When workplace flirting gets dangerously hot, should you risk everything for a colleague you can't stop thinking about? This week we tackle the steamiest workplace dilemma we've ever received: months of "dangerous flirting" that's reached breaking point. Then we solve what happens when your dream job becomes a nightmare faster than you can update your LinkedIn, and reveal why three weeks is the worst possible time to make any career decisions, plus the one conversation that could save you from a massive mistake.

Plus, is there a colleague at work who makes you feel like the awkward new kid while they're the popular one everyone knows? We tackle workplace insecurity head-on, revealing the simple strategy that transforms your biggest workplace threat into your secret career weapon.

What you'll learn:

• The Insecurity Antidote: How to transform workplace jealousy into career advancement
• The 3-Week Rule: Why this timeline is too early to judge any new role (and what to do instead)
• The Safety vs Challenge Framework: How to know if you're craving security or genuinely unhappy
• The Office Romance Risk Calculator: The one question that determines if workplace attraction is worth pursuing
• The Colleague Dating Commandment: Why casual dating rules don't apply at work (and what does)
• The Worst-Case Scenario Test: The mental exercise that prevents career-destroying decisions

Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advice podcast where awkward career questions get real-world solutions.

Got office politics nightmares or boss-from-hell situations? Send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain completely anonymous!

Resources That Actually Help:

When I started dating a coworker, all the men in my office suddenly treated me differently

Looking for an office romance? You want to be in one of these professions.

SHOW MENTIONS:

Get more Sarah Davidson in her sensational podcast Seize The Yay!

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here to get all our tips and tricks.

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media
Follow the Biz Instagram and Sarah's very own podcast: Seize The Yay Podcast.

HOSTS: Sarah Davidson and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Thom Lion

Mamamia's studios are furnished with thanks to Fenton & Fenton. For more head to their website here.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Be prepared to stretch and take yourself out of your comfort zone - there is incredible learning and growth in that." In this special episode, Em had the opportunity to get online with Sarah Harden, (the Australian powerhouse who co-founded Reese Witherspoon's $100 million media empire Hello Sunshine) reveals the career strategies that transformed her from a Melbourne politics graduate into one of Hollywood's most influential female executives.

No theoretical fluff—just the exact mindset shifts and strategic moves that built the company behind Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Little Fires Everywhere.

Listening to this episode will teach you:

• The specific career move that accelerates everything (and why most women never make it)
• How to replace self-doubt with curiosity when evaluating opportunities
• Why stepping into discomfort is the fastest path to exponential career growth
• The exact framework for turning consumer insights into multi-million dollar business decisions
• How to build authentic company culture from day one

Sarah's "show, don't tell" philosophy has proven that women's stories aren't just culturally important—they're massively profitable. Her partnership with Reese Witherspoon demonstrates the untapped business potential in female-focused storytelling, reaching 150 million women weekly.

Connect with Sarah and Hello Sunshine:

• Follow Hello Sunshine on Instagram
• Learn more about Drop of Sunshine wines
• Visit their website: Hello Sunshine

Must Watch Shows:

• Morning Wars
• Big Little Lies
• Little Fires Everywhere

Our new BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain anon!

GUEST: Sarah Harden

HOSTS: Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Thom Lion

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever tried to show your sparkling personality through a pixelated Zoom screen while competing against people who get to charm their way through face-to-face interviews? This week we're tackling the art of nailing remote interviews when everyone else gets the home-field advantage of being actually present (rude, but okay).

Then we dive into every office worker's worst nightmare: waking up after the Christmas party with fuzzy memories and crystal-clear secondhand embarrassment. Spoiler alert: you're probably not the only one who went a bit too hard on the free bar, but we've got your damage control strategy sorted.

Plus, we're tackling that boss who dismisses diversity efforts as "box-ticking" and can't resist dropping "snowflake millennials" into every meeting. Newsflash: this is exactly why HR departments exist.

Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advice podcast where awkward career questions get real-world solutions.

Got office politics nightmares or boss-from-hell situations? Send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain completely anonymous!

Resources That Actually Help:

Too Drunk At The Work Xmas Party? Here's What To Do!

SHOW MENTIONS:

Get more Sarah Davidson in her sensational podcast Seize The Yay!

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here to get all our tips and tricks.

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media
Follow the Biz Instagram and Sarah's very own podcast: Seize The Yay Podcast.

HOSTS: Sarah Davidson and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia's studios are furnished with thanks to Fenton & Fenton. For more head to their website here.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered why we reveal the secret weapon for decoding those frustrating moments when you and your colleagues seem to be speaking completely different languages.

Ever wondered why that one colleague drives you absolutely mental while another person finds them perfectly reasonable?

Discover the four distinct working styles that explain why some people obsess over tiny details while others just want to "get it done," and why the golden rule of "treat others how you want to be treated" might actually be sabotaging your work relationships.

You'll learn:
- How to instantly identify whether someone is a D, I, S, or C style (and what your own default mode is)
- The exact one-liners to use with each personality type to get better results
- Why your "difficult" colleague might not be difficult at all – just wired differently
- How to explain your own working style without sounding like you're making excuses

You’ll finish this ep knowing exactly why your DISC profile is the difference between friction and flow in any workplace.
Whether you're managing a team or just trying to better navigate office politics, these insights will transform how you approach workplace communication.

Resources That Actually Work:

Surrounded By Idiots.
Do your own DISC test.

Our new BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.
Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.
Here’s her special on How To Get Along With Anyone With Lisa Lie

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

You might be interested in our episodes on:
How To Talk So People Listen To You
How To Be More Productive (Without Trying Too Hard)
Time Blocking Doesn't Work (Until You Do It Right)
How To Ask For More Money (Without Dying From Awkwardness)

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain anon!

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem
EXEC PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your open plan office driving you to distraction with endless chatter and non-stop interruptions? This week on BIZ Inbox, Em Vernem and Sarah Davidson dive deep into the chaotic world of trying to get actual work done when you're surrounded by Sally's weekend dating disasters and the marketing team's passionate font feuds (we're secretly here for both, tbh).

Then we tackle that colleague who somehow thinks their name is written in flashing neon lights at the top of your to-do list – spoiler alert: it's not!

Plus, we reveal how to flip the script on redundancy in job interviews and turn your layoff story into your biggest power move. Welcome to BIZ Inbox, your go-to workplace advice podcast where awkward career questions get real-world solutions.

Got office politics nightmares or boss-from-hell situations? Send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain completely anonymous!

SHOW MENTIONS:

Get more Sarah Davidson in her sensational podcast Seize The Yay!

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here to get all our tips and tricks.

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media
Follow the Biz Instagram and Sarah's very own podcast: Seize The Yay Podcast.

HOSTS: Sarah Davidson and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia's studios are furnished with thanks to Fenton & Fenton. For more head to their website here.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you feel guilty for taking breaks? Put work ahead of your relationships? Ignore your health in the name of productivity? You might be stuck in workaholic mode without even realising it!

Meet your new BIZ hosts: Lisa Lie (former Head of People & Culture who worked herself into burnout twice in one year) and Em Vernem (Associate Editor at Mamamia who discovered that giving 80% at work prevents the burnout that comes from constantly operating at 100%). They've been trapped in the cycle, escaped it, and now they're exposing the workaholic trap that's keeping high-achievers burning out—even when they love what they do.

You'll learn:

• The signs you're already caught in the cycle
• Where workaholic tendencies actually come from (hint: it's not what you think)
• How the workaholic trap sabotages your daily life without you noticing
• Why that promotion might be making everything worse

PLUS we take the University of Bergen’s 7-point Workaholism Test (finally, a way to tell the difference between working hard and working too hard), and chat the exact steps Lisa took to escape the workaholic cycle for good!

Resources That Actually Work:

Jane Martino, Co-Founder of Smiling Mind and Coach at Kintsugi Way

Mamamia's Well Burnout Episode: Is It Burnout Or Am I Just Really Tired?

7 Signs You May Be A Workaholic

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide To Personal Freedom'by Don Miguel Ruiz

Less Hustle, More Happy by Claire Seeber

Our new BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain anon!

HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you silently spiralling over a big presentation coming up? Or working from home and crushing projects but feeling totally invisible come performance review time? Or here's the uncomfortable truth bomb – are you actually the colleague who turns every team catch-up into your personal TED talk?

This week on BIZ Inbox, Em Vernem and Sarah Davidson are serving up hard truths about meeting monopolisers who suck all the oxygen out of the room, plus sharing subtle tactics to give your quieter teammates a chance to shine without staging a workplace intervention.

We're also solving the absolute terror of public speaking with psychology tricks that actually work (spoiler: clench your butt cheeks – seriously, it's science), and helping remote workers prove their worth when they're competing against the office crowd from their kitchen table.

Got office politics nightmares or boss-from-hell situations? Send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain completely anonymous!

SHOW MENTIONS:

Interview Boss

Get more Sarah Davidson in her sensational podcast Seize The Yay!

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here to get all our tips and tricks.

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media
Follow the Biz Instagram and Sarah's very own podcast: Seize The Yay Podcast.

HOSTS: Sarah Davidson and Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia's studios are furnished with thanks to Fenton & Fenton. For more head to their website here.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tax time is looming, performance reviews are on the horizon, and your motivation has completely ghosted you.The second half of 2025 is when the real work begins, and we're showing you how to thrive while everyone else just survives!

Expect to learn the exact strategies you need to stay sharp when everyone else is burning out, how to sound more confident by saying less, the precise words to shut down condescending colleagues without getting fired, master networking when you'd rather hide under your desk, and why your mentor strategy is probably broken.

This is your mid-year reset – no fluff, just the career advice that actually works!

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here

You might be interested in our full episodes on:

• How To Stop Over-Explaining And Start Impressing
• How Do I Handle A Patronising Employee?
• How To Be More Productive (Without Trying Too Hard)
• How To Nail Networking Even When It Feels Super Awkward
• You Don't Need A Work Mentor You Need This

THE END BITS
Support independent women's media.

Follow the Biz Instagram

Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain anon!

HOST: Em Vernem
EXEC PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell.
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.