The Corporate Cliché Podcast

Be Bold with Chris Catania | Turning Community Into a Competitive Advantage

Ep. 27 – Be Bold with Chris Catania | Turning Community Into a Competitive Advantage Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast! Join Jen + Jess as they dive into unfiltered watercooler conversations about what it’s really like working in corporate. In this Be Bold episode, we sit down with Chris Catania—keynote speaker, strategist, and community expert who helps organizations turn communities into engines for growth and competitive advantage. With over twenty years of experience helping Fortune 500 companies tackle real business challenges, Chris shares why community is more than a buzzword—it’s a strategic business tool. From empowering employees to strengthening workplace culture, Chris explains how intentional communities can transform engagement, leadership, and the employee experience. If you’ve ever wondered how leaders can create stronger connections at work—or how employees can start building community right where they are—this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 🔥 Episode Highlights: ✅ Why community is one of the most underutilized strategic tools in business ✅ Moving beyond “community” as a buzzword to making it part of organizational strategy ✅ The role of community champions and how organizations can empower them ✅ Chris’s practical leadership frameworks including the ADAPT and EEE models ✅ The neuroscience behind why humans are wired for connection ✅ Simple ways employees and leaders can start building stronger communities at work 💡 Key Takeaways: Community is strategic, not accidental Organizations that intentionally invest in community create stronger engagement, collaboration, and culture. Humans are wired for connection Our brains naturally seek belonging—when workplaces nurture that, people perform and thrive. Leadership doesn’t mean doing everything yourself Leaders can prioritize community-building while empowering others to champion and lead initiatives. Anyone can start building community today You don’t need a title to create connection—small actions can spark meaningful change. 👥 Join the Conversation! How are you building community at work? Connect with us and share your thoughts on how community impacts corporate culture. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future episodes—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform! 📝 Rate & Review: Love what you’re hearing? Leave a review to help others discover the show and join the conversation.

Be Bold with Alexis Matthews | Redefining Success for High Performers

Ep. 26 – Be Bold with Alexis Matthews | Sustainable Success, Empathy at Scale & Redefining High Performance Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast! Join Jen + Jess as they dive into unfiltered watercooler conversations about what it’s really like working in corporate. In this Be Bold episode, we sit down with Alexis Matthews—a powerhouse leader in sales, wellness, and community-building. As a Sales Development Manager at Snowflake, Founder of Molded Media, and host of the Overcompensated podcast, Alexis is redefining what high performance really looks like. She shares how to build top-performing teams without sacrificing well-being, how to transition from individual contributor to strategic leader, and why empathy isn’t soft—it’s a performance strategy. From burnout prevention to bold leadership shifts, this conversation challenges corporate norms and proves you can win at work without losing yourself in the process. 🔥 Episode Highlights: ✅ Redefining success from the inside out ✅ The 7 seismic shifts from IC to leader ✅ Building sustainable careers without burnout ✅ Empathy at scale: leading high performance without micromanaging ✅ The power of recognition & “no surprises” leadership ✅ Integrating mindfulness into modern leadership ✅ Challenging the “more with less” corporate mentality 💡 Key Takeaways: Success without alignment leads to burnout—internal values must match external goals Leadership is about making others successful, not just hitting your own metrics Clear expectations + consistent communication = no surprises performance Recognition should connect effort to purpose Empathy and accountability can—and should—coexist Mindfulness creates margin, resilience, and stronger teams 👥 Connect with Alexis: LinkedIn: Alexis Matthews Website: moldedcareer.com Email: contact@moldedcareer.com Podcast: Overcompensated 👥 Join the Conversation! Have thoughts on this episode? Connect with us and share how you’re redefining success and building bold leadership in your workplace. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future episodes—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform! 📝 Rate & Review: Love what you’re hearing? Leave a review to help others find the show!

Work/Life Balance | From Hyrule to HR: How Video Games Build Real-World Career Skills

Welcome back to The Corporate Cliché Podcast! Join Jen + Jess as they dive into the realities of corporate life through relatable and unfiltered watercooler conversations. In this episode, we’re kicking off 2026 with a fresh installment of our Work/Life Balance series — reflecting on our holiday break, celebrating how far the podcast has come, and revealing one of our favorite ways to unplug: video games. From cozy traditions and much-needed rest to Zelda marathons and squad strategy sessions, this episode is all about what recharges us outside the 9–5 and how those “fun” skills translate directly into Corporate success. 🔥 Episode Highlights: ✅ Holiday Break Reset We share how we truly unplugged over the holidays; from hot chocolate traditions and puzzle nights to downtime, decluttering, and setting intentions for the new year. ✅ Leveling Up Outside of Corporate Jen dives into her lifelong love of gaming, from classic Nintendo titles to modern open-world adventures like The Legend of Zelda and Fortnite and why gaming has always been her ultimate escape. ✅ Gamers in the Boardroom We break down how video game skills directly translate into corporate strengths; strategic thinking, problem-solving, resource management, risk assessment, and team coordination. ✅ The Shigeru Miyamoto Story The inspiring origin story of Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto, an artist with no formal programming background who created Mario and The Legend of Zelda, and what his journey teaches us about curiosity, creativity, and raising your hand even when you don’t “check every box.” ✅ Interview Gold: How to Frame Gaming as a Skillset We have some fun rebranding Zelda and Fortnite skills into powerful, corporate-ready interview answers. (Spoiler: “Directed tactical operations with cross-functional teams” hits differently.) 💬 Key Takeaways: Taking real time off is essential. Stepping away helps you appreciate where you are instead of constantly chasing what’s next. Your hobbies aren’t separate from your career. They’re often building transferable skills you use every day. Innovation doesn’t always come from credentials. Sometimes it comes from curiosity, imagination, and the courage to try. Work/Life Balance isn’t just about rest. It's about reconnecting with what makes you you. 👥 Join the Conversation! 🔗 Engage with Us: Are you a gamer? What are you playing right now? Tag us on social and tell us how you unplug outside of work! 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future watercooler conversations — subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform! 📝 Rate & Review: If you’re loving Corporate Cliché, leave us a review to help others discover the show and join the conversation!

Book Club: Hidden Potential at Work | Why Growth Beats Polish

Ep. 23 – Book Club: Hidden Potential at Work | Why Growth Beats Polish Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast! Join Jen + Jess for honest, unfiltered watercooler conversations about what it’s really like working in corporate. In this Book Club episode, we’re diving into Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant. This conversation challenges the corporate obsession with talent, polish, and pedigree—and replaces it with something far more powerful: growth, character, and support. From underdog stories and leadership lessons to imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and workplace culture, Jen + Jess break down why potential isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you unlock. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or “not quite there yet,” this episode is for you. 🔥 Episode Highlights: * ✅ Why talent is overrated and growth is underestimated * ✅ The difference between personality and character at work * ✅ What “scaffolding” really means—and why leaders need it * ✅ How discomfort, doubt, and imposter syndrome signal growth * ✅ Why hiring for polish causes companies to miss real potential * ✅ Lessons from underdogs who defied the odds 💡 Key Takeaways: * Potential isn’t fixed—it’s developed over time * It’s not where you start, it’s how far you grow * Support unlocks potential more effectively than pressure * Character, curiosity, and resilience matter more than credentials * Growth often looks messy before it looks successful 👥 Join the Conversation! How do you define potential at work? Share this episode and let us know what resonated most. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future episodes—subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. 📝 Rate & Review: Love the show? Leaving a review helps more people find the Corporate Cliché community. 📚 Next Book Club Pick: The Platinum Rule — come read along with us as we continue changing corporate culture one conversation at a time.

Yep… That’s Corporate: Our Favorite Moments, Lessons, and HR Nightmares from 2025

Ep. 23 - Year in Review | Our Favorite Corporate Cliché Moments of 2025 Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast! In this special year-in-review episode, Jess and Jen kick off 2026 by pressing pause and reflecting on the moments that defined Corporate Cliché in 2025. From hilarious HR nightmares and laugh-out-loud corporate chaos to powerful lessons, guest mic-drop moments, and those universal “Yep… been there” experiences, this episode is a celebration of everything that made the past year meaningful for us and for our listeners. This isn’t just a highlight reel. It’s a thank-you to the community that showed up, shared episodes, sent DMs, and reminded us that honest conversations about work really do matter. 🔥 Episode Highlights: * Our most unforgettable HR Nightmares (because policies exist for a reason) * The moments that made us laugh so we didn’t cry * Lessons learned from guests, book club episodes, and real-life corporate experiences * Guest mic-drop moments we’re still thinking about * The “Yep… been there” stories that reminded us we’re not alone at work 💡 Why You’ll Love This Episode: * It’s equal parts reflective, relatable, and validating * You’ll laugh, cringe, and nod along in agreement * It’s a reminder that growth, career paths, and leadership journeys are rarely linear * You’ll walk away feeling seen and maybe a little more hopeful about work 👥 Join the Conversation As you listen, reflect on the moments that stuck with you in 2025, an episode you loved, a mindset shift you made, or a moment where you realized just how much you’ve grown. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to keep these conversations going in 2026. 📝 Rate & Review to help more professionals find the podcast and feel a little less alone at work.