Episode Summary:
In this week’s episode, we sit down with the one and only Tatyana—the Corporate Gen X Mom—for a real, raw, and refreshingly honest conversation about life in the corporate world. As a seasoned professional and mother, Tatyana brings insight, humor, and truth to the table. We dive into what it means to show up authentically at work, the importance of workplace besties, and how to navigate the (often unspoken) challenges of corporate culture, all while juggling the demands of family life. If you’ve ever questioned your place in the corporate machine, this one’s for you.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• There’s often a gap between corporate messaging and real employee experiences.
• Humor isn’t just a coping mechanism—it’s a survival tool.
• Work besties are more than friends—they’re your lifeline.
• Surrounding yourself with respectful, trustworthy colleagues is key.
• Toxic environments require strategic exits or boundaries.
• Balancing motherhood and work is tough—and universal.
• Authentic relationships at work lead to deeper job satisfaction.
• Your company is renting your skills—not your soul.
• Culture change starts with individual mindset shifts.
• Gen Z’s boundaries are influencing a much-needed workplace reset.

🎧 Sound Bites:
🗣️ "I want people to not feel like they're alone."
🗣️ "It's never about the actual job."

👯‍♀️ Brought to you by Work Besties Who Podcast
Hosted by Jess & Claude—two corporate survivors and champions of all things work, wellness, and friendship.

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Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

Stoic Empathy with Shermin Kruse: How to Navigate Difficult Conversations

In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant Shermin Kruse —law professor, TEDx producer, author, and total powerhouse—to explore the concept of stoic empathy. What does it really mean to be both strong and compassionate in today’s workplace? How can leaders show up with emotional intelligence without losing their edge?

Shermin drops incredible insights on:

• Leading with integrity while setting strong boundaries
• What stoicism actually is (hint: it’s not just suppressing emotions!)
• How empathy can be your superpower—even in tough corporate environments
• Real stories from her life that shaped her journey from revolutionary Iran to U.S. boardrooms and classrooms

If you’re a leader, a team player, or just trying to show up better at work and in life, this conversation is for you.

👀 Bonus: Hear about her upcoming book Stoic Empathy and why it’s the personal development read you’ll want in 2025.

Find Her on LinkedIn, Youtube and her book at any location that sells books!

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Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

In this episode of Work Besties, hosts Jess and Claude sit down with Randee Dawn, entertainment journalist and author, to dive into the powerful role of friendship, storytelling, and identity in both creative and professional spaces.

Randee shares her journey to authorship, the long road to publishing, and the importance of networking and community in building a lasting career. She reflects on the depth of male friendships, the underrepresentation of non-romantic relationships in storytelling, and how her own writing brings friendship, fantasy, and music together.

This episode explores how music connects friends, how names shape identity, and why friendships require ongoing effort and communication.

💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ Friendships matter—both in personal and professional life.
✅ Music is a universal connector that strengthens bonds.
✅ Male friendships often lack emotional depth in media and deserve more representation.
✅ Names hold sacred significance and shape our identity.
✅ Writing is a wellness tool—it can be therapeutic and transformative.
✅ Friendships require work—communication and effort make them thrive.
✅ Networking is about real relationships, not transactions.
✅ Friendships evolve over time, reflecting personal growth.
✅ Fantasy storytelling explores deep relationships, even supernatural ones.

Follow Randee on IG, TT, FB & Website

For Her Books Tune In Tomorrow; The Only Song Worth Singing (April 2025 Release)

Send us a text

You can watch the full episode on Youtube
Follow us on IG and TikTok
Please rate, comment and provide suggestions for upcoming episodes

Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband