Workday Playdate

Updated: 22 Oct 2025 • 361 episodes
art19.com/shows/workday-playdate

TOP 1% GLOBAL PODCAST for People-First Leaders Formerly the "improve it! Podcast." #9 in BEST 100 SELF LEADERSHIP PODCASTS. I’m Erin Diehl, keynote speaker, business improv edutainer, and founder of improve it! (AKA your work bestie). Every Wednesday, Workday Playdate with improve it! helps HR professionals, people leaders, and culture-driven humans bring more laughter, levity, and purpose to their workdays. Because work is better when you play. This is not your average leadership podcast. You’ll get research-backed strategies, improv-inspired tools, and candid conversations with top leaders, speakers, improvisers and authors who are rethinking how we work and lead. Our promise is to give you tangible takeaways you can use immediately, plus a few laughs along the way. Interested in partnering with us? Workday Playdate reaches thousands of people-first leaders who care about workplace culture, leadership, and team development. Contact info@learntoimproveit.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. We promise laughs, impact, and zero awkward small talk. Think ROI with a side of LOL’s. Let’s make it happen!

Show episodes

In Episode 313 of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with global leadership coach Sabina Nawaz to unpack an idea that feels counterintuitive in a world obsessed with doing: the power of doing nothing. From radical presence to redefining productivity, this conversation explores how creating “blank space” can unlock creati

41 min
00:00
41:39
No file found

In Episode 312 of Workday Playdate, Erin unpacks the not-so-secret sauce behind every unforgettable presentation: research. Whether you’re delivering a keynote, leading a team meeting, or pitching a new idea, understanding your audience is what turns a talk into a transformation. Erin walks you through her playbook for

28 min
00:00
28:35
No file found

In Episode 311 of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Paula Davis — former lawyer, author of Beating Burnout at Work, and founder of the Stress and Resilience Institute — to unpack why burnout isn’t an individual failure, it’s a team dynamic. Together, they explore how leaders can prevent burnout by fostering empathy

44 min
00:00
44:59
No file found

In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin breaks down a five-step, improv-inspired framework to help you calm your nerves in real time whether you’re stepping on stage, leading a meeting, or speaking up in front of a room. From understanding how your amygdala triggers fight-or-flight to learning simple techniques

19 min
00:00
19:25
No file found

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Lareina Yee, Director at McKinsey Global Institute, to explore how women can thrive at the intersection of time management, technology, and radical empathy. From the promise of AI to the power of experience capital, Lareina shares data-driven insights and practic

47 min
00:00
47:42
No file found

In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles one of today’s biggest workplace challenges: overwhelm. With 66% of employees reporting burnout, it’s clear we’re all carrying too much and running on empty. But here’s the good news: a reset doesn’t have to be complicated. Erin shares her simple, science-backed 10

17 min
00:00
17:09
No file found