Style-ish Podcast — Episode Summary

Podcast: Style-ish (Shameless Media)
Episode: Answering your most-asked career questions
Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Madison Sullivan Thorpe & Rhiannon (Ray) Joyce

Episode Overview

This episode of Style-ish is dedicated to answering the community's most-asked career questions, focusing on navigating career pivots, standing out in the job market, advocating for yourself, and managing burnout. Madison and Ray draw from their personal experiences in fashion, beauty, and brand strategy, highlighting real-life challenges and actionable advice. The episode is conversational, empathetic, and packed with practical insights for listeners at various stages of their professional journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Community Polls and Career Sentiments

Timestamps: 04:16–08:00

• Job Happiness:
  • 39% Somewhat happy, 24% Very happy, 26% It’s fine, 11% Not happy at all.
  • Ray: “39% of you said somewhat happy feels a little bit indifferent... It's like, I'm not quite sure. So it's kind of sitting in the middle.” (05:03)
• Career Pivots:
  • 29% of listeners made a pivot in the last year.
  • The hosts express surprise and admiration for those taking leaps.
• Job as Identity:
  • 50% say their job only "partly" reflects who they are.
  • Discussion on work-life balance and fulfillment outside of the job.

2. Advice for Early-Career & Career Changers

Timestamps: 09:06–15:11

• Should you pick a career by passion or opportunity?
  • Ray: “Passion is a luxury at this point in your career... look at what is the opportunity that is going to extend your skill set.” (09:47)
  • Madison: “People assume passion means you get up every day so pumped to go to work... that’s just not realistic.” (10:28)
  • Key Insight: Early roles shape you; they don’t define you.
• Working for ‘unsexy’ brands:
  • Can offer valuable experience and less red tape.

3. Standing Out in the Job Market

Timestamps: 13:03–18:01

• Curiosity and Preparation:
  • Madison: “Curiosity gets you so far in an interview as does knowledge... have a point of view on each channel.” (13:15)
• Critical Thinking & Active Listening:
  • Best interviews are conversational and show genuine interest and research.
• Follow-Up Strategy:
  • Don’t hesitate to email additional thoughts if you blank on a question later.
  • Memorable Tip: “There is no point in your job that you are going to be asked a question on the spot and have to have the answer immediately... a great tip is to follow up post-interview if you missed something.” (16:34)
• Salary Transparency:
  • Ray: “Ask what the salary is in your first interview... The girlies need to start with that.” (18:01)

4. How to Ask for a Raise or Promotion

Timestamps: 18:38–23:07

• Addressing the Business Need:
  • “One of the best examples... looked at a business’s problem and provided a solution... came to that meeting with a job description, role, responsibilities, how it served the business’s challenge.” (18:54)
• Timing Your Request:
  • Link it to annual or mid-year reviews and know company milestones.
• Data-Backed Advocacy:
  • Present market comparisons for similar roles.
• Performance Proof:
  • Keep a folder of achievements and accolades.
  • Ray: “Come to those quarterly check-ins... with hard press proof. This is proof of the good work that I’ve done.” (22:11)

5. Mid-Career Pivots & Self-Development

Timestamps: 24:20–28:09

• Motivation Analysis:
  • Interrogate why you want to make a change—money, flexibility, fulfillment?
• Expectations When Changing Industries:
  • Prepare for possible step down in title or pay.
  • Madison: “Leave your ego at the door. Check it in much like you check a coat at a bar.” (25:36)
• Upskilling Outside Work:
  • Use free resources (LinkedIn, Coursera) and paid courses to compensate for lack of direct experience.
  • Ray recommends: Mark Ritson's Mini MBA, LinkedIn Learning (27:39)

6. Knowing When to Leave a Job

Timestamps: 28:09–30:45

• Ray: "Find your trusted advisors. Do not speak to everyone about this because every man and their dog will give you an opinion." (28:09)
• Self-Reflection:
  • Monitor your daily feelings: consistent dread or anxiety are warning signs.
• Values Alignment:
  • Use tools (like ChatGPT for a Venn diagram!) to clarify your priorities and decision alignment.

7. Dealing with Burnout

Timestamps: 31:11–38:36

• Recognizing Burnout:

  • Ray: “I've had physical impact on my body and seen my body keep score when I haven't given myself space...” (31:28)

• Boundaries & Saying No:

  • Learning the power of decline and rest.
  • Ray quoting Georgia Swan: “It's not that deep.” (32:09)

• Taking Your Leave:

  • Don’t stockpile your vacation—use your holidays to reset.

• Support Systems:

  • Lean on friends for permission to prioritize yourself.

• Corporate Privilege Acknowledgement:

  • “Not everyone can avoid burnout—some jobs don’t allow it. Frontline work is different.” (35:11)

• Communicating at Work:

  • If feeling overwhelmed, communicate with your manager (where possible).
  • Madison shares: “When I went through IVF, I was honest with my boss about my capacity, and she was protective of my time and energy.” (37:06)

Notable Quotes

• Ray: “Passion is a luxury at this point in your career, you really need to pull yourself out bird's eye and look at what is the opportunity that is going to extend your skill set.” (09:47)
• Madison: “Sometimes passion breeds out of what you’re working on, who you’re working with, what you’re working towards—not what you’re working on or in.” (10:28)
• Ray: “Your first or second job doesn’t define you, it actually shapes you.” (11:53)
• Ray: “Ask what the salary is in your first interview... I empower, empower, empower the girlies to do that.” (18:01)
• Madison: “Leave your ego at the door. Check it in much like you check a coat at a bar.” (25:36)
• Ray: “Find your trusted advisors. Do not speak to everyone about this because every man and their dog will give you an opinion.” (28:09)
• Ray: “It's not that deep... sometimes we just need to remind ourselves we're not saving lives.” (32:09)
• Madison: "You can't fill from an empty cup. Sometimes I have to say no, even to my closest friends." (34:54)
• Ray: “Don’t be a hero and be the person who builds up their leave to seven to eight weeks... It’s there to be used.” (33:11)

Memorable Moments

• Light-hearted banter about remote recording: “It’s giving COVID long distance relationship.”
• Real talk about how “unsexy” roles can be the best training ground.
• Shoutouts to supportive past mentors, e.g., Brad Montgomery (22:11).
• Anecdotes of personal challenge, such as managing IVF while working, and the importance of supportive management (37:06).
• Recurring theme: The power of surrounding oneself with supportive, honest friends and mentors.

Segment Timestamps (Summary Only)

• 00:21 — Introduction & Episode Framing
• 04:16 — Listener Poll Results & Reflection
• 09:06 — Early Career Advice: Passion vs. Opportunity
• 13:03 — Standing Out in the Job Market
• 18:38 — Asking for Raises & Promotions
• 24:20 — Mid-Career Pivoting
• 28:09 — Signs It’s Time to Leave a Job
• 31:11 — Overcoming Burnout & Setting Boundaries
• 38:36 — Wrap-up & Final Reflections

Closing

This candid and advice-rich episode of Style-ish will empower listeners at all career stages to navigate challenges, advocate for themselves, and prioritize well-being—while always maintaining their signature sense of curiosity, wit, and self-awareness.