Work Friends – Details, episodes & analysis

Trailblazer and self-professed rulebreaker Reshma Saujani joins us on Work Friends this week. Reshma is the founder and former CEO of Girls Who Code, a New York Times bestselling author, and the host of the podcast “My So-Called Midlife.” Today, she’s also the founder and CEO of Moms First, where she continues to be an awe-inspiring culture-shifter and staunch advocate for women—from girlhood to motherhood and beyond. 

Her latest venture at Moms First is Reshma’s debut documentary project this June, spotlighting the lies dividing American moms and chronicling a nationwide movement to bring them back together and win historic support.

There’s so much amazing ground to cover in this discussion, as we walk through:

• Reshma’s background as a first-generation American who set her sights on law school.
• her decision to run for U.S. Congress—the first Indian American woman to do so—and how she dealt with feelings of failure after her loss.
• why she pivoted to launching a coding organization for young girls, eventually turning it into the largest pipeline for women and nonbinary individuals to careers in STEM.
• the historic struggle of mothers in America, and a real solution to the affordability issue (hint: it’s not eggs.)
• and, why Moms First debut documentary is lifting the voices of all mothers…and how you can get involved, too.

For more information about Moms First: The History of American Motherhood, or to submit your own story to the film, become an associate producer, or sign up to host a screening in your hometown, check out momsfirst.us/doc.

On Sali: Argent Double-Breasted Crewneck Blazer and Tailored Cargo Pant
On Reshma: Argent Colorblocked Sculpted Blazer

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson
Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit
Edited by Ryan Woldoff @c__biz
Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema
Recorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudio

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

We are thrilled to welcome Retta to Work Friends today. The actor, HGTV host, and one-half of the team who brought us “treat yo self ” joins Sali to share how a prospective medical student and a somewhat reluctant stand-up comedian found herself cast on one of the most beloved sitcoms in history.

Retta is best known for her portrayal of Donna Meagle in all seven seasons of Parks and Recreation, and since the hit show wrapped, she continues to captivate with roles in Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Good Girls, and in seven seasons of HGTV’s Ugliest House in America and its spinoff Scariest House in America. 

We start all the way at the beginning, and get into some of Retta’s best stories along the way, including:

• the very first time she ever did stand up (she crushed it!), and the second (she bombed!).
• how she planned her path to med school and then abandoned it....yet why she refuses to throw away her MCAT books.
• the real reason she thinks she was cast as Donna on Parks and Rec.
• how she learned to be her authentic, unfiltered self as the host of Ugliest House in America.
• and, what she really thinks when someone quotes “treat yo self” to her.

For more Retta, be sure to check out the newest season of Ugliest House in America, now streaming on HBO Max and discovery+ .

On Sali: Argent Chelsea Blazer, Fine Polo, and Straight Leg Trouser

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff @c__biz

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudio

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

This week, Sali sits down with Shaniqua McClendon, a political strategist, commentator, and the Vice President of Politics for Crooked Media. 

Shaniqua has spent her career in politics—starting with an internship in the Obama White House, followed by stints with several elected officials. In 2018, she joined Crooked Media—a company most known for its suite of popular podcasts, including Pod Save America—in a role that’s focused heavily on its Vote Save America initiative. It’s here where Shaniqua’s work has been making incredible strides to drive voters into action, in both the biggest elections nationwide and on local levels. To date, she’s helped raise over $70 million for progressive causes and candidates, and driven nearly a million people to register to vote or check their registration.

At a time when political angst is high, Shaniqua’s background has prepared her to meet this moment, and she shares it all—highs and lows—in today’s episode, including:

• how witnessing Hurricane Katrina moved her to work in politics.
• landing a job on The Hill—what she considers her late mother’s final gift to her.
• the “pay it forward” lesson that’s left a lasting impression.
• why she considers attending the Harvard Kennedy School to be some of the most difficult years of her life.
• getting hired at Crooked Media…even if in a rather undefined role at first.
• launching a new vision of Vote Save America, and so much more.

On Sali: Argent Chelsea Blazer, Tank, and Prince Trouser

On Shaniqua: Argent Scoop Neck Double-Breasted Dress 

Work Friends Credits

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudio

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

Courtney Mays is the image architect behind some of basketball's biggest stars: Sue Bird, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, and Chris Paul, among others. And as such, she plays a major role in the styling the players’ rotation of tunnel ‘fits and red carpet looks, alike. 

Courtney came to styling A-list athletes in a more roundabout way—starting with a job in retail, then as a stylist assistant, before working her way to becoming her own boss.

She sits down with Sali to discuss how she built her dream client roster, among other important learnings and highlights, such as:

• the service/creative balance of being a professional stylist.
• how to advocate for her clients, and herself.
• the importance of giving yourself your flowers.
• preparing Liberty team players, as well as owner Clara Wu Tsai, for the Met Gala this past May.
• and, which WBNA star reignited her love of styling. Plus, much more.

On Sali: Argent Ribbed Slim Cardigan

Work Friends Credits

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podhead Studios @podheadstudios

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

Today, Sali is joined by Lauren Sherman, one of the most prominent voices in fashion journalism. The Fashion Correspondent at Puck, writer behind the Line Sheet newsletter, and host of the Fashion People podcast has her pulse on the industry’s major players, insights into how business is done, and—most importantly—is the expert at distilling it to the masses. 

An adept interviewer, Lauren has the tables flipped today as Sali gets the real story about how she’s built her career. Take a listen for:

• how she fell in love with fashion through Jane Pratt’s Sassy magazine.
• what it was like breaking into the fashion industry, learning which jobs to accept and which to reject.
• her advice for knowing your worth and not being attached to what your end goal looks like.
• how she approaches her reporting at Puck, and how it’s indicative of a new era of media.
• why The Devil Wears Prada is an “accurate” depiction of fashion, and so much more.

On Sali: Argent Copain Blazer, Oversized Pocket Tee, and Wooster Short

Work Friends Credits

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podhead Studios @podheadstudios

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

Trinny Woodall is a founder, CEO, author, podcast host, and something of a culture sensation. She was one half of the duo behind the What Not to Wear series—the original one launched in the UK in the early 2000s—and for the past eight years, she has been on a fascinating entrepreneurial journey with her namesake beauty brand: Trinny London. 

The company was launched with a focus on giving women confidence, at any age or stage of life. And it was not without major pushback. Thankfully, Trinny is incredibly resilient and holds nothing back in this conversation, offering the kind of zero-BS reflections every entrepreneur needs to hear, including:

• what she learned in recovery that resonates in her professional life today.
• how she became the co-host of What Not to Wear and her deep appreciation for the power of a makeover.
• deciding to rent out her dream home and sell all her clothing to help fund her beauty business, Trinny London.
• learning to tailor her brand message depending on who she’s speaking to (and why she still references Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus)
• and much, much more.

On Trinny: ARGENT x Citizens of Humanity Chelsea Blazer and Park Trouser

Work Friends Credits

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudio

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

Today, Vicky Tsai shares her incredible story of building a career that aligns with her passion. The founder and former CEO of Tatcha sits down with Sali as they discuss how she built successful careers in finance and marketing before quitting both to seek a more fulfilling path.

In 2009, she launched Tatcha, an esteemed beauty company inspired by centuries-old traditions passed down from geishas in Japan. It began with a singular product—the Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers—and grew into a brand beloved by makeup artists, actors, and consumers everywhere.

Of course, there were many bumps and sacrifices along the way, and Vicky candidly shares them all today, including:

• spending years struggling to find products that soothed her eczema.
• traveling to Japan to learn about traditional geisha beauty rituals.
• facing extreme financial hardship while bringing a new company to life.
• selling her own engagement ring to pay for Tatcha’s very first product on the market.
• having her company acquired...and then getting pushed out.
• and how she made her return to Tatcha and is marking the current chapter of her business.

On Sali: Argent Boyfriend Blazer,  Maybelle Pocket Tee, and Argent X Citizens of Humanity Alya Baggy

On Vicky: Argent X Citizens of Humanity Waistcoat

Work Friends Credits

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podhead Studios @podheadstudios

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

Today, Sali sits down with Laura Modi, the woman changing the way we think about feeding babies. 

The mother of four is the CEO and cofounder of Bobbie, an organic formula company that was born out of her own feeding frustrations after giving birth to her first child. In 2018, she officially set out to launch Bobbie as a direct-to-consumer, subscription-based company, and it would become the only mom-founded and -led infant formula brand in the world.

Bobbie has been at the forefront of supporting parents—and it’s in large part thanks to Laura’s leadership. But baby formula was not always the long-term plan for her, and in today’s episode, she’ll share:

• why she left Ireland to work in Silicon Valley, and the major differences between the two.
• the breastfeeding experience that left her feeling guilt-ridden yet inspired her to start Bobbie.
• what it takes to create a product for the most vulnerable population—there’s zero room for error.
• putting up the very first breastfeeding billboard in Times Square.
• and why it fuels her when people describe her work as “cute.”

On Sali: Argent X Citizens of Humanity Unlined Weekend Blazer, Park Trouser, and Maybelle Pocket Tee

On Laura: Argent Double Breasted Blazer and Ribbed Collar Sweater

Work Friends Credits

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudio

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

Amanda Litman has a clear vision for what the next generation of leadership looks like—and it may include a four-day workweek, among other things. 

As the co-founder and president of Run For Something, Amanda leads an organization that recruits and supports young, diverse candidates to run for office—backing over 3,000 rookie candidates to date, and receiving an influx of over 60,000 new hopefuls since the 2024 election alone. 

Amanda is also the author of the recently released When We’re in Charge, a must-read for anyone in, or aspiring to be in, a leadership position. We’ll discuss it all, including:

• what it was like working for President Barack Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton.
• how parenting and leading a team are actually not all that different.
• why you should consider adopting a four-day workweek. Yes, really!
• the barrage of phone calls she received after the 2016 election that led to the launch of Run For Something.
• and why diversity and inclusion are not only morally good, but good for business.

On Sali: Argent Double-Breasted Blazer and Pleated Trouser in lemon, and Crewneck Tank in ivory.

On Amanda: Argent Two-Button Blazer and Jones Trouser in powder blue.

Work Friends Credits

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudio

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

This week, Sali is joined by LaFawn Davis, the Chief People & Sustainability Officer at Indeed. Her work leading culture, diversity, and inclusion at major tech companies—including Google, Yahoo, PayPal, eBay, and Twilio—spans over a decade. 

In addition to her incredible leadership, LaFawn is a STAR, otherwise known as a professional who’s Skilled Through Alternative Routes. She’s an advocate for skills-based hiring and is herself an esteemed C-suite executive who didn't complete college.

LaFawn’s career story has not been linear, and is truly inspiring. She also has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to navigating the many challenges facing the modern workforce. In this episode, she shares:

• the struggle to get a job interview without having a college degree.
• how she became a leader at some of the biggest tech companies in the world.
• what more employers need to understand about hiring for longevity.
• why it may be late to start thinking about how to use AI at work, and what you can do about it right now.

On LaFawn: Argent Double-Breasted Blazer and Park Trouser

Work Friends Credits

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudio

Work Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress.

For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content.

To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.