Best Topical Punch Podcasts (2025)

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Holiday Throwback Episode: Santa Claus, Hand Job, 11:11 33:54

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3h ago33:54

33:54

This episode originally aired on December 19, 2024. Sarah shakes things up by trying something with her left hand. Plus, she explores Santa Claus’ roots, offers marijuana dosing advice, and helps a young woman through a second wave of grief. You can leave a voice memo for Sarah at speakpipe.com/TheSarahSilvermanPodcast. Follow Sarah Silverman @sara…

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Clarifying Your Role and Goal for Leadership Success 8:48

1d ago8:48

8:48

This episode breaks down the "What's your role, what's your goal" framework, with Emily Sander sharing practical examples like a Chief of Staff running a post-mortem, facilitating meetings, or just observing and debriefing with their principal. The approach also applies outside work, like being a supportive parent or a good flight passenger. Emily …

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Practical Ways to Protect Your Time and Energy 36:44

3d ago36:44

36:44

Emily Sander and Sophia Mikelionis talk about practical self-leadership for Chiefs of Staff, covering how to build microhabits like walking during phone meetings, using a regular coffee mug instead of an insulated cup to encourage breaks, and putting your phone to bed at night to unwind. They discuss the importance of protecting your energy, settin…

1
Geek Cast Live 12.601: The Nephew Letters 37:36

6d ago37:36

37:36

Our earnest attempt to convince a listener to watch Stranger Things. In the best Jeb Bush monotone we can muster, please enjoy our newest bit. This link here folks https://jordanrannells.com/ https://waywardraven.com FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR SOME AWESOME FLAGS FROM FLAGS FOR GOOD!!! Get some cool merch @ http://GCL.Threadless.com Plugs and Amazing Folk…

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Throwback Episode: Tiger Blood, Spackle, Wallow 34:28

7d ago34:28

34:28

This episode originally aired on September 19, 2024. Rory spackles Sarah’s hole, again. Plus, she helps a dad raise his rambunctious teen, shares her favorite music to wallow in, and learns a more empathetic phrase to say to someone who’s been through hell. Show notes: Sarah’s “Wallow” playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/wallow/pl.u-kve5t…

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From Helpless to Hopeful: Leading Teams with Accurate Data and a Progress Mindset 13:33

8d ago13:33

13:33

This episode talks about moving teams from feeling stuck to making progress by first getting accurate data. Emily Sander shares an example of advising a Chief of Staff to use surveys to clarify vague complaints about “culture problems” and explains how gathering real feedback, instead of just venting, can lead to informed action on issues like PTO …

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How Nonprofits Can Scale with Better Fundraising Processes 34:54

10d ago34:54

34:54

James Misner talks about why only a small percentage of nonprofits break $1 million in revenue and explains that many struggle because they don’t know how to fundraise effectively or are fearful of dealing with money. He shares practical advice for Chiefs of Staff, stressing the importance of having clear fundraising processes, following up with do…

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Throwback Episode: Wall Punch, Rory, Spider-Man 34:03

14d ago34:03

34:03

This episode originally aired on January 30, 2025. Sarah talks about navigating a big steak with Rory at dinner. Plus, she explains why poop unites us during times of division, and why menopausal women are in their Spider-Man era. You can leave a voice memo for Sarah at speakpipe.com/TheSarahSilvermanPodcast. Follow Sarah Silverman @sarahkatesilver…

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Q&A: How to Guide Leaders Without Telling Them How to Do Their Jobs 5:43

15d ago5:43

5:43

Lisa D. asks how to guide leaders to their next step without telling them how to do their job. Emily suggests agreeing on the project’s end goal, asking questions like “what’s a fair and reasonable way to start?” and having departments explain their preferred starting points. She shares tips for using data and prompts like discussing pros and cons,…

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Mastering Power, Office Politics, and Leadership in Modern Organizations 35:11

17d ago35:11

35:11

Emily Sander talks with Tinna Jackson about navigating power dynamics as a Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate, handling office politics, and the importance of emotional intelligence and trust in leadership. Tinna shares tips on building relationships with board members, managing micromanagers, and methods for better communication in remote or hybrid…

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Throwback Episode: Some Men, Nicknames, Masturbation 40:56

21d ago40:56

40:56

This episode originally aired on April 24, 2025. Sarah has a little something to say to certain cis men. She also reminds us that masturbating is a good girl thing to do and why her dad called her an asshole. Later, she offers some advice to a caller who has a pattern of losing close friends and another who's anticipating a family vacation nightmar…

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Listener Q&A: Managing Sales Reps Who Focus on Rebranding Over Revenue 13:50

22d ago13:50

13:50

Emily Sander talks about what to do when a Business Development Rep starts doing graphic design, website tweaks, and HubSpot updates instead of making calls. She shares ways to set clear expectations, give frequent feedback, and explains when it's time to let someone go if things don't change. Examples include weekly check-ins, specific quotas, and…

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Balancing MBA Studies with a Chief of Staff Startup Internship Experience 31:47

24d ago31:47

31:47

Conghao Tian shares how he landed a Chief of Staff internship at Zenblen while studying for his MBA at Chicago Booth, starting with a background in music and art history. He talks about building KPI systems for the startup’s robotic smoothie kiosks, managing UChicago interns, and balancing intense work hours alongside full-time school. The episode …

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Throwback Episode: Microdosing, Jury Duty, Men 45:38

26d ago45:38

45:38

This episode originally aired on February 1, 2024. Sarah microdoses with Rory and wonders: What is a man? Plus, she picks her favorite karaoke song, shares a folklore joke about diarrhea, and helps a woman who feels completely let down by her mother. You can leave a voice memo for Sarah at speakpipe.com/TheSarahSilvermanPodcast. Follow Sarah Silver…

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Throwback Episode: Holidays, Tofurkey, Starbucks 41:00

28d ago41:00

41:00

This episode originally aired on November 23, 2023. ‘Tis the season for stuffed fowl, Mariah Carey, and family drama! In this throwback episode, Sarah takes your holiday calls and offers advice on traveling, conservative relatives, and what to do when you’re feeling lonely this season. Bake a batch of rugelach and enjoy! You can leave a voice memo …

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Listener Question: Why Your Boss Wants Results, Not Databases 13:38

29d ago13:38

13:38

Emily Sander answers a listener’s question about how to get through to a boss who says, “I don’t care about the database, I care about results.” She talks about reframing communication to focus on the boss’s priorities, suggests offering options for overcoming constraints, and gives tips like sharing summaries instead of full reports. Emily shares …

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Geek Cast Live 12.600: BBBBBoss Battle 57:26

29d ago57:26

57:26

The Cousins from last week return! Its Thanksgiving, and what better wat to celebrate it than to get into a dining room size brawl with your ultra conservative uncle! Join GCR. Rob Bass, Nic, Cartoon Joe , and Martin as they engage in mele and mayhem this holiday season! This link here folks https://jordanrannells.com/ https://waywardraven.com FOLL…

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From Google to Coaching: Supporting Leaders and Building Relationships in Business 44:16

1M ago44:16

44:16

Emily Sander talks with Katie Rohn about her journey from sales to strategy at Google and her time as a Chief of Staff. They share stories about the different versions of the Chief of Staff role, how relationships shape the job, and why self-reflection matters during career transitions. Katie explains how she coaches generalists and Chiefs of Staff…

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Geek Cast Live 12.599: Mixtape 3: The Cobbler 1:11:24

1M ago1:11:24

1:11:24

This week we bring Martin back for yet another MIXTAPE! Together we cast and give theme songs to the brand new and fictional Wes Anderson movie “The Cobbler”. So, turn your music up and get situated between two strikingly similar lighthouses of varying opaqueness as we return you to The Midnight Disco! This link here folks https://jordanrannells.co…

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Throwback Episode: Amanda Knox, Lather, Period Slaps 52:18

1M ago52:18

52:18

This episode originally aired on April 17, 2024. Sarah gets down to brass tacks about the proper way to lather. She also offers advice to a musician caller who’s struggling with performing for politically conservative audiences and recounts the one time she shared a blunt with Jane Fonda. Oh and Amanda Knox calls into the show - yes, that one. You …

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The Key Question to Propel Yourself Through Challenges 6:51

1M ago6:51

6:51

Emily shares a practical question prompt to help you focus on what matters most when facing challenges at work or in life. She gives real examples, like choosing between launching a product on time and not burning out, getting out of your comfort zone to represent your company at conferences, or trading phone scrolling for a more productive morning…

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Mediation Strategies Every Chief of Staff Should Know 39:28

1M ago39:28

39:28

Alex Yaroslavsky talks about his journey from navigating conflict as a kid new to the U.S. to building a career in mediation and executive coaching. He shares how Chiefs of Staff can handle disagreements between colleagues, coach their principals through tough conversations, and recognize when workplace tension is productive versus damaging. Real e…

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Geek Cast Live 12.558: Leto Night Fist Fight 49:52

1M ago49:52

49:52

On this week’s drive to work episode the gang talks about the new Frankenstein movie. New mandela effects are unlocked and once again Dungeon Crawler Carl is brought up. SSDD. All this and more on your favorite podcast about nothing. This link here folks https://jordanrannells.com/ https://waywardraven.com/ FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR SOME AWESOME FLAGS F…

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Laura Silverman Part 2, Small Heads, Big Secrets 1:05:18

1M ago1:05:18

1:05:18

Sarah’s sister Laura Silverman sticks around and some major family revelations are divulged live on air. They both share their love and appreciation for their mom and stepmom, and have some “fuck it, they’re dead” realness to discuss about their dad and grandmother. Plus they lament their small heads, list the advantages of being by yourself, and h…

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Overcoming Presentation Anxiety: Focus on Meaning and Emotion, Not Perfection 22:10

1M ago22:10

22:10

Emily answers a listener’s question about feeling stuck to a script during presentations. She explains how to focus on key points instead of memorizing every word, suggests adding emotion and attitude to messages, and demonstrates this technique with a “baseball is boring” exercise using different emotions like anger and sadness. Emily gives practi…

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Expanding Leadership Impact: Angel Investing and Chief of Staff Insights for Purpose-Driven Ventures 36:35

2M ago36:35

36:35

Erika Aquino, an angel investor with 26 portfolio companies across five countries, and her Chief of Staff Patricia de Leon, share how they work together to find and support women and minority founders in sustainability, wellness, education, and future of work. They talk about Patricia’s role as the first filter for deals, relationship building, and…

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Geek Cast Live 12.557: Octopus Condom 41:27

2M ago41:27

41:27

GCR & Rob Bas flex their muscles and demand their rite to the Do/Review. They force their co-hosts to watch HBO’s HaHA You Clowns and the new trailer for Bahubali: The Eternal War! Opinions are shared. feelings get hurt, we cry. This link here folks https://jordanrannells.com/ https://waywardraven.com/ FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR SOME AWESOME FLAGS FROM F…

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Throwback Episode: High Heels, Meryl, Therapy 40:04

2M ago40:04

40:04

This episode originally aired on December 14, 2023. Sarah meets Meryl Streep and hates high heels. Plus, she offers first-hand advice to a parent whose son wets the bed, helps someone detach from a romantic relationship with self-compassion, and unpacks the traumas and joys of summer camp. You can leave a voice memo for Sarah at speakpipe.com/TheSa…

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Strategies to Protect Leadership from Low-Value Choices and Mental Clutter 15:19

2M ago15:19

15:19

This episode covers practical ways for a Chief of Staff to reduce decision fatigue for their principal and executive team, like removing low-value tasks from their plate and organizing clear, concise email options for faster decisions. Emily shares real examples, such as giving decision options in an “A, B, C” format and using thresholds for approv…

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How to Secure a Seat at the Boardroom Table: Gaining the Right Skills for Board Service 41:39

2M ago41:39

41:39

Dr. Keith Dorsey talks about his book, "The Boardroom Journey: Practical Guidance for Women to Secure a Seat at the Table," explaining what corporate boards do, why diversity matters, and how anyone - no matter their career stage - can start planning for a board role. He shares actionable advice on building skills across different business areas, n…

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Laura Silverman, Tenets, Microplastics 41:34

2M ago41:34

41:34

It’s a sweet sibling reunion as Sarah’s sister Laura joins her on the show. They explain why they can’t talk on the phone for less than three hours, why we should be embracing microplastics, and how they got closer after their mother died. Laura also shares her incredible 5 Tenets for a Healthy Relationship and explains the importance of napping. R…

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Listener Question: Making Presentations Pop: Tailoring Content for Employees, Customers, and the Board 12:49

2M ago12:49

12:49

A Chief of Staff struggles to make three different presentations - an internal all hands update, a customer pitch, and a board meeting - feel meaningful and tailored for each audience. Emily suggests using common core info but adding exclusive details for each group, plus using questions from past meetings to anticipate concerns and adjust content.…

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Geek Cast Live 12.555: Sweet Ballsack Talk 56:16

2M ago56:16

56:16

You want opinions? Well, we freakin got um man! This brand-new hour of fun sees us talking about our favorite gore, jump scares, horror movies and just whatever else we think of! You want our thoughts on the nuts? Bring it on! This link here folks https://jordanrannells.com/ https://waywardraven.com/ FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR SOME AWESOME FLAGS FROM FLA…

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Chief of Staff and Communications Officer Collaboration: Real Stories of Effective Partnership 49:11

2M ago49:11

49:11

Tracy Van Grack and Michael Patino talk about working with a Chief of Staff, sharing real stories from startup and established companies, including how early-stage teams can build a culture of communications even with limited resources. They cover the difference between hiring internal or external communications experts, using examples like tech st…

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Geek Cast Live 12.554: The Luster Of The Xenomorph 48:25

2M ago48:25

48:25

As we continue spooky season it’s nice to remember just how exciting and new Alien Earth is. So, we spend yet another episode trying our best to convince you to watch it. This link here folks https://jordanrannells.com/ https://waywardraven.com/ FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR SOME AWESOME FLAGS FROM FLAGS FOR GOOD!!! Get some cool merch @ http://GCL.Threadle…

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Throwback Episode: Tweedy, Masturbation, Cassettes 39:29

2M ago39:29

39:29

This episode originally aired on May 9, 2024. In this throwback episode,Sarah got some home cassettes digitized and they’re hilarious. Plus, she helps a woman through a year-and-a-half-long dry spell, interprets Wilco song lyrics, and commiserates with a comic who loves talking about sex on stage but hates the way some men treat her afterwards. You…

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You’re Not Alone: How Chiefs of Staff Can Build Community 15:36

2M ago15:36

15:36

Chief of Staff can be a lonely job, even when you're surrounded by people. Emily shares real ways to handle this, like joining Chief of Staff networks, leaning on trusted coworkers or friends outside the company, and working with a coach. She also talks about knowing when to just acknowledge the loneliness and when to actively address it. Links Men…

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Redefining Success as Chief of Staff in a Global Organization 30:40

2M ago30:40

30:40

Frank Noyola shares how he went from turning down the Chief of Staff role at Quest Global to shaping it into a job focused on strategy, team building, and supporting a rapidly evolving CMO/Chief Strategy Officer. He talks about building a small team to handle operations, collaborating with the only other Chief of Staff at the company, and making su…

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Yazbek Can’t Stay Away: Adrenals, Scrabble & Bathroom Martyrs 55:15

2M ago55:15

55:15

In this episode, Sarah hangs out with her friend David Yazbek again, to talk about things that make life cool, like hotel little shampoo hoarding, ice chips that give you gas, and peeing in fancy bathrooms. They also invent fake Scrabble words, discuss the merits of UK culture, and try to figure out why musical theater people are so animated. Liste…

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Transforming Leadership Meetings with the Flash Report: Insights from CEOs, CFOs, and CoSs 56:27

2M ago56:27

56:27

Emily, Ed, and Rory break down how to use a Flash Report to keep leadership teams aligned and focused on key business metrics. They give a real example of a Flash Report, show how it highlights things like cash, sales, and training completion rates, and explain why keeping it simple matters. The episode covers choosing the right KPIs, what to inclu…

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What Chiefs of Staff Can Learn from the Supporting Concerts and World Tours 30:13

2M ago30:13

30:13

Tarra Stubbins shares her journey from dropping out of high school to travel with rock bands as a personal assistant—including wild hotel room requests from Mick Jagger—to founding the Take It Easy Group, where she now provides Chief of Staff and executive support to high-profile clients. She talks about handling unusual demands like putting a toot…

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Geek Cast Live 12.553: A Cautious Single Mom 1:16:43

2M ago1:16:43

1:16:43

We continue Spooky Season with the founder of our feist, the sexiest voice in podcasting, Horror movie extraordinaire Jay Of The Dead! He brings us 14 horror movie recommendations of increasing intensity! An episode way too scary for Cartoon Joe and sweet sweet Nic. This link here folks https://jordanrannells.com/ https://waywardraven.com/ FOLLOW T…

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Yazbek, Tushies, Tonys 41:35

3M ago41:35

41:35

Sarah hangs out with her friend, Tony-winning writer and composer David Yazbek. He tells the story behind writing the Carmen Sandiego theme and an infamous pitch pipe prank. Fair warning, they also cover bidets, sitting versus standing to pee, and the strange pleasures of an itchy butt. Watch the podcast on YouTube here. If you’re in the market for…

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Finding Small Opportunities to Delegate and Free Up Time 20:27

3M ago20:27

20:27

Emily shares practical delegation tips like breaking up complex tasks such as invoice processing into smaller, easier pieces, moving teammates upstream in a process, and letting others help with basic steps like data collection. She explains how small steps—like making quick guides, recording simple training videos, or copying others on emails—can …

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How Chief of Staff Network Sees the Future: From Chief of Staff to Chief of AI 51:49

3M ago51:49

51:49

By Emily Sander

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Geek Cast Live 12.552: Thunder Punch A Clown 1:02:37

3M ago1:02:37

1:02:37

Its October which means we have fully pivoted to spooky season! This week we tell tales of trick or treating past times. We wax nostalgic of hijinks once played and treats formerly desired. Ask me later why I typed it out this way instead of in some normal sounding cadence. This link here folks https://jordanrannells.com/ https://waywardraven.com/ …

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Geek Cast Live 12.551: Literary Gunpoint 1:00:55

3M ago1:00:55

1:00:55

So Nic finally watched Superman…this episode contains his thoughts on the matter. This link here folks https://jordanrannells.com/ https://waywardraven.com/ FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR SOME AWESOME FLAGS FROM FLAGS FOR GOOD !!! Get some cool merch @ http://GCL.Threadless.com Plugs and Amazing Folks Check out our man Seed over @ Poprika Reviews Be sure to …

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Kulap, Big Naturals, Harris Wittels 35:57

3M ago35:57

35:57

Sarah is joined by her good friend Kulap Vilaysack to launch a new segment, "F*ck It, They're Dead," where listeners can share gossip about the departed. They reminisce about their friend Harris Wittels' legendary, soft-cancelable antics, before taking a turn into dreams of ex-boyfriends, surgical fears, and the realities of a top-heavy life. Watch…

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Turning Tactical Requests Into Visionary Department Plans 14:50

3M ago14:50

14:50

Emily shares a story about someone who gave their boss a basic org chart when asked about their department’s future, but missed the bigger picture the boss wanted. She explains how to shift from being just a task-doer to a strategic leader by connecting department changes to the company’s new vision, outlining system upgrades, communication plans, …

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How Venture Capital Firms Utilize Chiefs of Staff for Firm and Portfolio Growth 40:53

3M ago40:53

40:53

Remi Guarini, a three-time Chief of Staff, shares how she moved from fashion operations at Maison Kitsune to working at Capital Factory, and then to helping launch Neon, an early-stage venture capital firm. She talks about learning on the fly, juggling investor and operations duties, building strong relationships, and how her role evolved to includ…