Demoted

Every show has a finale. Ours just includes LinkedIn endorsements and a walk down memory lane.I t’s the Demoted season finale, and we’ve got some hard-to-deliver news—plus one last corporate confession to soften the blow. We kick things off with an end-of-quarter blowout involving a questionable “implementation partner,” then reflect on the journey that brought us here and exchange some heartfelt LinkedIn endorsements. Finally, we close out with a round of Promoted or Demoted featuring fatherhood, getting canceled, and the world’s least welcome calendar invite: a prostate exam. 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

Can you be rich in money and bankrupt everywhere else? Let’s fix that.This week, we’re joined by Sahil Bloom, investor, content creator, and author of The 5 Types of Wealth, to talk about designing a life that actually feels good—beyond the bank account. We dive into why chasing money alone leads to burnout, how to audit your time and energy like a spreadsheet, and why “success” might be quietly ruining your life. Sahil breaks down the five types of wealth, offers real tips for reclaiming your health and relationships, and explains why journaling might be the most underrated life upgrade out there. Plus, we explore redefining ambition, the power of becoming a dad, and whether the Tech Sales Millionaire Dream still holds up. 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

Corporate confessions: because therapy is expensive and podcasts are free. This week, the Hotline is open—and it’s as unhinged as ever. From choking out a sales rep at a company offsite to fish-related crimes in the office kitchen, we read the wildest workplace stories you sent in. We meet a lactose-intolerant oversharer, debate whether “Demoted” is really for the children, and swap tales of questionable vacation flexes. Plus, we weigh in on dog allergies at work, suspicious “Book an Appointment” profile buttons, and whether Lake Tahoe is genuinely relaxing or a little bit deadly. Go to https://zbiotics.com/DEMOTED and use DEMOTED at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. 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

When talent meets opportunity…and sometimes total chaos. This week, we’re joined by Colleen Pelly, CEO and founder of The Linchpin Co, to pull back the curtain on how recruiting actually works. From her time hiring for companies like Lululemon and Tesla to building her own firm, Colleen shares the wildest candidate stories, the nightmare clients, and why some companies still won’t hire women. We dig into personality bias, the decline of DEI, and whether AI is about to ruin the hiring process completely. Plus, we debate "crying a little for the bag," if referrals really matter, and whether recruiters ever read the résumé you spent four hours formatting. We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: ⁠https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6⁠

HR: part therapist, part referee, part corporate cleanup crew. This week, we’re joined by Amy Lentz, Chief People Officer at TOMS and the creator behind HackYourHR, to answer the big question: what does HR actually do all day (besides read your Slack messages)? From her early days working for the Obama administration to landing at TOMS, Amy shares what it really takes to keep a workplace semi-functional. She also gets a front-row seat to some of the wildest corporate confessions we’ve ever collected and breaks down each scandal with her HR perspective. We dig into the secrets of anonymous feedback forms, the ethics of outing an STD at the office, and whether HR is quietly tracking your office romance. Plus, we debate job title upgrades, “Open to Work” etiquette, and whether you should ask for a raise while you’re on a PIP. Go to ⁠https://cornbreadhemp.com/DEMOTED⁠ and use promo code DEMOTED for 30% off your first order Go to  ⁠https://zbiotics.com/DEMOTED ⁠and use DEMOTED at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: ⁠https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6⁠

Perfectionism: the socially acceptable way to ruin your own life. This week, we’re joined by Dr. Thomas Curran, professor of psychology and author of The Perfection Trap, to explain why perfectionism isn’t a flex—it’s a full-time mental drain. We dig into the difference between high standards and high stress, how perfectionism feeds imposter syndrome, and why social media keeps making it worse. We also break down how to work with perfectionists (or at least survive them), and how to reframe failure before you burn out trying to “fix” something no one even noticed. We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: ⁠https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6⁠

Warning: this episode contains workplace behavior that would make HR spontaneously combust. The Corporate Hotline is back—and it’s absolutely unhinged. From naked Zoom calls to office hookups and confessions we legally can’t verify. We’re reading the most salacious, shocking, and mildly traumatic workplace stories submitted by followers of Corporate Natalie and Corporate Bro. Natalie shares her engagement story, and we wrap with a debate on jalapeño poppers, cosplay conventions, and the distinction between people watching… and people watching. Go to https://cornbreadhemp.com/DEMOTED and use promo code DEMOTED for 30% off your first order Go to  https://zbiotics.com/DEMOTED and use DEMOTED at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Strong core, emotionally flabby. Time to balance it out. Welcome to your emotional fitness check-in. This week, we’re joined by Dr. Emily Anhalt, clinical psychologist and author of Flex Your Feelings, to explore the emotional chaos hiding beneath your polished LinkedIn persona. From “emotional push-ups” to whether ADHD counts as a superpower, we unpack the psychology of ambitious entrepreneurs, overthinkers, and yes—Ross and Natalie. We break down emotional fitness, how to spot burnout before it wrecks you, and the fine line between rewatching The Office and spiraling. Plus, we dig into what it means to pull an emotional hamstring, the rise of autonomous golf bags, and whether paying extra for guac is a moral failure.

Nothing says “professionalism” like writing a fever dream in someone’s LinkedIn endorsements. This week, Ross shares his wildest (and most concerning) LinkedIn recommendations, Natalie reveals her wine knowledge gap, and we unpack a truly chaotic happy hour blackout story. From TMI in your goals doc to committing crimes against workplace decency on LinkedIn, we cover it all. Plus, we debate airport dadding, forgetting coworkers’ names, and answer listener questions about low-key sabotage and how not to torch your reputation on the way out of a job. 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

From wrangling the Jackass cast to ringing the bell on Wall Street, Julia Hartz's career has been anything but ordinary. This week, we’re joined by Eventbrite co-founder and CEO Julia Hartz, and her career journey is one for the books. From interning on the set of Friends to escorting the cast of Jackass at the MTV Music Awards, Julia shares her wild early days in entertainment before diving into what it took to build a billion-dollar company with her fiancé. We get into her biggest leadership lessons, the chaos of going public, and somehow end up talking about cheese raves. Plus, Julia reveals her chaotic morning routine and drops some hot tips for your next internal office event. Go to https://Goodr.com/demoted and use promo code DEMOTED for Free Shipping! Go to  https://zbiotics.com/DEMOTED and use DEMOTED at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Accidentally sent your raunchy screenplay to HR? Well at least you got someone to read it. This week, we’re diving into workplace chaos—from creepy office surveillance and hat-related corporate bullying to a company offsite in Ibiza that’s anything but professional. Tune in to hear foolproof tips on appearing busy and why not to bring seafood to the office. We’ve also got the emotional toll of selling your childhood Pokémon cards, questionable baby monitor usage, and a heated debate on whether it’s ever acceptable to break out ‘The Worm’ in public. Finally, we tackle a painfully awkward listener story about a boss who insisted the entire team publicly roast him. Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Go to  https://zbiotics.com/DEMOTED and use DEMOTED at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. If AI doesn’t steal your job, it might just help you cheat your way into a better one. This week on Demoted, we’re joined by Jack Crivici-Kramer and Nick Martell from The Best One Yet podcast. They’ll teach you how to future-proof your career while the economy slow-cooks itself into oblivion. We break down what tariffs actually are (besides economic jargon that makes your burrito more expensive), debate whether switching jobs during a recession is gutsy or just professionally unhinged, and explore how nepo-preneurship is emerging as a surprisingly stable career move when traditional paths start to crumble. We also unpack the ethics of AI cheating apps, the strange brilliance of disco laundromats, and ask the question no one saw coming: are creatives about to outpace coders in the AI era? Go to https://cornbreadhemp.com/DEMOTED and use promo code DEMOTED for 30% off your first order Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

Go to https://zbiotics.com/DEMOTED and use DEMOTED at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. 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

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

Go to  https://zbiotics.com/DEMOTED and use code DEMOTED at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. 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

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

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

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 #reclinefromthegrind We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

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 #ReclineFromTheGrind We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6

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 order We want to hear from you! Send in your Corporate Confessions, Dear Demoted questions, and Shout-outs right here: https://forms.gle/nJc667dUL65Xh63C6