Workday Playdate

“Matrescence is a very big deal and it changes you forever, personally and professionally, so any support that I can give to those women, I want to continue doing that.” - Christine Michel Carter  Failed it! Fam, today we have a parent, teacher, entrepreneur, speaker, author, and multi-passionate person. Please give a warm welcome to Christine Michel Carter!   In today’s episode, Christine talks to us about: Being a working mom A balanced, fluid workforce Advocating for others   Links from show discussions: Celebs on Sandwiches Improve it! F Words at Work Mom AF Book Christine’s Facebook Christine’s Website Twitter and Instagram: @cmichelcarter   About the Guest: Best-selling author Christine Michel Carter is the #1 global voice for working moms. Her writing has reached parents and working families in more than 150 countries. At home she’s Mommy to Maya and West, the two cutest damn kids on the planet. Featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post, Christine contributes to ForbesWomen as a senior contributor. She has written hundreds of articles with over one million views for several publications, including TIME and Parents. Christine’s insights have been included by other authors in their books. Her own best-selling children’s book Can Mommy Go To Work? was ranked as an “empowering book” and a “life changing book to guide feminist parenting.” Her book MOM AF is a sister circle in a book, inspired both by Carter’s life and her published articles. Christine clarifies misconceptions about working mom consumers and multicultural consumers for brands and serves as an amplifier of their personal truths. From delivering consumer insights and brand marketing content to helping HR and diversity teams attract and retain these hardworking professionals, Christine works with advertising agencies, research firms and companies to ensure they’re at the forefront of the minds of female consumers. Christine also works to advance policies on a range of health issues that affect women and families. She does this particularly through collaborations with other organizations focused on eliminating racial disparities in maternal health, addressing the social determinants of health, and a range of women’s health policy issues. Christine has worked with the Congressional Caucus on Black Women & Girls, the Fam Tech Founders Collaborative, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on maternal and child care related issues. She has also received a Congressional Citation from the U.S. Senate for going “above and beyond in ensuring that Black Moms and Moms of Color have access to important health information for their children and families.” In addition to interviewing former Senator and the first female Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, Christine has also worked on her maternal initiatives. Christine is the founder of Mompreneur and Me, the nation’s first free mommy and me professional development event. Christine’s co-hosted conference, The State Of Black Mothers In America, is the largest global conference for Black mothers. As an executive committee member of Mom Congress, Christine wants Black mothers around the world to stop suffering in silence.   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!  

Failed it! Fam – Are you currently feeling defeated as a leader? You’re in luck, because on today’s minisode we have our improve it! Lead Facilitator, Catharine Savag on to talk through tips and tricks on how to change your mindset through improv.   About the Guest: Originally from Massachusetts, Catharine Savage is a graduate from Brown University with a degree in History and Gender Studies. She has trained at iO and The Second City and is a performer with The Second City's National Touring Company. Off the stage, she has five years of corporate experience, having worked in sales enablement and management/technology consulting. She loves bringing levity to the office and finding ways we can be better people at our jobs. Catharine has conducted workshops with improve it! across the country leveraging improvisational techniques to improve employees’ soft skills in corporate settings, facilitating sessions for clients such as HUB International, Quicken Loans, Embarc Chicago, Vantage Leadership Consulting, Motorola Solutions, Elkay Manufacturing, PepsiCo, and many more.   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!  

“The fact we wear so many hats and still manage to get so many things accomplished should allow anyone to feel more confident about themselves.” - Erin Diehl Failed it! Fam, first and foremost, Happy (early) Mother’s Day to you or your loved ones. We’re dedicating this episode to all the mothers, those who have mothers, or the special individuals in your life who act like a mother. On today’s episode, our host, Erin Diehl, is sharing the importance of achievable parenting skills you can incorporate anywhere. Listen in as Erin talks to us about "soft skills” parenting in a pandemic.   Links from show discussions: Improve it!’s Virtual Trainings Episode 49 - Failures in Fertility: Why our Fertility Stories Matter Episode 51 - Leaders, It's Time to Talk About Infertility: with Dr. Angie Beltsos of Vios Fertility   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!  

“We have an opportunity on social media to empower and educate and to really just kind of loosen it up a little bit so people can hear some of the opportunities to become parents.” - Dr. Angie Beltsos   Failed it! Fam, we have an incredible, selfless guest who helps bring humans into the world. Literally. She recognizes the power of social media to help educate and normalize infertility. Please give a warm welcome to Dr. Angie Beltsos!   In today’s episode, Dr. Beltsos talks to us about: How she educates and normalizes infertility on social media Three forces to take leadership to a new dimension in culture The importance of creating safe spaces internally and externally How to share your “gifts” with the world     Links from show discussions: Episode 49 Improve it! Laugh Break Conscious Leadership Book Beltsos’ Website Beltsos’ Instagram Beltsos’ TikTok Vios Fertility Instagram Vios Fertility Facebook Vios Fertility YouTube   About the Guest: Angeline N. Beltsos, MD is the CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Vios Fertility Institute. She is double board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI). Dr. Beltsos completed medical school at Michigan State University. Shen then went on to do her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Loyola University in 1995 followed by a fellowship in REI at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, completed in 1997. Dr. Beltsos is also part of the Clinical Research team at Vios and participates in a number of research projects and scientific publications. She has received numerous awards in teaching and has been honored as “Top Doctor” from Castle Connelly for several years. She is a popular speaker, both nationally and internationally, and a frequent media resource on the topic of infertility. Dr. Beltsos is the executive chairperson for the Midwest Reproductive Symposium International, an international conference of fertility experts. She helps educate future OB/GYN doctors as the previous REI Division Education Director for the Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs of Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Lutheran General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital Chicago, and Mercy Chicago. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Illinois at Chicago. She continues to mentor REI doctors as well as students of all stages of education.   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

Failed it! Fam – Have you ever thrown your team a failure party? What is a failure party? Why should you throw one? Welcome to our first of many minisodes on the failed it! podcast. Today we have our Podcast Manager, Rachel Oliveros, on to talk through the importance of these fabulous failure parties, as well as what to expect from these mini episodes moving forward. Welcome to failed it! (minisodes).   About the Guest: Rachel Oliveros is a Loyola University Chicago alumni where she majored in Marketing and studied abroad in Rome. Rachel has had a history with improve it! prior to working on the podcast, starting as an intern to a Client Services Associate. And now, as the Podcast Manager of failed it!, she works closely with Erin to do all things podcast and help listeners understand that you must fail in order to improve. On top of being creative with show graphics and communicating with inspiring podcast guests, she also enjoys working in Digital Advertising Sales with ViacomCBS. Reach out to her if you're interested in being a guest on The failed it! Podcast!   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!  

“We have to embrace all of who we are, the mistakes, the good part, the bad part. I mean, it is who we are. I think there's some valuable lesson. There is some source of inspiration that can help another person.” - Dionna Griffin Failed it! Fam, we have an amazing guest who is such a light in the improv world. Get ready to hear the crazy journey that Dionna Griffin went through as she strived to overcome failure by embracing her true self. In today’s episode, Dionna talks to us about: How fearing a huge pivot in her life was exactly what she needed How a stint in jail changed her life The importance of sharing failures   Links from show discussions: Improve it!’s Laugh Break Dionna Griffin’s Website Dionna Griffin’s Instagram   About the Guest: Dionna Griffin-Irons is a writer, comedy producer, and the longtime former Director of Talent Diversity and Inclusion for The Second City U.S. and Canada.  She’s delighted to share her story on the "You Failed It" podcast. For two decades, she's used her inclusion and belonging strategy "finding your truth voice" in boardrooms, prisons, shelters, classroom spaces, and stages, to create personal transformation around leadership, empathy, and resilience. As an instructor and consultant, Griffin-Irons has facilitated 200+ workshops to corporations, organizations, and students around the globe including Embassy Norway and Latvia, using improvisation as a creative tool for social change. Her work has been featured on ABC, NBC, American Theatre Magazine, Diversity Journal, and with University of Chicago's TEDx, The Incredible Unknown.   Griffin-Irons teaches at DePaul University in the Computer Digital Media program, core faculty with Story Studio Chicago, Chicago Dramatists, and The Second City Film School nurturing the next wave of storytellers. Her signature class "Telling Your Truth" has helped students and professionals who fear the writing process, go from one page to 15 pages in a month. #slaytheegoandwrite   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!  

  “We all carry the weight of overwhelmed differently, friend. You are not failing. You will persevere.” - Erin Diehl Today, we’re getting personal. This podcast serves as a safe space for many to be their truest, most vulnerable self and we hope you feel a little less alone and a little more understood after listening. On today’s episode, our host, Erin Diehl, is sharing her infertility story. While it’s a topic not many talk about, we hope you leave this episode knowing you’re not alone and that your voice, indeed, does matter! In today’s episode, Erin talks to us about her infertility journey through: The Past The Present The Future     Links from show discussions: Improve it!’s Zoom Fatigue Mini-Course   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!  

“We go through our professional lives and we don't know what people are carrying with them each day.” - Kathryn Janicek Failed it! Fam, do you get the feeling that you’re failing at everything recently? Or that you don’t feel present at home or work? You’re not alone. On today’s episode, we’re excited to introduce you to Kathryn Janicek. Listen in as she talks through her vulnerable experience during the pandemic on being a founder, entrepreneur and mother all at the same time, and how she’s successfully getting through it one day at a time. Get ready to hear some important bits of information in this inspirational episode! In today’s episode, Kathryn talks to us about: Building a business while going through IVF Feeling guilt personally and professionally during the pandemic Harnessing the power of listening What being a media trainer looks like Why Zoom Fatigue is real and what you can do to combat it Links from show discussions: Kathryn’s Website: kathrynjanicek.com Kathryn’s Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kathrynjanicek Kathryn’s IG: instagram.com/kathrynjanicek Improve it!’s Zoom Fatigue Mini-Course About the Guest: Kathryn Janicek helps you build the life you want to live. Through high-level media and public speaking training, she helps you: grow your business, make more money, attract more clients/fans/patients, move up in your career, increase your brand equity, be more confident and have a more fulfilling life by sharing your message. Kathryn is a three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist. Her 25+ years experience as a media exec and spokesperson helps her clients find the confidence to say “yes” to more speaking and media opportunities and make sure their messages reach their audience. She trains teams and individuals on everything needed to perform the best on stage, in the media, in videos and in any interview situation. This includes: verbal communication, body language, messaging, breathing to perform stronger, wardrobe, makeup, hair, the mindset of how to become a great speaker, confidence and how to stand out. Clients include: Fortune 500 CEOs and Executives Healthcare Executives American Dental Association College of American Pathologists American Society of Plastic Surgeons Uber Zurich Chicago Bulls Hedge Funds Financial Firms Law Firms   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Our brains only work best when we're cared for all around” - Aubrey Blanche   Failed it! Fam, we’re excited to introduce to you Aubrey Blanche. More love, less hate, more universal connection. We all want to live in a world that Aubrey can help cultivate. Get ready to hear some important bits of information in this inspirational episode! In today’s episode, Aubrey talks to us about: DEI & the “cookie metaphor” (you have to listen in to this one!) How the limits of America’s obsession with productivity is the anti-caring for the human organism DEI work: take rest, don’t quit   Links from show discussions: Stephen Colbert & Anderson Cooper Interview - Grief Check out improve it!’s Zoombie Toolkit Launching 3/29 for 2 weeks – stay tuned on learntoimproveit.com The Memo by Minda Harts book Aubrey’s 2019 Best Reads Diversity Rankings Article Aubrey’s Website URL Twitter: http://twitter.com/adblanche Medium: http://medium.com/@adblanche Linkedin: http://us.linkedin.com/in/adblanche   About the Guest: Aubrey Blanche is The Mathpath (Math Nerd + Empath), Director of Equitable Design & Impact at Culture Amp, and a startup investor, and advisor. She questions, reimagines, and redesigns the systems that surround us to ensure that all people access equitable opportunities. Her expertise covers talent programs and accessible product development to event design and communications. She is the inventor of the balanced teams approach and a culture of belonging, and the Balanced Teams Diversity Assessment in the Atlassian Team Playbook. She open sources these methods and releases thought leadership and tools to create positive change at aubreyblanche.com.   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!  

“Remember that when they [your employees] feel heard, productivity rises and when productivity rises, not only does the organization, but so does the individual.” - Erin Diehl   Are you in an entry-level position at your dream company? Or are you a leader who needs guidance on investing in your employees? Failed it! Fam, grab your notebooks, because Erin is going to walk you through why investing in professional development matters, especially in today’s remote world. In today’s episode, Erin talks to us about: Her own personal realization of why professional development matters   Why feeling heard and “seen” within your organization leads to higher productivity, which leads to organizational and personal growth     Ways you can incorporate professional development in your life   Links from show discussions: Liz and Molly Instagram Graphic Check out improve it!’s Zoombie Toolkit Launching 3/29 for 2 weeks – stay tuned on www.learntoimproveit.com   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!