“Realize and recognize that no one knows what you're going to say, people are pulling for you, and that thing that you're feeling is adrenaline, not nerves.” - Brad Karsh (in reference to overcoming your fear of public speaking). Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Perhaps you are in the corporate world, but have a dream of building your own business? If this sounds like you, then get ready - because we are taking you through Entrepreneurship 101 with today’s amazing guest. Failed it! Fam, please give a warm welcome to Brad Karsh, Founder and CEO of JB Training Solutions to the show! In today’s episode, Brad tells us all about: His career journey and how he built his business from the ground up (can’t forget the business #fails) The importance of hiring, recruiting, leading and developing teams How to overcome your fear of public speaking, and why leadership and employee development is crucial to any organizations’ success Links from show discussions: JB Website Brad's LinkedIn JB LinkedIn JB Instagram JB Facebook JB Twitter Check out improve it!’s workshops About the guest: Brad Karsh is the Founder and CEO of JB Training Solutions. An accomplished public speaker and generational expert, Brad has been featured on CNN, CNBC, and Dr. Phil, and has been quoted in all-but-one of the following publications: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune, USA Today, and Tiger Beat. Brad is also the author of three business books including the critically acclaimed Manager 3.0: A Millennial's Guide to Rewriting the Rules of Management, which you can read in Mandarin (assuming you can read Mandarin). Prior to creating JB Training Solutions, Brad spent 15 years at advertising agency Leo Burnett in Chicago. Today, Brad travels the world speaking at major organizations including Google, Marriott, Discover, Eli Lilly, and The Chicago Blackhawks, among many others. Brad presents annually at the Society for Human Resource Management National Conference and was ranked #1 out of more than 200 speakers. When he’s not enjoying a copious buffet, you can find Brad playing racquetball or drafting the perfect fantasy football roster. Brad is left-handed. About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“By making “I AM” statements as part of your daily habit – you will become the person you want to be. ” - Erin Diehl Happy New Year, failed it! Fam. Are you a career focused, goal driven business professional who wants to manifest the life of their dreams? Do you have a growth mindset, and a  “make it happen” attitude but are not sure where to start? If so, then today’s episode is for you. Get ready to take a deep breath and set your visions for this new year, despite all of the uncertainty. In order to have a good “scene” or “year” of life – we can prepare by manifesting what it is we want to come into play. So listen in on the exercises Erin provides to help you pave a better year. Grab your notebook and let’s continue to set our 2021 visions! In today’s episode we will discuss: How to create your top 10 “I AM’s” statements A step by step exercise to help you cast visions on future “you.” How to manifest those visions into actionable next steps. (This is Part 2 of a Three Part series so stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for more! And if you haven’t yet, go listen to Part 1 here)   Links from show discussion: Connect and follow us on Instagram - Erin & improve it! handles Once you complete your I AMs, send a picture to Erin on Instagram, LinkedIn, or via email.   Failed it! Fam: If you liked today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to rate us and give us a review. Your review helps us share the #fails of the world, so we can all learn from these “gifts.” Week by week, we unwrap the stories of fails’ past and present, and we’ve got a lot more “giving” to do! Your support means the world. About Erin Diehl: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!  

“2020 was the year the world slowed down and looked in the mirror.” - Lauren Fritts Are you a leader who has had to juggle the curve balls of the pandemic all while parenting at the same time? Perhaps you are a leader who had to throw in some “pinch hitters” when you realized that the world stopped and live events were no longer a “thing?” If we’ve hit a homerun here, then put on your baseball caps - because we are taking you “out to the ball game” (ok the virtual ball game) with todays’ guest. Failed it! Fam, please give a warm welcome to Lauren Fritts,  the Vice President of Marketing for the Chicago Cubs to the show! In today’s episode, Lauren tells us all about: The leadership role she embodied and the pivots she led her team through when COVID-19 hit and live events were cancelled. The journey of her fascinating career in sports marketing (through the lens of her failures, of course!) How she navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic as a leader, parent, “teacher” and boss.   She teaches us that even though it’s 2020 -  there ARE ways you can still knock it out of the park. Let’s play ball! Links from show discussions: Book a Workshop with improve it! About the guest: As Vice President of Marketing for the Cubs, Lauren oversees all fan engagement touchpoints for the Cubs & Wrigley Field inclusive of CRM, brand identity, activations/events, multi-platform advertising, promotions, broadcast relations, gameday entertainment, social media, and Cubs Productions. Previously, Lauren was global Director of Consumer Engagement for Gatorade where she drove creative and media go-to-market strategies and had accountability for brand-owned experiential activations, influencer marketing and sports culture driving platforms. Under her leadership, Gatorade creative assets, events and media partnerships were consistently awarded top industry honors. Prior to joining Gatorade, Lauren spent time in lobbying and public affairs working with sports team owners, worked in the Kansas City Chiefs media relations department, and spent time in the Sprint corporate partnership group working on NASCAR. About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“You are your biggest cheerleader in the scene of 2021– and after we are done casting visions you are going to get a standing ovation from that’s right…YOU.” - Erin Diehl Are you a career driven, goal oriented business professional who wants to manifest the life of their dreams? Do you have a growth mindset, and a  “make it happen” attitude but are not sure where to start? If so, then today’s episode is for you. Get ready to take a deep breath and set your visions for the next year ahead, despite all the uncertainty. In order to have a good “scene” or “year” of life – we can prepare by manifesting what it is we want to come into play. So listen in on the exercises Erin provides - to help you pave a better year to come. Grab your notebook and let’s set our 2021 visions! In Today’s Episode we will discuss: How to map out your “idiehl” day A step by step “iDiehl Day” exercise to help you see where you have room for improvement in your current life How to manifest those dreams into actionable next steps. (This is Part 1 of a Three Part series so stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for more!) Links from show discussion:   Connect and follow us on Instagram - Erin & improve it! handles Once you complete your iDiehl day, send a picture to Erin on Instagram, LinkedIn, or her email!   Failed it! Fam: If you liked today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to rate us and give us a review. Your review helps us share the #fails of the world, so we can all learn from these “gifts.” Week by week, we unwrap the stories of fails’ past and present, and we’ve got a lot more “giving” to do! Your support means the world.     About Erin Diehl:   Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!    

“TikTok and the shutdown was one of the better things that happened for my career, funny enough.” - Samantha Ramsdell   Happy Wednesday, failed it! Fam. Any TikTok lovers out there? I’m sure you’ve seen today’s guest on your FYP, maybe known for her singing or, for her mouth (this is true!) For those of you who aren’t familiar, our talented guest, Samantha Ramsdell, spends time singing and doing comedy on social media including TikTok where she has amassed over 600k+ followers. But did you know she also works in medical sales? Listen to this episode to be inspired and motivated and tune in on how Sam’s dreams evolved and became named the “Top 5 New Internet Comedians to follow in 2020” and “Rising New Artist in 2020” by the NY Weekly.     Links from show discussions:   Book a Laugh Break Find her on social and watch her videos: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook Listen to her single     About the guest: Sam Ramsdell currently lives outside of New York City as a singer and comedian. PreCOVID, she has been in numerous off-Broadway and Regional showcases and has trained with some of the best comedy clubs in NYC including UCB and Groundlings. She now spends time creating music and comedy on social media including TikTok where she has amassed over 600K+ followers. Samantha was also recently named "Top 5 New Internet Comedians to follow in 2020" and "Rising New Artist in 2020" by the NY Weekly . Follow her on all social media platforms @SamRamsdell5.   About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Sales is not about hustling people, it's actually about the heart behind it.” - Natasha Hemmingway Hey failed it! Fam. Are you in sales? Are you in recruiting? Are you in any type of role that requires you to develop build trust and move from stale, transactional conversations to more meaningful and purposeful dialogue? If so, today’s episode is for you. Tune in, as  Erin brings on an inspirational, entrepreneurial-based sales coach, speaker, and creator of “Heart Not Hustle,” Natasha Hemmingway. Natasha’s main purpose is to help entrepreneurs achieve meaningful success. Listen to her story on how her meaning of success changed during her career path from corporate to entrepreneurship. Be prepared to reflect on what brings you purpose and joy and how you can incorporate that into your business relationships, starting... TODAY! Links from show discussions: Book improve it!’s Virtual Workshop Year of Yes Book by Shonda Rhimes Reminder from Natasha: surrender, say yes, and have faith that you can! Find her on social: @natashahemmingway   About the guest: Natasha Hemmingway is an entrepreneurial-based Sales Coach and Speaker and the creator of Heart Not Hustle—a coaching firm founded with an aim to help entrepreneurs fund, and focus on the deeper meaning behind their business motivation and sales message. She helps entrepreneurs master their authentic sales process, achieve meaningful success and maximize their sales wins by bringing the Heart Not the Hustle. Natasha spent over sixteen years as a successful sales professional with a Fortune 500 company, and held a corporate role as a senior territory sales manager, prior to the personal tragedy that led her on a life-altering path to redefine her own “success” and“joy.” After leaving the corporate world, she found a heart for entrepreneurs looking to garner their gifts and passions to create their own businesses. Her collegiate background, unique career experience, and motivating empathy all play into the success ofHeart Not Hustle. Clients and partners of Natasha’s experience her warmth and toughness through her research-based methods and “one-on-one” tactics that help them grow as entrepreneurs, organizers, and leaders. Today, she continues speaking to and coaching entrepreneurs by helping them focus on the “heart” of their business and not just the “hustle.” About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“We all have things on our plate. How we look at that food and how we allow it to nourish us is completely up to us. If you feel those fails start to pile on, I want to encourage you to look at them as gifts. Give thanks to them – because I promise you they will serve you at your next meal.”  - Erin Diehl   Failed it! Fam: When the world stopped during this pandemic, we had a whole lot of re-evaluations and had to ask ourselves lots of questions. As we prepare for Thanksgiving, Erin stops and reflects on the #fails she successfully overcame through food puns. Listen to this episode as Erin gets deep while “opening the yearbook” and talking about what she was able to accomplish this year despite all the #fails. Remember, failure is the gift that keeps on giving! So how can you be thankful for the fails that 2020 unexpectedly threw your way? Links from show discussion:   DM Erin on Insta Listen to Episode 1 Listen to Episode 10 Listen to Episode 23   Failed it! Fam: If you liked today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to rate us and give us a review. Your review helps us share the #fails of the world, so we can all learn from these “gifts.” Week by week, we unwrap the stories of fails’ past and present, and we’ve got a lot more “giving” to do! Your support means the world.     About Erin Diehl: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!  

“I found the power of separating belonging and inclusion. Inclusion is about the processes and belonging is more of an emotional feeling that everybody wants.” - Kathy Goss Happy Wednesday failed it! Fam! Today, we’ve got a “failed it” episode with a twist. Today, Erin brings on guest, Kathy Goss, a leader in all things diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, to talk about her fascinating seventeen year career in the D&I space. Listen in on her ventures from Accenture, to LinkedIn, and now to ServiceNow, where she helped build their first ever diversity recruiting function and team from the ground up. Listen to this episode if you want to know how to: Improve your diversity and inclusion recruitment practice Take action within your organization to create a more inclusive work environment Create a safe space for diversity and inclusion conversations to take place within your organization Links from show discussions: Book improve it!’s Virtual Workshop Read White Fragility Listen to Codeswitch NPR Podcast About the guest: Kathy Goss is a passionate diversity, equity and inclusion professional with nearly two decades of experience enacting tangible change within organizations. In prior roles at Accenture and LinkedIn she’s led programs in a wide range of talent management areas including diverse succession planning, recruitment, retention, cultural awareness and employee development and advancement. She currently serves as the Director of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Recruitment at ServiceNow, building their first diversity recruiting function and team from the ground up. Kathy graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Learning & Organizational Change. She also serves as on the Board of Directors for Chicago SHRM as the Director of Diversity. Kathy lives in the Chicago area with her husband, 3 kids. About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“You have to find joy in this journey. You have to be able to laugh off your mistakes. ” - Angie Lee   Have you ever wondered what it would take to start before you are ready? Is “ready” really a lie, and have you ever wondered what work and life would be like if you were OK with starting messy? Failed it! Fam - we discuss all of this and more with today’s FAILTASTIC guest: Angie Lee. This bundle of energy is an author, entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and mentor who has an obsession with helping women create a life they love. Erin chats (and laughs) with Angie on her fails past and present, her entrepreneurial advice and how to not only embrace- but “celebrate” the moments that suck. Listen to this episode to find clarity in your direction, and meet the queen Baby Grandma herself- Angie Lee!   Links from show discussions:   Baby Grandma Merch Angie’s Instagram Soul CBD Book a Laugh Break The Angie Lee Show Angie’s Website     About the guest: Angie Lee is a vivacious marketing maven who’s found her soul’s calling in helping women kick ass. Angie is a highly sought after marketing mentor, motivational speaker, professional podcaster, serial entrepreneur & author of Ready Is A Lie. She is the Co Founder of Soul CBD, Creator of the #1 female personal development & business event in the United States: Pays To Be Brave & Host of the Forbes Top 100 Business Podcast: The Angie Lee Show. Angie's genius is teaching women how to make friends with fear & make money doing what they love in a motivational, fun & approachable way.     About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“I’m watching your life change before my eyes. We just knew your life was changing and YOU were changing as a person. Literally nothing could be scarier (than presenting to a former President!)!” - Erin Diehl Failed it! Fam: Do you struggle with public speaking? Does the thought of picturing the audience in their “underwear” do nothing for you? Do you automatically start sweating when speaking in front of large groups? If so, then today’s episode is for you. Listen in on one of Erin’s favorite stories from improve it!, and enjoy hearing it directly from the person who lived it - Jenna McDonnell, Client Experience Manager of improve it! Jenna had a huge fear of public speaking and was put in quite a rare situation. In 2017, Jenna had the opportunity to speak in front of a world leader and had to majorly step outside of her comfort zone. This episode is a MUST if you would like to hear the exact thoughts that were going on in her head when meeting and presenting to *drum roll* Barack Obama, as well as some advice on how to help overcome your own fear! *Note- there is absolutely NO discussion of politics here.* Links from show discussion: DM Erin on Insta Failed it! Fam: If you liked today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to rate us and give us a review. Your review helps us share the #fails of the world, so we can all learn from these “gifts.” Week by week, we unwrap the stories of fails’ past and present, and we’ve got a lot more “giving” to do! Your support means the world. About Jenna McDonnell: Jenna McDonnell is a graduate of DePaul University, where she studied Organizational Communication and Media. Through her corporate and nonprofit roles, she has extensive experience building client and community relationships, managing events of all shapes and sizes, and bridging gaps for introverts just trying to make it in an extrovert’s world. As the Client Experience Manager at improve it!, she works closely with clients in Chicago and Atlanta to help them bring unforgettable training experiences to their teams.  About Erin Diehl: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Any time something really great happens in my career, it's usually because something failed and went off the rails first.” - Nicole Emerick In this episode, Erin brings on Nicole Emerick, a social savvy, blog-friendly entrepreneur who is the queen at finding creative side hustles while working her corporate jobs. Listen in on this conversation that involves all things social media, how it’s a double-edged sword, and how taking care of you should be the #1 priority. Listen to Nicole as she shares stories about failing forward through her entrepreneurial journey, and the secrets and impact social media has made on all of our lives. This is a juicy one! Links from show discussions: 24/6: Nicole’s recommended book on social media improve it! Virtual workshops Nicole’s LinkedIn Nicole’s Instagram About the guest: In 2008, Nicole Emerick was unfulfilled working as a Commercial Banker and decided she needed a creative outlet. MsCareerGirl.com was born. Nicole’s blog existed to help ambitious young professional women find out who they are, what they want and how to get there. Nicole partnered with brands like Microsoft, Chevy, Hampton Inn, Secret and InStyle before selling her blog in 2013. Nicole has since owned her own content marketing agency, been an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University and served as Vice President of Social Media and Influencer Marketing at FCB Chicago where she worked on brands like Botox, GE Appliances, Cottonelle and more. Today Nicole leads Allstate’s Social Media Center of Excellence. About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“If it looks like it might fail, I'm probably clinging to it because I know that that's usually the area I find my success.” - DJ Pryor Failed it! Fam, get ready to go to church! DJ’s inspirational story will bring you to tears, make you laugh, and will motivate you to look at things in a different perspective. You may have seen his bright spirit on a viral video with his son, Kingston. DJ really knows how to fail up as a comedian, actor, motivational speaker, musician, and “world’s greatest dad.” If you need a ray of sunshine, but on your sunglasses and tune in! This episode brings so much light! Links from show discussions: Viral video improve it! Laugh Break DJ’s website About the guest: DJ Pryor is taking entertainment head-on this year. Maintaining the true essence of what it means to be a multi-threat entertainer through stand-up comedy, acting, motivational speaking and musicianship to name a few, the young comic is preparing his seat the table among the greats. From starring in music videos, commercials with Allstate and Jack Daniels to leading in the upcoming independent film "The Konichiwa Kid", all the while perfecting his first love- stand-up-comedy, he is directly on the path to stardom. Most recently the actor-comedian's "comedy-mojo", which he refers to as his "comojo", allowed him to be one of twenty artists to take the stage in the 2019 CBS Diversity Comedy Sketch Showcase. DJ is married to Shanieke Pryor and a father of two Jabari, 8, Kingston, 2. DJ was most recently known for a viral video with his youngest son Kingston coining him the "World's Favorite Dad" for Father's Day 2019! From acting, directing and performing at popular venues including Zanies in Nashville, TN. Los Angeles's infamous Laugh Factory, the Comedy Store, and more to launching his latest digital endeavor, Laughter is Universal, there is no stopping DJ Pryor. You can find him on all social platforms as Comedian DJ Pryor, or DJ Pryor! About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“We are in this new normal for awhile, so it is up to us to stay motivated, so that we can motivate our teams. We are really in this together.” - Erin Diehl Are you ready for a motivational challenge to help you get through this pandemic? If so, then this episode is for you! Apply this episode’s tips for 30 days, and see what happens. We can guarantee a shift in perspective, and overall motivation.  We invite you to challenge yourself to try all or one of the tips in this episode for 30 days. You can apply all five strategies, or just focus on one area. The idea is to just start! When you are implementing one of the strategies, take a picture and post it. Not only does this hold you accountable, but it motivates you to keep going. Who knows – your post could even motivate someone else! Make sure to use the #faileditpodcast so we can cheer you on. You can tag us at @learntoimproveit or @keepinitrealdiehl so we can give you a big FAIL YEAH. If posting is too much, but you want an accountability partner – send us a DM @keepinitrealdiehl or @learntoimproveit. We will be your biggest fan, your personal cheerleader and help keep YOU motivated so you can motivate others. Let’s do this, team! Links from show discussion: Listen to Episode 10 DM Erin on Insta Book a Laugh Break for your team Need collaboration tips? Listen to Episode 17   Failed it! Fam: If you liked today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to rate us and give us a review. Your review helps us share the #fails of the world, so we can all learn from these “gifts.” Week by week, we unwrap the stories of fails’ past and present, and we’ve got a lot more “giving” to do! Your support means the world. About Erin Diehl: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Never stop learning. When you join corporate America, learning never stops especially when you're in your early career.” - Asfa Malik Who do you turn to when you need to learn how to excel at your role? Who do you contact when you need to exceed your leadership and followership objectives? Who is going to help your employees help grow your business?  Well, the head of Learning & Development, of course! Asfa Malik, VP of Learning & Development at Addison Group has spent the better part of her 27 year career helping others achieve THEIR growth goals.  Not only is she responsible for developing talent, but also making sure they feel involved and heard as she builds out their Diversity, Equality and Inclusion strategy.   Asfa’s won a few awards for her leadership in developing people, and has learned many lessons along the way. The biggest one? Her own fear of failure. So much so that she walked a super straight line avoiding it. It took her a long time to figure out that facing fears will actually lead to more success, not less! Being a woman of color is not a journey for the faint of heart – it means having to grow taller (she’s only 5 feet tall!), speak louder (she’s an introvert) and stand out (she loves her camo)! Let’s get to failing it! Links from show discussions: improve it! Workshop Asfa’s LinkedIn Asfa’s Instagram About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“My mission is to use this platform and the improve it! platform to shed light, positivity and levity during these tough times. I want you to know that you matter, and you have a voice. I want you to show up for your friends, family and community in the way you want to show up. It is my mission and the mission of improve it! to help guide you to your life’s “it” or purpose.” - Erin Diehl Failed it! Fam: what is the one thing in your life you want to change?That one thing that sticks out to you, that voice inside your head, that nagging noise in your ear that says “this isn’t right.” Got it? Then let’s get to failing it. There are three things that Erin attributes this massive transition in her life to: Inspiration, Manifestation and Action. These words are not anomalies when it comes to change. Listen in on Erin’s story and advice when it comes to making the big move to the location of your dreams, and what it takes to get there. If you need a “nudge” to get out there, take a risk and try something new, then this episode is for you. Links from show discussion: The Artists Way book Book a Laugh Break for your team Spotify Playlists below: Zen: Indie Folk for Focus Lo-Fi Beats Coffee Table Jazz Retro Pop Infinite Acoustic Mellow Classics   Failed it! Fam: If you liked today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to rate us and give us a review. Your review helps us share the #fails of the world, so we can all learn from these “gifts.” Week by week, we unwrap the stories of fails’ past and present, and we’ve got a lot more “giving” to do! Your support means the world.   About Erin Diehl: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“I want to get as far down my path as I possibly can in life and I want to help other people get as far down their path as they possibly can.” - O’Brien McMahon Have you ever considered working in sales? In the world of sales, you hear “no” way more than you hear “yes.” Host Erin Diehl chats with a good friend, O’Brien McMahon, the Senior Vice President of Lockton, the place that helps companies build better employee benefits, and retirement programs. Listen to this episode for O’Brien’s juicy chicken nuggets of wisdom on his journey in selling, building relationships and creating trust with leaders across a variety of organizations. His relationship building techniques are sure to inspire!   Links from show discussions: improve it! Workshop O’Brien’s LinkedIn People Business with O’Brien McMahon O’Brien McMahon is a Senior Vice President with Lockton, helping companies build better employee benefits, compensation, and retirement programs. He also hosts “People Business w/ O’Brien McMahon,” a podcast exploring the human element of work. While his day job is focused on Total Rewards, he is fascinated by human behavior and psychology and enjoys helping companies and leadership teams get the most out of their people.     Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“DJs are kind of essential workers. Music is helping people get through this quarantine in so many ways that have not been talked about.” - Amani Roberts, The Amani Experience. Hey Failed it! Fam. Has music helped you get through these tough times? Whether your answer is yes or no, this weeks’ episode will show you how music can help get you out of any funk (and it’s cheaper than therapy)! Host Erin Diehl chats with Amani Roberts, DJ and founder and CEO of The Amani Experience, which specializes in providing music for corporate/social events and team-building experiences, creating original music for commercials or videos, and teaching students of all ages how to DJ. Amani’s career is very unique and his failures and life lessons are sure to inspire you both creatively and professionally. So put on those headphones, and get ready to take a lyrical journey that will show you how to dance through the “record scratches” thrown your way. Links from show discussions: improve it! Laugh Break The Amani Experience Podcast Check his DJing out on Twitch and/or Instagram Live Amani’s Book - “DJs Mean Business: One Night Behind The Turntables Can Spin Your Company’s Success”   Failed it! Fam: If you liked today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to rate us and give us a review. Your review helps us share the #fails of the world, so we can all learn from these “gifts.” Week by week, we unwrap the stories of fails’ past and present, and we’ve got a lot more “giving” to do! Your support means the world.     About Amani: Amani Roberts is a Washington DC born and bred creative, graduate of Howard University, who has been a DJ since 2008. Amani’s hospitality career has spanned over 25-years holding jobs such as Hotel General Manager, Director of Sales & Marketing and Regional Director of Sales & Marketing with Marriott International. Amani currently lives in Los Angeles, California and is the Chief Musical Curator for his company, The Amani Experience. This company specializes in providing music for corporate events, social events, team-building experiences, creating original music for commercials or videos, and teaching students of all ages how to DJ.   Amani has produced remixes of artists such as Niia, Kehlani, Ellie Goulding, Camila Cabello, Little Big Town, Alessia Cara, and Hoodboi for his music collective known as A Starter Jacket. DJ AmRo hosts a weekly podcast called “The Amani Experience Podcast” where he interviews creative professionals from all over the world about why they took the leap from corporate life to the creative life.   Amani is an adjunct professor at Cal State University - Fullerton (CSUF), teaching Entertainment Money Management in the Mihaylo School of Business & Economics as well as the Co-Director for the Center for Entertainment & Hospitality Management. He has been active on the board of Meeting Professionals International - Southern California for over five years and is currently the Vice President of Education for the chapter.   Amani’s first book, “DJs Mean Business: One Night Behind The Turntables Can Spin Your Company’s Success” was released in April of 2020. Twitter | Instagram | Facebook - @amaniexperience     Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Your “side hustle” or “dream” should fire you up, and make you want to commit to yourself. Where attention goes, energy flows. With this commitment in time you will start to see the results. The more attention you put towards something, the stronger it becomes.” - Erin Diehl Are you dreaming about starting a business on your own? Well, if you are, then this is going to save you hours of reading, googling and at this point in time “virtual coffees.” Push play to hear Erin provide five strategies you can use to bring your dream world to the real world! Links from show discussion: Episode 10 - No More Morning #Fails - 5 Tips On How to Rock your AM’S! The Compound Effect book Weekly Rhythm Register LegalZoom gov GoDaddy Book a virtual workshop for your team Failed it! Fam: If you liked today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to rate us and give us a review. Your review helps us share the #fails of the world, so we can all learn from these “gifts.” Week by week, we unwrap the stories of fails’ past and present, and we’ve got a lot more “giving” to do! Your support means the world.   About Erin Diehl: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“The only time it’s game over is when you run out of options.” - David Gardner, ColorJar In this episode, host Erin Diehl chats with The Big Jump podcast host and CEO and founder of ColorJar, David Gardner. His goal is to unlock potential for brands that matter and inspire people to reinvent themselves. He truly believes that failure is something the world needs to hear more of, which makes him a perfect Failed It! guest. Listen to David as he tells his story on how he went from a professional basketball player to a successful entrepreneur! Links from show discussions: improve it! Laugh Break Aaptiv App - The app to help you fill your kettle so you can fill others’ cups! The Big Jump podcast David Gardner is a former professional basketball player turned entrepreneur who started his company ColorJar from his bedroom in 2008. Now one Chicago’s top-rated brand consulting and design firms, ColorJar is on a mission to unlock potential for brands that matter. ColorJar specializes in revitalizing brands at key moments of change to drive business results. David began his branding career in 2003 when he co-founded positive news website Buzzflood, while balancing student-athlete life as an All-Ivy League basketball player and team MVP at Dartmouth. He’s also the host of a popular podcast, The Big Jump, where he interviews professional athletes who have created success beyond sports. David is regularly featured in the media and speaks across the US and internationally on the topics of branding and human reinvention. Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

In this episode, host Erin Diehl chats with author, entrepreneur and fear boss leader, Judi Holler. Judi’s mission is to help people live braver lives and empower leaders to lead braver teams. Snaps to that, am I right or am I right? Judi provides tip after tip to help you create a fearless and empowering life and become the fear boss you’ve always dreamed of becoming. Links from show discussions: improve it! Laugh Break Aaptiv App - The app to help you fill your kettle so you can fill others’ cups! Judi’s Book: Fear is my Homeboy Text “Brave” to 474747 to access to Judi’s favorite #FearBoss tools and to start reading Fear Is My Homeboy Big Magic Book Judi’s Website Judi’s Instagram Judi’s Facebook FearBoss Community Page Judi’s LinkedIn   Judi Holler owns a creative company that is on a mission to help people live braver lives and EMPOWER leaders to lead braver teams. Her work takes the experimental principles of the improv theatre and helps you apply them to the unscripted stage of everyday life. These ideas will teach you that while you’ll never be “fearless” ... you can get really good at ... FEARING FEAR LESS!  Judi is a professionally trained improviser and alumni of Second City’s Conservatory in Chicago and she uses her training every day to smash self-doubt and experiment with fear.  Judi’s book, Fear Is My Homeboy, became an instant bestseller on Amazon, is currently being translated into two languages and was endorsed by the inspiring Mel Robbins calling it .... “relatable, relevant and most importantly ACTIONABLE!”  Additionally, Judi is the creator of the Fear Boss Community, a community of brave humans dedicated to experimenting with fear, and she has a brand new podcast called, The #FearBoss Show which is now available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!  When Judi is not keynoting conferences, podcasting, testing out new fear experiments, and creating content for the #FearBoss community ... she is most likely riding her Peloton bike, nose deep in a book, or hanging out with her husband Scott and their golden retriever, Tito!  Judi likes her books non-digital, her wine bubbly, and her music hip-hop. Judi’s Mission: To help you live a braver life and smash comfort zones by experimenting with your fear. Every day. On purpose. Judi’s Vision: A world so brave that the word regret has been removed from the dictionary because you are way too busy making things happen for yourself! Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“It’s time my failed it! fam to get those “PITS UP.” In a world where we can easily allow ourselves to get down in the dumps, it’s also easy to remember that we are not alone. In fact, SO many people, leaders and teams are struggling with keeping not only their morale high- but keeping the morale and collaboration of their teams raised in a time in our world where there seem to be fall after fall.” -Erin Diehl Question Failed It! Fam: As you continue to work from home - how do you make your zoom time count toward creating a culture of collaboration, creativity and connection?! Well, if you’re unsure how to answer that, then push play to hear our host Erin provide five tangible tips on how to effectively collaborate with your teams in this virtual environment. Links from show discussion: Slack Goat2Meeting Skillpop Aaptiv App - The app to help you fill your kettle so you can fill others’ cups! Book a Laugh Break for your team Calendly Asana Failed it! Fam: If you liked today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to rate us and give us a review. Your review helps us share the #fails of the world, so we can all learn from these “gifts.” Week by week, we unwrap the stories of fails’ past and present, and we’ve got a lot more “giving” to do! Your support means the world. About Erin Diehl: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“My real encouragement would be just to simply start practicing checking in with yourself.” -Ashley Beaudin, The Imperfect Boss In this episode, host Erin Diehl chats with the boss of The Imperfect Boss, Ashley Beaudin. Feeling like the weight of 2020  has got you down? Ashley’s main goal is to provide women with the opportunity to move to self sabotage to self confidence and shift imperfections into superpowers. Listen to this amazing entrepreneur provide insights as to what helps her and her clients feel empowered, inspired and rejuvenated. Links from show discussions: The 3 Questions How do I want to feel today? What do I need in order to feel that way? What boundaries do I need to set to make sure these things get met? improve it! Laugh Break Aaptiv App - The app to help you fill your kettle so you can fill others’ cups! DM Ashley and/or take a personality quiz on her Instagram or website!   Ashley Beaudin is a speaker, mindset coach and heart encourager who helps people move from self-sabotage to self-confidence. She is the visionary behind The Imperfect Boss; an international movement that shifts imperfections into superpowers and helps women lead with their whole selves. Ashley’s campaigns of empowerment and vulnerability have reached hundreds of thousands of people over three years and she has been featured in publications and events across North America. The easiest way to her heart is through soul talk, hugs and donuts. You can find more about her through her website and Instagram. Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“I want you to look at the opportunities that once felt like failures, and like Beyonce, I want you to see those lemons as lemonade...because without those #fails, we wouldn't get to where we are supposed to be today!” -Erin Diehl On this episode, host Erin Diehl gets REAL with you and discusses her life’s #fails through her own failure resume. Follow along, and create your own using our template here. This exercise if vital if you want to reframe your perspective during this hard season. Remember that failures always lead to some greater opportunity, and always have some “gift” of wisdom. Listen to this episode for some uncensored resume lessons! Links from show discussion: Get Your Own Failure Resume Template Here Ricki Lake for the younger peeps Josh Johnson Episode 6 Online Trainings with improve it!   Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Don't lose sight of the priorities; you can't control everything. You just can't.” -Rosanna Canonigo On this episode, host Erin Diehl chats with Global TV and Digital Distribution Executive at EntertainmentOne, Rosanna Canonigo. How did she get to where she is now? What struggles occurred along the way? Learn from her inspiring story and why priorities take precedence by listening to this episode! Links from show discussions: Online Trainings with improve it! Rosanna’s LinkedIn   Rosanna is a native of Chicago, graduating with honors from Northern Illinois University and began her professional career as a CPA at the global accounting firm, KPMG.  In a career pivot, Rosanna then moved to NYC splitting time between building a career as an actress while also maintaining footholds in both the accounting and small business worlds.  After a relocation to Los Angeles, Rosanna establishes her career in global feature film and TV series sales, financing and distribution over a 12 year tenure at Lionsgate leading to her current role at Entertainment One, as Hasbro Company.  She has served on the board of F.E.M.E, a nonprofit women's networking organization dedicated to helping connect women executives in media and entertainment.  Rosanna currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Whatever your feelings, I do know one thing for sure – we have to stay mindful in this madness. That is a must. If we don’t take care of ourselves and put on our own “oxygen masks,” we cannot put on someone else’s.” -Erin Diehl Host Erin Diehl reminisces on the roller coaster ride that is 2020. In this episode, she provides three tangible tips on how to be mindful during this crazy year. Listening to this is a must to help gain some control in your life, especially if you’re in the low part of the ride. Remember, we fall only to rise up again! Links from show discussions: Josh Johnson’s Specials Episode 10 - How to crush your morning routine Jai Brown’s Episode Link to Failed It! Podcast Joy List   Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

"I very quickly realized that people that looked like me were not on TV. I didn't see disabled people who were visibly disabled. And if I did see a disabled person, they were white and were men." -Maysoon Zayid On this failed it! episode, host Erin Diehl has an impressive and comedic conversation with actress, comedian, writer, and disability advocate, Maysoon Zayid. You might’ve seen her on Don’t Mess with the Zohan or her #1 TED talk in 2014. If you want some laughs, listen to this episode on how Maysoon doesn’t let her the fact she has cerebral palsy stop her from achieving her lifelong dreams. Links from show discussions: Pat Mitchell Maysoon’s Ted Talk WFH (Workshop From Home) Membership Maysoon’s Book: Find Another Dream Maysoon Zayid is an actress, comedian, writer, and disability advocate. She is a graduate of and a Guest Comedian in Residence at Arizona State University. Maysoon is the co-founder/co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and The Muslim Funny Fest. She was a full-time On Air Contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann and a columnist for The Daily Beast. She has most recently appeared on Oprah Winfrey Networks In Deep Shift, 60 Minutes, and CNN. Maysoon had the number one TED Talk of 2014 and was named 1 of 100 Women of 2015 by BBC. As a professional comedian, Maysoon has performed in top New York clubs and has toured extensively at home and abroad. She was a headliner on the Arabs Gone Wild Comedy Tour and The Muslims Are Coming Tour. Maysoon appeared alongside Adam Sandler in You Don’t Mess with the the Zohan and limped in New York Fashion Week. She is a recurring character on General Hospital and the author & narrator of Find Another Dream. You can find her through her website, Twitter, and/or Instagram. Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“It starts with reflection, seeking to understand, so listening, and then engaging in conversations understanding that you may not have the perfect words.”   On this failed it! episode, host Erin Diehl has a crucial conversation with a dear friend, J’ai Brown. She is the HR Director for HUB International and Executive Sponsor for the Midwest-West Diversity & Inclusion Council. Erin and J’ai talk about the importance of addressing racial injustice and how we can adequately discuss the topic with others. Listen in on how you can help make a difference.   Links from show discussions:   The Monopoly Analogy (*explicit language*) My Block My Hood My City Organization From Awareness to Action: The Path Toward a Meaningful Allyship - Dr. Evelyn Carter White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo Robin DiAngelo on the Family Action Network (FAN) Other good book sources that Jai’s currently reading The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander   J’ai Brown serves as the HR Director for HUB International, leading the HR function for the Midwest-West division. In her role, J’ai is a member of the executive management team providing strategic insight and support across the Midwest-West division on all aspects of HR including employee relations, diversity & inclusion, talent acquisition, compensation, performance management, organizational design and career development. Additionally, she is the Executive Sponsor for the Midwest-West Diversity & Inclusion Council and a member of the organizing team for the HUB Women Network ERG. Prior to joining HUB, J’ai worked in roles of increasing responsibility in claims administration and human resources at Allstate Insurance Company before continuing her career in human resources at BMO Financial Group. J’ai received an MBA and B.S. degrees in HR Management and General Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has her PHR and SHRM-CP designations. She is the Education Chair for Chicago SHRM and mentors youth with Posse Chicago and Chicago Scholars. She is a 2020 Chicago Urban League IMPACT Leadership Development Fellow, 2019 Black Queens of Chicago, 2018 Wall Street in the Black Future Leader and 2016 Chicago Scholars 35 under 35 honoree.    J’ai resides in Bronzeville with her husband, Frank, and daughter, Kylee. You can find her on LinkedIn and Instagram where she highlights her adoption story and journey. Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“You cannot fill someone else’s teacup unless your tea kettle is full.”  - Erin Diehl Not a morning person? Can you not even open your eyes without a jolt of your morning java? Well friends, today’s failed it! episode gives you the very best tips and tricks on how to manage your mornings to become the daybreak diva you are. Listen in on how Erin uses these 5 tips to help you get going right when you wake up - so you can be the rockstar you were meant to be ALL day long. Welcome to failed it! Links from show discussions: Tone it Up Workout App Apptiv Workout App Les Mills Workouts Breethe Meditation App Episode 7   Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Nothing is permanent; everything is temporary; everything is changing. Just hang on because as long as you’re breathing, you will be okay.”  - Brad Chandler Happy Pride Month! Today’s failed it! episode features guest Brad Chandler from The Hollis Co! This therapeutic conversation will help you realize that life is not a straight line, and that you are not alone. Listen to Erin interview Brad on some life lessons and insights as he pivoted along his life’s journey. Welcome to failed it! Links from show discussions: Book - Rocket Fuel Workshop From Home (WFH) Membership Vipassana Meditation    Brad Chandler is the VP of Business Strategy and Development at The Hollis Co. He has decades of hands-on experience in trend-based businesses- in the music industry, as an Influencer Marketer, Brand Manager, Product Developer, Entrepreneur, and in Business Development. My instincts are honed on developing sticky concepts that drive revenue. Currently, I strategize both forward-thinking developments and internal business structures to effectively build the vision of our CEO, Ms. Hollis. The Hollis Company produces business conferences, women's conferences, athletic runs, full-featured media projects, lifestyle media, digital education courses, and is moving fiercely into the health and wellness space in 2020/2021. You can find him on his website, his LinkedIn, and/or his Instagram!   Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“The rule of thumb is you don’t have to not approach, and you don’t have to not say anything. I think you just have to think about being empathetic and how would you want to be approached in such a situation. We need to be our best selves in trying times like these.”  - Kelly Fair On today’s failed it! episode, host Erin Diehl has an impactful conversation with a dear friend, Kelly Fair, founder of Polished Pebbles - a mentoring program that has helped 3,000+ girls find their voices, improve their communication skills, and build their skills for future careers. Listen in to educate yourself on how to be a better ally to the Black Community and how to take action. Welcome to failed it! Links from show discussions: Invisible Load of Motherhood: Mothering Black Children Kelly Fair’s Book: Every Girl is a CEO   Kelly Fair is the Founder of Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program. Founded ten years ago, Polished Pebbles has helped more than 3,000 girls in Illinois, Indiana, and Texas find their voice, improve their communication skills, and build their skills for future careers. Kelly is a sought-after speaker for mentoring, communication skills, girls’ development and job readiness, professional leadership development, and social entrepreneurship. She’s a dynamic storyteller, communications expert, and relatable voice with the keen ability to penetrate the hearts of women with her honesty and expertise. Through her authentic conversational speaking style, she connects across socioeconomic statuses, intergenerationally, and cross-culturally—making her a phenomenal speaker or training facilitator in a conference setting. Her ability to “polish pebbles”, helping young women and girls shine, has brought her recognition from Bank of America, ComEd, Verizon, Google, Duke University, Du Sable Museum of African American History, Social Enterprise Alliance, and more. Since launching Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program, Kelly’s signature communications and job readiness programming has expanded from elementary age girls to include high school, college programs, families, prominent women leaders, and to sites in Northwest Indiana, Dallas, Texas, and North Carolina. Kelly has been featured in Ebony magazine, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, The Chicago Sun-Times, and Chicago Woman magazine. You can learn more about Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program here. Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“You know the peeps who seem to have it all together? You, too, can have it all with the help of some friends.” - Erin Diehl     Each week, your failed it! podcast host and improve it! founder Erin Diehl, will take you on a comedic journey that flips the “highlight reel” of Instagram on its head and shows you the grit, creativity and determination it takes to overcome your disappointments, embrace the suck, and design the career you’ve only dreamed about.      Do you feel overwhelmed at times? Unorganized? Have so much on your plate? Well, in this episode, host Erin Diehl will talk through key points on how you truly don’t have to do it all to be successful. So tune in, take a load off, and listen to the tips and tricks she has for you on turning failing it! into nailing it!   Welcome to failed it!   Erin fills you in on three secrets to getting it all done:   [2:41] A day in the life of Erin pre-quarantine [4:48] You don’t have to do it all! [5:25] Get a lil help from your friends [6:28] Eliminate and delegate [9:44] Intern hire tips [11:36] Come laugh and learn with improve it!’s WFH (work from home) membership [14:15] Outsourcing Pros [16:38] Structure your work day [18:20] Big 3 Freebie LINK [19:01] The final tip [20:35] Let’s review [21:18] And remember... [21:36] Take a screenshot and tag us using #faileditpodcast Instagram: @learntoimproveit Facebook: @improveit [22:00] Always remember, you have to fail in order to improve   Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast @learntoimproveit on Instagram and Facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“I think that if you’re able to be flexible, you open yourself up to all possibilities of getting to the place that you eventually want to be.” - Josh Johnson   Each week, your failed it! podcast host and improve it! founder Erin Diehl, will take you on a comedic journey that flips the “highlight reel” of Instagram on its head and shows you the grit, creativity and determination it takes to overcome your disappointments, embrace the suck, and design the career you’ve only dreamed about.    On today’s failed it! episode, host Erin Diehl introduces stand-up comedian, writer and performer, Josh Johnson, to speak about how he stands up and embraces failure! *Please note that this episode was recorded prior to the pandemic.*   Welcome to failed it! [3:59] The real Diehl on the real Josh Johnson [7:26] Josh’s failure resume [10:04] The first year of stand-up [13:26] Podcast idea that didn’t come to fruition [22:36] 3 lessons Josh learned [23:45] Doors don’t get slammed, but get closed slowly [25:06] “I think that if you’re able to be flexible, you open yourself up to all possibilities of getting to the place that you eventually want to be.” [27:45] improve it!’s WFH (work from home) membership [34:12] “Time only builds and helps them to get them where they want to go.” [35:47] Josh provides 3 action items for you that he learned [37:53] “Reading is a lot like exercising” [43:03] What did Josh fail at today? [44:44] Fail Yeah! [46:21] You can follow/DM Josh on Instagram and Twitter and Facebook [47:24] Check out Josh’s album ‘I Like You’ on Spotify, Tidal, etc. [48:08] Rate/Subscribe on iTunes and screenshot you listening by tagging us using #faileditpodcast! Instagram: @learntoimproveit Facebook: @improveit    Josh Johnson is a stand-up, writer, and performer from Louisiana by way of Chicago. He is currently a writer on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and has been featured on Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City. Josh was named one of Comedy Central’s ‘Comics to Watch’ in 2015 and one of the Just For Laughs Festival’s ‘New Faces’ in 2016. He is a former writer and performer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he also made his late-night debut in 2017.   As a stand-up, Josh has performed at clubs, colleges and festivals around the world, including JFL Montreal, Bumbershoot, Moontower, SXSW, Riot LA, Bridgetown, High Plains and the New York Comedy Festival and was named New York’s Funniest Comic at Caroline's during the New York Comedy Festival in 2018.   On screen, Josh has appeared on CONAN, @Midnight with Chris Hardwick, and Netflix as part of The Comedy Lineup. In 2017, he released his Comedy Central half-hour special and album ‘I Like You.’ His web series Genies, which he wrote and starred in, was released on Comedy Central in late 2018.   He was on the road with Trevor Noah, as a part of the LOUD & CLEAR Tour, prior to the pandemic. Josh lives in New York and can be seen performing regularly at the Comedy Cellar.   Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast @learntoimproveit on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Instead of thinking of your failures as #fails – why not think of them as gifts? What did you learn from the experience? What could you gain?” - Erin Diehl Each week, your failed it! podcast host and improve it! founder Erin Diehl, will take you on a comedic journey that flips the “highlight reel” of Instagram on its head and shows you the grit, creativity and determination it takes to overcome your disappointments, embrace the suck, and design the career you’ve only dreamed about.    Being in quarantine has given us time to start new things and/or finish projects, but have you been hesitant in starting something because you think you might fail? In this episode, host Erin Diehl will show you how celebrating and sharing your failures can help you process, learn, and appreciate the mistakes. It is within these failures that you can find your life’s greatest gifts. Welcome to failed it!   Today, Erin discusses three ways on how you can celebrate your failures. [2:49] Sound familiar? [4:37] The pandemic shows our more authentic selves [5:08] The message behind the smile [6:55] Reality [7:28] 3 ways to help you celebrate your failures [7:49] Fails are our presents to the world [11:16] Erin’s celebration of fails aka gifts [12:33] Action item [13:00] Episode 2 with Haley Bohon offering affordable classes [14:05] improve it!’s WFH (work from home) membership [16:41] “The person that we become is due in part to the lessons we have learned over time, and most of the lessons have been learned through failure” [17:08] Write your failure resume!  [18:39] Failures mean you tried [18:46] Shout out Brene Brown [19:21] Come fail away with me [21:13] “Sharing our struggles create connection and community” [21:46] Take a pic with your failure resume and tag us using #faileditpodcast Instagram: @learntoimproveit Facebook: @improveit [22:06] Recap [22:34] Take a screenshot and share on social [23:06] Always remember, you have to fail in order to improve   Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast @learntoimproveit on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“You gotta get through the discomfort of ‘this doesn’t look like something I have experienced and am comfortable with,’ but it’s going to push us ultimately, and hopefully into something better.” - Kyle Stapleton     Each week, your failed it! podcast host and improve it! founder Erin Diehl, will take you on a comedic journey that flips the “highlight reel” of Instagram on its head and shows you the grit, creativity and determination it takes to overcome your disappointments, embrace the suck, and design the career you’ve only dreamed about.    On today’s failed it! episode, host Erin Diehl introduces the Senior Manager of Culture & Experience at WarnerMedia Studios, Kyle Stapleton to speak about his lessons in failure and his embodiment in creating soulful, human work experiences.   Welcome to failed it!   Tune in to how innovator Kyle proves that the fortune sure does favor the bold by the highlights below: [5:49] Kyle’s failure resume [13:44] If you’re an innovator, surround yourself with integrators [14:14] Book - Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman & Mark C. Winters [16:55] The quarantine adjustment using the innovator mindset [19:30] Breaking down old habits and embracing change; be smarter and work different [20:06] Quarantine gave a chance to pause and reflect [23:01] improve it!’s WFH (work from home) membership [24:49] Chicken Champion Moment (getting comfortable with the uncomfortable) [26:11] The fortune favors the bold - value of speaking up [31:53] 3 action items for others to improve themselves (be a rebel, make sure you’re serving, take the opportunity to clean your slate) [39:58] Today, Kyle failed at… [41:13] With every failure, you learn [41:30] Fail Yeah! [43:13] You can follow Kyle on Twitter and LinkedIn [43:40] Screenshot you listening and tag us using #faileditpodcast! Instagram: @learntoimproveit Facebook: @improveit   Kyle Stapleton is Sr. Manager of Culture and Experience for WarnerMedia Studios, the creative production engine that supports WarnerMedia brands like TBS, TNT, HBO Max,Cartoon Network, [adult swim], NBA TV, truTV, CNN, Bleacher Report, and more. There he fosters an environment that empowers top creative talent to shape culture through stories. This entails working across the employee life cycle, from talent attraction and onboarding through engagement, inclusion, and development. His team’s goal is to make WarnerMedia the world’s preeminent destination for multimedia creatives.   As part of his interest in designing more soulful, human work experiences, Kyle co-founded the Atlanta chapter of CULTURE LABx, a global community of EX professionals experimenting with the future of work. He also advises and champions organizations working at the intersection of Atlanta’s cultural impact and civil rights legacy, such as Atlanta Influences Everything, Generator, and Future Foundation.   Kyle also co-hosts TuneDig, a podcast about music discovery born from years of working with record stores. He earned his bachelor’s and MBA from Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business. He and his wife Caralee, a visual artist and curator, are proud lifelong ATLiens.     Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast @learntoimproveit on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!

“Change is inevitable. It’s how we grow as human beings, it’s how we motivate teams, it’s how organizations are built, why my company exists and how individuals and businesses thrive.” - Erin Diehl   Each week, your failed it! podcast host and improve it! founder Erin Diehl, will take you on a comedic journey that flips the “highlight reel” of Instagram on its head and shows you the grit, creativity and determination it takes to overcome your disappointments, embrace the suck, and design the career you’ve only dreamed about.    Welcome to failed it!   In this episode, host Erin Diehl addresses how she and her company, improve it!, are adapting to the effects of Covid-19 and how she’s leading her remote workforce.   Here, you’ll hear the “real Diehl” on how Covid-19 has completely shifted leadership and how to pivot through this crisis or any crisis that may come after this. Prior to this pandemic, the improve it! team already consisted of three remote employees. Erin shares with her fellow leaders the tips and tricks that her company uses to make remote work a part of their business prior to this pandemic:   [1:11] The Charlotte expansion [2:30] Differences in having remote employees [3:32] #FAILS [4:41] Grab your notebook & pen [5:04] How to lead a remote team using remote control *wink wink* [6:14] Online tools RULE [7:30] Zoom zoom zoom [8:14] “Your tone sets the tone for conversation” [11:49] improve it!’s WFH (work from home) membership [13:29] Stop, collaborate, and listen [14:06] Free, online tool resources (Asana, Calendly, Dropbox, Evernote) [17:01] Trust your people [17:44] Team weekly check-ins [18:31] Yes, and [19:49] Celebrate change [20:55] Shoutout to Rachel Hollis [21:43] You can’t control everything [22:53] Think about these questions to benefit your team [23:56] “You can do hard things” [24:09] And remember… [24:46] Screenshot you listening and tag us using #faileditpodcast! Instagram: @learntoimproveit Facebook: @improveit   Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.   This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.   When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running by the lake and patio dinners with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.   You can follow the failed it! Podcast @learntoimproveit on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!