Discover how our voices shape our identities and perceptions of power. The conversation dives into societal pressures that compel marginalized groups to adjust their vocal expression. Embrace the idea of vocal authenticity and the emotional challenges tied to societal norms. Learn how joy and playfulness can enhance public speaking skills. With insights from a Hollywood dialect coach, the discussion encourages a broader acceptance of diverse voices in personal and professional contexts, highlighting the journey towards true self-expression.

Sara Petersen, author of 'Momfluenced,' dives into the intricate ways influencers shape our views on motherhood and well-being. She contrasts the authentic experiences of past generations with the curated images on social media that create unrealistic standards. The conversation touches on trust dynamics, the unique challenges faced by marginalized mothers, and the generational shift seen in Gen Z as they navigate social media’s pressures. Petersen emphasizes the longing for deeper connections and a more meaningful existence in today's influencer-driven world.

This is the 4th part of my series Self-Help, LLC, which I'm replaying over the summer! Enjoy!If your Instagram feed or Explore page looks anything like mine, then you likely see a preponderance of posts about personality types, conditions, or other self-knowledge. We’re hooked on learning about ourselves! And perhaps even more hooked on sharing what we’ve learned—which means that the Instagram algorithm (as well as TikTok’s and Pinterest’s algorithms) has learned to love this kind of content, too.In this episode, I explore discovering ourselves versus making ourselves, why self-knowledge is big business on Instagram, and how creating viral personality content can wreak havoc on the creator’s psyche. To dig into this with me, I invited @ninetypesco creator, Steph Barron Hall, onto the show.Footnotes:Find Steph Barron Hall on Instagram (@ninetypesco)Learn more about working with StephHow to be Authentic by Skye ClearyLearn more about the Enneagram and find your typeThe Nine Types of RestSelf-Help, INC by Micki McGee“Double consciousness”“Looking glass self”Essay versions of each episode are posted at whatworks.fyi every Thursday.  ★ Support this podcast ★

Patrick Sheehan, a sociologist specializing in self-help and consumer trust, explores the intricate dynamics of seeking guidance in an uncertain world. He discusses the paradox of trusting strangers over institutions in personal development. The conversation dives into the roles of credentialed experts vs. experiential coaches, the emotional labor they face, and the influence of social media on self-knowledge. Sheehan highlights the narratives used by coaches to build trust and the implications of relying on them amid job market anxieties.

Kelly Diels, expert on female lifestyle empowerment brand, discusses empowerment marketing and the 'female lifestyle empowerment brand'. They explore how marketing perpetuates beauty ideals, societal pressures, and limited success strategies. The podcast delves into challenges faced by women, embracing marginalized identities, and critiquing empowerment narratives in marketing.

This is Part 1 of a series from 2022 called Self-Help, LLC. This summer, I’ll be republishing this series as I work on new essays and episodes. There’s a good chance this series is new to you, and if its previous reception is any indication, I think you’ll love it! If you listened to it the first time through, I’d love to know how it hits differently today. ***It’s hard to escape the language and politics of self-help today. Whether you’re browsing your LinkedIn, Instagram, or even TikTok feed, there’s a very good chance that the first post you see offers up some idea for living a better life or growing a more successful business. Shoulds and supposed-tos are cultural currency. We gain social capital by sharing advice or “giving value.” And that’s left me wondering: are we all in the self-help business now?Today’s episode kicks off an 8-part series called Self-Help, LLC which will explore that question from a number of different angles. In this episode, I’m taking a close look at a particular construction of personal growth and entrepreneurship culture: winners and losers.Footnotes:Dr. Rick for ProgressiveWhy does the insurance industry have so many mascots? on Planet MoneySelf-Help, INC by Micki McGeeMore about Marshall McLuhan (”The medium is the message”)Nixon’s universal health care plan proposalReaganism & ThatcherismThe Old is Dying & the New Cannot be Born by Nancy FraserFind the essay version of this episode at whatworks.fyi and support my work critiquing and theorizing the 21st-century economy by becoming a premium subscriber for just $7 per month! ★ Support this podcast ★

Feminist writer and editor Samhita Mukhopadhyay discusses navigating work challenges in the 21st-century economy. Topics include the margin of maneuverability, labor rights, feedback in the workplace, making non-obvious choices, and creating a utopian work environment.

Our podcast feeds and streaming services are full of real stories of real people. And not all of those stories feel... true. I mean, even if the facts are accurate, the way something is edited, packaged, and marketed can dramatically alter a story's impact.Artist and audio producer Jess Shane wanted to create a project that would expose some of the problematic elements of this booming (and highly profitable) industry. The result is a podcast series for Radiotopia Presents called Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative. Listening to it made me deeply uncomfortable, so I knew I needed to have her on What Works to discuss it!In this episode, you'll get the behind-the-scenes on this project. And you'll learn what happens when attention becomes a fetish.Footnotes:Listen to Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative from Radiotopia PresentsFind out more about Jess ShaneCurated Stories: The Uses and Misuses of Storytelling by Sujatha FernandesThe Crisis of Narration by Byung-Chul Han ★ Support this podcast ★

This podcast explores the challenges of living and working as a speculative investment, reflection on self-speculation, the prevalence of the second person on social media, and the influence of online advice-giving on self-worth and authority.

What would happen if you archived all of your Instagram content, announced that you had taken a job at a fictional wellness company, and then got fired for disclosing your experience with company-mandated colonic hydrotherapy? Well, Leigh Stein did exactly that.Leigh wears many hats—novelist, poet, cultural critic, book coach, publishing expert. And when she realized that she wasn't wearing the hat she wanted to wear on Instagram, she decided to have some fun with a satirical performance art project.Listen for the whole story and a provocation to embrace your own social media use as a project of identity performance!Footnotes:Leigh Stein's books and cultural criticismLeigh Stein on Instagram, TikTok, and SubstackGender Trouble by Judith ButlerJudith Butler on Why Is This Happening with Chris HayesSarah Urist Green on performance art for The Art AssignmentPerformance by RoseLee Goldberg"From Work to Text" by Roland BarthesRuPaul explaining drag on The PreachersAlso in this series:Organizing Indie Labor with Chiarra Lohr of the Indie Sellers GuildFiguring Out the Creator Economy with Charlie Gilkey & Kate TysonBuilding Solidarity in the Creator Economy with Charlie Gilkey & Kate TysonRethinking Creativity: An InterludeFind an essay version of this episode at whatworks.fyi***I'm teaching a new workshop on May 15 & 16, 2024! It's called World-Building for Business Owners, and it's based on a process I've been honing for more than a decade. I'll help you apply creative, even playful thinking to your business strategy—and help you create an internally consistent business that causes fewer headaches, meets your needs more efficiently, plays to your strengths, and creates satisfying work.Click here for all the details or go to explorewhatworks.com/world ★ Support this podcast ★