We’ve all done it: talked ourselves out of something we know would make life better. A walk. A tough conversation. A career change. But what’s really going on when you know you should do the thing…and you don’t?

In this solo episode of Hard at Work, Ellen Whitlock Baker breaks down the science of “blockers” — the protective part of your brain that sounds the alarm whenever something feels new, different, or risky. She explains how neuroplasticity works, why change feels so threatening, and the three simple steps you can use to prove your blockers wrong.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in the cycle of overthinking, avoidance, and regret, this episode will show you how to take tiny experiments that lead to big clarity.

Tags: career clarity, overcoming fear, burnout, blockers, start anyway, neuroscience, boundaries, clarity coaching, workplace change, stuck at work, Hard at Work podcast

What does it actually take to build something from scratch—and stay sane while doing it? Ellen talks with Jaebadiah Gardner, founder of Gardner Global, about building wealth, the importance of believing in yourself, and pushing past barriers as a Black and Latino entrepreneur. They get real about hustle culture, staying grounded, and what success looks like behind the scenes (it’s not always as pretty as it seems on the surface). If you’ve ever felt stuck, under-resourced, or underestimated, this one’s for you. A thoughtful, no-BS conversation about drive, ambition, and getting in the room where it happens—even when you don’t know anyone there.

Show Links:

• Find Jaebadiah’s book, Believe in Yourself, here

• Learn more about Jaebadiah’s company, Gardner Global, and all the cool work they are doing in Seattle.

• Connect with Jaebadiah on LinkedIn and Instagram

When life blows up, who do you become next? In this deeply honest episode, Ellen sits down with Merritt Minnemeyer — founder of Master of One Coaching, speaker, and creative powerhouse — to talk about leading through loss, finding your true self when your old story no longer fits, and why so many women keep outsourcing our wisdom to everyone but ourselves.

You’ll hear how Merritt turned unimaginable grief into a mission to help leaders come home to themselves — and what that really looks like when you’re stuck, burned out, or feeling trapped in the life you thought you wanted.

A reminder that the story you’re living now isn’t your final chapter — and you get to write what comes next.

leadership coaching, finding yourself again, rebuilding after loss, conscious leadership, women in midlife, executive coaching, nonprofit leadership, self-reflection for leaders, personal growth, conscious business, arts leadership, living with purpose, coming home to yourself, trapped by choices, how to pivot your career, Merritt Minnemeyer, Master of One Coaching, human-centric work, conscious capitalism, resilience after grief.