Welcome to the stickiest Casual Friday yet. Producer Clay flips the script and puts Blakely and Heather in the hot seat to answer YOUR real workplace dilemmas. These aren't theoretical scenarios—these are the uncomfortable, frustrating, and sometimes infuriating situations you're actually facing at work.
From navigating toxic bosses to handling flirtatious managers on company retreats, from being denied promised promotions to overhearing your boss complain about maternity leave—Blakely and Heather tackle it all with their signature mix of practical wisdom, legal expertise (thanks to Heather's lawyer background), and zero tolerance for workplace BS.
This episode gets real. Blakely admits she became "the most emotional basket case" while answering these questions. Heather introduces her alter ego "The Naked Lawyer" (yes, really). And Clay discovers just how passionate these two former CEOs get when they hear about the workplace injustices their listeners are experiencing.
Sticky situations covered in this episode:
Getting blamed for a coworker's mistake
Presentation reassigned to someone else last minute
Performance reviews for friends
Expense account violations
Denied promotions with unpaid work demands
Borderline harassment on company retreats
Pregnancy announcements and maternity leave discrimination
Leadership concerns during VC due diligence
Plus a lightning round covering:
A tuna fish debate
Dating coworkers
We want to hear YOUR sticky situations! Submit your story to notall.biz—your question could be featured in an upcoming episode.
LINKS & MENTIONS
Submit your sticky situations: https://notall.biz
Voice message: https://notall.biz/home#situations
Email: podcast@notall.biz
Alden Hultgren episode (breathwork episode referenced): https://youtu.be/aPbGc9qKXdk
It's a milestone episode! We made it to Episode 10—putting us in the top 10% of all podcasts. To celebrate, Blakely and Heather tackle a phenomenon that's costing businesses $438 billion annually: quiet cracking.
Guest Maureen "Mo" Berkner Boyt, founder of C2IQ and 2023 Colorado Technology Association Entrepreneur of the Year, explains what happens when high-performing women (and men) hold their families and businesses together through crisis after crisis—until they break.
The average age of burnout is now 25. Two-thirds of workers feel lonely. And with AI anxiety keeping people in jobs they hate ("job hugging"), the workplace mental health crisis is reaching a breaking point. But this episode isn't just about the problem—it's about solutions.
In this episode, we explore:
Why we get "really dumb" during change (the neuroscience is wild)
How C2IQ makes human risk as measurable as financial risk
The imposter syndrome hack that takes 10 minutes in your next meeting
Why "find your passion" is actually terrible advice
Mo's journey from trying to be a "middle-aged white guy" to rocking her moxie
Why growth at all costs is destroying your people (and what to do instead)
The real story behind Mo's 31-year marriage (hint: they re-up annually)
**Plus honest conversations about:**
Blakely's burnout stories—from $50 face cream bribes to corporate bidding wars
Heather's under-the-desk crying after firing a married couple
Why being "gritty as f***" isn't always enough
The loneliness epidemic at work (yes, people want AI buddies)
Also worth watching for:
Clay's hair that could literally star in the musical Hair (real pictures included!)
Blakely's senior photo featuring the iconic wave AND claw combo
Heather's observation about Casa Bonita's stalactites looking... anatomically suggestive (picture included!)
Heather's bizarre NyQuil-induced dream about nursing a man-baby on a train—seriously, if anyone can interpret this, please reach out
Whether you're a leader pushing your team harder out of fear, a high performer who's lost the joy, or someone watching the spark fade in colleagues around you—this episode offers both validation and practical strategies.
New episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.
LINKS & MENTIONS
Maureen “Mo” Berkner Boyt on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenberknerboyt/
C2IQ: Making human risk measurable - https://c2iq.io/
Podcast Statistics: Top 10% milestone reference - https://riverside.com/blog/podcast-statistics
KPMG Workplace Friendship Study: Friends at work research - https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/friends-at-work-2025.html
$438 Billion Cost of Quiet Cracking: Fortune article on workplace burnout and disengagement - https://fortune.com/2025/08/18/quiet-cracking-workplace-culture-employees-burnout-disengagement-mental-health-billions-business-loss-managers-ai-promotions/
Casa Bonita Restaurant: https://www.casabonitadenver.com/
South Park "Casa Bonita" Episode: Season 7, Episode 11
¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! Documentary: Available on Paramount+ - https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/casa-bonita-mi-amor/
Office Space (1999): Classic workplace comedy film
CU Women's Basketball: Proud sponsor of CU WBB - https://www.instagram.com/cubuffswbb/
Submit your sticky situations: https://notall.biz/
Can you interpret Heather's dream? Send us your analysis!
We want to hear YOUR sticky situations! Share your story at https://notall.biz/home#situations and we’ll tackle it in an upcoming episode.
Women are about to inherit and control unprecedented wealth—$34 trillion by 2030, to be exact. But here's the problem: we still can't talk about it. Not about salaries, not about investments, not even about asking for what we're worth without feeling like we're "bragging."
In this episode, Hayfa Aboukier—Principal at Range Ventures and a female VC in an industry where women make up only 9-15% of partners—sits down with Blakely and Heather to break the silence.
In this episode, we explore:
Why money is still the last taboo for women—and what that silence is costing us
What it's like being a female venture capitalist
The steps to go from paying off debt to opening an investment account
How to start uncomfortable money conversations (salary ranges, raises, investments)
Plus: Why the "Great Wealth Transfer" means now is the time for women to start having these conversations—because the women who talk about money are the ones who'll actually control it.
LINKS & MENTIONS
Guest:
Hayfa Aboukier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayfa-aboukier/
Range Ventures: https://range.vc/
Music:
Roots Music Project: https://www.rootsmusicproject.org/
Dead Pioneers (Denver band): https://www.deadpioneers.band/
2MX2 (San Luis Valley band): https://2mx2.com/
Banshee Tree (Americana band): https://www.banshee-tree.com/
Books & Documentaries:
Martha (Netflix, 2024) - Directed by R.J. Cutler: https://www.netflix.com/title/81479059
"Your First Million: Why You Don't Have To Be Born Into A Legacy Of Wealth To Leave One Behind" by Arlan Hamilton - https://www.amazon.com/Your-First-Million-Legacy-Behind/dp/0593543548
Statistics & Research Cited:
Women to control $34 trillion by 2030: McKinsey & Company - https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/the-new-face-of-wealth-the-rise-of-the-female-investor
Women in VC partners (9-15%): PitchBook Female Founders Report - https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305135954/en/Venture-Capital-Exits-Increased-for-Female-Founded-Companies-in-2024-New-PitchBook-Report-Shows
VC funding to female founders (2.3%): PitchBook 2024 data - https://ff.co/women-funding-statistics-2025/
Women and investment accounts (51%): Citizens Bank Great Wealth Transfer Survey - https://www.citizensbank.com/private-banking/insights/new-era-for-womens-wealth.aspx
New episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.
We want to hear YOUR sticky situations! Share your story at https://notall.biz/ and we’ll tackle it on an upcoming episode.
What if the smartest career move you could make is intentionally climbing DOWN the corporate ladder?
In this episode, Blakely and Heather sit down with Alden Hultgren, a tech executive and founder of the Conscious Leadership Collective who made a radical choice: she's not stepping down—she's creating a new ladder. Alden chose wellness over titles and discovered that "creating a life you don't have to heal from" is the ultimate success metric.
This conversation includes a live breathwork session, real talk about chronic stress and burnout, and permission to redefine success on your own terms. Plus: Heather reports live from Dreamforce, everyone discovers they've been breathing backwards their whole lives, and Clay gets kicked out of an anniversary dinner.
In this episode, Alden reveals:
The moment she realized she needed to “climb” down the corporate ladder (and why it was the right decision)
What "creating a life you don't have to heal from" really means
The physiological sigh: a 3-breath technique to reset your nervous system anywhere, anytime
Why breathwork in the boardroom could change corporate culture
How to shift from being a victim to the corporate world to being the creator of your life
What the Conscious Leadership Collective offers to high-achieving professionals who want both success AND wellness
LINKS & MENTIONS
Conscious Leadership Collective: Join the waitlist at thealdeneffect.com/conscious-leadership/
For 1:1 coaching with Alden: Visit thealdeneffect.com
Ozone IV Therapy: Mentioned as treatment for chronic fatigue/Epstein-Barr
Huberman Lab: Physiological sigh research
New episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.
We want to hear YOUR sticky situations! Share your story at https://notall.biz/ and we’ll tackle it on an upcoming episode.
What happens when a nurse practitioner gets quoted $1 million for software and told "that's cute" when she says she'll build it herself? She teaches herself to code in 100 hours and launches a SaaS company.
SaaS founder Stephanie Betters joins Blakely and Heather to share how she rage-coded Left Main CRM—now a high-growth company and Salesforce partner—in just three months. Drawing from their combined 20+ years at conferences, the trio goes beyond Stephanie's inspiring story to tackle the awkward, uncomfortable, and sometimes unsafe situations nobody talks about at industry events.
In this episode, Stephanie reveals:
Stephanie's journey from cardiothoracic nurse practitioner to SaaS founder
How she taught herself to code and built a CRM in 100 hours
Why she's a believer in the Salesforce Ohana community
Why she never drinks when traveling solo
We also cover practical conference tips including:
Why you should never wear heels (and which sneaker brand to try)
How to handle "the name blank" when someone remembers you but you don't remember them
Why companies should never make employees share hotel rooms
Safety strategies for elevators, Ubers, and late-night situations
Why drinking boundaries change when you move from subordinate to leader
This is the honest, vulnerable conversation about conferences that nobody's having—but everyone needs to hear. Whether you're headed to your first conference or your twentieth, this episode will help you navigate the sticky situations with confidence and stay safe while building meaningful connections.
LINKS & MENTIONS
Left Main REI - CRM for Real Estate Investors
Saysh - Website
How We Got There podcast hosted by Mike Davis
New episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.
We want to hear YOUR sticky situations! Share your story at https://notall.biz/ and we’ll tackle it on an upcoming episode.
What happens when the hustle that got you promoted becomes the obstacle keeping you from leading well? Brand strategist Cindy Frigard has spent decades helping leaders navigate this exact transition—and she learned most of her lessons the hard way.
In this conversation, Cindy breaks down the seven critical mindset shifts every leader needs to make when they level up: from delegation to staying silent in uncomfortable moments, from raising the bar without pissing people off to understanding that feeling like an imposter doesn't mean you don't belong.
Blakely shares the raw story of how she became CEO—a moment that involved her co-founder in a ball on the floor, tears at a corporate retreat, and Cindy's gentle intervention that helped her step into leadership. It's messy, vulnerable, and proof that even confident leaders need someone in their corner asking the hard questions.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
The dramatic corporate retreat moment when Blakely became CEO
Why delegating feels like weakness (and why it's actually strength)
How to raise standards without alienating your team
The power of the pause: why silence is sometimes the answer
High-functioning codependency and why women apologize for everything
Why being strong doesn't mean being selfless
LINKS & MENTIONS
New episodes every week.
Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.
We want your sticky situations! Leave us a note or voicemail at https://notall.biz/.
It’s Casual Friday at Not All Business! Producer Clay takes over and turns the spotlight on Blakely and Heather, who share their personal stories and the path that led to Not All Business.From their first jobs (janitor, A&W carhop, and Apple Store genius) to running successful companies, they reveal the real story behind their friendship. It all started with a mutual friend's introduction and a three-hour lunch that neither wanted to end—a conversation so good it sparked the idea for this podcast.In this personal episode, they explore the challenges of being a female leader in business, the extreme loneliness of being a CEO, and why there needs to be a space for honest conversations about the sticky situations we're all too afraid to ask about.In this episode, Blakely and Heather reveal:- What inspired them to launch Not All Business- The loneliness of being a CEO and not knowing the "code"- Why women face different challenges navigating business situations- How to handle sticky workplace situations you're too afraid to ask aboutPlus, they're inviting listeners to send in their own sticky situations for future episodes. Because sometimes the best business advice comes from creating a space where you can admit what you don't know.LINKS & MENTIONSSubmit your sticky situations: https://notall.biz/Voice message: https://notall.biz/home#situationsEmail: podcast@notall.bizNew episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.
What happens when leaders are so overwhelmed they default to "lazy leadership" behaviors? Julie Holunga, fractional leadership and culture partner, has seen it firsthand—and she's here to fix it.
In this episode, Julie breaks down the communication habits that undermine even well-intentioned leaders. From her memorable networking encounter that bonded her friendship with Heather to her five (and a half)-step framework that transforms difficult conversations, this episode is packed with immediately actionable advice.
In this episode, Julie reveals:
The "lazy leadership" trap that's destroying workplace culture
Multitasking doesn't work (even for Gen Z)
Her five (and a half)-step feedback framework that actually works
The declarative communication style that creates equal status
Why saying "just" undermines your authority
The menopause-at-work conversation we're all avoiding
Creator of the Trusted Voice Paradigm™ and featured in Forbes Coaches Council, Julie's approach is simple: Be kind, be present, and stop making excuses for rushed leadership. Whether you're giving feedback to a chronically late employee or trying to show up authentically in meetings, Julie's insights will change how you communicate at work.
LINKS & MENTIONS
New episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.
What happens when the company values posted on the wall don't match the leadership walking the halls?
Corporate communications veteran Molly Keveney spent three decades helping companies define their purpose and values—then watched her own CEO fail the test when it mattered most.
In this raw conversation, Molly shares the personal story that changed everything: how she trusted her boss with a family tragedy, only to have that vulnerability used against her in a performance review. It's a masterclass in what NOT to do as a leader, and why authentic culture work starts at the top.
In This Episode:
- A personal crisis that revealed leadership's true values- How to have honest conversations during organizational change
- The meeting after the meeting problem—and how to solve it- Why treating employees like family and kids like employees works
- The death of work-life balance and rise of work-life integration
- Why the next generation demands values alignment—and they're rightLinks & Mentions
- Molly Keveney on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-keveney/
- Brandi Carlile's "Church and State" - https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/5sg3RW63BxVvidEE1rBiWT?si=f3b55e5c3db04f91
- Brandi Carlile on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brandicarlile/
- The Bramily on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebramily/
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre - https://www.instagram.com/redrocksco/
New episodes every week. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.
What happens when your LinkedIn profile photo is a cropped wedding shot and your resume reads like a grocery list of job duties?
Resume writing expert and personal branding strategist Michele Lando has built her business helping professionals articulate their value and present the best version of themselves to uplevel their careers. Her mission: build confidence, empower people to celebrate their wins, and help them communicate their worth effectively.
Michele shares her journey from Nordstrom sales floor (where she planned company takeover) to founding Write Styles, named after her grandfather's sunglasses business and his advice: "You can do anything you want as long as you understand the business behind it."
In this episode, Michele reveals:
Why most people can't see their own accomplishments
The top three LinkedIn photo mistakes that scream "amateur"
How to use AI strategically without accidentally lying on your resume
Why cover letters still matter and what hiring managers want to see
The trick to decoding Applicant Tracking Systems through keyword optimization
The "friend test": if your friend did what you did, you'd celebrate them—so why not yourself?
How to customize resumes without burning out
Whether you're job hunting, career pivoting, or just trying to get better at talking about your accomplishments without feeling gross, this episode offers practical strategies for authentic self-advocacy in professional settings.
Links + Mentions
• Write Styles - Michele's personal branding and resume writing company (https://writestylesonline.com/)
• Michele Lando on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelelandoburns/
• Write Styles on Instagram - @writestyles
Follow us!
Website: notall.biz
LinkedIn Page: Not All Business
YouTube: @notallbusiness
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
What happens when your executive coach tells you your physical presence "needs a lot of work"? For former TaskRay COO Jamie Cole, that brutal feedback led to an unexpected journey that revolutionized her leadership style.
In this candid conversation, Jamie shares how discovering pole dancing transformed her from a post-divorce, confidence-shattered executive into a fearless leader who commanded every room she entered. But this isn't about fitness trends or breaking taboos—it's about the direct connection between physical confidence and professional presence.
In this episode, Jamie reveals:
Why her executive coach's harsh feedback was the wake-up call she needed
How pole dancing taught her the crucial difference between sensuality and sexuality
The moment she realized her physical transformation was reshaping her leadership
How her newfound confidence helped transform her entire company culture
Why finding your "power practice" doesn't have to be conventional
We also dive into the inclusive community she discovered, the social stigmas she navigated, and how embodying physical strength translated into professional fearlessness. Plus, Jamie explains why she believes everyone needs to find their own version of this practice.
Whether your power source is pole dancing, rock climbing, or something completely different, this episode challenges how we think about confidence, presence, and authentic leadership.
Links + Mentions:
Follow us!
Website: notall.biz
LinkedIn: Not All Business
Instagram: @notallbiz
YouTube: @notallbusiness
A podcast where leadership gets real. Because at work, it's not all business.
Not All Business features two rival tech CEOs turned friends - Blakely Graham and Heather Cooper - hosting the conversations everyone avoids about the messy reality of leadership.
Think of us as Sex Ed for Leadership - answering all the questions professionals are too afraid to ask, with occasional reality checks from our producer, Clay.
Join us for serious insights. Slightly less serious hosts.
New episodes every Thursday.
Connect with us: Website: notall.biz
Instagram: @notallbiz