Work Unscripted – Details, episodes & analysis

If you’re a high-achieving woman who struggles with overthinking, people-pleasing, emotional triggers, or that relentless inner critic…this episode is for you. This week on Work Unscripted, Marlo sits down with therapist and former Army officer Elaine Belson to talk about the psychology behind the inner critic, or as Elaine calls it, the inner bully.

Together, they unpack the six habits that fuel self-doubt in high-functioning women: ruminating, mind reading, anticipating others’ reactions, comparing, second-guessing, and over-analyzing.

You’ll learn:

• Why high-achieving women experience such brutal inner criticism
• How emotional triggers and automatic thoughts form and how to interrupt them
• Coping mechanisms that actually work in high-pressure workplaces
• How to build emotional intelligence and self-validation skills
• How to handle perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure
• Practical strategies to manage your emotions in the moment

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel “not good enough” despite being excellent at your job, this conversation will help you understand the root causes and give you tools to navigate work and life with more clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Learn more about Elaine: https://www.elainebelson.com/

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@elainebelsonlcsw

Follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Feeling stretched thin this holiday season? You’re not alone.

In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons shares practical, guilt-free strategies for setting healthy boundaries at work and home, especially when the lines between the two start to blur. From turning off notifications and communicating expectations clearly, to defining what “urgent” really means, Marlo helps you reclaim your time, protect your energy, and stay aligned with your values.

Whether you’re a people pleaser, a leader managing burnout, or just trying to unplug without guilt, this episode will show you that boundaries aren’t walls. They’re the foundation of balance, peace, and sustainable success.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Are your feedback conversations empowering your team or creating tension? In this episode of Work Unscripted, host Marlo Lyons talks with Joan Hibdon, author of "The Leader’s Guide to Mastering Feedback," about why most managers struggle to deliver effective feedback and how to transform criticism from destructive to constructive.

You'll find out why 65% of employees crave more frequent and meaningful feedback, learn practical frameworks for giving feedback well, and understand how to handle emotional reactions from underperforming employees. Joan breaks down the art of feedback, showing leaders how to turn crucial conversations into powerful tools for trust, growth, and continuous improvement.

If you’re ready to stop dreading feedback conversations and start mastering them, tune in to elevate your leadership skills, build stronger teams, and foster a culture of transparency and trust.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Ever wondered what truly separates the professionals who get ahead from those who just get by? It’s midyear and in this solo episode of Work Unscripted, host Marlo Lyons brings some unspoken truths that can transform your career trajectory and help you stand out in any job. Don’t worry, this isn’t your typical HR training, this episode is your backstage pass to navigating corporate politics, building credibility, and advancing professionally.

You’ll learn:

• How to make your boss your greatest career ally by anticipating needs and protecting their reputation.
• Why stakeholder alignment is critical and how to avoid common pitfalls that derail promising projects.
• The art of presenting ideas effectively by bringing proposals, not decisions, to create buy-in from senior leaders.
• Why your career growth is solely your responsibility, and practical steps to proactively manage it.
• What HR really knows about you, why silence isn’t safety, and how to avoid career-ending missteps.

Tune in for essential insights you won’t find in any employee handbook. Whether you’re new to the workforce or navigating corporate complexities, this episode is your strategic playbook to becoming indispensable at work.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

For many, parenthood includes hitting pause on your career. But does it have to impact your professional identity? On this episode of Work Unscripted, host Marlo Lyons sits down with Neha Ruch, author of The Power Pause, to explore how intentional career breaks for motherhood can redefine ambition, purpose, and professional fulfillment.

Neha shares her own journey of stepping away from a thriving career to prioritize motherhood, facing societal pushback, and eventually finding deep meaning and renewed ambition. Together, they discuss practical strategies for maintaining professional confidence, setting clear goals during career pauses, and reframing parenthood beyond traditional stereotypes.

If you’re navigating motherhood, contemplating a career break, or looking for tools to confidently re-enter the workforce, this episode provides an empowering roadmap to help you own your story and embrace ambition on your terms.

Key insights from the episode:

• Why taking a career break can enhance—not harm—your professional trajectory.
• How to redefine ambition and identity during motherhood.
• Practical steps for confidently returning to work after a strategic pause.
• Overcoming societal stigma and advocating for the value of parenthood in professional spaces.

Listen now to transform the way you think about career breaks, motherhood, and professional ambition.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Ever judged someone negatively after they got fired, without knowing the real story? You're not alone. In this solo episode of Work Unscripted, former HR executive Marlo Lyons exposes the uncomfortable truth behind workplace firings and the harmful assumptions we make about those who've been let go.

Marlo shares eye-opening stories from behind closed HR doors, highlighting the real reasons good employees get fired (often due to misalignment, management biases, or office politics) not incompetence. She challenges you to rethink your own perceptions and encourages genuine empathy, reminding us that today's fired colleague could be tomorrow’s influential decision-maker.

If you’ve ever been fired unfairly, fear it happening, or have distanced yourself from a coworker after termination, this episode will shift your perspective. Learn why staying connected can boost your career, and discover practical tips for navigating professional relationships with compassion and strategic foresight.

Key Topics Covered:

• How common biases lead to unfair firings
• Real-life HR stories exposing workplace injustice
• The hidden career risks of misjudging fired colleagues
• Practical advice on rebuilding professional bridges after termination

Listen now and start reframing how you think about people who leave, your future self will thank you.

Liked this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who needs to hear this.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Are you chasing happiness, or are you truly fulfilled? In this episode, Marlo sits down with Bernie Borges, the Fulfillment Architect and host of the Midlife Fulfilled Podcast, to explore what it means to build a meaningful life—especially in midlife.

Bernie reveals his powerful framework of five pillars: health, fitness, career, relationships, and legacy. You’ll discover why fulfillment is more enduring than happiness, how to recognize it in everyday achievements, and why leaders need to embrace "Fulfillment-Centric Leadership" to boost engagement, productivity, and retention in the workplace.

Whether you're a leader looking to inspire your team or simply someone navigating life's big questions, Bernie’s insights will challenge you to pause, reflect, and rethink what fulfillment truly looks like.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Is your workplace truly supportive—or are you caught in something more manipulative than you realize?

In this solo episode, Marlo Lyons breaks down the difference between a healthy company culture and a full-blown company cult. From love bombing new hires to rewarding blind loyalty over actual performance, Marlo unpacks the subtle emotional manipulation tactics that can trap even the most high-performing professionals. She shares red flags to watch for, including over-identification with the company, fear of leadership, and transparency that’s more performative than real.

Whether you're feeling disillusioned at work or fiercely loyal to your team, this episode will help you pause and evaluate your loyalty, your well-being, and what you truly want from your career. Because a good company earns your respect—it doesn’t demand your worship.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Have you ever had that subtle feeling urging you toward a decision, but brushed it off as fear or uncertainty? What if that feeling was your greatest ally, guiding you toward the life and success you’ve always wanted?

In this empowering episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo sits down with Wendy Sterling—intuitive prosperity mentor, speaker, and bestselling author—to explore the transformative power of intuition. Wendy shares her incredible personal journey of leaving a secure, 20-year corporate career after a dramatic life event, trusting her intuition, and building a thriving seven-figure business.

You’ll discover how to differentiate intuition from fear, practical strategies for tapping into your inner wisdom, and why pausing might be the most powerful action you take. Whether you’re navigating a career change, seeking deeper fulfillment, or ready to redefine your version of success, this conversation will inspire you to trust yourself more deeply—and live unapologetically aligned with your true purpose.

Connect with Wendy: wendypaigesterling.com

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Have you ever been broke? Like, really broke? Marlo Lyons has, and now she's positioned herself to retire comfortably in her 60s. In this special solo episode, featuring insightful conversation clips from financial expert Randy Thurman, Marlo shares her personal journey from financial crisis to freedom, along with practical strategies you can apply immediately.

Randy Thurman, a CPA, Certified Financial Planner, and author of More Than a Millionaire, lays out his five critical steps to achieving true financial independence—whether you're just starting out or scrambling to catch up later in life. You'll learn why traditional financial advice often falls short, how to protect yourself from financial storms, and how your values can lead you to a fulfilling, prosperous life.

Tune in for an authentic, unfiltered look at how anyone—at any income level—can build lasting wealth. Your financial freedom journey starts today.

Connect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 
-----------
Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.