In this episode of the BMRL Podcast, we unpack why so many career-focused New Year’s resolutions fall apart within weeks—and why it’s rarely about discipline or motivation. Drawing on real-life leadership experience and behavioral insight, we explore the habits that actually support professionals who carry full workloads, complex responsibilities, and constant decision fatigue.

We discuss:

• The small set of habits that matter most for career momentum
• Why professionals lose focus and consistency—even when they’re capable
• Common distractions that quietly derail progress
• How to stay on track without burning out or starting over

This conversation isn’t about becoming a “new you.”
It’s about protecting your energy, simplifying your systems, and staying consistent with who you already are.

New year. Same you. Just more intentional.

EPISODE CREDITS:

Produced, edited and mixed by OM Caldwell

Co-hosted by Stacey Pitts Caldwell, PhD(c)

Artwork designed by SMP-Creative Business & Design- smp-creative.com

Segment music produced by Ominara Caldwell

Links:

Be sure to follow and tag BMRL Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

We unpack common misconceptions and explore the psychology behind managing up as a form of collaboration, not control.

Learn how self-efficacy and social perceptiveness drive upward alignment.

Discover language shifts that signal alignment—without crossing boundaries.

Key insight: Managing up is leadership practice in real time—how you manage today shapes how you’ll lead tomorrow.

Stacey and O flip the lens to show why great leaders want people who can manage up.

Teams that practice upward communication make better decisions and retain top talent.

Hear how Indra Nooyi built a culture that welcomed challenge at PepsiCo.

Key insight: Managing up reduces overload, strengthens trust, and prepares the next generation of leaders.

The final segment ties together emotional intelligence, empathy, and professional maturity as the invisible glue of managing up.

Understand how self-regulation and relational awareness shape influence.

Real stories from P&G and LinkedIn show how empathy turns tension into collaboration.

Learn one mindset shift that instantly strengthens the upward relationship.

Key insight: Emotional intelligence transforms managing up from a tactic into a trust-building practice.

Reflect on this: Are you waiting to be managed, or are you managing the partnership?
Download the Managing Up Reflection Worksheet at businessmrl.com and subscribe for more insights on leadership psychology and real-world growth.

EPISODE CREDITS:

Produced, edited and mixed by OM Caldwell

Co-hosted by Stacey Pitts Caldwell, PhD(c)

Artwork designed by SMP-Creative Business & Design- smp-creative.com

Segment music produced by Ominara Caldwell

Links:

Be sure to follow and tag BMRL Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

In this vulnerable and eye-opening episode, business psychologist Stacey Pitts Caldwell shares what it was like to receive her brain scan results from Amen Clinics. The summary revealed patterns of both overactivity and under-activity across key regions: heightened thalamus and basal ganglia activity linked to anxiety and irritability; under-activity in the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and temporal lobes tied to focus, organization, and mood regulation challenges; plus signs of past injury and early cortical atrophy.

Would she recommend a brain scan to others? Stacey shares a thoughtful answer—acknowledging the cost and access barriers, while highlighting the powerful self-awareness such an assessment can bring. This episode blends science, personal reflection, and professional insight, offering an honest look at what it means to truly see your brain and what to do with the knowledge it gives you.

EPISODE CREDITS:

Produced, edited and mixed by OM Caldwell

Co-hosted by Stacey Pitts Caldwell, PhD(c)

Artwork designed by SMP-Creative Business & Design- smp-creative.com

Segment music produced by Ominara Caldwell

Links:

Be sure to follow and tag BMRL Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Has Happy hour been replaced?

Millennials embrace the office happy hour

Is lunch the new happy hour?

EPISODE CREDITS:

Produced, edited and mixed by OM Caldwell

Co-hosted by Stacey Pitts Caldwell, PhD(c)

Artwork designed by SMP-Creative Business & Design- smp-creative.com

Segment music produced by Ominara Caldwell

Links:

Be sure to follow and tag BMRL Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn