Ep. 50 - In this conversation, the hosts delve into the concept of accountability in the workplace, discussing its common misconceptions and the importance of establishing clear expectations, transparency, and effective project management. They emphasize that accountability should not be associated with fear or punitive measures but rather with a culture of support and clarity. The discussion also highlights the significance of project management in ensuring team success and the need for consist...
May 30, 2025•39 min•Ep. 51
Ep. 49 - In this episode, Sam and Derek explore the delicate balance between confidence and aggression in the workplace. They discuss how to present oneself confidently without coming off as aggressive, emphasizing the importance of mindset, communication style, and appearance. The conversation is structured around four key dimensions of confidence: how you think, when you speak, how you speak, and how you look. Through personal anecdotes and frameworks, they provide insights on fostering health...
May 15, 2025•38 min•Ep. 50
Ep.48 - In this episode of The Workflow Podcast , Sam and Derek take on a tough truth: in today’s workplace, visibility often matters more than talent alone. They explore why too many high performers stay stuck — not because they lack skill, but because they lack visibility. The conversation kicks off with a hot take on HR's real role in modern companies, then pivots into a powerful framework for professional growth: how to promote your work without the cringe. They tackle the misconception that...
May 01, 2025•41 min•Ep. 49
In this episode of The Workflow Podcast, Sam and Derek delve into the transformative power of vocal presence. They explore how mastering the five Vocal Foundations of Great Communication—rate of speech, volume, pitch, tonality, and pausing—can elevate your interactions, both professionally and personally. Drawing from expert insights and real-life experiences, they unpack why communication is the ultimate competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world. Whether you're leading a pr...
Apr 17, 2025•44 min•Ep. 48
Ep. 46 - Narcissists – The Signs, The Games, and The Tools to Deal With Them "Narcissists thrive on control and validation—but understanding their tactics is the first step to breaking free." In this episode of The Workflow Podcast , Sam and Derek probe into the world of narcissism—what drives narcissistic behavior, how to recognize the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs, and how to protect yourself from manipulation. Drawing from expert research and real-life experiences, they explore the psychol...
Apr 03, 2025•31 min•Ep. 47
Ep. 45 - In this episode of The Workflow Podcast, Sam and Derek break down the science of charisma—what makes someone compelling, influential, and effortlessly engaging. They explore the hidden cues that drive human connection, from body language to vocal inflection, and how mastering these small details can transform the way you communicate. Using research-backed insights from Vanessa Van Edwards, they discuss warmth and competence—the two key ingredients to becoming instantly more likable and ...
Mar 20, 2025•56 min•Ep. 46
In this episode of The Workflow Podcast , Sam and Derek dive into one of the biggest struggles in professional life: time management. Whether you’re a maker who thrives on deep focus work or a manager whose day is packed with meetings, your calendar is the battlefield where productivity is won or lost. They break down the Maker vs. Manager time dilemma—why meetings are often the enemy of creative work and how context switching drains your energy. They also share strategies for protecting your ti...
Mar 06, 2025•37 min•Ep. 45
Ep. 43 - In this episode of The Work Flow Podcast , Sam and Derek dive deep into the fascinating rise and fall of Ryan Salame, a tax accountant who found his place in the fast-paced world of crypto. This isn’t just about the headlines of the FTX scandal; it’s about the human side of Ryan’s story—his journey of connection, charisma, and the important lessons we can take from both his successes and his struggles. As a former colleague, Sam shares insights into Ryan’s exceptional ability to connect...
Feb 20, 2025•32 min•Ep. 44
Ep.42 - In this episode of The Workflow Podcast , Sam and Derek dive into the widespread topic of imposter syndrome, exploring its nuances and the role it plays in personal and professional growth. Drawing from their own experiences, they distinguish between fleeting imposter thoughts and chronic self-doubt, highlighting how these feelings, when managed constructively, can lead to greater self-awareness and resilience. The hosts share candid stories about the highs and lows of their careers, fro...
Feb 06, 2025•46 min•Ep. 42
Episode 40: The Change Curve – Turning Challenges Into Growth In this episode of The Workflow Podcast , Sam and Derek explore the emotional rollercoaster of navigating major changes in life and work. Using the framework of the Change Curve, they unpack how disruptive events affect our morale and competence—and how we can accelerate the journey back to growth. The hosts share personal stories of professional setbacks, from industry challenges to unexpected career changes, offering practical advic...
Jan 23, 2025•28 min•Ep. 41
Episode 39: Disrupt Yourself – How to Break Plateaus and Reignite Your Career In this episode of The Workflow Podcast , Sam and Derek delve into the concept of career disruption as a tool for continuous growth. They explore the challenges and rewards of shifting roles, industries, and perspectives, sharing insights from their own career journeys. Drawing from Whitney Johnson’s Disrupt Yourself , the hosts discuss how career growth often follows an S-curve, with moments of rapid progress followed...
Jan 09, 2025•20 min•Ep. 40
Ep.39 - In this conversation, Derek and Sam reflect on their milestone year, discussing personal growth, the challenges of balancing parenthood with personal interests, and the importance of nurturing relationships. They share insights on goal setting, accountability, and the need for intentionality in their lives. The discussion emphasizes the significance of self-reflection and the strategies they plan to implement for the upcoming year to maintain balance and prioritize their relationships. 0...
Dec 30, 2024•38 min•Ep. 39
Episode 38: Framing for Focus – The Secret to Better Decisions and Aligned Teams "Every great decision starts with asking the right question." In this episode of The Workflow Podcast , Sam and Derek unravel the power of framing as the ultimate tool for clarity and alignment in the workplace. They dive deep into how defining a "threshold question" and leveraging visuals can transform unfocused meetings and complex decision-making processes into productive, goal-oriented discussions. Inspired by t...
Dec 12, 2024•40 min•Ep. 38
Ep.37 - Should you work at a big company or a startup? With candid reflections and real-world insights, they explore the trade-offs between the structure and resources of large corporations and the agility and innovation of startups. From navigating office politics to balancing personal agency and burnout, this conversation covers the nuanced realities of both environments. Drawing on their own career journeys, the hosts unpack the myths and truths about workplace culture, organizational messine...
Dec 02, 2024•40 min•Ep. 37
Ep.36 - In this episode of The Workflow Podcast, Sam and Derek are all about figuring out how to influence and connect with folks at work. They get inspired by an interview with a CIA spy and dive into something they call the "R.I.C.E." framework, which stands for Reward, Ideology, Coercion, and Ego. This framework helps you understand what really motivates people, which can seriously change how you build relationships at work. They share real-life stories to highlight the distinction between ge...
Nov 14, 2024•25 min•Ep. 36
Ep.35 - In this episode of The Workflow Podcast , Sam and Derek reflect on the realities of navigating high-stakes professional environments, tackling burnout, and finding balance. They share their experiences of being in disorganized executive meetings, learning to manage energy, and overcoming imposter syndrome. The duo emphasizes the importance of building relationships—both in and out of the boardroom—while making space for quieter voices in meetings. Through humor, candid reflections, and a...
Oct 31, 2024•28 min•Ep. 35
Ep.34 “The challenge is not to bring TOO MUCH personal stuff into the workplace.” In this episode of The Workflow Podcast , Sam and Derek dive into the complexities of navigating workplace boundaries, from sharing personal details to building social connections at work. They discuss how to balance authenticity with professionalism, highlighting the importance of reading the room and testing social limits without making career-limiting mistakes. Using humor, real-life examples, and a conversation...
Oct 17, 2024•29 min•Ep. 34
Ep. 33 - “The audience is not there to JUDGE you. They are there to LEARN.” In this episode, Nasheen, an expert public speaking coach, shares her journey from the corporate world to becoming a TEDx speaker and communication coach. Together, Sam and Nasheen explore the art of public speaking, both in-person and online, offering practical advice on how to connect with your audience, overcome fear, and make an impact in every presentation. Whether you're a seasoned speaker or just starting, this ep...
Oct 03, 2024•50 min•Ep. 33
Ep.32 - High Agency is potentially the single most valuable personality trait for someone working in a tech and business. Being high agency means you're in the drivers seat, and you feel like you have control to bend the world to your will. How do you build high agency? What do high agency people do? How can you spot it in others? Sam and Derek share their perspectives and research on high agency. -------------------------------------------------------------- For more tips, frameworks and episod...
Sep 19, 2024•36 min•Ep. 32
Ep.31 - One of the most important skills that nobody tells you that you need: how to debate. Pushing back, disagreements or arguments are part of work. They can be productive, or destructive, depending on your approach. This episode we break down first principles for productive debate. -------------------------------------------------------------- For more tips, frameworks and episode summaries follow the Work Flow Podcast on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-work-flow-podcast/?view...
Sep 05, 2024•40 min•Ep. 31
Ep.30 - Most managers aren't good managers, and even the good ones aren't good all the time. Many people struggle with 'busy managers'; not getting enough guidance or support, and dealing with fear of being a burden. This week's episode is all about dealing with busy managers; how to shift your mindset, how to approach a busy manager, and how to be a self starter so you don't over rely on them. -------------------------------------------------------------- For more tips, frameworks and episode s...
Aug 22, 2024•33 min•Ep. 30
Ep.29 - Sam and Derek break down the pitfalls of learning without context, the diminishing returns of learning by doing, and how to accelerate in your career through structured and real time learning. -------------------------------------------------------------- 0:37 - 1:19) Personal Updates: Sharing recent family and travel stories. (1:20 - 2:26) Airport Experience: Discussing improvements at LaGuardia Airport. (2:27 - 3:18) Public Utilities: Importance of government-managed services. (3:29 - ...
Aug 08, 2024•30 min•Ep. 29
Ep.28 - Sam and Derek break down tactics for starting at a new role. They cover: Preparing before you start to hit the ground running How to begin building relationships Building credibility with your team Finding impact and delivering value on low hanging fruit -------------------------------------------------------------- 00:51 - 01:07) Career Transitions (01:08 - 01:51) Setting Up for Success in the First 90 Days (03:01 - 03:28) Preparation Phase: People, Industry, and Job-Specific Knowledge ...
Jul 25, 2024•43 min•Ep. 28
Ep. 27 - Ross Buhrdorf, CEO of ZenBusiness discusses his winding career path as an engineer turned entrepreneur, how to introduce risk into your career as a young professional, the power young folks have to shape culture, and much more. -------------------------------------------------------------- For more tips, frameworks and episode summaries follow the Work Flow Podcast on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-work-flow-podcast/?viewAsMember=true and on Instagram: https://www.instag...
Jul 11, 2024•39 min•Ep. 27
Ep. 26 - Andrew David, Chief Product Officer at AutoRabit comes on the podcast to share his winding career journey and principles for finding flow state in the work place. Andrew's new book, Flow Engineering: From Value Stream Mapping to Effective Action, is out now! https://amazon.com/Value-Stream-Clarity-Steve-Pereira/dp/1950508455 -------------------------------------------------------------- (01:21 - 02:23) - Guest Introduction: New book "Flow Engineering", AutoRabbit CPO. (02:24 - 04:08) - ...
Jul 08, 2024•49 min•Ep. 26
Ep. 25 - Jack McCurdy is a Salesforce DevOps Advocate and public speaking master. He went from crippling nerves in his first presentation to speaking at massive conferences as his full time gig. In this episode Jack shares his story, and foundational wisdom on how to overcome fear of public speaking, the tools to communicate ideas effectively, and how public speaking skills translate into other aspects of work and life. LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-mccurdy/ TWITTER: @_jxckmcc -----...
Jun 20, 2024•42 min•Ep. 25
Ep. 24 - Ego in the workplace can be a blessing and a curse. It can drive you to new heights, but when left unchecked it can also cap your professional growth in a big way. Sam and Derek explore ego, sharing stories on how it has impacted their professional and personal lives, and how they've tried to build awareness and overcome ego's negative downside. -------------------------------------------------------------- (01:11 - 02:42) Ego's dual nature and personal impacts. (02:43 - 04:27) Inflated...
Jun 06, 2024•40 min•Ep. 24
Ep. 23 - Sam and Derek talk about making better decisions at work and in life, where most people go wrong when making decisions, and share some successes and failures in decision making in their own careers. -------------------------------------------------------------- For more tips, frameworks and episode summaries follow the Work Flow Podcast on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-work-flow-podcast/?viewAsMember=true and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workflowshow/ If you ...
May 23, 2024•38 min•Ep. 23
Ep. 22 - Alex Kremer, Founder and CEO of Alluviance, shares his experience of going to 100+ work and meditation retreats, mastering the inner game, being the best version of yourself in and out of a work setting, and so much more. https://www.linkedin.com/company/alluviance https://www.linkedin.com/in/kremeralex/ -------------------------------------------------------------- (0:00 - 0:55) Craft, aliveness, meaning, community drive professional growth. (0:56 - 3:10) Tech sales, leadership, person...
May 16, 2024•51 min•Ep. 22
Ep. 21 - After an incredible 13 year stint at UKG, Derek is deciding to move on. We walk through the reasons for his decision, and his strategies and learnings in navigating a tricky 2024 job market. -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- For more tips, frameworks and episode summaries follow the Work Flow Podcast on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-work-flow-podcast/?viewAsMember=true and on Ins...
May 09, 2024•37 min•Ep. 21
