Trash Talk: Where Self-Help Cliches Go to Die
What if the so-called “truths” about growth and success are actually keeping you playing small?
On Trash Talk, hosts Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas unpack empty platitudes and tired cliches that dominate the business and personal development world. These ideas might be popular, but that doesn’t mean they’re useful.
Who listens to Trash Talk?
- Skeptics and Questioners of hollow advice
- Those asking why self-help advice fails
- People done with toxic self-help culture
- Anyone who wants a place to finally talk openly about all the advice that makes you roll your eyes
Trash Talk: Where Self-Help Cliches Go to Die
"Work Hard, Play Hard" with Meghan French Dunbar
What does “work hard, play hard” really mean and why won’t it die?
In this episode of Trash Talk, Erica and Erin sit down with Meghan French Dunbar, author and co-founder of Conscious Company Media, to unpack the cultural myth of “work hard, play hard.”
Drawing on Meghan’s new book, “This isn’t Working,” this conversation explores how play has been commodified, as well as why, despite our best efforts, hustle culture from decades ago still sneaks into modern work.
Don’t forget to leave us a review and call the hotline to share your favorite or most cringe-worthy cliches:
719-819-2175
Show Notes & Links
Buy Megan’s Book, “This Isn’t Working”
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/meghan-french-dunbar/this-isnt-working/9781541704862/
Visit Megan’s Website https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/
Subscript to Megan’s podcast, “Better Than This”
https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/betterthanthis
Follow Erica Breuer: LinkedIn
Follow Erin Thomas: LinkedIn
Visit the Trash Talk Website: Buzzsprout
Citations
The Normal Instructor and Teachers’ World, Vol. 32, 1923, p. 92.
Quoted in The Rotarian, Vol. 77, No. 3, Sept. 1950, p. 35.
Work Hard, Play Hard? With Megan French Dunbar
Trash Talk Podcast — Episode 19 | September 2025
Episode Summary
In this episode of Trash Talk, Erica and Erin sit down with Megan French Dunbar, social impact leader and co-founder of Conscious Company Media. Together, they dissect the cultural obsession with “work hard, play hard.” The conversation explores how hustle culture still sneaks into modern work, why play has been commodified, and how leaders can redefine success in healthier, more human ways. Expect sharp takes, cultural context, and a few laughs along the way.
Table of Contents
- Intro
- Main Topic 1: The Myth of Work Hard, Play Hard
- Main Topic 2: How Play Became Performance
- Guest Interview Highlights: Megan French Dunbar
- Key Takeaways
- Call to Action
Intro
Welcome back to Trash Talk. Today, we’re getting into a phrase that just won’t die: “work hard, play hard.” It’s been around since the 1980s corporate boom, but somehow it still lurks in job postings, LinkedIn humblebrags, and startup culture. We’re asking: why do we still believe this lie, and what’s the cost of living by it?
Main Topic 1: The Myth of Work Hard, Play Hard
The phrase “work hard, play hard” positions work as the ultimate justification for rest or joy. It assumes productivity comes first and leisure only gets earned afterward. The problem? That framing feeds the same hustle-culture hamster wheel we keep pretending we’ve escaped.
People still brag about being “work hard, play hard” types because it signals ambition and edge. But underneath, it’s often just burnout wrapped in a shiny bow. You can’t actually balance extremes of overwork and overstimulation without paying the price—physically, mentally, and socially.
Main Topic 2: How Play Became Performance
Play has stopped being play when it’s measured by output. Think about how we talk about workouts, vacations, or hobbies: are they relaxing, or are they “maximized”? Even downtime has been turned into a competitive sport—tracked, optimized, and posted.
This shift makes play another form of labor, rather than genuine rest or joy. It blurs the line between “living fully” and “performing fullness,” leaving little room for people to just exist without proving anything.
Guest Interview Highlights: Megan French Dunbar
Megan French Dunbar brings her unique perspective as co-founder of Conscious Company Media and a leader in the social impact space. Some of her insights include:
- Why “work hard, play hard” became an unspoken rule in startup and impact communities.
- The hidden costs of hustling for change while burning yourself out.
- How founders and leaders can model healthier approaches to ambition.
- The importance of redefining success beyond nonstop productivity.
Key Takeaways
- Work hard, play hard” is less a lifestyle and more a productivity myth.
- Hustle culture didn’t vanish; it rebranded through wellness, lifestyle perks, and optimization.
- Play should be restorative, not another way to prove worth.
- Success without sustainability is just burnout waiting to happen.
- Megan French Dunbar reminds us that impact and wellbeing don’t have to be at odds.
Call to Action
If this conversation hit a nerve, subscribe to Trash Talk wherever you get your podcasts. Leave us a review so more people can find the show, and share this episode with someone who’s still chasing that “work hard, play hard” dream.
OR
Leave us a review and call the hotline to share your favorite or most cringe-worthy cliches:
719-819-2175
Show Notes & Links
Buy Megan’s Book, “This Isn’t Working”
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/meghan-french-dunbar/this-isnt-working/9781541704862/
Visit Megan’s Website https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/
Subscript to Megan’s podcast, “Better Than This”
https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/betterthanthis
Follow Erica Breuer: LinkedIn
Follow Erin Thomas: LinkedIn
Visit the Trash Talk Website: Buzzsprout
Citations
The Normal Instructor and Teachers’ World, Vol. 32, 1923, p. 92.
Quoted in The Rotarian, Vol. 77, No. 3, Sept. 1950, p. 35.
