Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

Meet Wendy. After another busy shift where she had worked so hard yet felt unseen and undervalued, she leaves, tears in her eyes, questioning her worth. She’s an RN case manager in Austin, Texas, who is extremely empathetic, but also exhausted. Between missed follow-ups, passive-aggressive emails, and being excluded by coworkers, she’s lost sight of her value. She doesn’t want to leave healthcare....

In our last episode, we met Billy, a high-energy leader struggling to connect with his team, alongside guest Dr. Nicole Lipkin, who shared insights on emotional intelligence and leading with empathy. In this solo episode, Jay reflects on a pivotal moment from early in his leadership journey, a piece of feedback from his top-performing rep that completely changed how he managed and connected with h...

Meet Billy. Four months into his new role as Director of Operations at a fast-growing EV charging company, he replays a recent one-on-one with his senior manager, and winces. He dominated the conversation. His passion was palpable, but it didn’t land. His team, many of whom were passed over for the promotion he received, seem distant and disengaged. What’s missing? Connection. Trust. Real leadersh...

In our last episode, we met Sunny, a seasoned risk manager navigating a high-stakes merger and feeling deeply undervalued. Cassandra Worthy joined us to explore how emotional agility and curiosity can turn frustration into forward momentum. In this solo episode, Jay explores the hidden trap of assuming we have things figured out and the powerful shift that happens when we adopt a mindset of curios...

Meet Sunny. After years of high performance, he’s blindsided by a performance review that praises his results but flags his stakeholder relationships. As his company prepares for a merger, the uncertainty leaves him frustrated and unsure of his future. He doesn’t just want recognition; he wants to feel seen, respected, and valued. In this episode, Jay is joined by Cassandra Worthy, keynote speaker...

In our last episode, we met Omar, a Director of Talent Acquisition struggling with self-doubt and uncertainty. Julian Placino joined to unpack how to lead with curiosity and build inner resilience. That conversation inspired Jay to share a practical mental model based on a story he told at Columbia University, one that starts with a young girl named Aria, standing alone in the rain. In this solo e...

Meet Omar. He’s sitting in his car during lunch, engine off, sandwich in one hand, doom-scrolling through reels of everyone else winning. Once passionate about recruiting, Omar now feels disconnected, discouraged, and uncertain about what’s next. He’s the Director of Talent Acquisition at a mid-sized tech firm and recently found himself placed on a performance improvement plan. But the expectation...

In our episode last Friday, we explored five powerful books that shaped Jay’s mindset, values, and approach to life. This week, Jay continues that journey with five more transformational titles. from spiritual wisdom to science-backed strategies, each left a profound mark on how he leads, lives, and grows. In this solo episode, Jay shares the final five books that helped him navigate challenges, e...

Meet Ellen. A senior sales manager juggling endless tasks, she’s known for getting results, but lately, her life feels like a pressure cooker. She’s constantly multitasking, saying yes to everything, and silently falling apart. The calendar is full, but her peace of mind is gone. What used to feel like ambition now feels like survival. In this episode, Jay is joined by Rashmi Airan, a nationally r...

In our last episode, we met Taylor, a Scrum Master struggling to unify her team. Alongside expert Nisha Joshi, we uncovered the invisible dynamics behind team breakdowns and what it takes to rebuild trust. In this solo episode, Jay takes a different turn, sharing the first half of his personal list of the 10 books that changed his life. From neuroscience to poetry to business parables, these aren’...

Meet Taylor. As a Scrum Master, she’s responsible for leading a product team through tight deadlines and ever-changing priorities. But lately, things are falling apart; missed timelines, finger-pointing, and growing tension have fractured trust and stalled progress. She’s stuck wondering how to reconnect the team and rebuild momentum. In this episode, Jay is joined by Nisha Joshi, a leadership coa...

In our last episode, we met Chris, a senior advisor drowning in digital overload. Alongside guest Dr. Mary Donohue, we explored how screen saturation affects our brains and behaviors and how to reset. In this solo episode, Jay shares his personal story of how he broke free from reactive phone habits that left him drained and distracted. After years of constantly responding to dings, buzzes, and no...

Meet Chris. He’s a senior advisor at a global consulting firm. A calm leader in high-stakes environments. But lately, Chris has been dragging himself through his days. Zoom fatigue. Slack overwhelm. Sleepless nights. The more time he spends in front of a screen, the less motivated he feels to show up at all. His brain feels scrambled, his emotions frayed. Chris isn’t lazy or uncommitted. He’s digi...

In our last episode, we met Alina, a high-performing leader burning out from over-functioning and under-recovering. Alongside resilience expert Anne Grady, we explored how to reclaim energy by rewiring our mindset. In that conversation, Anne introduced a powerful concept: neutral thinking. In this solo episode, Jay takes a deeper dive into why neutral thinking works better than positive thinking,...

Meet Alina. As Director of Operations at a fast-growing consulting firm, she’s smart, capable, and trusted. But under the surface, she’s overwhelmed. Her micromanaging boss offers constant feedback but little support. Her team sees a leader who gets things done, not the person quietly burning out behind late-night emails and missed personal milestones. Alina doesn’t speak up. She doesn’t set bound...

In our last episode, we met Ryan, a leader struggling to connect with his team and build trust. Alongside guest Amy Wong, we explored how authenticity opens the door to connection—but in this episode, Jay takes that conversation further. He shares what he’s seen firsthand on teams with high trust and those with none at all. The difference? Judgment. Drawing from neuroscience and his own “Earth–Mar...

Meet Ryan. As the VP of Product at a fast-growing tech company, he’s brilliant, composed, and strategic. But lately, his team feels disengaged. People nod in meetings but rarely speak up. Deadlines slip. Communication is strained. Despite his best efforts to rally the group with more one-on-ones and structure, the connection just isn’t there. At home, it’s no better. He finds himself answering his...

In our last episode, we met Julian, a founder who was overwhelmed by the weight of decision-making and constant busyness. Alongside guest Bobby Mascia, we explored how to let go of unnecessary responsibilities and design a life rooted in freedom and intention. In this solo episode, Jay turns his focus to time—our most valuable, yet often mismanaged, resource. He begins with a quote from Jim Rohn:...

Meet Julian. He is a startup founder with a growing team and a packed calendar—but behind the scenes, he’s overwhelmed, exhausted, and questioning how sustainable this all is. Every decision flows through him, and while the business looks successful on paper, it’s costing him in ways that matter most: his health, relationships, and sense of peace. Julian doesn’t just want to grow a company—he want...

In our last episode, we met Layla, a leader navigating the emotional aftermath of a team member’s death by suicide. Alongside guest AnneMoss Rogers, we explored how to process guilt, create space for grief, and support others through unimaginable pain. That conversation sparked today’s episode—because often, the best way to heal and grow is by helping someone else get unstuck. In this solo episode...

Meet Layla. She stands at the window of her 14th-floor office, haunted by the memory of a team member’s recent death by suicide. As VP of HR, she feels an overwhelming sense of responsibility, questioning whether she missed the signs and if she could have done more. Her inbox is overflowing with wellness initiatives and policy updates, yet none of it feels like enough. The grief in the office is s...

In our last episode, you met Lorenzo—a high-performing professional struggling under the weight of unrealistic expectations. His career success came at the cost of his health, his relationships, and his inner peace. After an insightful conversation with Caleb Campbell, we’re now taking a deeper dive into a powerful poem he mentioned: The Guest House by Rumi. In this solo episode, Jay reflects on t...

Meet Lorenzo. The apartment door slams behind him. His girlfriend’s words—“You’re never present.”—echo in his mind. He slumps onto the couch, takeout bag still in hand, jazz from the street outside barely cuts through the silence in his head. Once a star athlete known for his discipline and drive, Lorenzo is now the director of employee health services at a New Orleans hospital. He used to feel fu...

In our last episode, we met Veronica, who felt like she’d lost her spark for the work she once loved. She struggled to get buy-in for her ideas and found herself hitting walls when trying to lead with impact. In this solo episode, Jay builds on that story by unpacking the practical art of influence. Drawing from his experience at Tesla and years of coaching leaders, Jay shares how to use the DISC...

Meet Veronica. Her heart sinks as her CEO once again shelves her latest initiative to rebuild trust and boost morale. Though she pours her energy into her team's engagement and growth, the wider organization feels drained, skeptical, and detached. With each rejection, Veronica questions if her work even matters anymore. The spark that once fueled her is flickering — and she is desperate to reignit...