My Story

Be the Leader You Wish You Had: Leadership Lessons from the U.S. Navy with Matthew RichardsWhat does it truly mean to lead with accountability, compassion, and integrity?In this episode of Unscripted at Work, Dr. Katie Farah welcomes Matthew Richards, an active-duty U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer with 18 years of service, to explore the principles of effective leadership and the importance of building a culture of trust.Guided by his philosophy, “Be the leader you wish you had,” Matthew shares firsthand experiences from his Navy career, revealing how strong leaders build relationships, take responsibility for mistakes, encourage honest feedback, and support their teams through personal and professional challenges.Together, they discuss the importance of psychological safety, accountability at every level, mental health awareness, resilience, and the Navy's approach to developing future leaders. Matthew also explains why knowing your people, following through on commitments, and leading by example are essential to creating stronger teams.From military operations to everyday workplaces, this conversation offers practical lessons for anyone responsible for leading others.Whether you're an executive, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode challenges you to ask one powerful question: Would I want to work for me?Because great leadership isn't defined by rank or title. It's demonstrated through actions, trust, and how you treat people when it matters most.

When does a difficult workplace become a toxic environment? And how can you recognize the warning signs of workplace bullying before they begin affecting your confidence, self-worth, and professional growth?In this episode of Unscripted at Work, host Dr. Katie Farah welcomes Sofya Stearns, chef, entrepreneur, educator, author, and etiquette coach, for an honest conversation about workplace bullying, toxic leadership, and the subtle behaviors that can undermine even the most confident professionals.Drawing from personal experiences, they explore common forms of workplace mistreatment, including public humiliation, exclusion from meetings, intimidation, gaslighting, cyberbullying, abuse of authority, and the silent treatment.Together, they discuss why employees often hesitate to speak up, how unhealthy workplace dynamics affect personal relationships and mental well-being, and why recognizing repeated patterns of disrespect is essential.Listeners will discover practical strategies for addressing inappropriate behavior, documenting incidents, setting professional boundaries, and advocating for themselves without compromising their dignity.The message is clear: Professionalism doesn't mean tolerating disrespect. Recognizing unhealthy behaviors is the first step toward protecting your confidence and creating a healthier workplace culture.

Why do women sometimes become each other's biggest obstacles instead of their strongest advocates?In this episode of Unscripted at Work, Dr. Katie Farah welcomes healthcare quality and patient safety professional Tala Dakraub for an honest conversation about competition, insecurity, and the complex dynamics between women in the workplace.Together, they explore the "Queen Bee" effect, the scarcity mindset surrounding female leadership, and how jealousy, intimidation, favoritism, and undermining behaviors contribute to toxic workplace cultures.Through personal experiences and practical insights, Dr. Farah and Tala discuss how women can recognize unhealthy leadership, establish professional boundaries, confidently advocate for themselves, and transform competition into collaboration.The conversation also challenges organizations to hold toxic high performers accountable, promote psychological safety, and create environments where mentorship, respect, and shared success are celebrated.Whether you're an executive, aspiring leader, or navigating difficult workplace relationships, this episode offers valuable lessons on confidence, empowerment, and building healthier professional relationships.The message is clear: True leadership isn't about protecting your seat at the table. It's about making room for others to succeed.

What happens when talented employees feel stuck, overlooked, or unable to advance? In this episode of Unscripted at Work, host Dr. Katie Farah welcomes healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and author Nick Vizzoca for an honest conversation about employee growth, leadership responsibility, and building healthier workplace cultures.Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Nick explores why professional development goes far beyond promotions, job titles, and salary increases. Together, they discuss how effective leaders recognize potential, create meaningful opportunities, provide mentorship, and empower employees to take the next step in their careers.The conversation also examines the dangers of insecure leadership, toxic workplace environments, lack of recognition, and broken promises that drive valuable employees away. Nick shares real-world experiences demonstrating how trust, open communication, accountability, and continuous feedback can transform organizations.Listeners will discover why employees must also take ownership of their development, how to recognize when it's time for a career change, and why investing in people strengthens engagement, retention, and long-term organizational success.Because when employees grow, organizations grow.

Does a healthy workplace culture start at the top? In Part 1 of Unscripted at Work, host Dr. Katie Farah sits down with entrepreneur and CEO Brian Hess, founder of The Pavement Group and Top Contractor School, to explore how leadership shapes workplace culture and impacts lives beyond the office.Brian shares his leadership journey, the importance of leading by example, and why trust, accountability, self-reflection, and open communication are essential to building successful organizations. Together, they discuss psychological safety, empowering employees, overcoming micromanagement, and the value of mentorship.Through personal experiences and real-world examples, they reveal how effective leadership creates a ripple effect that extends beyond employees to their families and communities. Discover why great leadership isn't just about business success—it's about investing in people and creating lasting positive change.This podcast is for education only and is not a replacement for therapy. Thank you!

In this introductory episode of Unscripted at Work, Dr. Katie Farah shares the personal and professional experiences that inspired her to create the podcast. After more than 20 years in medicine and leadership, she began recognizing recurring patterns of unhealthy workplace culture, ineffective leadership, disrespect, and environments where employees felt minimized or afraid to speak up.Katie explains why workplace culture matters, what healthy leadership can look like, and how individuals can recognize unhealthy situations, protect their self-worth, and decide what comes next. Unscripted at Work will feature honest conversations, real stories, practical tools, and lessons designed to help people navigate workplace challenges, build healthier relationships, and find the confidence to rewrite their own script.This Podcast is for education only and is not a replacement for therapy.Thank You!