As Congress pushes to ban TikTok, a generational battle is brewing. For Harold, a disillusioned young professional who found solace in endless scrolling, the proposed ban wasn't just about losing an app—it was the last straw in a series of broken promises.

From surveillance concerns to freedom of speech, we explore why 150 million Americans are fighting to keep their favorite platform. Is this about protecting privacy, or are we missing the bigger picture about how younger generations consume information?

Hosts:

Matt Sunbulli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/

https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli

https://www.firstdraft.vc

Aaron Calafato

Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories

Before you start a podcast, talk to Aaron!

Leah Ova

Follow Leah on TikTok

Editorial:

Matt Sunbulli

Brooks Borden

Ken Wendt

Aaron Calafato

Audio:

Ken Wendt

Jan Cruz

Research:

Zaid Safe

Matt Sunbulli

Office holiday parties walk a delicate line between celebration and career sabotage. When Morgan abandoned her one-drink rule and mixed up the CEO's birthday with the VP's, she learned that some party memories follow you back to your desk on Monday.

From inappropriate revelations to ill-timed layoff announcements, we explore the dos and don'ts of navigating the annual workplace ritual. With 12% of employees admitting to romantic encounters and the average attendee consuming 4.1 drinks, are these celebrations worth the risk?

In an era where everyone seems to be monetizing their passion, the line between day job and side hustle grows increasingly blurry. When Chelsea's vintage artifact business collided with her corporate role, she learned the hard way that not all companies embrace the hustle economy.

From MMA fighters turned TikTok food critics to corporate employees building startups in secret, we explore how to balance your dreams with your day job. Is the remote work revolution making it easier to pursue your passion, or just easier to get caught?

Hosts:

Matt Sunbulli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/

https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli

https://www.firstdraft.vc

Aaron Calafato

Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories

Before you start a podcast, talk to Aaron!

Leah Ova

Follow Leah on TikTok

Editorial:

Matt Sunbulli

Brooks Borden

Ken Wendt

Aaron Calafato

Audio:

Ken Wendt

Jan Cruz

Research:

Zaid Safe

Matt Sunbulli

How much do failing companies and countries have in common? In this episode of The Lonely Office, we follow Lianna, a young attorney watching her dream of partnership fade away as her firm’s leadership hoards profits and power.

Inspired by the Nobel Prize-winning book Why Nations Fail, we explore how the "extractive policies" that doom nations—concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few—also plague companies. From Blockbuster's $50M Netflix blunder to today's imploding startups, we examine how resistance to change, decision-making concentrated in the hands of the CEO and close executives, and a lack of organizational justice—such as undeserved promotions—can collectively pave the way for spectacular collapses.

Are modern companies built to last, or are they simply extracting value on their way to inevitable failure?

Hosts:

Matt Sunbulli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/

https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli

https://www.firstdraft.vc

Aaron Calafato

Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories

Before you start a podcast, talk to Aaron!

Leah Ova

Follow Leah on TikTok

Editorial:

Matt Sunbulli

Brooks Borden

Ken Wendt

Aaron Calafato

Audio:

Ken Wendt

Jan Cruz

Research:

Zaid Safe

Matt Sunbulli

Your past doesn’t always stay in the past—especially online. In this episode of The Lonely Office, we dive into the surprising ways our digital footprints, from Roblox handles to controversial posts, can resurface in professional settings. Are employers justified in scrutinizing these digital traces during interviews, or has the line between personal history and professional qualifications blurred beyond reason? 

Tune in as we explore stories of online embarrassments haunting job seekers, the ethics of digital privacy, and what it all means for your next promotion.

Hosts:

Matt Sunbulli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/

https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli

https://www.firstdraft.vc

Aaron Calafato

Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories

Before you start a podcast, talk to Aaron!

Leah Ova

Follow Leah on TikTok

Editorial:

Matt Sunbulli

Brooks Borden

Ken Wendt

Aaron Calafato

Audio:

Ken Wendt

Jan Cruz

Research:

Zaid Safe

Matt Sunbulli

Remember when delegation meant sharing the workload, not abandoning ship? When Zoe, the intern, found a critical company audit on her desk, with no boss in sight and only "Ask ChatGPT" as guidance, she knew something was wrong.

From absentee managers to entry-level employees running entire departments, we explore why modern delegation has gone off the rails. Is your boss actually leading or just delegating their job away?

Hosts:

Matt Sunbulli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/

https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli

https://www.firstdraft.vc

Aaron Calafato

Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories

Before you start a podcast, talk to Aaron!

Leah Ova

Follow Leah on TikTok

Editorial:

Matt Sunbulli

Brooks Borden

Ken Wendt

Aaron Calafato

Audio:

Ken Wendt

Jan Cruz

Research:

Zaid Safe

Matt Sunbulli

Remember when getting a promotion was a good thing? This week, Ellie was offered a better title and salary, she did the unthinkable—she turned it down. And she’s not the only one. 30% of today’s workers quit within a month of promotion.

From endless Zoom calls to "forced fun" events, we explore why more professionals are saying "No, thanks!" to moving up. Is the traditional career ladder broken, or are we finally asking for what we're worth?

Hosts:

Matt Sunbulli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/

https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli

https://www.firstdraft.vc

Aaron Calafato

Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories

Before you start a podcast, talk to Aaron!

Leah Ova

Follow Leah on TikTok

Editorial:

Matt Sunbulli

Brooks Borden

Ken Wendt

Aaron Calafato

Audio:

Ken Wendt

Jan Cruz

Research:

Zaid Safe

Matt Sunbulli

This week, we start with the story of a Citigroup analyst, who unexpectedly found himself internet-famous, blending work and social media in ways he hadn’t foreseen.

Join us as we dive into the world of low-key influencers—employees hiding behind cubicles by day and thriving online by night. How does this new professional reality affect our workplaces? And what happens when your side hustle becomes the main event?

Hosts:

Matt Sunbulli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/

https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli

https://www.firstdraft.vc

Aaron Calafato

Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories

Leah Ova

Follow Leah on TikTok

Editorial:

Matt Sunbulli

Brooks Borden

Ken Wendt

Aaron Calafato

Audio:

Ken Wendt

Jan Cruz

Research:

Zaid Safe

Matt Sunbulli

We all remember our first adulting moment. For some, it was their first paycheck; for others, it was moving to the big city. For Amani, it was getting kicked off the family phone plan.

When does adulthood start? Do you have to stop chasing your dreams to pay the bills? This week, we discussed moving out, paying rent, and everything #Adulting.

Hosts:

Matt Sunbulli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/

https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli

https://www.firstdraft.vc

Aaron Calafato

Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories

Leah Ova

Follow Leah on TikTok

Editorial:

Matt Sunbulli

Brooks Borden

Ken Wendt

Aaron Calafato

Audio:

Ken Wendt

Jan Cruz

Research:

Zaid Safe

Matt Sunbulli

On this episode of The Lonely Office, we dive into the latest economic insights with Glassdoor’s lead economist, Daniel Zhao, as he unpacks the complexities behind two major job market reports—the JOLTS report and the Employment Situation report. With factors like hurricane impacts and the Boeing strike shaping this month's data, we break down what these reports reveal about job openings, hiring rates, and why so many employees feel “stuck” in their roles. Join us for a candid look at the evolving job market and the pressing questions around work-life balance, job security, and career satisfaction.

Special Guest:

Daniel Zhao

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbzhao/

Hosts:

Matt Sunbulli

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunbulli/

https://www.threads.net/@mattsunbulli

https://www.firstdraft.vc

Aaron Calafato

Listen to Aaron's 7 Minute Stories