Modern Mentor

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MANAGEMENT
UPDATED WEEKLY

Rachel Cooke is your guide to leadership and communication, helping you craft a workplace environment you can feel good about. She’ll share tips to help you balance your work and personal life, effectively invest your time, and be mindful about where you’re devoting your energy. Let Rachel help you navigate your path to success—however you define it.

1 DAY AGO

The Creative Pulse: Why humanity is the lynchpin of business, with Andy Pizza

In this episode, Rachel sits down with author and illustrator Andy Pizza to explore why a "creative pulse" is the essential, make-or-break component of any successful career. Andy argues that while business often relies on data and logic, the true differentiator is the ability to show up with a unique, human point of view. The conversation covers: Strategic vs. exploratory creativity: How to use creativity to solve specific business problems by working backward from a goal. The "input diet": Why being mindful of what you consume—from art to fiction—is vital for generating fresh ideas. The heroine’s journey: A collaborative approach to success that prioritizes collective effort over the "solo hero" myth. Writing on stage: A method for testing creative hunches in low-stakes environments to build confidence and skill. Creativity in the age of AI: Why tapping into the "humanity side" remains the most important skill as technology evolves. Andy Pizza's website Andy's Creative Pep Talk podcast Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor

40 min
3 MAR

The expertise trap | Why your best people might be blocking innovation

886. Is your team's deep knowledge actually preventing them from seeing the next big breakthrough? In this episode, Rachel explores the "expertise trap"—the moment when having all the answers stops us from seeing new possibilities. She explains why traditional brainstorming often fails and how a "catalog of failures" can cage an expert's thinking. Rachel introduces a practical tool, the Curiosity Hour, designed to flip the script on problem-solving by prioritizing "dumb" questions over expert solutions. Learn how to find the "gardeners" in your organization to challenge the status quo and unlock the fresh thinking your team has been missing. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor

8 min
24 FEB

How to stop talking about change and actually start doing it

885. In a world of constant meetings and shifting priorities, why does it feel like we’re repeating the same "to-do" list every six months? This week, Rachel gets into the "bad patterns" that keep teams stuck in a loop of false comfort. We often mistake saying we need to change for actual progress, while our health and productivity suffer the consequences. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: Master strategic prioritization: Why half-assing seventeen goals is costing you more than saying "no" to fourteen. Demystify AI upskilling: How to move past AI paralysis by building "warm-up" experiments for your team. Solve meeting fatigue: Why the answer isn't always fewer meetings, but shifting the lens to high-value dialogue. Build an innovation culture: How to create "safe sandboxes" for experiments that turn potential failure into actionable data. Stop letting the cost of inaction hold your team back. It’s time to move beyond the refrain and start doing the hard things that drive real success. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor

9 min
17 FEB

The neuroscience of persuasion: How to engineer unforgettable communication, with Carmine Gallo

884. In this episode, Rachel Cooke and author Carmine Gallo explore the biological reality that the human brain is hardwired to ignore anything it deems "boring". If you want your message to land, you have to work with the brain’s chemistry, not against it. Engineering Memory: Learn how to use "Emotionally Competent Stimuli" (ECS) to act as a mental Post-it note for your audience.The 10% Strategy: Since audiences forget 90% of what they hear, Carmine explains how to strategically engineer the 10% they actually retain.The Brain's Evolution: Why our ancestors' survival depended on storytelling, and why that same wiring dictates modern business success.Get Carmine Gallo's book, VIRAL VOICES. Find Carmine Gallo on social media: https://www.instagram.com/carminegallospeaker/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carminegallo/ https://www.tiktok.com/@carminegallospeaker http://www.youtube.com/@CarmineGalloTV https://x.com/carminegallo Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor

42 min
10 FEB

What actually drives productivity in 2026?

883. Rachel shares how the productivity conversation has evolved - and what actually drives getting things done today. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor

9 min
3 FEB

Motion versus meaning: Build operating rhythms that work

882. Rachel shares how to design operating rhythms that create space for meaningful work instead of just adding more meetings to your calendar. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor

7 min
27 JAN

Why is your team moving fast but staying stuck?

881. We’re all under pressure to move faster, ship earlier, and do more. But as Rachel Cooke explains this week, "speed" often looks a lot more like chaos when the foundation isn't there. If your team is missing deadlines or burning out, the issue probably isn't a lack of effort—it's a lack of the "unsexy" structure that makes agility possible. Rachel looks at how to spot the difference between true agility and "panic with better marketing." She shares how to talk to leaders about conflicting priorities, how to stop casual executive brainstorming from turning into accidental team directives, and why establishing operating rhythms is the only way to kill the constant "fire drill" culture. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor

8 min
20 JAN

Leading through uncertainty: Why you need an expedition mindset

880. Rachel shares why workplaces need expedition leadership - navigating uncertainty together - instead of tour-guide leadership that performs certainty when there is none. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success. Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentor https://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor

8 min

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Stever Robbins

Host
Rachel Cooke

Host

Rachel Cooke is your guide to leadership and communication, helping you craft a workplace environment you can feel good about. She’ll share tips to help you balance your work and personal life, effectively invest your time, and be mindful about where you’re devoting your energy. Let Rachel help you navigate your path to success—however you define it.