Collaborate & Influence: How to Make Meetings Actually Work with Jodie Goldberg

Collaborate & Influence: How to Make Meetings Actually Work with Jodie Goldberg

Bad meetings are not just annoying. They are expensive. In this episode of Work Besties Who Podcast, Jess and Claude sit down with Jodie Goldberg [https://www.fleurishconsultinginc.com/] to talk about how meetings can either build connection, clarity, and trust — or completely drain the room. Jodie shares why better meetings start with intention, not just an agenda. From setting a clear purpose to creating meeting norms, managing over-talkers, making quieter voices feel heard, and replacing random icebreakers with true relational strategies, this conversation is full of practical ways to make meetings more human and more effective. We also talk about why not everyone needs to speak out loud to feel included, how physical space impacts participation, and why a great meeting is not about whether it is 15 minutes or 60 minutes — it is about how intentionally it is designed. If you have ever sat in a meeting thinking, “This could have been an email,” this episode is for you. In this episode, we talk about: * Why connection at work needs to be intentional * The difference between icebreakers and relational strategies * How to create meeting norms that actually help people participate * What to do when one voice dominates the room * How to make decision-making meetings more effective * Why quieter team members may need different ways to contribute * How better meeting design can lead to stronger collaboration Your Supportive Work Besties, Jess & Claude You can connect with Jodie Goldberg at LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-goldberg-14264663/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fleurishconsultinginc/?hl=en], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jodie.g.goldberg/] 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

Setting Healthy Boundaries at Work with Shannon Petrovich

Have you ever said yes when you really wanted to say no? Or walked away from a conversation feeling drained, anxious, or unsure why it affected you so much? In this episode of Work Besties Who Podcast, Jess and Claude sit down with therapist, coach, author, and YouTube creator Shannon Petrovich to talk about toxic communication patterns, people-pleasing, narcissistic behavior, and how healthy boundaries can help us protect our peace at work and beyond. Shannon shares how toxic relationships can show up in professional settings, why boundaries are not the same as ultimatums, and how to recognize when someone’s behavior is pulling you into old patterns. She also explains why self-talk matters, how journaling can help us process what is happening, and why work besties can play such an important role in helping us respond instead of react. This episode is a reminder that clear is kind, boundaries are healthy, and sometimes the strongest thing you can do is step back, stay grounded, and choose how you want to show up. How to contact Shannon Petrovich New! Group Coaching/Masterclass/Online Support Community Available Now! | No Foggy Days | Out of the FOG Into the CLEAR [https://www.nofoggydays.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

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