Offline & Unfiltered

Hosted by Lakisha Alexander & Megan Pawlak

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About the show

On this podcast, our hosts Lakisha and Megan engage in thoughtful and honest discussions on business and culture. Through interviews with industry experts, conversations with listeners, and reflecting on their own experiences, the hosts peel back the layers of the professional veneer and get to the human side of the workplace. Listeners can expect unfiltered conversations with real people across diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and have a few laughs along the way.

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19 recent

10 min

Exciting Changes Coming to Offline & Unfiltered!

TLDR; We're taking a break to do some cool stuff! We'll be back with a shiny new Season 2 later in 2025.It's been an incredible year building Offline & Unfiltered, and we feel so so lucky to have such great fanbase and platform to have thought-provoking conversations and a lot of laughs.That said, we need to walk our own talk. We have learned a ton this past year, and we're going to apply some of those lessons to change the podcast for the better. Some things you can expect:Shorter episodes! We'll be experimenting with ~45 interview driven episodes and ~20 minute advice driven episodes. We want to make our episodes easier to slot into your day.Season Format! We'll now do seasons rather than biweekly episodes year round. We feel this is the best way to deliver you the best quality content while also staying on top of our jobs and lives.Patreon! We are completely independent and want to remain ad free. We plan to set up a Patreon to help us pay for all the tools we use and support we receive, as well as working towards a bigger goal of renting recording studio space. Your support would mean the world to us.We're also exploring marketing help, because Lakisha and Megan hate social media.All that said, we're taking a break! We'll be back later in 2025 with our new format and more Offline & Unfiltered conversations.Have a topic you'd love to hear us cover? Know someone who would be an interesting guest? Want to chat with us about marketing support? Want to send us positive vibes? Email us! info@offlineandunfiltered.comThank you for an incredible year,Lakisha & MeganWe are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com

1 hr 17 min

EP18: Worth VS Worth It - A Honest Conversation on Compensation with Sonja Smith

In today's episode, we give listeners a look behind the curtain on how HR professionals really feel about compensation. Spoiler alert: Not positively.HR veteran Sonja Smith joins us for an unfiltered conversation about one of the most complex and often frustrating aspects of work. With over 20 years of experience in HR and talent acquisition, Sonja breaks down why companies struggle with fair pay, the truth about salary ranges, and why being loyal to your employer might actually be costing you money.We dive deep into how compensation really works behind the scenes, from the challenges of pay transparency laws to the uncomfortable reality of salary negotiations. Sonja shares invaluable insights about when (and if) you should ask for a raise, why companies often fail to adjust internal salaries to match market rates, and how both employees and employers can better navigate compensation conversations.This episode offers practical takeaways for anyone looking to understand their worth in the workplace, advocate for themselves effectively, or better understand how compensation decisions are really made. Whether you're an employee wondering about your next salary negotiation or a manager trying to have better compensation conversations with your team, this discussion provides honest, actionable insights from someone who's seen it all.Key topics include:Why compensation philosophies matterThe impact of pay transparency lawsHow companies determine salary rangesThe "loyalty penalty" and its effectsTips for discussing compensation with your managerCommon compensation myths and misconceptionsConnect With Our GuestSonja Smith on LinkedInAtera HRSonja's SubstackResources:Comprehensive.ioPay Transparency Laws: A State by State GuideWe are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com

54 min

E17: Changing Where You Are For Who You Are with Kenyetta Hall

"If you cannot be who you are where you are, you change where you are, not who you are.” — Caroline WangaWe're excited to welcome Kenyetta Hall back for one of our deepest conversations to date, the complexities of navigating corporate America as a black woman. Lakisha has wanted to have this conversation for sometime now, and we knew Kenyetta would be a great counterpart to this important conversation.As a reminder for our listeners, Kenyetta is an entrepreneur and strategic consultant who specializes in helping businesses bridge the gap between vision and execution. With her company, The Katalyst HQ, she focuses on business strategy, digital product development, and leadership development, offering services like strategic planning, software development, and product management.We covered a broad range of topics, from dealing with poor leaders to code switching, and got into spaces that may make some uncomfortable. We also laughed a ton and had a great time. Our biggest takeaway is the reminder that not every company or job may be for you, and that's ok. Go find the place that is.As always, we have these conversations to give our listeners a new perspective and humanize the workplace. We hope folks from all background take away from valuable nuggets from this conversation.Connect with our Guest:Kenyetta Hall LinkedInThe Katalyst HQResources For Listeners:The Diversity Gap: Where Good Intentions Meet True Cultural Change - Bethaney Wilkinson DEI Deconstructed - Lily ZhangThe Inclusive Organization - Netta JenkinsHow to Be an Ally: Actions You Can Take for a Stronger, Happier Workplace - Melinda Briana Epler We are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com

1 hr 4 min

E16 - Is it "spicy"? Or is it just right? with Jazmyn Lopez

Can you truly be authentic in the workplace? How does one balance their own values and beliefs in environments that make that so hard? And... if you do need to GTFO, how do you build something that is true to your own vision?We dig into this questions and many more with our hilarious, honest, and impressive guest, Jazmyn Lopez. Jazmyn is the founder and thought leader behind Anthelo, a consulting studio concept that delivers her mission is to help intentional entrepreneurs cut through the noise to build sustainable business growth. Her unique corporate experience blends with a no-nonsense personality and earned authority to guide ambitious leaders through the journey of expansion. Our conversation with Jazmyn reemphasized the importance of changing your environment to meet your needs, and not the other way around. We laughed, we swore a lot, and we also discussed the challenges that we have all faced in one way or another.Connect with Our Guest:Anthelo Consulting StudioConnect with Jazmyn on LinkedInA Note From our Hosts: We're shaking up some things and getting ready to roll into another year of O&U! In this reflection stage, we are dropping our episodes down to one per month through the end of the year. We're excited to bring you format changes and even more unfiltered content in 2025We are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com

1 hr 15 min

E15 - What's Your Bias? With Heeral Gudka

It's been a challenging time for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and for the professionals working in this space.In the US, backlash and polarization has resulted in several well know organizations reducing or eliminating their DEI teams and programs. The Society of Human Resources Management recently made the decision to "rebrand" DEI despite the loud outcry from their members. Those who feel the most passionate about this work are now exploring avenues like consulting and public speaking after years of working in resource deprived corporate environments.Regardless of how you feel about DEI, it's clear that something isn't working. However that doesn't change the fact that we all have bias, our biases can negatively impact our place of work (culturally, legally, financially, etc.), and the only way to address that is to talk about it.This is a delicate and often controversial subject, one we wanted to look at from outside the American lens, which has resulted in what might be one of our most 'unfiltered' conversations to date.Our guest this week is Heeral Gudka, an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion consultant in the UK who's been working with organizations since 2014. Her 10 years of experience in EDI spans across private, public and third-sector organizations, delivering consultancy to People Teams and Executive Boards, stand-alone workshops and also curating 6 to 12 month employee learning journeys. The support she provides to senior leadership teams is an essential part of the success they have created internally in building inclusive cultures – everyone needs a safe space to talk about difficult subjects, but they also need to understand where risks lie when it comes to workforces that don't understand minimum expectations.Heeral is a former actuary and risk professional, she is trained to coach from a trauma-informed perspective, has a diploma in counselling skills and a deep interest in philosophy and consistent thinking – the ideal blend of skills for providing this support to senior leaders.She also wishes she could see more of the night sky, but London is her home and that just doesn't happen there! Obvious trigger warning as we dig into some sticky conversations around trauma and identity that may be upsetting to some listeners. However, we hope our listeners will walk away with a new perspective and inspiration to be the change they want to see in their workplace.Is DEI 'business critical'? We'll let you decide.Resources from this episode:To get in touch with Heeral about EDI or dark sky recommendations you can find her on LinkedIn. Changes Coming Soon to Offline & Unfiltered!Dear listeners, we have had so much fun bringing you unfiltered conversations and finding our home in the podcast ecosystem. We have learned so much and are committed to bringing you the best quality content. In 2025, you'll see some refinement to our format, sustained activity on the socials, and much more. To achieve these goals, we're slowing down a bit. Through the end of 2024 O&L will release one episode a month, rather than two. Don't worry, we'll be back to two episodes per month in 2025.Thank you for your continued support. Please don't forget to like, subscribe, give us 5 stars, tell all your friends, and all that good stuff.More to come.We are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com

50 min

E14 - Building Trust in Tech with Alice Hunsberger

How should we be treating each other on the internet?Who is responsible for deciding what is or isn't allowed on any given platform? What happens when you hit that little "report" button? Moreover, what is it like to be the professional that might see the worst of the worst on the internet?In today's episode, we give our listeners a view into the world of platform Trust & Safety with our guest, Alice Hunsberger. Alice is Vice President of Trust & Safety and Content Moderation at PartnerHero, with wide experience across the Trust and Safety ecosystem. She's the founder of the Trust in Tech podcast, which addresses Trust & Safety issues in tech, and writes the Trust & Safety Insider Newsletter with Everything in Moderation. Previously, Alice was VP of CX and T&S at Grindr for 3 years, and also led the CX / T&S team at OkCupid/ Match Group for 10 years. She is passionate about ethical tech policy, believing that dating apps, and indeed the whole internet, should be welcoming, equitable, and inclusive for everyone.In our conversation, we discuss Alice's unique career journey and how she found herself battling internet bad actors for the greater good. Alice also outlines ways T&S professionals (or any professional) can safeguard their mental health, how the T&S industry is evolving, and how we can all be better stewards of the internet.Resources Mentioned In This Episode:Learn More about Alice and access her T&S resources here.Read Alice's Newsletter - Everything In ModerationListen to Alice on the Trust In Tech PodcastAttend TrustCon or Marketplace Risk Learn more about Alice's current company - PartnerHeroWe are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com

1 hr 11 min

E13 - The "Brilliant Jerk" Conundrum

"No brilliant jerks"Netflix thrusted this phrase into the corporate vernacular in 2009, proudly asserting that they would not retain employees who were high performers but difficult to work with. Other companies followed suit, and the "no brilliant jerks" moniker remains a steadfast value many companies claim to adhere to in their hiring and cultural practices.Seems like a noble but simple concept to adhere to, right?But...What happens when you 'brilliant jerk" is locked into a high profile, multi-million dollar contract?What happens when your "brilliant jerk" accounts for almost 8% of your company revenue?What happens when your "brilliant jerk" is a global superstar teetering on the edge of an epic PR implosion?In 2022 the Rolling Stone published Inside Kanye West's Yeezy: Abrupt Firings, Alleged Nazi Inspiration, and 'Pure Chaos' The article painted a bleak and scathing portrait of what life was like for the many current and former employees working for the Yeezy brand, and how leadership seemly turned a blind eye. Similar stories would follow, and both internal and external pressure would result in Adidas dissolving their partnership with the controversial artist.Our hosts were so captivated by this story as it unfolded, so much so that it was the inspiration for this podcast. In this episode, our hosts dive into this complicated story to ask what really happened at Adidas? How bad was it to work for the Yeezy brand? What should have been done for Adidas employees? Did Adidas choose to put profits over people?This is a spicy conversation that had our hosts contemplating the ethics of brilliance, corporate accountability, and idol worship.Disclaimer: Our views expressed on this episode are based on our personal opinions, experiences, and the various articles that are available publicly. We do our best to reflect events accurately, but also acknowledge that there are many sides to this complex story.Articles Mentioned In This Episode:Inside Kanye West’s Yeezy: Abrupt Firings, Alleged Nazi Inspiration and ‘Pure Chaos' - Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling StoneKanye and Adidas: Money, Misconduct and the Price of Appeasement - Megan Twohey, New York TimesWe are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com

1 hr 2 min

E12 - Tales From The Internet - Digging Through r/antiwork

Welcome to today's episode for a unique conversation. Megan, a borderline Reddit obsessive reads Lakisha, a reddit novice, a collection of tales from one of the most popular subreddits, r/antiwork. After each story we ask ourselves; Do we think the story is real?What went wrong here?What advice would you give the poster?What could someone do in a similar circumstance? Should they just quit their job?The antiwork subreddit is an online community on Reddit where users discuss issues related to work, labor, and employment. Topics often include critiques of capitalism, sharing of personal stories related to workplace struggles, advice on quitting jobs and/or finding better work-life balance. The community has gained significant attention, especially during movements like the Great Resignation, where many people started questioning the value and impact of their jobs. Embrace internet anonymity and ponder the other side of the story in today's lighthearted episode. We are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com

1 hr 8 min

E11 - Finding Deeper Meaning with Nick Duggan

On this show, our favorite conversations are the ones that result in a shift in perspective. The ones that challenge us to put ideas and language around things we either believe strongly about, or never even considered. So, when our guest Nick Duggan wanted to discuss the concept of Workplace Spirituality, recognizing our host's vastly different outlooks on this topic, we knew we were in for an interesting episode. Nick has been developing people and organizations for more than 20 years, and is passionate about making work more meaningful for all. As the founder of the coaching and training firm Deeper Work, Nick partners with people-focused leaders to increase their impact through meaningful, identity-conscious leadership development and coaching. He brings to this work a successful track record of leading learning & development; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and employee communications and engagement for companies such as AppFolio, GoTo, DaVita, and the American Heart Association. Nick holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from UC Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from William James College, where he completed a thesis on “Engaging The Soul Within Organizations: Practical Implications of Workplace Spirituality Research.”In one of our most interesting and honest conversations to date, we discussed the difficulties putting language around concepts like spiritualty, how we can engage with others productively when their beliefs are different or counter to our own, and what it means to find a sense of purpose in our work. Get a bit uncomfortable, define what spirituality means to you, and decide where it fits into you own work in this introspective discussion. Connect With Our Guest & Episode ResourcesDeeper WorkGoing Deeper with Nick DugganCheck Out Nick's Recommended Reading ListPew Research "Nones On The Rise"We are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com

1 hr 13 min

E10 - What Your Boss Is Thinking with Jane Yan

People don't quit jobs, they quit bosses. If you spend any time on TikTok, you can get lost in the sea of clever, passionate, or comedic videos of frustrated employees complaining about their bosses. While these videos are certainly entertaining, rarely do we get to hear the other side of the story. This trend grabbed the attention of our guest today, who wanted to answer the question "what is your boss thinking?" Jane Yan is an award-winning digital innovation and business builder with over half a billion dollars in generated revenue. She has a wealth of experience, from leading small startup teams to managing large divisions in Fortune 1 companies. Her career spans various industries, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, consumer technology, and e-commerce. Currently, she is the COO of Lunajoy Health, transforming women's mental wellness. Recently, she received the Innovation Award for New Era of Leadership, recognized by industry leaders like the ex-CEO of Pepsi. With her dual perspective as both an employee and a "boss lady," Jane shares invaluable insights into what the "boss" is thinking.We hope employees and managers alike can gain new insights from this thoughtful and honest conversation. Places to Find and Connect with Our Guest:Check out Lunajoy: www.hellolunajoy.comConnect with Jane on LinkedIn For mentorship, coaching, or advisory inquires, send Jane an email. Some Words from our Hosts:We feel so lucky to have made it to episode 10! Thank you to our listeners for your words of encouragement and ongoing support. We look forward to bringing you more insightful conversations on career and culture, we're more appreciative of this experience than we could ever articulate. Have a story to share? Looking for a spot to plant your soapbox? Have words of wisdom you think our listeners would like to hear? Looking for us to discuss a specific topic? Just want to say "Hi"? We'd love to hear from you! Email us.We are an independently run podcast. We're excited to take this journey with you, thank you for listening. If you like our show, please share with your network. You can also rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to share your story or subject matter expertise on the show, please email us at stories@offlineandunfiltered.com You can also follow us on Instagram - @offline_unfiltered Our theme music and sound was produced by Equalibrum: @equalibrum on instagram spotify.link/50W2rl2CfDb Our logo and artwork was designed by Jillian Blanco: https://www.jillianblanco.com/ Outside of this podcast, Megan does start-up and small business consultation, speaking engagements, interview coaching, and more. You can learn more on her website - www.benandanticonsulting.com