Work Besties Who Podcast

100 Episodes of Work Besties: How it Started vs How it's Going

• Work Besties Who Podcast • Season 3 • Episode 100

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What started as two coworkers laughing through stressful projects somehow turned into 100 episodes of Work Besties Who Podcast.

In this milestone episode, Jess and Claude go back to the beginning: how they met, how their work friendship started, the stressful project that brought them closer, the matching outfits that put them “on the map,” and the chaotic little idea that eventually became this podcast.

They also reflect on what has changed since episode one, what has stayed exactly the same, and why having someone in your corner at work can make all the difference.

This episode is part celebration, part throwback, and part love letter to the Work Besties community.

In this episode, we talk about:

  •  How Jess and Claude first met 
  •  The stressful work project that bonded them 
  •  Why collaboration beats competition 
  •  The matching outfits and inside jokes that became part of their story 
  •  How the podcast idea actually started 
  •  What 100 episodes has taught them 
  •  Why workplace friendships matter more than people realize 

Since this is our 100th episode, we want to hear from you. Tell us your favorite episode, favorite guest, funniest moment, or what you want more of next.

Your Supportive Work Besties,
 Jess & Claude

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Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband

100 Episodes And A Thank You

Jess K

Hi everyone and welcome back to Work Besties Who Podcast.

Claude F

And today feels a little surreal.

Jess K

Because somehow, someway, what started as a crazy little idea between two work besties has turned into 100 episodes.

Claude F

Which is like totally insane. I can't believe it.

Jess K

I don't know about totally, but it is a little insane. Not totally.

Claude F

So today we're celebrating.

Jess K

It's part celebration, part throwback, and part redo. Because let's be honest, if we were to revisit episode one, we aren't exactly doing things the same way.

Claude F

I know, it was still funny. Like the first time we we had those little microphones.

Jess K

I think we actually used my iPhone to record instead of a full recording studio.

Claude F

Totally. Now we are doing it with more stories, more perspective, and a bit more chaos. Yeah, right? Definitely more chaos. So today we are taking you back to the beginning. How we met, how we clicked, and how this whole thing started.

Jess K

And how that one friendship has somehow turned into this podcast and this amazing community. So this is our origin story. 100 episodes later. And because this is a celebration episode, we want this one to be a conversation with you all too. Yes, we really want to have your feedback. Tell us what episodes you've loved, what moments made you laugh, what topics you want more of, and maybe even, if you have any ideas, what guests you'd want us to bring on. And honestly, what you want to see from us next. So you can message us, comment on our post, tag us, send us a DM, stop us in the hallway. Yeah. We really do want to hear from you all.

Claude F

Because if we are celebrating 100, you all are a huge part of that too. Hi, I'm Claude. And I'm Jess. We are corporate employees by day, entrepreneurs by night, and work besties for life.

The First Call And First Click

Jess K

Join us as we explore how work besties lift each other up, laugh through the chaos, and thrive together in every industry. Work besties! Okay, so let's go back to the beginning. Yes, back to the very beginning. Episode one was our first attempt at telling a story of how this all started.

Claude F

And now we can tell it a little bit better. Somewhat better. Yeah. But yeah, I don't know. More clearly?

Jess K

Yes. How about that? Yes, more clearly. So for anyone new here or anyone who just needs the refresher, we actually met before I officially came back to the company we both work at.

Claude F

Yeah, you were a boomerang.

Jess K

That's right. I was the boomerang, which just means I had worked at this company, left work, and came back. Um and before I officially started my part two, second coming, I wanted to talk to someone who was already in the department. And luckily, I got to talk to this person. Uh and I still remember it so vividly. I got on the virtual call with you and looked at you and immediately thought, oh my goodness, this girl is so cool in her leather coat and your red lipstick. I had red lipstick. You had a very bright red lipstick, and it was just so adorable. And then you spoke, and I was like, oh, she's French.

Claude F

What? Thank you. I'm blushing. Also, when I saw you, I think when we started talking and we really had this little connection already, right? Yeah. We started laughing and really talking very naturally.

Jess K

It was almost immediately. I think there wasn't that awkwardness. There it was small talk, let's be real. Well, yeah. We we were kind of still trying to feel each other and get to know each other, but we wasn't forced.

Claude F

No. No. I'm going to say I'm not going to give too much. I don't know if she's coming. But no, I I I I it was a there was a good omen. Have you ever done that before? I don't even know what spurred me to do that. Because I had worked at this company. I know. Meanwhile, okay. Meanwhile, I was there only for a couple of months. Six months. Six months. Six months. So, and you're here. You want to see some to talk to someone when you have more experience in the company than me.

Stressful Projects Turn Into Trust

Jess K

I don't know why in hindsight I did it. Maybe it was Kiss Mitt. It was like, yeah. I knew I needed to meet you, but without it being the first day. I don't know. Um, I guess we should then talk about when we did first start working together.

Claude F

Yeah. We were next to each other for a while.

Jess K

Right. It was also like during the time frame where people were working a little bit more remote, but when we finally did come back, we were got to sit right next to each other. Um we also got to start working on projects together, even though we're we're in on the same team but in different elements of the team.

Claude F

Yeah, we had the same boss.

Jess K

I don't know about you, but I do think when we started to work on the projects, that's that's when things really started to gel between the two of us.

Claude F

Totally. That's when it happens because we were like so stressed. And we started laughing through it. And I think that's what brought us really close to each other because we helped each other. And that was the beginning of really that strong friendship where it was about helping each other and not trying to outdo the other.

Jess K

Yeah, we hear this a lot on the pod when the things that bond you the most tend to be traumatic. Well, or at least stressful situations. Hopefully they're not super traumatic, but at stressful situations and working on a project together can in general be stressful. Under certain environments, it can make it even more stressful.

Claude F

But I have to say, I worked in the past before with counterparts because we are counterparts. We're the same job but different brand or whatever. And I have to say, sometimes I did see there was this notion of wanting to outdo the other. Oh, even that's we really are.

Jess K

Working on the same project, you could see they're still trying to like one out.

Claude F

Or even not the same project. You have the same boss, one will want to try, and I can't stand that.

Jess K

Yeah.

Claude F

And you and I really from the start, I didn't feel that. Right. And we were actually helping each other. And I always say yin and yang, but your strength was my weakness, and my strength was your weakness. So it was really be able to work together and for the best.

Jess K

That's true. And maybe that's actually why that particular stressful project worked so well for bonding us, was because we didn't have the time where we both could like learn. We both are like, you do the part you're good at, I do the part I'm good at. Come back together and then figure it out. So you're right. I think that did help gel the work styles together. And I I agree. I think the element that sets you apart no matter what, whether you're trying to have a work bestie or be a work bestie with somebody, is ensuring that when you work with projects or work with people, there isn't ego involved. Yeah. I think that's what I would call it, right? Because like we're not always trying to one-up you, but there's an element of still feeling like or wanted to keep the information for for yourself.

Claude F

And that's silly. Right.

Jess K

It's all about being collaborative, exactly not aggressive against each other. Right. Yeah. To your point, we were stressed, so we worked a lot of late nights. It might have been because we were late at night and sleep deprived, but there was a lot of giggling. Yes. Uh, which helped to alleviate the stress. So I even though it was a stressful time, I don't have negative thoughts on it. I think I look back on it.

Claude F

Yeah, and with fondness. I mean, not why it's not a good one. Not like I want to do it again. No, what not why it happens. Why it happens sucked. Yeah, yeah. But now remembering it's like with fondness, right? That was the beginning of a great friendship and a great story. And such a lot of laughter.

Jess K

Lots of laughter. We were serious at times, but definitely lots of laughter. Yeah, so I think I I that pro that particular project that I'm thinking of really did solidify it for us. Um, but what I think it really did was create that real support system between the two of us. Because then we did start the official moving from just talking about work stuff to personal. To personal created this like instant trust for us.

Claude F

Yeah, and friendship. That's when we became from work besty, well, still work bestie, but from work besty to friend. Right, right, right. And also I have to say that what helped us also is that trying to do that competition, we actually we lean into the computer. We did the opposite. We totally did the opposite. Like when I had a template, I'm like, hey, this is the template I'm doing, here you are, and and vice versa was the same thing, right? Yeah, yeah, you're right.

Jess K

I think that was an interesting predicament. I don't know that that always hopefully that doesn't always happen. Hopefully the the boss of the team will encourage people to to learn from each other. But I agree, if they say the opposite, do what we did, still talk with them because it worked.

Claude F

Yeah, it's easy to go into their game, but yeah, don't, it's not worth it. You we get we were even stronger.

Jess K

I think you can see the sense of humor between the two of us. It can be dangerous at times, very dangerous.

Matching Outfits Make Office History

Claude F

Okay, talking about ridiculousness. Yes. What was something that was kind of ridiculous that we did, but funny.

Jess K

I have something in mind. Well, we haven't stopped doing it. We just haven't done it in a long time, I think. Right? What? I'm assuming it's the matching outfit. Yes. Yes. We became, I think when people didn't even really I'm sure they knew we were friendly, but I don't think anyone knew we were as close to friends until we show up to a big work function wearing matching tracksuits. Hold on.

Claude F

1980s. It was the yeah, well, it was the wing.

Jess K

It was an 80s theme party fairness. So it's like we just chose 80s out of random.

Claude F

Meanwhile, you had all those people that were like the 1980, like, you know, the Madonna with the like very cool thing and fishnet and the big. Meanwhile, we come with horrible blonde wigs.

Jess K

Huge blonde puffy wigs. Fried and dyed. Like this dyed and like uh what is that? It's not a perm. It was like frizz perm. Yes. Crimped, crimped hair. That's what it was. It was like crimped hair.

Claude F

And then this horrible 1980s swimsuit. Oh, swimsuit. Swimsuit. God, no. No, that that would have been. That's a different, that's a different one. That's kind of a different work event. Yeah. Um, but tracksuit. Tracksuit. Oh my god, it was so funny.

Jess K

And we got the big gaudy like gold chains. You were heels, right? I wore heels. I went full in and wore like my Run DMC Adidas speakers.

Claude F

I wore because we were in Miami. So I wanted to be easy. The chic, you know. Oh, I went full in. Yeah, no, I want like high heels. Uh God, it was so much fun. It was a lot of fun.

Jess K

And it definitely put us on the map.

Claude F

It did on the map, for sure.

Jess K

Uh, I think after that, that's when things definitely changed dramatically from the work perspective of people realizing just how close we were. And after that happened, if you recall, anytime we would walk into meetings together, there would be comments. Oh yeah. Don't let those two sit next to each other. Or goodness forbid, in the middle of a meeting, we looked at each other. People were looking at us. People would be like, What's that hidden meeting? Yeah. And like it's why you're like I like I'm like, it's because the person was talking. It wasn't like I was just singling God as she was talking.

Claude F

So there was no meaning behind the question. Or even sometimes when they were like, I was by myself, say, why's Jess? Oh yeah. Or why is Claude? Meanwhile, I could answer too. The majority of the time. Not always. But quite often. Yeah. And then one that I love, one of the outfits that we did. No, back to the outfits. I think you're still gonna go with that? Yeah, that was the my favorite outfit. The twins. Oh, from the shining. The shining. That was fun.

Jess K

Yes. It didn't work well when we were separate, though. We were together though. During the day, but then I had to go pick up my daughter afterwards, and people were like, Why are you dressed like a doll?

Claude F

And there was a um town hall, right? And we came both of us together.

Word Of The Week Mayhem

Jess K

Together just to make it really creepy. That worked fun. We highly recommend dress like dress alike. We've done it a couple other times. Yeah, I guess we've crossed that line from friendships to fully coordinated outfits. We can repost some pictures out there to remind you all. So you love the matching outfits. The thing that I love that we kind of abandoned because we didn't get as much support from people. You know what I'm gonna say, right? What is it? The word of the week. Or words. We used to do words of the week. We started, this is the joke just between the two of us. And we started it way before the podcast where we would just each week, I don't even know how we came up with it. I think maybe it was like a TikTok or Instagram or something, or an article I read. I don't know. Um, we would send each other each a word the month the Monday morning. Well, we was one word from each. Yeah. And then somehow throughout the meetings we both collectively were in, you would have to try to incorporate those words in. And the words weren't like normal words. It wasn't like PowerPoint. Although one of them wasn't it like Excel guru or something. We tried to make them bizarre. Well, my favorite though is still you put out the word koala bear, and we were at a meeting. The very first one. We went out working with a uh like in the same within the first five minutes of us being in a meeting. You somehow incorporated into koala bear. Do you slept really well? Did you sleep like a koala? Koala bear. We were both in the meeting, and it wasn't to me, it was to somebody else. And then I have to sit there with a straight face. But then I wasn't done. Done and done. If they were that I think I had to have put myself on mute. The poor guy who was like, I guess, I don't know how a quantum.

Claude F

Oh, he was like, oh yeah. And then we tried to do it on Instagram also, like a story. Oh yeah, with the Web Bestie community. Yeah, I am abandoned because I don't know if it was worth it. Let us know if you want to redo it. I think it's funny.

The Podcast Idea Becomes Real

Jess K

Yeah, we'd love to hear from you all if anyone ever did it or incorporated or even noticed that we had those out there. Because you would post them like super early Monday, right? Yeah, 8 a.m. So we should probably get to our true origin story of not just how we met, but the podcast. So the origin story within System. The origin story.

Claude F

I'm going to tell you how it happened. All right. One day we thought that we, like even now, we thought that we were so much fun, right? We were so funny. So we were laughing all the time, and we were always saying, oh my goodness, we should have our own reality TV TV or whatever.

Jess K

And people would really want to follow us around. Yeah. What a boring show. Oh, here she is again, complaining. Anyway. Wow, Jessica's doing another PowerPoint. Ribeting.

Claude F

Oh, God knows how to do a next lookup. Finally.

Jess K

She'll get it this time. She'll get it. Anyway.

Claude F

Back to the origin of the story. Back the origin story. So we thought we were so funny or whatever. Oh, we should do that. And then Jess came, oh, we should do a podcast. I'm like, yeah, ha ha ha. Good one. No, I didn't say it.

Jess K

Somebody else in the office said it. Really? Yes. Because you and I were cackling over something. I can't remember what. But you and I were cackling so much. And then this individual was like, you guys should do a podcast. And I was like, that would be so much more entertaining and fun than a reality TV show. Yeah. And then you were like, could you imagine? I was like, I cackled. And the day after there was the world best tea. Domain.

Claude F

Domain and that email addresses. And then we did that. Photo should photo shoot.

Jess K

We did a photo shoot together, also with matching outfits.

Claude F

That's right. I forgot. We got it. It's matching outfits. The one where it's like the 1970 type. Is it 870 or 80? The JC Penny.

Jess K

I think it's more 80s. It's more 80s. But it's more 80s. Like glamour shots, but through JC Penny. Yeah. It's like The Rock with his lacter on it, the jeans. The fanny. The fanny back. The jeans that are like definitely stonewash color. Oh yeah. Anyway, so that that is how it started. After that, we'd started to test the waters. We didn't quite know how to do how to do it.

Claude F

And I have to say kudos kudos to you. Because you're really the force behind it. Force is probably a good one. It was a nice strong arm. You're doing this. Okay. I'm like, ah. There's like 3,000 tags.

Jess K

And then the last one is, oh hi. Good morning. Good morning. I don't even start with morning. I'm like, don't forget this. Don't forget that.

Claude F

All right. I want to give what is it? The expression? Thanks where is due. Thanks for thanks is due. Something like that. Anyway. It wasn't that, but you know the jest. Because you're really the force behind it.

Lessons From 100 Episodes

Jess K

You're using that word again. Sure. I don't know if that force sounds as nice as you think it does. It does. It's a nice thing. All right. So now that we're a hundred episodes in, what do you feel is different?

Claude F

I feel that we have much more of our stuff together. Yeah, yeah. Especially than the first year, with there's the consistency. Consistency, intention.

Jess K

That's right, because season one, if anyone does go back, did we have a two-month hiatus? I think we had like a month or two hiatus. Yeah. Like a good six, eight weeks where I just could we couldn't get our act together. Yeah. It was hard, yeah.

Claude F

I don't know.

Jess K

For anyone that is starting a podcast, find people who had started a podcast and connect with them before we started. We just went full held to head in. We didn't need no shallow water. Oh no. Don't they eyeball the little thing? Yeah. All in. Well then and then we learn each time, right? Like, yeah. You um I think we did a couple things right off the gate. I mean, we did a lot of things right, but um, we had I think we had done all that one stuff.

Claude F

Uh Ralph. Yeah. Do you think some from Ralph Lantini? But I have to say also what I enjoyed in this whole thing, of course, is being next to you, but it's also meeting all those people. Right.

Jess K

All those which again, I think that those that are interested in being in the podcasting community, like hosting guesting, definitely reach out to those who are doing it because it's a very welcoming community. They are some of the nicest people I've ever met. Yeah. I I don't know that we've had anyone turn us down or not at least want to talk to us. Even the whole you learn so much from everybody.

Claude F

So even the guests, right?

Jess K

Meeting those guests. Great. I learned so much. Right. That's what I'm saying. Not just the ho other hosts, guests. No, no, no. I would say that that's definitely a game changer for sure.

Claude F

And I would um maybe if it's not force, it's admiration.

Jess K

It's the word of the week, isn't it? All right, that was very sweet. Even if you didn't mean it. But thank you. Oh, I admire you.

Claude F

No fairness, yes. Because once you know something, we both have admiration for each other.

Jess K

And it goes back to what you stated before the ying and the yang. Like there's so many things that you are really good at that I'm not, and vice versa. Okay, come on. There's I can name a few things. So I don't want to admit it on air because I have the the opposite of self-impos imposter syndrome. I have on the sociopath, according to one of our past guests. I want to comment that what I think has changed the most from episode one to episode 100. You ready for this one? The community, the people that we are podcasting with and that have reached out to us, who listen to us, who come and give us feedback. I I feel like is such a cool, unique thing. Um we learn so much from them that as they learn from us, the guests included. I think a lot of times you can hear on the podcast how we actually bring guests on that can help us. That's true. So it's bettering me as well as those that we are in our community. Because I think it it helps that make authentic. Right. We're not alone. When we have conversations about people who spend too much time on their phone, we're not the only Only ones.

Claude F

Speaking for a friend.

Speed Round And Bestie Energy

Jess K

Right. Who those who don't sleep at night and then decide to do a crazy amount of work. We're not the only one. Like somebody else out there will reach out and tell me, like, Jess, you're not the only one. I do that too. So I think it's really cool to have this like unique community that's willing to reach out. And I hope we are sharing back with you all how much that means to us and what all your feedback has provided to us because it's been instrumental. I feel each season we're getting better and better. This latest season, I I am so thrilled with because it's showcased to me. When we listen to all of you and we incorporate your direct feedback, your specific asks about what keeps you up at night or what challenges you're dealing with. We've gotten so much more engagement because of it. Yeah, yeah, no, totally. So it's it's helped, it's helped us and it's I'm I'm loving it. All right. Should we do something that you know I love doing? I incorporate it every once in a blue moon. Oh, the speed round. Yeah. Haven't done it in a long time. So let's do another little type of speed round. All right, let's go. Okay. So who was more likely to take a funny idea and turn it into an actual plan?

Claude F

You.

Jess K

Correct. Who pretended to be a little hesitant, but was secretly already fully in?

Claude F

Me!

Jess K

Also correct! What has changed the most since episode one?

Claude F

We're more confident. We can talk more. Like we don't use a script as much, which at the beginning, especially the first one or the second one, you can see you can even kind of listen at one point.

Jess K

There was like paper flipping in one of them, or it's more free-flowing. So since episode one, what has not changed at all?

Claude F

Uh we giggle all the time. We still giggle.

Jess K

That's what I had was that we laugh a lot.

Claude F

So now, yes. Who is more likely to take something small and make it a full production? Oh, that's totally me. Yep. Who is more likely to say one sentence that steals the whole episode? You.

Jess K

Really? Yes. I feel like I would do hours of research and then you ask one silly question or make one silly comment. I'm like, that that's the highlight. Thank you.

Claude F

Who is more likely to keep the chaos moving? Both of us. Kind of like take turns.

Community Gratitude And Requests

Jess K

Tick dick turn. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know that it's necessarily one who does it fully. I like what you say. It's like it depends. It ebbs and flows. One thing that we we never really share is when you are doing podcasts, it is so fun and energizing. But sometimes it can be tiring too. The good news is like we feed off of each other and you're just tired or have had a rough day. Yeah. The other one usually picks up the slap without even one of us saying anything. Yeah, dude. You can sense it. We can sense it. That's the power of a work bestie. Okay. So hundred episodes deep. Woohoo. There was a lot of laughs, there was a lot of stories, there was a lot of matching outfits, insides jokes. And a lot of serious conversation as well. For sure. And a lot of amazing guests, too. Yeah, exactly. So it started as a friendship, and now our work bestie story continues with it. For another 100. With a community of people who seem to get it.

Claude F

People who understand that work friendships matter. And that support matters. That having somebody in your corner can really change everything.

Jess K

So to everyone who has listened, shared, supported, laughed with us, and kept showing up, we just want to say thank you.

Claude F

Yeah. Thank you from the bottom of our heart. You are a huge part of why we've made it to 100. And since this is our 100th, we really want to hear from you.

Jess K

So tell us your favorite episode, moment, guest, or even the funniest thing that Claude has said.

Claude F

And tell us what you want more of. So does that mean more work stories? We are building this with you, and your feedback really does help shape what comes next.

Jess K

So please do comment, DM us, tag us, send us your thoughts, write ratings and reviews help us too. Because if you're on this ride with us, you are a part of this 100 episode. Even if you don't want to. Even if Jessica's stronger.

Final Work Bestie Sendoff

Claude F

And here's to 100 episodes. Here's to what comes next. And to all the work besties out there. Remember, keep supporting each other.

Jess K

Bye! Remember, whether you're swapping snacks in the break room, rescuing each other from endless meetings, or just sending that perfectly timed meme. Having a work bestie is like having your own personal hype squad.

Claude F

So keep lifting each other up, laughing through the chaos, and of course, thriving. Until next time, stay positive, stay productive, and don't forget to keep supporting each other.

Jess K

Work besties!

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Claude F

Co-host
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Jess K

Co-host