Protocol Conversations

Once a year, Monica Earley goes back through every episode and pulls a single takeaway from each month — harder than it sounds. What she landed on this time is worth the sitting: the detail interviewers quietly notice that almost no candidate thinks about, and the one-word change that makes an old idea land with people who’d otherwise wave it off. Andy adds a rule about character he’s watched cost qualified people jobs they’d already earned. Not a list of rules. A conversation.

Most people assume coffee shops are casual enough that the rules are optional. But there’s a person waiting behind you in line, a barista trying to do their job, and an owner whose livelihood depends on turning those tables. Monica Earley is back with a Protocol Conversation that covers the full arc — from knowing your order before you reach the counter to what you actually owe the space if you plan to stay. The rules are simple. Most people just haven’t thought them through.

Monica Earley is back with another Protocol Conversation, and with summer just around the corner, the timing couldn’t be better. She and Andy Andrews are heading to the water — beach etiquette, pool courtesy, lake house manners — and a quick look around any crowded shoreline makes clear why this conversation needs to happen. Monica breaks down the specific do’s and don’ts that most people either never learned or stopped thinking about: personal space, litter, noise, unattended kids, and even what to do when a shark fisherman sets up next to your swim spot. Get refreshed before the season kicks off.

Landing the interview is one thing. Walking in ready is another. Whether it’s a summer job or a first career position, most students have no idea how many small decisions — what to wear, what to bring, how to sit, what to say when it’s over — are already being evaluated before a single question is asked. In this Protocol Conversation, Monica Earley walks through the power skills that turn a nervous applicant into the obvious choice.

Scholarship money is out there — and some of it goes unclaimed every single year. But for the scholarships that require an interview, knowing how to apply is only half the battle. In this Protocol Conversation, Monica Earley returns with a practical checklist that could mean the difference between walking away with funding or walking away empty-handed. From the moment you pick up the application to the drive home after the interview, there’s a right way to do this — and most seniors have no idea what it is.

The pandemic changed everything about how young professionals entered the workforce—hired over Zoom, working remotely, never observing the unspoken rules that previous generations absorbed naturally. Now that everyone’s back in the office, a critical gap has emerged, and it’s costing careers. In this Protocol Conversation, Monica Earley reveals why changing just one word could transform how we think about professional success.

In this Protocol Conversation, Monica Earley explores what it really means to be intentional in your professional life—whether you’re heading into an office, a classroom, a meeting, or simply interacting with others throughout the day. Small choices, thoughtful habits, and purposeful behavior often make the biggest difference, even when no one is keeping score. In conversation with Andy Andrews, Monica breaks down how intention shows up through manners, kindness, gratitude, and perspective. Together, they reveal how understanding the why behind what we do transforms simple actions into lasting influence—and how being intentional can quietly set you apart in every season of life.

In this Protocol Conversation, Chief of Protocol Monica Earley joins Andy Andrews to discuss the right way to address professional and elected officials — from mayors and generals to senators and more. Drawing from the respected reference Honor and Respect by Robert Hickey, Monica explains how proper introductions, titles, and written correspondence can reflect character, courtesy, and confidence in any setting.

In this Protocol Conversation, Monica Earley shares a practical list of everyday courtesies that are easy to overlook but make all the difference in how we treat—and are treated by—others. From holding the door to tucking away your phone at the dinner table or respecting people’s time, these small acts of kindness and respect create a lasting impression. With plenty of laughs and real-life stories, Andy and Monica show that manners aren’t just old-fashioned niceties—they’re powerful tools for building relationships, earning respect, and opening doors in life.