The Corporate Cliché Podcast

🎙️ Episode 21: Corporate 101 – The Interview Remix: Flip the Script, Stand Out and Win with the IMPACT MethodPodcast: Corporate ClichéHosts: Jess & Jen
Episode Summary:You landed the interview—now it’s time to make an IMPACT. In this Corporate 101 episode, Jess and Jen break down their simple, actionable IMPACT framework to help you prepare with confidence, communicate clearly, and stand out before, during, and after your interview—heading into 2026 and beyond.
✅ The IMPACT Interview Framework:I – Inspire confidence through preparationM – Map your strengths to the roleP – Present your value with clarityA – Ask thoughtful, strategic questionsC – Connect meaningfully post-interviewT – Take initiative on next steps
💼 In This Episode, We Cover:• How to prep with intention and confidence• Using the STAR method to tell your story• Leveraging AI for interview prep• What hiring managers are really looking for• How to follow up and stand out after the interview
✨ Key Takeaways:🔹 Presence = professionalism🔹 Confidence beats perfection🔹 Personality and coachability matter🔹 Always follow up
💬 Let’s Connect:DM us on Instagram @corporateclichepodcast with your interview wins and questions—and if you’re interviewing soon, YOU’VE GOT THIS!
 

Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast!Join Jess and Jen as they dive into the realities of corporate life through relatable and unfiltered watercooler conversations.
In this episode, we’re diving into a powerful conversation about the future of work—and why kindness is no longer just a nice-to-have, but a business imperative.
We’re joined by Meral Alizada, founder of Results of Kindness—a hybrid consultancy and thought leadership firm dedicated to engineering human-centered workplaces and systemizing kindness for long-term business growth.
With experience spanning high-stress industries like law, banking, and mental health, Meral brings a grounded, global perspective on how kindness, emotional intelligence, and ethical leadership can drive real, measurable results.
🔥 Episode Highlights: ✅ Making Humans HUMAN Again Meral shares her mission to bring humanity back into the workplace and explains why kindness isn’t just “nice”—it’s necessary for thriving teams and sustainable success.
✅ The Future of Leadership We explore why ethics, humility, and vision must become the new standard for leaders who want to inspire real change.
✅ Leading from the Inside Out What does it mean to align personal purpose with professional leadership? Meral walks us through how authentic leadership starts within.
✅ Grace & Growth “People bloom when we give them grace.” Meral shares how leaders can create space for employees to thrive—and why toxic leadership suffocates potential.
✅ Mental Health in Corporate From protecting your own well-being to advocating for systemic change, Meral breaks down the actions individuals and companies can take to find better balance.
🛠️ Practical Takeaways: 💡 Systemize Kindness – Treat kindness as a strategy, not an afterthought. 🧘 Lead Yourself First – Self-awareness and inner work lay the foundation for better leadership. 📚 Read Your Own Books – Reread journals and reflections to learn from your past self and track your growth. 🤝 Offer Grace – Small acts of patience and understanding create massive ripple effects in team culture. 🎯 Align Purpose with Work – Discover the change you were born to embody and lead with intention.
💬 Key Takeaways: Corporate doesn’t have to feel cold or transactional—kindness creates measurable business results. Leadership that starts with authenticity, empathy, and humility isn’t just idealistic—it’s the future. Protecting mental health and creating workplaces rooted in grace benefits everyone, from employees to the bottom line.
👥 Join the Conversation!
🔗 Connect with Meral: Follow her on Instagram @themeralalizada and @resultsofkindness to keep up with her work and insights.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future watercooler conversations—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform!
📝 Rate & Review: Loving Corporate Cliché? Leave us a review and help others find the show!
 

HR Nightmares – Corporate Horror Stories That Will Make You Cringe
Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché podcast!Join Jess and Jen as they dive into the realities of corporate life through relatable and unfiltered watercooler conversations.
In this episode, we’re back with another round of HR Nightmares, where we share real-life corporate horror stories that will have you laughing, shocked, and maybe questioning how some workplaces even function.
🔥 Episode Themes
🧠 1. Common Sense Isn’t Always Common in Corporate
From denying maternity leave for an adoption to needing a policy against cooking a pot roast at your desk — some HR and employee decisions leave us wondering… who approved this?
🚩 2. When Policy & Professionalism Go Off the Rails
Sometimes HR tries to enforce rules that no one asked for (like limiting water intake), and sometimes employees break the most obvious ones (like drinking at a first-day lunch). Either way, professionalism wasn’t present.
😂 3. Workplaces Need More Joy
Laughter, silly moments, and even the right kind of harmless pranks can boost morale. The episode reminds us how powerful it is to bring lightness into a 9–5 — without turning the office into a circus of googly eyes.
🧯 4. How People React Under Pressure
Fire alarms, firings, and high-stress moments reveal a lot about employees and leadership. Some panic, some hide in the warehouse, and some… carry on with a Zoom interview through an evacuation.
🤐 5. Trust & Culture Are Built by What HR Does… Not What They Say
“Anonymous” isn’t always anonymous. This episode highlights how fast trust is destroyed when HR or leadership mishandles feedback, confidentiality, or employee well-being.
 
💬 Key Takeaways:
It’s okay to accept a rescheduled interview — safety first! • Nothing is ever truly anonymous in corporate… ever. • Keep your hands to yourself. • Water is apparently “for on-site use only.” • Just… don’t be a dick at work. • Office pranks can be iconic — until they go too far.
👥 Join the Conversation!
What’s one thing you’ll implement in your own workplace after this episode? Jess and Jen challenge you to bring more fun, kindness, and humanity into your 9–5.
🎧 Listen, Subscribe, Share!
If our stories made you gasp, cringe, or laugh today, share this episode with a coworker who loves a good corporate horror story.
💬 DM us your own HR Nightmares — you might hear them on the next episode!⭐ If you’re loving Corporate Cliché, don’t forget to rate & review!
 

🎙️ Ep. 18 – The Rat Race
Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast! Join Jess and Jen as they dive into another unfiltered Watercooler Conversation — this time exploring the infamous Rat Race of corporate life.
What does “climbing the corporate ladder” really mean today? And what happens when you decide to stop climbing altogether?
🔥 Episode Highlights
✅ Defining the Rat Race A repetitive, unfulfilling cycle of chasing promotions, money, and titles — often at the cost of balance, meaning, and joy.
✅ Our Personal Stories
Jess reflects on how her father’s strong work ethic shaped her own drive — but also how chasing success without balance can lead to burnout.
Jen shares how her career path has looked more like a jungle gym than a ladder, filled with lateral moves and moments of intentional pause.
✅ Re-Evaluating Success Younger generations are redefining what “success” looks like — prioritizing flexibility, fulfillment, and well-being over corner offices and fancy titles. Forbes reports that Gen Z and Millennials value balance and purpose over prestige.
✅ Value Alignment & Meaning at Work The Rat Race forces trade-offs: What are you willing to give up to get ahead?
Many workers now choose creative freedom, autonomy, and learning over traditional promotions.
As Jen shares, climbing higher isn’t always better if it means losing touch with yourself.
✅ Shifting Corporate Priorities Today’s employees are rejecting the old “ladder” model for something more fluid — “Lily Pad Careers.” Instead of climbing up, they leap between opportunities that align with their values and lifestyle.
✅ Signs the Ladder Isn’t for You (and That’s OK!)
You hate office politics.
You don’t want to manage people.
You’re done chasing promotions or just like where you are. Success isn’t always upward — sometimes it’s sideways or even stepping back to find balance.
✅ Counterpoint: Climbing is Still Valid! Some thrive at the top — and that’s okay too! Leadership offers influence, creativity, and impact. The key is knowing your why before taking that next step.
✅ Corporate Callout Organizations must rethink leadership paths and reward systems to align with new definitions of success:
Broaden leadership tracks to include expert or mentor roles.
Offer meaningful benefits, flexibility, and value alignment.
Use models like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to meet employees where they are — from safety and belonging to purpose and growth.
🛠️ Practical Takeaways
💡 Reflect on Your Definition of Success – Are you chasing status or fulfillment? 🧭 Try “Career Minimalism” – Focus on stability and purpose, not just promotions. 🎯 Choose Roles That Align with Your Values – Money matters, but meaning sustains. 🌱 Remember the Jungle Gym – Growth can happen sideways, not just up. 💬 Encourage Companies to Adapt – A healthier culture starts from within.
💬 Key Takeaways
The corporate ladder is becoming a myth — your career doesn’t have to be linear.
“Lateral moves and strategic pauses” can be powerful tools for personal growth.
Companies must evolve to meet changing expectations and redefine what leadership looks like.
Whether you’re climbing up, down, or sideways — your career path is yours to define.
👥 Join the Conversation!
🔗 Engage with Us: What does success look like to you? Are you climbing, pausing, or pivoting? We’d love to hear your story!
🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future watercooler conversations — subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
📝 Rate & Review: Loving Corporate Cliché? Leave a review to help others find the show and join the conversation!
 

🎙️ Ep. 17 – Be Bold with Kelly Price
Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché podcast! Join Jess and Jen as they dive into the realities of corporate life through relatable and unfiltered watercooler conversations.
In this episode, we continue our Be Bold series with special guest Kelly Price, founder of ThriveHR, a company built on the belief that thriving businesses start with thriving people. Kelly and her team help small and mid-sized businesses build high-performing, people-first organizations—aligning culture, talent, and operations while bringing a whole lot of heart to HR.
🔥 Episode Highlights
✅ Culture in Action Kelly shares what she’s learned about how culture actually shows up—the good, the bad, and the messy—and why transparency is one of the most powerful tools leaders can use to shape it.
✅ The Ultimate Business Asset: People We unpack why your employees aren’t just resources—they’re your greatest competitive advantage. Kelly shares advice for organizations ready to shift their mindset from managing headcount to valuing humans.
✅ Toxic Leadership & Mental Health Kelly gets real about toxic managers, how they impact mental health, and what employees can do when leadership won’t change. Spoiler: protecting your peace comes first.
✅ Purpose, Joy & Intention Discover how aligning your purpose and values helps you (and your team) find joy in the work you do every day—and why the best leaders hire great people, then get out of their way.
✅ HR Nightmares & Real Talk Kelly shares a jaw-dropping interview story that’ll make you both laugh and cringe. (Let’s just say…someone really didn’t read the room.)
🛠️ Bold Advice from Kelly
💡 Be transparent—share what you can, even when it’s uncomfortable. 🧭 Lead with empathy, not ego. 🧘 Take a break before you’re forced to take one. 📋 Reflect on what’s really bothering you at work so you can avoid repeating it. 📖 Discover your “why”—and help others find theirs.
💬 Key Takeaways
Don’t be afraid to be honest in the workplace. Find the courage to answer questions as truthfully as you’re comfortable with.
Toxic environments won’t fix themselves—protect your peace and start planning your next move.
Take time to reflect, journal, or go to therapy. Small steps lead to big change.
Aligning purpose and joy isn’t fluffy—it’s how we uplevel corporate culture one conversation at a time.
👥 Join the Conversation!
🔗 Connect with Kelly: thrivehrconsulting.com 📱 Follow Kelly on socials: @KellyPrice
🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future watercooler conversations—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform!
📝 Rate & Review: Loving Corporate Cliché? Leave us a review and share your favorite moment from this episode!
 

Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché podcast!
Join Jess and Jen as they dive into the realities of corporate life through relatable and unfiltered watercooler conversations.
In this episode, we’re bringing some fun into the Work/Life Balance series with a twist on a classic game: Never Have I Ever – Corporate Edition!
🔥 Episode Highlights:
✅ Corporate Never Have I Ever From “Reply All” regrets to pretending to have Wi-Fi issues, we put a workplace spin on this classic icebreaker.
✅ Workplace Slip-Ups We’ve All Made Zoom fails, forgotten names, professional shade (“per my last email”), and those meetings that definitely could have been an email.
✅ Relatable & Cringe-Worthy Moments Nodding along in a meeting without a clue, secretly Googling jargon, or fake-laughing at a VP’s joke — we’ve all been there.
✅ Behind the Scenes of Work/Life Balance These lighter episodes give you a chance to know Jess and Jen beyond the 9–5, sharing stories that prove corporate life isn’t all grind.
💬 Key Takeaways:
You’re not alone in your corporate quirks — most of us have made these mistakes!
Laughter helps balance out the stress of corporate life.
Work/Life Balance isn’t just serious — sometimes it’s about finding joy in shared experiences.
👥 Join the Conversation!
🔗 Engage with Us: What’s your best “Never Have I Ever” corporate moment? Share it with us — we want to hear your stories!
🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future watercooler conversations — subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform!
📝 Rate & Review: If you’re loving Corporate Cliché, leave us a review to help others find the show!
 

Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché podcast!
Join Jess and Jen as they dive into the realities of corporate life through relatable and unfiltered watercooler conversations.
In this episode, we’re exploring The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor — a book that challenges the idea that success leads to happiness and instead proves that happiness fuels success.
🔥 Episode Highlights:
✅ Rethinking Success & Happiness Most of us believe success brings happiness, but Achor’s research shows the opposite: cultivating happiness first leads to higher performance, better health, and greater creativity.
✅ Practical Strategies to Train Your Brain From writing down three things you’re grateful for to practicing small daily wins, we discuss actionable tips that help you rewire your mindset and build lasting positivity.
✅ Applying the Science at Work Learn how companies like Google and Yahoo use positive psychology to boost creativity and innovation — and how you can apply these same principles in your own workplace.
✅ Key Principles We Loved We break down our favorite insights, including:
The Zorro Circle → Focus on small, controllable goals to build confidence.
The Tetris Effect → Train your brain to see solutions instead of problems.
The Pygmalion Effect → Our expectations of others shape their performance.
✅ Corporate Culture Takeaways This isn’t just about feeling happier — it’s about transforming workplace dynamics, strengthening relationships, and building a more resilient and engaged team.
💬 Key Takeaways:
Happiness isn’t a reward for success — it’s the fuel that drives it.
Simple daily habits like gratitude, meditation, and journaling can reshape your brain’s default patterns.
Investing in relationships at work boosts performance, collaboration, and creativity.
Progress beats perfection: focusing on small wins leads to big results.
👥 Join the Conversation!
🔗 Engage with Us: We’d love to hear your thoughts! Have you read The Happiness Advantage? How do you bring positivity into your workday?
🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future watercooler conversations — subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform!
📝 Rate & Review: If you’re loving Corporate Cliché, leave us a review to help others find the show!
 

Ep. 14 – Be Bold with Heather DeSiena | Break the Bias, Own the Pivot & Negotiate for Yourself
Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast!
Join Jess and Jen as they dive into unfiltered watercooler conversations about what it’s really like working in corporate.
In this Be Bold episode, we sit down with Heather DeSiena—a powerhouse leader whose career spans television news, ministry, and cybersecurity. Heather shares her journey of breaking barriers, navigating bias, and finding her voice in male-dominated industries. From advocating for equal pay to mastering the art of negotiation, Heather equips listeners with the tools to know their worth, own their pivots, and confidently advocate for themselves in today’s workplace.
🔥 Episode Highlights: ✅ Heather’s unconventional career path & lessons learned ✅ How to uplevel corporate culture from any seat ✅ The power of soft skills in leadership & negotiations ✅ Strategies to negotiate with confidence and secure what you deserve ✅ Creating truly inclusive workplaces & challenging bias head-on ✅ Navigating career pivots and knowing when it’s time to make a change
💡 Key Takeaways:
Know your worth and advocate for yourself
Everything is a negotiation—from salary to opportunities
Challenge bias and push for equity
Focus on upleveling both your career and your organization
👥 Join the Conversation! Have thoughts on this episode? Connect with us and share your stories of breaking barriers at work.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future episodes—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform!
📝 Rate & Review: Love what you’re hearing? Leave a review to help others find the show!
 

🎙️ Episode 13: Corporate 101 - Resume Building Podcast: Corporate Cliché Hosts: Jess & Jen
Episode Summary: Let’s face it — resumes are the worst. Whether you’re starting your job search or navigating career growth, having an up-to-date, effective résumé is essential (and kind of annoying). In this Corporate 101 episode, Jess and Jen are back with five relevant, practical, and 2025-ready tips to help you build a resume that actually gets noticed.
Drawing from both employee and hiring manager perspectives, we break down everything from formatting and personal branding to using AI and storytelling techniques that highlight your actual impact — not just buzzwords. Whether you’re on the hunt or just keeping your “in case of emergency” document updated, this episode is packed with advice, a few laughs, and some real talk about how to stand out in a stack of resumes.
💼 In This Episode, We Cover:
Why resume building is still a dreaded but necessary process
The importance of regular résumé refreshes (yes, even if you’re not job hunting!)
5 Resume Tips That Matter in 2025:
Be thoughtful on the structuring of your resume – Use a clean, ATS-friendly template and follow the 3 C's: Clear, Consistent, Concise
Leverage your professional summary as a personal brand statement – Craft a personal brand in your professional summary
Highlight your most relevant experience to that job role – Highlight the experience that aligns with the job
Make your resume speak results, not clichés – Use data and action verbs to tell your story
Use AI to Tailor Your Resume for Every Role- Make Every Application Count – Tailor your resume for every job (and yes, you can use ChatGPT to do it!)
Hiring manager insights: what Jen looks for when reviewing hundreds of resumes
How your resume tells a story — and why it matters
✨ Key Takeaways: 🔹 Proofread and keep it short — 1–2 pages, max 🔹 Tailor your resume to every job description 🔹 Make it skimmable with clear formatting and bullet points 🔹 Use quantifiable impact statements, not clichés 🔹 Want a resume template? Email us at thecorporateclichepodcast@gmail.com
📌 Resources Mentioned: ✔️ Free Resume Template – just email us! ✔️ Try AI Tools (like ChatGPT!) to optimize your resume
💬 Let's Connect: DM us on Instagram @corporateclichepodcast if you need support — we’re here to be your work besties during the job hunt or career glow-up!
 

🎙️ Corporate Cliché Podcast
Episode 12: HR Nightmares 2.0 Call Centers, Creepy Customers & the Accidental ‘I Love You’
Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché podcast! Join Jess and Jen for another round of unfiltered, hilarious, and cringe-worthy watercooler conversations as they dive into real-life workplace horror stories in this HR Nightmares sequel.
This episode brings the chaos—from unfortunate Zoom mishaps to questionable hotel arrangements on business trips—and yes, another case of telling your boss "I love you" by mistake. 🙈 You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and maybe you’ll double-check who’s watching your screen during remote access.
🔥 Episode Highlights:
✅ Gender Bias in the Workplace Stats from The Muse highlight how bias continues to shape hiring and promotion opportunities for women—and Jess shares a client interaction that left her speechless.
✅ Caught on Remote Access Jen shares a jaw-dropping email about an employee caught watching… something inappropriate… while working from home. You won’t believe how the manager handled it.
✅ Oops, I Said I Love You Have you ever ended a work call like it was a romantic date? Jen has. And so have others. Accidental workplace affection strikes again.
✅ Call Center Confessions Tech support horror, collections empathy, and the emotional toll of dealing with frustrated (and sometimes cruel) customers.
✅ Theft in the Workplace From sticky fingers swiping office supplies to managers embezzling cash, Jess drops data that will make you look at your stapler twice.
✅ HR Travel Nightmares Sharing a hotel room is one thing… but sharing a bed with a coworker?! Jen shares a listener story that takes workplace discomfort to new (mattress-level) heights.
✅ Creepy Retail Encounters Jen and Jess reflect on the disturbing experiences female employees face while simply doing their job—from “help me shop for my girlfriend” creepers to overheard dressing room moments that can’t be unheard.
💬 Key Takeaways:
🔒 Don't watch anything NSFW during work hours (yes, even if you're remote).
📞 Be kind to customer service and call center reps—they’re human too.
😳 “I love you” is sweet… just not on a call with your boss.
🧳 HR policies should NEVER include bed-sharing on work trips.
🛍️ Treat retail workers with the respect they deserve—and don’t be a creep.
🧠 What Will You Implement?
Jess and Jen encourage listeners to reflect: What’s one thing you’ll do differently at work after hearing these stories? Whether it’s showing more empathy or double-checking your mic and camera settings, the lessons are real.
👥 Join the Conversation!
Have an HR Nightmare of your own? We’d love to hear it! Reach out and share your wildest workplace story—we might just feature it in a future episode.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe Never miss an episode—follow Corporate Cliché on your favorite podcast platform!
📝 Rate & Review If you laughed, cringed, or screamed “NO WAY” while listening, leave us a review so others can find the show!