Drinks After Work with Shannon and Deb

Congratulations, you've been assigned a window-less window seat and why Drinks after Work is your corporate "secret fight club!" Belly up to the bar as we explain our why.
Deb: Banana Mango Vanilla Protein Smoothie with Coconut Water & Almonds
Shannon: Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita
 
Snag the recipes on our website
 
In this episode, Shannon and Deborah pull back the curtain on why they created Drinks After Work and what makes their show different from typical corporate career advice. They unpack the core mission behind the podcast: sharing real, lived experiences without gatekeeping or corporate fluff. They discuss how the show serves as an information-driven resource, a corporate "secret fight club" for navigating HR, layoffs, workplace discrimination, and daily dysfunction—plus why eavesdropping at airport bars inspired some of their best stories.
 
Share your stories with us, we want to hear them all! contactdrinksafterworkpod@gmail.com
 
Resources:
Drinks After Work Substack
 
Hire Learning Rebels:
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hire ICU Learning:
ICULearning.org
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast Produced by: Obsidian Productions

Ah, yes... I can feel your anger at being declined, but calling me across five different apps will not grant you the power you seek. How terribly unimaginative... your lack of creativity will be your undoing. Good, good... let the hate flow through you, but before you strike me down... here are this week's drinks:
Deb: Dried Hibiscus Green Tea with Honey & Lemon
Shannon: Homemade Strawberry Lemonade with Vodka
 
Snag the recipes on our website
 
In this episode, Shannon and Deborah dig into why organizations claim innovation and creativity are core pillars, but actively build environments that kill them. Inspired by an Inc. article, they break down why leadership actually wants confirmation bias and compliance over fresh thinking, why middle management lets good ideas die on the "metaphorical flagpole," and why treating failure like a disaster stops employees from taking creative risks. Plus, tipsy tips for keeping your creative spark alive: document your ideas on a personal device, use AI to check employee handbooks for rights-grab clauses, test ideas under the radar with trusted peers, and remember — if your company won't build on your innovation, take it to your next gig or turn it into a side hustle.
 
Resources:
Inc: Most Leaders Say They Want Innovation. These 5 Habits Are Killing It
Drinks After Work Substack
 
Hire Learning Rebels:
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hire ICU Learning:
ICULearning.org
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast Produced by: Obsidian Productions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I didn't know romantic gestures were subject to a loyalty tax. Well, your man ain't gonna change, and neither is your company. Anyway...before we dive in, it wouldn't be Drinks After Work without the Drinks:
Deb: Cutwater Pineapple Margarita
Shannon: Strawberry Black Pepper Smash
 
Snag the recipes on our website
 
This time around, Shannon and Deborah dig into the "loyalty tax" — the cruel reality of what happens to workers who stay at the same company for 5+ years and get blindsided by sudden layoffs. They break down why nearly half of laid-off workers let their resumes go stale, why over half let their networks lapse, and why staying loyal to a company that sees you as an employee number is like staying with a boyfriend who's out at the bar while you're at home taking care of the kids. Plus, tipsy tips for protecting yourself: keep interviewing (even when you're not looking), document your wins on a personal device, invest in "quiet learning," and remember — convenient amnesia kicks in fast when it's time to make cuts.
 
Resources:
Inc: The Cruel Loyalty Tax: Blindsiding Workers Who Stayed at Their Jobs for Years
Drinks After Work Substack
 
Hire Learning Rebels:
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hire ICU Learning:
ICULearning.org
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast Produced by: Obsidian Productions

Have you ever thought "Wait, is my Peloton instructor an energy vampire?"...Just me? Ok, well...here's the drinks:
Deb: Borrowed Battery
Shannon: Fat Mariachi
Leslie: LMNT
 
Snag the recipes on our website
 
In this episode, Shannon and Deb are joined by special guest Lesley Picchieti of Inspire Bliss Coaching to talk about energy in the workplace — the kind that walks into a room and sucks the air out, and the kind that makes people actually want to follow you. They get into performative networking and the desperate elevator-pitch energy that makes everyone hate networking events. They break down the difference between performative positivity and the toxic kind that has you brushing real problems under the rug until you end up in cardiac arrest. Plus, the truth that no one can actually make you feel anything — your filter does — and how to find your people (or be one) when you're stuck in a workplace full of energy drainers.
 
Resources:
Lesley Picchieti, Inspire Bliss Coaching
Lesley on LinkedIn
HiHello (digital business card app)
Popl (digital business card app)
Drinks After Work Substack
 
Hire Learning Rebels:
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hire ICU Learning:
ICULearning.org
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast Produced by: Obsidian Productions

Ageism, CTA’s in LinkedIn Posts, Terry Crews!? Ok, Boomer…But before we dive in, it wouldn’t be Drinks After Work without the Drinks:
Deb: (Adult) Sunny D
Shannon: Lemon on Lemon
 
Snag the recipes on our website
 
In this episode, Shannon and Deborah tackle the pervasive reality of ageism across the modern workforce. They break down how bias impacts both ends of the spectrum—from younger workers getting dismissed as "inexperienced" or "lazy" to seasoned professionals being erased and pushed out despite having decades of value. They dive into how application screening questions operate as stealth discrimination tools and discuss why fostering a truly age-inclusive, multi-generational workforce is essential for business growth and survival. 
 
Resources:
AARP Report on Ageism in the Workplace
EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) — eeoc.gov
Drinks After Work Substack
 
Hire Learning Rebels:
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hire ICU Learning:
ICULearning.org
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast Produced by: Obsidian Productions

Why give a belt buckle safety demo if there's only four parachutes?! I need a soft off day...But before we dive in,
Deb: Lavender Mimosa
Shannon: Cold brew with creamer
 
Snag the recipes on our website
 
In this episode, Shannon and Deborah pop the tab on "soft off days" and how remote workers are taking back stolen time. They dive into a Fast Company article on "soft off days"—taking an unannounced hour during WFH to run errands, do laundry, or clear your head. They break down why companies steal time from employees every day, why 70% of workers feel underpaid, and how taking back pockets of personal time is a natural response to the erosion of corporate loyalty and fringe benefits.
 
Resources:
Fast Company: "Soft Off Days" article
 
Be part of the Learning Rebels Community.
Continue the conversation while building connections and capability. Learn more here.
 
Join the Coffee Chat conversations
Be part of Learning Rebels live Coffee Chat Discussions! Sign up here.  
 
Hire Learning Rebels.
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions

Pop the tab on something cold and settle in — it's time for another round of Drinks After Work!
 
This time, we're talking all about:
The toxic boss profiles you'll recognize immediately (the temper-tantrum thrower, the spotlight hog, the gaslighter, the rule-maker)
Triangulation — when your boss talks about you instead of to you
How toxic bosses are literally making employees sick (it's not just stress, it's chronic health damage)
Why HR's "engagement surveys" are missing the point entirely
The waterfall effect of bad bosses creating more bad bosses
How to protect yourself when you're stuck under one
 
In this episode, Shannon and Deborah break down the science (and the pettiness) behind toxic bosses. The article they reference says 75% of workers think their boss is the most stressful part of their workday — and that stress doesn't stay at work. It follows you home, wrecks your weekends, and shows up in your body. They share their own war stories with triangulation, gaslighting, write-ups built on twisted conversations, and bosses who demand spotlight while making you do their work. But this isn't just a vent session — they get into how to actually protect yourself: document everything (on a personal device), bring facts over feelings, and don't go in hot unless you've got another gig in the shadows.
 
So sip, swig, or chug — and get ready to:
Recognize the toxic boss profiles before they wreck your health
Document everything on a personal device (not the work computer)
Lead with facts over feelings when escalating to HR
Throw their own expectations back at them when they don't follow their own rules
Take advantage of ethics hotlines and anonymous reporting if you have them
Protect your mental and physical health — this is a ripple effect
 
Because it wouldn't be Drinks After Work without the drinks, here are the FAB:
Deborah: Cooper's Hawk Moscato — Floral, sweet, with hints of peach, melon, and orange blossom.
Shannon: Classic Mojito — Rum, lime, mint, sugar, and a few pieces of fresh fruit for spring.
 
Find all our drink recipes and more at our website.
 
Resources:
Forbes: Toxic Bosses Are Making Employees Sick—And The Evidence Is Impossible To Ignore
Harvard Business Review: Stop Making Excuses for Toxic Bosses
Workplace Assessments -
Korn Ferry
McKinsey
Gallup
 
Be part of the Learning Rebels Community.
Continue the conversation while building connections and capability. Learn more here.
 
Join the Coffee Chat conversations
Be part of Learning Rebels live Coffee Chat Discussions! Sign up here.  
 
Hire Learning Rebels.
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions

Pop the tab on something cold and settle in — it's time for another round of Drinks After Work!
This time, we're talking all about:
The trust recession — why trust is broken everywhere (workplace, brands, insurance, you name it)
How layoffs during record profits have destroyed employee trust
Why loyalty means nothing anymore (on both sides of the counter)
The connection between technology, AI, and the erosion of human trust
Why relationships at work matter more than ever
How to rebuild trust one small interaction at a time
In this episode, Shannon and Deborah dive into the trust recession that's eroding the workplace, customer relationships, and pretty much every institution we used to rely on. When CEOs are pulling in 12 figures while laying off thousands, when insurance companies want to put trackers on your car but still raise your rates, when layoffs happen during record profits — trust breaks. And once it breaks at work, it bleeds into everything else. But it's not all doom and gloom. They share how to rebuild trust incrementally, from speaking up for people in their absence to bringing an extra donut to the coworker next to you.
So sip, swig, or chug — and get ready to:
Recognize the signs that your company's "we're a family" talk is BS
Stop expecting loyalty from organizations that don't give it back
Take the first step in building real workplace relationships
Speak up for people when they're not in the room
Shop your insurance every few years (loyalty doesn't pay)
Trust first until you can't — but know when you can't
Because it wouldn't be Drinks After Work without the drinks, here are the FAB:
Shannon: Lemon Drop — Classic lemon drop, hold the sugar on the rim. Deborah: Trust Issues — Vodka, watermelon juice, lime juice, and a little agave syrup.
Find all our drink recipes and more at our website.
 
Resources:
Forbes: "The Trust Recession: Why Trust and Customer Experiences Are Failing"
 
Be part of the Learning Rebels Community.
Continue the conversation while building connections and capability. Learn more here.
 
Join the Coffee Chat conversations
Be part of Learning Rebels live Coffee Chat Discussions! Sign up here.  
 
Hire Learning Rebels.
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions

Pop the tab on something cold and settle in — it's time for another round of Drinks After Work!
 
This time, we're talking all about:
Power dynamics at work — from Betty Sue in finance to team leads on power trips
When to leave corporate America and go out on your own
The ick of entrepreneurship: trading one set of problems for another
The harsh realities no one tells you (spoiler: healthcare costs will make you cry)
Why the system wasn't built to support entrepreneurs — and how to survive anyway
How to know if you're built for the solo life (and what to do if you're not)
 
In this episode, Shannon and Deborah dive into the messy reality of leaving corporate America to start your own business. It sounds amazing when you're sitting in your corporate chair collecting a corporate paycheck, but then you realize you're just trading one set of problems. They break down the things nobody warns you about — healthcare costs that want it all upfront, business insurance requirements, wearing every single hat, and the scam artists promising you can make $5 million in a year if you just buy their course. But it's not all doom and gloom — they also share real resources and remind you that failing forward is part of the process, whether you're in corporate or on your own.
 
So sip, swig, or chug — and get ready to:
Recognize power dynamics before they bite you in the @$$
Know your strengths and weaknesses before you jump ship
Find free resources through the Small Business Association and community colleges
Shop around for the right networks (and don't be afraid to leave the wrong ones)
Stop trying to perfect everything — it's an iterative process
Remember that going back to corporate doesn't make you a failure
 
Because it wouldn't be Drinks After Work without the drinks, here are the FAB:
Deborah: Rise Mushroom Coffee — With almond milk and sugarcane sugar.
Shannon: Starbucks Black Coffee — Plus donuts, because sometimes you just need the comfort food of all comfort foods.
 
Find all our drink recipes and more at our website.
 
 
Resources:
Small Business Administration
Chicago Small Business Expo 
 
Be part of the Learning Rebels Community.
Continue the conversation while building connections and capability. Learn more here.
 
Join the Coffee Chat conversations
Be part of Learning Rebels live Coffee Chat Discussions! Sign up here.  
 
Hire Learning Rebels.
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions

Pop the tab on something cold and settle in — it's time for another round of Drinks After Work!
 
This time, we're talking all about:
Corporate swag vs. actual bonuses (spoiler: we want the money, not the blanket)
Why "we're all family here" is a giant red flag in job postings
Workplace favoritism and the halo effect — when one person can do no wrong
The Peter Principle: promoting people until they're incompetent
When entire departments become the favorites (looking at you, Sales)
How to survive (and maybe thrive) when you're not the chosen one
 
In this episode, Shannon and Deborah tackle the toxic "we're all family here" culture, workplace favoritism and the halo effect, the Peter Principle in action, and department favoritism where Sales gets golf trips while you fill out a PO for a pencil. But it's not all doom and gloom — they share strategies for surviving when you're not the favorite, from cross-department collaboration to the "ask forgiveness instead of permission" approach, and remind you to hold onto the real workplace relationships that actually matter.
 
So sip, swig, or chug — and get ready to:
Recognize the red flags of favoritism and fake family culture
Figure out how to collaborate across departments to become the next favorite (or at least get noticed)
Remember: don't let workplace dysfunction bleed into your personal life
Hold onto the real relationships you build at work — those people will advocate for you in rooms you're not in
 
Because it wouldn't be Drinks After Work without the drinks, here are the FAB:
Deborah: Cherry Picking — Vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, soda water. Garnish with cherry or mint.
Shannon: Jazzy — Vodka, Disaronno, orange liqueur, orange juice, fresh lemon juice. Shake well and serve straight up, super cold.
 
Find all our drink recipes and more at our website.
 
 
Resources:
The Peter Principle (because promotions aren't always progress)
 
Be part of the Learning Rebels Community.
Continue the conversation while building connections and capability. Learn more here.
 
Join the Coffee Chat conversations
Be part of Learning Rebels live Coffee Chat Discussions! Sign up here.  
 
Hire Learning Rebels.
When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more.
 
Hosts: Shannon Tipton & Deborah Harris
 
Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions