Be Cringe

Julie Laufer

Most of us know exactly what we want and want to do. We've just gotten really good at talking ourselves out of it. Welcome to Be Cringe. Be Cringe is the podcast that explores what happens when you start living for yourself and stop worrying about the opinions of others. This might be cringe, but we're doing it anyway.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    #010: Be Self-Published with Brooklyn Rose

    For the 10th (!!) episode of Be Cringe, I sat down with Brooklyn Rose to talk through her debut novel, Sex Positive (publishing on August 4th, 2026). She's a prolific writer and author with a stack of finished manuscripts and who queried her novel for about a year before deciding to self-publish. We talk about: Why she started writing Sex Positive after noticing a theme to the questions she'd get from patients while working as a PA at Planned ParenthoodThe querying process and what led her to self-publishingHer ~150 Goodreads ratings (averaging over 4 stars), and what she's learned from the 5-star reviews, the 1-stars, and everything in betweenHow self-taught self-publishing really isHer writing, drafting, and rewriting process (and the mindset shift it takes to be okay with 'killing your darlings').Having her mom and grandma read her romance novel, and their feedback. Find Brooklyn: Website: brooklynrosewrites.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooklynrosewritesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brooklynrosewritesThreads: https://www.threads.com/@brooklynrosewritesSubstack https://booksbodiesbreathe.substack.com/ Sex Positive releases on August 4th, 2026. You can pre-order from brookshop.org, Book-A-Million, and other places here. And if you're hoping to see Sex Positive pop up more locally, call your favorite bookstores and local library and ask them to start carrying Brooklyn's book. Thanks for listening to ‘Be Cringe’! Find us online: Instagram: @becringepodSubstack: thismightbecringe.comListen to the pod: becringe.riverside.com

  2. Jul 14

    #009: Be Helpful (and Authentic) on LinkedIn and Beyond with Chris Tagliaferro

    Chris Tagliaferro, formerly known as Christopher, Tags, Chris Tags, and @CTags, is the Senior Director of IT at Morning Brew Inc. where he successfully convinced 90% of the company to use AI tools, despite most of them never having opened ChatGPT. He previously held roles at Peloton and Reddit, has a distaste for social media and a brilliant LinkedIn presence, and won a company award for his content on the platform. Chris talks about how he found his voice on a platform where everyone else is selling something, and how not having anything to sell is what allows him to show up as his most authentic and helpful self. We get into: The evolution of starting his professional career as 'Christopher' to becoming known as his moniker, 'Tags' (or @CTags, or Chris Tags) and how (and why) he made his way back to ChrisWhy LinkedIn is the only social media he kept and how he views it as a canvas instead of a platformHis "post the dumb stuff" philosophy and why nobody sees the flopsWhy sometimes, people are afraid to support you publicly on LinkedIn (and take to your DMs instead)Rolling out AI at a company full of writersWhy the companies with the best customer service view their teams as an extension of retention and brandWhy you can't actually make $60k in your sleep by setting up AI agents Chris and I worked at Peloton together, and it was a delight to reconnect on this episode of Be Cringe. I also want to shout out Morning Brew, Inc., for the professional studio setup and for letting us borrow one of your producers. Find Chris: LinkedIn: Chris Tagliaferro - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophertagliaferro Thanks for listening to 'Be Cringe'! Find us online: Instagram: @becringepodSubstack: thismightbecringe.comListen to the pod: becringe.riverside.com Be Cringe is available wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening, and for supporting these conversations.

  3. Jul 1

    #008: Be a Brave Creative with Chelsea Caffey

    Chelsea is a writer, a stay-at-home mom of two, a former professional dancer, a self-appointed tour documentarian, and, as of recently, a first-time horseback rider. She spent years touring the world with a modern acrobatic dance company, journaling backstage between scene changes, before finding her way to writing as her main creative anchor. These days she calls herself less a "writer" and more a "creative," someone who lets inspiration find her, wherever she is in a particular moment. In this conversation, we get into being 'early', flexibility as a creative practice, choosing to be the brave version of yourself, and saying yes to showing up more fully. We get into: Filling an entire journal on a European dance tour, leaving it on a plane, and sprinting through LAX to get it backTreating life like a blank canvas instead of a jigsaw puzzleEmbracing beginnerhood and being 'early' as permission to write a bad draft, say the wrong thing, and learn anywaySaying yes to opportunities (like this podcast) as way of aligning with her future selfHow to navigate the murky waters of how much of yourself to share (and with whom) Find Chelsea: Substack: PermissionInstagram: @chelseacaffeywrites Thanks for listening to 'Be Cringe'! Find us online: Instagram: @becringepodSubstack: thismightbecringe.comListen to the pod: becringe.riverside.com

  4. Jun 15

    #007: Be a Merchant with Max Nimaroff

    Max Nimaroff is a Brooklyn-based parent, SVP of e-commerce at Oats Overnight, writer, Discord community builder, aspiring Court Street shop owner, and self-described outsider who has spent his whole life stitching together people who wouldn't otherwise be in the same room. He's also a Pokémon master (of sorts). In this conversation, we talk about: Why a portfolio career is artistry by another nameHis grandfather who ran an ice cream shop, manufactured children's dresses, and robo-traded from his Upper East Side apartment, and what Max learned from himWhat it feels like to leave a job and watch years of work relationships disappearWhy he built 500+, and what "real community" looks like onlineHis dream of owning a store on Court Street Find Max: 500+ Community: whop.com/500-plusSubstack: readmaxos.substack.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/max-nimaroff/Text him: (516) 660-7269 (his idea, not mine) Thanks for listening to 'Be Cringe'! Find us online: Instagram: @becringepodSubstack: thismightbecringe.comListen to the pod: becringe.riverside.com

  5. Jun 2

    #006: Be the Good on the Internet with Seth Werkheiser

    Seth Werkheiser is the founder of Social Media Escape Club, a freelance email marketer, and, among many (many) other things, has been on the internet in earnest for 25 years. Over the last two-and-a-half decades, Seth has found his place on the internet, through places like his 2001 heavy-metal blog (Buzz Grinder), his AOL music blog (Noise Creep), and being an early adopter of places like Twitter (he was user number 2,700, or so), Flickr, and something called 'IRC', a text-based platform where he used to make plans with people before going to local shows. In this conversation, we talk about: The early internet in all its glory (including a little trip down memory lane).How he accidentally discovered SEO How spending time away from social media can allow you to spend more time on your craft Why most of us wouldn’t know what to do with virality, even if growing more slowly is, well, slowWhy 50 subscribers can be more impactful than 5,000 followers Find Seth Social Media Escape Club: socialmediaescape.clubSubstack: socialmediaescapeclub.substack.comSeth's Blog: sethw.xyz Thanks for listening to ‘Be Cringe’! Find us online: Instagram: @becringepodSubstack: thismightbecringe.comListen to the pod: becringe.riverside.com

  6. May 19

    #005: Be a Lane Switcher with Lia Zneimer

    Lia Zneimer is a former marketing VP, writer, author, theater kid at heart, and dog mom to Waffles. She is working on her YA novel set at theater camp, while navigating the many swim lanes of her career and finding comfort in being able to go back and forth between in-house roles and working for herself (while writing her book) In this conversation, we talk about: Giving ourselves the permission to define our own success in our career.Going back in house, and seeing that as part of a larger career ecosystem.Being theater kids (I promise, we move on quickly).Writing a novel, using the 'author' label before it's published, and having big dreams for where it can go.Being brave enough to examine your career and ask "do I like this or am I just good at it" Find Lia Substack: getrecharged.substack.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/liazneimer/ What Lia Shared: Mary Jantsch’s Pie Chart, referenced hereA plot twist… by Lia ZneimerLia talks about standing in front of three opportunities, and which one she ended up choosing The tech dream is a nightmare by Max PeteCan’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen Thanks for listening to ‘Be Cringe’! Find us online: Instagram: @becringepodSubstack: thismightbecringe.comListen to the pod: becringe.riverside.com

  7. Apr 28

    #004: Be Willing to Get Off the Treadmill with Devon Hunt

    Devon Hunt is a writer, a retreat host, and someone who is drawn to taste, style, and how it comes about. She went to a good school, snagged a business degree, became a CPA, and spent the better half of a decade at a Big 4 firm. She checked promotions off one by one in a career that felt predictable, until one day, she chose to step off the treadmill. In this conversation, we dig into what apathy at work tells us, why the fear of making the wrong choice keeps people stuck longer than the wrong choice itself ever would, and what happened when Devon finally gave herself permission to want more (and allowed herself to be seen doing it). We get into: Why passion fall-off is a signal worth listening to (and why pushing through isn’t always the answer)What burnout leave looks like (spoiler: it’s not a bubble bath)The difference between an opportunity finding you and working your ass off to be in the right place for it, and how they often coexist and seem to intermingleWhy publishing her writing was more difficult for her than the writing itselfWhy fashion and aesthetics deserve intellectual rigor Find Devon Substack: closetbrainrot.substack.com Thanks for listening to 'Be Cringe'! Find us online: Instagram: @becringepodSubstack: thismightbecringe.com If you know someone who'd make a great guest on the pod (yourself included), fill out this form!

  8. Apr 14

    #003: Be a Beginner Again with Amanda Jackson

    Amanda Jackson is a marketer, a writer, a crocheter, a crafter, a baker, an illustrator, and even an ice skater. Said another way: she's a creative who experiments and brings a beginner's mindset to everything she does. In this conversation, we get into: Why it's okay (and encouraged) to have hobbies we're not immediately good at The lessons she brought to the ice and the mic after watching this one classic Disney Channel Original MovieWhat it means to 'donate your talents' to a corporate job as a creative How being yourself in front of teenagers will humble you quickly Find Amanda: Substack: http://mandaroostack.substack.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajacksonamj/ Thanks for listening to 'Be Cringe'! Find us online: Instagram: @becringepodSubstack: This Might Be Cringe If you know someone who'd make a great guest on the pod (yourself included), fill out this form! And if you have read this far, I did in fact find Amanda's first venture into podcasting. Listen here.

  9. Mar 27

    #002: Be the Same Person in Every Room with Max Pete

    Max Pete is a community builder, writer, speaker, and amateur DJ who has spent over a decade showing up online as himself. He doesn't craft a persona or show up differently depending on the situation or environment — he is the same person in every room he enters. In this conversation, we dig into how he got there, the ways ego and identity can help us make decisions, and why being yourself is often the scariest option (but for Max, it's the only option). We get into: How his experiences as a kid shape how he shows up with others todayHow to know when it's finally time to let something go, even if it's something that is seemingly doing well and that other's enjoyWhat it means to build community without it being a strategyScarcity vs. trust as decision driversCareer growth and thoughts on living for retirement Find Max: Substack: Max's NewsletterLinkedIn: Max Pete Thanks for listening to 'Be Cringe'! Find us online: Instagram: @becringepodSubstack: This Might Be CringeIf you know someone who'd make a great guest on the pod (yourself included), fill out this form!

  10. Mar 13

    #001: Hi, This Might Be Cringe, But I'm Here Anyway (SOLO Episode)

    Welcome to episode 1 of 'Be Cringe'. In this solo episode, I talk through some of my inspiration for starting this podcast and where we're going in the future. You can find me online through my Substack, This Might Be Cringe, or Instagram, at @thismightbecringe and @becringepod. If you'd like to sponsor a future episode or know someone who'd make a great guest, please get in touch at hi@julielaufer.com.

  11. Feb 15

    #000: Introducing Be Cringe (Trailer)

    There is something you want to do — you've just been letting your fear (of embarrassment, of failure, of whatever) get in your way. Welcome to Be Cringe, the podcast that explores what happens when you start living for yourself and stop worrying about all the other noise. This might be cringe, but we're doing it anyway. You can find me on Substack or Instagram, and if you know someonw who'd make a great guest you can reach out to me at hi@julielaufer.com.

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Most of us know exactly what we want and want to do. We've just gotten really good at talking ourselves out of it. Welcome to Be Cringe. Be Cringe is the podcast that explores what happens when you start living for yourself and stop worrying about the opinions of others. This might be cringe, but we're doing it anyway.

Information

  • Creator
    Julie Laufer
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Julie Laufer

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