Our Farewell for Kailey Savona

Speaker A: Foreign. Uh,

Speaker B: Welcome to the recognition. My name's Neely, and I'm here one last time with Kaylee Savona Keeley.

Speaker A: Don't say it like that.

Speaker B: Hi.

Speaker A: I'm. Good.

Speaker B: Good. We're coming in, uh, a little undertoned, uh, on this. So, um, Kaylee, unfortunately, uh, will be leaving recognition here, uh, very soon. So, uh, what we thought we would do, since you've obviously been an OG on the podcast, is dedicated a little bit of time just, uh, to look back, to thank you, and to wish you farewell. So, um, this is the farewell episode. This is our first farewell episode, hopefully.

Speaker A: Uh, it's funny, as I went back and was listening to episodes, there have been people that we've had on that have left, but.

Speaker B: But never with a chance to get

Speaker A: a farewell, not with a chance to have a farewell episode. So I'm very honored.

Speaker B: I mean, it's part of your VIP treatment as an og. You get a dedication. So, uh, yeah. So basically, there's nothing of substance here other than just reflecting on the time and the contributions that you've made to the podcast and go back over some memories and, uh, at least have a little bit of, uh, a time capsule for the time spent here. So you spent some time going down memory lane on, uh, previous year's episodes. So, uh, wonder, could you share some of your favorite moments?

Speaker A: Absolutely. I listened all the way back to 2022 and 2023, so I focused on the really early years of the podcast, which, first of all, um, wow, I sounded different a couple years ago. I think I was also just so nervous when we first started that I sounded different. You could tell that I wasn't super comfortable podcasting yet, but then I could hear myself gaining a little bit more of that confidence. Um, and we bantered so much. We talked a lot about breakfast.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: Like, I found at least five episodes where we talked about breakfast. Sweet breakfast, bagels, eggs Benedict. Like, you had an eggs Benedict joke. Yeah, that was fun. Yeah. So a lot of breakfast. Uh, I think one of the funniest things I came across was we talked about New Year's resolutions. And one of your resolutions one year was to drink 100 ounces of water every day.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: And you. We talked about how hard that was for you. And by the end of it, we were saying, we're not drinking water next year. It's big water. It's big water pushing an agenda on us. So just listening back, it was so fun and nostalgic to hear all of our goofy little moments. Um, yeah, just A lot of good banters in there.

Speaker B: That's awesome.

Speaker A: We talked about. We talked in accents at one point. Well, I talked in an accent. And you claim to have used to be able to talk like the Grinch and then you didn't do it. So giving you the opportunity to do it now.

Speaker B: No, I'm not.

Speaker A: Um, we also talked about sports a lot. We had your game, which was. Is it a sport, a feat of strength, or a game.

Speaker B: That's right.

Speaker A: And so we listed through, which still

Speaker B: could be in all time. We're hanging out.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: And just run down the list.

Speaker A: It's a really good debate. It. And I think you could get some. Some really heated debates from, um, that game for sure. Um, what else do we have? You had a bunch of space facts like how fast the Earth is rotating and how fast we're going through the galaxy. So I just love all your random facts. Um, at one point, you shared a story as well. Um, about accidentally getting your mom put you on the wrong bus in middle school.

Speaker B: Oh, my gosh.

Speaker A: And that was a wild one to. Yeah. Uh, listen back to just the idea of that happening now. Um, just. Would it. Yeah, it wouldn't be. Wouldn't be acceptable for parents just for you to be put in a random car. Um, we talked about food. I mean, food was common, not just breakfast.

Speaker B: Why do you think that is, Kaylee?

Speaker A: I love food. I really do love food. We talked about rainy day food. We talked about ice cream. And you know, our favorite ice cream from the ice cream truck. Um, yeah, more just your fun facts. You gave me the history of the word hello, uh, at one point. And then. Which was apparently when the telephone was invented. Uh, it was supposed to be ahoy. And then that just didn't catch on. Uh, and then this is fitting for this being Halloween week, you told me what the word boo means.

Speaker B: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker A: I am alerting.

Speaker B: That's right.

Speaker A: I love ghosts are just see alerting everybody. Yeah, it's kind of cute.

Speaker B: That's right.

Speaker A: I love it. So much fun stuff.

Speaker B: So that's all, like, banter stuff. That's like you and I just making stuff up. Um, and I say that to say this, like, most people think that a podcast is, like, about the content. Like, what is the. Like, who's your guest and what are the facts and what are you sharing and doing? All things. And I'm looking back at some of these stats in the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 in our top seven episodes of all time that have been downloaded. Mhm only two of them. Do we have guests? Oh, the other ones are just us.

Speaker A: So we're just that good.

Speaker B: I think we're interested.

Speaker A: I think we bring some good info and some fun topics for surely.

Speaker B: Would you have a guess at what is the most downloaded episode with a guest and who that guest was?

Speaker A: Was it my dad?

Speaker B: It was your dad, yeah. Amazing. And now I'm wondering if John just listens to this all the time.

Speaker A: Oh, he does. Hi dad.

Speaker B: So it's just like he's our.

Speaker A: He's a very, uh, loyal listener.

Speaker B: Okay, so the third of all of these listens is just, you know.

Speaker A: Most certainly, yeah.

Speaker B: On the treadmill. Just like, you know, I like hearing myself talk. Just kidding. Um, yeah. So what about. So let's get to that. So of the guests, I know you didn't prepare for this. Of the guests, like what conversation? Because we've talked to a lot of people over the years that are not necessarily from like different parts, uh, of the industry. We're all kind of connected towards making work better. But like, did anybody stand out to you? Is there somebody you're still connected with today that like, you're following their stuff and like, are still genuinely interested beyond just like that initial interview?

Speaker A: Yeah, um, Keri Wilson stands. Mhm. Out. And we're still connected today. She actually, she's so sweet. She sent me a gift, um, when I started my own business a couple months ago. So we're still connected as both in a professional sense and personally. I mean we've run into each other playing volleyball, so that's kind of fun. Like we literally had her on the podcast. Um, but yeah, I think her episode sticks out just because it was really cool to hear from a woman in a male dominated industry and what that's like.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: M. And then kind of along the same lines. The Steve Huizenga episode like still sticks out to me. Just the non traditional hiring and yeah, there's, there's so many good episodes though I could go on and on about. Yes, for sure.

Speaker B: So I'm, I'm going even though I'm not leaving. Um, I think two things stand out to me from an episode standpoint. One was our talk with John Brickner. Do you remember why it's notable, um, that I would think of John Brickner?

Speaker A: Oh, you, you definitely messed up the recording, didn't you?

Speaker B: So he came in.

Speaker A: Yeah, the office.

Speaker B: Great. Um, from Steelcase. Um, and it was like, okay, you're gonna come in. I got this fancy equipment, we're gonna record it. You're gonna be Our first outside guest.

Speaker A: 1. Wasn't he on the podcast?

Speaker B: It's gonna be legit, right? So we spend like an hour and a half. Right. And then he leaves. And then I go to record or, uh, to edit. I forgot to press play or record.

Speaker A: Yep. Just nothing captured.

Speaker B: And I'm like, oh, I, I am not cut out for this. Like, literally there's one button to push and then you just go. And I forgot to do it. So I had to immediately call him and we re recorded and all the things. So that was notable just because, like an immediately humbling moment.

Speaker A: So humbling. I mean, we both had moments like that I recorded over a bunch of audio that we had at shrm of people coming up and saying thank you to somebody.

Speaker B: But that's like you're remote, like you're doing it out in the wild.

Speaker A: True. But you know, we, we had those moments.

Speaker B: Yeah. And then Ken Bogard, uh, with no honesty. I just think that was interesting because, uh, that was another face to face conversation. Um, and just because of the subject matter and all the things, it just felt like Ken has a way of like, looking into your soul. And I don't know, it didn't make me uncomfortable. I was like, okay, this guy's for real. Like, he's doing what he needs to be doing. And, um, anyway, just building connections with those folks that, you know, we're maybe spending 30 minutes of pre production before we get on and hit record. So it's these little brief interactions. But, like, it's just amazing all the little connections we made, like internationally, like globally.

Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. And I actually, I, as I was listening back, I remembered that a couple years ago, I actually visited Natalie Budu and Switzerland because I was there after we had chatted, um, I went to her house and connected with her. So just so cool that we met all these people from everywhere.

Speaker B: It's amazing.

Speaker A: It's amazing.

Speaker B: Okay, I've got a little game. Um, so of course the banter is, as we call it is just the opening, like, warm, uh, up question. They're typically random because it's me and I'm typically random. So I gathered a couple of these and I'm wondering if I ask you, I guess, how do you want to play this? I'm going to ask you the question then. Do you want to answer it as you would today, or do you want to try to guess how you answered it before?

Speaker A: Maybe I can do a quick hitter of both. Like, I probably said this before and it stands or this is how it changed.

Speaker B: Okay, are you ready? Question number one. You can only have three apps on your phone. What would they be?

Speaker A: Oh, I do remember talking about this one. Um, goodness. Let me think of what I would say now because you know what's funny is I think I forgot about half the apps that would be important. Like phone and messages. It feels like cuz. Yeah, it feels like, Gosh, is that all I. Yeah. Camera phone messages. I don't know what I had said. Did I have. Did I choose like something more fun?

Speaker B: Uh, you said the bank app.

Speaker A: Oh.

Speaker B: Which I thought was interesting, you know.

Speaker A: Yeah, don't need that.

Speaker B: And then you went Pokemon.

Speaker A: Unnecessary. Did I? Actually, I do still occasionally play Pokemon Go. But no, it can't be.

Speaker B: Okay. It couldn't be just the essentials.

Speaker A: The essentials only these days.

Speaker B: Okay, what item do you hope will be obsolete in 20 years?

Speaker A: Oh, I have no idea what I said.

Speaker B: Cars.

Speaker A: Cars. Oh, you know what? This is just definitely David and I were talking about, you know, let's just make everything walkable. Maybe that still stands. No cars. But it's pretty nice to be able to go pretty far in a car, huh?

Speaker B: You ever gone fast before? And it was in a car.

Speaker A: And now my boyfriend drives a Tesla, so we get to go zoom, zoom. And like, why would I not want to do that anymore?

Speaker B: If you could attend any celebrity wedding, what would it be?

Speaker A: Oh, this was a question you asked.

Speaker B: Mhm.

Speaker A: So my answer now would definitely be Taylor Swift's wedding, because that has yet to happen. Right. They just got engaged.

Speaker B: Like, oh, I thought they did it.

Speaker A: Did they already do it?

Speaker B: Didn't they?

Speaker A: I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. But at the very least, either retroactively or future weddings, because I mean, that's gotta, it's gonna be huge. And I can't imagine like the. All the celebrities that would be there. What was my answer back then?

Speaker B: John Krasinski.

Speaker A: Oh, I do love John Krasinski. What a random answer.

Speaker B: I think you wanted to see the cast of the Office.

Speaker A: Oh, probably the entire cast of the Office and any of the movies he's been in. Yeah.

Speaker B: All right, these are gonna. This is the last, uh, funny one. Um, Is a hot dog a sandwich?

Speaker A: No. And I, I hope I said no.

Speaker B: You said no. You classified it as taco adjacent.

Speaker A: Oh, yeah, because it's connect. The bun's connected at the bottom.

Speaker B: That's right.

Speaker A: But if the bun breaks, does it become a sandwich? No, no, no, because it's a, It's a wiener.

Speaker B: You can't just like make up your rules and then immediately break.

Speaker A: You're right.

Speaker B: Um, okay, what would you put in your kangaroo pouch?

Speaker A: Okay, that one was more recent. Um, I think I probably said I wanted food in there. Some snacks.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: And I still want snacks. I mean, my cat maybe.

Speaker B: You did not mention, uh, the cat.

Speaker A: I think someone else mentioned animals and I was like, oh, maybe I should put my cat in there. But I don't think he would like it.

Speaker B: Earl did not make the cut.

Speaker A: Earl. Sorry, Earl.

Speaker B: Um, but drinks did. And m. Now that you're leaving, you mentioned alcohol quite a bit on the podcast.

Speaker A: I also noticed that I talk about fancy cocktails, bars and.

Speaker B: Mhm.

Speaker A: And other stuff.

Speaker B: Your invention was long drinks. You put all the sugar freeze in one cake. Like.

Speaker A: Yeah. And even though they did.

Speaker B: Yeah, it's just like. I don't know, it's.

Speaker A: You're fine, it's fine. I'm like not even 30.

Speaker B: Exactly. Yeah. What's the harm? Um, okay. If your life is specifically written to teach you a lesson, what is that lesson?

Speaker A: Wait, so is this one you've asked before?

Speaker B: It is.

Speaker A: Wow, what a good one. What a deep one. You see, you could probably ask me these every year and I would not remember.

Speaker B: I'm learning that now. My memory just re racked.

Speaker A: You could have recycled all the time. Um, the lesson that my life is teaching me, I think the lesson that life has taught me so far has been to not take it too seriously. And that nothing, you know, nothing, Nothing is ever 100% the way you think it's going to go. And that's cool. So I don't know. What did I. What was my answer before?

Speaker B: Yeah, pretty consistent.

Speaker A: Okay.

Speaker B: Nothing in life is 100.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Uh, I think based on the timing of that, I think that was more like.

Speaker A: Mhm.

Speaker B: Certain relationships are not going to be there and all the things. But then it's also. You get back the energy you put in.

Speaker A: Yes. Oh yeah, that still stands for sure. I'm a huge energy person. I think that we get exactly out of life what we put into it. So. Yeah.

Speaker B: All right, well, um, okay. I wrote this down just in case I go sideways. So um, just bear, bear with me. So you, um, were my first hire at, uh, recognition.

Speaker A: That's crazy to think about.

Speaker B: Uh, and to think of the dozens of folks that have come through the doors, um, under my tutelage. Uh, you were the first one. So that was November of 2021. And then we started this thing March of 2022.

Speaker A: So quick.

Speaker B: And you did not want to do this at all?

Speaker A: No.

Speaker B: At all. Like, I thought you were going to quit.

Speaker A: Yeah, that. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't.

Speaker B: So thank you.

Speaker A: And thank you. Thanks for forcing it upon me, because I loved it.

Speaker B: So, um, since then, we have published 135 episodes.

Speaker A: Wow.

Speaker B: Uh, and they've been downloaded more than 18,000 times.

Speaker A: That's a lot.

Speaker B: And so more than, you know, just the stats of the silly podcast. Like, um, we've become great friends. Um, it is tough to go weeks in between, and then you sit down across from each other. You only have, like, 20 minutes, and then somehow we're able to put a banter together, and it's entertaining and people like, it kind of makes sense, and, like, it's. It's good. So, um, I'm grateful for that. Um, you know, I love your family. I love that I can see them and they see me, and, like, we're connected in that way. My family loves you, too. Like, the fact that, like, our families are connected is crazy. We celebrate holidays together. You get carrot cake for your birthday.

Speaker A: Oh, Ashley makes the best.

Speaker B: I get to. I make the carrot cake.

Speaker A: I thought you both make it together. Edit, Edit.

Speaker B: Oh, um, my goodness.

Speaker A: After all these years, you guys make the best carrot.

Speaker B: I buy it from Costco. All right, so.

Speaker A: I'm just kidding.

Speaker B: I'm kidding. Um, yeah. So, you know, I think what's been magical for me is that I think this relationship is what I think about when we talk about, uh, a connected workplace. Um, and I feel like you were my first opportunity to live that out and to demonstrate that that's possible. Um, and with that came a lot of learnings. I think I was learning a lot. You were learning a lot as well, you know, early in career and in. Early in management. For me, too. I think you have made me a better leader. Um, and some of that is, yes, like you personally, as getting credit. But, um, you know, we kind of held ourselves accountable in keeping this podcast going, and we're talking to very smart people. Right. And we're learning a lot about, um, what it means to be effective and good leaders, but then also what it means to be good people at work. Um, so I think that journey has done something for. For both of us, but I'm also grateful for that, uh, and that you played that role, uh, for me, too. Um, you know, the other thing, too, like, our job responsibilities have changed a lot since we started, and, um, so the fact that we kept this as sort of like a. A Fundamental pillar of. We just always come back to. To doing this thing. Um, in, you know, recent times, it's been like, more of a hassle than, you know, a privilege, but it's still an opportunity to. To say great things about work that's being done around the world. And then also, like, it's part of an overall mission that we as an organization are trying to accomplish. And then, you know, there's a special place in our hearts for, um, keeping that going, uh, as well. So, um, it's time to move on. Like, I. I had this longer speech on, um, you know, um, you know, cycles of life and those kind of things and seasons and all things. But it's just, you know, it's time for a new chapter. Right. So, um, I'm proud of you, um, what you've accomplished, who you've become. Um, you know, you've come and offered your skills and your talents and your character and all the things that make you, you to the company in many ways. And that, you know, that's awesome. Um, and you've also stretched yourself into. Into places where you weren't necessarily comfortable, but you trusted yourself, you trusted the team around you to get you through that. So, um, I think that's an incredible growth journey, a growth story for you. Um, so I think you should be proud of that, too.

Speaker A: Thank you.

Speaker B: So thank you.

Speaker A: Thank you, Neely. You've been so formative in not just my professional career, but my personal life as well. So thanks for being my boss at one point. Thanks for being my friend.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: You're being my co host.

Speaker B: Yeah. Crazy.

Speaker A: Really real.

Speaker B: Like, uh, yeah. I mean, how many houses, how many boyfriends? How many cars? Like, one of those cars literally to

Speaker A: the ground blew up and burnt down. Yeah. So, you know, all of that's a life. Yeah.

Speaker B: Bringing it to work and so much life. So thank you for that. Um, so we will be taking a break, uh, from the regularly scheduled episodes here, um, until we determine what the future is moving forward. We've heard from several of you, uh, both via email and out in the wild at events like, how much you appreciate what we're doing here. So it's not like we're just doing this for ourselves and. John. Hi, John. Um, so I don't want to. I don't want. I guess I don't want to say this is it, but, you know, this is a lot of work and it takes at least two of us to make it happen. Um, so I also don't want to, uh, let our standards fall from the content that we are used to creating. Um, and just lower that just because, you know, of those reasons. So, um, more to come on that. Um, Kaylee, I'm going to give you the stage for a final farewell.

Speaker A: Oh, well, don't have anything prepared, but, um, thank you to everyone listening now and that has listened from day one. Um, or even if you just drop into random episodes. Uh, we really appreciate that and thank you to all of our guests that might be listening to that we've had on. Because I have had such an amazing time meeting the smartest people.

Speaker B: Ah.

Speaker A: The most interesting people that have just expanded my mind in the most incredible ways. Um, so thank you to everyone, um, that's been involved in the podcast and everyone here at Recognition Vaudeville Brands. Um, it's been a really amazing journey here. And this has been, you know, my. My twenties. This is like the biggest time of life. So, um, it's been. It's been really great. Lots of growth. Thank you. And of course, once again, thank you, Neely, for everything.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Everything mentioned. Yeah, you're the best. This has been. This has been really great.

Speaker B: Oh, it's my pleasure. All right, until next time.

Speaker A: Until next time.

Speaker B: Goodbye. Thanks, um, for joining us today. And special thanks to the Fracture and Jay Matthews for their original music. Stay tuned for more episodes that touch on the topics that are important to HR and people, leaders like you. If you have any recommendations or feedback or would like to learn more about creating a more effective employee role rewards and recognition program, you can contact us@podcastrecognation.com and as always, thank you,

Speaker A: Sam m.