TLDR; We're taking a break to do some cool stuff! We'll be back with a shiny new Season 2 later in 2025.

It's been an incredible year building Offline & Unfiltered, and we feel so so lucky to have such great fanbase and platform to have thought-provoking conversations and a lot of laughs.

That said, we need to walk our own talk. We have learned a ton this past year, and we're going to apply some of those lessons to change the podcast for the better. Some things you can expect:

• Shorter episodes! We'll be experimenting with ~45 interview driven episodes and ~20 minute advice driven episodes. We want to make our episodes easier to slot into your day.

• Season Format! We'll now do seasons rather than biweekly episodes year round. We feel this is the best way to deliver you the best quality content while also staying on top of our jobs and lives.

• Patreon! We are completely independent and want to remain ad free. We plan to set up a Patreon to help us pay for all the tools we use and support we receive, as well as working towards a bigger goal of renting recording studio space. Your support would mean the world to us.

We're also exploring marketing help, because Lakisha and Megan hate social media.

All that said, we're taking a break! We'll be back later in 2025 with our new format and more Offline & Unfiltered conversations.

Have a topic you'd love to hear us cover? Know someone who would be an interesting guest? Want to chat with us about marketing support? Want to send us positive vibes? Email us! info@offlineandunfiltered.com

Thank you for an incredible year,

Lakisha & Megan

In today's episode, we give listeners a look behind the curtain on how HR professionals really feel about compensation. Spoiler alert: Not positively.

HR veteran Sonja Smith joins us for an unfiltered conversation about one of the most complex and often frustrating aspects of work. With over 20 years of experience in HR and talent acquisition, Sonja breaks down why companies struggle with fair pay, the truth about salary ranges, and why being loyal to your employer might actually be costing you money.

We dive deep into how compensation really works behind the scenes, from the challenges of pay transparency laws to the uncomfortable reality of salary negotiations. Sonja shares invaluable insights about when (and if) you should ask for a raise, why companies often fail to adjust internal salaries to match market rates, and how both employees and employers can better navigate compensation conversations.

This episode offers practical takeaways for anyone looking to understand their worth in the workplace, advocate for themselves effectively, or better understand how compensation decisions are really made. Whether you're an employee wondering about your next salary negotiation or a manager trying to have better compensation conversations with your team, this discussion provides honest, actionable insights from someone who's seen it all.

Key topics include:

• Why compensation philosophies matter
• The impact of pay transparency laws
• How companies determine salary ranges
• The "loyalty penalty" and its effects
• Tips for discussing compensation with your manager
• Common compensation myths and misconceptions

Connect With Our Guest

Sonja Smith on LinkedIn

Atera HR

Sonja's Substack

Resources:

Comprehensive.io

Pay Transparency Laws: A State by State Guide

"If you cannot be who you are where you are, you change where you are, not who you are.” — Caroline Wanga

We're excited to welcome Kenyetta Hall back for one of our deepest conversations to date, the complexities of navigating corporate America as a black woman. Lakisha has wanted to have this conversation for sometime now, and we knew Kenyetta would be a great counterpart to this important conversation.

As a reminder for our listeners, Kenyetta is an entrepreneur and strategic consultant who specializes in helping businesses bridge the gap between vision and execution. With her company, The Katalyst HQ, she focuses on business strategy, digital product development, and leadership development, offering services like strategic planning, software development, and product management.

We covered a broad range of topics, from dealing with poor leaders to code switching, and got into spaces that may make some uncomfortable. We also laughed a ton and had a great time. Our biggest takeaway is the reminder that not every company or job may be for you, and that's ok. Go find the place that is.

As always, we have these conversations to give our listeners a new perspective and humanize the workplace. We hope folks from all background take away from valuable nuggets from this conversation.

Connect with our Guest:

Kenyetta Hall LinkedIn

The Katalyst HQ

Resources For Listeners:

The Diversity Gap: Where Good Intentions Meet True Cultural Change - Bethaney Wilkinson

DEI Deconstructed - Lily Zhang

The Inclusive Organization - Netta Jenkins

How to Be an Ally: Actions You Can Take for a Stronger, Happier Workplace - Melinda Briana Epler