The Lonely Office
The Lonely Office
Welcome to The Lonely Office, an award-winning podcast about making sense of the increasingly blurry line between work and life, brought to you by Glassdoor. We tackle real workplace stories from anonymous firsthand accounts—job ghosting, the truth behind unlimited PTO, nightmare bosses—and share insider advice on layoffs, severance, negotiations, and career moves. From candidates vaping in interviews to employees fired over free speech, we cover the wild reality of modern jobs. Whether you’re growing your career or simply a jobseeker hunting for an edge, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
TLO is hosted by Matt Sunbulli (serial tech entrepreneur, Founder @ Fishbowl and First Draft AI), Aaron Calafato (Storyteller, Narrative Designer & Content Strategist), and Leah Ova (content creator and advertising executive), with special appearances from industry thought leaders and economists.
TLO is hosted by Matt Sunbulli (serial tech entrepreneur, Founder @ Fishbowl and First Draft AI), Aaron Calafato (Storyteller, Narrative Designer & Content Strategist), and Leah Ova (content creator and advertising executive), with special appearances from industry thought leaders and economists.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 21, 2023 • 25min
Are Mandatory Office Policies Back?
With more CEOs going on record about their return to office mandates, it has us wondering: was the golden promise of working from home too good to be true? On this episode, we discuss the hidden market players who want you back in office and how companies like JM Smuckers are rolling out their hybrid work policy.
Sep 13, 2023 • 24min
Should Normies Have a Voice on Social Media?
Why do “normies” otherwise known as the silent middle engage so little on platforms like Twitter? Should platforms be responsible only for their business model, or should they aim to be a model business? On this episode, we dive into the ethics vs. economics of unregulated voices on social.
Sep 5, 2023 • 23min
Are Legacy Admissions Fair?
Based on the true story of “Bo”, on this episode we explore whether or not corporate nepo babies and college legacies the same. Since the recent Supreme Court ruling, legacy admissions are being re-examined as unfair and white-washed. On this episode, we dive into the privileges and perks of being a college legacy, as well as the harm it brings to higher education and society as a whole.
Jul 7, 2023 • 25min
Should I Work for an “Evil” Corporation?
From the excesses of Wallstreet companies in the 90s to Tech companies pillaging our privacy for gold in the 2000s, how have workers’ considerations of evil companies evolved with the rise of frameworks like ESG? This, talk about digital gold miners in World of Warcraft, and more all on this episode of Lonely Office.
Jun 13, 2023 • 40min
You’ve Been Laid Off. Now What?
It’s happened. You’ve been laid off. What do you do next? Do you jump on LinkedIn with a heartfelt post? Do you go live on TikTok? Inspired by the true story of “Maggie” - we talk about how to set yourself up for success before and after a potential layoff—from warming your professional network to re-evaluating your options.
May 30, 2023 • 45min
How to Get Fired and Negotiate Severance
Whether you’re a frequent job hopper or company loyalist, you’ll likely be affected by layoffs at some point in your working life. “Dylan’s” IRL layoff story got us thinking: are you ready for what happens next? On this episode, joined by corporate content creator Leah Ova, we’re talking about how to prepare for layoffs—what you should keep in mind, what you should enquire about, and what data to have in hand.
May 17, 2023 • 43min
Can Career Coaches Really Help Your Career?
There are an estimated 70,000 professional career coaches worldwide. But are they the answer that lost professionals are looking for? On this episode, we discuss the real story of “Jamie”, whose expensive career coach falls short of expectations. We’re joined by special guest Cindy Gallop (advertising consultant, founder of MakeLoveNotPorn, and yes, career coach) to debate the approaches career coaches take today—and whether the profession provides as much value as it touts.
May 5, 2023 • 41min
Get Back to the Office, or You’re Fired
Whether you see it as a privilege or a right, companies are changing their tune when it comes to remote work—like popular advertising agency TBWA, whose policies inspired today’s story. Should employees be going back in, or should they be walking out? On this episode, joined by corporate content creator Leah Ova, we chat about the benefits and impacts of returning to office, and what the alternatives can be.
Apr 27, 2023 • 29min
How Much of Your Self Do You Bring to Work?
Just be yourself, they say. But not that self. In a culture that preaches authenticity one day and cancels you the next, how do you know how much of your personality and selfhood to reveal in a professional setting? Inspired by the true story of “Bill”, who struggles to socialize at work, we talk about the risks and rewards of bringing your full self to work—and whether the whole concept is a carryover from a bygone era.
Apr 13, 2023 • 37min
Your Next Coworker Might Be ChatGPT
With artificial intelligence becoming more intelligent by the hour, who will lose their jobs first? Where will they go? And is this a case for universal basic income? On this episode, joined by comedian and writer Azhar Usman, we follow the rapid rise of AI to its professional, social, and ethical conclusions.
