Ep. 12 Reclaiming Dignity
What is dignity at work? In our season finale, we define dignity as an inherent baseline of human agency and choice that cannot be earned or managed. Reclaiming workplace dignity requires strict structural analysis, organizational transparency, and a rejection of individualized compliance.
Ep. 8 The self advocacy trap
Technologist Hala Saleh joins the Circle Back Club to discuss why self-advocacy and the "Girl Boss" playbook aren't enough to fix toxic workplaces. Discover how mutual aid and collective reciprocity can disrupt corporate hierarchies and provide a survival strategy for marginalized workers.
Ep. 7 Your Body KNows
Master Somatic Coach Giulio Brunini joins the Circle Back Club to explore how embodied leadership can prevent burnout and improve decision-making. Learn why overriding physical signals like chronic pain and panic attacks is a "numbing" strategy that ultimately costs leaders their creativity and trust.
Ep. 6 Psychosocial Hazards
Explore the reality of psychosocial hazards at work with Dr. Nicole DeKay. Learn why U.S. labor rights rank near the bottom globally and how the "Vitality Curve" management style creates documented psychological harm. We break down the systemic causes of burnout, workplace depression, and complex trauma.
Ep. 4 The Social Contract
Explore the hidden unwritten rules of the office with Aparna, Lars, and Leilani Lewis. We break down the "psychological contracts" that demand your silence and performative loyalty. Learn how to reclaim your dignity and rebuild collective power at work.
EP. 2 Who built this
Why does modern work feel like a relentless performance? To understand the "ick" of the current corporate landscape, we have to look back at the deliberate systemic shifts of the 1970s. In this episode, Aparna Rae and Lars Gallian are joined by Bachul Koul—a seasoned finance and private equity leader who has spent over 25 years navigating the world’s most traditional institutions. Together, they deconstruct the history that transformed the "social contract" of the American workplace.
Ep. 1 The Ick
What White Collar Work Is Actually Doing to Us
You're not burned out because you're weak — you're burned out because the system was designed this way.This isn't a self-help episode. It's a reality check — and the beginning of something better.