Help Wanted

Today's caller is a personal trainer who wants help growing her social media audience so that she can find new clients. Jason and Nicole tell her she's looking for the solution to her problem in all the wrong places. Instead, they give her the client acquisition cheat code that anyone can use at home.

Someone once told you to reach out, and you meant to. You thought about it, replayed the conversation in your head, and then never did it. In this episode, Jason explains why we hold ourselves back and what happens when we finally follow through. The correct follow-up can open doors.

Is the "work wife" and "work husband" culture inappropriate? Today, Jason and Nicole untangle a viral Reddit "work wife" story gone wrong and weigh-in on whether they think the "work spouse" nickname should get fired.

Jason asked his readers one question: What do you regret most? And the answers poured in. This week, Jason shares some of those stories not to dwell on the past, but to help us all feel a little lighter about it. From missed opportunities to money mistakes to “what if” moments, this episode breaks down five powerful strategies for handling regret and turning it into forward motion.

There are some bizarre headlines making the rounds in business news... but, beyond the headlines, there are some important lessons on the line between building buzz and eroding trust, how to find meaning in your work, and brand integrity. Today, Jason and Nicole mine those lessons from the weirdo headlines.

Do past mistakes keep you up at night? They used to haunt Jason, too. That is, until he discovered a surprising way to shrink regret down to size. In this episode, he shares how to stop replaying the “what ifs” and start feeling lighter about the choices that got you here.

So you want to (or have to) bootstrap your business. Nicole is self-funding the business that makes this very podcast, and she will tell you: it is not easy. To share best-practices around protecting your bottom line and mental health, Nicole and Jason are joined by Christina Stembel, who has self-funded her business Farmgirl Flowers. Learn more about Christina and her biz here: https://farmgirlflowers.com/about Originally aired on 06.19.2024

Want to live a life you’re proud of at 90? Start saying yes. In this episode, Jason shares the essay that changed his perspective forever. (Click here and scroll down to see the very awkward photo of him at 22 that proves he actually practices what he preaches.) Because yes may feel risky or even cringe, but it’s also the only way to build memories, create opportunities, and discover what you’re truly capable of.

Today's caller is ambitious, but every time she wants to level up, she questions whether she deserves it. Jason and Nicole share the mental exercise that stops imposter syndrome in its tracks.

Jason sat down with Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec and learned a sales technique so simple and so unexpected that it can change the way you pitch, present, and connect with anyone. He unpacks how it works, why it’s unforgettable, and how you can use it everywhere in your life. You may even find the results shocking.

Today, Jason and Nicole dissect a real cold email their Producer Morgan received— and it's not pretty. They talk about what went wrong, and how to write an email that people actually respond to.

Big decisions can feel paralyzing because we treat every choice like a lifelong commitment. But what if you stopped thinking in terms of permanence, and instead saw each new step as an experiment? Suddenly, risk becomes data, failure becomes progress, and every move teaches you something useful.

Today, Nicole and Jason are tackling a question that parents are increasingly struggling with: is it bad to post photo of my kids online? Nicole has decided not to post photos of her daughter, but Jason has a framework that helps him determine what's appropriate to post. Would you follow this framework? Listen to find out! Listen to the Money Rehab episode on the risks of posting photos of your kids online.

When failure happens, what happens next? In this episode, Jason shares a simple way to reframe setbacks so they feel energizing instead of defeating. Through stories from the business world and his own career, he shows how to turn every failure into progress and keep moving forward.

This one gets deep. Nicole kicks things off with a provocative question: throughout Jason’s career in journalism, has he seen anyone successfully get a story about themselves erased from the internet? The question turns into a vulnerable conversation about whether the internet is forever, how we can feel a sense of control over the uncontrollable, and what is the price of reputation.

This week, Jason digs into three big questions. How do humble people get ahead? How should you think about your future? And how do you know when an idea is ready for prime time? The answers are surprising, useful, and connected by one common theme. We’re all works in progress, and that’s exactly how growth happens.

A friend of the show calls in with an awkward question, “How do you ask someone for money they don’t even know they owe?” Jason and Nicole walk through every possible misstep and outcome, from the awkward ask to the aftermath. And then - our caller sends the text. You’ll hear exactly what happens next.

You might be clear about what you offer a client, but do you really understand what they need on a deeper level? That difference can be the thing that closes the deal… or leaves you waiting for a call that never comes. In this episode, Jason breaks down how to move beyond surface-level clarity and tap into a deeper knowing so you can truly connect.

Help Wanted’s own producer calls in for advice. What do you do when a business partner drags you into a long, unnecessary process? Jason and Nicole dig into the real issue, offer smart ways to push back, and share what to do when nothing works. Blame Nicole.

Jason once got scammed on vacation. Years later, he had a chance to confront his scammer. What he learned changed how he sees conflict. Here’s how you can use it too.

Nicole got a referral, hired the person, and then got ghosted. She and Jason break down what to do when a referral doesn’t work out. Who’s responsible when you vouch for someone? What about the people who never make referrals, or the ones who expect a finder’s fee? Plus, what the heck happened to Nicole’s hire who disappeared?

What if your greatest strength is also your biggest roadblock? In this episode, Jason digs into how overusing the very thing you’re best at can quietly sabotage your success. With a dose of self-awareness, you can turn that liability back into a true superpower and unlock the next level of growth.

Julia Cabral, LinkedIn’s Senior Director of Product Marketing and content creator, joins Nicole and Jason to demystify how the platform really works. You’ll learn what the LinkedIn algorithm rewards (and what it ignores), why your views might suddenly drop, and how to create posts that get noticed. Plus, Jason shares his go-to formula for writing the perfect hook.

Someone’s upset, maybe a colleague, a client, or your partner, and you have no idea why. Here’s the simple, 10-word phrase that can calm the room, cut through confusion, and get to the real problem. It works at home, at work, and anywhere else clarity beats conflict.

Where’s the line between being nice and flirting? A little charm can make interactions brighter and even boost business, but push it too far, and you risk confusion or misleading someone. Nicole and Jason dig into when flirting can be good for sales, and when it can turn into bad business.

When the pressure’s on, it’s easy to believe that everything hinges on this one moment. But what if the stakes aren’t as high as you think? In this episode, Jason shares a personal story about how reframing the situation can reduce stress, improve your decision-making, and lead to better results.

Sometimes even the hosts need a little help. Nicole gets a boost from Andrew Cates, founder of Rayzyn, the superfood raisin company. After surviving the Napa fire, Andrew and his community were left with a field of grapes too smoke-damaged for wine. So, he got creative. He turned them into raisins. In the process, he rebuilt his business and helped his neighbors do the same. He joins the show to talk about resilience, reinvention, and finding opportunity in the ashes.

Three questions. Three personal dilemmas. Jason digs into how to take (or ignore) advice from your spouse, how to start over when everything changes, and why you don’t need to dance on TikTok to build a business.

Jason got three emails and a phone call on his personal line from a stranger trying to get him to change a story. It worked, but it earned the guy a sassy reply. In this episode, Jason and Nicole unpack when persistence crosses the line into annoyance and how to build a drip campaign that actually gets people to say yes.

You’re working on something. You’d like feedback. But let’s be honest: Feedback can be hard to hear. And it can make you defensive. So now you’re wondering things like: Who should I ask? And when? And what if I don’t like what they say? In Jason’s experience, the best feedback comes from completing this formula: Right people + right time + right perspective Today, Jason will break it down for you.

There are some bizarre headlines making the rounds in business news... but, beyond the headlines, there are some important lessons on building a brand, having tough conversations at work, and building trust. Today, Jason and Nicole mine those lessons from the weirdo headlines.

What happens when your C-suite becomes tabloid fodder? In this episode, Jason and Nicole unpack the viral moment that set social media on fire: Astronomer CEO and Chief People Officer caught having an affair—on a Coldplay concert Jumbotron, no less. Beyond the scandal, Jason and Nicole dive into the real lesson: how companies should handle PR disasters, take accountability, and lead through chaos. Whether you’re running a business or climbing the ladder, this is a masterclass in crisis comms—Coldplay optional.

You’re trying to understand something, but you’re stuck. Maybe it’s a problem at work, a decision you need to make, or an idea you can’t quite articulate. You’ve been thinking about it a lot, but clarity is elusive. Here’s Jason’s advice: Don’t think alone. Today, he’ll show you why — and how to gain clarity more strategically and intentionally.

You’re juggling projects and chasing goals. But if someone asked you, “What are you working towards?”, you might struggle to answer. Here’s why: Specific goals aren’t really what we want. They’re just what we think will get us what we want — even if we have no idea what that is. So, what are we actually working toward? Jason has a theory: he calls it a state of being. Today, he’ll help you identify yours — and then use this clarity to transform how you spend your time and energy.

Today's caller Mike runs a production studio and wants to know if top-of-the-line equipment will set him apart from other studios. Jason and Nicole's answer: not necessarily. Instead, Jason and Nicole give him a foolproof method for getting a competitive advantage— and it has nothing to do with the competition!

Think of the last time you saw something — and you said, "That sucks." Maybe it's a product. Or a song. Or a YouTube video. This thing is successful, but you think it's dumb— and you're convinced you're right. Today, Jason has a magic question that will help you recognize the mechanisms of success, even for things you don't understand— which will help you build more successful things too.

​​Want to make LinkedIn actually work for you? Today, Jason and Nicole will show you how. Whether you’re trying to land your next role, build a personal brand, or just get more than 12 views on a post, mastering content on LinkedIn can be a serious game-changer. But what actually makes a post perform? In this episode, Jason breaks down the strategy behind the LinkedIn following he’s built—and puts Nicole’s own posts under the microscope to show exactly what works (and what doesn’t). It’s a crash course in thought leadership, engagement psychology, and how to stand out on the world’s most buttoned-up social platform.

You’re facing a problem with no obvious solution. Maybe it’s a work challenge, a family issue, or a personal dilemma. You’ve thought about it from every angle, but every option seems flawed. Today, Jason shows you a simple but powerful technique that can break you out of this trap. He calls it List Before You Leap. It will help you find solutions you never would have considered otherwise. Jason will explain how and why it works — but first, he’ll tell you about a conversation with his wife, where this strategy came in handy…

How do you talk to your kids about work—without making them think their worth depends on it? In this episode, Jason and Nicole tackle one of the trickiest balancing acts of modern parenting: explaining your career in a way that’s honest but not overwhelming, inspiring but not pressure-packed. They explore how to navigate your child's questions about what you do, how to help them dream big in a world where industries are constantly evolving, and how to set boundaries around work without making them feel like they’re second place. If you’ve ever felt the guilt of closing your laptop after bedtime—or struggled to explain why “Zoom” isn’t a game—this one’s for you.

Today, we're sharing an episode of the Superhero Leadership podcast, hosted by Marvel's former CEO and legendary turnaround expert, Peter Cuneo. Each week, Peter is joined by top performers from business, media, and beyond, leaders who have mastered the art of impact, resilience, and vision. Together, they explore Peter’s 32 leadership essentials, revealing what it really takes to rise, inspire, and lead with purpose. In this episode, Jon Harris, CEO of AthLife, explores how leaders create lasting impact by empowering others, fostering empathy, and embracing lifelong learning. From his journey as DePaul basketball captain to building programs that support athlete development off the field, Harris shares insights on creating a service-driven culture, learning from failure, and making space for others to lead— on the court, in business, and beyond. Listen to more Superhero Leadership episodes wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

You’re envious of someone. Why? Pick the reason. They make more money than you. Accomplish more than you. Their career is bigger. Their title is cooler. You already know that comparison is the thief of joy. Jason doesn't need to tell you that — and anyway, knowing it doesn’t help. So today, Jason will give you something that actually helps: he will show you how the people you envy aren’t as enviable as you think — and how you can celebrate what you have.

Nicole had a great appearance on Good Morning America… until she made one tiny mistake that she can’t stop thinking about. Jason and Nicole dig up their most embarrassing moments and workplace missteps, and decide on a benchmark for when to call out your mistakes, and when to keep them to yourself.

You want to put yourself “out there,” but you're worried. You don’t want to feel too vulnerable or come across as self-centered. So here’s a liberating truth: You don’t need to put your whole self out there. In fact, you shouldn’t. Today, Jason will show you a powerful alternative: he calls it the “5% Character.” It’s a version of yourself that’s always interesting, always impressive, and always on — and once you identify it, you become exponentially more valuable and desirable. This idea unlocked his career and created a wave of opportunity— and today, he shows you how you can use it, too. For more on the 5% Character and additional strategies for personal branding, check out Jason’s first-ever course, called LinkedIn Mastery​, which helps you advance your career by becoming a respected top voice in your industry. As a Help Wanted listener, you can get it for 40% off by using the code HELPWANTED.

Trust is not binary, it's a gradient — and once you appreciate how it works, you can build (and maintain!) trust in smarter, more careful ways. It’s a concept called the trust battery. Today, Jason will show you how to use it — and how it can help you build better relationships, professionally and personally.

In this episode, Jason checks in with Nicole to see how she's managing the demands of work and parenting a four-month-old. Nicole opens up about the mental load of being the parent responsible for most of the childcare logistics. Jason then phones a friend—his wife, Jen—who shares the systems she and Jason have put in place to create a more balanced and equitable approach to parenting.

You made something amazing, but people don’t get it. Here’s the problem: “Creating something” is only half the job. “Teaching others to understand its value” is the other half. Today, Jason explains how to be a better teacher so that your ideas will be taken more seriously, your work will thrive, and people will finally listen. Check out Poppy, the company that inspired this episode, HERE

When a video of a plane passenger refusing to give up her seat for a toddler went viral, the internet had thoughts—and most of them weren’t kind. Today, Jason and Nicole sit down to unpack why they're siding with the passenger, and what this viral moment reveals about how we rush to judgment online. This episode isn’t just about plane etiquette—it’s about the stories we tell, the facts we skip, and the cost of outrage culture. By the end of the episode, you’ll walk away with a sharper lens for spotting bias in viral narratives—and how that same skill can help you make better, smarter decisions in business and in life. HERE is the story referenced in the episode.

You’re being cautious. You want to do something, but you’re waiting for the right moment. You keep telling yourself: I must be careful. I can’t ruin what I already have. Today, Jason will help you move forward — and to do this, he is going to teach you the Messy Couch Principle. It’s a new way to assess your problem, and then find the confidence to act boldly.

Jason was asked for a favor— but told that he couldn't expect a favor in return. Should he be annoyed? Or is he expecting too much? Today, Nicole shares with Jason how she builds relationships that are mutually beneficial.

You know what you want. But it doesn’t make you happy. Maybe you reached a goal, but it wasn’t as satisfying as you expected. Or you’re chasing a goal, but it feels perpetually out of reach. Either way, now you feel stuck. Today, Jason will share the antidote — which he calls “Say yes to more than what you want.” It’s a way of thinking beyond your immediate goals, so you aren’t trapped by them. Today, he'll show you how to do it.