
Demoted
No one asked, but they’re going to give it to you anyway… Welcome to the Demoted Podcast hosted by Ross “Corp” Pomerantz (@Corporate.Bro) and Natalie Marie (@CorporateNatalie). Tune in every week to witness Corp and Natalie unpack the current state of the workplace. You'll get a whole lot of unsolicited advice, heated debates over office etiquette, hilarious role-plays, crazy workplace stories submitted by listeners, and more! They're like the work-besties you wish you had... or maybe not. Follow @demotedpodcast on Instagram for more!
Latest episodes

May 13, 2025 • 55min
Welcome to Parenthood: Where Sleep is a Myth and Paid Leave a Fairy Tale
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Trading sleepless nights at the office for sleepless nights with a baby? Better check your parental leave policy!
From the hilarious chaos and unexpected sweetness of life with a newborn (hear all about it from Ross!) to the crucial topic of parental leave, we’re tackling all things parental this week. Join us as we navigate those sleep-deprived nights, the work-life balance shift, and the state of parental leave in the US. We’ll get real about why the US lags behind, give you some new-parent survival tips, and answer a listener’s question about taking leave. Tune in!
Go to https://cornbreadhemp.com/DEMOTED and use promo code DEMOTED for 30% off your first order
We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

May 6, 2025 • 59min
Behind The Scenes of Influencer Marketing ft. Annie Varellas, Brand Manager at Corporate Natalie
Ever wondered what it’s really like to work behind the scenes with a major online creator? Join us this week as we sit down with Annie Varellas, the Brand Manager for our host, Corporate Natalie!
Annie pulls back the curtain on her fascinating role in the world of influencer marketing, giving us a glimpse into her day-to-day life and the surprising aspects of working so closely with a creator. We delve into compensation, how to get a job in the space, the power of building a company with an all-woman team, and the unique advantages of open communication in the workplace.
Listeners chimed in with burning questions around the need for a large social battery, Annie’s unconventional sleep schedule, fitness routines, and the pair’s professional pet peeves. Discover the professional strengths and weaknesses that balance this dynamic duo.
Go to https://Goodr.com/demoted and use promo code DEMOTED for Free Shipping!
We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6
Episode Content:
00:00 - Introducing Annie Varellas, Brand Manager for Corporate Natalie
03:44 - What does a Brand Manager do in influencer marketing?
08:29 - A Week in the Life of Corporate Natalie’s Brand Manager
13:21 - Something Surprising about Working for a Creator
15:46 - Is Annie Fairly Compensated in her Role?
18:23 - Crafting Your Ideal Job
22:23 - Building a Company with an All Woman Team and the Advantage of Open Emotions in the Workplace
28:03 - Questions from Listeners: Who has a bigger social battery?
30:29 - Annie’s Crazy Sleep Schedule
32:35 - Pet Peeves Working with Corporate Natalie
35:55 - Corporate Natalie’s Fitness Journey and Annie’s Triathlon
39:15 - A Professional Strength that is the other’s Weakness
41:21 - Dating in San Francisco as an Influencer
43:07 - Things you might not know about Corporate Natalie and her Brand Manager Annie
46:03 - Tips for Giving Feedback to a Sensitive Employee
48:12 - Promoted or Demoted: Weekend Work, VLogging, Fighting in the Newark Airport
52:35 - Dear Demoted: What is the Appropriate Response Time for Work Messages?
56:29 - Shout outs to the Moterheads

Apr 29, 2025 • 36min
Does Brutal Honesty Get You Paid? A Corporate Confession
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Can brutal honesty actually get you a pay raise? We’ve got a corporate confession that will leave you speechless.
This week, join us as we celebrate Ross’s impending fatherhood and Natalie’s fresh new look, before diving into the internet archives to cringe at Ross’s hilariously resurfaced Vines. Then, brace yourself for a “Corporate Roast” of a Moterhead’s LinkedIn post and another post showcasing the audacity of withholding pay until trust is earned. We’ll also unleash our inner hack screenwriters with some truly terrible “Workplace Movie Pitches” and play a chaotic round of “Promoted or Demoted?” featuring made up job titles and uncomfortable airplane scenarios. Finally, we tackle a listener’s tough career choice: the soul-crushing commute or a smaller paycheck?
We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Apr 22, 2025 • 31min
Corporate Hotline: The Worst Office Metaphor EVER and a Corporate Spanking
What’s the absolute WORST office metaphor you’ve ever heard? We’ve got a contender!In this Corporate Hotline episode, we kick things off with some truly bizarre workplace scenarios, including a spanking reference that will leave you speechless and a potential stalker situation involving our very own co-host, Ross. Then, we tackle a listener dilemma: is a gap year after graduation a good idea? We also dissect the frustrating reality of going above and beyond with no reward and share crucial tips on how not to approach your boss for a raise. This episode is packed with relatable (and sometimes unbelievable) workplace stories and actionable career advice you won’t want to miss!We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Apr 8, 2025 • 56min
Hollywood 101 ft. Katie O’Brien, Showrunner of “The Z-Suite”
Go to https://zbiotics.com/DEMOTED and use DEMOTED at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.Go to https://Goodr.com/demoted and use promo code DEMOTED for Free Shipping!Hollywood secrets spilled! We’re talking auditions gone wrong, the cost of television production, and the ‘delusion’ it takes to pitch a TV show.This week, we’re thrilled to have Katie O’Brien, the Showrunner of Tubi’s “The Z-Suite”! We delve into her fascinating career, tracing her steps from improv actor to the creator of her own web series, which she then transformed into her first full-fledged TV show. Katie provides an insightful Hollywood Basics crash course on various filmmaking roles and gives us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at creating and showrunning “The Z-Suite.” We uncover the secrets of pitching a TV show, navigate the sometimes-horrific audition process, and discuss the economics of TV show production. Plus, we learn about the roles Natalie and Ross were born to play.We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Apr 1, 2025 • 47min
Our Meeting With HR ft. Mariana Garavaglia, CPO at DoorDash
HR’s calling. And frankly, it’s about time. We’ve been asking for it.This week, we sit down with Mariana Garavaglia, Chief People Officer at DoorDash, to unpack her incredible journey from education to leading teams at Amazon and Peloton. Learn her top interviewing tips, the golden rule of staying on HR’s good side, and get answers to your burning “Dear Demoted” questions about job hunting and salary negotiations. Plus, find out her go-to DoorDash order and whether “work wife” is a term you should use at work.Join the movement at https://lovesac.com/demoted #reclinefromthegrindWe want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Mar 25, 2025 • 41min
Bad Sleep, Getting Ghosted by Your Boss, and a Birthing Class Recap You Didn’t Know You Needed
Apartment brawls, terrifying dad dreams, and getting ghosted by your boss — just another week on Demoted!On this episode, Ross recounts the details of a birthing class and the horrifying expecting-father nightmare that ensued. Natalie’s officially cohabitating, and may or may not have hosted a fight night at her new apartment. Plus, they’re dishing out some seriously questionable sleep advice, discussing the perils of losing control of your remote team, and tackling a listener’s desperate “Dear Demoted” question about being ghosted by their manager. Get ready for the debut of TWO new segments: “This Guy is About to Be a Father” and “Which Host Wrote This?”Join the movement today by visiting lovesac.com/demoted #ReclineFromTheGrindWe want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Mar 18, 2025 • 32min
Corporate Hotline: Twerking Contests, Divorce Lawyers, and Doing it for the Plot
We’ve unlocked the vault of workplace weirdness, and it’s glorious.Join Ross and Natalie on this “Corporate Hotline” episode as they read listener-submitted workplace stories. Get ready for: happy hour turned twerking contest, a holiday party that left everyone scrambling for damage control, and a calendar invite that screams “red flag.” Plus, they’ll tackle the age-old question: is hooking up with your boss a good idea? (Spoiler: probably not). This episode is a wild ride through the absurdities of corporate life.Go to https://cornbreadhemp.com/DEMOTED and use promo code DEMOTED for 30% off your first orderWe want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Mar 11, 2025 • 44min
Cringe Posting, Forklift Sales, and Starting Beef: Your LinkedIn Guide to Chaos
Go to https://zbiotics.com/DEMOTED and use DEMOTED at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.Is your LinkedIn feed a daily dose of cringe? Ours too.In this episode, Natalie and Ross take a deep dive into the digital circus that is LinkedIn. They trace the evolution of LinkedIn from a simple resume database to a battleground for personal brand supremacy, dissecting the most absurd posting tactics along the way. From celebrating your first forklift sale to strategically sparking online feuds with business rivals, we leave no stone unturned. We’ll also explore the attention-seeking antics of “thought leaders,” the rise of AI headshots, and how NOT to stand out on LinkedIn.Go to https://Goodr.com/demoted and use promo code DEMOTED for Free Shipping!We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Mar 4, 2025 • 53min
Besties & Bosses: Building Success Through Shared Empowerment ft. Victoria Garrick Browne
If you’ve ever wondered how Natalie found the confidence to become a content creator, today’s guest, Victoria, is the one to thank.On this special episode, join Corporate Natalie as she interviews with her childhood best friend and fellow content creator, Victoria Garrick Browne. The duo dives deep into Victoria’s impactful journey from D1 volleyball at USC to founding The Hidden Opponent, a non-profit dedicated to athlete mental health. They explore navigating competitive environments and discovering their passions, highlighting the power of women supporting women, particularly in the business world. From the nuances of managing and giving feedback to employees to personal topics like romantic relationships and finding supportive partners, they cover it all. Get ready for a mix of heartfelt conversation and lighthearted fun, including sarcastic tips on workplace dynamics, a playful look at bridesmaid personalities, and even an honest assessment of Natalie’s volleyball prowess.We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6