The Confessional Professional: Recent Episodes
Kathy Klotz-Guest
Less serious does not mean less professional. Why don't we tell the truth about work? Why are we hung up on thinking less serious means unprofessional and that serious is 'truthful?' Let's turn these ideas upside-down. The Confessional Professional is the place for big, funny conversations about the truth of work and life. With curiosity and comedy, we'll challenge that status quo. What’s your big ‘confession?’ - hosted by Kathy Klotz-Guest, author, speaker, comedian (oh and ex-tech VP - does that count?)
Shelly Brown is a force and she has great stories. A fellow speaker and author who also worked in tech once upon a time, Shelley talks about 'BULL SHOULD' and this beautiful idea that "What if Weird Wasn't Weird?" I think she's right. We're all weird. So if we all gave ourselves permission to be weird, then weird wouldn't be WEIRD. As a fellow believer in the power of weird, I agree. What if we brought more weird to work and what if we all showed up more that way? I'm sold - because I believe weird is where our superpowers lie. Shelly is the author of her newly released book, "Weird Girl Adventures" - a future NYT Best Seller and I am all about that aspiration! Weird: I am HERE for it. You will be too. We're all weird! Listen and laugh with us.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kathy-klotz-guest/message
Hold onto your butts! Powerhouse speaker, swagger badass and friend Leslie Ehm chats with about swagger at work. We chat about what swagger really is, who has it, when and how to flex it and why a few animals have it (yes, we share a few stories). Note: this episode has fresh truth-packed F-bombs. While swearing isn't a must for our show, I love guests who are unabashedly, unapologetically who they are. Get your swagger on!
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kathy-klotz-guest/message
You know those stories that make you sweat when you think about them: "Should I tell those stories? They're not great!" If you are asking those questions, then the answer is YES. My guest, Heather Hubbard, a keynote speaker, lawyer and fantastic human, chats with me about failing, times you didn't live up to your values, and how we can own our courage one brave act at a time. We're not all born brave. We're MADE in fire. Bravery is a muscle we grow and we can all be brave in our own way. Some of us are warriors BECAUSE we keep showing up. Everyone can be brave. Sometimes it's quiet, sometimes it's big. We can't fix everything and everyone - and I know women out there will resonate with this! Choose your integrity and energy and boundaries. And lean into those stories that scare you. Telling those stories can change you. Let's own our courage by owning those stories. I think you will love this episode and Heather!
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kathy-klotz-guest/message
Well Actually!....This is a fun episode. And one I've wanted to do for a while.
I talk to two of my guy friends, Adrian McIntyre and Phil Gerbyshak, about mansplaining. We alternate between serious and levity - because mansplaining is that: a real issue and we have some fun. And yes, I was mansplained and talked over several times during the mansplaining convo. That's podcast meta-level inception! Did you catch where? I offer a few suggestions which are repeated back to me. It is about being aware that we're doing it. This convo is one we need to have more of and we didn't even get to the speed round game of mansplaining.
We laugh, we get serious, we try to give solutions and I explain to Phil why sensitive isn't the word he wants (aware is).
Enjoy!
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kathy-klotz-guest/message
My guest, fellow comedy improviser, company founder and author, Coonoor Behal and I chat about how companies lose women. A lot of women! "I deal every day with companies that are making more MEs (people like ME): women, women of color specifically, that are walking away from companies to start their own businesses. Companies are losing that talent quickly," she says. The barriers are there and women of color are leaving companies in numbers greater than any other segment of the population to start their own businesses. What's happening and what can companies do? Plus, we laugh about bro culture - hey, we thought nerds were supposed to be awesome! - and the 'discomfort' of politics at work by 'leaders.' (hey, organizations ARE political!). Join me for this fun chat where we laugh, learn, listen and lean into the truth of women and work.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kathy-klotz-guest/message
Humor at Work. Just saying it causes people to clench up. We’re scared. Really scared. And that sucks because humor is so important to our creativity, joy and well-being. That fear is because we're worried about being judged. What is humor, really? Why should we care and what can anyone - I mean YOU, obvi! - do to nurture it at work? I tackle these questions in this episode. Your health and life are WORTH it.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kathy-klotz-guest/message
Why is discussing toxic masculinity so hard today? Jeff Harry of Rediscover Your Play and I talk about the Alpha Male model, burnout, companies in crisis with unhappy employees: 85% of employees were disengaged before the pandemic. The media and the winners - this win / lose paradigm - often leaves out women and people of color from the circle of prosperity. So what do we do with this exhausting toxic masculine behavior and power dynamic? We go there. And we talk about ClubHouse...Look out Chad and Bob.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kathy-klotz-guest/message
In this inaugural episode, I explain why I blew up my last podcast after 6 years, what matters to me - humor, truth and equitable change - and where I hope to explore with you.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kathy-klotz-guest/message