Hey humans, welcome to "What If," a new, short-format summer mini-series. I know life is busy, so these episodes are five minutes or less, designed to help you focus inward. This week, we're tackling a feeling many of us have been made to feel: that we are "too much". Whether you've been called too emotional, too quiet, or too opinionated, these labels can cause us to internalize the message that we must shrink ourselves to be accepted.

I struggled with this myself after being told for years that my intuition was irrelevant and I needed to rely only on data. But embracing our full selves is what leads to resilience and well-being. So, here is your assignment: write a letter to your younger self affirming the very parts of you that were once labeled "too much". The goal is to begin seeing that you are not, and never were, too much. It’s about reframing what was called "too emotional" into the compassion and love it truly represents.

Enjoy,

Stacie

More episodes at StacieBaird.com.

On this special two-part episode of the HX Podcast, I’m so excited to be joined by two of my colleagues from CMS, Mike and Reggie. We dive deep into the human experience of artificial intelligence, starting not with the technology itself, but with the people who use it. Mike and Reggie share their personal histories and what drives them, from a passion for service to the constant search for a better work-life balance.

We explore how so many of us have been taught that "hustle equals worth," and how AI, when used wisely, presents an opportunity to reclaim our time for more meaningful human interactions. My guests offer fantastic, practical advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed and wondering where to even begin with AI.

We then tackle the big questions head-on, discussing the common fears around AI replacing jobs and the complex topic of AI consciousness, ultimately exploring what it truly means to be human in an age of rapidly advancing technology.

Stacie

More episodes at StacieBaird.com.

Hey humans! On this episode of the HX podcast, I wanted to talk to my fellow Gen Xers about something that was programmed into us back in our twenties: the idea that our worth is tied to our productivity. I see it causing problems in business and in people's lives. I know this from my own career in startups, where that hustle culture was rewarded and it hard-coded into me the belief that being exhausted meant I was doing a good job. But I now know that's just not the truth, and it's time we challenge that thinking.

So, I'm asking you to focus on a few things this week. I want you to ask yourself what would change if you valued rest as much as work, and know that you can seek support if this is a struggle. Remember, you are valuable because of who you are, not because of what you produce.

Your value is intrinsically amazing.

Stacie

More episodes at StacieBaird.com.

Hey humans! In this episode, as we continue our series on 'Assuming Positive Intent,' I'm diving further into a topic I believe is one of the most challenging things we navigate: the duality between victimhood and accountability.

To pick up from last week, I really break down what victimhood looks like – that mindset rooted in an external locus of control, where we might blame others or circumstances, often stemming from past adversity or trauma, and I don't want to minimize that.

I explore the significant costs of this mindset, especially in our workplaces—how it erodes trust, blocks progress, and reduces psychological safety—to really lay the foundation for why understanding this is so critical before we talk about how to shift towards accountability in our next episode.

Stacie

More episodes at StacieBaird.com.

In this episode of my 'Assuming Positive Intent' series, I wanted to share a personal insight that really struck me, especially as I've been feeling a bit exhausted from a big push at work. I talk about the crucial difference between falling into a 'victimhood' mindset and practicing 'self-compassion,' and I offer one simple but powerful shift I've been using.

I'm finding this helps me foster empathy and move from that reactive place to one of empowerment - I hope that it helps you, too!

Stacie

More episodes at StacieBaird.com.

This podcast episode is a special one for me, as I pay tribute to a man who was truly a force bigger than life: Tom Frank. He was an incredible storyteller and an icon, and I think of him often. This particular episode, which we originally recorded back in September 2020, features Tom discussing the culture of organizations and sharing his history as one of the original members of the P.F. Chang's team. It's especially meaningful to me to republish this episode now, five years into my podcasting journey, because it truly stuck out as one of several of those conversations with him that moved my soul.

A big part of our discussion (this was part of my previous podcast with Blake Rayhons) with Tom centered on the definition and immense importance of organizational culture. Tom shared how P.F. Chang's, when it started as just a single restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, didn't just create recipes for food, but also developed a "recipe for the culture". He talks about that a crucial ingredient in building culture, especially in the context of restaurants and ethnic cuisine, is "respect". This led to a memorable anecdote about the special sauce at P.F. Chang's. This story, for me, perfectly illustrated Tom's insightful philosophy.

Our conversation flowed into the concept of creating a "better world" within the workplace. Tom described this as a somewhat selfish desire to "come to work every day and feel good about myself". He made a compelling case for leaders to embrace their own personal motivations in shaping culture, as this inherently attracts like-minded individuals who also want to be part of that same positive environment.

I absolutely love Frank's message. I hope you'll listen and hear that same genuine message.

Stacie

More episodes at StacieBaird.com.

Hey humans, you won't want to miss this episode! I chat with Seth Turner from AbsenceSoft about a seriously important topic: leave management. We're digging into how we can shift our thinking from just processing paperwork to truly supporting employees during critical life moments.

Seth shares his journey into this complex world and how his company is aiming to bring more humanity and efficiency to the process. We'll also touch on how technology, even AI, can play a role in making things smoother and more human-centered.

Seth offers some great advice for anyone dreaming of building solutions in the HR tech space. This conversation is packed with insights on elevating the employee experience.

Stacie

More episodes at StacieBaird.com.

Links for Seth Turner and AbsenceSoft

AbsenceSoft Website | Seth Turner LinkedIn