The Corporate Cliché Podcast

Ep. 23 – Book Club: Hidden Potential at Work | Why Growth Beats Polish
Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast! Join Jen + Jess for honest, unfiltered watercooler conversations about what it’s really like working in corporate.
In this Book Club episode, we’re diving into Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant. This conversation challenges the corporate obsession with talent, polish, and pedigree—and replaces it with something far more powerful: growth, character, and support.
From underdog stories and leadership lessons to imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and workplace culture, Jen + Jess break down why potential isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you unlock. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or “not quite there yet,” this episode is for you.
🔥 Episode Highlights:
✅ Why talent is overrated and growth is underestimated
✅ The difference between personality and character at work
✅ What “scaffolding” really means—and why leaders need it
✅ How discomfort, doubt, and imposter syndrome signal growth
✅ Why hiring for polish causes companies to miss real potential
✅ Lessons from underdogs who defied the odds
💡 Key Takeaways:
Potential isn’t fixed—it’s developed over time
It’s not where you start, it’s how far you grow
Support unlocks potential more effectively than pressure
Character, curiosity, and resilience matter more than credentials
Growth often looks messy before it looks successful
👥 Join the Conversation! How do you define potential at work? Share this episode and let us know what resonated most.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Don’t miss future episodes—subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
📝 Rate & Review: Love the show? Leaving a review helps more people find the Corporate Cliché community.
📚 Next Book Club Pick: The Platinum Rule — come read along with us as we continue changing corporate culture one conversation at a time.
 

Ep. 23 - Year in Review | Our Favorite Corporate Cliché Moments of 2025
Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast! In this special year-in-review episode, Jess and Jen kick off 2026 by pressing pause and reflecting on the moments that defined Corporate Cliché in 2025.
From hilarious HR nightmares and laugh-out-loud corporate chaos to powerful lessons, guest mic-drop moments, and those universal “Yep… been there” experiences, this episode is a celebration of everything that made the past year meaningful for us and for our listeners.
This isn’t just a highlight reel. It’s a thank-you to the community that showed up, shared episodes, sent DMs, and reminded us that honest conversations about work really do matter.
🔥 Episode Highlights:
Our most unforgettable HR Nightmares (because policies exist for a reason)
The moments that made us laugh so we didn’t cry
Lessons learned from guests, book club episodes, and real-life corporate experiences
Guest mic-drop moments we’re still thinking about
The “Yep… been there” stories that reminded us we’re not alone at work
💡 Why You’ll Love This Episode:
It’s equal parts reflective, relatable, and validating
You’ll laugh, cringe, and nod along in agreement
It’s a reminder that growth, career paths, and leadership journeys are rarely linear
You’ll walk away feeling seen and maybe a little more hopeful about work
👥 Join the Conversation As you listen, reflect on the moments that stuck with you in 2025, an episode you loved, a mindset shift you made, or a moment where you realized just how much you’ve grown.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe to keep these conversations going in 2026.
📝 Rate & Review to help more professionals find the podcast and feel a little less alone at work.
 
 

🎙️ Ep. 23 – Be Bold with Ari DeGrote (Founder of Upward & Inward)
Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast — where Jess and Jen bring real, unfiltered watercooler conversations about the corporate world we all know too well.
This week, we’re diving into a powerful conversation on courageous leadership, human-centered workplaces, and unlocking your full potential — with the incredible Ari DeGrote, Founder of Upward & Inward LLC. Ari is an Impact Leadership Catalyst who helps leaders and teams stop surviving and start truly thriving through purpose alignment, flow science, and whole-human leadership.
If you're seeking more meaning, connection, and authenticity at work… this episode is your permission slip to Be Bold.
🔥 Episode Highlights
✨ Redefining Leadership From the Inside Out • Why true leadership begins with inner work, self-awareness, and meaning • How “Impact Leadership” transforms how we lead, connect, and inspire
🧠 The Science Behind Human Flourishing & Flow • How flow science, positive psychology & behavior change fuel peak performance • Practices to help leaders reduce burnout and elevate well-being
🤝 Creating Brave & Collaborative Work Environments • The role of psychological safety in innovation • Why conflict can be productive when handled with intention
🌱 Growth Isn’t Always Pretty Ari unpacks the powerful seed metaphor:
“For a seed to reach its greatest expression, it must come undone.” Growth requires discomfort, vulnerability, and letting go of old versions of ourselves
💛 Meaning & Mattering • The difference between being valued for what you do vs. who you are • A real story of a team unlocking potential through purpose alignment
🧭 Reconnecting With Purpose • How everyone — not just leaders — can reignite fulfillment at work • Micro-rituals to regulate your nervous system, stay grounded & avoid burnout
📚 Resources Mentioned
Book recommendations to add to your Corporate Book Club: • An Everyone Culture • Group Genius • The Happiness Advantage
💬 Key Takeaways
You don’t need a title to lead with impact — leadership starts with bold choices • Meaning and mattering are essentials for thriving teams, not “nice to have” perks • Corporate culture changes from the inside out — one conversation at a time • Bold leadership is human-centered leadership
👇 Connect with Ari
IG: @upwardandinward LinkedIn: Upward & Inward LLC Website: upwardandinward.com
🎧 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!

🎙️ 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!