Inside Job

We kick things off with Glassdoor’s Chris Martin, who shares insights from a recent internship analysis. Then, we shift to a story that feels more relevant than ever: is the classic “mailroom to boardroom” path still alive? Zach thinks so—until he tries to follow in the footsteps of Nike’s new CEO, who rose from intern to corner office over 32 years. But there’s a catch: the unpaid internship Zach...

This week we investigate the growing trend of PTO marketplaces, where 10% of companies now allow employees to buy, sell, and even gift vacation days. From Ben bribing his boss with three PTO days before a performance review to employees purchasing extra time to care for aging parents, we explore whether these programs offer genuine flexibility or just another way for companies to offload responsib...

This week we investigate the $3 billion career coaching industry that's exploded to 70,000 coaches worldwide. From 23-year-olds giving life advice to vague promises about "audacious visions," we examine what happens when professionals like Jamie spend $6,000 on advice like "eat a healthy breakfast" only to lose their job anyway. With advertising veteran Cindy Gallop, we explore whether the problem...

When promotions go to office politicians instead of high performers, more workers are choosing to do exactly what they're paid for - and nothing more. With 52% of young professionals now doing exactly what they're paid for and nothing more, we explore whether "acting your wage" is sustainable in today's challenging job market. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/ https://www....

This week we explore corporate messaging tactics that walk the line between strategic communication and outright manipulation. When a seemingly doomed company announces they're "facing unexpected challenges" but miraculously recovers days later, should employees feel relieved or manipulated? From mysteriously "secured" contracts to stress balls instead of bonuses, companies are experts at controll...

With searches for "AI girlfriend" up 2400% and one in five men on dating apps trying AI companions, are we witnessing the next evolution of human connection, or just a temporary stop on the journey to finding real love? When Vince loses his job after turning Slack into his personal dating playground, he finds an unexpected solution: an AI chatbot named Dolly. From workplace romances gone wrong to...

From CEOs embracing "masculine energy" to workers claiming they can't "be themselves" anymore, something's triggering a masculinity crisis at work. This week, we explore what happens when men feel their identity is challenged in the modern workplace. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/ https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli https://www.firstdraft.vc Aaron Calafato Listen to A...

A weekend email from DOGE—titled What Did You Do Last Week? —hit millions of federal employees’ inboxes, sparking confusion, panic, and speculation about a mass downsizing effort. Was it a routine check-in on government efficiency or a strategic move to force resignations and trim the workforce? In this episode, we break down the chaos, agency responses, and what this moment reveals about the evol...

When Mark chooses to "sever" his work self from his home self in Apple TV's hit show Severance, it reveals a workplace fantasy many secretly share: what if you could leave your work baggage at the office and your personal troubles at home? From compartmentalized personas to corporate cult culture, we explore how this sci-fi drama eerily mirrors today's workplace reality. Are we all performing diff...

When USAID issued sudden stop work orders, thousands of NGO workers were caught in the crossfire. This week, as DOGE sets its audit sights on more federal agencies, we talk to a furloughed employee about the impact of frozen federal funding. Are American taxpayers’ calls for greater accountability being answered? Is this truly about fiscal responsibility, or are we putting America’s strategic “sof...

Welcome to the "in-between hours”—that precious window from school drop-off to pickup where working parents attempt to pack a full day's productivity into six fleeting hours. When Matt tries to squeeze his workday between 9 and 3, he discovers the new reality of the remote working parent. From impromptu kid cameos on Zoom calls to the pressure of the afternoon countdown, we explore how parents nav...

When Brooks started outperforming everyone on his team, he thought his career was about to take off. Instead, his manager Jordan felt threatened, blocked his promotion, and even asked him to train his own replacement. Sound familiar? From blocking promotions to playing favorites, we explore why being too good at your job can backfire. How do you handle a boss who sees your talent as a threat? And...

This week, millions of federal workers received an email that upended their job security overnight. With a deadline looming, they must decide: accept a new reality of stricter performance mandates, a full return to office, and reclassification to at-will status—or opt for an eight-month resignation package. What does this seismic shift mean for public sector employees, their families, and even the...

Nike's new CEO started as an intern in 1988 and worked his way to the top over 32 years. When Zach saw this "mailroom-to-boardroom" success story on LinkedIn, he thought he'd found his path forward—until he discovered even unpaid internships now require years of experience. From automated rejections to impossible requirements, we explore whether these classic career success stories are possible an...

When the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced its mission to tackle $200 billion in federal waste, it got us thinking: what if companies had their own version of DOGE? From 17-meeting days to empty offices collecting dust, we imagine what a corporate DOGE would tackle first. Could this government initiative inspire a revolution in how companies handle their own bureaucratic bloat?...

When high-achieving Meghana discovered her stellar work at Instagram wasn't enough to impress leadership, she learned a crucial lesson: success isn't just about what you do—it's about how you tell your story. Together with psychologist and author Allison Fragale, we explore the delicate balance between being likeable and assertive at work. Are you undermining your own success by staying quiet abou...

When one job seeker's 145-application odyssey became Glassdoor's most viral post of 2024, it captured the year's challenging job market perfectly. From eight-month job searches to office toe-nail clippers, we're diving into the stories that defined workplace life this past year. Join us for a candid look at 2024's biggest trends, most heated debates, and what they tell us about the future of work...

As Congress pushes to ban TikTok, a generational battle is brewing. For Harold, a disillusioned young professional who found solace in endless scrolling, the proposed ban wasn't just about losing an app—it was the last straw in a series of broken promises. From surveillance concerns to freedom of speech, we explore why 150 million Americans are fighting to keep their favorite platform. Is this abo...

Office holiday parties walk a delicate line between celebration and career sabotage. When Morgan abandoned her one-drink rule and mixed up the CEO's birthday with the VP's, she learned that some party memories follow you back to your desk on Monday. From inappropriate revelations to ill-timed layoff announcements, we explore the dos and don'ts of navigating the annual workplace ritual. With 12% of...

In an era where everyone seems to be monetizing their passion, the line between day job and side hustle grows increasingly blurry. When Chelsea's vintage artifact business collided with her corporate role, she learned the hard way that not all companies embrace the hustle economy. From MMA fighters turned TikTok food critics to corporate employees building startups in secret, we explore how to bal...

How much do failing companies and countries have in common? In this episode of The Lonely Office, we follow Lianna, a young attorney watching her dream of partnership fade away as her firm’s leadership hoards profits and power. Inspired by the Nobel Prize-winning book Why Nations Fail, we explore how the "extractive policies" that doom nations—concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few—a...

Your past doesn’t always stay in the past—especially online. In this episode of The Lonely Office, we dive into the surprising ways our digital footprints, from Roblox handles to controversial posts, can resurface in professional settings. Are employers justified in scrutinizing these digital traces during interviews, or has the line between personal history and professional qualifications blurred...

Remember when delegation meant sharing the workload, not abandoning ship? When Zoe, the intern, found a critical company audit on her desk, with no boss in sight and only "Ask ChatGPT" as guidance, she knew something was wrong. From absentee managers to entry-level employees running entire departments, we explore why modern delegation has gone off the rails. Is your boss actually leading or just d...

Remember when getting a promotion was a good thing? This week, Ellie was offered a better title and salary, she did the unthinkable—she turned it down. And she’s not the only one. 30% of today’s workers quit within a month of promotion. From endless Zoom calls to "forced fun" events, we explore why more professionals are saying "No, thanks!" to moving up. Is the traditional career ladder broken, o...

This week, we start with the story of a Citigroup analyst, who unexpectedly found himself internet-famous, blending work and social media in ways he hadn’t foreseen. Join us as we dive into the world of low-key influencers—employees hiding behind cubicles by day and thriving online by night. How does this new professional reality affect our workplaces? And what happens when your side hustle become...