The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Workers of the world, stay home!

Nov 29, 2021

Anne Helen Petersen and Charlie Warzel, authors of "Out of Office," dive into the evolving landscape of remote work and the American relationship with labor. They discuss the need to reevaluate productivity and work-life balance post-pandemic, emphasizing the contrasts in work culture compared to other countries. The duo explores the personal impacts of remote work on family life and identity, advocating for stronger connections outside of work. They also critique growth-centric capitalism, highlighting its dangers to both individuals and businesses.

01:02:52

Episode guests

Charlie Warzel

Anne Helen Peterson

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Rethinking Work: The Shift to Remote Dynamics

20min

Contrasts in Work Culture and Political Controversies

3min

Reclaiming Identity Beyond Work

18min

The Perils of Growth-Centric Capitalism

4min

Remote Work and Its Personal Impact

2min

Navigating Remote Work and Personal Dynamics

11min

Sean Illing talks with Anne Helen Petersen and her partner Charlie Warzel about their new book, Out of Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home. They talk about a new model of remote work, why Americans have a problematic relationship with work, and how to move toward a rational future (as opposed to a national emergency) of working from home.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox

Guests: Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) & Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel), authors

References:

Out of Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home by Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen (Knopf; Dec. 7, 2021)
"How millennials became the burnout generation" by Sean Illing, in conversation with Anne Helen Petersen (Vox; Dec. 3, 2020)

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall
Vox Audio Fellow: Victoria Dominguez

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