Brenda You’re on Mute - The Podcast

AI is everywhere right now — but how much of the hype is real? In this episode, Rakhee sits down with AI strategist and fractional CTO Katherine Mora to unpack what artificial intelligence actually is, how businesses are using it, whether our jobs are safe, and why human expertise may matter more than ever. They discuss: What AI actually is (in plain English) Why ChatGPT changed everything The opp...

What does professionalism actually mean in 2026? Is it about doing your job well… or is it still code for “fit in, don’t rock the boat, and definitely don’t say f**k”? In this episode of Brenda, You’re On Mute, we’re joined by Dr Jamie Pei — coach, trainer, and unapologetic challenger of the “shoulds.” Jamie shares the story of being rejected by a potential client for dropping a couple of F-bombs...

The Meeting Will Continue Until Morale Improves. We've all been there — the meeting that could have been an email, the 90-minute "alignment call" that aligned precisely nothing, and the induction session that somehow ended in a group sing-along to Lifted by the Lighthouse Family. Yes, really. In this episode, Rakhee and Heather take a long, hard (and deeply cathartic) look at the workplace meeting...

What is this “Davos” they speak of? A town… or a billionaire’s clubhouse? (Spoiler: it’s both.) In this episode of Brenda, You’re on Mute, we lift the lid on the World Economic Forum in Davos — the annual Alpine gathering where CEOs, politicians and the ultra-wealthy meet to “shape the future.” We break down: Who actually gets in (and what it costs) This year’s geopolitical drama and standout spee...

Join Rakhee Verma and Heather Deland for a review of 2025 in business, the global economy, and the world of work. From trade wars, tariffs, and Brexit fallout, to the rise of billionaires, AI, and climate challenges. They explore the impact of global volatility on everyday life, consumer power, and political choices, and herald Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum as one of 2025's heroes. Whether...

What can political campaigns teach business about communication? In the last episode of Brenda, You’re on Mute for 2025, communications experts Rakhee Verma and Heather Deland break down modern political communications and translate the lessons to be learned by business. From the UK Government’s chaotic and reactive, vision-free messaging to the standout campaign success of Zohran Mamdani, New Yor...

In this episode of Brenda, You’re on Mute, Rakhee sits down with Lisa Paasche – Norwegian-born founder and former CEO of the award-winning SEO agency Verve Search, now part of Omnicom. Building on the podcast’s recent conversation about immigration and the UK economy, Lisa shares her journey from a “one-year” gap year in London to leading one of the most successful SEO agencies in Europe. They dis...

Rakhee and Heather talk about immigration and the economy, and how those “good-for-nothing foreigners” are coming over ’ere… taking care of our sick and elderly, starting businesses, and boosting the economy. Next you’ll be telling us curry is the national dish!

Why do some people breeze through their careers with unshakeable confidence, while others — often the most competent — feel like frauds? In part two of Unskilled and Unaware of It, Rakhee Verma digs into why imposter syndrome hits some harder than others. Business psychologist Clare Radford, founder of &Culture, explains what imposter syndrome really is, how it shows up at work, and what indiv...

Why do the most capable people doubt themselves — while the catastrophically overconfident never do? In Part One of our Imposter Syndrome special, Rakhee and Heather unpack the strange psychology behind self-doubt and the Dunning–Kruger effect — a bias so strong it can convince someone they’re ready to run the country (looking at you, Liz Truss 👀). Imposter syndrome affects around 70% of people a...

Rakhee had a knock to the head and decided to read Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal. Interviewed by Heather, the hosts pull apart the book’s gold-plated bravado, missing negotiation strategy, and questionable legacy. Expect sharp takes, a few laughs, and some actually useful book recommendations along the way.  Recommended Reads Mentioned in This Episode Getting to Yes – Roger Fisher & Willi...

Episode 1: Woke or Joke 🎙️ In our debut episode, Heather and Rakhee tackle the sometimes absurd, often contradictory world of corporate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives. Inspired by the wave of corporate pledges following George Floyd’s murder five years ago, we ask the big question: are companies genuinely committed to change, or is it just PR panic? From Microsoft’s multi-milli...