The Learning Lounge

Karan & Shruti Dang
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THIS IS PERSONAL This didn't start as a podcast. It started as a feeling we couldn't shake. A quiet realization that everything we are today exists because, at some point, someone made space for us. Someone explained the room. Someone shared what wasn't written down. Someone believed before there was proof. The Learning Lounge exists because we didn't get here alone.

  1. Sep 30

    From Immigrant Outsider to Design Leader: No One Hands Your Permission | Claire Kwon | Volume X

    One of our Co-host, Shruti's mentor, and former boss, Claire Kwon landed in America at 24 with an art history degree and almost no English. A professor told her an Asian woman had no business studying American art. She had no friends, read 20-plus books a week in three languages, and finished her master's in two years. Regardless, Claire rebuilt herself again into one of the most respected product-design leaders in the country, and into the kind of mentor who pushes you until you cry, but will thank her later. This is a conversation about starting over, about becoming a leader when no one gives you permission, about fighting for representation and equal pay from the inside, and about one idea that carried her through all of it: you make a decision, and you make it work.

    From Immigrant Outsider to Design Leader: No One Hands Your Permission | Claire Kwon | Volume X

  2. Sep 16

    If You Can't Step Away From Your Business, Watch This | CEO Coach | Vol. IX Pt. 2

    Description:   If you're building a creative business, you need to see this. Karan Dang and Shruti Dang bring their real, in-the-trenches problems from building 'The Learning Lounge Podcast' straight to executive coach Neal Schore for a live TLL Advice coaching session.  As introduced inPart 1, Neal is the founder of Triton Digital, the technology backbone of the digital audio industry and the founder/CEO of The 25th Hour Group. In Part 2 of 'GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY' this conversation, Neal role-plays through the exact scenarios keeping founders and leaders stuck: the founder bottleneck problem, micromanagement, teams that don't scale, and the fear of losing control. Neal coaches Karan and Shruti live through his signature tools — the power of the pause, the "it's your fault" reframe that builds trust instead of blame, "I expect" language that replaces wishy-washy asks with clarity, and the difference between leading from mediocre, good, and exceptional. If you've ever felt like every decision in your company has to run through you, this is the coaching session to watch. If you've ever wondered whether you are actually the problem that's holding back your company, this episode is a must watch.    To watch Part 1 of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ylJahQCksg&t=101s Subscribe to our Substack: https://karandang.substack.com/    Connect with Karan:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangkaran/    Connect with Shruti: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-dang/    Explore The Learning Lounge Podcast: https://www.dangworld.com/thelearningloungepodcast  FOLLOW THE LEARNING LOUNGE: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learninglounge.podcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@learninglounge.podcast  Threads: https://www.threads.com/@learninglounge.podcast  X: https://x.com/learning41807  Chapters 00:00 – Cold Open: "Exceptional Is When We Pause" 00:12 – Recap: Neal Schore's Triton Story 00:57 – TLL Advice Begins: Karan & Shruti's Founder Bottleneck Problem 01:32 – The Power of the Pause 01:56 – Reframe: "It's Your Fault" (In a Good Way) 02:44 – Live Coaching: Meet "Robert" 03:34 – Why Questions Beat Statements 04:07 – The Gift Card Rule: Making Mistakes Safe 04:45 – The Ripple Effect of a Trusted Team 05:48 – Mediocre vs. Exceptional Leadership, Side by Side 06:24 – Scenario 2: The "3 Things To Do" Employee 06:43 – Micromanager or Team-Truster? Pick One 07:49 – "I Expect" Language: Clarity Without the Wishy-Washy 09:09 – The Power of the Question 10:23 – Scenario 3: TLL's Scaling Problem — More People, Same Output 11:24 – The Traffic Jam Analogy: Why It's Really Your Fault 12:26 – Hire 3, Not 5: How Culture Multiplies Output 13:05 – Are Karan & Shruti the Micromanaging Duo? 14:35 – Why This Struggle Is Completely Normal 15:37 – Learning to Trust Your Gut 17:07 – When Gut Isn't Enough: The 25% Layoff Decision DISCLAIMER: The Learning Lounge content is for educational and informational purposes only. The opinions and experiences shared by hosts and guests are their own and are not medical, legal, financial, mental-health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances. Results vary, and outcomes are not guaranteed. Guest views do not necessarily reflect those of The Learning Lounge, Dang World, its owners, employees, affiliates, sponsors, or partners.   CONTENT CREDIT: Any imagery, footage, or references related to the Ambani and Kardashian events are used for editorial and illustrative purposes. Credit belongs to the respective copyright owners.   A DANG World Studios Production   OUR PEOPLE: Karan Dang — Co-Host & Chief Creative Officer Shruti Dang — Co-Host & Chief Operating Officer Utsav Dang — VP Strategic Operations Muita Muthee — Podcast Producer Sydney Dutton — Community and Operations Manager Leny Balute — Chief of Staff Rahul Sharma — Long Form Editor Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay — Short Form Editor Keith Tan — Shortform Creative Producer John Mark Galamay — Social Writer Austin Kway— Lead AV Technician Eba Lida — Hair and Makeup Will Mazzola — Original Lighting & Camera Design German Belkin — Original Soundtrack Jassi Aunty — Head Chef   SPECIAL THANKS: Late Sidharth Raj Dang, Amrita Dang, Shashi Shukla, Praveen Shukla, Aria Dang, Blue Vir Dang, advisors, mentors, friends, and family.

  3. Sep 2

    GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY : The Coach CEOs Call When They're Stuck | Neal Schore | Volume 9

    Neal Schore didn't just build a company,  he built an entire category, then walked away to solve a completely different problem: himself. For over a decade, Neal was the founder and CEO of Triton Digital, the technology backbone of the digital audio industry, steering it through three major strategic moves involving Oaktree Capital Management, Vector Capital, The E.W. Scripps Company, and iHeartMedia. He chaired Westwood One through its NASDAQ sale, sat on the board of GAP Broadcasting through its acquisition by Townsquare Media, and spent years as Managing Partner & CEO of MMG, advising private equity firms and operating companies across tech, media, manufacturing, gaming, hospitality, and healthcare. Along the way, Ernst & Young named him Entrepreneur of the Year for Greater Los Angeles. But the résumé isn't the story,  it's what he learned building it. After 20+ years advising executives, boards, and PE firms across the country, Neal became convinced that the biggest thing standing between high performers and their next level isn't the market, the competition, or the clock. It's themselves,  specifically the worry, the fear, and the obsessing over what other people think that quietly eats entire days. That idea became The 25th Hour Group, the executive coaching and leadership firm he now leads as CEO, and it became his new book, The 25th Hour: How to Thrive (And Gain Ridiculous Amounts of Time) by Getting Out of Your Own Way (Simon & Schuster). His thesis: we don't lose time to tasks — we lose it to our reactions. Neal is a Michigan State grad, a Harvard Business School Executive Education alum, and a longtime member of the Young Presidents' Organization. He lives in LA with his wife and three adult sons — and on this episode, he's handing over the playbook for finding a 25th hour in every single day

  4. Aug 19

    What It Takes to Win in India's $130B Wedding Industry | Shrey Bhagat | Volume VIII

    Shrey Bhagat is an Indian wedding photographer and co-founder of Raabta Studios. With 14 years of experience and 450+ weddings across 30 countries, he shares his approach to Indian wedding photography, destination weddings, storytelling, and building a global creative business.   From the palaces of Rajasthan to the coastlines of Greece, Shrey Bhagat has built a career around capturing weddings as stories rather than staged productions. Named one of *Vogue India's Top 5 Wedding Photographers* and *International Wedding Photographer of the Year (IWPOTY 2025)*, Shrey joins Karan and Shruti to discuss photography, creativity, advertising, entrepreneurship, and the rapidly evolving Indian wedding industry.   Indian weddings are not just cultural celebrations. They are a $130 billion annual industry, with around 8 to 10 million weddings taking place in India every year. Research from Jefferies has estimated that wedding spending is second only to food and groceries among major consumer spending categories in India. Other industry sources rank weddings among India's largest economic sectors. #ShreyBhagat #IndianWeddingPhotography #WeddingPhotography #RaabtaStudios #IndianWeddings #DestinationWedding #WeddingPhotographer #Photography   In this episode, we discuss: • What Indian weddings truly represent • Why pre-production is 60% of a successful wedding shoot • How wedding photography has evolved across generations • The origin story of Raabta Studios • Shrey's approach to authentic emotion and visual storytelling • The Five Rs of reading a wedding • Portrait coaching, creative direction, and posing • Lessons from The Creative Act by Rick Rubin   CHAPTERS:   00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:33 What an Indian Wedding Really Is 00:05:58 From Our Parents' Weddings to Our Own  00:06:55 The Evolution of Indian Weddings  00:09:30 Pre-Production: 60% of the Wedding 00:14:28 From Advertising to Photography 00:15:13 The Sister's Wedding That Started It All 00:15:52  The Grandfather's Camera  00:16:27 Learning From a Master: Jatin Kampani 00:19:34 Creating for Yourself  00:21:38 From Fashion to Wedding Photography  00:29:16 Building Raabta With Manveen (the mirror) 00:34:13 The Five Rs of Reading a Wedding 00:36:45 A Story to Be Honored (His philosophy) 00:39:27 Spill the Tea (rapid-fire) 00:42:07 Pushing Beyond the Comfort Zone  00:44:45 From Culture to Camera  00:49:13 Interactive: Coaching Julia's Poses 00:50:10 Aria Stands In for Julia (portraits) 00:50:15 The Quiet Work Behind Mastery     Subscribe to Karan's Substack: https://karandang.substack.com/    Connect with Karan:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangkaran/    Connect with Shruti: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-dang/    Explore The Learning Lounge Podcast: https://www.dangworld.com/thelearningloungepodcast    Read The Creative Act by Rick Rubin: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+creative+act+by+rick+rubin    FOLLOW THE LEARNING LOUNGE: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learninglounge.podcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@learninglounge.podcast  Threads: https://www.threads.com/@learninglounge.podcast  X: https://x.com/learning41807    Check out Shrey's book, THE CREATIVE ACT BY RICK RUBIN: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+creative+act+by+rick+rubin&adgrpid=185635902199&hvadid=779570267404&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9002126&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=9726273596588737422--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9726273596588737422&hvtargid=kwd-1945215516440&hydadcr=20394_13639531_2283105&mcid=016a54a6ecaf3bf79e7c55ce9ba45e4f&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_9sdaafjqvh_e DISCLAIMER: The Learning Lounge content is for educational and informational purposes only. The opinions and experiences shared by hosts and guests are their own and are not medical, legal, financial, mental-health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances. Results vary, and outcomes are not guaranteed. Guest views do not necessarily reflect those of The Learning Lounge, Dang World, its owners, employees, affiliates, sponsors, or partners.   CONTENT CREDIT: Any imagery, footage, or references related to the Ambani and Kardashian events are used for editorial and illustrative purposes. Credit belongs to the respective copyright owners.   A DANG World Studios Production   OUR PEOPLE: Karan Dang — Co-Host & Chief Creative Officer Shruti Dang — Co-Host & Chief Operating Officer Utsav Dang — VP Strategic Operations Missy Hauser — Podcast Producer Muita Muthee — Podcast Producer Sydney Dutton — Community and Operations Manager Josh Lara — Executive Assistant Leny Balute — Chief of Staff Rahul Sharma — Long Form Editor Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay — Short Form Editor Nadzmin Lackua — Social Media Graphic Designer Keith Tan — Shortform Creative Producer John Mark Galamay — Social Writer Noah Kugell — Lead AV Technician Will Mazzola — Original Lighting & Camera Design Trina Duarte — Hair and Makeup German Belkin — Original Soundtrack Jassi Aunty — Head Chef   SPECIAL THANKS: Late Sidharth Raj Dang, Amrita Dang, Shashi Shukla, Praveen Shukla, Aria Dang, Blue Vir Dang, advisors, mentors, friends, and family.   #IndianWeddingPhotography #WeddingPhotographer #CreativeEntrepreneur

  5. Aug 5

    Inside McDonald's Viral Marketing Strategy | Amanda Mulligan

    Learn the McDonald's viral marketing strategy and the campaigns behind some of the brand's biggest cultural moments. Meet Amanda Mulligan, Head of Social Media and Creator Marketing at McDonald's, the mind behind the Chicken Big Mac launch with Kai Cenat, the Grimace Effect taking over Mets fans everywhere, and McNugget Caviar dominating Super Bowl weekend. If it went viral and had those big golden arches behind it, there's a good chance Amanda had something to do with it. With over a decade in the social media game, she has helped define what it means for a brand to truly become part of culture. We talk about the strategy behind viral campaigns, creator marketing, habits, instincts, hard-earned lessons, and what it really takes to run social for one of the world's most iconic brands.   Episode Chapters:  00:00:00 | Welcome "I Am Woo" 00:18:35 | The Accidental Social Native: NYC, Travelzoo & a 6-Month Detour 00:19:47 | Social Is the Future of Marketing 00:36:20 | Grimace: How a Forgotten Birthday Became a Comeback 00:41:00 | McNugget Caviar: The $0 Drop That Beat the Super Bowl 00:49:31 | Subcultures, Anime & Showing Up as a Fan 00:53:40 | Building a Brand's Social From Scratch 01:06:05 | Building Teams & the "Culture of Yes" 01:10:29 | The Oktoberfest Disaster 01:16:19 | The Big Arch: Leaning Into the Joke 01:19:15 | Fan Truths & Following Your Fans 01:29:49 | Give Us the Chai 01:34:34 | Manifestation, Moon Water & the McDonald's She Wrote Down 02:03:12 | Audience Q&A: Moving On, Burnout & New Leadership 02:07:49 | The Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People   Subscribe to Karan's Substack: https://karandang.substack.com/   Follow Karan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangkaran/  Follow Shruti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-dang/   Check out our website: https://www.dangworld.com/thelearningloungepodcast     Check out Amanda's book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/     Get in touch with us on Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learninglounge.podcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@learninglounge.podcast    Threads: https://www.threads.com/@learninglounge.podcast  X: https://x.com/learning41807      Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is provided for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives of the hosts and guests. It should not be considered or relied upon as medical, legal, financial, mental health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances before making decisions related to your health, finances, business, career, or personal situation. Discussions may include topics such as wellness, supplements, peptides, performance optimization, business strategy, investing, and personal development. Individual circumstances vary, and results are not guaranteed. The views, opinions, statements, and claims expressed by guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Learning Lounge, Dang World, its owners, employees, affiliates, sponsors, or partners. Dang World does not independently verify all guest statements and assumes no responsibility for decisions made or actions taken based on the information presented.   A DANG World Studios Production Our People: Karan Dang - Co-Host & Chief Creative Officer Shruti Dang - Co-Host & Chief Operating Officer Utsav Dang - VP Strategic Operations Missy Hauser - Podcast Producer  Sydney Dutton - Community and Operations Manager Josh Lara - Executive Assistant   Euan Pascual - Long Form Editor  Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor  Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer Mark Managan - Shortform Editor Keith Tan - Creative Producer John Mark Galamay - Social Writer Noah Kugell - Lead AV Technician Santiago Sanchez - AV Technician Will Mazzola - Original Lighting & Camera Design Estrella Trejo - Hair and Makeup Trina Duarte - Hair and Makeup German Belkin - Original Soundtrack Jassi Aunty - Head Chef   Special Thanks:  Late Sidharth Raj Dang, Amrita Dang, Shashi Shukla, Praveen Shukla , Aria Dang, Blue Vir Dang  + Advisors, Mentors, Friends & Family

  6. Jul 22

    Disney, Cannes Lions & Turma da Monica | Meet the Black Sheep of Creative Royalty | Volume 6

    Disney creative lead Carol Saraiva shares how she went from winning Cannes Lions to reinventing her career at Disney. In this episode, she discusses advertising, copywriting, creativity, branding, leadership, and building a global creative career across Brazil, Portugal, and Los Angeles.   Her grandfather is the "Walt Disney of Brazil," her mother is the real-life inspiration for the country's most famous cartoon character, and the one thing Carol refused to do was join the family business. Instead she became the third most-awarded copywriter in the world, used her Cannes Lions as a passport out of Brazil, and rebuilt herself twice: once in Portugal, where she could barely write the language, and again in Los Angeles, where she lost the craft she was best at and had to become an art director, a director, and a screenwriter to survive. This is a conversation about reinvention, about creativity changing as you age, about the immigrant tax of whitewashing yourself to fit in, and about why she now spends her own time and money opening doors for the next generation of women who want to do what she did.   Episode Chapters:  00:00:00 | Welcome: From São Paulo to Disney 00:15:00 | Agency vs. Brand: When the Best Idea Stops Being the Point 00:20:00 | Does Creativity Change as You Age? 00:23:30 | São Paulo: Where Ad People Are Rock Stars 00:24:50 | The Award That Became a Passport 00:34:30 | Bald Cartoons: The Campaign That Changed Everything 00:37:30 | Portugal: Losing the Language She Was Best At 00:48:00 | Diversify Your Skills (or You Won't Lead Well) 00:52:00 | Spill the Tea 00:54:00 | Elas na Gringa and Women at Disney 01:19:00 | Creative Royalty: Her Grandfather, Her Mother, and the Black Sheep 01:53:00 | Creative Partnership, Mentorship, and Interns 02:05:00 | The Immigrant Tax: Whitewashing Yourself to Fit In 02:14:00 | Audience Q&A and the Book   Subscribe to Karan's Substack: https://karandang.substack.com/    Follow Karan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangkaran/   Follow Shruti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-dang/  Check out our website: https://www.dangworld.com/thelearningloungepodcast    Check out Carol's book, We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: https://www.amazon.com/We-Should-All-Be-Feminists/dp/110191176X    Get in touch with us on Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learninglounge.podcast    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@learninglounge.podcast    Threads: https://www.threads.com/@learninglounge.podcast    X: https://x.com/learning41807     Listen on:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-lounge/id1891447172   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6oIgrRc7xQzTbftzkQlOFr   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast     Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is provided for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives of the hosts and guests. It should not be considered or relied upon as medical, legal, financial, mental health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances before making decisions related to your health, finances, business, career, or personal situation. Discussions may include topics such as wellness, supplements, peptides, performance optimization, business strategy, investing, and personal development. Individual circumstances vary, and results are not guaranteed. The views, opinions, statements, and claims expressed by guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Learning Lounge, Dang World, its owners, employees, affiliates, sponsors, or partners. Dang World does not independently verify all guest statements and assumes no responsibility for decisions made or actions taken based on the information presented.   A DANG World Studios Production Our People: Karan Dang - Co-Host & Chief Creative Officer Shruti Dang - Co-Host & Chief Operating Officer Utsav Dang - VP Strategic Operations Missy Hauser - Producer  Sydney Dutton - Community and Operations Manager Josh Lara - Executive Assistant July Studio - Post Production House Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor  Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer Mark Managan - Shortform Editor Pauline Ann Taguiam - Shortform Editor Keith Tan - Producer John Mark Galamay - Social Writer Santiago Sanchez - AV Technician Will Mazzola - Original Lighting & Camera Design Trina Duarte - Hair and Makeup German Belkin - Original Soundtrack Jassi Aunty - Head Chef   Special Thanks:  Late Sidharth Raj Dang, Amrita Dang, Shashi Shukla, Praveen Shukla , Aria Dang, Blue Vir Dang  + Advisors, Mentors, Friends & Family   #Creativity #Advertising #Copywriting #Marketing #Disney #Branding #Leadership #CannesLions #Storytelling #Podcast

    Disney, Cannes Lions & Turma da Monica | Meet the Black Sheep of Creative Royalty | Volume 6

  7. Jul 8

    The Man Behind Advertising's Most Insane Stunts | Marc Simons, Giant Spoon | Volume 5

    Experiential marketing doesn't get more insane than this. A 270-foot dragon coiled around the Empire State Building made 8 billion impressions in a single campaign. 90,000 square feet of Texas desert turned into HBO's Westworld. 400 drones forming a scannable QR code 300 feet over Austin. 15 landmarks across 14 countries cracked open into the Stranger Things Upside Down in a single night. One agency made all of it - Giant Spoon. In this episode, Karan and Shruti sit down with Marc Simons, co-founder of Giant Spoon, the independent agency behind some of the most talked-about experiential marketing campaigns in the world. In 2013, Marc walked out of the holding-company world with three colleagues and no safety net. Over the next 13 years, he built Giant Spoon into one of the most celebrated agencies in advertising. This is a conversation about creative risk, what it actually takes to start an agency, the art of selling big ideas, and how he rebuilt after the moment in 2020 when it all nearly fell apart. Whether you work in advertising or marketing, you're thinking about starting your own agency, or you just want to know how the most ambitious brand stunts in the world actually get made, this one's for you.   Episode Chapters:  0:00 | Welcome; Dragons, Westworld & a Drone in the Sky  3:52 | The Pet Store: What His Grandfather Taught Him  8:18 | Two Weeks of Pre-Med, Then a Pivot  11:07 | The Internship and Two Lessons That Stuck  15:26 | Madison Avenue Meets Silicon Valley  26:27 | Demo Days and the Failed Black Card  32:56 | The Leap: Leaving the Holding Company  38:50 | Love and Money: The Wpromote Deal  52:09 | Spill the Chai  59:33 | Why "Giant Spoon" (and Alan Cohen)  1:03:40 | Try Anything, Give a Damn, Enjoy Each Other  1:04:08 | Scaling to 100 and the Pandemic Layoff  1:10:15 | Advice for the Next Builder  1:13:19 | The Obstacle Is the Way Subscribe to Karan's Substack here!   Follow Karan on LinkedIn here!   Follow Shruti on LinkedIn here!  Check out our website here!    Check out Marc's book, The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday here!     Get in touch with us on Socials: YouTube: here!   Instagram: here!   TikTok: here!   Threads: here!   X: here!    Listen on:  Apple Podcasts: here!  Spotify: here!  YouTube: here!  Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is for educational & informational purposes only & reflects the personal experiences, opinions & perspectives of the hosts & guests.It is not intended as & should not be relied upon as, medical, legal, financial, or professional advice.Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions related to your health, finances, business, or personal situation.Topics discussed may include wellness, supplements, performance optimization, business strategy & personal development. Individual circumstances vary, & results are not guaranteed.Guest views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of TLL or Dang World.   A DANG World Studios Production     Our People: Karan Dang - Co-Host & Chief Creative Officer Shruti Dang - Co-Host & Chief Operating Officer Utsav Dang - VP Strategic Operations Missy Hauser - Podcast Producer  Sydney Dutton - Community Manager Josh Lara - Executive Assistant Sandino Laygo - Social Media Manager  July Studio - Long Form Post Production House Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Shortform Editor  Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer Mark Managan - Shortform Editor John Mark Galamay - Social Writer Keith Tan - Creative Producer Joann Ferro - BTS Austin Waybright - AV Technician Will Mazzola - Original Lighting & Camera Design Trina Duarte - Hair & Makeup German Belkin - Original Soundtrack Jassi Aunty - Head Chef Special Thanks:  Late Sidharth Raj Dang, Amrita Dang, Shashi Shukla, Praveen Shukla , Aria Dang, Blue Vir Dang  + Advisors, Mentors, Friends & Family

    The Man Behind Advertising's Most Insane Stunts | Marc Simons, Giant Spoon | Volume 5

  8. Jun 24

    The Art of Pause - Why Burnout is an Injury, Not a Fatality | Jean Batthany | Part II | Volume 4

    Jean Batthany is one of the most accomplished creative leaders in advertising, marketing & brand building. Our conversation with her was so good, we had to split it into two parts. She was first-ever Chief Creative Officer at Walmart, creative transformer of Disney's in-house agency, founder of The Art of the Pause & pioneer of Regenerative Creativity.  In Part II, Jean opens up to us about the sexual abuse she endured from a global leader at her company, takes us inside the covert culture at her last workplace, the 160K sq ft studio she built, and the career pivot that blindsided her. She opens up about losing her father, the LinkedIn post that went viral in the aftermath, and the moment burnout finally had a name.  We talk about how burnout is an injury, not a fatality and it starts healing with taking 1/24th of your day for yourself. We close with some of the best Audience Q&A to date. Don't miss it!  Episode Chapters:  0:00 | Welcome & Recap 4:06 | Chai Rapid-Fire Segment  13:06 | The Walmart Pivot: First-Ever Chief Creative Officer  16:54 | Covert Culture & Grin F*cking  18:14 | Building the 160K Sq Ft Studio  20:10 | Blindsided: A Calendar Invite She Didn't Expect  21:48 | Her Father's Death 24:15 | The LinkedIn Post That Went Viral  24:56 | The Awakening: Naming The Art of Pause  29:37 | "Burnout Is an Injury, Not a Fatality"  30:22 | Daily Practices 34:53 | Audience Q&A  38:33 | Closing: You Cannot Be Anxious and Grateful at the Same Time Subscribe to Karan's Substack here!   Follow Karan on LinkedIn here!   Follow Shruti on LinkedIn here!  Check out our website here!    Check out Jean's book, It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw here!     Get in touch with us on Socials: YouTube: here!   Instagram: here!   TikTok: here!   Threads: here!   X: here!    Apple Podcasts: here!  Spotify: here!  YouTube: here!  Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is for educational & informational purposes only & reflects the personal experiences, opinions & perspectives of the hosts & guests.It is not intended as & should not be relied upon as, medical, legal, financial, or professional advice.Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions related to your health, finances, business, or personal situation.Topics discussed may include wellness, supplements, performance optimization, business strategy & personal development. Individual circumstances vary, & results are not guaranteed.Guest views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of TLL or Dang World.   A DANG World Studios Production   Our People: Karan Dang - Co-Host & Chief Creative Officer Shruti Dang - Co-Host & Chief Operating Officer Utsav Dang - VP Strategic Operations Missy Hauser - Podcast Producer  Sydney Dutton - Program Executive  Jolie Orban - Social Creative Josh Lara - Executive Assistant Shitanshu Tyagi & Garima Pradhan - Long Form Editors Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor  Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer Zaidell Aparejo - Graphic Designer  John Mark Galamay - Social Writer Noah Kugell - Lead AV Technician Santiago Sanchez - AV Technician Will Mazzola - Original Lighting & Camera Design Estrella Trejo - Hair and Makeup Trina Duarte - Hair and Makeup German Belkin - Original Soundtrack Jassi Aunty - Head Chef Special Thanks:  Late Sidharth Raj Dang, Amrita Dang, Shashi Shukla, Praveen Shukla , Aria Dang, Blue Vir Dang  + Advisors, Mentors, Friends & Family

    The Art of Pause - Why Burnout is an Injury, Not a Fatality | Jean Batthany | Part II | Volume 4
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About

THIS IS PERSONAL This didn't start as a podcast. It started as a feeling we couldn't shake. A quiet realization that everything we are today exists because, at some point, someone made space for us. Someone explained the room. Someone shared what wasn't written down. Someone believed before there was proof. The Learning Lounge exists because we didn't get here alone.

Information

  • Creator
    Karan & Shruti Dang
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    The Learning Lounge