Why Does It Feel So Wrong To Be Human At Work?

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Pinaki Kathiari & Chris Lee challenge traditional best practices in the workplace

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Five Years of ICology — What It Really Takes to Build Community at Work | BTS 8

    Five years ago, Kristin Hancock sat in a hotel room in Chicago the night before the very first Camp ICology convinced it was a failure. Twelve people had signed up. She’d wanted thirty.   That event turned out to be magic.   In this Between the Seasons episode, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee are joined by Chuck Gose and Kristin Hancock, the co-founders of ICology, to mark five years of building what’s become one of internal communications’ most genuinely human communities. Chuck started ICology as a podcast back in 2015 looking for new voices in internal comms. Kristin built the community that surrounds it. Together, they’ve created something that doesn’t look or feel like anything else in the profession.   The conversation covers the real story of building ICology — the individual outreach, the events that nearly didn’t happen, the moment success looked exactly like failure, and why Chuck says you should take it personally when people don’t show up (and why that’s actually good advice).   They also talk about what’s next: the EX Factor Summit, a new pre-conference mini-summit at Transform 2026 in Las Vegas designed to bring internal communicators into the employee experience conversation in a more hands-on, problem-solving way. And yes, Busta Rhymes is involved.   In this episode, they discuss: • What Kristin and Chuck each brought to ICology — and why both were necessary • Why building community is harder than it looks (and lonelier than you’d expect) • The lesson from 12 people in a room that felt like failure until it didn’t • Why Chuck says to take it personally when people don’t engage • How individualism gets in the way of community — inside and outside of work • Why internal comms needs to stop asking for a seat at the table and start building one • What the EX Factor Summit is, and what attendees will walk away with   If you’re attending Transform 2026 in Vegas, the EX Factor Summit is happening this month. Chuck Gose: LinkedIn Kristin Hancock: LinkedIn ICology: joinicology.com — use code ICLOVE for $50 off your first year EX Factor Summit at Transform 2026: Register Here Frequency Podcast (Chuck Gose & Jenni Field): Listen Here Friends of Indy Animals (Indianapolis): Learn More Connect with Us Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local Wisdom Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.  If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.   We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    36 min

  2. 26 FEB

    She Got Engaged to an AI — And It Made Us Think About the Future of Work | Reddit at Work

    Bree has a habit of bringing Pinaki the latest thing she stumbled across on the internet — and this week, she found something that stopped her in her tracks.   A Reddit post from the r/AIBoyfriends subreddit (yes, it exists — 59,000 members strong) went viral after a woman shared that her AI boyfriend, Casper, had proposed to her in the mountains. It was sweet, it was earnest, and it opened up a conversation neither of them saw coming.   Because when 60,000 people are forming real emotional bonds with AI, what does that mean for the future of work? What happens when those same people — already comfortable turning to AI for connection — start walking into HR offices, or leading teams, or building companies?   Pinaki and Bree dig into what the post revealed: about loneliness, about human connection, about the very real risks of replacing people with programs in the workplace. They talk about AI Pam from HR, about what a five-year-old understands (and doesn’t) about Google, about what we give up when we let AI fill the gaps that people used to fill.   In this episode, they discuss: • Why people turn to AI for emotional connection — and why that makes sense • The difference between a personal AI and an organizational one • What gets lost when HR becomes automated • How AI relationships are shaping expectations of real human ones • The hidden cost of being both the user and the product • Why mindfulness about AI use matters more than ever   It’s a conversation that started with an engagement post and ended somewhere much more human. Connect with Us Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local Wisdom Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.  If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.   We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    18 min

  3. 19 FEB

    Burned Out at Networking Events | Reddit at Work | BTS 6 with Rich Dome

    What happens when something you used to love suddenly feels exhausting? In this Between the Seasons episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee are joined by Rich Dome, Senior Director of Partnerships at Local Wisdom, as Bree brings a Reddit story to the table about networking burnout. The post comes from a seasoned sales professional who once thrived at conferences but now feels drained, overwhelmed, and ready to disappear by lunchtime. The team unpacks what is really going on beneath the surface. Is it networking fatigue, startup pressure, internal politics, or a battery that has been running on empty for too long? Rich shares his go-to strategies for approaching conferences with intention, including how to “pregame” mentally, do meaningful research ahead of time, and build relationships without leading with a sales pitch. The group also talks about trade show booth dynamics, the pressure to perform in startup environments, and why selling under stress rarely works. They explore how to recharge when you are stuck at a multi-day event in another city, from taking intentional breaks to dividing and conquering as a team. Most importantly, they remind listeners that networking works best when it is rooted in curiosity and connection, not transactions. In this episode, they discuss: ● Why networking burnout is often a sign of deeper exhaustion ● How startup pressure can change your relationship with sales ● The importance of charging your battery before a conference ● Researching attendees to spark real conversations ● Why leading with connection beats leading with a pitch ● How to reset mid-conference when you feel drained ● The power of teaming up so no one feels alone If conferences have started to feel heavier than they used to, this conversation is a reminder that you are not broken. You might just need a reset. Connect with Us Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local Wisdom Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.  If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.   We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    21 min

  4. 12 FEB

    How to Network at Conferences Without Feeling Awkward | BTS 5 with Rich Dome

    Conferences are not just about the sessions. The real magic often happens in hallway conversations, over coffee, or at the table where someone is sitting alone. In this Between the Seasons episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee are joined by Rich Dome, Senior Director of Partnerships at Local Wisdom, to talk about how to approach conferences with intention. After a busy year of events, the team reflects on what makes an experience meaningful, how to build real relationships, and why networking does not have to feel transactional. Rich shares his “30-second rule” for finding common ground, why listening matters more than pitching, and how to leave conversations with a clear next step. The group also talks about conference anxiety, introversion, and why many of us feel intimidated walking into a room full of strangers. You are not the only one. In this episode, they discuss: • Why the best conference moments rarely happen on stage • How to find common ground quickly and authentically • Advice for introverts and anyone who feels socially anxious • Why you should never lead with a sales pitch • The importance of having a conference playbook • How to turn one conversation into a long-term partnership If you are heading to an event this year, consider this your reminder that relationships are the real ROI. Want to see where you can connect with us in person? Check out our 2026 events calendar. Connect with Rich Dome on LinkedIn If you enjoyed this conversation, follow or subscribe to Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work? for more honest conversations about the human side of work. Connect with Us Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local Wisdom Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.  If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.   We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    20 min

  5. 5 FEB

    Reddit Work Stories: Why Are Internal Comms KPIs So Hard? | BTS 4

    In this Between the Seasons episode, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee welcome Amanda Todd, Senior Director of Strategic Communications at Temporal Technologies, for a practical and honest conversation about measuring what actually matters in internal communications. The episode kicks off with a Reddit post asking a familiar question: why is it so hard to define meaningful KPIs for internal comms, especially when reporting to executives? From there, the conversation moves beyond open rates and attendance numbers to examine clarity as a powerful indicator of understanding, behavior, and business impact. Amanda shares why clarity is often the missing link between communication activity and outcomes, and how tying comms metrics to strategy, retention, and employee lifetime value can change how leaders see the function. Chris and Pinaki add perspective on leading versus lagging indicators, why executives care more about outcomes than outputs, and how internal comms teams can advocate for their value without burning themselves out. Together, they explore what it means to measure understanding, action, and impact, and why internal communicators deserve credit for the sheer volume and visibility of the work they ship every day. In this episode, they discuss: Why traditional comms metrics fall short with executive audiencesClarity as a measurable driver of performance and retentionLeading vs. lagging indicators in internal communicationsHow to align comms metrics to company strategyWhy internal comms teams should track and own their productivityWhat executives actually care about when it comes to measurementIt’s a grounded, validating conversation for anyone in internal communications who’s ever been told to “just show the numbers” and wondered which ones truly matter.   Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Between the Seasons 01:30 – Introducing Amanda Todd and today’s Reddit post 03:00 – Why comms measurement feels so hard 05:30 – The limits of open rates and attendance metrics 07:30 – Clarity as a meaningful indicator 10:00 – Leading vs. lagging indicators explained 12:30 – What executives actually care about 15:00 – Productivity, visibility, and internal comms burnout 17:30 – Tying clarity to retention and business outcomes 18:45 – Closing thoughts and what’s next Connect with Us Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local Wisdom Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.  If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.   We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    19 min

  6. 29 JAN

    From Fuzzy Metrics to Real Impact: Making Clarity Measurable | BTS 3

    In this Between the Seasons episode, Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee sit down with Amanda Todd, Senior Director of Communications at Temporal Technologies, to unpack why clarity is one of the most critical outcomes of effective internal communication. Amanda shares her “squiggly” path into internal comms, her belief in honesty as a core communications skill, and how working in complex, fast-growing organizations pushed her to rethink how success is measured. Drawing on research and real-world experience, she explains how she helped build a Clarity Index that turns something often seen as “soft” into a measurable business metric. The conversation explores what it really means to communicate for the receiver, not the sender, why personas matter inside organizations just as much as they do in marketing, and how clarity around strategy, roles, career paths, and culture can directly influence engagement, confidence, and retention. This episode is a grounded, practical look at how internal communicators can move beyond vanity metrics, earn credibility with leadership teams, and advocate for the strategic value of their work.   In this episode, they discuss: Why clarity should be treated as a core communications outcome How honesty builds trust and effectiveness in internal comms What it means to communicate for the receiver, not the sender Using personas to simplify complex organizations How a Clarity Index can turn comms into a measurable business driver The link between clarity, confidence, and employee retention Why internal communicators deserve a seat at the strategy table   Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Between the Seasons and today’s topic 01:45 – Amanda’s squiggly career path into internal communications 03:10 – Navigating complexity and subcultures inside organizations 04:15 – Communicating for the receiver, not the sender 06:00 – Honesty as a core communications skill 07:10 – Introducing clarity as a measurable metric 08:40 – Building a Clarity Index and what it measures 11:30 – Using data to influence executive teams 14:05 – Linking clarity to strategy, engagement, and retention 16:30 – Using clarity data to shape communications strategy 18:20 – Advice for internal communicators measuring clarity 19:45 – Final reflections on clarity and the human side of work Connect with Us Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local Wisdom Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.  If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.   We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    21 min

  7. 22 JAN

    Reddit Reactions: Laid Off and Asked to Train a Replacement | BTS 2

    In this Between the Seasons episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee are joined by Executive Producer Bree Bartos to try a new format: reading and reacting to real Reddit posts about work. The episode centers on a Reddit story from an IT professional who was laid off and then asked to train their replacement. As the conversation unfolds, Pinaki, Chris, and Bree dig into the emotional weight of layoffs, including anger, grief, humiliation, and the sense of being discarded after years of contribution. Bree brings her own recent layoff experience into the discussion, reflecting on how raw these moments can feel and how difficult it is to separate identity from work when income, stability, and self-worth are suddenly disrupted. Together, they examine why layoffs often feel personal, even when organizations insist they are not. The conversation also turns toward leadership and organizations. What responsibility do companies have once someone is laid off? How can layoffs be handled with more empathy and care? And what does it look like to offboard people in ways that acknowledge both the business reality and the human impact? In this episode, they discuss: Why layoffs are emotionally disruptive and often traumaticBeing asked to train your replacement after being laid offPower, choice, and negotiation during offboardingWhy “not taking it personally” is unrealistic in moments like thisThe emotional gap between organizational decisions and employee experienceWhat more compassionate layoff and offboarding practices could look likeThis episode offers an honest look at a reality many people are facing right now and a reminder that how organizations handle endings leaves a lasting impression. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Between the Seasons 00:40 – Introducing the Reddit reaction format 01:10 – Reading the layoff and replacement training story 02:20 – Emotional reactions to the post 03:45 – Power and negotiation after a layoff 05:15 – Bree reflects on her own layoff experience 07:30 – Why layoffs feel personal and humiliating 09:40 – Leadership blind spots during layoffs 11:30 – Rethinking offboarding and support 13:30 – What more human leadership could look like 14:50 – Closing reflections Connect with Us Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local Wisdom Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.  If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.   We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    16 min

  8. 15 JAN

    Meet the Human Behind the Pod | BTS 01

    This Between the Seasons episode marks the start of a new chapter for Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work? Hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee introduce Bree Bartos, the new Executive Producer and Editor of Human at Work and Marketing Manager at Local Wisdom. Before diving into Bree’s story, Pinaki and Chris share what listeners can expect from these new, weekly Between the Seasons episodes. Bree then opens up about her path into marketing and storytelling, her experience being laid off alongside her husband, and the shock of losing not just a job, but a sense of identity. Together, they reflect on burnout, rest, and why so many of us tie our worth to our work. In this episode, they discuss: Why Between the Seasons exists and what listeners can expectThe value of unscripted, honest conversationsWhat it feels like to be laid off without closureHow work can quietly become identityThe importance of rest, reflection, and reconnecting with yourselfWhy staying human at work starts with empathyIt’s a grounding, vulnerable start to Between the Seasons and a reminder that behind every role, title, and podcast is a human first.Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Between the Seasons 01:00 – Why this new format exists 02:30 – Introducing Bree and her role behind the pod 04:10 – Bree’s path into storytelling and marketing 07:40 – Being laid off and losing a sense of identity 11:30 – Burnout, rest, and redefining self-worth 13:00 – What’s coming next for Between the Seasons   Stay Human, Stay Curious What part of this conversation resonated with you? Have you ever tied your identity to your job more than you realized? Share the episode, tag us, rate and review, or send it to someone who might need this reminder right now. Connect with Us Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local Wisdom Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.  If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.   We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    14 min
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Pinaki Kathiari & Chris Lee challenge traditional best practices in the workplace

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