Totally Unacceptable with Ed Clementi

We Were Builders Once: When Job Security Was You

🎙️ We Were Builders Once: When Job Security Was You Before résumés. Before layoffs. Before waiting for someone else to decide your worth— Job security was you. In this episode of Totally Unacceptable, Ed Clementi takes us back to the forgotten roots of work itself—when self-reliance, skill, and contribution were the foundation of stability. And he exposes how we traded that independence for an illusion of safety. You’ll learn: * How the “college–career–security” formula became one of the biggest lies of modern work. * Why handing your livelihood to a corporation isn’t stability—it’s surrender. * The mindset shift every professional needs in the age of AI and automation. * How to reclaim the value that can never be laid off, outsourced, or deleted. * Why self-belief is still the original skill set—and the only true job security you’ll ever have. Because real leadership begins when you stop waiting to be chosen and start creating your own value.  And forgetting that truth… is totally unacceptable. 👉 Tune in to rediscover what we lost—and what it takes to build again. Learn more at edclementi.com [https://edclementi.com/] Follow Ed on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi/] Subscribe to The FireStarter [https://edclementi.com/newsletter/] Join the Waitlist for Leadership at the Dinner Table [https://edclementi.com/book/]

From Playgrounds to Boardrooms: Why Bullying Never Went Away

Workplace bullying isn’t just a schoolyard problem—it’s alive and well in offices, boardrooms, and businesses everywhere. And the damage it does is staggering. In this episode of Totally Unacceptable, Ed Clementi puts the spotlight on the bully boss—the so-called “leader” who hides behind authority, leads through fear, and poisons culture. You’ll learn: * How to recognize bullying behaviors disguised as “feedback” or “management.” * Why standing up for yourself at work doesn’t play out like it did on the playground. * The ripple effect bullies have on confidence, careers, health, and even home life. * Why executives who stay silent are just as complicit. * What you can do if you’re working under one—or leading like one. Because leadership isn’t about fear. It’s about courage. And every bully tolerated at the top sends shockwaves far beyond the office walls. 👉 Tune in to hear why workplace bullying is the most Totally Unacceptable form of leadership—and what it takes to finally stop it. Also, join the waitlist for my new book: Leadership At The Dinner Table [https://edclementi.com/book/]. ...and subscribe to my newsletter The FireStarter [https://edclementi.com/newsletter/]. Learn more at edclementi.com [https://edclementi.com/] Follow Ed on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi/] Subscribe to The FireStarter [https://edclementi.com/newsletter/] Join the Waitlist for Leadership at the Dinner Table [https://edclementi.com/book/]

Dear CEO: 5 Questions That Might Haunt You.

Leadership is the single most powerful force in any organization. It builds belief — or it breaks both people and culture. Welcome to the first-ever FireStarter Session with Ed Clementi, a powerful new crossover between Totally Unacceptable and my weekly leadership newsletter, The FireStarter. In this new series, I take one of my most resonant articles — this one titled “Dear CEO: 5 Questions That Might Haunt You” — and bring it to life through voice, emotion, and unfiltered perspective. In this episode, we explore: 🔥 Why most people have lost faith in leadership at the top 🔥 The unspoken questions that define your legacy 🔥 What it truly means to lead with bravery, care, and conviction 🔥 A challenge for CEOs and future leaders alike This is not a performance. This is a mirror. And if you’re in — this will move you. 💥 Listen. Reflect. Act. If this hit you hard — good. Now do something with it. 👉 Subscribe to The FireStarter newsletter (new issue every Monday, 7AM): https://www.edclementi.com/newsletter 👉 Explore coaching, speaking, and leadership development: https://www.edclementi.com 👉 Follow on LinkedIn for daily insights: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi Learn more at edclementi.com [https://edclementi.com/] Follow Ed on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi/] Subscribe to The FireStarter [https://edclementi.com/newsletter/] Join the Waitlist for Leadership at the Dinner Table [https://edclementi.com/book/]

Your Boss Isn't A Leader and It's Hurting Your Career

Your Boss Isn’t a Leader — and It’s Hurting Your Career Waiting for a weak leader to suddenly become strong is a career death sentence. And handing over your future to someone threatened by your potential? That’s not loyalty. That’s self-sabotage. In this episode of Totally Unacceptable, Ed Clementi calls out the silent epidemic of non-leaders in leadership roles — and the damage they cause to careers, teams, and company culture. This one’s not just a vent session. It’s a blueprint. You’ll learn: How to recognize when your boss isn’t actually leading Why staying silent and “waiting it out” is the real risk What to do when your growth is being stifled How to build trust and visibility anyway And the parable of the elephant and the rope — and how it applies to you If you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked, or underestimated by someone who was supposed to have your back — this is the episode you didn’t know you needed. 🎧 Don’t give your power to the wrong person. Reclaim your voice. Multiply your value. 🔥 Stay connected & fuel your leadership fire: 🔗 Follow Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi/ 📬 Subscribe to The FireStarter Newsletter: https://thefirestarter.beehiiv.com/ 🌐 Explore more at edclementi.com: https://edclementi.com/ Learn more at edclementi.com [https://edclementi.com/] Follow Ed on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi/] Subscribe to The FireStarter [https://edclementi.com/newsletter/] Join the Waitlist for Leadership at the Dinner Table [https://edclementi.com/book/]

The Epidemic of Playing Small

Most people don’t get stuck because they aren’t talented.  They get stuck because they’ve been taught to play small. In this episode, Ed Clementi unpacks the silent career killer no one talks about—self-imposed limitations. From the myth of readiness to the two career paths most people unconsciously choose between, this is a wake-up call for anyone who’s waiting for the “right time.” You’ll hear hard truths, bold challenges, and a reminder that success doesn’t go to the most qualified—it goes to the most prepared. If you’ve ever felt like there’s more in you—but you’ve been holding back—this is the episode you didn’t know you needed. 🎧 Let’s end the epidemic of playing small. Starting now. 🔥 Stay connected & fuel your leadership fire: 🔗 Follow Ed on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi/] 📬 Subscribe to The FireStarter Newsletter [https://thefirestarter.beehiiv.com/] 🌐 Explore more at edclementi.com [https://www.edclementi.com/] Learn more at edclementi.com [https://edclementi.com/] Follow Ed on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardclementi/] Subscribe to The FireStarter [https://edclementi.com/newsletter/] Join the Waitlist for Leadership at the Dinner Table [https://edclementi.com/book/]