PODCAST · business
Modern Mentor
by QuickAndDirtyTips.com
Rachel Cooke is your guide to leadership and communication, helping you craft a workplace environment you can feel good about. She’ll share tips to help you balance your work and personal life, effectively invest your time, and be mindful about where you’re devoting your energy. Let Rachel help you navigate your path to success—however you define it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
-
How to get your team working together again
917. Lots of teams have quietly stopped being teams. They're capable people sprinting in their own directions, connected by a reporting line and little else. Rachel Cooke explains why that fragmentation is lonely for people and expensive for the organization, and offers four ways to put the team...
-
Four questions to help your team get better at AI
916. Getting better at AI isn't a technology problem. It's a work design problem. Drawing on a corporate "digital transformation" that never quite landed, Rachel Cooke explains why skill without structure has nothing to hold onto. She then walks through four questions that build that structure:...
-
5 questions to ask before asking more of your team
915. Your team missed the deadline, and the reasons are starting to sound like excuses. The instinct is to push harder: tighter check-ins, a firmer performance conversation, more pressure applied in the same direction. But the fastest move and the most useful move are rarely the same one. In this...
-
Five moves to tell a better story in your year-end review
914. How do you get ready for your year-end review? And should you be starting now? Most of us reduce our professional story to the obvious stuff – titles, job descriptions, the big projects – and lose the truest evidence of how we actually work. Borrowing a page from college-admissions expert…
more -
The unsexy fix for meetings, deadlines, and cross-team conflict
913. When something's broken at work, we reach for the big fix — the reorg, the new tool, the strategy overhaul. But ask people to describe their perfect coffee and they'll say rich, dark, bold. Put a cup in front of them and they reach for weak and milky. Rachel Cooke applies that same gap to...
-
How to handle uncertainty at work when your boss doesn't have the answers
912. Your boss used to have answers. Now they've got questions. It feels destabilizing - but Rachel makes the case that this is the opening of a lifetime. When certainty disappears, the old rules about who has the answers go with it. Four bold moves for a moment that's wide open. Modern Mentor is…
more -
How to build workplace community in a remote AI-driven world
911. You can spend an entire day on video calls and still not have one real conversation. The connection that used to come free with the office doesn't come free anymore. After a trip to California wine country, Rachel Cooke found herself fixated less on the wine than on the village each winery…
more -
Billy Eichner on why success comes from love not trauma
910. What do you do when there's no template for the career you want, no obvious next step, and no one waiting to hand you the opportunity? Comedian, actor, and writer Billy Eichner built his entire career by refusing to wait to be chosen. In this conversation, he and Rachel Cooke get into how…
more -
Why your hard work isn't paying off and what's really slowing progress
909. Your strategy is sound. Your people are talented. Everyone's working harder than ever. So why aren't the results showing up? Rachel makes the case that when work breaks down, we inspect the people when we should be inspecting the work - and shares four questions that reveal the hidden…
more -
A fresh approach to managing burnout
On a road trip, tackling a summer cleanup, or just catching up on podcasts? QDT has you covered with Summer Saturday encores from your favorite shows. See the full Summer Saturday lineup on Spotify and enjoy this episode, which first aired in September 2020. Episode 616 - Burnout is more than…
more -
When it comes to managing, do I do it fast or right? (Reissue)
697. We get a lot of mixed messaging when it comes to managing the tension between speed and efficiency. We need to be sure—to have the data, to have done the research and the analysis before deciding or implementing. But also, we need to be agile, move quickly, test-and-learn, and not fall into...
-
The awesome power of "No"
On a road trip, tackling a summer cleanup, or just catching up on podcasts? QDT has you covered with Summer Saturday encores from your favorite shows. See the full Summer Saturday lineup on Spotify and enjoy this episode, which first aired in February 2020. Episode 582: Saying "no" is actually...
-
How TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie recovered from depression
909. Blake Mycoskie built TOMS into a $600 million brand and gave away more than 100 million pairs of shoes — then fell into a seven-year battle with clinical depression after selling the company. He talks with Rachel Cooke about why outward success never made him feel like enough, the limiting...
-
How to think positive to be more productive
On a road trip, tackling a summer cleanup, or just catching up on podcasts? QDT has you covered with Summer Saturday encores from your favorite shows. See the full Summer Saturday lineup on Spotify and enjoy this episode, which first aired in April 2020. Episode 594: In times of crisis, negative...
-
Be a goldfish...but only sometimes: when your team should reflect vs. move on
907. When should your team reflect on what went wrong, and when should you just move on? Rachel Cooke uses Ted Lasso's "be a goldfish" mantra to unpack the balance between looking back and looking ahead, then shares five questions—three that mine the past, two that aim at the future—to help your...
-
How to make your life effortless
On a road trip, tackling a summer cleanup, or just catching up on podcasts? QDT has you covered with Summer Saturday encores from your favorite shows. See the full Summer Saturday lineup on Spotify and enjoy this episode, which first aired in Jne 2021. Episode 654: Greg McKeown, bestselling…
more -
Why your team is exhausted and still missing targets
906. Leaders are frustrated that teams aren't delivering. Teams are exhausted and hitting walls. And the instinct is to pull harder. But the real work is finding the knots leadership has inadvertently tied, and undoing them one at a time. In this episode, Rachel talks about the unsexy work that...
-
How to increase your productivity by managing your energy
Summer Saturdays: Best of QDT Encore Episode: This episode originally aired January 2020. 581. Running all-out all the time is the sure path to burnout. Productivity happens when you know how to use your energy wisely. Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke! Have…
more -
Are you successmaxxing?
905. Everyone's maxxing something now. Their sleep, their skin, their fiber, even their jawline. But underneath the ring lights, each of these trends is quietly teaching a real principle about getting better at something. This week, Rachel Cooke builds the trend nobody's named yet…
more -
Maximize your productivity in uncertain times
904. Most of us define productivity as doing more, faster — but when budgets shrink and the path forward gets murky, speed turns into a liability. Rachel shares five ways to boost your productivity during uncertain times, including how to make faster decisions, avoid duplicating work your team's...
-
Your team needs recovery time — introducing the Breathing Room
903. Most teams have mastered pushing hard. Some are even getting better at rest. But there's a third thing — the active recovery phase — that almost no one is protecting time for, and it's the one that turns raw effort into real capability. Rachel introduces the Breathing Room: a standing block…
more -
Never waste a good workplace crisis
902. We already know what's slowing us down at work — too many priorities, meetings that go nowhere, no space to experiment, and processes that create drag on everything. So why aren't we fixing any of it? Rachel breaks down why we stay frozen on problems we could actually solve, and how to find...
-
Productive, happy, focused—How small habits bring big success
Can small habit changes really lead to a more productive, focused, and happy life? They can! Author and podcaster Jeff Sanders's shares his secrets to forming habits that lead to success. Encore Episode: Episode 598 originally aired May 2020 Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted...
-
The 3 conversations every team needs right now
901. Three challenges showing up in organizations everywhere right now. Rachel shares what she's hearing, what she's designing, and what's actually helping teams move. Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke! Find more from Rachel at LeadAboveNoise.com. Have a...
-
How to love your job even when it isn't perfect
Not every job is a perfect fit, but that doesn't mean you can't love the one you're with. Your job can be a whole lot more than just a means to a paycheck. Encore Episode: This episode originally aired in February of 2020. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows:...
-
Career advice for new grads (that I wish I had)
900. Graduating into uncertainty isn't new. Every generation has done it. Rachel shares five pieces of career advice she wishes someone had handed her on the way out the door. Expert advice for navigating life after graduation — for new grads and the people cheering them on. From finances and...
-
How to make the most of an interim leadership role
899. Two listeners wrote in this month asking how to make sense of a temporary leadership stint. Rachel shares five practices for turning a short employment stretch into a meaningful career chapter, both for the team you're leading and the version of you who walks out the other side. Modern…
more -
The hidden beliefs holding you back, with bestselling author and behavioral design expert, Nir Eyal
898. We're drowning in information, advice, and self-help — so why do we still feel stuck? Returning guest Nir Eyal, author of the new bestseller "Beyond Belief," explains the motivation triangle most people are missing and why your brain is actively working against change. In a rare unscripted...
-
5 things AI can't replace, and why that’s your advantage
897. AI is changing work fast — but some capabilities remain deeply human. This week, Rachel Cooke breaks down five things AI still can't do well, from reading a room to knowing your stakeholders, and explains how to turn those into your professional edge. If you've been anxious about AI…
more -
A tough love letter to leaders
896. Leaders right now are working hard, caring deeply and still coming up short. And some of what they're doing is quietly working against them. In this episode, Rachel delivers a tough love letter to the leaders she’s coaching, calling out four patterns that are quietly undermining performance,...
-
How to motivate a struggling team (without the gaslighting)
895. Is your team "going through the motions"? Before you reach for another inspirational speech, Rachel Cooke has a reality check: Inspiration is not the antidote to a motivation crisis. In this episode, Rachel introduces the concept of "Motivational Gaslighting"—the trap leaders fall into when...
-
How to change someone's mind: Persuasion for human-centric leaders
894. Trying to convince a senior leader or stakeholder to see things your way can be frustrating, especially when your data and logic don't land. In 2026, human-centered leadership means moving past traditional arguments and leaning into emotional intelligence and sensemaking to find common…
more -
Stop fighting fires: 5 ways to spot problems before they become crises
893. Most workplace crises didn't have to be crises—they started small, stayed hidden, and grew. In this episode, Rachel Cooke explains why "firefighting" has become the corporate norm and how leaders can break the cycle. Learn how to build a monthly "slightly-off" conversation into your team's...
-
Build a culture of accountability with Work Design
892. Is your team missing targets, dropping the ball, or responding to missed deadlines with a shrug? Many leaders believe accountability is a personality trait—you either have it or you don’t. But in reality, accountability is a design problem. When ownership is lacking, it’s usually because the...
-
Workplace cheat codes: 5 ways to up your odds of success
891. At work we're constantly placing bets on uncertain outcomes, which projects to prioritize and which risks to take. But most of us never think about how to improve our odds. Today Rachel shares five “cheat codes,” simple, high-impact practices that give you a massive advantage before things…
more -
Why team silos cause failure (and how to fix your work design)
890. Are your teams clashing instead of collaborating? When balls are dropped and fingers are pointed, the problem usually isn’t your people—it’s your work design. If your team is "crushing it" but still missing goals, your productivity is being throttled by a lack of alignment. In this episode,...
-
How to navigate organizational dysfunction (and still make progress)
889. Every organization has dysfunction. And while we should always be working to make things better, we also have to keep moving in the meantime. Rachel shares four practical ways to make real progress, even when the system isn't cooperating. Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast…
more -
Are these antipatterns stopping you from being productive?
888. We think we're being productive. But some of our most intentional habits are quietly costing us. Rachel explores four antipatterns that could be robbing you of your best work. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor?...
-
The Creative Pulse: Why humanity is the lynchpin of business, with Andy Pizza
In this episode, Rachel sits down with author and illustrator Andy Pizza to explore why a "creative pulse" is the essential, make-or-break component of any successful career. Andy argues that while business often relies on data and logic, the true differentiator is the ability to show up with a...
-
The expertise trap | Why your best people might be blocking innovation
886. Is your team's deep knowledge actually preventing them from seeing the next big breakthrough? In this episode, Rachel explores the "expertise trap"—the moment when having all the answers stops us from seeing new possibilities. She explains why traditional brainstorming often fails and how a...
-
How to stop talking about change and actually start doing it
885. In a world of constant meetings and shifting priorities, why does it feel like we’re repeating the same "to-do" list every six months? This week, Rachel gets into the "bad patterns" that keep teams stuck in a loop of false comfort. We often mistake saying we need to change for actual…
more -
The neuroscience of persuasion: How to engineer unforgettable communication, with Carmine Gallo
884. In this episode, Rachel Cooke and author Carmine Gallo explore the biological reality that the human brain is hardwired to ignore anything it deems "boring". If you want your message to land, you have to work with the brain’s chemistry, not against it. Engineering Memory: Learn how to use...
-
What actually drives productivity in 2026?
883. Rachel shares how the productivity conversation has evolved - and what actually drives getting things done today. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at [email protected]. Find Modern...
-
Motion versus meaning: Build operating rhythms that work
882. Rachel shares how to design operating rhythms that create space for meaningful work instead of just adding more meetings to your calendar. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at...
-
Why is your team moving fast but staying stuck?
881. We’re all under pressure to move faster, ship earlier, and do more. But as Rachel Cooke explains this week, "speed" often looks a lot more like chaos when the foundation isn't there. If your team is missing deadlines or burning out, the issue probably isn't a lack of effort—it's a lack of…
more -
Leading through uncertainty: Why you need an expedition mindset
880. Rachel shares why workplaces need expedition leadership - navigating uncertainty together - instead of tour-guide leadership that performs certainty when there is none. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email…
more -
What Snoop Dogg can teach you about workplace collaboration
879. Rachel shares what the workplace can learn from how celebrities choose collaboration partners - and how to make collaboration work even when it's not your choice. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at...
-
Purpose is a verb: How to practice intentional leadership, with Ira Bedzow
878. We often talk about "finding" our purpose as if it’s a destination on a map. But what if purpose isn’t a noun, but a verb? This week, Rachel talks with Ira Bedzow, Executive Director of the Emory Purpose Project. They discuss why purpose belongs in every industry—from real estate to...
-
How to be more strategic at work (Reissue)
724. Being strategic at work is about focusing less on quantity—how much you can get done—and leaning instead on doing the right stuff in the wisest and most impactful ways. Here are three strategies to unlock that superpower. Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at...
-
Top five work lessons from 2025 to carry into the new year
877. As we close the books on a heavy year, Rachel shares her top five work lessons from 2025 to carry into the new year. She looks at why uncertainty is here to stay, how to make AI amplify your humanity, and why the changing nature of workplace loyalty means you need to protect your own career....
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Rachel Cooke is your guide to leadership and communication, helping you craft a workplace environment you can feel good about. She’ll share tips to help you balance your work and personal life, effectively invest your time, and be mindful about where you’re devoting your energy. Let Rachel help you navigate your path to success—however you define it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
QuickAndDirtyTips.com
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Modern Mentor have?
Modern Mentor currently has 937 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Modern Mentor about?
Rachel Cooke is your guide to leadership and communication, helping you craft a workplace environment you can feel good about. She’ll share tips to help you balance your work and personal life, effectively invest your time, and be mindful about where you’re devoting your energy. Let Rachel help you...
How often does Modern Mentor release new episodes?
Modern Mentor releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 937 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Modern Mentor?
You can listen to Modern Mentor on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Modern Mentor?
Modern Mentor is created and hosted by QuickAndDirtyTips.com.
URL copied to clipboard!