Trash Talk: Where Bad Advice + Cliches Get Taken Out

“We can do hard things.” Cute. Catchy. But somewhere along the way, it shape-shifted from a comforting reminder into a borderline threat.This conversation starts with Glennon Doyle’s cultural footprint: her phrase, her storytelling style, and why her work landed so strongly in a moment when everyone was already maxed out. From here, Erica and Erin explore how their definition of “hard things” has evolved to include something less celebrated: ease. And as we approach the end of our “All the Gurus” series, this conversation also examines what we want and need from the people we allow to shape us.The Trash Talk HotlineTell us about a cliche that bothers you every time you hear it.Leave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your voice could end up in a future episode.And while you’re at it, do us a solid: subscribe, drop a review, and share this episode with your fellow Trashies. Other Links & ResourcesLibro.fm is an audiobook platform that lets you listen to great books while supporting your favorite independent bookstore.Get three audiobooks for the price of one with a new membership: Use code TRASHTALKhttps://libro.fm/membershipFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

Our guest Adriana Tica drops some hard truths about the shiny, influencer-driven promises of “rapid growth at all costs.”Together we explore the psychology behind the hype (why your brain loves the idea of exponential growth even when it’s a terrible fit for reality) and practical ways to reframe growth so you can focus on what actually works–all backed by Adriana’s 2026 State of Solopreneurship report.The Trash Talk HotlineHeard “scale or fail” one too many times and want to vent? Hit up the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your take might just make it into a future episode.And while you’re at it, do the usual: Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow Trashies who are tired of hype.Adriana’s Linkshttps://www.adrianatica.com/newsletter/https://dedicated-artist-4510.kit.com/products/strategy-sessionhttps://www.threads.com/@adriana__ticahttps://x.com/adriana_ticahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianatica/Other Links & ResourcesLibro.fm is an audiobook platform that lets you listen to great books while supporting your favorite independent bookstore.Get three audiobooks for the price of one with a new membership: Use code TRASHTALKhttps://libro.fm/membershipConnect with herFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

Lee Densmer knows a thing or two about real-life chaos and she joins us on the podcast today to explain why platitudes like “this will make you stronger” aren’t it.We explore what real strength and support look like, and sharper, smarter lenses for navigating hardship without feeling like you’re failing at growth.The Trash Talk HotlineTell us about a cliche that bothers you every time you hear it.Leave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your voice could end up in a future episode.And while you’re at it, do us a solid: subscribe, drop a review, and share this episode with your fellow Trashies. Lee Densmer LinksWebsite & Book: https://leedensmer.com/book/Cohort & Course: https://leedensmer.com/cohort/Newsletter: https://leedensmer.com/newsletter/Other Links & ResourcesLibro.fm is an audiobook platform that lets you listen to great books while supporting your favorite independent bookstore.Get three audiobooks for the price of one with a new membership: Use code TRASHTALKhttps://libro.fm/membershipFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

This week, we’re taking a short break from our regular episode schedule.We’ll be back next week with a special guest, Lee Densmer, joining us for a conversation around the theme “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger.”Thanks for your patience and support while we reset and get ready for the next episode.New episode drops next week.

This week, we take a closer look at one of hustle culture’s most beloved cliches—through the lens of Tyra Banks and the high-gloss, high-pressure world of America's Next Top Model.What’s the phrase “Work it!” really selling? On the surface, it’s about effort, “fierce” photoshoots, ambition, and showing up. But underneath, it’s as though there is an entire tough-love industrial complex to navigate.p.s. Production note: If the tougher, more sensitive details from the ‘Inside America’s Next Top Model’ documentary aren’t for you, you won’t find them in this episode. We stand with the victims. Their stories are theirs to tell. The Trash Talk HotlineGot a “work it” story that nearly worked you into the ground?Leave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your voice could end up in a future episode.And while you’re at it, do us a solid: subscribe, drop a review, and share this episode with your fellow Trashies. Other Links & ResourcesLibro.fm is an audiobook platform that lets you listen to great books while supporting your favorite independent bookstore.Get three audiobooks for the price of one with a new membership: Use code TRASHTALKhttps://libro.fm/membershipFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

To keep things fresh (and avoid going stale or dull), we turn to Erin’s 14-year-old daughter for the real scoop on the cliches today’s teens actually face, and that we’ve all faced at some point too. And maybe even a few on our plates today. Neve Thomas is here to weigh in on: aesthetics, glowups, matching energy, boys, the pressure to define yourself, and more.The Trash Talk HotlineGot a story about a cliche or bad advice you’ve survived? Leave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your voice could end up in a future episode.And while you’re at it, do us a solid: subscribe, drop a review, and share this episode with your fellow Trashies. Other Links & ResourcesLibro.fm is an audiobook platform that lets you listen to great books while supporting your favorite independent bookstore.Get three audiobooks for the price of one with a new membership: Use code TRASHTALKhttps://libro.fm/membershipFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

Curiosity killed the cat? Maybe. But the real question is: who decided curiosity needed a morality clause in the first place? In this episode of Trash Talk, Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas take the mantra “Choose curiosity over fear” for a spin. Popularized by Elizabeth Gilbert, examining how borrowed wisdom and parasocial admiration sneaks into our identity-building. There is a fine line between inspiration and parroting wisdom it for social creditCan a line ever truly become yours?The Trash Talk HotlineLeave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your story could be featured in a future episode. And while you’re at it, subscribe, drop a review, and pass this episode along to your fellow Trashies.Other Links & ResourcesLibro.fm is an audiobook platform that lets you listen to great books while supporting your favorite independent bookstore.Get three audiobooks for the price of one with a new membership: Use code TRASHTALKhttps://libro.fm/membershipChoose curiosity over fear. | Elizabeth Gilbert X Acumen Academy https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f2auXo-p6pEFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

The Divine Feminine: nurturing, abundant, inspiring… and apparently complicated IF your guru is Deepak Chopra.  Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas dig into why “activating your feminine energy” suddenly feels way less mystical when the messenger shows up in Epstein files. Does the Divine Feminine empower? Or is it a trap?The Trash Talk HotlineLeave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your story could be featured in a future episode. And while you’re at it, subscribe, drop a review, and pass this episode along to your fellow skeptics ;)Other Links & ResourcesLibro.fm is an audiobook platform that lets you listen to great books while supporting your favorite independent bookstore.Get three audiobooks for the price of one with a new membership: Use code TRASHTALKhttps://libro.fm/membershipWomen Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, by Clarissa Pinkola Estés Phdhttps://bookshop.org/p/books/women-who-run-with-the-wolves-clarissa-pinkola-estes-ph-d/5e495faa24961d97“The Divine Feminine and the Power to Change the World” https://choprafoundation.org/consciousness/the-divine-feminine-and-the-power-to-change-the-world/Follow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

They say you should stop apologizing. But is that always true?We sat down with Kelly Elaine Garthwaite who shares how the phrase “stop apologizing” reshaped her life, and how she (and we) still question the situations where it truly applies.Here’s to figuring out where apologies belong… and where they don’t!The Trash Talk HotlineEver received bad advice?Is there a self-help cliche or phrase you just can’t stand?Leave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your story could be featured in a future episode. And while you’re at it, subscribe, drop a review, and pass this episode along to your fellow skeptics ;)About Our GuestKelly Elaine GarthwaiteCo-host of The Naked Room youtube.com/@thenakedroompod orFounder Living in Kindness Substack/YouTube www.youtube.com/@KellyGarthwaiteFollow her on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-garthwaite/Other Links & ResourcesLibro.fm is an audiobook platform that lets you listen to great books while supporting your favorite independent bookstore.Get three audiobooks for the price of one with a new membership: Use code TRASHTALKhttps://libro.fm/membershipFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

Yup: We’re talking about Brené Brown, AGAIN.Why are we so quick to outsource our authority to her? And what does “vulnerability is courage” actually mean? We talk credentials, timing, and the uncanny way this guru blends warmth, data, and storytelling to make her ideas stick. We also unpack what happens when the advice mutates: oversharing, performative vulnerability, and all the ways this phrase gets misused in the wild. The Trash Talk HotlineGot a guru phrase that makes you roll your eyes? Or a “vulnerability is courage” moment that went sideways? Call the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175 and leave your story. We might feature it in a future episode.And while you’re at it… subscribe, drop a review, and share this with anyone who’s tired of feel-good word garbage masquerading as fact.Links & ResourcesBrené Brown's doctoral dissertation https://www.uh.edu/socialwork/about/faculty-directory/b-brown/cv_brenebrown3.23.2022.pdf“The power of vulnerability” TedX Houston https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshareFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

What does it really mean to let people see the truer version of you? In this episode of Trash Talk, Ché Ugwuala introduces a bold reframe: the art of unveiling yourself on your own terms. Forget the pressure of a “big reveal”—Ché shows how to reclaim agency regarding your real story.This is a conversation about disclosure reimagined, where power stays with the person sharing (rather than audience receiving).The Trash Talk HotlineHave you ever felt drained by society’s expectations around identity? Want to tell us about the smarter, freer ways you choose to show up in the world?Leave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your story could be featured in a future episode. And while you’re at it, subscribe, drop a review, and pass this episode along to your fellow skeptics.Links & ResourcesFollow Ché on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Ché-ugwuala-mba-1749ab21/Follow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

Welcome to the official kickoff of All the Gurus, our feature experiment in examining ideas that don’t *always* deserve to be nodded at.In this episode, Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas take on “Everything is Figureoutable,” the phrase that launched a thousand vision boards and at least one bestselling book. Popularized by Marie Forleo, this mantra promises forward motion, and it’s a case study for what we’re calling the guru formula: a repeatable pattern that turns relatability, certainty, and a simple idea into a full-blown media engine.The Trash Talk HotlineHeard a guru phrase that sounded brilliant… until it didn’t?Call the Trash Talk Hotline at (719) 819-2175 and tell us all about it.Whether it helped, hurt, or just felt a little too neat, we want to hear it.Leave us a message. We might play it on a future episode.Links & ResourcesMarie Forleo’s website https://www.marieforleo.com/"SELF: Bikini Ready Fast" https://youtu.be/QyaLLX1ldTM?si=ggHmGLmvfhFhga2IFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

Everyone has advice. Most of it’s garbage.On Trash Talk, we dig into the cliches everyone swears by and figure out what’s actually worth keeping. If you’re new here, jump in anywhere — you’ll get it.New episodes return February 17th, every Tuesday.Don’t forget to leave a review and call the hotline to share your favorite or most cringe-worthy cliches:719-819-2175Links  Follow Erica Breuer: LinkedIn Follow Erin Thomas: LinkedInTrash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

We’re back, unannounced, and ready to shake up your New Year’s Eve. In this bonus episode, Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas examine overhyped New Year’s Eve rituals.They dissect the promises these practices make, the cultural pressures behind them, and why so many self-help platitudes leave us burned out, skeptical, or just plain exhausted. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at motivational hype (or felt guilt for skipping the ‘ole resolution ritual) this episode is your permission slip to keep doing it your way.Got a resolution ritual you’ve retired or completely reinvented? Or maybe a moment when someone hit you with a line like, “Your soul speaks in whispers, not shouts” and it stuck with you? We want to hear it.Leave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175—your story could be featured in a future episode. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with your fellow eye-rollers. Links & ResourcesFollow Erica Breuer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264Related Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264/episodes/18017950

Erin and Erica agree about a lot of things, but this cliche isn’t one of them. Whether you attribute it to Brené Brown, Melissa Hartwig, or somewhere else in the wellness-industrial complex, “Clarity is kind” is THE cliche where they don’t see eye to eye.Erica gets real about her baggage when it comes to this cliche (spoiler: that baggage has three luscious layers), and Erin does her best to persuade her back into seeing it in a positive light.  Reviews help, but your weird, wild, or painfully familiar cliches are the real gold. Share them via our hotline: 719-819-2175Links & ResourcesPitchless Networking w/Erica: https://www.ericabreuer.com/worst-kept-secret/Multigen Magic YouTube Channel w/Erin https://www.youtube.com/@multigenmagicRaise Your Voice Community Newsletter https://www.ericabreuer.com/raise-your-voice/Follow Erica Breuer:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/Follow Erin Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamerinthomas/https://www.instagram.com/iamerinthomas/

Yep, Trash Talk is skipping a week. Thanksgiving, leftovers, existential dread…pick your excuse. Consider this week a breather for your ears and brain, or a chance to get caught up on those episodes that almost got away.Tell us about the TRASHIEST advice you hear over the holiday…Call the Trash Talk hotline at 719-819-2175 and share your story. Honestly, your weird, wild, or painfully familiar family cliches are the real feast we’re after.Links & ResourcesNative Land Digital https://native-land.ca/Follow Erica Breuer: LinkedInFollow Erin Thomas: LinkedInVisit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

In this second installment of cliches they love and live by, Erin and Erica reveal the traits that make a cliche worth keeping.The TLDR version: "Done is better than perfect," "Gotta start somewhere," "Your vibe attracts your tribe," "The road to hell is paved with good intentions," "Tell the story only you can tell," "Don’t put all your eggs in one basket," "Pray on your knees, act with your feet," "How you do anything is how you do everything," and "Try anything twice."Whether you’re a perfectionist-in-recovery or just someone tired of surface-level advice, this conversation gives you permission to ditch the advice that doesn’t work and trust what actually moves you forward.Your TurnTell us the cliche that makes you roll your eye, or secretly nod in agreement. Call the Trash Talk hotline at 719-819-2175 and share your story. We might feature it in a future episode. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—reviews help, but your weird, wild, or painfully familiar cliches are the real gold.Links & Resources“Healing is Not my Purpose” by Toni Joneshttps://open.spotify.com/track/3YjTY55wEzj5PJXexonZPj?si=7689f088bfcd4226“Just Be Authentic”https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2451264/episodes/16894441-just-be-authentic Follow Erica Breuer: LinkedIn Follow Erin Thomas: LinkedIn Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

Just because Trash Talk is the podcast where clichés go to die doesn’t mean Erica  and Erin hate all of them. This is the episode where they examine cliches they actually live by.  From “clear is kind” to “baffle them with bullshit,"  Erin and Erica get honest about cliches that stick for them, as well as where they backfire.Don’t forget to leave a review and call the hotline to share your favorite or most cringe-worthy cliches:719-819-2175Links & Resources Follow Erica Breuer: LinkedIn Follow Erin Thomas: LinkedIn Visit Trash Talk Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451264

“Community is everything,” they say. But what if that “everything” is actually a drain on your time, energy, and sanity? Erica and Erin sit down with Dr. Kalpana Sundar, health and wealth strategist for MedSpa and healthcare entrepreneurs, to untangle the truth behind one of the most overused platitudes in business. Kalpana brings data and a hefty dose of reality on how to build community that lifts you up (without demanding your soul in the process). Your turn: tell us the cliche that makes you roll your eyes- or secretly nod in agreement. Call the hotline at 719-819-2175 and don’t forget a review! Show Notes & Links Dr. Sundar's Website: drkalpanasundar.comBeauty Unbound: Breaking Free and Living Unapologetically on Amazon https://a.co/d/2wSA6VwThe Unbound Broadcast  https://www.youtube.com/@DrKalpana.UnboundBook a Synergy Session w/ Dr. Sundar https://www.drkalpanasundar.com/synergysession/

Erica and Erin dig into the viral #maincharacterenergy phenomenon, weighing its appeal, its dark side, and what it really means to claim agency in your own life. Together, they ask the question that underlies it all: just who decides who gets to be the main character anyway?Reviews help, but your weird, wild, or painfully familiar cliches are the real gold. Share them via our hotline: 719-819-2175Links & resourcesNarcissism and Agency https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702617725537Cornell Study https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.19037Read Erin's article in Marketing, Media, & Money https://pattyfarmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M3-Mag-Q3-2025-AUGUST-Final.pdfOh and watch Dinner in America https://www.dinnerinamerica.com/

What does it actually take to hear your inner voice when your brain- and life- doesn’t work like a Zen meditation retreat? In this episode, Erica and Erin dismantle the quiet-whisper mantra, why stillness isn’t universally accessible, and how this advice quietly reinforces control (and yes, capitalism).Have a story about when someone hit you with “Your soul speaks in whispers, not shouts”? Leave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-2175- we might feature it on a future episode. And don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review ;)LinksThe Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewishttps://bookshop.org/p/books/the-problem-of-pain-c-s-lewis/7945663?ean=9780060652968&next=tLife First Speaks to You in a Whisper, Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversationshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-first-speaks-to-you-in-a-whisper/id1264843400?i=1000485694852Associative Thinking and InsightWhere Do Eureka Moments Come From?: https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/where-do-eureka-moments-come-from?utm_source=chatgpt.comDopamine in Creativityhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26783754/

This week, Erica and Erin take on the cult of productivity with guest Nick Power, marketer, creator, and professional chaos enthusiast. Nick shares how he first heard the phrase (hint: it didn’t go well), and how it still haunts the way we talk about work and worth. They also get into what counts as success, how “results-only” thinking dulls creativity, and what might actually be worth measuring instead.Don’t forget to leave us a review and call the hotline to share your favorite or most cringe-worthy cliches:719-819-2175Links & resourcesNick Power on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcpower/Nick’s Very Cool, Fun Merchhttps://uncapitalized-goods.printify.me/

Show notes“You can’t pour from an empty cup”...but what if your cup isn’t empty?From misreading your cup to questioning learned helplessness, Erica and Erin go beyond individual self-care and discuss the messy (mostly) terrifying context of today’s world—shrinking rights, disappearing resources, and structural chaos–and how we might think about cups in a way that generates some much-needed hope.Don’t forget to leave us a review and call the hotline to share your favorite or most cringe-worthy cliches:719-819-2175Links & ResourcesArley Nevar’s amazing LinkedIn post https://www.linkedin.com/posts/arleynevar_i-had-an-interaction-in-the-dms-this-week-activity-7376639338253619200-zupb?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAWXISsBrgKoYLsfVHpibEEVDt026Lp2JOQFollow Arley Nevar on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/arleynevar/

Two of the most recycled pieces of advice—“Get out of your comfort zone” and “Stay in your lane”—sound helpful on the surface. Push yourself! Focus! Hustle! Specialize! When these concepts collide, the absurdity becomes obvious.Erin and Erica analyze two cliches that seem at odds, but that also define a new reality in the tension that lives between them.Don’t forget to leave us a review or call the hotline to share your favorite (or most cringe-worthy) cliches:719-819-2175Show Notes & Links Selective Attention https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/neuroscience/selective-attentionThe Neuroscience of the Flow Statehttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645498/fullCognitive Load During Problem Solvinghttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1207/s15516709cog1202_4

What does “work hard, play hard” really mean and why won’t it die?In this episode of Trash Talk, Erica and Erin sit down with Meghan French Dunbar, author and co-founder of Conscious Company Media, to unpack the cultural myth of “work hard, play hard.”Drawing on Meghan’s new book, “This isn’t Working,” this conversation explores how play has been commodified, as well as why, despite our best efforts, hustle culture from decades ago still sneaks into modern work.Don’t forget to leave us a review and call the hotline to share your favorite or most cringe-worthy cliches:719-819-2175Show Notes & LinksBuy Megan’s Book, “This Isn’t Working”https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/meghan-french-dunbar/this-isnt-working/9781541704862/Visit Megan’s Website https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/Subscript to Megan’s podcast, “Better Than This”https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/betterthanthisFollow Erica Breuer: LinkedInFollow Erin Thomas: LinkedIn Visit the Trash Talk Website: BuzzsproutCitationsJohn Morison, Religious Improvement of the Poorer Classes, London: Fisher, Son & Jackson, 1827, p. 277.The Normal Instructor and Teachers’ World, Vol. 32, 1923, p. 92.Quoted in The Rotarian, Vol. 77, No. 3, Sept. 1950, p. 35.

Erin Thomas and Erica Breuer  talk about everyone’s favorite decision-making mantra: “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.”They trace this phrase back to its roots (surprisingly, it's not an influencer carousel) and get into into the messy stuff (privilege, trauma, hustle culture) that makes this cliche difficult to apply everywhere. They also review the neuroscience that proves your brain isn’t always the best hype-man when you’re chasing a hell yes.  📞Listener HotlineHave you ever made a “meh” choice that turned into the best decision of your life—or dodged a hell yes that blew up later? We want your stories. Call us at 719-819-2175 or DM us.Links & NotesFollow Erica Breuer on LinkedInFollow Erin Thomas on LinkedInTrash Talk WebsiteRelated Episode: It’s All About Your Mindset (Season 1)

Erica and Erin are back from summer break and they’re examining the lifecycle of a cultural darling, “Let Them.” In this episode, they explore why society (sometimes) eats meaning for breakfast. If you’ve ever wondered why some advice hits hard one day and feels hollow the next, you’ll enjoy their examination of how “Let Them” and other cliches become wallpaper for the internet.Resources & Mentions:→ “Let Them” poem (2019) by the original author, Cassie Phillips:“Just let them.If they want to choose something or someone over you, LET THEM.If they want to go weeks without talking to you, LET THEM.If they are okay with never seeing you, LET THEM.If they are okay with always putting themselves first, LET THEM.If they are showing you who they are and not what you perceived them to be, LET THEM.If they want to follow the crowd, LET THEM.If they want to judge or misunderstand you, LET THEM.If they act like they can live without you, LET THEM.If they want to walk out of your life and leave, hold the door open, AND LET THEM.Let them lose you.You were never theirs because you were always your own.So let them.”→  Cassie Phillips Contact Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/cassie.phillips.letthemhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cassiephillips.letthemhttps://www.cassie-phillips.com/→  “Public Pressure & Mel Robbins”https://sagejustice.substack.com/p/public-pressure-and-mel-robbins

Trash Talk: Season 2 Trailer Welcome back to Trash Talk for season two, where Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas dive into the cliched advice everyone repeats like gospel (even when it’s garbage). Got a cringe-worthy cliche to share? Call or text our new Trash Talk hotline at 719-819-2175. New episodes of Trash Talk drop Tuesday, September 9th—subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to stay up to date.

This isn’t a goodbye: it’s a see you in September. We’re taking a well-earned summer break (because seasonal girlies need rest too), but we’re already cooking up a trashier, spicier, more unhinged Season 2.In this episode:A heartfelt thank you to our listeners (yes, you, with the fire DMs and existential side-eyes)Listener highlights, PLUS feedback we’re incorporating into next seasonWhy poking at popular ideas isn’t the same as canceling themHow to send us the clichés you love to hate

Erica and Erin dig into the creative cliché they actually love: “Steal like an artist.” Inspired by Austin Kleon’s book and a long lineage of remix-friendly wisdom, they explore the difference between influence and theft when both humans and AI borrow from what’s come beforeIf everything’s an echo, what makes something yours?Resources & Mentions:Austin Kleon → Steal Like an Artist → Also by Kleon: Show Your Work, Keep Going → Website: austinkleon.comJulia Cameron → The Artist’s Way → Known for: Morning Pages, creative recovery tools → Website: juliacameronlive.com

If happiness is a choice, let’s talk about who gets to choose it, and who’s just trying to survive a system that tells them it’s their fault they’re miserable.Erica and Erin are joined by William Davies, political economist, author of The Happiness Industry, and one of the sharpest critics of how governments and corporations turned happiness into a metric, a mandate, and a market. Together, they dig into the cultural scaffolding behind our obsession with happiness: where it comes from, who benefits, and what it’s costing us.Connect with William Davies:https://williamdavies.blog/https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=William+Davies

No full episode this week. We’re stepping away from the mic to touch grass, eat carbs, and avoid small talk. Back next week with more delightful dumpster fires.

Erica and Erin trace this phrase from its New Age roots to its Instagram glow-up, digging into how “the universe” became a rebranded higher power for people who’d rather not talk about God. What looks like faith might actually be a filter for avoidance, especially when it’s used to explain away failure or justify a $10K group program that never delivered.From prosperity gospel to “trust the process” culture, they ask: Is this cliche (belief) helping people heal, or is it a cosmic cop-out?

You know that phrase, “Be your best self”? This episode rips it wide open: from its shiny, self-help packaging to the industrial shame complex underneath.Erica and Erin are joined by media scholar Laurie Ouellette to break down how makeover reality shows (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Biggest Loser, Wife Swap, etc.) didn’t just make for good TV;  they quietly rewired our ideas about help, worthiness, and personal responsibility. What we mistake for glow-ups, might be about control.Find out more about Laurie Ouellette…Buy one of her books: https://bookshop.org/contributors/laurie-ouelletteViewers Like You?: How Public TV Failed the People (2002)Better Living Through Reality TV: Television and Post-Welfare Citizenship (2008)Reality TV: Remaking Television Culture (2009)The Media Studies Reader (2012)A Companion to Reality Television (2014)Keywords for Media Studies (2017)Lifestyle TV (2016)Read her work as Editor-in-Chief of the academic journal "Television and New Media:" https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/journal/television-new-mediaOr as a Columnist at Film Quarterly: https://filmquarterly.org/tag/laurie-ouellette/

You know those phrases that sound important but mean absolutely nothing? Yeah, we made a list.In this rapid-fire episode, Erica and Erin pull back the curtain on some of the most overused (and underwhelming) buzzwords in business, leadership, and personal development, or rather “Business BS,” “Leadership Lies,” and “Personal Development Delusions.”It’s a roast. It’s a reset. It’s your permission slip to stop pretending these phrases are helpful.

In this episode Trash Talk, Erin and Erica take a step back to reflect on their podcast journey…from their first encounter in a Google Doc to deciding to turn their weekly coffee chats into a podcast, they share the behind-the-scenes story. They also dive into the juicy bits of their personal histories, like Erin’s dumpster dive moment that launched her career (literally), and Erica’s museum exhibition background that led her to shaping big ideas for brands.Tune in for a mix of branding, life lessons, and personal anecdotes, with a sneak peek at what’s to come in Season 2.Links to passion projects that mentioned in this episode:www.youtube.com/@MultigenMagicwww.youtube.com/@CalmTitsMedia

You’ve heard the quote. You’ve probably even said it. But what if that ever-popular cliché is doing more harm than good? In this episode, Erica and Erin throw “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room…” under the microscope, and discover a tangled web of assumptions about intelligence, value, status, and the rooms we choose to enter (or flee from).If this episode gave you a forehead-smack moment, or just made you feel seen, go ahead and rate & review Trash Talk on your favorite podcast app.

Transformation. It’s a buzzword that’s been overhyped and misused to the point of meaninglessness. In this episode, Erica and Erin dive into the fallout of selling the “transformational” dream in coaching, marketing, and self-development.They break down how the promise of overnight change leads to unrealistic expectations, burnout, and shame. From Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey to Tony Robbins’ high-ticket events, “transformation” has become the ultimate sales pitch…one that’s setting everyone up for disappointment. 

Authenticity is the hill everyone wants to die on; until it gets awkward. In this episode, Erin and Erica take a scalpel to the overused advice to “just be authentic.” They dig into why this well-meaning mantra is often misleading, unpack the social and professional landmines of being real, and introduce a far more useful approach: being authent-ish. Along the way, they break down the paradox of authenticity and the different ways authenticity can go hilariously (or painfully) wrong. Expect also: Some light Gwen Stefani discourse and at least one moment of existential crisis.

Gary Vee told us to document, don’t create—but is that really the move in 2025?In this episode of Trash Talk, we break down why this advice led to an era of oversharing, redundant content, and a whole lot of noise. Not everything needs to be documented, and not every “authentic” moment serves your brand. So how do you create content that actually means something?We’re talking about the death of the “just post more” era, the rise of thoughtful branding, and how to turn your documentation into something that connects and converts—without looking like a hot mess.Shall we?

“If you just shift your mindset, everything will change.” Sound familiar? Yeah, us too- and we’re calling BS.Mindset isn’t a business strategy, and positive thinking won’t magically solve real problems. So why has the coaching world convinced us that our biggest barrier is our own thoughts? In this episode of Trash Talk, we break down the mindset myth, how it gets weaponized, and why it’s often used to gaslight people out of taking real action.Mindset matters, but it won’t save you. Let’s talk about what actually will.Listen now!

“Self-care isn’t selfish.” We’ve all heard it. But let’s be real—this phrase has been hijacked by an industry that sells bubble baths, wine nights, and spa days as the ultimate cure-all. And somehow, we still end up exhausted.In this episode of Trash Talk, we break down how the self-care movement went from a necessary practice to an expensive (and often performative) industry. Is self-care actually fueling you—or just numbing you from the things you really need to address? We’re unpacking the hard truths, the real purpose of self-care, and why “treating yourself” isn’t always the answer.You know you wanna listen in. Do it.

Perfection. It’s the thing we’re supposed to chase—or avoid completely, depending on who you ask. “Done is better than perfect.” “Progress, not perfection.” “Perfection is the enemy of progress.” But is it really? Or is that just another well-worn cliché that’s been warped into something unhelpful?In this episode of Trash Talk, Erin and Erica take on the cultural tug-of-war with perfection. From childhood conditioning to business advice that contradicts itself, we unravel the mixed messages surrounding perfectionism. Is perfection always the problem? Or does it sometimes deserve a place at the table?Let’s trash some bad advice.  Listen now!sUFW2XEVaWVaxfsiDFdf

What if the so-called ‘truths’ of entrepreneurship and leadership were actually keeping you confused or small?On Trash Talk, hosts Erin Thomas and Erica Breuer cut through the tired cliches and threadbare advice that dominate entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development. These ideas might be popular, but that doesn’t mean they’re useful.The aim: To shake up listeners so they uncover sharper, smarter ways to navigate the complexities that actually matter.