Escaping the Exhaustion of 40 Hrs/Wk of Workplace Cosplay to be the Authentic You | In The Middle Of Consulting (2026_S2E03)

Escaping the Exhaustion of 40 Hrs/Wk of Workplace Cosplay to be the Authentic You | In The Middle Of Consulting (2026_S2E03)

Based on the June 2026 LinkedIn article series Escaping the Exhaustion of 40 Hrs/Wk of Workplace Cosplay to Be the Authentic You by StephenG Smith’s In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7260308375991656448/]. In this episode hosts Lily Young and Ethan Jensen explore the hidden exhaustion that comes from acting like the version of a consultant you think the workplace expects. More polished. More formal. More serious. Less you. They unpack Stephen’s concept of “Workplace Cosplay,” why uncertainty and imposter syndrome can push consultants to hide important parts of themselves, and the difference between healthy professional shapeshifting and completely masking your identity. They also look at a difficult reality: consulting is not naturally designed to create psychological safety. High-pressure clients, competitive cultures, utilization targets, and the constant need to prove yourself can make authenticity feel risky. So, how do you safely begin taking off the costume? Lily and Ethan explore the power of finding an “oasis” within the consulting desert The episode revisits a deeply personal period in Stephen’s life when his confidence was shattered, his personal world was unraveling, and a coworker’s support helped him step into his first true change management leadership role. That opportunity became a launchpad for some of the strongest years of his OCM consulting career. For consultants who feel drained from constantly performing, this episode is part reality check, part permission slip, and part roadmap for building the relationships that make authenticity and healthy growth possible.

We Didn’t Like Outsourcing Either… And It Didn’t Matter | In The Middle Of Consulting (2026_S2E02)

Based on the May 2026 LinkedIn article series In the Middle of Consulting: Lessons From the Last Big Shift by StephenG Smith’s In the Middle of Consulting newsletter [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7260308375991656448/]. In this episode, AI hosts Lily Young and Ethan Jensen look back at the early 2000s consulting world, when the dot-com crash, Y2K spending freeze, 9/11, and the rise of outsourcing reshaped the industry Stephen entered as a new consultant. Then they connect that last big shift to the one happening now: AI. This episode explores what outsourcing can teach today’s early-career consultants about disruption, career pivots, “good enough” corporate solutions, and the skills that become more valuable when baseline work gets commoditized. If AI can generate average answers faster than ever, what becomes your edge? Lily and Ethan dig into the human skills that still matter: asking better questions, translating between groups, navigating ambiguity, building trust, and developing a craft that AI cannot easily copy. For consultants in their 20s wondering what AI means for their career, this episode is part history lesson, part reality check, and part roadmap for finding the open doors in the middle of a major shift.

You Need More Connection. Back with "Season 2" of In The Middle Of Consulting (2026_S2E01)

Based on the April 2026 LinkedIn article You Need More Connection. Back with "Season 2" of In The Middle Of Consulting by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this kicks off Season 2. Our AI hosts, Lily and Ethan are back. They talk about the 4-month podcast / Stephen's hiatus, share details on the focus of 2026 / "Season 2", and start off with a revisit of the concept of Radical Support. Looking back at a podcast from 2025 on Radical Support, a our hosts take a deeper dive on how this can be used through the "focus on one mindset" to give more meaning to your workday.

In the Middle Of Vacation. Thoughts From A Refreshed Mind. (2025_E24)

Based on the December 2025 LinkedIn article In the Middle Of Vacation. Thoughts From A Refreshed Mind by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephengsmith01/]'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode looks Stephen's recent PTO trip, burnout, and tips to avoid workplace burnout. Our AI hosts, Lily and Ethan discuss how consultants often burn hot and don't take time to recharge. At the end of October, Stephen, launched his new business Mid (Break) Out and a new program targeted at early career consultants on corporate professions. The (Break) From Here program is a 5-month small group mentoring program with interactive sessions, one-on-one mentoring, and a private online community to connect with your crew. Check out ⁠www.midbreakout.com⁠ [https://www.midbreakout.com] to learn more and grab one of the 8 limited spots for the session starting in 2026.

Letting Go of What Got You Promoted: Leading in the Consulting World, Part 1 (2025_E23)

Based on the November 2025 LinkedIn article series Leading in the Consulting World by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StephenG Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the Middle of Consulting newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this episode looks at the challenges of being a new people leader. Our AI hosts, Lily and Ethan discuss how consulting companies often do not prepare individuals for their first role guiding others. At the end of October, Stephen, launched his new business Mid (Break) Out and a new program targeted at early career consultants on corporate professions. The (Break) From Here program is a 5-month small group mentoring program with interactive sessions, one-on-one mentoring, and a private online community to connect with your crew. Check out web.midbreakout.com to learn more and grab one of the 8 limited spots for the session starting in mid-Jan 2026.