The Unlearning Work Podcast

Erin Merideth
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Welcome to the Unlearning Work Podcast a space to rethink how you approach work, show up for yourself, and create progress that feels sustainable. Each episode offers grounded, actionable insights to help you unlearn habits and strategies that no longer serve you, whether you’re managing a full-time job, growing a side hustle, or simply looking for more clarity and ease in your workday. Through real stories and behavioral science-backed ideas, we explore how to work with more intention and less overwhelm. If you're ready to trade hustle for alignment and effort for impact, you're in the right place. Tune in and build a work life that actually works for you.

  1. 31. When It’s Not You: What to Do When Your Role Stops Working

    2D AGO

    31. When It’s Not You: What to Do When Your Role Stops Working

    When It’s Not You: What to Do When Your Role Stops Working Most people think if they keep doing good work, things will move. But at work, effort doesn’t always convert into opportunity. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down what’s actually happening when you feel stuck in a role that used to work for you. The issue isn’t always your performance. It’s how work is set up around you. When you focus only on doing more, you can miss what actually creates movement. And that’s where frustration builds. You’ll learn: Why strong performance doesn’t always lead to opportunity How internal movement is really driven by relationships and sponsorship What it means when your work isn’t getting traction The difference between a stretch role and a misaligned setup A simple way to start creating movement without making a big change Reflection:Where am I putting in more effort… instead of looking at whether this setup can actually move my work?   📲 Subscribe & Stay Connected 📥 Download the Unlearning Work App for exclusive tools and behavior design resources🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform⭐ Leave a review if this episode resonated—it helps others discover the work📬 Join the Work Reimagined Newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and free behavior frameworks📱 Follow Erin Merideth on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook for weekly leadership and behavioral science insights

    7 min

  2. APR 20

    30. Stop Trying to Be Right: How Strategic Thinking Actually Works at Work

    Stop Trying to Be Right: The Strategic Shift That Gets Your Work to Move Most people think being strategic means having the best idea. But at work, the best idea doesn’t always win. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down why smart, capable people often get labeled as “not strategic” and what’s actually going on underneath it. The issue isn’t your thinking. It’s how decisions really get made. When you focus only on what’s right, you can miss what will actually move. And that’s where frustration starts. You’ll learn: Why “not strategic” feedback usually means your ideas aren’t landing The difference between having the right idea and getting buy-in How to identify what success actually looks like in a meeting Why leaders respond to constraints and metrics, not just good thinking A simple way to shift your approach so your work gets traction Reflection:Where am I focused on being right… instead of understanding what will actually move in this room?   📲 Subscribe & Stay Connected 📥 Download the Unlearning Work App for exclusive tools and behavior design resources🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform⭐ Leave a review if this episode resonated—it helps others discover the work📬 Join the Work Reimagined Newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and free behavior frameworks📱 Follow Erin Merideth on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook for weekly leadership and behavioral science insights

    10 min

  3. APR 6

    29. Why Your Team Isn’t Moving at the Same Speed (And What to Do About It)

    Why Your Team Isn’t Moving at the Same Speed (And What to Do About It) Most leaders think misalignment comes from people not trying hard enough—but what’s actually happening is much simpler. People process, decide, and act at different speeds. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down cognitive agility in real terms—why some people move too fast, others move too slow, and how both create friction. When you understand the behavioral patterns underneath it, you stop getting frustrated and start designing how work actually flows. You’ll learn: What cognitive agility is and how it shows up in your team The patterns behind fast action, hesitation, and repeated questions Why rework and delays are often created by the same problem How to adjust your leadership without lowering your standards A simple way to reduce friction and improve execution this week Reflection:Where am I expecting everyone to move at my speed—and what would change if I adjusted how I lead instead?   📲 Subscribe & Stay Connected 📥 Download the Unlearning Work App for exclusive tools and behavior design resources🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform⭐ Leave a review if this episode resonated—it helps others discover the work📬 Join the Work Reimagined Newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and free behavior frameworks📱 Follow Erin Merideth on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook for weekly leadership and behavioral science insights

    10 min

  4. MAR 23

    28. Stop Solving Everything: The Leadership Skill That Changes Conversations

    Stop Solving Everything: The Leadership Skill That Changes Conversations Most people think they’re good listeners—but often, they’re just fast problem-solvers. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down a simple but powerful shift: knowing when to listen, when to give advice, and when to solve. When you respond too quickly, you take over the thinking. When you slow down and match what’s actually needed, conversations get clearer—and people become more capable. You’ll learn: The 3 types of conversations (listen, advise, solve) Why solving too early creates dependency How to ask the one question that changes everything Simple ways to build more ownership and better thinking on your team Reflection:Where am I stepping in too early… and what would change if I listened just a little longer?  📲 Subscribe & Stay Connected 📥 Download the Unlearning Work App for exclusive tools and behavior design resources🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform⭐ Leave a review if this episode resonated—it helps others discover the work📬 Join the Work Reimagined Newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and free behavior frameworks📱 Follow Erin Merideth on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook for weekly leadership and behavioral science insights

    9 min

  5. MAR 9

    27. Work Stories We Tell Ourselves

    The Story Your Brain Is Telling You at Work A lot of the pressure people feel at work doesn’t come from the work itself. It comes from the story our brain creates about what’s happening around us. A short Slack reply, a quiet meeting moment, or a quick hallway interaction can suddenly feel loaded with meaning. But often those interpretations aren’t based on what’s happening now — they’re echoes from past experiences the brain is trying to protect us from repeating. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin explores how these mental stories shape participation at work and how learning to question them can create more clarity, confidence, and steadiness. You’ll hear: Why hesitation in meetings is often the brain managing social risk How past experiences create “meeting echoes” that influence behavior years later Examples of how we misinterpret everyday work interactions — from Slack messages to quick leadership conversations Small ways to participate more comfortably, including micro-connecting in meeting chat How AI can help you pressure-test ideas and prepare for conversations Reflection:What story might your brain be telling you about a recent interaction at work — and what other explanation could also be true? Unlearning Work is about seeing the patterns shaping your work so you can choose how you show up instead of reacting automatically.   📲 Subscribe & Stay Connected 📥 Download the Unlearning Work App for exclusive tools and behavior design resources🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform⭐ Leave a review if this episode resonated—it helps others discover the work📬 Join the Work Reimagined Newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and free behavior frameworks📱 Follow Erin Merideth on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook for weekly leadership and behavioral science insights

    11 min

  6. FEB 23

    26. Stop Letting Work Decide How You Feel About Yourself

    Stop Letting Work Decide How You Feel About Yourself When work becomes your emotional anchor, everything feels heavier than it should. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin shares a simple but powerful reframe: treat your company like a client, not an identity. When work stops being the place you look for validation or fulfillment, clarity returns and so does steadiness. You’ll hear: Why work quietly becomes emotional fuel A real example of how identity and job get tangled How separating the two reduces stress and self-doubt What it looks like to do strong work without over-attaching Reflection:What have I been asking this job to give me that it was never designed to provide? Unlearning Work is about doing meaningful work without letting it define how you feel about yourself.   📲 Subscribe & Stay Connected 📥 Download the Unlearning Work App for exclusive tools and behavior design resources🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform⭐ Leave a review if this episode resonated—it helps others discover the work📬 Join the Work Reimagined Newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and free behavior frameworks📱 Follow Erin Merideth on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook for weekly leadership and behavioral science insights

    8 min

  7. FEB 9

    25. The Pause That Changes the Room: Why Seeing Another Side Makes Work Easier

    The Pause That Changes the Room Have you ever walked into a work conversation already knowing how it would go only to leave frustrated when it didn’t? In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin shares a simple pause that helps interrupt the mental shortcuts we build with familiar people at work. You’ll learn why your brain fills in the story too fast, how that creates tension, and one small exercise that helps you see more, react less, and communicate more clearly. This episode isn’t about being nicer or giving in. It’s about making work conversations feel easier. You’ll learn: Why familiarity reduces curiosity at work What’s happening in your brain during frustrating interactions A simple rating exercise that breaks automatic assumptions How a short pause can change the tone of a conversation Try this:Before your next difficult conversation, rate the other person’s effectiveness (1–10) and ask: Why isn’t this lower? Notice what changes.Try the pause once this week and notice how the conversation changes.  📲 Subscribe & Stay Connected 📥 Download the Unlearning Work App for exclusive tools and behavior design resources🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform⭐ Leave a review if this episode resonated—it helps others discover the work📬 Join the Work Reimagined Newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and free behavior frameworks📱 Follow Erin Merideth on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook for weekly leadership and behavioral science insights

    8 min

  8. JAN 26

    24. If Work Feels Hard, It’s Probably Not Because of You

    Why does work feel hard, even when you’re capable and committed? Often, it’s not burnout, poor focus, or lack of motivation.It’s the way work is set up and passed between people. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin Merideth breaks down why work becomes exhausting when expectations are unclear, decisions never quite land, and everything feels urgent. When work has no clear shape or stopping point, people don’t disengage—they start guessing, overcompensating, and carrying work home in their heads. This conversation helps listeners understand: Why work stress often comes from unclear handoffs—not personal failure How vague requests and shifting priorities quietly drain energy Why urgency spreads when nothing is clearly protected How “protective habits” form at work—and why they’re not character flaws What actually makes work feel lighter, without changing personalities or working harder This episode is especially helpful for professionals and leaders who feel busy but unsatisfied, struggle to shut work off at the end of the day, or sense that work shouldn’t feel this heavy—but can’t quite explain why. If work feels exhausting, confusing, or hard to finish cleanly, this episode will help you see what’s really going on—and where relief can start.     📲 Subscribe & Stay Connected 📥 Download the Unlearning Work App for exclusive tools and behavior design resources🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform⭐ Leave a review if this episode resonated—it helps others discover the work📬 Join the Work Reimagined Newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and free behavior frameworks📱 Follow Erin Merideth on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook for weekly leadership and behavioral science insights

    10 min
See All (31)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Unlearning Work Podcast a space to rethink how you approach work, show up for yourself, and create progress that feels sustainable. Each episode offers grounded, actionable insights to help you unlearn habits and strategies that no longer serve you, whether you’re managing a full-time job, growing a side hustle, or simply looking for more clarity and ease in your workday. Through real stories and behavioral science-backed ideas, we explore how to work with more intention and less overwhelm. If you're ready to trade hustle for alignment and effort for impact, you're in the right place. Tune in and build a work life that actually works for you.

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