Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

Why do “successful” people so often feel unfulfilled? Meet Raj. He leads a team of 15 in a fast-growing sustainability division. On paper, everything looks right: meaningful work, strong performance, a stable career. But lately, the spark is gone. The work that once challenged him now feels like background noise. He’s delivering, but inside, something feels flat. In this episode, Jay sits down wit...

AI is moving fast. The real question is, can we keep up as humans? In this solo episode, Jay breaks down how leaders can navigate rapid technological change without losing the human connection that drives performance, trust, and culture. While AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, Jay explains that human psychology has not changed nearly as quickly, and that gap is where leadership matt...

What happens when the host becomes the guest… and nothing goes as planned? Meet Jay… from a completely different perspective. This time, the questions aren’t coming from him. They’re coming from Alexandra, his wife, who flips the script and takes over the podcast. What follows is an unscripted, honest, and hilarious conversation that pulls back the curtain on Jay’s story, from the origin of his na...

Distraction isn’t new, but there are evidence-based ways to cultivate greater focus. In this solo episode, Jay breaks down the real reason we struggle with focus and attention, and why distraction is not a modern problem caused by technology, but a deeply human trait that once helped us survive. Drawing from neuroscience and research, he explains how attention actually works and why trying to “fig...

What happens when the life that once excited you… no longer fits? Meet Emma. After 30 years in real estate, she’s built a successful career, but lately even picking up the phone feels heavy. The routines that once energized her now feel exhausting. She doesn’t want to quit, but she knows something has to change. In this episode, Jay sits down with Heike Yates, midlife fitness expert, author of Pur...

What if the way you see your challenges is the problem, not the challenge itself? In this solo episode, Jay introduces a simple yet powerful framework to help you reframe stress, overwhelm, and adversity in real time. Drawing from neuroscience, personal experience, and insights from working with leaders across industries, he challenges the idea that we need to reduce or cope with stress, and inste...

What is your anger trying to tell you? Meet Annabelle. At home, she swallows her frustration to keep the peace. At work, she watches others get recognized while her effort goes unseen. The anger keeps building, but instead of expressing it, she turns it inward. What if that anger is trying to tell her something needs to change? In this episode, Jay sits down with Alyse Maslonik, founder and CEO of...

The fastest way to build confidence is not what most people think. In this solo episode, Jay breaks down three practical and proven ways to build confidence in the shortest amount of time. Drawing from his own journey as a speaker, coach, and entrepreneur, he explains why confidence is often overcomplicated and why the most effective formula is also the simplest. From taking messy action and refle...

How many times have you told yourself you’d change… and didn’t? In this episode, we revisit the story of Trevor, an oncologist who has built a career on precision, compassion, and service, yet feels exhausted, empty, and increasingly disconnected from himself. Beneath the long hours, self-doubt, and lack of boundaries is a deeper issue: he no longer trusts himself to follow through on the things h...

What if the most important advice you ever received was the advice you gave yourself? In this special continuation of Jay’s birthday reflection series, he shares the five most impactful lessons he would give his twenty-year-old self. These principles are rooted in lived experience and designed to help you build a fulfilling career, meaningful relationships, and a deeper sense of purpose. From prim...

What if the reason you feel stuck… is because you’re trying to heal too fast? Meet Tony. He’s an account manager  at a chemical manufacturer under constant pressure to hit quota, but lately something feels off. Some weeks he’s unstoppable. Other weeks he can barely open his laptop. The harder he tries to push through, the heavier everything feels.  In this episode, Jay speaks with Johnny Crowder,...

“If you could go back 20 years, what advice would you give yourself?” In this special birthday episode, Jay reflects on turning 40 and shares the first half of a two-part series: ten lessons he would give his 20-year-old self. These insights are not abstract ideas, but practical principles shaped by experience, adversity, growth, and years of studying personal development. In Part 1, Jay explores...

What if being agreeable is not only affecting your confidence, but it’s also affecting your health? Meet Penelope. She nods as her boss speaks, offering agreement before she can stop herself. Inside, she feels the weight of what she didn’t say. In her bag is a fully developed proposal she spent weeks building, designed to improve engagement and reduce burnout. But in moments that matter, she defau...

What if you treated yourself with the same understanding and care you give to others? In this solo episode, Jay explores the science and psychology behind self-compassion and why being hard on yourself may actually be holding you back. Drawing from the research of Dr. Kristin Neff and Kelly McGonigal, he explains how self-compassion improves emotional resilience, reduces anxiety, and even enhances...

Most people don’t lose themselves overnight. It happens slowly… after success. Meet Lauren. A respected VP in tech with over 20 years of experience, Lauren has built a career many would admire. But lately, the work feels hollow. Meetings feel repetitive. Motivation has faded. With her children grown and life shifting, a question she hasn’t asked in years starts to surface… is this really how she w...

“Whenever you're in conflict with someone, it always starts with you.” In this solo episode, Jay breaks down a practical, experience-driven framework for navigating conflict in the workplace and beyond. Drawing from his own experiences, coaching conversations, and lessons from last week’s episode, he shares a 7-step approach to help you move from reactivity to intentional, effective communication....

Great leaders don’t react emotionally; they respond logically.  Meet Maya. A Chief Supply Chain Officer at a major beverage company, Maya once had a strong partnership with a senior VP. After one tense disagreement, every conversation now feels loaded. She snaps, avoids conflict, replays meetings in her head, and loses focus. What she wants most is to feel grounded and confident during difficult c...

“Everything we do becomes more meaningful when it connects to something bigger than ourselves.” In this solo episode, Jay introduces three simple but powerful words that can transform how you approach your goals, your work, and your daily life. Inspired by a quote from Nick Vujicic and a reflection on Valentine’s Day, Jay explores how self-focused thinking often fuels anxiety, stress, and dissatis...

The biggest threat to meaning isn’t failure. It’s distraction. Meet Randy. It’s 2:17 a.m., and he’s staring at the ceiling while notifications light up his phone. His global team is stretched thin, priorities keep shifting, and motivation is fading. Randy isn’t looking for productivity hacks. He wants his team to believe their work still matters. In this episode, Jay sits down with Greg Bennick, k...

In our last episode, Jay spoke with Mitch Bohn, whose story of resilience and refusing to make excuses inspired today’s topic. In this solo episode, Jay explores why excuses keep us stuck, how they limit our potential, and what it takes to break free from the stories we tell ourselves. Drawing from Wayne Dyer’s teachings and a powerful seven-step framework Jay uses in his own coaching, this episod...

Some dreams don’t start with a plan. They start with a feeling you can’t ignore. This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at what that journey actually required. In 2014, after the sudden passing of Jay’s father, he became deeply curious about how to live better, healthier, and more intentionally. He read relentlessly, attended workshops, worked with coaches, and watched countless TED and TEDx tal...

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.” In this solo episode, Jay shares his personal system for planning life intentionally rather than reacting to whatever shows up on the calendar. As January comes to a close, he invites you to zoom out beyond weekly to-do lists and consider how you’re allocating time across the areas that matter most, includi...

When life feels overwhelming, it’s often because no one is actually driving. Meet Hannah. She’s a driven single mom with two young boys and a demanding leadership role in retail operations. Her days are filled with meetings, fire drills, and constant pressure to perform. Despite strong reviews, promotions keep passing her by. At home, guilt sets in. At work, doubt creeps closer. Hannah isn’t lazy...

“What you’re aware of, you’re in control of. What you’re not aware of is in control of you.” In this deeply reflective solo episode, Jay shares nine life-shaping takeaways from Awareness by Anthony De Mello, the book that has had the greatest impact on his perspective, inner life, and leadership. This is a return-to-center episode, designed to slow you down, challenge your assumptions, and invite...

Being strong isn’t the same as being resilient. Meet Zara. She’s the one everyone relies on. At work, she fixes delays, calms clients, and takes on just one more task. At home, she juggles three kids, dinner, homework, and exhaustion she rarely admits out loud. Zara loves her job and her family, but the pace is catching up to her. Burnout isn’t theoretical anymore. What she wants isn’t to quit, sl...