When the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, each year, we often dedicate ourselves to resolutions or new habits, but what about dedicating ourselves to less burnout and more personal growth? This week we speak to Kate Vanden Bos on the topic of the Soul Path Growth Cycle. During our discussion Kate shares how through her work she encourages her clients to listen to their whole self – body, mind, and soul when facing burnout or looking for personal growth; she stresses the importance of balan...
Jan 17, 2024•50 min•Ep. 134
REGISTER FOR THE 'CHOOSE YOUR LIFE' CHALLENGE - STARTING JAN 15 2024 Work shouldn't be this hard and it shouldn't be a barrier to living the life you want. In this episode, Kristy talks about why improving communication could be the key that unlocks a work life that is easier, more effective, and more enjoyable. Follow Kristy on Instagram for more workplace communication tips....
Jan 10, 2024•8 min•Ep. 133
Register for the Choose Your Life Challenge - Use promo code LISTENER20 for a 20% discount! The new year is a great time to reflect on our personal goals and harness our strengths and emotions to reach them. Today’s guest explains how even awkwardness, in social situations, can be a powerful tool to get where you want to go this new year. In this episode we talk with Henna Pryor, a fellow University of Delaware alumna (go Fighting Blue Hens!), on the topic of Good Awkward. During this entertaini...
Jan 03, 2024•42 min•Ep. 132
Register for the Choose Your Life Challenge - Use promo code LISTENER20 for a 20% discount! In this episode Kristy and Danielle review 2023; the themes, the milestones, and hopes for the future. Do you have an idea for a topic or guest? Contact Danielle and Kristy
Dec 27, 2023•17 min•Ep. 131
In this episode of The Opposite of Small Talk, Danielle gives a quick talk about the importance of CELEBRATING!
Dec 20, 2023•3 min
When the holiday season rolls around do you ever feel like singing, “deck the halls with stress and chaos?” If so, you’re not alone, but there are solutions and in this episode we talk with Laura Vanderkam on the topic of Scheduling Intentionality. We begin the conversation with Laura finding out what an average Tuesday looks like for her, we touch on the phenomenon of “revenge procrastination” particularly related to bedtime, we discuss how much free time we actually have available to us on an ...
Dec 13, 2023•45 min•Ep. 129
If you don't have enough time to do your work because you're always in meetings, this episode is for you. Kristy walks through a series of simple steps that will help you reclaim your time and break up with bad meeting using a calendar audit. WORK WITH KRISTY: Kristy helps mid-career corporate professionals to communicate better at work through interactive workships, team programs, and 1:1 consulting. https://www.kristyolinger.com...
Dec 06, 2023•11 min•Ep. 128
Pain can be found in every corner of our world, but so can joy. Today’s guest encourages us to seek the joy from within and harness it in powerful and life changing ways. In this episode we talk with Tanmeet Sethi, MD on the topic of Joy as a Human Right. During this moving and powerful discussion, Dr. Sethi explains the difference between happiness and joy; offers tips to those who aren’t sure how to begin tapping into their own joy; and discusses the current inequities and stigmas surrounding ...
Nov 29, 2023•44 min•Ep. 127
This fourth anniversary episode of TOOST was recorded in front of a live audience on October 21, 2023, at Neon in San Francisco. In this special episode, Danielle and Kristy take a look back at how the podcast started and some of the triumphs and challenges. Dia Bondi, who originally appeared as their guest in episode 71, returns for a discussion about her new book, “Ask Like an Auctioneer,” available today; and Dia takes questions from the live audience on the topic of how to “ask for more and ...
Nov 14, 2023•58 min•Ep. 126
In this episode Kristy tackles three interesting and complex questions from followers. M wonders how she should respond when her team laughs about her authoritative style in a meeting, L feels undervalued as the youngest member of her team, and S wonders how to build rapport when he is not a person that socializes over drinks and coffee. If you'd like to submit a workplace communication questions email Kristy HERE or follow on Instagram @KO.Communication...
Nov 08, 2023•12 min•Ep. 125
The world can be a scary place – some of our fears are very real and others are of our own making. This week’s guest addresses identifying and utilizing healthy fear as a tool for personal growth. In this week’s episode we talk with Farnoosh Torabi, a muti-bestselling financial author and go-to money expert, on what it means to be in a healthy state of panic. We discuss details from her latest book, by the same name, A Healthy State of Panic, how the surprising combination of fear and finance go...
Nov 01, 2023•47 min•Ep. 124
In this episode Danielle talks about the difference between doing and being. She offers some ways to get more being into your life.
Oct 31, 2023•4 min•Ep. 123
Sometimes we’re so wrapped up in the past or worried about the future that we forget how to really live in the present. In this episode we talk with Catherine Duncan about How to Have Everyday Awakenings. Catherine shares her unique perspective on living in the moment – not only having experienced two near-death experiences of her own, but also while serving as a hospital chaplain. We discuss some of the surprising things she learned about living from her interactions with terminal patients, how...
Oct 18, 2023•36 min•Ep. 122
There is something that you use every day to communicate, but never think about. It influences how you are perceived by others. It's something you can eaisly develop with practice. It's your voice. In this episode, you'll learn the characteristics of the voice, how to use vocal variety to sound more interesting and confident, and an easy practice activity to improve. Looking for more ways to improve your workplace communication? Follow me on social: Instagram @KO.Communication TikTok @KO.Communi...
Oct 11, 2023•8 min•Ep. 121
We have so many devices that we need to recharge on a daily basis – cell phones, tablets, watches, but what about ourselves? In this episode we talk with Lori Saitz about Living a sabbatical life. Lori shares how following a month-long sabbatical, of her own, which included a roadtrip with her beloved cat, showed her the benefits of taking a sabbatical. We discuss how to live a sabbatical life without leaving our jobs and obligations and the steps we can take to begin. Work with Danielle : If yo...
Oct 04, 2023•42 min•Ep. 120
In this episode of The Opposite of Small Talk, Danielle shares a her experience of opening up her creativity through writing. She reads a piece that she wrote while in a Gateless Writing Salon about a time she was surprised.
Sep 28, 2023•7 min
As humans one of our strongest instincts is to build and strengthen connections with one another. In this episode we talk with Tony Martignetti about Creating Deeper Connections. We discuss the positives of creating deeper connections in the workplace, how connecting with yourself is a critical first step, and how Tony encourages clients to share their “weird” to open up or deepen those connections. Work with Danielle : If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn mo...
Sep 20, 2023•36 min•Ep. 118
One of the toughest things about being in the mid-level of a company is that your success depends on your ability to collaborate with people and teams that you don't directly manage. It's not enough to just do your work well. You have to be able to influence without authority to deliver together. Being able to hold people accountable without being a jerk is an advanced communication skill and critical to collaborative work. In this episode, Kristy shares why she lets the person closest to the wo...
Sep 14, 2023•7 min•Ep. 117
Anyone who has walked through the fragrance department during a day of shopping knows there is an abundant number of smells (and choices) out there when it comes to a signature scent. What they may not have thought about, however, is the deeper meaning behind the scents that draw us in or repel us. In this episode we talk with Helida Dodd, an engineer by trade who fell in love with the art and science behind scents, about Harnessing Your Sense of Smell. Helida shares with us how an extreme sensi...
Sep 06, 2023•35 min•Ep. 116
In this solo episode Danielle shares a powerful quote that has meant a lot to her and encourages listeners to reflect on how they are showing up in the world.
Aug 30, 2023•4 min•Ep. 115
At the end of a stressful or demanding day, do you ever feel like your inner child could use a hug? Well then in today’s episode, you’ve come to the right place! In this episode we talk with Tina Hamilton on the topic of Getting to know your inner child. Tina shares some examples of how experiences from our childhood can impact how we now react or parent; how she recognized in herself the need to reconnect to, reflect and work on healing her inner child; and ways she now helps her clients to do ...
Aug 23, 2023•42 min•Ep. 114
Inevitably, throughout the course of our lives, the majority of us will at one time or another ask or be asked what we deem an “uncomfortable question” on a myriad of hot button topics including, race, gender inequality, and gender identity. In this episode we talk with Melina Cordero, who went from, as she describes it, a “corporate executive to equity trailblazer,” on the topic of Uncomfortable Questions About Race. We discuss her approach to uncomfortable questions and phrases; some of the ba...
Aug 09, 2023•44 min•Ep. 113
<< SHOP OFFICIAL MERCH >> If you were to search the term 'managing up' you would get a wide variety of definitions, but you would notice a common idea that managing up is something that benefits your boss. Articles from the Wall Street Journal and Harvard Business Review talk about things like anticipating your managers needs and adapting to their style. While these ideas have merit, they aren't the full picture. Managing up is really about managing your manager to do the things you ...
Aug 04, 2023•9 min•Ep. 112
In 2020, many of us went from social drinking to socially isolated drinking. In this episode we talk with Nell Hurley, a Gray Area Drinking Coach, about the topic of understanding our relationship with alcohol. Nell shares her own relationship with sobriety, defines the terms Gray Area Drinking and sober curiosity, and offers advice for anyone who may think they fall into these categories. Work with Danielle : If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about t...
Jul 26, 2023•52 min•Ep. 111
Following a series of events that caused grief, isolation, and fear this week’s guest found her purpose and calling to help others. In this episode, we talk with Amanda McKoy Flanagan about Trusting Yourself to be All in. Amanda shares how the grief and losses in her life, her almost two decades of sobriety, and the global pandemic helped her to do the work to heal from generational family dysfunction and discover her true self. We also discuss her first book, released in early May and titled, T...
Jul 12, 2023•43 min•Ep. 110
Access the Work Journal prompts <> Normally solo episodes are just that... solo. But for this episode Kristy is sharing her interview with Matt Gilhooly from The Life Shift podcast . In this interview Kristy shares the story of a very specific moment that changed the trajectory of her life. It woke her up from living a life on auto-pilot and was the catalyst for restarting a journaling practice. You could say this life shift moment is the origin story of all of the personal growth from the...
Jul 09, 2023•57 min•Ep. 109
A discussion on the phenomenon of Imposter Syndrome is a springboard to a deeper dive on societal pressures for both women and men, and the systemic factors that may have influenced them. In this episode we talk with Kim Meninger about Imposter Syndrome and Societal Pressures. We cover the phenomenon of imposter syndrome in the workplace, discuss the ways it’s both a personal and systemic problem and how some of its causes could be rooted in childhood. TALK BIG QUESTIONS - Use these prompts to h...
Jun 28, 2023•46 min•Ep. 108
In this episode Danielle talks about her experience of tuning into her sense of hearing after reading Gretchen Rubin's latest book "Life in Five Senses" and forgetting her airpods on a trip to New York City.
Jun 22, 2023•5 min•Ep. 107
During the course of our daily lives, many of us can take for granted the simple tasks we’re able to complete with little effort or difficulty. In this episode we talk with Diana Elizabeth Jordan on the topic of Ability Privilege. Diana shares her unique perspective, how to create space to discuss difficult topics, and how we can all be more inclusive of one another’s experiences and needs, in particular the 25% of people who have disabilities. Work with Danielle : If you are ready to start work...
Jun 14, 2023•41 min•Ep. 106
Having a micromanager is a very specific kind of terrible work experience. This episode covers the mindset shift that could help in the short term, a couple of strategies to address it, and an important question to ask yourself to be sure you’re seeing this from every possible angle. If you like this episode and want more workplace communication strategies, follow Kristy on Instagram @ko.communication Website: www.kristyolinger.com...
Jun 07, 2023•8 min•Ep. 105
