaker, and visionary leader Lindsey T.H. Jackson to unpack the practice of unlearning, the courage it takes to align actions with values, and how mid-career women can reconnect with their authentic selves.Lindsey shares powerful stories about walking away from VC funding to stay true to her company’s values, why anger is a signal of potential, and how leaders can move beyond fear to crea...
2025-09-1054 min
The Hard at Work Podcast24. Stuck, Blocked, and Ready to Move: How to Outsmart Your Brain's "Don't Do It" VoiceWe’ve all done it: talked ourselves out of something we know would make life better. A walk. A tough conversation. A career change. But what’s really going on when you know you should do the thing…and you don’t?In this solo episode of Hard at Work, Ellen Whitlock Baker breaks down the science of “blockers” — the protective part of your brain that sounds the alarm whenever something feels new, different, or risky. She explains how neuroplasticity works, why change feels so threatening, and the three simple steps you can use to prove your...
2025-08-2716 min
The Hard at Work Podcast23. Building Wealth and Giving Zero F*cks, with Jaebadiah GardnerWhat does it actually take to build something from scratch—and stay sane while doing it? Ellen talks with Jaebadiah Gardner, founder of Gardner Global, about building wealth, the importance of believing in yourself, and pushing past barriers as a Black and Latino entrepreneur. They get real about hustle culture, staying grounded, and what success looks like behind the scenes (it’s not always as pretty as it seems on the surface). If you’ve ever felt stuck, under-resourced, or underestimated, this one’s for you. A thoughtful, no-BS conversation about drive, ambition, and getting in the room where it happe...
2025-08-2053 min
The Hard at Work Podcast22. Hard at Work: Leadership, Loss, and Finding Yourself Again with Merritt MinnemayerWhen life blows up, who do you become next? In this deeply honest episode, Ellen sits down with Merritt Minnemeyer — founder of Master of One Coaching, speaker, and creative powerhouse — to talk about leading through loss, finding your true self when your old story no longer fits, and why so many women keep outsourcing our wisdom to everyone but ourselves.You’ll hear how Merritt turned unimaginable grief into a mission to help leaders come home to themselves — and what that really looks like when you’re stuck, burned out, or feeling trapped in the life y...
2025-08-1447 min
The Hard at Work Podcast21. Leading Humans First: A Conversation with Robbin HudsonIn this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen sits down with Robbin Hudson — founder and CEO of Gradient, the Human Equity Think Tank, and an executive and leadership coach. Together, they dig into what it means to truly lead with people at the center — and why so many workplaces still get it so wrong.Robbin shares her journey from philanthropy and grassroots leadership development to founding Gradient, a consulting and coaching firm that prioritizes human equity over doing things they way they've always been done. She explains how deep listening, brave spaces, and “starting at stu...
2025-08-071h 03
The Hard at Work Podcast20. From Math to Management: Ryan Stadt on People-First LeadershipIn this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen is joined by Ryan Stadt—Senior Talent and Inclusion Manager at Cengage Group and executive coach—for a conversation that gets real about what it actually takes to support and grow people-centered leaders. Ryan shares what it looks like when leadership development is fully resourced and taken seriously—and how even organizations without big budgets can design meaningful programs for new managers. From pulse surveys and coaching cohorts to the difference between protecting your team and empowering them, this episode offers both tactical tools and deep insight. Ellen...
2025-07-3153 min
Career Switch Podcast: Expert advice for your career change55: The hidden blockers keeping you stuckDo you want to make a career change, but you feel stuck? Do you keep procrastinating, thinking you’ll get started next week, month, or year? Here to get you going is executive coach and leadership consultant Ellen Whitlock Baker. As the founder and CEO of EWB Coaching, Ellen helps midlife professionals reclaim who they are and what they want to do next in their careers.In this episode, Ellen shares why it’s so hard to get started even when you know it’s time for a change. She reveals how you can identify those c...
2025-07-2929 min
The Hard at Work Podcast19. Your Core Values Don't Come From a PosterThis solo episode of Hard at Work is not about inspirational poster values. It's about the real ones—the ones that shape your decisions, your burnout, your boundaries, and your sense of self.Host Ellen Whitlock Baker digs into why so many of us (especially women) are unclear on what actually matters to us—and how we often end up living by values handed to us by workplaces, families, and old identities. She shares a powerful, simple framework for getting honest about your core values, inspired by Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead values exercise, and explains how clarify...
2025-07-2409 min
The Hard at Work Podcast18. Reclaiming You: Identity, Branding and Burnout with Cat O'Shaughnessy CoffrinIn this vulnerable and wide-ranging conversation, personal branding expert Cat Coffrin joins Ellen to unpack what happens when ambitious women hit a wall—and realize they’ve lost themselves in the process. From working in global policy and green building to launching her own consulting firm, Cat’s story mirrors what so many mid-career professionals experience: success on paper, but disconnection underneath. Through honest storytelling, humor, and deep personal reflection, Cat shares how she rebuilt her identity—and how others can too.You’ll hear why personal branding isn’t just for entrepreneurs or influencers—...
2025-07-171h 08
The Hard at Work Podcast17. Your Next Chapter Isn’t SelfishWhat happens when you’ve built a successful career—and suddenly realize you don’t want it anymore?In this solo episode, Ellen Whitlock Baker gets honest about what it feels like to want more from your work—even when you're grateful, even when you’re respected, even when you’re “winning.” From the guilt that creeps in (“Other people would kill for this job”) to the fear of disappointing your team, Ellen unpacks the internal tug-of-war so many women experience when they’re quietly burning out.Through stories, personal reflection, a...
2025-07-1013 min
The Hard at Work Podcast16. Empathy Isn’t Optional: Jaime Hunt on Managing with HumanityEmpathy doesn’t mean letting people off the hook. In this honest and energizing episode, Ellen sits down with Jaime Hunt—consultant, author of Heart Over Hype, and higher ed veteran—to talk about what it means to lead with heart and hold people accountable.They dig into the unique challenges of higher education, why so many managers are unprepared for leadership, and what it really looks like to support your team without sacrificing results. From using coaching techniques to having hard conversations with care, Jaime shares actionable strategies for leaders who want to make w...
2025-07-0355 min
The Hard at Work Podcast15. That Sounds Like A You ProblemIn this solo episode, Ellen Whitlock Baker takes on one of the sneakiest forms of self-sabotage at work: people-pleasing. Especially when it comes wrapped in the flattery of a “you’re next for promotion” promise—with none of the pay or power to match. If you’ve ever been told you’re being “groomed” for leadership but asked to keep doing the extra work without compensation, this one’s for you.Ellen shares real-world scripts, a spicy mindset shift ("That sounds like a you problem!"), and three actionable options for those dealing with performative promotions—especia...
2025-06-2619 min
The Hard at Work Podcast14. Busy Isn’t a Badge: Rethinking Work with Kishshana PalmerBusy is a badge we never asked for—and it’s time to put it down.In this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen sits down with speaker, strategist, coach, and author Kishshana Palmer to talk about what it really means to lead without burning out—and why “busy” has become the badge no one actually wants to wear -- all topics covered in Kishshana's new book, Busy Is a Four Letter Word.Kishshana shares stories from building her own boutique firm and managing 40-person teams across time zones, showing us...
2025-06-1956 min
The Hard at Work Podcast13. When Rest Feels WrongEllen reflects on a truth many of us avoid: rest isn’t easy. In fact, for a lot of us, rest feels wrong—like we're breaking an unspoken rule. In this solo episode of Hard at Work, Ellen unpacks the layers of grind culture, internalized productivity pressure, and the self-sabotage that shows up when we finally try to slow down.She kicks off the episode by answering an AMA question from a listener who's struggling to maintain boundaries on a leadership team that never stops working. What do you do when the people around you...
2025-06-1232 min
The Hard at Work Podcast12. Ask Boldly, Live Bravely: Crafting the Career You Actually Want with Anita Verna CroftsWhat if designing the life you want wasn’t about hustle or luck—but about asking? In this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen Whitlock Baker sits down with educator, consultant, and unapologetic life-designer Anita Verna Crofts for a conversation that spans continents, careers, and hard-earned wisdom.Anita shares how she negotiated a cross-country, flexible faculty role at a time when remote work was almost unheard of—and why she always shows up to the table with a list. They talk salary transparency, the systems still holding women back (even when we do ask), and what leaders can do tod...
2025-06-051h 00
The Hard at Work Podcast11. The Generation Gap at Work: 5 Steps to Deal with Your ReactionsThe workplace is changing fast—and not everyone’s on the same page about what should be happening at work anymore. In this solo episode, Ellen Whitlock Baker unpacks one of today’s biggest workplace tensions: generational friction. Whether you're a Xillennial caught between Gen X and Millennials (like Ellen), a seasoned leader, or a new professional navigating unspoken norms, chances are you’ve felt the friction when someone does or says something at work that makes you think, “Wait, what?”From navigating different ideas of professionalism (yes, we’re talking dress codes) to understanding why younger colleagues might prioriti...
2025-06-0216 min
The Hard at Work Podcast10. Hard at Work in Practice | Mentorship, Management, and Making Change with Mo Cotton KellyIn this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen sits down with powerhouse leader, mentor, and friend Montique “Mo” Cotton Kelly, Chief People and Culture Officer at the UConn Foundation. With decades of experience leading teams in higher education and advancement, Mo brings a refreshingly honest perspective to what it really takes to lead well in today’s workplace.Mo shares the lessons she learned as a first-time manager, what keeps her up at night in her current executive role, and how she's actively reshaping workplace culture in the wake of widespread burnout, turnover, and disconnection. With warmth, clarity, and hu...
2025-05-301h 05
The Hard at Work Podcast9. When Life is Life-Ing Too Hard but You Still Have To WorkIn this episode, Ellen gets real about what it means to show up at work when life outside of it is falling apart. From grief and caregiving to the dishwasher breaking again, she unpacks what happens when stress becomes your default state—and how to interrupt the cycle before burnout takes over. You’ll learn the basics of the stress response, how to complete the stress cycle, and three small but powerful steps to take when you’re overwhelmed and still expected to perform. This one’s honest, human, and for anyone who's ever had to keep going when they rea...
2025-05-2618 min
The Hard at Work Podcast8. Burnout, Boundaries, and Behavioral Health with Dr. Kira MausethWhat if disaster psychology could teach us how to survive the modern workplace? In this powerful episode, Dr. Kira Mauseth—disaster psychologist, clinical expert, and resilience educator—joins Ellen to unpack the real meaning of behavioral health at work. From the difference between mental health and behavioral health to why traditional leadership tactics often fall short, they dive deep into the habits that create burnout, and the small shifts that can foster recovery, purpose, and hope.Kira introduces her four-part resilience model (connection, adaptability, purpose, and hope), explains how emotional adaptability makes for better leaders, and reveals why...
2025-05-2354 minThe Hard at Work Podcast7. Field Notes, Episodes 1-6What do burnout, bias, and boundaries have in common? They’re not just buzzwords—they’re the building blocks of what’s broken (and what’s possible) at work.In this episode, host Ellen Whitlock Baker reflects on the first six episodes of Hard at Work and unpacks the biggest themes that keep surfacing—from navigating systemic bias and invisible labor to learning how to say no before you collapse. Whether you’ve been with the show since day one or you’re just tuning in, this is a powerful moment to pause, connect the dots, and fi...
2025-05-1909 min
The Hard at Work Podcast1. Welcome to Hard at WorkWelcome to the Hard at Work podcast — where we say the quiet part out loud about today's workplaces. I'm your host, Ellen Whitlock Baker, a leadership coach, speaker, and 20-year survivor of everything from toxic jobs to leadership burnout. In this very first episode, I share why I created Hard at Work: to challenge outdated workplace norms, explore how the system fails so many of us, and help you advocate for yourself without guilt or burnout. You'll hear a bit of my story, why work nearly broke me, and how we can start making change — for ourselves and each othe...
2025-05-1215 min
The Hard at Work Podcast2. The Future of Leadership is Trauma-Informed with Dr. Kyle ElliottWhat does it really mean to lead in a trauma-informed way? In this episode, Ellen talks with Dr. Kyle Elliott about how trauma shows up at work, how most workplaces could be better at supporting people through it, and what ethical, compassionate leadership can look like instead. We dive into emotional labor, boundaries at work, and the quiet harm caused by overworking culture — and why it’s time to lead like everyone’s been through something (because they have).
2025-05-1245 min
The Hard at Work Podcast3. Build Boundaries Before You Burn OutIf your workplace is disrespecting your time and energy, it’s not just annoying — it’s unsustainable. In this solo episode, Ellen answers a listener’s question about what to do when your coworker isn’t doing their job and your boss won’t intervene. Then, she dives into the burnout culture that makes boundary-setting feel impossible, and gives you the tools to start doing it anyway. From spacing out meetings to turning off notifications, this is your permission slip to protect your time, your energy, and yourself.
2025-05-1228 min
The Hard at Work Podcast4. Anti-Racist by Design: Research That Changes the Workplace with Dr. Crystal HallWhat if the systems meant to help people are actually making things worse? In this episode, Dr. Crystal Hall, co-author of Anti-Racist by Design, breaks down how behavioral science often ignores systemic racism—and how we can fix it. We talk about what workplaces, policymakers, and everyday people can do differently to avoid performative equity and actually make change stick.
2025-05-121h 01
The Hard at Work Podcast5. Fix Your Face? Let’s Fix the System InsteadWhat do you do when your boss has no idea what you actually do—and still piles on unrealistic expectations? And what if a coworker tells you to smile more in meetings? In this episode, we tackle two real workplace dilemmas: how to manage up when leadership lacks strategy, and how to push back against subtle (but damaging) workplace sexism. Featuring listener-submitted questions, real-world scripts, and boundary-setting advice to keep you from burning out.
2025-05-1227 min
The Hard at Work Podcast6. Facing Ableism at Work: How to Heal and Reclaim Your Power with Greer ProcichIn this episode of Hard at Work, Ellen sits down with disability advocate and workplace equity champion Greer Procich to talk about what it really means to build inclusive, accessible workplaces—from the inside out. Greer shares her personal journey navigating chronic illness, invisible disability, and burnout in spaces that often expect 100% from employees without offering the support to make that possible.Together, they dig into what managers should be doing to support their teams, why performance reviews often fail, and how accessibility benefits everyone—not just people with disabilities. If you’ve ever felt unsupported, unseen, or exhaus...
2025-05-121h 02The Hard at Work PodcastThe Hard at Work Podcast PreviewLearn more about the upcoming Hard at Work podcast, where your host Ellen Whitlock Baker and her guests discuss how to manage in a workplace that wasn't made for most of us. In this podcast, we say the quiet part out loud with the aim to make it feel more normal to recognize outdated norms that are truly holding us back, and how we can set boundaries to avoid getting burned out...and avoid burning out our teams.
2025-04-1401 min
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO — with Jaime HuntEp. 76: The Future Demands Better Higher Ed LeadersJaime Hunt sits down with Ellen Whitlock Baker — executive coach, leadership consultant, and founder of EWB Coaching — for a candid, no-holds-barred conversation on what truly makes a good leader in higher education. They tackle toxic workplace norms, explore the role of empathy in leadership, and dig into how AI and generational shifts are reshaping leadership expectations. If you're rethinking what it means to lead well in this evolving higher ed landscape, this is your blueprint.Guest Name: Ellen Whitlock Baker, Wwner and Principal, EWB CoachingGuest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwhitlockbaker/Gues...
2025-04-1153 min
Total Movie RecallTMR 035 – Raising Arizona This week on Total Movie Recall, Steve and Ryan stare into the eyes of a childless middle age and watch 1987’s Raising Arizona. Steve has a good laugh watching what he sees as a silly, light comedy and Ryan is gripped by yet another existential crisis watching a moving meditation on fatherhood, adulthood, leaving the reckless ways of youth behind, the crushing weight of responsibility, and conquering your demons. Oh to have the weightless, carefree, burdenless mirth that Steve enjoys! We should all be so lucky. Raising Arizona (1987) writers/directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coe...
2020-08-2400 min