100 Episodes of Work Besties: How it Started vs How it's Going

Safety = Connection

Have you ever left a meeting thinking, “Why didn’t I just say what I really meant?” In this episode of Work Besties Who Podcast, Jess and Claude sit down with Jennifer Prendergast to talk about truth-telling at work, psychological safety, trauma-informed leadership, and why so many workplace conversations feel harder than they should. Jennifer breaks down how nervous system awareness can help us better understand workplace behavior, feedback, defensiveness, over-explaining, shutting down, and the moments when people do not feel safe enough to speak honestly. This conversation explores why truth-telling is not just about courage, why training does not always create lasting change, and how leaders, teammates, and work besties can create more trust, steadiness, and connection at work. If you have ever wondered why people get reactive, avoid feedback, or struggle to say what they really mean, this episode will help you look at workplace behavior in a whole new way. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320118/fan_mail/new] You can watch the full episode on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@WorkBestiesWhoPodcast] Follow us on IG [https://www.instagram.com/workbestieswhopodcast/] ,  TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@workbestieswhopodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@workbestieswhopodcast?xmt=AQGzJIAlmi4v4GGLkhPG-Dpl-NCWnl2KBIITy7l4BWQ4g3k] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/105908763/admin/dashboard/] Please rate, comment and provide suggestions for upcoming episodes Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

Talk it Out

What if the conversation you’re avoiding is the one you actually need? This month on Work Besties Who Podcast, we’re kicking off our Communication & Transformation theme with a big one: how to talk it out at work. In this episode, Jess and Claude talk about conflict, feedback, listening, and how to say the thing clearly without making it messy. Because silence is not always peace, and sometimes the conversation we avoid is the one that could help us grow. We break down why clear communication builds trust, how feedback can be honest without being harsh, and why your work bestie can help you pause before sending that spicy email. We also introduce the Talk It Out Map, a simple way to prepare for hard conversations by focusing on the facts, feelings, needs, clear language, one good question, and the next step. This week’s Work Bestie Challenge: pick one conversation you’ve been avoiding and practice saying the thing with care. Because clear is kind. And clarity is calm. Your Supportive Work Besties,  Jess & Claude Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320118/fan_mail/new] You can watch the full episode on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@WorkBestiesWhoPodcast] Follow us on IG [https://www.instagram.com/workbestieswhopodcast/] ,  TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@workbestieswhopodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@workbestieswhopodcast?xmt=AQGzJIAlmi4v4GGLkhPG-Dpl-NCWnl2KBIITy7l4BWQ4g3k] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/105908763/admin/dashboard/] Please rate, comment and provide suggestions for upcoming episodes Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

Everyday Allyship At Work : Leading with Emotional Intelligence with Sandra Coker

What if allyship is not just one big brave moment — but something we practice every day? In Episode 103 of Work Besties Who Podcast, Jess and Claude welcome Sandra Coker, founder and CEO of Human Power Solutions, for a conversation about everyday allyship, people-first leadership, mentorship, and the small workplace moments that help people feel seen, supported, and able to grow. Sandra shares practical ways teams can build stronger connection, reduce workplace drama, and create cultures where people actually want to show up. From peer mentorship and emotional intelligence to intentional check-ins and her “Midday Momentum” ritual, Sandra reminds us that allyship is often found in the small actions we take every day. In this episode, we talk about: • What everyday allyship really looks like at work • Why mentorship does not have to be formal to be powerful • How mentors and mentees both grow from the relationship • Why emotional intelligence is a real skill • How communication styles can create or reduce workplace drama • Why people-first leadership is not soft — it is strategic • Simple ways to support, advocate for, and lift others at work This conversation is a reminder that nobody grows alone. Sometimes allyship looks like giving credit, sharing context, checking in, offering help, or saying someone’s name in a room they are not in. Share this episode with the work bestie, mentor, or everyday ally who has helped you rise. Learn more from Sandra Coker and her company at Human Power Solutions [https://www.hpowersolutions.com/], Find her book [https://peopleprofitbook.com/] & podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-profit-podcast/id1814698690] and on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandracoker/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320118/fan_mail/new] You can watch the full episode on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@WorkBestiesWhoPodcast] Follow us on IG [https://www.instagram.com/workbestieswhopodcast/] ,  TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@workbestieswhopodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@workbestieswhopodcast?xmt=AQGzJIAlmi4v4GGLkhPG-Dpl-NCWnl2KBIITy7l4BWQ4g3k] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/105908763/admin/dashboard/] Please rate, comment and provide suggestions for upcoming episodes Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

Empathy in Action

What if the best leaders are not the ones who had the easiest path — but the ones who know what it feels like to need support? In this episode of Work Besties Who Podcast, Jess and Claude sit down with Allie Grack, founder of Workhorse Marketing, for a powerful and honest conversation about resilience, empathy, leadership, and building teams that do not burn out. Allie shares how her early life experiences shaped the way she leads today, why empathy is not a weakness, and how her “messy mind” has become one of her greatest creative strengths. We also talk about what it means to support women in the workplace, create psychological safety, and become the kind of leader, mentor, and ally you wish you had. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like they were “too much,” anyone learning to lead with more humanity, and anyone who believes we grow better when we grow together. In this episode, we talk about: *  How resilience can shape leadership  *  Why empathy belongs in the workplace  *  How to support ambition without creating burnout  *  The power of a “messy mind”  *  Why different working styles make stronger teams  *  What women really need to grow  *  The importance of work besties, truth-tellers, and support systems  Connect with Allie Grack: Workhorse Marketing: https://teamworkhorse.com/ [https://teamworkhorse.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-gilbert-teamworkhkorse [https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-gilbert-teamworkhkorse?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320118/fan_mail/new] You can watch the full episode on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@WorkBestiesWhoPodcast] Follow us on IG [https://www.instagram.com/workbestieswhopodcast/] ,  TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@workbestieswhopodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@workbestieswhopodcast?xmt=AQGzJIAlmi4v4GGLkhPG-Dpl-NCWnl2KBIITy7l4BWQ4g3k] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/105908763/admin/dashboard/] Please rate, comment and provide suggestions for upcoming episodes Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

The Mentor You’re Missing

Have you ever wished you had a mentor, but had no idea where to find one? This month, we’re talking about mentorship and allyship — but not just the formal, structured kind. In this episode, we’re rethinking what mentorship can look like and why the person helping you grow may already be sitting right next to you: your work bestie. We talk about peer mentorship, why work besties often give the most real-time advice, the difference between mentors who help with the future and peers who help with the moment, and how to build your own “mentor ecosystem” instead of waiting for one perfect mentor to appear. Because sometimes the most impactful mentorship is happening in everyday conversations — through honest feedback, safe support, and the people who help you see your own strengths. Your Supportive Work Besties,  Jess & Claude Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320118/fan_mail/new] You can watch the full episode on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@WorkBestiesWhoPodcast] Follow us on IG [https://www.instagram.com/workbestieswhopodcast/] ,  TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@workbestieswhopodcast], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@workbestieswhopodcast?xmt=AQGzJIAlmi4v4GGLkhPG-Dpl-NCWnl2KBIITy7l4BWQ4g3k] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/105908763/admin/dashboard/] Please rate, comment and provide suggestions for upcoming episodes Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband