<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Pretty Funny Business]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome to Pretty Funny Business, a business talk show that's, well, pretty funny! From this podcast you can expect off-the-cuff banter on feminism, funny business, and, well, not-so-funny business. Come hang with your new work besties.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IRnL!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2b6e8196-905a-48a0-9012-9ae600ec3946_1280x1280.png</url><title>Pretty Funny Business</title><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:28:14 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[EMMIE Collective]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[prettyfunnybusiness@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[prettyfunnybusiness@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[prettyfunnybusiness@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[prettyfunnybusiness@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[As promised... the evidence 👀]]></title><description><![CDATA[Business on top &#129309; party on the bottom.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/as-promised-the-evidence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/as-promised-the-evidence</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:40:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-video.s3.amazonaws.com/video_upload/post/183715106/09e2ba78-2c28-4ae2-9e33-6b916c92fa70/transcoded-00001.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you listened to <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/prettyfunnybusiness/p/s316-professionalism-is-fake-zoom?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&amp;utm_medium=web">today&#8217;s episode</a> and thought I was exaggerating&#8212; I regret to inform you that I was not.</p><p>This one&#8217;s for paid subscribers only, because the free internet is not emotionally prepared for this level of professionalism.</p><p>You&#8217;re welcome,</p><p>Lauren</p><p><em>P.S. if you haven&#8217;t listened to the episode yet, please reflect and watch/listen <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/prettyfunnybusiness/p/s316-professionalism-is-fake-zoom?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&amp;utm_medium=web">HERE.</a></em></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.16 Professionalism Is Fake: Zoom Etiquette, Makeup Rules & Work-From-Home Myths ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome to the final episode of Season 3 of Pretty Funny Business! &#128079; Today&#8217;s topic? Professionalism.Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s316-professionalism-is-fake-zoom</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s316-professionalism-is-fake-zoom</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:06:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/asKc9c0owD0" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-asKc9c0owD0" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;asKc9c0owD0&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/asKc9c0owD0?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>Welcome to the <em>final</em> episode of <strong>Season 3</strong> of <strong>Pretty Funny Business</strong>! &#128079; Today&#8217;s topic? Professionalism.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>What is it? Who decides what counts? And why did we all buy day-to-night outfits in 2012 even though we were going absolutely nowhere at night?</p><p>We break down:</p><ul><li><p>Why &#8220;professionalism&#8221; is mostly made-up</p></li><li><p> Zoom etiquette we all pretend to follow (camera on? makeup? &#8230;internet?)</p></li><li><p> The remote-work dress code nobody asked for</p></li><li><p> Day-to-night fashion and the lies magazines told us</p></li><li><p> Makeup expectations, gender double-standards &amp; office culture</p></li><li><p> Our most unprofessional moments with clients (in a cute way)</p></li></ul><p>If you work from home, show up to Zoom in a hoodie, or have ever been judged for not wearing makeup, this one&#8217;s for you.<br></p><p><strong>&#128187; Connect with us:</strong></p><p>Lauren &#8594; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/">laurenaquilino</a></p><p>Sydney &#8594; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a></p><p></p><p><strong>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</strong></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDl6Rm9IU05SeVVyWkFUem5BWmg2NnQ3b0NPd3xBQ3Jtc0ttNFlGR25rU3JXT0tiV3JBN05zU2x6UlJBWExKeDh2NEQ1TWFXeTZlU1RaT0owQ0t0dU1rcmZfUFJPLVdTVVVQUU1NR3RDa3JQaTZ3Sm9Wa3l5TFZSMmkzZDYzYjBxcXFfb3pIZ2Z0c2xNOGxrOGhDUQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fshare.nuuly.com%2Fsydney9937&amp;v=_vDrU-yHew8">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p></p><p><strong>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</strong></p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0NjekROR1NYTUM5RXcwc0ZnNGhON3otWXlEUXxBQ3Jtc0ttYy10YWlObEgtcVZQRXBaVWo5eXoyTWRINjNPMkRKQ3RtZ0RSQmxGRFpzVXItbFQ0RjlkMGFHN3MtUVN1bzBDcWRBaGtWeS1qUG5PbFNFNVpQTERMNVdjVFU1UHQwM3dQM3A0TUhjQnNaUzZiUDlGdw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Ffathom.partnerlinks.io%2Fdpta8sur4vyw&amp;v=_vDrU-yHew8">https://fathom.partnerlinks.io/dpta8s...</a></p><p>Airtable to manage EVERYTHING: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjN5OTZFdDZaYm43M0d2eWc4QXJvT0hXNkZpZ3xBQ3Jtc0trTGZZR0xFbElxTjViVGUtenNZSnY0WkJlT0hVVmZ2SGtfTnIxendsR3ctV3NDRm01SWJ0dnU3WUgxTTdEWnFRRzhXVmFmUjB0QlFRTHl4M21WektpTG1IMmlWLUcwbU12RnhvRFBQYlNCTXJxOUZnMA&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fairtable.com%2Finvite%2Fr%2FNHkCkkSD&amp;v=_vDrU-yHew8">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow">https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow</a></p><p></p><p><strong>&#128276; Don&#8217;t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!</strong></p><p><strong>&#128231; Want to work with us?</strong> Find out more at https://www.emmieco.com/</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.15 12 Days of Pretty Funny Holidays 🎁 Gifts & End-of-Season Confessions]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome to our 3rd annual 12 Days of Pretty Funny Holidays!]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s315-12-days-of-pretty-funny-holidays</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s315-12-days-of-pretty-funny-holidays</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:42:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/LEIFG3-dKGk" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-LEIFG3-dKGk" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;LEIFG3-dKGk&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/LEIFG3-dKGk?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>Welcome to our <em>3rd annual</em> <strong>12 Days of Pretty Funny Holidays! &#128079;&#127995;</strong><br><br>In today&#8217;s special holiday episode, we exchange 12 chaotic, heartfelt, and wildly unserious &#8220;gifts&#8221; inspired by the year we've just survived together. From Chick-fil-A nugget ice to golf meltdowns to protein-based baby formula to flight upgrades&#8230; this is our peak business-girlie holiday energy.<br><br>We talk:</p><ul><li><p>The tradition of our 12 Days gift exchange</p></li><li><p>How we somehow made 16 full video podcast episodes this year</p></li><li><p>Nugget ice discourse</p></li><li><p>Golf, husbands, and the Real Reason men love &#8220;being outside&#8221;</p></li><li><p>Our obsession with baby-formula-tier protein</p></li><li><p>2025 client wishlists</p></li><li><p>And just nearly wrapping Season 3 with a whole lot of gratitude</p></li></ul><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p><strong>&#128242; Connect with us:</strong></p><p>Lauren &#8594; /<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/"> laurenaquilino</a></p><p>Sydney &#8594; / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a></p><p></p><p><strong>&#128279; Extra Links:</strong></p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p></p><p><strong>&#128736; Tools we swear by </strong>(affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://www.fathom.ai/?source=agencypartners&amp;ps_partner_key=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ&amp;ps_xid=aKkNfXKYBvY1Hp&amp;gsxid=aKkNfXKYBvY1Hp&amp;gspk=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ">https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...</a></p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://workspace.google.com/landing/partners/referral/gws2/?utm_source=sign-up&amp;utm_medium=affiliatereferral&amp;utm_campaign=apps-referral-program&amp;utm_content=9KKCZ0C">https://workspace.google.com/landing/...</a></p><p></p><p>&#128231; <strong>Want to work with us?</strong> Find out more at <code>https:</code><a href="http://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.14 Business Travel Crimes We’re Not Tolerating in 2026 (Feet, Flossing, & First Class)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Business travel sounds glamorous&#8230; until you&#8217;re a mom on a &#8220;staycation,&#8221; someone&#8217;s kid has strep, and the man next to you on the plane takes off his shoes like he&#8217;s at a spa.Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s314-business-travel-crimes-were</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s314-business-travel-crimes-were</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:02:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/yhURyay5TzU" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-yhURyay5TzU" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;yhURyay5TzU&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/yhURyay5TzU?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p><br>Business travel sounds glamorous&#8230; until you&#8217;re a mom on a &#8220;staycation,&#8221; someone&#8217;s kid has strep, and the man next to you on the plane takes off his shoes like he&#8217;s at a spa.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>In today&#8217;s episode of Pretty Funny Business, we&#8217;re unpacking the real rules of traveling for work &#8212; from mom guilt to Medallion status to the absolute travel crimes happening on airplanes.</p><p>We&#8217;re talking:</p><ul><li><p>Business travel as working moms</p></li><li><p>The chaos of packing, childcare, and 45-minute &#8220;commutes&#8221;</p></li><li><p>Plane etiquette red flags (FEET. FLOSSING. WHY.)</p></li><li><p>Airplane punishments we think should be federal law</p></li><li><p>Platinum Medallion status (and why this is the feminist win of the year)</p></li><li><p>Why it&#8217;s always the white men in first class</p></li><li><p>The travel schedule &amp; routine behind PFB</p></li></ul><p>If you&#8217;ve ever flown next to someone shoeless, clueless, or flossing mid-flight&#8230; this one&#8217;s for you. &#128536;<br></p><p><strong>&#128242; Connect with us:</strong></p><p>Lauren &#8594; /<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/"> laurenaquilino</a></p><p>Sydney &#8594; / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a></p><p></p><p><strong>&#128279; Extra Links:</strong></p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p></p><p><strong>&#128736; Tools we swear by </strong>(affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://www.fathom.ai/?source=agencypartners&amp;ps_partner_key=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ&amp;ps_xid=aKkNfXKYBvY1Hp&amp;gsxid=aKkNfXKYBvY1Hp&amp;gspk=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ">https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...</a></p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://workspace.google.com/landing/partners/referral/gws2/?utm_source=sign-up&amp;utm_medium=affiliatereferral&amp;utm_campaign=apps-referral-program&amp;utm_content=9KKCZ0C">https://workspace.google.com/landing/...</a></p><p></p><p>&#128231; <strong>Want to work with us?</strong> Find out more at <code>https:</code><a href="http://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.13 We Rehearsed 100 Times… and Still Raw-Dogged It Onstage]]></title><description><![CDATA[In this episode of Pretty Funny Business, we&#8217;re taking you behind the scenes of our very first LIVE podcast performed onstage at Marketing Ops Spring Fling in front of hundreds of unsuspecting B2B professionals.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s313-we-rehearsed-100-times-and-still</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s313-we-rehearsed-100-times-and-still</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:23:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/-6E8L_YJicI" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2--6E8L_YJicI" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;-6E8L_YJicI&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/-6E8L_YJicI?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>In this episode of Pretty Funny Business, we&#8217;re taking you behind the scenes of our very first LIVE podcast performed onstage at Marketing Ops Spring Fling in front of hundreds of unsuspecting B2B professionals.</p><p>We break down:</p><ul><li><p>How our &#8220;brilliant idea&#8221; of doing a LIVE podcast at a B2B conference actually happened</p></li><li><p>Why we rehearsed more for this than anything in our entire careers</p></li><li><p>The saga of transporting a giant flip chart across the country</p></li><li><p>What we learned from hiring a comedian to help us write a script</p></li></ul><p>If you&#8217;ve ever prepped for a conference talk, tried to be funny onstage, or attempted to riff without a plan&#8230; this one&#8217;s for you.<br><br><strong>&#128242; Connect with us:</strong></p><p>Lauren &#8594; /<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/"> laurenaquilino</a></p><p>Sydney &#8594; / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a></p><p><strong>&#128279; Extra Links:</strong></p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: </p><p>https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...</p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://workspace.google.com/landing/partners/referral/gws2/?utm_source=sign-up&amp;utm_medium=affiliatereferral&amp;utm_campaign=apps-referral-program&amp;utm_content=9KKCZ0C">https://workspace.google.com/landing/...</a></p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <code>https: </code><a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.12 Corporate Buzzwords, Cancellable Takes, & Mining Cryptocurrency]]></title><description><![CDATA[Are you guilty of saying &#8220;let&#8217;s circle back,&#8221; &#8220;per my last email,&#8221; or &#8220;let&#8217;s take this offline&#8221;?]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s312-corporate-buzzwords-cancellable</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s312-corporate-buzzwords-cancellable</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:49:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/Os2m6nFLvb8" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-Os2m6nFLvb8" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;Os2m6nFLvb8&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Os2m6nFLvb8?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>Are you guilty of saying &#8220;let&#8217;s circle back,&#8221; &#8220;per my last email,&#8221; or &#8220;let&#8217;s take this offline&#8221;? &#128064; In this episode of Pretty Funny Business, we&#8217;re calling ourselves and everyone else out for the ridiculous corporate jargon we can&#8217;t stop using...even when we swear we hate it.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>From &#8220;CTL (Close The Loop)&#8221; to &#8220;flagging this for visibility&#8221;, we unpack why these phrases exist, what they really mean, and how they somehow became a weird form of corporate bonding.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>The psychology behind office slang (and why it&#8217;s secretly team-building)</p><p>The worst offenders: &#8220;per my last email,&#8221; &#8220;circle back,&#8221; &#8220;let&#8217;s table that,&#8221; and more</p><p>A new round of &#8220;Buzzword Blitz&#8221;: aka, the ultimate jargon showdown</p><p>&#128188; Whether you&#8217;re crafting (sorry, making) an email or aligning internally, this one&#8217;s for you.</p><p>&#128071; Comment below: What&#8217;s your most hated piece of corporate jargon?</p><p><strong>&#128242; Connect with us:</strong></p><p>Lauren &#8594; /<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/"> laurenaquilino</a></p><p>Sydney &#8594; / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a></p><p><strong>&#128279; Extra Links:</strong></p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...">https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...</a></p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a>  </p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://workspace.google.com/landing/partners/referral/gws2/?utm_source=sign-up&amp;utm_medium=affiliatereferral&amp;utm_campaign=apps-referral-program&amp;utm_content=9KKCZ0C">https://workspace.google.com/landing/...</a></p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <code>https: </code><a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[PFB Live from MOps-Apalooza 2025: Haunted House of Ops...Enter at Your Own Admin Access 💀]]></title><description><![CDATA[In This Episode:]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/pfb-live-from-mops-apalooza-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/pfb-live-from-mops-apalooza-2025</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:44:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-video.s3.amazonaws.com/video_upload/post/178203268/7fa272c4-42a3-48a3-8d82-4c9d2d000bb4/transcoded-01203.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In This Episode:</p><ul><li><p>Spirit Squad enters the chat: former high school cheerleader energy meets haunted-house marketing ops</p></li><li><p>&#8220;Quick Halloween riff?&#8221; = 90-minute meeting with a fog machine</p></li><li><p>The sacred boundary: no 4 p.m. Friday meetings (fix those calendar settings or seek help)</p></li><li><p>Open rates = jail. Haunted jail.</p></li><li><p>Why SSO now stands for Seventy-Eight-Factor Authenticat&#8230;</p></li></ul>
      <p>
          <a href="https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/pfb-live-from-mops-apalooza-2025">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.11 How We Hired Backwards & Built the Perfect Team]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ever wondered how small businesses grow without following the &#8220;traditional&#8221; hiring rules?]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s311-how-we-hired-backwards-and-built</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s311-how-we-hired-backwards-and-built</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:58:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/YRVDlzYcSdE" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-YRVDlzYcSdE" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;YRVDlzYcSdE&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/YRVDlzYcSdE?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>Ever wondered how small businesses grow without following the &#8220;traditional&#8221; hiring rules? In this episode of <em>Pretty Funny Business,</em> we dive deep into the terrifying&#8212;but ultimately rewarding&#8212;process of hiring for the first time. From manifesting the right team to navigating sales growth and onboarding virtual assistants, learn how we scaled our business while staying true to our unique culture.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p>We&#8217;re Talking:</p><ul><li><p>The fear of hiring for the first time</p></li><li><p>How we used fractional support to fill gaps</p></li><li><p>Backwards hiring: finding the right people first</p></li><li><p>Managing freelancers and growing your team</p></li><li><p>Lessons from red flags in hiring</p></li><li><p>Creating a team that fits your company culture</p></li></ul><p></p><p><strong>&#128279; Mentioned in this Episode:</strong></p><p>Outsourced Doers (Virtual Assistant support)</p><p><a href="https://go.doneverse.com/refer-a-friend/?first_name=Lauren&amp;last_name=Aquilino&amp;email=lauren%40emmieco.com&amp;email=lauren%40emmieco.com&amp;mobile=%7EContact.&amp;mobile=%7EContact.&amp;inf_contact_key=b16df14c44d4436a6b9bc3627f1fd97c7e470d92b8b75168d98a0b8cac0e9c09"> https://go.doneverse.com/refer-a-frie...</a></p><p></p><p><strong>&#128242; Connect with us:</strong></p><p>Lauren &#8594; /<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/"> laurenaquilino</a></p><p>Sydney &#8594; / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a></p><p></p><p><strong>&#128279; Extra Links:</strong></p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...">https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...</a></p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://workspace.google.com/landing/partners/referral/gws2/?utm_source=sign-up&amp;utm_medium=affiliatereferral&amp;utm_campaign=apps-referral-program&amp;utm_content=9KKCZ0C">https://workspace.google.com/landing/...</a></p><p></p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.10 Systems, Snacks & Spicy Brains: Neurodivergent at Work]]></title><description><![CDATA[What happens when your brain just&#8230; doesn&#8217;t do things the &#8220;normal&#8221; way?]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s310-systems-snacks-and-spicy-brains</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s310-systems-snacks-and-spicy-brains</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:46:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/8a90EJKaZ2M" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-8a90EJKaZ2M" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;8a90EJKaZ2M&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/8a90EJKaZ2M?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>What happens when your brain just&#8230; doesn&#8217;t do things the &#8220;normal&#8221; way? In this episode, Sydney and Lauren open up about their ADHD diagnoses, how that&#8217;s shaped their work lives, and all the strange, funny, and frustrating ways neurodivergence shows up day-to-day.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>In this episode, they break down what it&#8217;s really like to navigate office systems, endless meetings, and brain chaos when your neurodivergent mind doesn&#8217;t quite fit the corporate mold. </p><p>We&#8217;re talking:</p><ul><li><p>The many (mis)diagnoses before landing on ADHD</p></li><li><p>Why medication feels like discovering a cheat code</p></li><li><p>Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (aka why one email can ruin your week)</p></li><li><p>Demand avoidance, face blindness, and other quirks people don&#8217;t talk about enough</p></li><li><p>Surviving corporate life while neurodivergent</p></li></ul><p>This isn&#8217;t medical advice, just real experiences, some laughs, and maybe a little validation if you&#8217;ve ever thought &#8220;wow, my brain makes no sense.&#8221; Spoiler: you&#8217;re not alone.</p><p>Connect with us:</p><p>Lauren &#8594;   /<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/"> laurenaquilino  </a></p><p>Sydney &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a></p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...">https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...</a></p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://workspace.google.com/landing/partners/referral/gws2/?utm_source=sign-up&amp;utm_medium=affiliatereferral&amp;utm_campaign=apps-referral-program&amp;utm_content=9KKCZ0C">https://workspace.google.com/landing/...</a></p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.9 Corporate Cults, Meetings That Could’ve Been Emails & Millennial Memes]]></title><description><![CDATA[You&#8217;ve sat through a meeting that could&#8217;ve been an email&#8230; and wondered why it felt so painfully unnecessary.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s39-corporate-cults-meetings-that</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s39-corporate-cults-meetings-that</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:46:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/7fvWhuY1n6E" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-7fvWhuY1n6E" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;7fvWhuY1n6E&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/7fvWhuY1n6E?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>You&#8217;ve sat through a meeting that could&#8217;ve been an email&#8230; and wondered why it felt so painfully unnecessary. Yeah. That&#8217;s this episode.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Don&#8217;t miss a second of chaos! Subscribe to get updates about new episodes.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>We&#8217;re talking corporate rituals, long daily standups, and the weird, quasi-religious energy of your typical office gathering. If you&#8217;ve ever wondered whether your calendar is a sacred text, this one&#8217;s for you.</p><p>In this episode, we:</p><p> &#10024; Debate whether corporate meetings are more like religion or a cult</p><p> &#10024; Share our worst &#8220;Groundhog Day&#8221; meeting stories (you know, the ones you live over and over)</p><p> &#10024; Explore the trauma of 90-minute standups that accomplish&#8230; nothing</p><p> &#10024; Recommend replacing meetings with Loom videos whenever possible</p><p> &#10024; Laugh at ourselves and our obsession with calendar boundaries</p><p>Basically, if your work life feels like an endless series of meetings that don&#8217;t accomplish anything, hit play.</p><p>Connect with us:</p><p>Lauren &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/">laurenaquilino</a>  </p><p>Sydney &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a>  </p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...">https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...</a></p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://workspace.google.com/landing/partners/referral/gws2/?utm_source=sign-up&amp;utm_medium=affiliatereferral&amp;utm_campaign=apps-referral-program&amp;utm_content=9KKCZ0C">https://workspace.google.com/landing/...</a></p><p>&#128276; Don&#8217;t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!</p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Subscriber Exclusive! PFB Live from Marketing Ops Spring Fling 2025: Ops Survival Guide (Crying Counts as Deep Work)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Because nothing says thought leadership like trauma bonding in front of strangers.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/subscriber-exclusive-pfb-live-from</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/subscriber-exclusive-pfb-live-from</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:03:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/173680231/b781ab576c2e21c9fc47403ac801796c.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In This Episode:</p><ul><li><p>Why &#8220;quick questions&#8221; are just 90-minute meetings in disguise</p></li><li><p>How to survive new tools by saying &#8220;great idea, let&#8217;s revisit in 2028&#8221;</p></li><li><p>Why crying counts as deep work (endorphins = productivity, science said so)</p></li><li><p>The one golden rule of ops: never admit you can build a dashboard</p></li><li><p>The art of making exactly one friend in IT (two is sus, don&#8217;t do it)</p></li><li><p>&#8230;</p></li></ul>
      <p>
          <a href="https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/subscriber-exclusive-pfb-live-from">
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.8 Explaining Marketing Ops Like You’re 5 (Cartoons, Grandma, Spam Emails, and Therapy)]]></title><description><![CDATA[You know that moment when someone at a party (or, like, your mom) asks what you do for a living&#8230; and suddenly your job sounds fake?]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s38-explaining-marketing-ops-like</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s38-explaining-marketing-ops-like</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:27:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/ZeiRc2gTh9o" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-ZeiRc2gTh9o" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;ZeiRc2gTh9o&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ZeiRc2gTh9o?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>You know that moment when someone at a party (or, like, your mom) asks what you do for a living&#8230; and suddenly your job sounds fake? Yeah. That&#8217;s this episode.</p><p>We&#8217;re talking about how we explain our work in marketing ops to parents, kindergarten teachers, Sephora managers, and anyone else who didn&#8217;t accidentally fall into this career path with us. (Shoutout to our friends who listen even though they have zero idea what we&#8217;re saying. Love you, mean it.)</p><p>In this episode, we:</p><p> &#10024; Try to describe ops like we&#8217;re six years old (cartoons and kitchen tools included)</p><p> &#10024; Rapid-fire define acronyms that make normal humans&#8217; brains melt (MQL, SLA, RevOps, all the hits)</p><p> &#10024; Bond over the trauma of being &#8220;the email person&#8221; forever</p><p> &#10024; Laugh at our own jokes (as always)</p><p>Basically, if your eyes glaze over every time someone says &#8220;system sync&#8221; but you still want to hang with us, this is your episode.</p><p>Drop your favorite made-up acronym in the comments, because clearly we don&#8217;t have enough already. &#128579;</p><p>Connect with us:</p><p>Lauren &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/">laurenaquilino</a>  </p><p>Sydney &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a>  </p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...">https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...</a></p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://workspace.google.com/landing/partners/referral/gws2/?utm_source=sign-up&amp;utm_medium=affiliatereferral&amp;utm_campaign=apps-referral-program&amp;utm_content=9KKCZ0C">https://workspace.google.com/landing/...</a></p><p>&#128276; Don&#8217;t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!</p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.7 Sales & Marketing Alignment]]></title><description><![CDATA[Can&#8217;t Live With &#8216;Em, Can&#8217;t SLA Without &#8216;Em]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s37-sales-and-marketing-alignment</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s37-sales-and-marketing-alignment</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:02:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/3xI_tMx2Z2w" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-3xI_tMx2Z2w" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;3xI_tMx2Z2w&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/3xI_tMx2Z2w?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>Sales and marketing&#8212; they&#8217;re supposed to be on the same team, but too often it feels like they&#8217;re speaking entirely different languages. In this episode of Pretty Funny Business, Lauren and Sydney break down the real reasons alignment is so tricky, why SLAs actually matter, and how to make the relationship work (without the drama).</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Don&#8217;t miss an episode! Make sure you&#8217;re subscribed here</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>In This Episode:</p><ul><li><p>Why marketing ops may be better positioned to lead RevOps</p></li><li><p>How &#8220;fair fighting rules&#8221; from couples therapy can improve team alignment</p></li><li><p>The role of trust in achieving shared sales and marketing goals</p></li><li><p>What SLAs really mean (and how to actually stick to them)</p></li></ul><p>Connect with us:</p><p>Lauren &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/">laurenaquilino</a>  </p><p>Sydney &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a>  </p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...">https://fathom.video/?source=agencypa...</a></p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://workspace.google.com/landing/partners/referral/gws2/?utm_source=sign-up&amp;utm_medium=affiliatereferral&amp;utm_campaign=apps-referral-program&amp;utm_content=9KKCZ0C">https://workspace.google.com/landing/...</a></p><p>&#128276; Don&#8217;t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!</p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Pretty Funny Business is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.6 Boundary Boss: How Saying No Can Boost Your Career ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Respectfully..... no.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s36-boundary-boss-how-saying-no-can</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s36-boundary-boss-how-saying-no-can</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2025 16:28:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/IJgZRLBFiZE" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div id="youtube2-IJgZRLBFiZE" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;IJgZRLBFiZE&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/IJgZRLBFiZE?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>Let&#8217;s talk about the fine art of boundaries and why you should start saying &#8220;No&#8221; more often. </p><p>Lauren and Sydney unpack:</p><ul><li><p>Why &#8220;team player&#8221; is a red flag</p></li><li><p>The time an appendix didn&#8217;t survive cause sis was trying not to be &#8220;inconvenient&#8221;</p></li><li><p>How to respond to unhealthy requests</p></li><li><p>Overcoming your people-pleasing tendencies for a better work-life balance</p></li></ul><p>So take a break (a real one), decline the 7:30am meeting, and listen as we teach you the power of &#8220;No&#8221;.</p><p>&#128064; Subscribe for new episodes featuring candid convos, wild work stories, and hot takes on corporate nonsense.</p><p>&#128205; Timestamps </p><p>00:00 Decline Counteroffers When Quitting</p><p>03:14 Refusing Former Boss's Request</p><p>08:56 Regretting a Work-Related Trip</p><p>11:47 EMMIE Collective: Real Marketing Solutions</p><p>14:34 GDPR Compliance: User Consent Challenge</p><p>19:01 Day Worker, Night Messages</p><p>21:45 Managing Work-Life Boundaries</p><p>24:24 Unrealistic Graduate Salary Expectations</p><p>27:30 Managing Up vs. Quitting</p><p>29:15 "Bandwidth-Triggered Avoidance Advice"</p><p>35:10 "No Capacity for Party Planning"</p><p>36:33 Unexpected Work Prioritization Dilemma</p><p>39:29 Boundary Setting: Overcoming People Pleasing</p><p>Connect with us:</p><p>Lauren &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/">laurenaquilino</a></p><p>Sydney &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a></p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: https://<a href="https://fathom.video/?source=agencypartners&amp;ps_partner_key=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ&amp;ps_xid=CA9DH6hWKnXMj9&amp;gsxid=CA9DH6hWKnXMj9&amp;gspk=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ">fathom.partnerlinks.io/dpta8s... </a></p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD </a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow">https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow  </a>  </p><p>&#128276; Don&#8217;t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!</p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/ </a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.5 ChatGPT Is Cool, But Can You Still Think for Yourself? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[We&#8217;re back and on a mission to cancel the rocket ship emoji.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s35-chatgpt-is-cool-but-can-you-still</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s35-chatgpt-is-cool-but-can-you-still</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2025 17:11:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/169570268/810fd4578b09294eb39e5e66e7db4ccb.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-WlVffdUJcc4" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;WlVffdUJcc4&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/WlVffdUJcc4?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p><br>We&#8217;re back and on a mission to cancel the rocket ship emoji. In this episode, Lauren Aquilino and Sydney Mulligan dive into their love/hate relationship with ChatGPT. </p><p>We&#8217;re talking:</p><p>The AI tool we named after a sales bro (hi Will)</p><p>Prompting for a helping hand not a full takeover</p><p>Why your AI content is a hard pass</p><p>The mistakes we&#8217;ve made with prompting (like way too much evaporated milk)</p><p>Start blasting Reputation and join us in our Villain Era. </p><p>&#128064; Subscribe for new episodes featuring candid convos, wild work stories, and hot takes on corporate nonsense.</p><p>&#128205; Timestamps</p><p>00:00 AI: A Revolutionary Business Tool</p><p>03:52 Custom GPT Named After Will Aitken</p><p>08:19 Team of Consultants and AI SDR</p><p>12:10 AI Mimics LinkedIn Voice Effectively</p><p>14:13 Recording Glitch Ruins Creative Ideas</p><p>18:21 Rocket Emoji LinkedIn Trend</p><p>21:06 "Streamlining Meetings with ChatGPT"</p><p>23:36 "Grading: Sentence and Word Length"</p><p>26:55 Emergence of New Email Tools</p><p>Connect with us:</p><p>Lauren &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/">laurenaquilino</a>   </p><p>Sydney &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a>  </p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a> </p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://fathom.video/?source=agencypartners&amp;ps_partner_key=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ&amp;ps_xid=EEyLKR96U67akm&amp;gsxid=EEyLKR96U67akm&amp;gspk=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ">https://fathom.partnerlinks.io/dpta8s...</a> </p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD </a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow">https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow    </a></p><p>&#128276; Don&#8217;t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!</p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a> </p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.4 Stop Trying to Be a Thought Leader]]></title><description><![CDATA[You might end up a loss leader instead]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s34-stop-trying-to-be-a-thought-leader</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s34-stop-trying-to-be-a-thought-leader</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2025 18:08:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/168484329/3aef2afa435e958c380ab4d8536377f4.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-DhfRhdJX3qs" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;DhfRhdJX3qs&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/DhfRhdJX3qs?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p><br>It&#8217;s hard out there being a LinkedIn thought leader, let alone a LinkedIn Costco Rotisserie Chicken. </p><p>Lauren and Sydney are representing the &#8220;LinkedIn Thought Leadership Committee&#8221; to dive into:</p><p>Are you a thought leader or really a loss leader?</p><p>What sh** posts went viral </p><p>The second-hand embarrassment of LinkedIn</p><p>Why ChatGPT shouldn&#8217;t be your ghostwriter</p><p>Plus, we play Buzzword Blitz, where we roast buzzwords like &#8220;fail fast&#8221;, &#8220;human-centric marketing&#8221;, and &#8220;synergy&#8221;.</p><p>Loss leaders, UNITE!</p><p>&#128064; Subscribe for new episodes featuring candid convos, wild work stories, and hot takes on corporate nonsense.</p><p>&#128205; Timestamps</p><p>00:00 Aspiring Thought Leader Initiative</p><p>03:59 Authentic LinkedIn Posting Challenges</p><p>07:09 "Personal Branding Challenges Online"</p><p>10:25 AI Comments on LinkedIn Posts</p><p>14:55 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Content Creation</p><p>19:47 "Reject 'Fail Fast' Mindset"</p><p>21:10 "Join MarketingOps Community Today!"</p><p>25:24 "Adobe Roadmap Insights"</p><p>27:55 "Embrace Indifference for Innovation"</p><p>Connect with us:</p><p>Lauren &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0FBeFctS3FzUUY5SDc3TDZjenZnd0VEcjQ3QXxBQ3Jtc0ttUzVKS2VQY1dUOERNX2RkQTVKN0R4VTNPZE5XYlZ6aDZSMEl1amo2YThiZFNDWGtiSGxQWnI5UnFjY0tYZmJEeVRBSTFISks0dUlhd0JLMTNyVzRiX2pqeXFZT29NMWlqTDVIZ0xLdGRCWmFlNllHaw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Flaurenaquilino&amp;v=DhfRhdJX3qs">laurenaquilino   </a></p><p>Sydney &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbldJeG9nNTRxZFRFbFMycmlnaVVBRERwYWRsd3xBQ3Jtc0ttSlVRMjE0Y0VNOS1CTkhzLU96S2ZDWVhWa2pfWjdyT0NmWGt2djFtSHZZNHhnZUxGSWJMbzlaS3ZfUXBKSkZJd0g1S0E0SXI3T0xqVklFMEZ1RUFZMVdYSWxLMDUwcS1TOG96b0dtYXQyWGwxTTh5dw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fsydneymulligan&amp;v=DhfRhdJX3qs">sydneymulligan</a>  </p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937 </a></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://fathom.partnerlinks.io/dpta8s...">https://fathom.partnerlinks.io/dpta8s...</a> </p><p>Airtable to manage workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD </a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow">https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow  </a>  </p><p>&#128276; Don&#8217;t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!</p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/ </a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.3 Introvert's Guide to Networking: Less Small Talk, More Impact]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lauren and Sydney dive deep into the sometimes cringey, always interesting world of networking&#8212;especially for introverts.]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s33-introverts-guide-to-networking</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s33-introverts-guide-to-networking</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:51:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/167278764/47a3204ab8b3b546e5bc71318695e76e.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-dhHYTw5DnKg" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;dhHYTw5DnKg&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/dhHYTw5DnKg?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p><br>Lauren and Sydney dive deep into the sometimes cringey, always interesting world of networking&#8212;especially for introverts. The conversation kicks off with hilarious banter about dreaded networking mixers, awkward icebreakers, and the classic name-tag dilemma (should fashion and function ever clash?). </p><p>Lauren and Sydney, representing the extrovert-introvert spectrum themselves, swap personal stories about their own networking wins, fails, and full-blown party meltdowns. From planning the "perfect" networking event to the anxiety of making the first move, they get real about what works (and what absolutely doesn&#8217;t) for connecting with others. Whether you're a social butterfly or the person hiding by the guacamole, this episode is packed with practical tips, heartwarming anecdotes, and plenty of laughs&#8212;proving that anyone can build their network, one authentic interaction at a time.</p><p>00:00 Introvert-Extrovert Networking Challenges</p><p>03:26 "Introvert's Party Observations"</p><p>07:51 "Walking Sparks Creativity"</p><p>11:43 Networking Progression Steps</p><p>13:04 "Light-Hearted Questions Requested"</p><p>17:14 Building Valuable Consulting Connections</p><p>19:17 "Dance &amp; Pilates Connection"</p><p>23:05 Networking Mishap: Reply-All Blunder</p><p>25:43 "Choosing Home Isn't Neutral"</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.2 Climbing the Corporate Ladder is Over—Here's What's Next]]></title><description><![CDATA[Watch now | We left the corporate ladder and built a bouncy castle instead&#8230;]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s32-climbing-the-corporate-ladder</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s32-climbing-the-corporate-ladder</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:03:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/166173377/8f080de11e1309699a7998a36772efd5.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-DAh31xxrcok" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;DAh31xxrcok&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/DAh31xxrcok?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p><br>We left the corporate ladder and built a bouncy castle instead&#8230; </p><p>It&#8217;s messy, chaotic, and still better than burnout.</p><p>We&#8217;re getting candid about:</p><ul><li><p>Climbing the corporate ladder&#8230; then jumping off</p></li><li><p>Job hopping, quitting, and starting over (on purpose)</p></li><li><p>Consulting after layoffs (aka corporate recovery mode)</p></li><li><p>Why promotions aren&#8217;t always worth the panic attacks</p></li><li><p>The Tiffany bracelet that almost made $8/hour worth it (almost)</p></li></ul><p>Plus: banks, hiding at Microsoft, and the most wild career advice you&#8217;ve ever heard.</p><p>This one&#8217;s for the girlies who were told to &#8220;just stick it out&#8221; and decided to do literally anything else.</p><p>&#128205; Timestamps</p><p>00:00 "Value of Diverse Work Experiences"</p><p>05:56 Inspiration and Career Decisions</p><p>06:58 Choosing MOPs Over CMO Path</p><p>09:52 "Career Risks and Independence"</p><p>15:52 Big Bank Conference Experience</p><p>19:13 "Working for a Bracelet"</p><p>20:41 Remote Work Boosted My Career</p><p>24:24 Love for Work Over Balance</p><p>27:54 "Building Financial Independence"</p><p>29:30 Rediscovering Marketo Skills</p><p>33:03 Networking Fail on LinkedIn</p><p>37:19 "Seek Diverse Advice Networks"</p><p>39:35 When to Take Risks</p><p>43:12 Always Take Interviews</p><p>Connect with us:</p><p>Lauren &#8594;   / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/">laurenaquilino  </a></p><p>Sydney &#8594;   /<a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkZzUmk3MVpFMTc1VWRNdlN3QUtVem5FS1pfUXxBQ3Jtc0tsc240UGFTTGNGRnNMUE1hY2JmRTdGUkt3ZDNnUkpqUXFhVmVubTFobS1aMTMtdnBIVzZma2JYSG9makZHNXREUFFCdmd3ck44QUtnZ1NlNHhnOTB6R3NsRzhBeDdhYVJwRmk5WjVFX2w5Yk8wcVNXVQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fsydneymulligan&amp;v=DAh31xxrcok"> sydneymulligan</a>  </p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental:</p><p>Sydney &#8594; <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></p><p>Lauren &#8594; <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://fathom.video/?source=agencypartners&amp;ps_partner_key=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ&amp;ps_xid=y3qMzWHGXvADcc&amp;gsxid=y3qMzWHGXvADcc&amp;gspk=c3lkbmV5bXVsbGlnYW43MzQ">https://fathom.partnerlinks.io/dpta8s... </a></p><p>Airtable to manage your data tables of choice workflows: <a href="https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD</a> </p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow">https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow </a>   </p><p>&#128276; Don&#8217;t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!</p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/ </a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[S3.1 We’re Done Pretending LinkedIn Isn’t Embarrassing]]></title><description><![CDATA[This Is Not a Rant (It&#8217;s a Public Service)]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s31-were-done-pretending-linkedin</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/s31-were-done-pretending-linkedin</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lauren Aquilino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:19:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/165133496/9ab6c885f77ebc135382c35ec72d4aff.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="youtube2-_vDrU-yHew8" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;_vDrU-yHew8&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/_vDrU-yHew8?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p><strong><br>Season 3 of Pretty Funny Business is HERE &#8212; and so are the cameras &#128064;</strong> </p><p>New mics. New format. Same unfiltered hosts.</p><ul><li><p>LinkedIn&#8217;s most cringe post formats</p></li><li><p>Brutally honest skills we should endorse each other for</p></li><li><p>Why &#8220;corporate authenticity&#8221; is a lie (but also? kinda fun)</p></li><li><p>A client who smoked a literal pipe on a Zoom call</p></li><li><p>The infamous iTunes gift card scam moment (it&#8217;s real, and it happened live)</p></li></ul><p>We&#8217;re talking about the gap between how people show up online vs. real life, and why LinkedIn is basically Instagram with blazers.</p><p>&#128064; Subscribe for new episodes featuring candid convos, wild work stories, and hot takes on corporate nonsense.</p><p>&#128205; Timestamps</p><p>00:00 "PFB Podcast Video Pilot"</p><p>06:03 Expert Napper</p><p>07:16 "Unfiltered Authenticity"</p><p>10:39 Marketing Help by Emmy Collective</p><p>15:31 Humor Thrives on LinkedIn</p><p>17:48 Socializing &amp; Networking Focus</p><p>20:29 Awkward Encounter with Colleague</p><p>24:48 "Will Aitken's LinkedIn Ambition"</p><p>29:12 Leveraging LinkedIn for Business Opportunities</p><p>32:34 SDR Scammed for iTunes Gift Cards</p><p>33:15 Regretting Lost Meeting Recordings</p><p>36:33 Retro Pipe-Smoking Fascination</p><p>40:56 "Secrets Left Untold"</p><p>&#127897;&#65039; Just us this season. The fits are planned. The takes are spicy.</p><p>Connect with us:</p><p>Lauren &#8594;   <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenaquilino/">laurenaquilino</a></p><p>Sydney &#8594;   <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymulligan/">sydneymulligan</a>  </p><p>&#128087; Try Nuuly and get $30 off your first rental</p><p><strong>Nuuly &#8211; Sydney&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDl6Rm9IU05SeVVyWkFUem5BWmg2NnQ3b0NPd3xBQ3Jtc0ttNFlGR25rU3JXT0tiV3JBN05zU2x6UlJBWExKeDh2NEQ1TWFXeTZlU1RaT0owQ0t0dU1rcmZfUFJPLVdTVVVQUU1NR3RDa3JQaTZ3Sm9Wa3l5TFZSMmkzZDYzYjBxcXFfb3pIZ2Z0c2xNOGxrOGhDUQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fshare.nuuly.com%2Fsydney9937&amp;v=_vDrU-yHew8">https://share.nuuly.com/sydney9937</a></strong></p><p>Nuuly &#8211; Lauren&#8217;s Invite Link: <a href="https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247">https://share.nuuly.com/lauren42247</a></p><p>Try Rent the Runway</p><p>Sydney&#8217;s RTR Link: <a href="https://www.renttherunway.com/shares/671db119003ed70111af06740773c5af9820aacb-payPerSwap-publicLink-1749051041584">https://www.renttherunway.com/shares/671db119003ed70111af06740773c5af9820aacb-payPerSwap-publicLink-1749051041584</a></p><p>&#128736; Tools we swear by (affiliate links &#8211; we earn a small commission):</p><p>Fathom for meeting notes: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0NjekROR1NYTUM5RXcwc0ZnNGhON3otWXlEUXxBQ3Jtc0ttYy10YWlObEgtcVZQRXBaVWo5eXoyTWRINjNPMkRKQ3RtZ0RSQmxGRFpzVXItbFQ0RjlkMGFHN3MtUVN1bzBDcWRBaGtWeS1qUG5PbFNFNVpQTERMNVdjVFU1UHQwM3dQM3A0TUhjQnNaUzZiUDlGdw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Ffathom.partnerlinks.io%2Fdpta8sur4vyw&amp;v=_vDrU-yHew8">https://fathom.partnerlinks.io/dpta8s... </a></p><p>Airtable to manage EVERYTHING: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjN5OTZFdDZaYm43M0d2eWc4QXJvT0hXNkZpZ3xBQ3Jtc0trTGZZR0xFbElxTjViVGUtenNZSnY0WkJlT0hVVmZ2SGtfTnIxendsR3ctV3NDRm01SWJ0dnU3WUgxTTdEWnFRRzhXVmFmUjB0QlFRTHl4M21WektpTG1IMmlWLUcwbU12RnhvRFBQYlNCTXJxOUZnMA&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fairtable.com%2Finvite%2Fr%2FNHkCkkSD&amp;v=_vDrU-yHew8">https://airtable.com/invite/r/NHkCkkSD </a></p><p>Run your whole business like a pro with Google Workspace: <a href="https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow">https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/qEow</a></p><p>&#128276; Don&#8217;t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!</p><p>&#128231; Want to work with us? Find out more at <a href="https://www.emmieco.com/">https://www.emmieco.com/</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Season 3 coming soon...]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stay tuned!]]></description><link>https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/season-3-coming-soon</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/p/season-3-coming-soon</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sydney Mulligan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2025 15:59:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/164654533/7a81d4ba5e461d5b2ef8a7704d8467ea.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Smash that subscribe button so you don&#8217;t miss out on Season 3. Episode 1 drops soon!</p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>