Episode Details

“We go through our professional lives and we don't know what people are carrying with them each day.” - Kathryn Janicek Failed it! Fam, do you get the feeling that you’re failing at everything recently? Or that you don’t feel present at home or work? You’re not alone. On today’s episode, we’re excited to introduce you to Kathryn Janicek. Listen in as she talks through her vulnerable experience during the pandemic on being a founder, entrepreneur and mother all at the same time, and how she’s successfully getting through it one day at a time. Get ready to hear some important bits of information in this inspirational episode! In today’s episode, Kathryn talks to us about:

• Building a business while going through IVF
• Feeling guilt personally and professionally during the pandemic
• Harnessing the power of listening
• What being a media trainer looks like
• Why Zoom Fatigue is real and what you can do to combat it

Links from show discussions:

• Kathryn’s Website: kathrynjanicek.com
• Kathryn’s Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kathrynjanicek
• Kathryn’s IG: instagram.com/kathrynjanicek
• Improve it!’s Zoom Fatigue Mini-Course

About the Guest: Kathryn Janicek helps you build the life you want to live. Through high-level media and public speaking training, she helps you: grow your business, make more money, attract more clients/fans/patients, move up in your career, increase your brand equity, be more confident and have a more fulfilling life by sharing your message. Kathryn is a three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist. Her 25+ years experience as a media exec and spokesperson helps her clients find the confidence to say “yes” to more speaking and media opportunities and make sure their messages reach their audience. She trains teams and individuals on everything needed to perform the best on stage, in the media, in videos and in any interview situation. This includes: verbal communication, body language, messaging, breathing to perform stronger, wardrobe, makeup, hair, the mindset of how to become a great speaker, confidence and how to stand out. Clients include:

• Fortune 500 CEOs and Executives
• Healthcare Executives
• American Dental Association
• College of American Pathologists
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Uber
• Zurich
• Chicago Bulls
• Hedge Funds
• Financial Firms
• Law Firms

  About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre. When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl. You can follow the failed it! podcast on

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