The Lonely Office

The Lonely Office

Welcome to The Lonely Office, an 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.

Episodes

Mastering Job Interviews with Improv | Ask a Recruiter

February 12, 2026 • 26 mins
Interviews are not just about what you know. They are about how you think on your feet, respond under pressure, and show up with confidence when you do not have a perfect script. In this episode of Ask a Recruiter, Leah Ova sits down with improv coach and communication expert Holly Mandel to explore how improv techniques like “yes, and,” presence, and active listening can transform your job interview performance. Holly Mandel is t...
Mark as Played

Is Having a Corporate Job Embarrassing?

February 6, 2026 • 22 mins
Are you embarrassed to work for your company? In this episode of The Lonely Office, we revisit a story about loud quitting, corporate misalignment, and the tension between survival and integrity in today’s workplace. As ESG debates, layoffs, and corporate reputation shape the 2026 work landscape, we explore how employees decide where their moral line is — and what it means when a job starts to feel like a liability. Hosts: Ma...
Mark as Played

Why Workplace Satire Hurts So Good

January 31, 2026 • 25 mins
Why does workplace satire hit so hard? And why does corporate language feel… strangely terrifying? In this episode of The Lonely Office, we talk with Henry Marken, Director of Social Media/Content Creator at Wunderfan and viral creator known for blending sports fandom, comedy, and office culture. We unpack how corporate culture trains people to wear masks, and why comedy becomes a kind of survival mechanism. Along the way, we ex...
Mark as Played

Why Online Job Applications Feel Broken

January 27, 2026 • 26 mins
Why does applying online feel so frustrating even when the data says it works? The TLO team team talk with career strategist Madeline Mann again. This time about why most applications get buried, how referrals and sourcing really drive hiring, and what job seekers can do to cut the line and get noticed. Special Guest: Madeline Mann Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠...
Mark as Played

How Hiring Decisions Really Get Made with Deepali Vyas | Ask a Recruiter

January 20, 2026 • 26 mins
In this episode of Ask a Recruiter, Leah Ova sits down with executive recruiter Deepali Vyas to unpack what really happens behind closed doors after an interview ends. From why highly qualified candidates get rejected to how power dynamics, executive presence, and unspoken bias influence hiring decisions, this conversation reveals the real factors that determine who gets the offer—and who doesn’t. Connect with Deepali
Mark as Played

How to Job Hunt in a Burnout Job Market with Bryan Creely | Ask a Recruiter

January 12, 2026 • 24 mins
January job searches are colliding with historic burnout. In this Ask a Recruiter episode of The Lonely Office, Leah Ova is joined by Bryan Creely, founder of Life After Layoff, to break down what’s really happening in the 2026 job market and how candidates can regain momentum. Drawing on Glassdoor data showing 77% of job seekers feel pessimistic heading into the new year, Bryan shares practical strategies for standing out, avoidin...
Mark as Played

Employees Pretending to Be at Work: Quiet Vacationing and the New PTO Reality

December 30, 2025 • 23 mins
Jared's answering Slack messages from a cabana in Tulum, mouse jiggler running, calendar blocked just enough to avoid suspicion. This episode of The Lonely Office explores the rise of “quiet vacationing,” why nearly half of workers admit to doing it, and what it reveals about trust, PTO, and modern workplace culture. Is this a clever workaround—or a sign something deeper is broken at work? Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
Mark as Played

How Entry-Level Candidates Can Get Hired Right Now (with Emily the Recruiter) | Ask a Recruiter

December 23, 2025 • 24 mins
Breaking into the job market has changed — but so have the ways candidates can stand out. In this Ask a Recruiter bonus episode, Emily Durham talks with TLO's Leah Ova about practical strategies Gen Z job seekers can use to improve their chances, from getting applications opened to building real connections and showing confidence in interviews. A clear, encouraging guide for navigating entry-level hiring right now.
Mark as Played

Job Seeker Resource: The Lonely Office Best of 2025

December 17, 2025 • 35 mins
In this Best of 2025 special, The Lonely Office revisits the conversations that helped job seekers make sense of a new normal—where old career rules broke down and new ones quietly took shape. From power versus status, to remote work as negotiation, to AI’s real impact on hiring, these moments cut through the hype and name what’s actually happening beneath the headlines. Not shortcuts or silver bullets—just sharper language, better...
Mark as Played

TOMS Chief People Officer Amy Lentz on Senior Hiring, Doing to Leading, and Breaking Into Executive Roles | Ask a Recruiter

December 8, 2025 • 24 mins
In this special TLO Ask a Recruiter episode, Leah Ova dives into the realities of senior-level hiring with Amy Lentz, Chief People Officer at Toms and the HR strategist behind Hack Your HR. Amy breaks down why the path to director, VP, and C-suite roles feels so different and how seasoned candidates can successfully position themselves for leadership roles. From networking that actually moves the needle to navigating salary expecta...
Mark as Played

Nepotism vs. Networking: What Job Seekers Are Really Up Against

December 3, 2025 • 24 mins
Job seekers today are told to “network harder,” but what happens when networking fails to nepo hires? Also is networking just nepotism with better branding? In this episode, we break down why the line between the two and why in the current job market that line is blurrier than ever. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠htt...
Mark as Played

How to Protect Your Career and Spot a Self-Destructing Company

November 26, 2025 • 26 mins
A young attorney finds herself trapped in a workplace where the expectations keep shifting and the finish line keeps moving. Her story mirrors what so many job seekers are facing in 2025: disappearing opportunities, unclear roles, and leadership that prioritizes itself over its people. In this episode, Matt, Aaron, and Leah break down how to recognize these red flags early and how to safeguard your career before you get stuck runni...
Mark as Played

AI vs. the Job Market: What’s Actually Going On?

November 19, 2025 • 19 mins
Layoffs are rising, AI is being blamed, but the data doesn’t agree. Challenger reports the highest October cuts since 2003 with AI as the #2 reason, while Yale’s 33-month BLS analysis finds no real disruption in high-AI-exposure jobs. We break down the confusion, the “AI layoff boomerang,” and why companies still struggle to get actual ROI from AI. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunb...
Mark as Played

Job Seekers and the 9-9-6 Culture: How China’s Work Ethos Returned to Silicon Valley

November 12, 2025 • 23 mins
A new trend is spreading through Silicon Valley’s AI startups as job seekers are being sold “hard mode” as a badge of honor. What began as a protest against overwork in China has quietly become a recruitment pitch in America, with some companies normalizing 80-hour weeks as proof of passion and purpose. In this episode, Aaron, Matt, and Leah unpack the rise of the 9-9-6 culture, the strange mix of ideology and ambition driving it, ...
Mark as Played

Forget the Job Hunt and Start a Company

November 5, 2025 • 26 mins
Job searches are dragging on longer than ever with endless applications, ghosted interviews. Maybe it’s time to stop waiting for someone to hire you… and start hiring yourself. This week, TLO cohost and serial entrepreneur Matt Sunbulli shares the mindset and the literal script for turning frustration into a startup idea. We talk about why job hunts have become endurance tests, the rise of accidental entrepreneurs, and what it rea...
Mark as Played

AT&T CEO’s Viral Memo Sparks Debate on Workplace Loyalty

October 29, 2025 • 26 mins
In a recent memo AT&T's CEO declared the company had “shifted away” from employment elements rooted in loyalty. Chief Correspondent at Business Insider, Aki Ito, breaks down how the employment contract has collapsed and what “strategic loyalty” looks like when the relationship becomes purely transactional. *Read Aki Ito's article about The Future of Loyalty Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.co...
Mark as Played

We’re All Using AI — So Why Are We Still Whispering About It?

October 22, 2025 • 20 mins
Everyone’s using AI. in therapy, at work, even at the doctor’s office. Yet, we still avoid talking about it. AI has become the invisible collaborator behind so much of modern life, but it remains taboo to mention at work and in most public settings. In this episode, we explore the culture lag between private use and public admission and ask: when will saying “I used AI for that” sound as normal as “I used Google”? Hosts: Matt ...
Mark as Played

When AI Makes You Average, You Must Find Your Secret Weapon

October 15, 2025 • 22 mins
What happens when AI makes average work cheap? How do you stay valuable when AI commoditizes the very skills that once made you special? We explore how comparative advantage, a 200-year-old economic idea, explains today’s career dilemma: when to double down on your craft, when to pivot, and how to uncover the strengths machines still can’t copy. Plus, why narrowing your focus might be the most empowering move in an age obsessed wit...
Mark as Played

AI is Flattening Companies with Fewer Bosses, Bigger Teams

October 8, 2025 • 21 mins
Managers are juggling 20–30 reports, one-on-ones are drive-bys, and "office hours" are replacing mentorship. We unpack whether AI is the accelerant: which tasks it's automating (performance reviews, expense approvals), why public markets love lean orgs, and how to stay visible when your boss is underwater. Playbooks for managing up, narrating your wins, and getting coached in a flat org. Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
Mark as Played

Why Job Search Support Groups Are Booming in 2025

October 1, 2025 • 25 mins
Job search support groups are transforming career hunting from a solo struggle into a multiplayer team effort. Phyl Terry, founder of Never Search Alone, joins us to talk about why even Harvard MBAs are joining support groups to crack today's brutal job market, how job search councils work, and the what's ahead for job seekers as AI rewires the market. Special Guest: Phyl Terry Hosts: Matt Sunbulli ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics

    Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics

    Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.

    iHeartOlympics: The Latest

    iHeartOlympics: The Latest

    Listen to the latest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics.

    Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

    Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

    The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the XXV Winter Olympics We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.

    Betrayal Season 5

    Betrayal Season 5

    Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Wearables

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.