Workday Playdate

In this Workday Playdate, Erin welcomes leadership trailblazer Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, for a conversation about authenticity, empathy, and emotional fluency at work. This episode is a heart-forward guide to showing up as your full self so you can build trust, spark creativity, and lead with courage in today’s complex workplace.
Erin and Claude explore how emotional safety, vulnerability, and presence directly impact performance, innovation, and connection. At the heart of the episode is a call to expand at work. Through improv principles like “yes, and,” culture addition (not culture fit), Erin and Claude offer leaders real ways to create psychologically safe, high-trust environments where people actually thrive.

Inside This Episode:
Authentic Leadership: Why being yourself at work is strategic
Emotional Safety at Work: How trust and psychological safety unlock creativity, loyalty, and performance
Claude’s Journey: From surf instructor to Chief Heart Officer
Water as Wisdom: Flow, movement, and calm as leadership metaphors
Improv at Work: Using “yes, and” to build collaboration, presence, and connection
Culture Addition: Moving beyond exclusionary culture fit to build stronger, more inclusive teams
Emotional Fluency: Learning to “speak human” and release outdated professionalism norms
Trusting the Long Game: Patience, vulnerability, and leadership lessons from Gary Vaynerchuk
Purpose & Joyful Service: Choosing love over fear to create real impact

Practical Takeaways:
Discover your authentic self through values, triggers, and feedback
Practice grounded presence and emotional regulation
Expand instead of shrink in moments of discomfort
Lead with love, clarity, and courage

Who This Episode Is For:
Leaders ready to show up more authentically
People managers building emotionally safe, high-performing cultures
Anyone navigating burnout, disengagement, or uncertainty
Remote and hybrid leaders creating connection without proximity
Humans who want to lead with more empathy, purpose, and play

Your Freebie
You want to support your people the same way you want to be supported—but in fast, emotionally charged moments, the right words can be hard to find.
Enter, your free resource - Human Leadership in the Age of AI: An Empathy Playbook. It gives you a simple, 3-part list of human-first phrases you can use in meetings, emails, and one-on-ones.
Empathy isn’t extra anymore. It’s essential. Download your Empathy Playbook here.

Connect with Claude Silver
Claude’s LinkedIn
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Claude’s website
Claude’s book

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Workday Playdate, Erin tackles a leadership reality many people leaders are quietly carrying: when the world feels heavy, your team feels it too. This episode is a grounded guide for showing up with intention, presence, and care without pretending you have all the answers.
Erin explores how global events, constant information overload, and emotional fatigue are showing up inside our workplaces, whether we acknowledge them or not. Drawing on research around psychological safety and belonging, she makes the case that empathy, kindness, and emotional awareness are core leadership strategies.
At the heart of the episode is Erin’s practical LOVE framework, a four-step approach leaders can use immediately to create safer, more resilient, and more connected teams.

Inside This Episode:
Leadership in Heavy Times: How world events impact decision-making, morale, and team dynamics
Psychological Safety & Belonging: Why safety and trust are performance multipliers, not perks
The LOVE Framework: 1. Listen for what’s said (and unsaid), 2. Openly ask questions without needing all the answers, 3. Value core values as decision-making anchors, 4. Energize your team with intentional, positive energy
Remote Leadership Presence: Simple ways to set the tone through daily messages and routines
Energy at Work: Why your energy is the culture—and how to manage it intentionally
Values Alignment: Turning belonging, acceptance, and community into lived practices
Leading with Love: How kindness, compassion, and contribution create real impact

Who This Episode Is For:
Leaders carrying the emotional weight of their role
Managers navigating uncertainty, burnout, or disengagement
People leaders building culture during challenging world moments
Remote and hybrid leaders setting tone without physical presence
Anyone who wants to lead with more humanity, clarity, and care

Your Freebie
You want to support your people the same way you want to be supported—but in fast, emotionally charged moments, the right words can be hard to find.
Enter, your free resource - Human Leadership in the Age of AI: An Empathy Playbook. It gives you a simple, 3-part list of human-first phrases you can use in meetings, emails, and one-on-ones.
Empathy isn’t extra anymore. It’s essential. Download your Empathy Playbook here.

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!
Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Lori Woodley-Langendorff to unpack a leadership truth we don’t practice enough: emotional intelligence isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s essential. Lori is an acclaimed author, educator, and expert in social-emotional literacy (SEL) who co-founded the non-profit "All It Takes" with her daughter, actress Shailene Woodley. Drawing from Lori’s 30-year career as a school counselor (and her lived experience as a parent), this conversation bridges the gap between personal growth and professional leadership, reminding us that the workplace has officially changed… and our emotional skills need to catch up.
Together, Erin and Lori explore emotional intelligence (EI) and social emotional literacy (SEL) as learnable, trainable skills, not personality traits you either have or don’t. Lori introduces her SEL Muscle framework, a practical, no-fluff approach to building emotional resilience, strengthening communication, and leading with both connection and accountability. The result? Healthier teams, better relationships, and leaders who can handle overwhelm without passing it down the chain.
Inside This Episode:
Emotional Intelligence at Work: Why EI is foundational to modern leadership and personal growth
SEL Is a Muscle: How social emotional literacy strengthens with intentional practice
Connection + Accountability: Why you need both to build trust and credibility
Emotional Awareness: How noticing feelings early prevents stress, burnout, and breakdowns
The SEL Muscle Framework: Practical tools for emotional resilience and clearer communication
Modeling the Way: Why leaders must “walk the talk” emotionally, not just strategically
Curiosity Without Judgment: How this one shift transforms relationships at work and home

Who This Episode Is For:
Leaders who feel the emotional weight of their role
Managers navigating overwhelm, conflict, or disengagement
Parents and professionals juggling accountability with compassion
People leaders ready to strengthen emotional resilience and communication
Anyone who wants to lead with more awareness and connection

Your Freebie
You’ve tried the color-coded calendars, the habit apps, and the “this is the week I finally get it together” pep talk… and it still doesn’t stick. That’s because consistency comes from understanding why your routines keep falling apart in the first place.
The 4-Step Consistency Planner helps you uncover the four real reasons consistency breaks down and walks you through four practical fixes so you can take back control of your week.
Download it here.

Connect with Lori Woodley-Langendorff
Lori’s LinkedIn
Lori’s company website
Lori’s Instagram

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!
Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Workday Playdate, Erin breaks down a truth some leaders don’t want to hear: teams don’t leave because of the work, they leave because of how they’re led. Erin introduces 5D leadership, a more human, intuitive, and emotionally intelligent approach that goes beyond deliverables.
She contrasts traditional 3D leadership—where output rules and humans come second—with 5D leadership, where intention, energy, and connection drive trust, creativity, and engagement. Erin shares a simple three-step shift that helps leaders stop managing roles and start leading humans. The result? Teams that stay, contribute, and actually want to collaborate.

Inside This Episode:
3D vs. 5D Leadership: Why task-only leadership quietly disengages your team
Intend the Energy: How setting intention (not just outcomes) changes everything
Lead the Human: Why seeing people beyond their role builds loyalty and trust
Intuition at Work: How emotional intelligence fuels better decisions and creativity
Co-Creation Over Control: Why the best leaders stop dictating and start designing with their teams
Energetic Leadership: How presence, not pressure, drives performance
The Improv Connection: What “yes, and” can teach leaders about collaboration

Who This Episode Is For:
Leaders frustrated by disengaged or burned-out teams
Managers stuck in task mode who want more trust and creativity
High-performers ready to lead with intuition and emotional intelligence
People leaders curious about energetic leadership and intention setting
Anyone who wants teams that don’t just comply, but commit

Your Freebie
You’ve tried the color-coded calendars, the habit apps, and the “this is the week I finally get it together” pep talk… and it still doesn’t stick. That’s because consistency comes from understanding why your routines keep falling apart in the first place.
The 4-Step Consistency Planner helps you uncover the four real reasons consistency breaks down and walks you through four practical fixes so you can take back control of your week.
Download it here.

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!
Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Carrie Drinkwine to explore a radical (and deeply human) truth: real healing starts with feeling.
Carrie shares her powerful journey through chronic illness, emotional reckoning, and life-threatening health challenges. She explains how regenerative practices helped her reconnect to her body, her intuition, and her vitality. Together, Erin and Carrie unpack the emotional–physical connection, why “pushing through” keeps us stuck, and how flow, self-love, and emotional release create lasting wellness at work and in life.
Inside This Episode:
Flow Over Force: Why flow is essential for overcoming obstacles and supporting long-term health.
Issues in the Tissues: How repressed emotions live in the body—and show up as physical symptoms.
Healing from Within: Carrie’s journey through chronic illness and emotional healing.
The Emotional–Physical Link: Why you can’t separate wellness at work from wellness in your body.
Self-Love as Medicine: How acceptance, compassion, and nervous system safety unlock vitality.
Listen to the Body: Why intuition—not optimization—is the most powerful health tool you have.
Holistic, Not Hustle: How regenerative health practices lead to real, sustainable transformation.

Who This Episode Is For:
Humans navigating burnout, chronic stress, or chronic illness
Leaders curious about emotional wellness and embodied leadership
High-achievers ready to stop overriding their bodies
Anyone exploring self-healing, holistic health, or regenerative practices
Fans of flow, intuition, self-love, and healing that actually sticks

Your Freebie
You’ve tried the emails, the all-hands rollout, and the polished decks, but the vision still isn’t landing.
That’s because people don’t buy into a vision that’s presented to them; they buy into one they help shape.
The 30-Minute Vision-Setting Meeting Template gives you a simple, human-centered way to create alignment, spark ownership, and build real momentum. Download it here.

No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)
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Connect with Carrie Drinkwine
Carrie’s LinkedIn
Carrie’s website

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!
Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.