Nobody Told You This About Success: Harvard Exec Reveals How to Win at Work

How to Set Healthy Boundaries Without Guilt | Protect Your Time, Energy & Relationships

How do you set healthy boundaries without feeling guilty? When should you say no? And how do boundaries actually help you give more to the people you care about? In this episode of the Give and Receive Podcast, Brian Potts and Elizabeth Pyjov dive into one of the most important (and hardest) life skills: setting healthy boundaries. From work-life balance and difficult personalities to family time, emotional energy, people-pleasing, and self-care, they explore how boundaries shape our happiness, relationships, and personal growth. Elizabeth shares practical ways to create boundaries that protect your energy without cutting people off, while Brian opens up about struggles with overcommitting, work demands, and balancing career with family life. They also discuss: ✔️ Why saying “no” is really saying “yes” to what matters most ✔️ Emotional, financial, digital, and time boundaries ✔️ How to stop people-pleasing and burnout ✔️ Practical phrases to set boundaries respectfully ✔️ Work-life balance and protecting family time ✔️ Why self-care is not selfish ✔️ How boundaries improve relationships and authenticity Whether you struggle with overworking, overgiving, people-pleasing, or simply protecting your peace, this conversation will help you rethink boundaries in a healthier, more compassionate way. Subscribe for more conversations on personal growth, giving, relationships, happiness, and living with intention. #HealthyBoundaries #PersonalGrowth #SelfCare #MentalWellness #Relationships #WorkLifeBalance #PeoplePleasing #SelfCompassion #Boundaries #GiveAndReceivePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Nobody Told You This About Success: Harvard Exec Reveals How to Win at Work

What does it really take to succeed at work? In this episode of the Give and Receive Podcast, Brian Potts and Elizabeth Pyjov sit down with Chris Simmons, Harvard Business School graduate, former PwC executive, and bestselling author of Nobody Told You, to break down the unwritten rules of career success that most people never learn. From navigating corporate politics to building powerful relationships, Chris shares the strategies that helped him rise to the top, and how you can apply them immediately. 🚀 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why “friendship comes before favors” (and how it pays off long-term) The Respect, Protect, Project framework for winning with your boss How to position yourself for promotions before you’re ready Why “smart people don’t always win," and what actually matters How to overcome bias and control your professional narrative The real power of giving without expecting anything in return Chris also shares unforgettable real-life stories - from bringing pillows to work on day one to reshape perceptions, to helping others succeed and seeing it come back in unexpected ways. This episode blends career advice, psychology, leadership, and real-world experience into a conversation that will change how you approach your work and relationships. 👤 About the Guest: Chris Simmons is a former PwC leader, executive coach, speaker, and author of Nobody Told You: What Black, Asian, and Latino Professionals Must Know to Succeed at Work. He has led thousands of professionals and is known for his practical, no-nonsense approach to career growth. 🎯 Who This Is For: Professionals looking to get promoted faster Entrepreneurs and leaders building influence Anyone navigating corporate environments People interested in leadership, mindset, and personal growth 🔔 Don’t Forget: Subscribe for more conversations on success, mindset, leadership, and personal growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How to Get a Better Job: Career Advice, Job Search Tips, and Mindset Strategies

In Episode 13 of the Give & Receive Podcast, Brian Potts and Elizabeth Pyjov break down how to get a better job without losing your confidence in the process. Brian shares practical job search strategies, networking tips, interview insights, and career advice based on mentoring thousands of professionals. Elizabeth brings the inner-work perspective, offering mindset tools, mindfulness, and encouragement for handling rejection, uncertainty, and the stress of looking for a new job. This episode covers how to find a job, how to build meaningful professional connections, why most jobs come through people you know, and how to stay grounded while navigating career change. Whether you are searching for your first job, trying to leave a role you hate, or looking for a new career opportunity, this conversation offers practical and emotional support to help you move forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson on Skin Metal, Startup Risk, and the Power of Self-Care

In this episode of Give and Receive, Brian Potts and Elizabeth Pyjov are joined by Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson—pediatrician, bioethicist, digital health leader, and founder of Skin Metal. Wendy shares the deeply personal story behind launching a prevention-focused skincare company designed to change how boys and men care for their skin, reduce skin cancer risk, and rethink self-care. The conversation explores what it really looks like to build a startup from the ground up, including the fear, uncertainty, financial pressure, and resilience that come with entrepreneurship. Wendy also reflects on meaningful work, Marty Seligman’s idea of using your greatest gift for the greatest good, and why confidence, health, and daily rituals matter more than we think. Plus, the episode touches on mindfulness, gratitude, parenting, behavior change, and the simple but powerful act of making children feel seen. In this episode: * The mission and story behind Skin Metal * Why men are often underserved in skincare and prevention * What founders don’t realize about startup life until they’re in it * The connection between self-care, confidence, and health * Wendy’s perspective on giving, receiving, and seeing others—especially children Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

From Community College Dropout to VC: Joe Alalou on Rejection, Resilience, and Betting on Yourself

In Episode 11 of Give and Receive, Brian Potts and Elizabeth Pyjov sit down with Joe Alalou, Co-Founder and General Partner at Daring Ventures, a New York City–based pre-seed fund backing industry-insider founders building software for the industries they know best. Joe shares his non-traditional path—from community college struggles and washing cars at Enterprise to transferring to Columbia, breaking into investment banking, and ultimately launching a venture fund built on one core belief: the market consistently overlooks mispriced talent. This conversation blends entrepreneurship, career strategy, and mindfulness—plus a practical framework for evaluating your job, why founders must learn to say “I don’t know,” and how to outlast the competition by taking one more rejection than everyone else. In this episode: * Why it’s a privilege to work hard—and how to reframe the “boring” tasks * The “Am I learning or having impact?” test for deciding when to leave a job * Late bloomer lessons: gap years, motivation, and why readiness matters more than timing * Joe’s recruiting mentorship: Wall Street After Community College and breaking into banking * Founder psychology: your relationship with adversity and why it predicts success * Playing to your signature strengths (and why you can’t be world-class at what you hate) * Rejection as proof you’re trying—and the mindset shift that changes everything If you’re a founder, investor, or anyone navigating a career pivot, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, self-belief, and building momentum when the odds don’t feel in your favor. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, growth, and building a meaningful life through giving and receiving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]