Control Your Career
Self-Improvement
About
Control Your Career is a career strategy podcast for professionals who want to stand out at work, get promoted, and make intentional career decisions.Hosted by Career Coach and Strategic Career Consultant Julia Toothacre, this podcast delivers practical career advice on career growth, workplace dynamics, leadership skills, and professional visibility.Episodes often draw from Julia's proprietary Control Your Career framework, a structured approach for understanding your career reality, clarifying direction, and taking strategic action.If you're navigating a career change, feeling stuck in your current role, or ready to take the next step in your career, this show will help you build influence, communicate effectively, and position yourself for new opportunities.Each episode breaks down real-world career challenges like:→ How to stand out at work→ How to get promoted→ Navigating workplace politics→ Managing your boss and workplace relationships→ Building leadership skills and in
Episodes
- The difference between authority and influence at work
If you've ever wondered why some people get pulled into decisions at work while others are told after the fact, this episode is for you. In this episode of Control Your Career, I break down how influence actually works at work and why it h…
- The Truth About Workplace Reputation and Career Advancement
Workplace reputation plays a direct role in career advancement, promotions, and the opportunities you're considered for long before any formal conversation happens. In this episode, career coach and strategic career consultant Julia Tootha…
- 5 Skills That Build Trust With Leaders
Building trust with leaders at work is what drives career growth, influence, and access to more responsibility. In this episode of Control Your Career, career strategist Julia Toothacre breaks down the five skills that build trust with lea…
- How to Manage Yourself During Organizational Change
If you are navigating a leadership change, reorganization, strategy shift, or internal restructure, you are probably wondering how to manage yourself during organizational change without damaging your reputation. This episode breaks down h…
- How to Position Yourself for Promotion
If you want to get promoted, create more career options, and stop feeling stuck at work, you need more than strong performance. In this episode of Control Your Career , Julia Toothacre breaks down how to position yourself for promotion by…
- Hard Work Isn't Enough to Grow Your Career
Why do high performers get stuck in their careers? If you feel like you are working hard but not getting promoted, you may be experiencing a mid-career plateau. In this first episode of Season 13, Julia Toothacre explores why performance a…
- Writing A Career Book: Updates, Breakthroughs & Lessons Learned
I'm pulling back the curtain on my book-writing journey! In this bonus episode, I'm sharing an honest update on my upcoming book based on the Control Your Career process: what I've written so far, what I've learned, and why writing a book…
- Financial Control Beyond Your Paycheck and 401(k)
This bonus episode of Control Your Career is a little different, and very intentional. Julia Toothacre is joined by financial professional and podcast host Natalie Kime for a real, grounded conversation about money, career decisions, and l…
- My Health Journey, Without Pressure or Shame
You are not imagining it. This is a career podcast, and this is a bonus episode about health. In this episode of Control Your Career, I share my own health journey from the past few years. It's personal, it's slow, and it unfolded alongsid…
- Career Goals You Can Control in 2026
As 2026 approaches, career goal setting feels more complicated than ever. Between layoffs, AI disruption, shifting industries, and economic uncertainty, many professionals are wondering if traditional goal-setting even makes sense anymore.…
- How to Make a Confident Career Pivot
You are not crazy for wanting more, and you are not ungrateful for questioning if your current path still fits. Change is a natural part of career growth, but for many mid- to late-career professionals, fear and doubt make the idea of star…
- Recovering Confidence When Work Knocks You Down
Setbacks can shake your confidence, your stability, and your sense of identity. Whether you have been laid off, made a mistake, or received unexpected feedback, losing confidence can feel like losing control. In this episode of Control You…
- How to Keep Up at Work Without Constant Reinvention
The world of work is changing faster than ever, and staying relevant can feel overwhelming. Do you really need to take a new course every week, become a thought leader, or completely reinvent yourself to keep up? Absolutely not. In this ep…
- 3 Personality-Based Networking Strategies That Actually Work
Do you hate networking? You are not alone. For many professionals, networking feels forced, fake, and exhausting. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre redefines what networking really is and how to make it authentic, str…
- Are You Burned Out or Just Bored?
If you feel drained, unmotivated, or disconnected from your work, you might be tempted to label it burnout. But what if it is actually boredom? In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre breaks down the key differences between…
- Why You Were Passed Over (and How to Move Forward)
It is frustrating when your hard work does not lead to the outcome you expected. You showed up, delivered, and still the promotion went to someone else. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre explains how to reset your foc…
- Why Staying Quiet Is Holding You Back At Work
If asking for a raise, a new project, or even clearer boundaries makes you nervous, you are not alone. Most professionals know their worth but freeze when it is time to speak up. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre shar…
- How to Win at Office Politics Without Losing Yourself
Office politics can feel like a maze of hidden agendas, alliances, and unspoken rules. But what if you could navigate it all while staying true to your values? In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre breaks down how to mana…
- How to Be Seen as a Leader (Even Without the Title)
Leadership is not about the title on your business card, it is about how others experience working with you. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre shares how to build influence, credibility, and visibility even when you a…
- How to get promoted at work (and why you're being overlooked)
Are you a high performer at work who delivers results but still feels overlooked for promotions, raises, and recognition? You are not alone. Many ambitious professionals find that hard work and reliability are not enough to advance their c…
- When Your Job No Longer Aligns with Your Values
When your values and your job are out of sync, it can feel like a constant low-grade frustration that you cannot shake. You may notice yourself questioning leadership, feeling disconnected, or realizing that you just do not care anymore. I…
- When You Feel Lost in Your Career
Feeling lost in your career is different than feeling stuck. Stuck means you can see the problem, lost means you cannot even name what you want anymore. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia Toothacre unpacks what it means to feel…
- Is It Time to Leave Your Job?
Leaving a job is never an easy decision. Maybe you are unhappy but cannot pinpoint why. Maybe you feel tied by loyalty, pay, or benefits, yet deep down you know something is not working anymore. In this episode of Control Your Career, Juli…
- Feeeling Stuck in your Career?
You didn't work this hard to feel stuck. You've built a strong career, but lately, something feels off, you're not failing, but you're not moving forward either. In this first episode of the new season of Control Your Career, Julia breaks…
- From Resumes to AI: Hiring Trends You Need to Know (Season Recap)
Hiring in 2025 is messy, complicated, and evolving fast. Season 11 proved it. In this season wrap-up of Control Your Career, host Julia Toothacre breaks down the biggest lessons from the Recruiter's Perspective 2025 series. From resume and…
- A New Understanding of DEI in the Workplace
DEI has become one of the most misunderstood workplace initiatives. In this episode, I sit down with Bridget Baggett, career strategist and founder of Twisted Career, to unpack the ripple effects of recent executive orders aimed at dismant…
- Hiring Expectations Abroad: Advice for U.S. Professionals Going Global
Ready to take your career overseas? Here's what you need to know! If you're a U.S. professional considering a move abroad, or just curious how hiring works outside the States, this episode is a must-listen. Julia sits down with Omar, a sea…
- Unemployed for over 800 days: Why you may be overlooked for jobs
800 days without a full-time job. One man's story pulls back the curtain on hiring bias, grief, and grit. In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Control Your Career, host Julia Toothacre speaks with Francis "Tank" Rhodes about the…
- Navigating Career Breaks and Re-entering the Workforce
Taking a career break doesn't break your career if you know how to handle the return. In this episode of Control Your Career, host Julia Toothacre sits down with Jamie Dye, Talent Acquisition Team Lead at M3 USA, to talk candidly about car…
- How to Stay Motivated When the Job Search Keeps Knocking You Down
Let's talk about the part of job searching no one likes to admit: rejection, fear, and feeling like you're not enough. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia sits down with Danny Cohen, President of Roc Search and One Life Science,…
- Hiring for Skills, Not Degrees: The Good, the Bad, and the Reality Check
What if your degree didn't matter and your resume wasn't the most important part of your job application? In this episode, Julia Toothacre sits down with Katie Rakusin, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Merit America, to unpack what…
- Why are Job Seekers Ghosted by Employers?
Think recruiters are ghosting you on purpose? Think again. In this episode, Julia Toothacre speaks with Orlando Haynes, North American Talent Acquisition Leader at The Mosaic Company. Orlando shares his journey from candidate to recruiter,…
- Job Board Secrets Unveiled: Your Ultimate Guide to Job Searching Success
Most job seekers are using job boards the wrong way and wasting time because of it. In this episode, Julia Toothacre interviews Julie Calli, Chief Marketing Officer at Lensa. They discuss how job seekers can effectively use job boards like…
- Hiring Truths You Need to Hear: Mid-Season Recap
Job search advice is everywhere, but what's real and what's outdated? I'm cutting through the noise and giving it to you straight. In this special episode, host Julia Toothacre, a career coach and strategist at Ride the Tide Collective, re…
- How RTO Trends Impact the Job Search: Insights from a Senior Talent Leader
Remote jobs sound great—until the company calls you back into the office. In this episode, Julia Toothacre talks with Lara Nichols, Senior Managing Director of Global Talent Management at Markel, who oversees recruiting across the U.S. and…
- Layoffs, Doubt, and New Beginnings: How to Pivot in Uncertainty
Getting laid off feels personal, even when it's not. The shock, uncertainty, and pressure to find your next move can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to derail your career. In this episode, Julia Toothacre talks with Sylvanna Berkowitz…
- How to Spot a Great Recruiter: Branding, Trust, and Red Flags
What if the recruiter you're working with is the reason you're not landing interviews? In today's job market, not all recruiters are created equal and knowing how to spot the right ones can make or break your job search. In this episode, J…
- The Best Insights from Season Ten: Navigating Manager Expectations
In this episode, host Julia Toothacre wraps up Season Ten, focusing on managers' expectations from employees and teams. Julia, a career coach and strategist at Ride the Tide Collective, reflects on her interviews with experienced managers.…
- Understanding Hiring and Management Decisions in Nonprofit Organizations
In this episode Marciee McDonald, a regional executive director with nearly 20 years of nonprofit experience shares the ins and outs of the nonprofit world, specifically around people management and hiring. We explore the unique challenges…
- How to Decode Leadership and Elevate Your Career with Dean Jenny Darroch
I am thrilled to have Jenny Darroch, PhD, the esteemed Dean of the Farmer School of Business at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio on the podcast. The conversation was rich with insights from Jenny's corporate and academic life. We discuss J…
- Empathy in Leadership: Navigating Career Growth and Management with Tomas Company
We've got Tomas Company, Senior Product Manager and Interim Director at adidas, discussing his nearly 19-year tenure with the company, his people management style emphasizing empathy, and his approach to hiring and employee development on…
- From Office to Online: Adapting Management Styles with Mike Fariss
In this episode, we met Mike Farris, Senior Customer Service Manager at Zep Sales and Service. We delve into Mike's management style, the transition to remote work, and the hiring and people management approach. He emphasizes clear expecta…
- Clear Expectations for Maximum Results in People Management with Jon Harper
In this episode, Jon Harper, a regional sales VP at a Fortune 200 organization, talks about effective people management and pulls back the curtain on what managers crave from their teams. From hiring to leadership, his insights are a goldm…
- Hiring Hacks and Managerial Mindsets with Ronda Mullen
Ronda Mullen's management philosophy centers on trust and supporting her team's growth by aligning their interests with potential career opportunities within the company. Ronda and Julia discuss the importance of internal employee developm…
- Navigating the Path to Career Success: Insights from HR Expert Renee Trotman
Renee Trotman delves into the intricacies of people management with the lens of a diverse background in managing teams across various industries, including banking, education, healthcare, non-profit, and Fortune 500 companies. Her educatio…
- The Secret Sauce to Successful Employee-Manager Relationships with Meredith Allen
Meredith Allen's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Starting as a music educator in the rural landscapes of Iowa, she pivoted into the world of instructional technology consulting, eventually leading her to the bustling city of Stockho…
- Challenges and Opportunities of Managing a Large Healthcare Team with Adam Trusty
Managing large teams isn't for the faint of heart, but Adam Trusty, a seasoned people manager in the healthcare industry, shares his approach and strategies. From hiring to handling performance issues and fostering employee growth, the ins…
- Control Your Career Podcast Trailer
Control Your Career: A podcast for ambitious professionals. It's time to control your career and conquer uncertainty, shatter imposter syndrome, and rise above the expectations imposed by others. Join Career Coach and Author Julia Toothacr…
- Control Your Career Season 10 Trailer
Control Your Career: A podcast for ambitious professionals. It's time to control your career and conquer uncertainty, shatter imposter syndrome, and rise above the expectations imposed by others. Join Career Coach and Author Julia Toothacr…
- The Collective Season: Spirituality + Career
Ride The Tide Collective, The Podcast is a career podcast that helps ambitious professionals control their career and make values-aligned career decisions. Season 9 is about embracing the "collective" in our name and we're bringing on coac…