More Closely Aligned

Annabell and Bri
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Real conversations about the search for work: the interviews, the rejections, the unexpected opportunities and the stories nobody tells.

Episodes

  1. 4h ago

    The job you never had

    How do you grieve a job you never actually had? After four interviews, six weeks of silence and far too much time imagining the commute, the projects and the phone call announcing the good news, Bri is trying to let go of a future that had already begun to feel real. Meanwhile, Annabell recounts flying to another country for a one-day interview, only to find herself back at square one a week later. In Episode 3, we talk about the peculiar heartbreak of losing an imagined future, the exhausting contradiction of protecting yourself while still appearing enthusiastic, and the emotional whiplash of receiving a promising recruiter call—with Asian dressing on your hands and a screaming toddler under your arm—two days after crying over a rejection. We also mark 100 applications with precisely zero fireworks, experiment with an AI-powered job-search assistant and share the glimmers keeping us going. Have a job-search story of your own? Share it with us at morecloselyalignedpod.com.

  2. Sep 4 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode: A message from the Universe

    Sometimes, when the job search feels particularly bleak, the universe sends you a message. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always arrive in the form you might expect. In this very short bonus episode, Annabell shares a small but exquisitely timed moment that felt either like a sign, a cosmic joke, or both. Because when you’re looking for work, apparently even the universe has thoughts. Have you ever received a “sign” at exactly the right (or wrong) moment? Tell us your story at morecloselyalignedpod.com.

  3. Sep 4

    Rejected, but make it human

    Rejection is part of the job search. Feeling as though the message was written by a robot—or by someone pretending to be your best friend—doesn’t have to be. In Episode 2, Annabell and Bri examine the strange, careless and occasionally surreal ways companies reject candidates: awkwardly familiar language, unfortunate timing, generic templates and messages that somehow manage to say both too much and nothing at all. They ask what candidates are actually owed after investing their time, energy and hope in a recruitment process—and why a little clarity, empathy and basic humanity can make such a difference. Plus: an update from the job-search trenches, the week’s optimism levels and a few glimmers to keep things moving. More Closely Aligned is a podcast made by unemployed people, for unemployed people—and anyone who has ever received that email.

  4. Sep 3 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode: Dressing Annabell

    What do you wear to an interview when getting there involves a 4 a.m. start, a long drive, a flight, an hour of public transport—and temperatures above 30°C? In our first bonus episode, Annabell calls Bri for an emergency styling consultation ahead of a particularly demanding interview journey. Together, they devise a plan that balances polish, comfort and practicality, from travel-friendly tailoring and strategic airport outfit changes to wrinkle prevention and the transformative power of a good lip stain. In this episode: How to look interview-ready after several hours of travelWhy you shouldn’t necessarily wear your interview outfit on the planeChoosing breathable, crease-resistant pieces for hot weatherPacking and changing strategicallySmall styling details that can help you feel more confidentWhy a reliable lip stain may be the hardest-working item in your bagBecause interviews are stressful enough without wondering whether your linen suit will survive the journey. More Closely Aligned is a podcast made by unemployed people, for unemployed people—following the strange, frustrating and occasionally funny realities of looking for work in real time. Follow us and share your own job-search story at morecloselyalignedpod.com.

  5. Sep 3

    Does the world *really* need another podcast?

    Does the world really need another podcast? Annabell and Bri aren’t entirely sure—but they do know that looking for work can be lonely, disorienting and occasionally absurd. In the first episode of More Closely Aligned, they introduce themselves and explain how two former colleagues became unemployed at the same time—and then became accidental podcasters. They compare notes on applications and interviews, reflect on what happens when work has been central to your identity, and share the unexpected discovery that their job searches had crossed paths more closely than either of them realised. This isn’t a podcast from people who already know how the story ends. It’s an honest, funny and unfinished conversation from inside the job search—for anyone navigating redundancy, rejection, uncertainty or the exhausting instruction to remain relentlessly optimistic. In this episode: • Why Annabell and Bri decided to start the podcast • The strangely intimate experience of comparing job-search notes • How unemployment affects confidence and professional identity • The absurdities that make a difficult period slightly easier to bear • Why honest companionship can be more useful than another list of career tips More Closely Aligned with Annabell & Bri is made by unemployed people, for unemployed people. Follow the podcast and join us for the next episode. Website: https://www.morecloselyalignedpod.com/ Instagram: @MoreCloselyAlignedPod *For those interested in Bri's musical, "SOUNDTRACK - Finding Home", tickets are available here.

  • 5 Episodes

About

Real conversations about the search for work: the interviews, the rejections, the unexpected opportunities and the stories nobody tells.

Information

  • Creator
    Annabell and Bri
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Annabell and Bri
  • Show Website
    More Closely Aligned