Advertise on podcast: The Corporate Burnouts Podcast

After 85 episodes, this is our final one. In Episode 85, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt hash it out, live and unscripted: why The Corporate Burnouts Podcast is ending, what it healed for both of them, and why walking away while you still love something beats staying until it runs its course. This show started as a place to pour out every bit of our corporate trauma and burnout. It became our therapy. Now our lives look completely different, and we want to honor the ending as much as we honored the start. In this episode: Why we're ending the podcast after 85 episodesHow this podcast became our therapyOur guests were the real therapistsWhen something stops feeling authentic to your lifePutting fun first without dropping the ball on workYour accomplishments are not your identityRealizing we'd tied our identity to being podcastersLeaving the room while people still want you thereThe boat day that started the conversationWhy we never told other people's stories on airA possible Corporate Burnouts Facebook group (vote in the poll!) Want a Corporate Burnouts Facebook group? Comment YES below. If even 10 of you want it, we'll start it. For everyone who's listened since episode one, everyone who quit a job or pushed back on a boss because of a conversation here, and anyone struggling to walk away from something that no longer fits. Thank you for 85 episodes. The whole back catalog is still here for anyone trying to survive (or escape) the corporate grind.

You picked a career at 18. Did anyone ask what you wanted your life to look like? In Episode 84, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt dig into why so many people climb the ladder, reach the top and still feel empty. Starting with the college-planning chaos in both of their homes and a viral trend of high achievers walking away from the careers they spent decades building, they unpack why happiness isn't a destination, why midlife feels like a tipping point, and the better questions to ask before (and after) you pick a path. In this episode: Why "what do you want to be when you grow up?" is the wrong questionChoosing a career based on the life you want, not just the titleHappiness is not a destinationMidlife crisis or midlife wake-up call?Reevaluating your career at 25, 30, 35 and 40The random-Tuesday testWhy your job doesn't have to be your passionIt's okay to want money (just know the trade-off)Finding your non-negotiablesEvery career has a costFuture tripping and the "I'll be happy when…" trapWhy waiting until retirement to live is a bad plan For anyone in their 30s or 40s wondering "is this it?", parents helping a teen figure out what's next, and anyone thinking about trading a big paycheck for a life they actually love. New episodes every week for anyone trying to survive (or escape) the corporate grind.

Give yourself one task and eight hours, and guess how long it takes? In Episode 83, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt dig into why you're more productive when you're busy, and slower than molasses when your calendar is wide open. From a viral three-jobs story (that may have been satire) to waiting tables in the weeds, they break down Parkinson's Law, momentum and the voice in your head that negotiates "twenty more minutes." Then they share the simple ways they create a "good busy" on purpose, without burning out. In this episode: Parkinson's Law: why work expands to fill the time you give itMomentum and why sitting down kills your whole eveningThe self-negotiation trap and procrastinationFake deadlines vs. real commitmentsScheduling something every couple of hours and time blockingAsking your boss to hold you accountableHow deadlines create clarity and cut perfectionismStacking errands when you work from homeKnowing your next three thingsA free tip: how AI is finding businesses through blog posts For anyone who procrastinates on slow days, anyone who works from home and struggles to get moving, and anyone who wants to finish work by noon and actually enjoy the rest of the day. New episodes every week for anyone trying to survive (or escape) the corporate grind.

If working from home was such a problem, why did it take until 2026 for anyone to say so? In Episode 82, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt break down the real return-to-office timeline: the 2020 shutdown, the 2021–2022 hot labor market that turned remote work into a hiring perk, the messy 2023 "back to normal" push, and the 2024 layoffs that flipped power back to employers. They get into the theories nobody says out loud, what happens to people hired 100% remote who now live nowhere near an office, and what a commute actually costs once you add it all up. In this episode: ​A real timeline: 2020 lockdowns to 2026 mandates​The real estate and power-and-control theories behind RTO​What happens when you're hired fully remote and then told to relocate​The hidden cost of commuting: gas, time, clothes and childcare​Why "be more productive" isn't a real reason without a system behind it​How to negotiate before you comply​The stats: 91% of Amazon employees unhappy, 80% of companies losing talent For anyone who got the "come back to the office" email out of nowhere, anyone hired fully remote who's now stuck, and anyone tired of mandates with no real explanation behind them. New episodes every week for anyone trying to survive (or escape) the corporate grind. Also, if you are interested in checking out the fidget tools we talked about on this episode, please use this link to get 10% off - https://getono.com/TCB10

Burnout isn't just coming for your health. It's coming for your bank account. In Episode 81, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt get honest about what burnout really cost them: late-night retail therapy, Target runs that always hit $200, delivery apps, paying for chores they couldn't face, and bills that didn't get paid until the water got shut off. They break down why burnout spending is really escapism, how financial procrastination sneaks in even when the money is there, and how to stop the financial bleed without shaming yourself. In this episode: Retail therapy and stress spending as burnout copingGrocery delivery, DoorDash and why simple tasks feel impossibleOutsourcing chores: healthy choice or avoidance?Financial procrastination and paying bills lateAutomating your bills to cut the mental loadSkipped raises and retirement savings on pauseHow to do a 60–90 day burnout spending auditWhy your career can't be your whole identity For anyone who's burned out and watching their card statement tell the story, anyone who "treats themselves" just to get through the week, and anyone ready to take back control of their money. (Not financial advice, just real talk.) Next week: a brand-new episode for anyone trying to survive (or escape) the corporate grind.

One 30-minute conversation blew up an entire business plan this week — and it started with a ChatGPT prompt at 11 p.m. Mandy and Mandy talk honestly about playing small: staying quiet in meetings when you have the better idea, undercharging because you're "still new," waiting for someone else to tell you you're ready. Mandy Alt shares the $750 website that kicked off her marketing agency and what those years of underpricing actually cost. Mandy Holt breaks down the gut-check question nobody wants to answer: who benefits when you stay small? This one's for anyone in corporate, running a business, or somewhere in between who's been comfortable a little too long. In this episode: the signs you're playing small, where the habit comes from, why imposter syndrome keeps good ideas trapped in your head, the real financial cost of underselling yourself, the "every idea is an ugly baby" rule, keeping a written record of your wins, and the one-size-up challenge to try this week. The prompts from the episode, as promised: "Based on everything I've ever told you, tell me 5 things about me that you've figured out yourself. And don't soften it for me. Tell me straight." And then after it give you your answer, ask it this follow up question. "What pattern do you see in the way that I work now? Predict the next 5 years if nothing changes. Also predict the next 5 years if I fix this one thing." Have a work secret you've never told anyone? Drop it anonymously at thecorporateburnouts.com under the Secrets tab. We'll tell it and we won't tell them it's yours. Follow the show so new episodes land in your feed every Thursday morning.

Bre K is back, the "Vanilla Ice of business" returns to talk systems, scaling, and why most side hustles don't make it past year five. We dig into what actually causes businesses to implode (hint: it's not lack of hustle, it's lack of structure), why you should hire before you feel ready, and why betting on yourself is non-negotiable even when your own people are scared for you. Real talk on cash flow, CRMs, and the pain of discipline vs. the pain of regret. Find Bre K:Instagram: @heyitsbrekWebsite: heyitsbrek.com 🎧 Subscribe for new episodes of The Corporate Burnouts Podcast every week.

Mandy Alt is racing toward a November 30th launch for her passion-project app — and it's the perfect excuse to talk about turning a side hustle into a full-time business. The Mandys break down the real signs you're ready to quit your job, how to calculate the income you actually need (hint: it's not just your take-home goal), and the gut-check question that tells you whether you want a business or just a way out of a job you hate. If you've been sitting on an idea, this is your permission slip to get honest about the how.

You clock out. You leave the office. You shut the laptop. But did you actually leave work behind? In this episode of The Corporate Burnouts, Mandy Holt and Mandy Alt talk about what happens when work starts changing the person you are at home. Maybe you’re more irritable. You have less patience. You’re mentally somewhere else. Your family knows not to bother you after a bad day, or the people you love are consistently getting whatever energy you have left after work takes the rest. And sometimes, you don’t even realize it’s happening. The Mandys unpack how work stress follows us home, why the people closest to us are often the easiest to shortchange, and how constant venting, checking emails, taking calls, and carrying workplace drama into your personal life can slowly affect your relationships—and you. They also talk about realistic ways to create a transition between work you and home you, even if quitting your job or changing your schedule isn’t an option. And they leave you with two questions worth sitting with: Who do you want the people you love to remember you as during this season of your life? And… What is prioritizing work this way costing you? Because your job already gets a huge portion of your life. It doesn’t have to get all of you, too.

Shannon Shores, social worker turned entrepreneur, business owner, and consultant, joins us to torch the myth that career success has to look like one straight line up a corporate ladder. Shannon's path has taken her from clinical social work to founding and selling a nationwide STD-testing company, into executive roles, and back out again — and she's here to explain why that kind of movement isn't "job hopping," it's strategy. We dig into her "captain vs. crew" framework for knowing when you're built to lead vs. support, why burnout really means losing your purpose (not just working too many hours), and how to walk into an interview knowing you're evaluating them just as much as they're evaluating you. Shannon also breaks down why job-hopping got such a bad reputation in the first place, and why the real red flag isn't changing jobs — it's staying somewhere long after you've stopped growing. If you've ever felt guilty for outgrowing a job, this episode is your permission slip. Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-shores/

In this episode of The Corporate Burnouts, Mandy Holt and Mandy Alt unpack something they both realized about themselves: they're really bad at being "off." What starts as a conversation about vacations, "girl dinner," and Sunday routines quickly turns into a much bigger discussion about why so many of us feel guilty when we're not being productive. Why do we turn every hobby into a side hustle? Why does watching a movie feel like wasted time unless we're multitasking? And when did "I'm so busy" become the default answer to "How are you?" Together, the Mandys explore: Why hustle culture has rewired our brainsThe difference between resting and simply switching responsibilitiesProductivity guilt and why doing nothing feels so uncomfortableHow work quietly becomes our identityThe hobbies and simple joys we've abandoned as adultsWhy vacations feel easier than staycationsThe pressure to monetize everything we enjoyOne question everyone should ask themselves: Who were you before your career? By the end of the episode, they challenge themselves, and you, to intentionally make time for fun, not because it's productive, profitable, or serves someone else... but simply because it brings you joy.  Question for you:What would your perfect Sunday look like if you had zero responsibilities? Tell us in the comments and we will feature some of your ideas in a future episode.

Most people who are miserable at work aren't overworked, they're just confused. No clear expectations. No idea what "doing a good job" even looks like. Sound familiar? This week Mandy and Mandy open up about a scratch-cake baking fail (turns out unclear instructions aren't just a workplace problem) before diving into a conversation with career clarity expert Lynnae Brown. Lynnae helps people figure out exactly what's expected of them at work, and how to stop feeling lost in their own job. If you've ever sat at your desk wondering "wait, am I even doing this right?" — this episode is your permission slip to get clear. New episodes drop every Thursday. Follow The Corporate Burnouts so you never miss one!

The Great Gen Z Soft Skills Debate: Who's Really to Blame? Mandy Holt and Mandy Alt are back with a conversation that got a little too real. It starts with a story about a teenage road trip speed trap crackdown and spirals into a full breakdown of why Gen Z is entering the workforce without the soft skills managers say they need — and who actually dropped the ball. The Mandys dig into the millennial and Gen X parenting instinct to smooth every hard thing over for our kids, why that's created a generation that's smart, capable, and totally unequipped for confrontation, feedback, and phone calls. They talk through the CAPS program and why more schools need it, why "just text me" is a red flag in an interview, how to actually ask AI a good question (it's a skill!), and what it really takes to get hired right now if you're missing some of these fundamentals. Whether you're a Gen Z listener trying to figure out why you're not landing interviews, or a manager trying to bridge the gap with your team, this one's got something for you. In this episode: Why millennial and Gen X parents may have created the soft skills gapThe CAPS program and why every school should have oneRed flags (and green flags) in interviewing young talentWhy "how do you like to receive feedback" is the most telling interview questionLearning to ask AI (and Google) better questionsAdvice for Gen Z job seekers on standing out despite the skills gapGot thoughts? Leave a review and let us know where you land. New episodes every week — hit follow so you don't miss the next one.

Two Mandys, Two Shit-Your-Pants Stories, and the Brain Chemistry of Being Mortified This week the Mandys are diving into the most embarrassing, cringe-inducing moments of their corporate careers — and yes, that includes bathroom disasters, hair emergencies, and getting caught up in an office dating scandal. Mandy Alt kicks things off with a Louisville road trip flashback (RIP to the Waze app that led them straight into an alley) before getting real about the time she was cheated on by a coworker who was also her friend — and how close she came to quitting over the humiliation alone. Then Mandy Holt shares the story of oversleeping before a presentation with soaking wet, unwashed hair and having to own it in front of a room full of co-workers...but worse, shitting her pants twice in a week. Yes, twice! Along the way, they get into the actual neuroscience of embarrassment (why does your brain think you're going to die?), why owning a mistake beats denying it every time, and why cancel culture makes "how you handle it" more important than the mistake itself. 💬 We want YOUR stories. Send us your most embarrassing work moments — and let us know if you quit afterward or went back in. We might share it on our stories! Follow The Corporate Burnouts for weekly conversations on workplace chaos, corporate survival, and the stuff nobody puts in the employee handbook. Topics covered: embarrassing work stories, workplace mistakes, office dating drama, imposter syndrome, cancel culture, cortisol and adrenaline response, how to bounce back from humiliation at work

If you ignore AI for the next two years, what happens to your career? Organizational psychologist Dr. Kelly Monahan says you'll be left behind, not by AI itself, but by the people who learned to use it. Kelly spent 15 years researching the future of work at Meta, Upwork, Accenture, and Deloitte, and she joins Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt to break down what's actually happening behind the scenes as companies weigh AI against payroll. In this episode: - Why AI can do about a third of most jobs better than you can — and what to do with that freed-up time - The real skills that matter now: intellectual curiosity, a "learning muscle," and basic statistics literacy - Why older generations are more excited about AI than Gen Z (and what that says about who's actually at risk) - The three-step growth path for using AI in a small business: speed, scale, and scope - Which jobs are safest from automation — hint: it's not the ones sitting behind a computer - The mistakes new entrepreneurs make when they lean on AI too hard, and where a human still has to have the final say Kelly is the bestselling author of Essential and the founder of Beyond the Desk. Her new book, Reclaim the Plot: How Leaders Rewrite the Story When AI Rewrites Work, drops September 29th. Pre-order here - https://www.reclaimtheplotbook.com/ Ways to find Kelly: Website - https://drkellymonahan.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monahankelly/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-monahan-ph-d-18879413/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@futureofworkisnow Whether you're worried about your job, building a business, or just trying to make sense of the AI noise, this conversation is a grounded, no-BS look at where work is actually headed.