What authenticity at work really means

Work shouldn’t be the worst part of your week — but for too many people, it still is. In this episode of Toot or Boot, Stacey Nordwall talks with Madison Butler — author of Let Them See You — about what it really means to show up as yourself at work, even when systems weren’t built for you. Together, they unpack authenticity, burnout, boundaries, and what happens when companies say they value “culture fit” but really mean “sameness.” Madison shares the story that sparked her journey toward radical authenticity — from code-switching and corporate conformity to refusing to straighten her hair for anyone again — and how that moment changed everything. She and Stacey get candid about navigating fear-based leadership, detaching self-worth from productivity, and finding joy when the world (and the workplace) keeps serving chaos. It’s real talk about identity, healing, and humanity at work — the messy, necessary kind that actually makes things better. Key Takeaways: Authenticity isn’t about performance — it’s about liberation. “Culture fit” is just code for exclusion; hire for value add. Fear-based leadership thrives because it protects power, not people. You can’t heal burnout inside the system that caused it. Detaching your worth from work is an act of resistance. Boundaries are a form of self-preservation, not rebellion. Leaders set the tone — your behavior teaches your team what’s safe. Joy at work isn’t frivolous; it’s fuel for survival. Therapy isn’t a luxury — it’s a leadership skill. Creating space for real humans makes better work, period. Timestamps: 00:00 — Why work shouldn’t send you to therapy 02:00 — How Madison learned to show up as herself 06:00 — The moment she stopped code-switching at work 10:00 — The myth of “authenticity” on social media 15:00 — Burnout, dopamine, and chasing the next thing 20:00 — Fear-based leadership and caring less (on purpose) 23:00 — Detaching identity from job titles 28:00 — Culture fit vs. value add: the truth 33:00 — Likability bias and who gets punished for honesty 36:00 — Leading with joy when everything’s on fire Top Keywords: authenticity at work, burnout recovery, fear-based leadership, work identity, culture fit vs value add, psychological safety, trauma-informed leadership, HR and mental health, joy at work, boundaries and burnout