There's one moment that can completely transform your career trajectory, the job interview. Yet most of us approach it with outdated advice, generic answers, and crossed fingers. We rock up thinking we can wing it, hoping they won't ask about our biggest weakness and secretly panicking about whether we've done enough research. Meanwhile, there's always that one candidate who seems to have it all figured out, asking thoughtful questions and making genuine connections. What's their secret?

The truth is, interviewing is a skill that can be mastered. And when you get it right, it opens doors you never thought possible.

This week on BIZ, we're breaking down how to turn interview anxiety into interview advantage. Whether you're re-entering the workforce, changing careers, or climbing the ladder, this is your roadmap to interview success.

Here's what we're covering:

• The strategic research that sets you apart before you even walk through the door

• Four powerful questions that demonstrate you're serious about the role

• The simple preparation technique that calms your nerves and keeps you focused

• How to transform rejection into your next opportunity

• Eli Gunduz's proven "Pitch–Proof–Ping–Personalise" method that recruiters can't ignore 

Our BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

Resources Mentioned: 

• Eli Gunduz's  "Pitch–Proof–Ping–Personalise" method

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Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! 

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem

SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's be honest...waiting until you feel "ready" to make a career move is like waiting for the perfect weather to start exercising. It's never going to happen, and meanwhile, everyone else is getting ahead. This week, we're diving deep into why learning isn't just nice-to-have anymore - it's career insurance. Our guest Andrea Clark has spent her career helping people adapt fast, and she doesn't believe in waiting until you're ready to grow.

From recognizing when that "mutual value exchange" with your employer has run its course, to spotting signals of change before they become obvious to everyone else. We explore why Andrea invested $3,000 in an AI course back in 2017 (spoiler: it paid off massively) and tackle the biggest blocker to career growth - thinking you need to feel 100% confident before taking action.

What you'll learn:

• The "mutual value exchange" test to know when it's time to move on

• How to spot signals of change 5 years before your industry

• Micro-learning strategies for busy people who think they don't have time

• Why courage brings clarity and how to turn experiments into evidence

• How to align your learning goals with where your business is heading in 2030

Resources:

• Future Fit: How To Stay Relevant And Competitive In The Future Of Work by Andrea Clarke
• Adapt: Mastering change in four steps by Andrea Clarke

Our BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

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Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! 

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem

GUEST: Andrea Clarke

SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you feel guilty for taking breaks? Put work ahead of your relationships? Ignore your health in the name of productivity? You might be stuck in workaholic mode without even realising it! 

Meet your new BIZ hosts: Lisa Lie (former Head of People & Culture who worked herself into burnout twice in one year) and Em Vernem (Associate Editor at Mamamia who discovered that giving 80% at work prevents the burnout that comes from constantly operating at 100%). They've been trapped in the cycle, escaped it, and now they're exposing the workaholic trap that's keeping high-achievers burning out—even when they love what they do.

You'll learn: 

• The signs you're already caught in the cycle
• Where workaholic tendencies actually come from (hint: it's not what you think)
• How the workaholic trap sabotages your daily life without you noticing
• Why that promotion might be making everything worse

PLUS we take the University of Bergen’s 7-point Workaholism Test (finally, a way to tell the difference between working hard and working too hard), and chat the exact steps Lisa took to escape the workaholic cycle for good!

Resources That Actually Work:

Jane Martino, Co-Founder of Smiling Mind and Coach at Kintsugi Way 

Mamamia's Well Burnout Episode: Is It Burnout Or Am I Just Really Tired?

7 Signs You May Be A Workaholic

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide To Personal Freedom'by Don Miguel Ruiz

Less Hustle, More Happy by Claire Seeber

Our new BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

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Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon!

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going from mate to manager can get weird, fast. One day you're in the group chat laughing with your colleagues, the next day they might be laughing at you behind your back. This week, we're tackling one of the trickiest workplace transitions: becoming the boss of your former teammates. We dig into why this shift feels so bloody awkward (spoiler: it's not just you), how to navigate the immediate identity crisis when suddenly nobody wants to gossip with you anymore, and the art of setting expectations without turning into a micromanager overnight.

Plus, we reveal the coaching trick that gets people to solve their own problems, why letting your team do "B plus work" is actually good leadership, and when to recognise that management might not be for you - and that's completely okay.

What you'll learn:

• The Reset Conversation: How to acknowledge the shift without making it weird
• The B Plus Work Philosophy: Why perfectionist managers fail their teams
• The Question Technique: The coaching trick that creates ownership instead of dependency
• The Identity Shift Reality: Why your value isn't in doing the job anymore, it's in helping others do it well

Our new BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

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Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon!

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Tina Matolov

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever suggest something new at work only to hear "that's just how we do things here" and watch the energy completely deflate? Yeah, we've all been there. This week, we're chatting with Wade Kingsley about breaking free from status quo thinking and actually getting your ideas heard without being shut down or laughed at (been there too).

Wade breaks down why most workplaces are set up to reward playing it safe, how to identify whether you're a Dreamer, Doer, or Doubter on your team, and the genius strategy of testing ideas in kitchen conversations before you pitch them to the boss. Plus, we dive into why creativity isn't about having the most artistic job - it's about getting curious and asking "but what if we tried this instead?" when everyone else just accepts the way things are.

What you'll learn:

• The Three Creative Types and why your team needs all of them (spoiler: it's not just about the big idea people)
• Why you should never pitch your brilliant idea to the boss first - and who to talk to instead
• The 'Five Whys' technique for getting to the real problem (not just what's on the surface)
• How to frame risky ideas as "experiments" so people actually want to try them
• The art of separating brainstorming from reality-checking so ideas don't get killed instantly
• How to build creative confidence even when you've been shot down before

Our new BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! 

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem

GUEST: Wade Kingsley

SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget everything you think you know about career success, this is the secret playbook of one of Hollywood's most influential female executives. In this special episode, Em sits down with Sarah Harden, the Australian powerhouse who co-founded and was the ex-CEO of Reese Witherspoon's $100 million media empire, Hello Sunshine.

Sarah reveals the exact strategic moves that transformed her from a politics grad into a leader who built a company responsible for hits like Big Little Lies and The Morning Show. Her philosophy? You have to "stretch and take yourself out of your comfort zone—there is incredible learning and growth in that."

This is your practical blueprint for accelerated career growth.

What you'll learn: 

• The Accelerator Move: The specific career decision that turbocharges growth (and why most women skip it).

• Doubt vs. Curiosity: How to strategically swap out self-doubt for a curious mindset when evaluating opportunities.

• The Fastest Path: Why stepping into discomfort is the non-negotiable step for exponential career success.

• The Money Framework: The powerful process for turning consumer insights into multi-million dollar business decisions.

• Authentic Culture: Sarah's keys to building a strong, inclusive company culture that lasts.

Connect with Sarah and Hello Sunshine:

• Follow Hello Sunshine on Instagram
• Learn more about Drop of Sunshine wines
• Visit their website: Hello Sunshine

Must Watch Shows: 

• Morning Wars
• Big Little Lies 
• Little Fires Everywhere

Our new BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! 

GUEST: Sarah Harden

HOSTS: Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever found yourself scrolling LinkedIn at 2 am wondering if you should completely change careers?The average Australian will have 5-6 career changes in their lifetime - so if you're considering it, you're not alone!

Career pivots can feel equal parts exciting and terrifying. In this episode, we get into the real stuff: how to know if it's time to make a move, what to do when you're not sure where to start, and why "transferable skills" are more than just a LinkedIn buzzword. From personal stories to practical advice, we cover the trade-offs and key questions to ask yourself before making the leap.

Our BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

That's a wrap on the BIZ season - thanks for listening along! Stay tuned on our socials @bizbymamamia on Instagram and LinkedIn for what's next.

Resources Mentioned:

You can find more from Lauren here with some guides on some of the toughest feedback conversations to have:

• BIZ Ep: How To Get Along With Anyone
• BIZ Ep: How To Nail The Job Interview

• Ideal Career Coach: Kate Richardson 
• 'Play to your strengths' in Learna.
• The clever reason why adult women are giving themselves homework
• General Assembly - Professional Development Courses

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Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! 

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem

SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feedback the word that makes most of us want to hide under our desks. Whether you're asking for it or giving it, feedback conversations can feel bloody awkward. But here's the thing: we all know we need it to grow.

This week on BIZ, leadership coach Lauren Humphrey, co-founder of The Mentable chats how to tackle the feedback minefield. We're exploring why feedback feels so intense (even when we ask for it), the difference between feedback and feelings, and how to build feedback into your work relationships without making it weird. From the psychology behind why we resist feedback to practical scripts for giving it to your boss or peers, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you master one of the most important workplace skills.

What you'll learn: 

• The SARA model - why we all go through shock, anxiety, resistance, and acceptance when receiving feedback
• How to tell the difference between feedback and conflict
• Real scripts for giving feedback to peers, bosses, and team members
• How to build feedback into your regular work rhythm so it stops feeling like a big deal

Our BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

Resources Mentioned:

You can find more from Lauren here with some guides on some of the toughest feedback conversations to have:

'What to do when your boss needs feedback' - in Learna

'Giving your peers feedback' - in Learna

Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well (Even When It Is Off Base, Unfair, Poorly Delivered, and, Frankly, You're Not In the Mood) Hardcover by Douglas Stone (Author), Sheila Heen (Author)

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Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! 

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem

GUEST: Lauren Humphrey (Co-founder The Mintable)

SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lying on your resume when everyone else seems to be getting ahead? Struggling with reference dilemmas when your boss left on bad terms? Or maybe you've accidentally discovered your company's secret layoff plans and don't know whether to warn your colleagues?

This week, we're diving into resume ethics, reference nightmares, and the ultimate workplace moral dilemma in our season finale.

What you'll learn:

• Resume Ethics Reality Check: Why changing your job title from "Marketing Intern" to "Marketing Coordinator" crosses the line from embellishment to lying, plus how to showcase expanded responsibilities without fabricating your actual role

• Reference Dilemma Solutions: Navigating tricky reference situations when bosses leave badly, whether you can use junior colleagues as references, and how to politely decline being someone's reference when they weren't great at their job

• The Ultimate Workplace Bombshell: What to do when you accidentally discover massive layoffs are coming while your colleagues are buying houses and planning weddings - should you warn them and risk your career, or stay silent?

Plus: A follow-up on sick leave rights - why Australian employees are never legally required to find their own replacement when calling in sick, even if it's written into their contract.

Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advice podcast where awkward career questions get real-world solutions.

Got office politics nightmares or boss-from-hell situations? Send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain completely anonymous!

SHOW MENTIONS: 

BIZ: The Exact Script To Calling In Sick 

Get more Sarah Davidson in her sensational podcast Seize The Yay!
Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here to get all our tips and tricks.

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Support independent women's media
Follow the Biz Instagram and Sarah's very own podcast: Seize The Yay Podcast.

HOSTS: Sarah Davidson and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being a team manager isn't just about hitting targets - it's about helping your team grow and getting them ready for what's coming next. And right now, the skill that matters most is coaching!

Let's be honest - most new managers feel like they're drowning. Everything's coming at them, everyone's coming at them, and they're stuck in that old-school "delegate and instruct" mode that leaves everyone frustrated. But here's the thing: coaching isn't some mystical two-hour journey exploration. It can be a five-minute conversation with four simple questions.

This week, we break down why coaching is the unlock that transforms you from a micromanager into someone who actually develops their team. They're sharing the practical, no-nonsense approach that builds trust, develops independence, and helps you step back without stepping away.

What you'll learn:

• Why coaching beats the old "tell people what to do" management style every time

• The difference between coaching, mentoring, and managing (and when to use each)

• Five game-changing questions you can use right now - no certification required

• How to resist your "hero complex" and let your team actually solve problems

• The art of "snap coaching" - coaching in the moment when it matters most

• When NOT to coach (because sometimes you just need to give direction)

Our BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

Resources Mentioned:

Learna:
'Start coaching in the moment' - Learna
'Stop being the team fixer' - Learna
'Empower people with coaching' - Learna

Books:

Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stainer

The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stainer

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! 

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem

SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feeling like you need to perform "interesting" at work by cramming business news and sitting in irrelevant meetings? Wondering if there's a secret timing hack for job applications that TikTok swears by? Or maybe you're the boss's unwanted favourite and it's making your work life hell?

This week, we're tackling workplace performance anxiety, job application myths, and the tricky politics of being singled out by management.

What you'll learn:

• The Performative Workplace Trap: Why forcing yourself to seem "interesting" through business news and irrelevant meetings is exhausting and unsustainable, plus authentic ways to stand out that actually showcase your personality

• Job Application Timing Truth: Debunking the TikTok theory about the "secret 24-48 hour window" and why you shouldn't game the system, plus real strategies for getting your resume noticed through referrals and connections

• Unwanted Favourite Survival Guide: How to set gentle boundaries when your boss overshares and plays favourites, managing the delicate power balance without losing your job or your colleagues' respect

Plus: The shocking Microsoft study revealing we're living in the "infinite work day" - from 6am email checks to 10pm inbox raids, and why 48% of us describe our workdays as complete chaos.

Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advice podcast where awkward career questions get real-world solutions.

Got office politics nightmares or boss-from-hell situations? Send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain completely anonymous!

SHOW MENTIONS: 

Get more Sarah Davidson in her sensational podcast Seize The Yay!
Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here to get all our tips and tricks.

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media
Follow the Biz Instagram and Sarah's very own podcast: Seize The Yay Podcast.

HOSTS: Sarah Davidson and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.