Do you cringe at your own "ums," "uhs," or when you drop a slang word drop at work? Valerie Fridland, a linguist with two decades of research and author of Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English, joins Caroline to make the case that the speech habits we love to criticize are actually powerful social tools. Valerie explains why filled pauses help both speakers and listeners, how a word like "dude" can build connection across social divides, and why language change is natural rather than a sign of decline.

More from Valerie Fridland:

See more of Valeries work and order her books at her website. You can also follow her on LinkedIn.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

Are you constantly tempted by the next new phone, app, or trend, and wondering why it never delivers the satisfaction it promises? Eric Athas, an editor at The New York Times and author of Saying No to New: Why New Things Are Stealing Your Time, Money, and Happiness—And How to Take Back Your Life, joins Caroline to explore why we're wired to chase newness and what it costs us. Drawing on brain science, persuasion research, and interviews with scientists, philosophers, and decision-making experts, Eric explains how retailers, influencers, and technology exploit our impulses for quick dopamine hits. He shares a practical framework for deciding what deserves a place in your life and what to deflect.

More from Eric Athas:

Learn more about Eric, his work and subscribe to his newsletter at ericathas.com.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

Andrea Gash, a speaker, trainer, and career coach, joins Caroline to talk about how to move through grief and loss in both our personal and professional lives. Andrea explains why moving through loss, overwhelm, or an unexpected pivot isn't about bouncing back, but about rebuilding piece by piece. She shares her Momentum Method, a step-by-step framework for discovering who you are now and building a life that feels like your own. If you're standing in the "after" of a major life change and wondering what comes next, this conversation offers practical tools and encouragement to help you move forward with clarity and courage.

More from Andrea Gash:

Learn more about Andrea's work here, and order her book, Don't Bounce Back, Rebuild Forward: How to Reclaim Your Power When Life Breaks the Script.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

How to Harness AI-Human Collaboration with Paula Goldman

Paula Goldman, the first-ever chief ethical and humane use officer at Salesforce, joins Caroline to talk about her new book, [Manage the Machine: How to Harness Human-AI Collaboration at Work](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/paula-goldman/manage-the-machine/9781541608207/#:~:text=Manage the Machine is a,to corporate strategy to HR.). A trained anthropologist who has advised the U.S. government on AI policy, Paula argues that the real competitive advantage will belong to companies that know where to preserve the human touch. She shares a practical framework for deciding which tasks to delegate to AI and where people should stay in charge.

More from Paula Goldman:

Follow Paula on LinkedIn and [buy her book here](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/paula-goldman/manage-the-machine/9781541608207/#:~:text=Manage the Machine is a,to corporate strategy to HR.).

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

Music in this episode:

Minimal Brain Activity by Unheard Music Concepts. Free Music Archive. CC BY.

Natalia Emanuel and Emma Harrington are Harvard-trained economists and leading researchers on remote and in-person work, whose data-driven studies have tracked millions of work hours across Fortune 500 companies, startups, and call centers. In their new book In Person, they bring hard evidence to the contentious return-to-office debate, revealing that while remote work is fine for checking off tasks, being physically together dramatically boosts creativity, mentorship, and innovation. In this episode, they explain the science behind why in-person collaboration works—and offer practical, research-backed strategies for calculating the right amount of office time, preserving flexibility, and avoiding the RTO mandates that backfire.

More from Emma and Natalia:

You can learn more about Emma and Natalia (and order the book) at inpersonbook.com.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

Barb Betts is a keynote speaker, CEO, and author of The Relationship Advantage, who helps sales teams and leaders build the trust-based connections that actually drive revenue, retention, and stronger teams. With more than 23 years in sales and leadership, she built a seven-figure business for over a decade without ads or cold outreach—proof that relationships, not transactions, are the real driver of long-term success. In this episode, she shares her 5x5 Method™, a simple daily practice for building relationships before you need them, and explains how she turned that approach into a repeatable system now used across industries like healthcare, finance, and real estate.

More from Barb Betts:

Learn more about Barb and her work at [barbbetts.com](http://barbbetts.comhttps://barbbetts.com/). You can also follow her on Instagram.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

Music in this episode:

The Soft Approach by PC III. Free Music Archive. CC BY.

Rashmi Airan is a leadership expert and transformation strategist who once had it all, an Ivy League law degree and a high-powered Wall Street career. Then, a spectacular fall landed her in federal prison. Rather than let that failure define her, she rebuilt her life and now helps leaders and organizations do the same: face hard truths, build trust, and grow through discomfort instead of avoiding it. In this episode, she shares lessons from her book All Rise and its RISE framework, making the case that real growth only comes from moving through pain, not around it.

More from Rashmi Airan:

Learn more about Rashmi and her work at rashmiairan.com.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

Music in this episode:

Quickening by malictusmusic. Free Music Archive. CC BY.

Minimal Brain Activity by Unheard Music Concepts. Free Music Archive. CC BY.

In this episode, Caroline interviews Jia Jiang, to discuss his new book, Easy Discipline: An Unconventional Way to Achieve Ambitious Things. Drawing on his own struggles with ADHD and procrastination, Jia argues that the most successful people don't rely on grit and willpower, they find ways to make hard things feel easy. If you've ever felt like discipline is a losing battle against distraction and disorganization, this conversation offers a refreshingly different approach to getting things done—and actually enjoying the process.

More from Jia Jang:

Learn more about Jia's work and order his book at www.jiajiang.com. You can also follow him on LinkedIn.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

Caroline Webb is a leadership coach, economist, and author of "Leadership Intelligence: Science-Based Strategies for Mastering Twenty-One Everyday Management Challenges". In this episode, Caroline shares practical, science-backed strategies for making smarter decisions, managing conflict, building trust, and steering through uncertainty. Whether you're a new manager or a seasoned executive, her actionable playbook offers tools designed to make leadership feel less like guesswork and more like a craft you can master.

More from Caroline Webb:

Learn more about Caroline's work and order her book at https://carolinewebb.co. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

Music in this episode:

Liberosis by Nihilore. Free Music Archive. CC BY.

Lata Hamilton wants to help women navigate career transitions and earn what they're worth. Drawing on her own experience tripling her salary in three years, along with change management work that has touched over 100,000 people across major Australian companies, she offers practical strategies for pivoting careers, building unshakeable confidence, and future-proofing your professional path. In this episode, Lata shares real-world tools for overcoming self-doubt, identifying your ideal career direction, and maximizing your earning potential—plus her perspective on how AI is reshaping the future of work and career growth.

More from Lata Hamilton:

Learn more about Lata's work and order her book at www.latahamilton.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.

In this episode Caroline talks with Mary Helen Rogers, the Chief Marketing Officer at the International Sleep Products Association about how sleep and overall well being make us more productive at work. Mary Helen shares insights on why quality sleep matters and how small, consistent habits can help listeners start every day with a good night's sleep. Her practical, science-backed approach makes this a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their energy, focus, and overall quality of life.

More from Mary Helen Rogers:

Follow Mary Helen on LinkedIn.

More from Caroline Dowd-Higgins:

Head to carolinedowdhiggins.com to book Caroline as your next keynote speaker, check out her books or get in touch.