

LEAVE YOUR MARK: Freshly Brewed Career Advice with Aliza Licht
Aliza Licht
How do you build your personal brand and succeed in your career? Award-winning marketer and personal branding expert Aliza Licht has the answer. Join her solo episodes or conversations with dynamic guests every Wednesday on Leave Your Mark. Whether it's professional advice, brand strategy, or newsworthy workplace trends, Leave Your Mark delivers insider perspectives while they're hot. As the bestselling author of Leave Your Mark and her latest book ON BRAND, Aliza provides essential insights and motivation for succeeding in today's working world where the lines are blurred between what's personal and professional, and the most important thing you can have is a strong sense of self.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 27, 2025 • 14min
Quiet Cracking Explained: The Newest Workplace Buzzword You Can’t Ignore
What happens when employees don’t quit—but instead break quietly on the inside? Welcome to quiet cracking, the hidden crisis of the modern workplace. In this 15-minute deep dive, I trace how we got here—from the Great Resignation to the Big Stay—and share real stories, mental health insights, and practical solutions. Whether you’re an employee feeling the strain or a manager trying to lead through it, you’ll walk away with tools to spot the signs, prevent burnout, and rebuild trust at work.

Aug 20, 2025 • 17min
The Rise of the “Mean Boss” and What It Means for You
The pandemic made the “nice boss” the gold standard—leaders who prioritized empathy, flexibility, and understanding. But as Forbes Senior Contributor Caroline Castrillon reports, that era is ending. In today’s results-driven workplace, leaders are dialing back on perks, flattening hierarchies, and adopting tougher, more direct management styles. In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I break down what’s driving this shift, the risks of going too far, and how to strike the right balance between compassion and accountability. You’ll hear: The “mean boss” playbook—and why it’s on the rise Real-world examples Expanded tips for managers to lead with kind candor Actionable advice for employees to prove their value in measurable terms Whether you’re leading a team or working within one, this episode is your guide to navigating—and thriving in—the new leadership reality.

Aug 13, 2025 • 39min
How to Write a Cult Novel: Christopher J. Yates on His Bestselling Dark Academia Thrillers
What makes a novel go from page-turner to cult classic? Aspiring novelists: This one’s for you. In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Christopher J. Yates, a British-American novelist known for his works in the dark academia genre. His first novel, Black Chalk, was named best book of the year by NPR, and continues to haunt readers 10 years later. In his latest masterpiece, Yates delivers for his fans with his new novel, The Rabbit Club, which follows an American student at Oxford. Add a secret society with a sinister streak, and it has an unexpected twist you won’t see coming.
But what’s the secret to writing psychological thrillers? Christopher shares his writing process, the evolution of his novels, and the cultivation of a dedicated fan base. The conversation delves into character development, the significance of plot twists, and the challenges of navigating the publishing industry, including rejection and reader feedback. Tune in to discover Yates’s insights on storytelling and learn how you can elevate your own writing.
00:00 Introduction to Leave Your Mark Podcast
00:24 Exploring Dark Academia with Christopher J. Yates
02:13 Cultivating a Fan Base: The Black Chalk Experience
04:39 The Writing Process: From Black Chalk to The Rabbit
Club
06:35 Character Development and Dialogue
09:58 Writing Timelines: Black Chalk vs. The Rabbit Club
11:24 Daily Writing Routines and Overcoming Writer's Block
13:47 Plotting and Puzzles in Storytelling
15:39 The Role of Secret Societies in The Rabbit Club
19:02 Target Audience and Themes in The Rabbit Club
22:18 Navigating Plot Twists and Character Development
24:45 Feedback and the Writing Process
28:01 The Journey to Finding an Agent
29:54 Dealing with Rejection and Reader Feedback
33:46 Leaving a Mark in the Literary World

Aug 6, 2025 • 29min
Public Apologies, Private Agendas, and the War on Truth with Aliza Licht and Co-host Samantha Ettus
In this episode of Leave Your Mark, my dear friend and special co-host Samantha Ettus joins me to unpack what happens when people and institutions get their apologies disastrously wrong.
From a Vice President at Penguin Random House reposting a vile mockery of an innocent Jewish woman’s murder, to the New York Times publishing a dangerously misleading story about starvation in Gaza, we explore how these failures not only erode public trust but also fuel antisemitism.
This episode goes beyond PR missteps to unpack the moral and societal cost of bad apologies, and the silence that often follows them. With candor, urgency, and clarity, we break down:
- Why the “I didn’t read it” excuse doesn’t fly when you’re an editor
- The anatomy of a real apology and the red flags that scream deflection
- What the New York Times gets consistently wrong about Israel and the Jewish people
- How modern journalism is failing at its duty and what that means for public safety
- Why brands and institutions must speak out and what silence really signals
This is more than a conversation about saying sorry. It’s about who gets protected, who gets harmed, and what real accountability looks like in a world where perception is power.
Listen now to learn what to look for — and demand — when an apology isn’t enough.
00:00 Introduction to Leave Your Mark
00:28 The Art of Public Apologies
01:21 Case Study: Doubleday Books VP Apology
03:36 The Incident and Its Aftermath
05:48 Analyzing the Apology
10:18 Case Study: The New York Times Apology
16:10 The Role of Journalism and Accountability
26:03 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

Jul 29, 2025 • 46min
Inside Gwyneth Paltrow’s Boss Era, Brand Drama & Biohacked World with Amy Odell
Gwyneth Paltrow is more than an Oscar-winning actress. She is a wellness mogul, a branding mastermind, and one of the most polarizing women in Hollywood and beyond. But how did she go from red carpet royalty to CEO of a global and controversial empire?
In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I’m joined (again!) by New York Times bestselling author Amy Odell, whose new book Gwyneth: The Biography pulls back the curtain on the strategy, ambition, and missteps behind one of the most talked-about careers in pop culture.
We explore Amy's extensive research process that took three years and included interviewing over 220 people. Amy shares insights on Gwyneth Paltrow's life, her hotly debated and influential persona, her ventures with Goop, her leadership style, and the controversies that follow her.
We also delve into the implications of Gwyneth's influence on the wellness industry and her uncanny ability to reinvent herself while maintaining a strong personal brand.
We dig into:
- Gwyneth as a boss and businesswoman
- The backlash that became part of her brand
- How she built Goop into a cultural force and what it cost her
- What Amy learned from reporting on one of the most image-controlled women in the world
Plus, Amy shares her own career journey from journalist to biographer, what it takes to profile powerful women, and the surprising lessons Gwyneth's story offers for anyone building a brand or navigating their own reinvention.
This episode is equal parts Hollywood tea and hard-won career advice. You do not want to miss it.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:28 Introducing Amy Odell and Her Work
01:20 Amy's Career Evolution and Writing Process
05:00 Challenges of Writing Unauthorized Biographies
06:44 Gwyneth Paltrow's Influence and Brand
16:13 Gwyneth's Leadership Style at Goop
23:31 Gwyneth's Media Strategy
23:47 Goop's Controversial Products
24:40 Gwyneth's Leadership Style
25:30 Challenges at Goop
26:43 Working with Founders
29:40 Gwyneth's Reinvention
33:53 Nepo Baby Debate
36:11 Harvey Weinstein Relationship
38:02 Public Perception of Gwyneth
41:10 Conclusion and Reflections

Jul 23, 2025 • 39min
The Art of Saying What Others Won't with Sarah Fraser
In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with the dynamic Sarah Fraser, host of The Sarah Fraser Show. We dive into Sarah's transformative journey from her early broadcasting days in DC to establishing her podcast empire. Sarah shares vivid anecdotes from her career, including the challenges of being asked to tone down her voice in corporate settings, her experience with cancel culture (plus how she survived!), and finding her authentic broadcasting voice. We also delve into Sarah's unique career advice for maintaining authenticity and dreaming big, including her exciting plans for leveraging AI and expanding her reach internationally. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to make their mark in the media industry.

Jul 16, 2025 • 11min
Why Confidence Changes the Way People Treat You
When you walk into a room with confidence, people treat you differently. But why? And how can you build that kind of presence—even when you're still figuring things out?
In this solo episode inspired by a simple but powerful idea from my daughter, I dive deep into the psychology of confidence. Backed by science, real-world case studies, and insight from Harvard Business School, I explore why confidence—not perfection—is often what moves the needle in your career.

Jul 9, 2025 • 44min
Jonah Platt on How to Navigate Hard Conversations and Own Who You Are
In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with the multi-talented, Jonah Platt, actor, writer, and host of the hit podcast, Being Jewish with Jonah Platt. As a powerful advocate for Jewish identity, Jonah is someone who has thought deeply about how we communicate in complex, high-stakes moments.
We explore what it means to build a career in a polarized environment and how Jonah’s recent ADHD diagnosis has reshaped the way he sees himself and shows up in the world. We discuss the tools we all need to navigate difficult conversations, those that arise at work, in friendships, within families, and online.
Jonah shares his "4 C’s" of effective communication, and we unpack the concept of secondary messaging, exploring how people speak in code, avoid clarity, or remain silent when the stakes feel too high.
We also explore what it takes to truly own your identity, especially when the room gets quiet, when it may come at a cost, or when you're still figuring it out yourself.
00:00 Introduction
01:22 Jonah Platt's Upbringing and Early Career
03:22 Transition to Acting and TV Writing
07:29 Jewish Identity and Advocacy
11:10 Impact of October 7th and Public Response
18:33 Starting a Podcast and Future Plans
20:21 The Challenges of Starting a Podcast
21:25 The Impact of Podcasting on Career
22:20 Memorable Conversations
23:23 The Four Cs of Difficult Conversations
29:04 Diagnosed with adult ADHD
37:37 Upcoming Projects and Future Plans
39:07 Leaving a Mark

Jul 2, 2025 • 37min
Navigating the World of Brand Collaborations with Julie Turkel
In a world saturated with brand collaborations, how do you stand out? In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Julie Turkel, a leading brand licensing expert who has helped shape some of the most successful fashion and lifestyle collaborations of the past two decades. From her early corporate days at Nickelodeon and Discovery to launching her own boutique agency, Julie has made it her mission to help designers, influencers, and creative entrepreneurs scale their businesses through strategic licensing. We dive into how she spots the “magic” in a brand, why maintaining brand DNA is essential in today’s oversaturated market, and how social media has changed the game for creative growth. Julie also shares actionable advice on how artists can protect their creative IP and avoid common licensing pitfalls that can cost them long-term equity. Whether you’re an artist, designer, or founder looking to take your brand to the next level, this episode is packed with expert insights on how to grow and protect what you’ve built—without compromising your creative integrity.

Jun 25, 2025 • 12min
Stop the Job Hunt Ghosting and Learn How to Beat the Résumé Bots
Is your résumé getting ghosted by a bot? In this snack segment of Leave Your Mark, I delve into the frustrating experience of applying for jobs and not hearing back, even after submitting a perfectly crafted resume. Highlighting the case of Derek Mobley who sued Workday over AI bias, I provide actionable resume tips to beat the bots used by major companies. Learn how to format your resume to be ATS-friendly and the importance of leveraging your network to get past automated screening systems. Plus, insights into the evolving legal landscape around AI in hiring and practical advice from my book 'Leave Your Mark.'