#314 Erika Ayers-Baden: Grit, Goals, and the Generational Advantage
In the second half of her conversation, Erika Ayers Badan—CEO of Food52, former CEO of Barstool Sports, board leader, media powerhouse, and author of _No One Cares About Your Career_—lets us behind the curtain. From negotiating screen time as a kid to rewriting the rules as a high-profile executive, she reflects on how grit, autonomy, and unfiltered curiosity shaped everything—from her parenting to her management style. She shares why she no longer chases titles, what failure really teaches us, and why today’s “toxic culture” talk often needs more clarity than cancellation. For Gen Xers raising kids, leading teams, or just trying to keep their values intact in a noisy world, this episode is the deep breath you didn’t know you needed.>>The Original Streaming Negotiation“My brother and I shared one hour of TV a week. That’s how I learned to negotiate.”Erika reflects on the creative, disciplined upbringing that shaped her independence—and how it made her a better leader, dealmaker, and parent.>>Titles Are Overrated. Impact Isn’t.“I cared about titles in my 20s. Now I care about purview.”She explains why chasing titles is a trap—and why real career growth is measured in responsibility, resilience, and reach.>>Fail Always Mode“If you feel like you’re failing, it means you care—and you’re trying something new.”Erika breaks down why failure isn’t just tolerable—it’s necessary. And why she rewards effort over perfection every time.>>Culture > Buzzwords“I’m allergic to gossip, inertia, and pontificating.”From toxic culture to real collaboration, Erika shares her no-BS filter for building teams that do the work and actually like doing it.>>Gen Alpha, Gen X, and the Parenting Gap“I worry their advantages are actually disadvantages.”She gets honest about parenting kids in a hyper-stimulated world—and why she’s racing the clock to instill resilience before the clay hardens._____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Erika Ayers Badan
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.12 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>140,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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#313 Erika Ayers-Baden: No One Cares About Your Career—So Build One That Works for You
Erika Ayers Badan isn’t here to polish the truth—she’s here to say it louder. In this first of a two-part series, the current CEO of Food52 and former CEO of Barstool Sports breaks down the raw realities behind her debut book, No One Cares About Your Career. From writing on commuter trains to fielding hundreds of workplace questions a week, Erika shares why her advice hits different—because it’s honest, hard-earned, and hyper-relevant for a Gen X audience still rewriting the rulebook. This isn’t a pep talk. It’s a reset.>>The Title That Says It All“It’s not just a title—it’s the truth.”Erika reveals how No One Cares About Your Career went from a casual comment to the book’s heartbeat—and why it resonates across industries, generations, and inboxes.>>When Creativity Gets Crushed“I went from running wild to daily reforecasts and regulatory meetings.”She opens up about the moment corporate structure smothered her spark—and how writing a book on the train became a lifeline back to creative energy.>>The Mid-Chapter Career Book“This isn’t for the lost or the legends. It’s for the people in the messy middle.”Erika explains who the book is for—and why it’s not another glossy manifesto or three-step self-help trick.>>The Five Things That Actually Matter at Work“Who you are. What you offer. How you show up. What you do with your time. And how much you care.”Forget the buzzwords. Erika distills 25 years of media, tech, and executive leadership into five brutally simple career rules.>>Mentoring at Scale“I get 200 questions a week—and I try to answer every one.”She shares how social media became her advice desk, what Gen Z is most worried about, and why transparency—not perfection—is the new leadership currency._____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Erika Ayers Badan
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.12 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>140,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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#312 Mark Bayer: From Research to Relevance—Helping PhDs Get Heard (and Hired) — Part Two
Mark Bayer spent 20 years in the U.S. Congress shaping major policies and managing high-stakes communication for senior lawmakers. In Part Two, Mark gets practical—breaking down the actual tools and mindset shifts PhDs need to thrive in the private sector. From his 11 Keys to Translating Complexity (complexitymadeclear.com) to why metaphors matter more than models, he shows how scientists can go from overlooked to unforgettable. Plus, what AI can’t do—and why your human voice still matters more than ever.This one’s for anyone who’s been told their skills are “too academic.” Turns out, they’re your superpower—if you know how to use them.Key Highlights of Our Interview:The “11 Keys” Framework“Shakespeare said, brevity is the soul of wit. But it’s also the start of strategy.”Wake Words and Brain Wiring“Our brains tune into the unexpected. Use that to your advantage.”Crossing Cultures & Languages“Being bilingual helps you distill ideas—and respect your audience’s world.”The Real Meaning of Connection“You have to connect before you communicate. That’s not soft—it’s strategy.”AI Can’t Replicate Your Voice“AI pulls from old ideas. Your job is to bring something new, human, and surprising.”_____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Mark Bayer
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.12 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>140,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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#311 Mark Bayer: From Research to Relevance—Helping PhDs Get Heard (and Hired) — Part One
Mark Bayer spent 20 years in the U.S. Congress shaping major policies and managing high-stakes communication for senior lawmakers. In Part One, he reflects on what those years taught him about messaging, persuasion, and why most PhDs—despite their brilliance—struggle to translate their value. From Capitol Hill to Harvard Medical School, Mark now helps scientists and researchers communicate like insiders.This episode is a masterclass in what PhDs get wrong—and what they already have right.Key Highlights of Our Interview:The First “R&D” Mix-up“I thought they were talking about research and development. But it was Republicans and Democrats.”The 8% Problem“Only 8% of PhDs stay in academia. But nearly all are trained as if that’s the only path.”Misunderstood Advantage“PhDs are analytical, resilient, focused—yet many don’t see those as selling points.”Beauty vs. Relevance“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Importance is in the eye of the stakeholders.”Your Message Has 10 Seconds“Lead with the punchline. Or your audience will drift.”Why Communication ≠ Dumping Data“Scientists want to show everything they know. But that’s not the job. The job is to answer the question.”_____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Mark Bayer
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.12 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>140,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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#310 Jevon Wooden: From Cell Block to C-Suite — Part Two
From facing seven years in prison at 17 to leading soldiers in Afghanistan, Jevon Wooden’s story is more than a redemption arc—it’s about owning your power the moment you realize you’ve still got one.In Part 1, Jevon, the author of "Functional to Phenomenal" and "Own Your Kingdom", opens up about growing up in one of America’s poorest cities, learning to survive, and ultimately discovering his worth had nothing to do with money.Key Highlights of Our Interview:Veterans Day, Forever Changed“I watched six people die. A year later, my daughter was born on the same day.” When trauma and hope collide.From Pain to Purpose“That red flash in my nightmares? It stopped the day I forgave my father.” The invisible work behind healing.Coaching the “A-hole Executive”“He said, ‘I care—I just don’t know how to show it.’” Helping leaders reconnect with their team, and themselves.Empathy ≠ Weakness“It’s not about being soft—it’s about being smart.” Why emotional intelligence is the hardest and most essential leadership skill.Watch Your Patterns“Triggers tell the truth. Learn what sets you off—before it costs your team.” The self-awareness most leaders skip._____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Jevon Wooden
--Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.12 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>140,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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