Barely Manageable Podcast

Growth isn't always exciting—it’s often uncomfortable, messy, and a little awkward.In Episode 6 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary discuss the reality of professional growth and why becoming better at what you do often means feeling uncomfortable along the way. From stepping into leadership roles and giving difficult feedback to learning new skills and making mistakes in front of others, growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.They share personal experiences, lessons learned, and practical advice for navigating the awkward stages of professional development with confidence and grace. If you've ever felt like you're stumbling through a new role, questioning yourself, or wondering if everyone else has it figured out, this conversation is for you.Because the awkward phase isn't a sign you're failing—it's often a sign you're growing.🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.Connect with Barely Manageable:🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod▶️ YouTube: Barely Manageable Pod💬 Reddit: r/BarelyManageablePod 🔗 All Links: linktr.ee/barelymanageablepodcast⭐ Like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if this episode hit home.✨ Save 25% off your first month at Ritual with code LINKTREE https://tr.ee/3MKwa6bOgY🛒 Save 50% off of your Sam's Club membership with this link! https://tr.ee/1S6cq8OOeq☕️ WIN OUR BARELY MANAGEABLE MUG GIVEAWAY! You've seen it in every episode—now it's your chance to have your own official Barely Manageable Mug! 🎙️How to Enter: 📧 Email your workplace story, management challenge, leadership question, or "barely manageable" moment to [email protected] 🎧 Subscribe to Barely Manageable wherever you listen to podcasts 📱 Follow us on social mediaWe'll choose one lucky winner to receive the iconic mug featured on the show! Submit by 7/7 Winner announced 7/13Got a story that's too good not to share? Send it our way—you might even hear it discussed in a future episode.

You can’t pour from an empty cup.In Episode 5 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary discuss compassion fatigue—the emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that can come from constantly caring for others. Whether you're a leader, healthcare professional, therapist, caregiver, or simply someone who spends their days supporting others, compassion fatigue can sneak up on you when you least expect it.They explore the signs of burnout, the difference between compassion fatigue and everyday stress, and how helping professionals can recognize when their own well-being is being neglected. Through personal experiences and practical insights, they share ways to set healthy boundaries, prioritize self-care, and continue showing up for others without losing yourself in the process.Because caring deeply is a strength—but even the strongest people need support too.🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.Connect with Barely Manageable:🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod▶️ YouTube: Barely Manageable Pod💬 Reddit: r/BarelyManageablePod 🔗 All Links: linktr.ee/barelymanageablepodcast⭐ Like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if this episode hit home.✨ Save 25% off your first month at Ritual with code LINKTREE https://tr.ee/3MKwa6bOgY🛒 Save 50% off of your Sam's Club membership with this link! https://tr.ee/1S6cq8OOeq

"Per my last email..." 👀In Episode 4 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary dive into one of the most common forms of workplace conflict: the passive-aggressive email. From carefully worded messages and unnecessary CCs to subtle jabs disguised as professionalism, they unpack the emails that leave everyone wondering, "What did they really mean by that?"They share real-life examples, discuss why passive-aggressive communication happens in the workplace, and offer practical advice for managers and employees trying to navigate tension, misunderstandings, and workplace drama without making things worse.If you've ever reread an email five times trying to determine its tone—or found yourself tempted to respond with a little passive aggression of your own—this episode is for you. Because sometimes the biggest workplace conflicts don't happen in meetings... they happen in your inbox.🎙️ Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.Connect with Barely Manageable:🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod▶️ YouTube: Barely Manageable Pod💬 Reddit: r/BarelyManageablePod 🔗 All Links: linktr.ee/barelymanageablepodcast⭐ Like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if this episode hit home.✨ Save 25% off your first month at Ritual with code LINKTREE https://tr.ee/3MKwa6bOgY🛒 Save 50% off of your Sam's Club membership with this link! https://tr.ee/1S6cq8OOeq

We’ve all had one… that boss. 😅In Episode 3 of Barely Manageable, Dana and Mary are talking about the bad bosses we’ve all known—the micromanagers, the poor communicators, the power-trippers, and the leaders who taught us exactly what not to do.From real workplace red flags to leadership horror stories (and a few laughs along the way), this episode dives into how bad management impacts teams, morale, and workplace culture—and what better leadership can actually look like.If you’ve ever left a meeting thinking “what was that?”… this one’s for you. 🎙️Because sometimes the worst bosses teach the best lessons.Listen now to Barely Manageable with Dana Kelly & Mary Linkous.Connect with Barely Manageable:🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod▶️ YouTube: Barely Manageable Pod💬 Reddit: r/BarelyManageablePod 🔗 All Links: linktr.ee/barelymanageablepodcast⭐ Like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if this episode hit home.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Barely Manageable.You worked hard. You knew your job. You were dependable, productive, and probably one of the best on the team… and then one day someone tapped you on the shoulder and said, “Congratulations… you’re the supervisor now.”Suddenly, the skills that made you successful don’t feel like enough anymore. The work you used to love looks different, your coworkers now see you differently, and the confidence you once had gets replaced with one big question… Wait… am I even good at this?In Episode 2, Dana Kelly and Mary Linkous dive into the promotion nobody really prepares you for—the shift from doing the work… to leading the people doing it. They share real stories, hard lessons, awkward first moments, and what happens when being great at your job suddenly isn’t the job anymore.They’re not experts—just two women with decades of real-world experience, plenty of mistakes, some hard-earned wins, and a lot of stories from muddling through leadership one day at a time.If you’ve ever been thrown into leadership and thought “Nobody trained me for this…” you’re in the right place. Because leadership isn’t perfect… and neither is this podcast.It’s Barely Manageable.Connect with Barely Manageable:🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod▶️ YouTube: Barely Manageable Pod💬 Reddit: r/BarelyManageablePod 🔗 All Links: linktr.ee/barelymanageablepodcast⭐ Like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if this episode hit home.🛒 Save 50% off of your Sam's Club membership with this link! https://tr.ee/1S6cq8OOeq👞 Get up to 30% off Docs spirit with this link! https://tr.ee/S216rofW60

Welcome to the very first episode of Barely Manageable. Somewhere between bad bosses, HR nightmares, burnout, and years of managing people, Dana and Mary found themselves asking one simple question… How did we end up in charge?In Episode 1, they share their leadership origin stories, the unexpected paths that put them in management, the lessons nobody teaches you, and what it really feels like when you realize people are now looking to you for answers. They’re not experts—just two women with decades of real-world experience, plenty of mistakes, some hard-earned wins, and a lot of stories from muddling through leadership one day at a time.If you’ve ever worked for a bad boss… or worried you might be one… you’re in the right place. Because leadership isn’t perfect… and neither is this podcast. It’s Barely Manageable. Connect with Barely Manageable:🌐 Website: BarelyManageable.com📸 Instagram: @barelymanageablepodcast🎵 TikTok: @barelymanageablepod▶️ YouTube: Barely Manageable Pod💬 Reddit: r/BarelyManageablePod 🔗 All Links: linktr.ee/barelymanageablepodcast⭐ Like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if this episode hit home.