Send a text

This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today’s topic: “Leadership Reality

Here’s the question:
What Do You Need from Leadership That You’re Not Getting?”

When people talk about leadership gaps, they’re not talking about how many Zoom backgrounds you have or how many buzzwords you sprinkle into a deck.

People are talking about clarity, connection, and credibility — you know, the stuff that actually makes your work feel meaningful and purposeful.

INSIGHTS + RESEARCH

Let’s look at a few statistics around these three concepts:

• First — clarity. A Gallup-style look at engagement shows only about 47 % of employees strongly agree they know what’s expected of them at work. And barely a third feel someone at work is actively encouraging their growth.
• Second — authentic communication. A GE/Ipsos poll found that while 85 % of executives think they’re communicating values effectively, only 62 % of entry-level staff agree.
• Third — trust and engagement. Only about 23 % of U.S. employees strongly trust their leaders — that low number isn’t a rounding error, it’s a culture-killer. And when trust is low, engagement plummets and turnover climbs.

Bottom line:

• Clarity tells employees what to do.
• Authentic communication tells them why it matters.
• Trust allows them to do it at their best.

Remove any one of those, and the culture cracks. Keep all three strong, and you build a workplace people don’t just tolerate — they commit to.

Trust is the foundation. Engagement is the outcome.

What should effective leadership give you:

✅ A clear picture of what success looks like in your role
✅ Consistent, real communication — not PR scripts
✅ A line of sight between your work and organizational purpose
✅ Feedback that doesn’t feel like a mystery novel
✅ Professional development that isn’t an afterthought

So, what can you do — today — if you’re feeling shortchanged by leadership?

1. Ask for it directly.
2. Document your expectations conversation.
3. Make your own growth plan.

In summary, leaders are more likely to respond when the ask is clear, focused on outcomes, and framed around mutual success. That’s the language executives speak — business impact, not drama.

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

Talk soon...

Send a text

This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today we’re doing a Burnout Check

Here’s the question:
What’s costing you more energy than it’s worth?

Let’s be real — burnout isn’t just about being tired. It’s about chronic exhaustion, cynicism creeping in, and that feeling like you’re running on fumes.

INSIGHTS + RESEARCH

A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine estimates that burnout and disengagement cost American companies between about $4,000 and $21,000 per employee every year — and if we scale that to a typical 1,000-person company? That’s roughly $5 million in lost productivity and turnover costs annually.

Let’s talk who’s getting hit hardest:

• Employees across the board are struggling — especially younger professionals. Surveys show most workers report feelings of burnout at least sometimes.
• Excessive workload and lack of support are top drivers — many folks point directly to unrealistic expectations and constant firefighting.

Burnout doesn’t just make you tired. It steals clarity, motivation, and joy — the very things that make you good at what you do.

What’s costing you more energy than it’s worth?

1. Unnecessary commitments — committees, meetings, responsibilities that feel like “busywork.”
2. Unrealistic expectations — either self-imposed or pushed by others.
3. Lack of boundaries — late nights, weekend emails, 24/7 availability.
4. Compensation that doesn’t match effort — people are realizing burnout isn’t loyalty. It’s a warning light.

Call-to-Action:

🔹 Identify one commitment you can reduce or remove — not someday, not maybe — this week.

🔹 Tell someone you respect that you’re reprioritizing your energy — a manager, a colleague, a mentor. Accountability keeps the world honest.

In summary, burnout doesn’t just fade away when we ignore it. It compounds. But you can flip the script by making conscious cuts — reclaiming time, focus, and yes — sanity.

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...

Send us a text

This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today we’re talking about Power and Politics.

Here’s the question:
What truth are you avoiding at work?

Let’s be real — ignoring a hard truth at work never makes it go away. It just gets louder and more annoying, like a car alarm at 3 AM.”

INSIGHTS + RESEARCH

Harvard Business Review found that 85% of employees avoid conflict at work, even when they know it makes the problem worse.
Translation: We’d rather suffer in silence than risk the awkwardness.

Meanwhile, McKinsey reports that teams who confront issues early outperform peers by more than 30% in execution.
Turns out, speaking up is a performance strategy — not a personality trait.

Organizational psychology calls avoidance a protective behavior, but let’s be honest — it’s emotional bubble wrap. Soft, familiar, but ultimately not how you get things done.

This week, identify one truth you’re avoiding at work and decide:

• Address it.
• Accept it.
• Exit it.

Pick one.
Because dragging it out is how 6-month problems turn into 6-year regrets.

In summary, addressing the truth head on can set you free from indecision, stress and anxiety.

If you want a book recommendation, try “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High.”

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...

Send us a text

This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today we’re talking about work boundaries - not as a buzzword, but as a workplace skill.

Boundaries help people protect focus, reduce burnout, and stay consistent—without sacrificing accountability or teamwork.

Here’s the question:

Where are your work expectations unclear—time, response, priorities, or workload?

We’re seeing this across the workforce:

• In the APA Work in America survey, 95% of workers say it matters to work for an organization that respects boundaries between work and non-work time.
• And a Pew Research study found 55% of workers respond to work messages outside normal work hours at least sometimes.

Here are four common boundary gaps—plus “HR-safe” scripts you can try.

1) Time boundaries (start/stop of day)

If your day has no real endpoint, your brain never gets a true reset.

Navigation:

Use a simple statement and a clear next step:

• “I’m offline this evening. I’ll respond tomorrow morning.”
• “I can pick this up during business hours—what’s the deadline?”

2) Response-time boundaries (email, Teams, text)

Not everything is urgent—even if it arrives with urgency.

Navigation:

• “I’m in meetings right now. I’ll respond by end of day.”
• “If this is time-sensitive, please call—otherwise I’ll reply within 24 business hours.”

3) Priority boundaries (what comes first)

A healthy boundary is often just prioritization—done out loud.

Navigation:

• “I can take this on. What should I deprioritize to make room?”
• “Here are the top two priorities I’m working—where would you like this to land?”

This keeps the tone collaborative while making capacity visible.

4) Workload boundaries (scope and sustainability)

If the workload keeps expanding without alignment, stress becomes chronic.

Navigation:

• “I’m at capacity this week. I can do A by Friday or B by Wednesday—your call.”
• “To deliver this well, I’ll need either more time or adjusted scope.”

Here’s today’s action:

Pick one boundary and make it specific for the next 24 hours—time, response, priority, or workload.

Write it down. Say it once. Hold it once.

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...

Send us a text

This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today we’re talking about awareness.

Here’s the question:
What have you been tolerating that’s draining you?

Let’s get real about what tolerance looks like in real life.

Awareness is realizing appreciation is not the same as advancement.

Navigation:

• Ask yourself before stepping in: Is this mine to carry?
• Pause your response.
• Write down what you haven’t said.

Awareness isn’t about blowing your life up.
It’s about stopping the leak before the damage spreads.

Here’s today’s action—simple, but not easy.

• Name it.
• Write it down.
• Stop pretending it’s “fine.”

In summary, awareness is the first move. Not the loud one, or dramatic one but the honest one.

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...

Send us a text

Title: S5 Ep. 1: Re-Introduction to the Pod Crew!

Description: Let’s be honest—most advice sounds good but doesn’t actually work.
At True Talk Café, we don’t do surface-level conversations or feel-good fluff.

This is where careers get clearer, leadership gets real, and hard conversations finally make sense.

Join Renee, Anna, Lollie and Karla as they start the 2026 with a new vibe. This season we’re talking power moves, mindset shifts, and the truth people wish they’d heard sooner. From the boardroom to the burnout, the pivot to the comeback—nothing’s off-limits.

Key Segments:

Introduction: Meet the hosts

What to look forward to in 2026 - Topics:

• Ep. 1 – Why we put up with too much
• Ep. 2 – Team Player or Taken Advantage Of
• Ep. 3 – Office Politics & Power Moves
• Ep. 4 – Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor

Pod crew:

• Renee, Karla, Lollie and Anna

Conclusion

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...

Send us a text

Title: S4 Ep. 8: Acknowledge, Adjust, Align

Description: Join host Karla Hernandez DeCuir and the True Talk Cafe crew as they dive into the "Acknowledge, Adjust, Align" series. This episode features Dr. Sarah David, a certified AI consultant and trainer, who shares insights on owning your evolution, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the power of consistency over perfection. Discover how to align your daily habits and mindset for lasting progress.

Key Segments:

Introduction: Meet the hosts and guest Dr. Sarah David.

• Acknowledge: Understanding the illusion of busyness and finding purposeful productivity.
• Adjust: Strategies for moving from overwhelm to action and auditing your network.
• Align: The importance of consistency over perfection and utilizing AI for goal focus.

Guest Highlights:

Dr. Sarah David: AI consultant, Forbes-recognized career resource, and author of "Jumpstart Your Career Now."

Quotes:

"Perfection is the enemy of progress." - Dr. Sarah David

"Your network is your net worth." - Karla Hernandez DeCuir

Final Thoughts: Embrace change, honor your journey, and keep evolving. Progress isn't linear, but every step counts.

Pod crew:

• Renee, Karla, Lollie and Anna

Conclusion

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • X (Twitter) - @truetalkcafe1

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #PersonalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #AI

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...

Send us a text

Welcome to the True Talk Café Podcast S4 Ep. 7 - Align - Pt. 3 Executing & Sustaining Progress

Show agenda:

We’ve reached the final step, Pt 3 in our Acknowledge, Adjust, Align series - Align) It’s time to take everything we’ve uncovered and adapted—and align it with consistent actions and habits that support sustainable growth.

Episode Recap:

• Topics Covered:
  • Why small wins matter more than perfection
  • The role of consistency in sustaining growth
  • Building accountability and community to stay motivated
  • Recognizing and preventing burnout
  • Using AI and tech tools to level up your career
  • Embracing and celebrating your personal evolution
• Featured Discussion Questions:
  • What’s a recent small win that felt big?
  • How do you foster community while pursuing goals?
  • What habits help you maintain energy and focus?
  • What tools have helped you grow professionally?
  • How do you set new goals without burning out?
• Tips You Can Use:
  Small Wins, Big Impact
  • Track habits through journals or apps
  • Celebrate progress—not just outcomes
  • Stay flexible; consistency doesn’t mean perfection
• Accountability & Community
  • Partner with someone or join a group
  • Share your goals publicly
  • Let peer encouragement fuel you
• Sustaining Momentum
  • Schedule regular breaks
  • Rotate tasks to avoid burnout
  • Do mindfulness check-ins
• Leveraging AI & Tech
  • Automate where possible
  • Use tech to enhance productivity
  • Keep up with trends in your field
• Owning Your Evolution
  • Reflect monthly on growth
  • Set realistic, capacity-driven goals
  • Reinvent unapologetically

Guest: Dr. Daniel Villanueava, Jr. (Independent educational consultant)

• LI - (13) Daniel Villanueva, Jr. | LinkedIn

Pod crew:

• Renee, Karla, Lollie and Anna

Conclusion

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • X (Twitter) - @truetalkcafe1

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #Align

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...