The Lonely Office

Soham Parekh made headlines for juggling four full-time startup jobs at once — without telling anyone. Fraud? Maybe. Genius? Possibly. Turns out, his work was solid, his employers were Y Combinator darlings, and the internet couldn’t decide whether to hate or love him. In this episode, we unpack Soham’s viral saga, question whether “overemployment” is really that bad, and revisit another jaw-dropping story about a paralegal’s double life, exposed during one unforgettable Zoom call.

Trevor used to work from a beanbag chair in Bali with a meditation stipend and Radical Candor Wednesdays. Now his keystrokes are monitored, and he's doing three jobs after layoffs. This week, Zaheer from Levels. fyi joins us to discuss the death of the tech dream. From 50,000+ layoffs in 2025 to AI anxiety replacing innovation perks, we explore how tech jobs became just like any other job - and why some engineers are whispering about unions. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdraft.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aaron Calafato ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leah Ova ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Leah on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Research: Zaid Safe Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato

A workaholic dad catches his daughter scrolling at midnight—then realizes he’s the real problem. A short story about screen time, guilt, and modern parenting. Written by: ⁠Matt Sunbulli ⁠ ⁠Aaron Calafato ⁠ Narrated by: Aaron Calafato Hosts: ⁠Leah Ova⁠ Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato Sound Design: ⁠Isaac Gehring ⁠ Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt

This week, we sit down with the Podcast Princess herself, Hala Taha, to discuss why, in today’s “do more with less” AI economy, your personal brand is your best insurance policy. Hala shares her own journey—from dropping out of college, working for free at Hot 97 for three years of no paycheck, no benefits, even babysitting the host’s kid) to now running YAP Media, a podcasting juggernaut. Special Guest: Hala Taha Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdraft.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aaron Calafato ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leah Ova ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Leah on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Research: Zaid Safe Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato

James Leonidas Klusaritz spent four months as a management consultant doing absolutely nothing before quitting to become a TikTok star. This week he joins us to discuss his viral "Paycheck Phantom" series - exploring how employees get lost in corporate bureaucracy and survive by mastering the art of invisibility. From nap rooms hidden behind filing cabinets to conference room whiteboard theater, we investigate the corporate cockroaches among us and why companies can't seem to catch them. Special Guest: James Klusaritz: On TikTok, On IG Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdraft.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aaron Calafato ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leah Ova ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Leah on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Research: Zaid Safe Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato

Aaron lied in his job interview when asked if he was happily married - weeks later, he was navigating a new job, fatherhood, and divorce simultaneously. This week, we explore why divorce is the only major life event companies don't support, featuring divorce expert Christina Hawke. From co-founders whose splits nearly tank startups to choreographers with 43% divorce rates, we investigate when work destroys marriages and why no one talks about it. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdraft.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aaron Calafato ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leah Ova ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Leah on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Research: Zaid Safe Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato

Introducing a new short story series in your TLO feed. TLO: Heard at Work delivers short, punchy stories with immersive soundscapes that drop you into the messy moments where work and life collide. When a struggling employee at a major credit card company faces a brutal performance review, he makes an unexpected move—gifting PTO days to his boss. Was it a bold act of workplace generosity or clever corporate bribery? In this short story from TLO: Heard at Work, we explore the fine line between redemption and manipulation in today’s office culture. Written by: Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato Narrated by: Aaron Calafato Hosts: Leah Ova Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato Sound Design: Isaac Gehring Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt

This week, we explore the tensions around aging in the workplace: from Warren Buffett finally stepping down at 94 to younger employees frustrated by older workers who can't afford retirement. When Gary fake-retires as a prank, colleagues suddenly realize he's been playing the long game. But at what point does experience turn from wisdom into a roadblock? Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdraft.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aaron Calafato ⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leah Ova ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Leah on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Research: Zaid Safe Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato

This week, we investigate the rise of employee monitoring software through Manny's story - a Big Four accountant whose daily productivity walks were derailed by tracking tools meant to "prevent burnout." From mouse jigglers to heart rate monitors, we explore how surveillance software doubled during the pandemic and why companies are spending resources to monitor if employees are wasting resources. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdraft.vc⁠⁠⁠ Aaron Calafato ⁠⁠⁠Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories Podcast ⁠⁠⁠ Leah Ova ⁠⁠⁠Follow Leah on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠ Editorial: Matt Sunbulli Brooks Borden Ken Wendt Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Research: Zaid Safe Matt Sunbulli Aaron Calafato

Join Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist and Glassdoor's Chief Worklife Expert, as he tackles the fatigue caused by constant change in today's workforce. He shares strategies for building resilience, such as mental time travel, and discusses the importance of empathy born from hardship. Grant analyzes the impact of economic turbulence on millennials and emphasizes the need for supportive workplace environments. The conversation also dives into navigating employee loyalty amidst shifting work dynamics, encouraging a community-focused approach.