Shows
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