Have you ever passed over a candidate because something felt "off" - only to realize you couldn't quite put your finger on what it was? Eye contact feels like one of the most instinctive signals we read in professional life. But most of us have never stopped to ask where that instinct actually comes from.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school.

Hosted by Trina Boos, founder and CEO of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares what she discovered while researching eye contact for a workshop she was developing. Much of what is written about the topic comes from a North American lens. And once she saw that gap, she couldn't unsee it. There is so much more than meets the eye, and the professional standard most of us have been applying without question is costing people more than we realize.

This episode is essential for hiring managers and HR professionals who want to examine what their evaluation standards are actually measuring, leaders who work with diverse teams and want to show up more effectively, and professionals who have ever received eye contact feedback and weren't sure what to do with it.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

Have you ever watched a capable, motivated employee freeze the moment the phone rings? Or noticed a new hire trailing off into silence at the end of every call, leaving the customer wondering if the line dropped? Or felt that quiet frustration when someone your age hangs up without so much as a goodbye? Phone skills, real ones, are quietly disappearing from the modern workplace. And most of us haven't stopped to ask why.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school.

Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares what she's hearing from employers across industries. A retail store owner who gave her team scripts, printed transcripts, and step-by-step notes, only to watch every call end in awkward silence. A 21-year-old in university administration who picks up the phone 50 to 100 times a day and is met with nothing but background noise. A 23-year-old banker who finds it jarring when callers her own age hang up mid-sentence without a word. These aren't one-off stories. They're a pattern, and Trina wanted to bring it to you directly.

Here is the thing: this is not a motivation problem or a values problem. It's a practice gap, and once you understand exactly how it happened, the path forward becomes clear. The household landline was a training ground nobody appreciated until it was gone. Asynchronous communication replaced real-time conversation as the default. And now AI is adding a whole new layer of hesitation around picking up the phone at all. Trina breaks down why all of this happened, why it matters more than ever as automation takes over routine work, and the three practical approaches that actually build phone confidence, for individuals and teams alike.

This episode is essential for managers who want to understand what's really behind the phone anxiety they're seeing on their teams, early-career professionals who want a communication edge that most of their peers simply don't have, and anyone who leads, hires, or trains in an industry where the phone still matters.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

Have you ever sent a carefully crafted proposal, followed up with a warm message, then a phone call, then one more thoughtful note - and heard absolutely nothing back? Or reconnected with someone at a conference who seemed genuinely excited to work with you, only to be met with complete silence the moment you followed up? Professional ghosting is one of those behaviours that affects almost everyone in professional life, and yet it rarely gets examined with the honesty and nuance it deserves.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares the story of an HR leader who approached her at a conference with such enthusiasm she nearly dropped the business card being thrust into her hand. "We have to connect. This is exactly what my organization needs." Trina returned to her office energized, followed up warmly, and heard nothing. Weeks turned into months. It is a story most professionals will recognize immediately, and it is what prompted her to bring this topic to you directly.

Here is the thing: most people who ghost significantly underestimate the ripple effect of their silence. The person on the other end is not just waiting for an answer. They are in limbo, replaying the conversation, unable to move forward. And a lot of professional ghosting comes down to one thing: nobody taught us how to deliver difficult news gracefully. Trina breaks down the real skill gap behind ghosting, shares simple phrases that make closing the loop easier than you think, and walks you through exactly what to do when you are the one being ghosted.

This episode is essential for professionals who want to build a reputation for integrity and clear communication, leaders who set the tone for how their teams follow up with candidates and collaborators, or anyone who has ever felt the sting of being left without an answer.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)