Taking Back Monday

di Alyssa Nolte

Stagione 3

How Businesses Accidentally Train Customers to Lie

You can’t build great AI on top of bad customer behavior. And sometimes… businesses are the ones creating the behavior. After a frustrating moment in a dentist waiting room, Alyssa unpacks how outdated systems, unnecessary friction, and “required” fields are quietly training customers to give incomplete, inaccurate, or fake information. Because when the process feels like busy work, people stop trying to help you. This Field Note explores the connection between customer experience, operational design, and the future of AI powered businesses. What happens when the systems designed to collect better data are actually making your data worse?

S3 · E2

13 mag 2026

8:24

Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself: Inside the Messy Middle of Building in Public

This is not a rebrand. It is a reset. Alyssa Nolte is changing the direction of Taking Back Monday. What started as conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, and people strategy is becoming something more raw. Less theory. More action. This next phase pulls you into the messy middle of building a business in real time. If you are tired of polished advice and want to see what it actually looks like to build, pivot, and figure things out as you go, this episode is for you. This is about doing the work, not just talking about it. Alyssa shares why she stepped back, what she realized after clearing her interview backlog, and why now is the time to move from post corporate therapy to real execution. She is still hosting interviews on The Growth Signal, but Taking Back Monday is becoming a behind the scenes look at entrepreneurship in motion. 3 Key Takeaways: Clarity comes when you pause. Clearing the backlog created space to rethink the future of the podcast. Talking about change is not the same as making change. This next chapter is about action, not theory. The messy middle matters. Growth does not happen in highlight reels. It happens in the uncertain in between. If you want to build something meaningful, lead better, and truly take back your Monday, follow along. Resources and Links: alyssanolte.substack.com linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte https://rss.com/podcasts/thegrowthsignal/

S3 · E1

17 feb 2026

4:47

Stagione 2

Why KPIs Break Teams and What Actually Motivates People feat. Tim Townsend

In this episode, Alyssa Nolte talks with Tim Townsend about leadership, motivation, and what actually drives people at work. They dig into why KPIs often fail, how fear shows up inside big organizations, and what gets lost when work becomes impersonal. Why You Should Listen This conversation cuts through corporate theory and gets real about human behavior at work. If you lead teams, work inside large organizations, or feel frustrated by politics and misaligned incentives, this episode gives language and perspective for what you are seeing every day and how to think about it differently. 3 Key Takeaways KPIs can backfire when they reward the wrong behavior and disconnect people from the bigger goal. As teams grow, individual accountability often shrinks unless leaders actively reinforce shared purpose. Personal connection and belief in the work drive better outcomes than measurement alone. People and Resources Mentioned Simon Sinek Kevin McLeod Grand Designs

S2 · E43

19 gen 2026

23:57

Rethinking How We Build: Craft, Risk, and Real Collaboration feat. Beau Dromiack

This episode looks at how teams actually build things together... and why so many groups still protect their own turf. Alyssa and Beau talk about architecture, construction, leadership, and how shared risk can transform the way people work. Beau explains why craft, coordination, and empathy matter more than ever, especially as AI begins reshaping technical work. This conversation is worth a listen if you work on any team where silos slow things down. Beau breaks down the real reasons teams clash and offers practical ways to build trust and make collaboration easier. Key takeaways: Better buildings start with better teamwork. You can’t improve outcomes without understanding each person’s risks. Craft matters. When quality drops, trust erodes and silos harden. When craft rises, collaboration gets easier. AI will reshape the profession. Teams that work with shared values and strong coordination will have a major advantage. People and resources mentioned: Norman Foster The Toyota Way The Innovator’s Dilemma Share your thoughts - send us a text It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.Connect with AlyssaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPodFollow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

S2 · E41

8 dic 2025

24:18

You Can’t Be Every Tree in the Forest: The Power of Niching Down feat. Dr. Munira Zahabi

When Alyssa sat down with Dr. Munira Zahabi, known as The Niche Navigator, the conversation quickly turned to one of the hardest lessons for any entrepreneur - you can’t be everything to everyone. Munira shares how her own career twists led her to help others uncover their unique “nucleus” - the core of who they are and what they’re meant to do. Together, Alyssa and Munira unpack how knowing your niche doesn’t limit you; it sets you free to grow stronger roots and stand taller in your lane. Why listen: If you’ve ever struggled to define what you want to be known for (or felt pulled in too many directions) this episode will help you focus, simplify, and rediscover what makes you different. Key takeaways: Finding your niche starts with curiosity, pay attention to what energizes you most. Your story is your superpower, learning to tell it clearly builds connection and credibility. Growth happens when you stay in your lane long enough to be recognized for it. Share your thoughts - send us a text It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.Connect with AlyssaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPodFollow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

S2 · E36

3 nov 2025

26:35

Leading Without Triggers: The Science of Calm Communication feat. Dr. Dee Trudeau Poskas

In this episode, Alyssa sits down with Dr. Dee Trudeau Poskas to talk about how understanding your triggers can change the way you lead. They explore what happens in your brain when you’re under stress, how language shapes influence, and why self-awareness is the secret to better communication at work. It’s a conversation about the science behind calm, confident leadership and how small language shifts can transform your team culture. Why you should listen: If you’ve ever walked away from a meeting thinking “I wish I’d handled that better,” this episode will help you understand why. Dr. Dee breaks down how to rewire your reactions, build trust through communication, and lead with presence instead of pressure. 3 Key Takeaways: » Triggers aren’t bad - they’re clues that help you understand yourself and lead others with empathy. » Changing your words changes your brain. Language can calm tension, build trust, and create influence. » Great leaders don’t avoid emotion - they learn to use awareness and compassion to drive better results. Share your thoughts - send us a text It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.Connect with AlyssaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPodFollow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

S2 · E35

27 ott 2025

26:30

1 di 9

Taking Back Monday

How Businesses Accidentally Train Customers to Lie

Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself: Inside the Messy Middle of Building in Public

Why KPIs Break Teams and What Actually Motivates People feat. Tim Townsend

Rethinking How We Build: Craft, Risk, and Real Collaboration feat. Beau Dromiack

How to Build Black-Belt Leadership Instincts feat. Aslak de Silva

Escaping the Wrong Path and Building the Right One feat. Rachel Burr

Redefining "Having It All" feat. Mireia Mujika

Redefining Success: Choosing Joy Over Burnout feat. Eric Nehrlich

You Can’t Be Every Tree in the Forest: The Power of Niching Down feat. Dr. Munira Zahabi

Leading Without Triggers: The Science of Calm Communication feat. Dr. Dee Trudeau Poskas