This week I’m feeling extremely pop-culture-brained because my fav show Industry is back, and if you think it’s just a show about finance…I’m here to inform you it’s actually a horror story about work.

We’re talking: ambition with zero guardrails, power with zero accountability, jobs becoming entire identities way too early, and the whole nine yards.

From an HR lens, it’s equal parts fascinating and deeply unsettling, but there are plenty of valuable takeaways nonetheless!

I brought back my fellow Industry lover and friend, Dave Garcia, to unpack what the show gets right, what it exaggerates, and why it feels uncomfortably familiar.

Quantum Workplace helps leaders build thriving teams that fuel business success. We give leaders at every level a clear path forward—by unlocking critical talent insights across engagement, performance, and development. With clarity and confidence, people leaders can act decisively, scale leadership quality, and strengthen connection and performance.

Trusted by thousands of people-focused companies, Quantum Workplace makes it easier to keep teams aligned, empowered, growing, and valued on the path to business success. Visit ⁠quantumworkplace.com⁠ to learn more.

00:04:17 - How Hebba and Dave Started Watching Industry

00:05:37 - One New Thing Dave Wants to Learn This Year

00:08:17 - What Industry Says About Work, and Why We’re Talking About It

00:20:38 - How Grind Culture Reveals Socialized Dysfunction

00:31:06 - Accepting Status in Exchange for Safety

00:38:53 - How Power Affects Corporate Dynamics

00:49:32 - What Industry Gets Right About How Meritocracy Actually Works

00:59:57 - The Critiques of Hustle Culture

01:08:20 - What Industry Reveals About What Most Workplace Conversations Avoid

01:13:01 - Uncomfortable Conversations Industry Might Force You to Have

And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.

https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/

And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!

Follow Dave:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nycddg/

Follow Hebba:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Mateo el Apóstol

The AI-powered Podcast Player