The Reality Gap Pod

Signal + Pattern Productions LLC

Career advice is contradictory, AI is weird, burnout is real, and your five-year plan is a joke. But you still need rent money and something to care about. We navigate the gap between what work is supposed to be and what it actually is. No gurus, no blueprints. Pull up a seat with Tom, Antonia, and Lorenzo for honest, funny conversations about navigating the mess of modern work. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Watch now (and subscribe!) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealityGapPodSubscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on: TikTok: @TheRealityGapPodInstagram: @TheRealityGapPodLinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod Want to share your own career mess? Got an idea for an episode? Looking to advertise? We actually read your messages! Write us at social@realitygappod.com or visit us at https://realitygappod.com/contact. The Reality Gap Pod is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark. https://realitygappod.com/

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep11. The Office Siren: TikTok Told Me to Dress Sexy at Work

    The office siren trend is all over TikTok — pencil skirts a little too short, one button undone, Bayonetta glasses, full femme fatale energy. It looks incredible on your For You page. But what happens when you actually wear it to work? This week, we're joined by Stephanie Niles — NYC-born lawyer who's worked in investment banking, big law, and civil service — to break down the real gap between how TikTok influencers role-play corporate America and what actually flies in a real office. TIMESTAMPS: 0:28 – Today's topic: the office siren trend & meet our guest Stephanie Niles2:13 – OOTD: the crew shows off their fits (snake skin, real fur, and corduroy)6:27 – So what actually is the office siren trend?8:09 – TikTok influencers are role-playing corporate America — not living it9:17 – Is return-to-office fueling the trend?11:12 – Where did you learn how to dress for work? (Family, mentors & getting pulled aside)13:30 – "It's like a dirty Halloween costume of someone playing work"14:06 – Intent vs. impact: your outfit as a suit of armor, not a sword18:10 – The jeans test: reading the room and office dress code politics20:53 – Fashion as self-expression vs. conformity — and the double standard women face22:22 – Accessories first: a safer way to show your personality at work24:10 – Office fashion as a metaphor for work itself25:37 – Do you plan outfits for the week? + shopping for your "work wardrobe"29:07 – Word association: cleavage at work = "vulnerable"30:00 – Is office siren actually empowering?34:08 – Finding the balance: creativity without sexiness35:05 – "If you're questioning the outfit, don't wear the outfit" Follow Us:  TikTok: @TheRealityGapPod Instagram: @TheRealityGapPod LinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod YouTube: @TheRealityGapPod Watch Or Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Want to share your own career mess? Got an idea for an episode? social@realitygappod.com Interested in advertising? social@realitygappod.com Learn more at https://realitygappod.com Note: We may earn revenue from some of the links we provide. The Reality Gap Pod is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark.#OfficeSiren #OfficeSirenTrend #WorkFashion #OfficeFashion #CorporateFashion #WhatToWearToWork #OOTD #WorkOOTD #CapsuleWardrobe #DressCode #TheRealityGapPod #RealityGap

    37 min

  2. FEB 4

    Ep10. From Sweeping Floors to Studying Volcanoes at MIT with Dr. Peter Barry

    What if the job you think is a dead end is actually your biggest career asset? In this episode, Tom's cousin Pete joins the pod to talk about why grit beats polish, what he actually looks for when reviewing grad school applications (hint: it's not your GPA), and the real tradeoffs of taking the scenic route in your career. Plus, Lorenzo opens up about how getting DOGE'd has him rethinking his own path. If you're stuck in a job that feels like it's going nowhere — this one's for you. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Meet the "Better Barry" (and the Brady Bunch intro) 2:01 – Who is Pete? Woods Hole, Birkenstocks, and cracking gas 5:06 – Why geology? Field trips, fossils, and finding your thing 9:00 – Everyone went to grad school... except Pete 11:06 – The odd jobs era: valet, babysitting, and gas station hot dogs 13:00 – "Soul-crushing": what the field technician job actually looked like 15:41 – Day one: "Here's a broom, start sweeping" 17:18 – How hating your job becomes the best motivation 19:08 – The last-minute call that changed everything 22:15 – Plot twist: the dead-end job got him into Scripps 23:45 – What Pete looks for when reviewing MIT applications 26:48 – Reality Gap #2: Passion vs. building the "perfect" resume 29:42 – Antonia's passions: travel, food, and doing the dirty work 33:09 – Pete's brother, studying abroad, and 40 countries later 36:52 – Lorenzo reflects: what Pete's story means for his own path 39:28 – Getting DOGE'd and learning to see setbacks as opportunities 43:00 – 100 applications, 99 rejections: Pete's real journey to tenure 45:13 – The tradeoff no one talks about: starting a family at 40 48:00 – Pete's advice: why you should travel while you can 53:11 – Grit over polish: final thoughts 55:02 – Shameless plug for The Search + wrap-up Follow Us:  TikTok: @TheRealityGapPod Instagram: @TheRealityGapPod LinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod YouTube: @TheRealityGapPod Watch Or Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Want to share your own career mess? Got an idea for an episode? social@realitygappod.com Interested in advertising? social@realitygappod.com Learn more at https://realitygappod.com Note: We may earn revenue from some of the links we provide. The Reality Gap Pod is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark. #TheRealityGap #CareerAdvice #CareerChange #NonLinearCareer #Grit #GritOverPolish #JobSearch #CareerJourney #FindingYourPath #WHOI #MIT #AcademicJobs

    56 min
  3. The Search, Ep03. Know Thyself (Before You Know LinkedIn)

    FEB 2

    The Search, Ep03. Know Thyself (Before You Know LinkedIn)

    Before you update your resume. Before you start networking. Before you apply to a single job. You need to answer one question first: Who are you? In Episode 3, Tom walks Lorenzo through nine self-reflection questions designed to help you understand what you actually want from your career—and what makes you valuable to an employer. These questions map to the three pillars of a job they defined last episode: economic security, personal fulfillment, and learning & growth. The 9 Questions: What do you like doing?What do you not like doing?What energizes you?What drains you?What feels meaningful even when it's hard?What are you good at?What are you not good at?What do you want to get better at?What do you want to learn next? Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome back00:13 – Recap: the three parts of a job01:05 – Why nine questions (formerly eight—math is hard)02:47 – Have you ever done this kind of self-reflection?05:07 – The quintessential DC experience: Hill internships06:52 – The nine questions, listed07:46 – Personal Fulfillment questions begin09:02 – Q1: What do you like doing?14:23 – Q2: What do you not like doing?19:51 – Q3: What energizes you?23:27 – Q4: What drains you?32:54 – Q5: What feels meaningful even when it's hard?38:24 – Economic Security questions begin39:29 – Q6: What are you good at?48:27 – Q7: What are you not good at?54:56 – Growth & Learning questions1:06:43 – Q8 & Q9: What do you want to get better at / learn next?1:08:38 – How to use your answers: identifying industries and roles1:10:57 – Tips: Be honest, non-judgmental, do it with a friend1:14:27 – Next episode preview: Research Write to Us social@realitygappod.com Try the nine questions yourself—then tell us what surprised you. What did a friend see in you that you didn't see in yourself? We want to hear from you. Follow Us:  TikTok: @TheRealityGapPod Instagram: @TheRealityGapPod LinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod YouTube: @TheRealityGapPod Watch Or Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Interested in advertising? social@realitygappod.com Learn more at https://realitygappod.com Note: We may earn revenue from some of the links we provide. The Search by Reality Gap Pod is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark. #TheSearch #JobSearch #KnowYourself #CareerAdvice #SelfReflection #RealityGap #CareerPodcast

    1h 15m

  4. JAN 28

    Ep09. Off the Prescribed Path (Antonia's Episode)

    This week, we're putting Antonia in the hot seat. As a college senior months away from graduation, she's navigating the gap between what her parents expected (one of us had to be a doctor, right?) and the path she actually chose. We get into sibling dynamics, why she followed Lorenzo to the same high school AND college (or did she?), the four career options her parents grew up with versus the infinite choices she faced, and the unlikely people who actually shaped her direction. Plus: we got our first fan voicemail and Antonia has some things to clarify about cheese. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Lorenzo on pre-workout and sibling torture stories 2:04 Does Antonia just copy everything Lorenzo does? 3:08 Antonia's major: marketing, hospitality, and tourism 3:44 Bonding on the hour-long drive to high school 4:56 Dad's a surgeon — did Antonia ever want to be a doctor? 5:26 "Point blank period, I was never gonna be a doctor" 5:54 Four career options: how their parents' system worked 6:25 First-gen confusion: "I never met anyone who studied public health" 8:08 Antonia as the creative one vs. Lorenzo the numbers guy 9:06 The 2015-2018 influencer era and middle school dreams 12:14 Specialist vs. generalist career paths 13:23 Ms. Hale: the learning specialist who changed everything 16:47 Lorenzo: "Antonia outshined me at both schools" 17:52 Blazing your own trail as a generalist 19:10 Antonia's new internship at her dream company 20:33 Creator marketing and why influencers matter 23:54 First day outfit: raspberry pants, not gray slacks 26:37 How she got the job: two years of relationship-building 29:50 The fear of becoming "another cubicle" 34:18 Why she actually picked GW (hint: it's about bread) 35:45 OUR FIRST FAN VOICEMAIL 37:16 Antonia sets the record straight on cheese 41:24 Who was your Ms. Hale? — Follow Us:  TikTok: @TheRealityGapPod Instagram: @TheRealityGapPod LinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod YouTube: @TheRealityGapPod Watch Or Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Want to share your own career mess? Got an idea for an episode? social@realitygappod.com Interested in advertising? social@realitygappod.com Learn more at https://realitygappod.com Note: We may earn revenue from some of the links we provide. The Reality Gap Pod is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark. #RealityGap #CareerPodcast #GenZ #CollegeSenior #CareerAnxiety #Graduation2025 #FirstGen #SiblingDynamic #Marketing #FindingYourPath #CareerAdvice #PodcastClips #YoungProfessionals #CollegeLife #GWU

    43 min
  5. The Search, Ep02. Surviving the Emotional Rollercoaster of Job Searching

    JAN 26

    The Search, Ep02. Surviving the Emotional Rollercoaster of Job Searching

    Before the strategy comes the survival. Before the networking comes the self-awareness. Before everything else comes this question: Are you actually okay? In Episode 2 of The Search, Tom and Lorenzo tackle what nobody wants to talk about—the emotional chaos of job searching. The waves of hope followed by the mornings where you don't want to do anything. The LinkedIn doom-scrolling. The comparison trap. The moments where you catastrophize: "I'm never going to get a job." This episode introduces three principles that will anchor the entire series: A mindful approach — noticing when your thoughts and feelings are driving your actions vs. when you're actually in the driver's seatPrioritize, focus, sequence — doing the right thing in the right order instead of trying to do everything at once (spoiler: multitasking is BS)A real definition of "job" — not just work, but something that provides economic security, personal fulfillment, AND opportunities for learning and growth Tom and Lorenzo also get into the survival vs. strategy debate: What if you need income now? Can you be strategic when you're stressed about rent? The answer involves oxygen masks, flight attendant Tom, and some real talk about securing your foundation before you can build anything on top of it. Plus: Lorenzo shares how shifting to "networking first, applying second" is already changing his results—and Tom opens up about the grouchy mornings that still hit even after landing a new role. Write to Us at social@realitygappod.com What emotions are you riding right now? What's helped you stay grounded during your search? We want to hear from you—your questions might be featured in an upcoming episode. Follow Us:  TikTok: @TheRealityGapPod Instagram: @TheRealityGapPod LinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod YouTube: @TheRealityGapPod Watch Or Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Interested in advertising? social@realitygappod.com Learn more at https://realitygappod.com Note: We may earn revenue from some of the links we provide. The Search by Reality Gap is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark. #TheSearch #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #JobHunting #RealityGap #EmotionalHealth #MentalHealthAtWork #JobSearchTips #CareerPodcast

    47 min
  6. The Search, Ep01. *New Series Launch*

    JAN 21

    The Search, Ep01. *New Series Launch*

    THE SEARCH EP 1: Meet Your Hosts (and Why We're Here) Special Launch Announcement: We're borrowing The Reality Gap's Wednesday slot this week to introduce you to our newest series, The Search by Reality Gap. Starting next week, The Search will release every Monday, and Reality Gap returns to its regular Wednesday schedule. Why the interruption? Because job searching can't wait—and neither could we. About This Episode Tom and Lorenzo are launching The Search: a series about the real strategies, emotional survival tactics, and creative approaches it takes to find a job in 2025. No toxic positivity. No "just hustle harder." Just honest conversations between two people who've been in the trenches. In this first episode, Lorenzo and Tom introduce themselves, share their job search stories, and preview what's coming: research strategies, the power of elimination, time management, networking that actually works, and building your brand without cringing too hard. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to The Search00:42 – Why we made this series02:22 – Lorenzo's story: Tufts, three concentrations, and a plan03:02 – "Then it got DOGEd" – losing the FDA fellowship05:44 – How the ORISE fellowship process actually worked07:28 – Fellowship applications vs. job hunting: prescribed paths vs. chaos08:07 – The post-graduation scramble22:45 – Tom's layoff and what he learned in three months23:13 – What to expect from this series24:50 – When your peers are in totally different positions26:52 – Why you're probably being too hard on yourself27:20 – Series preview: research, networking, marketing yourself29:55 – Outro Write to Us at social@realitygappod.com Going through your own search? We want to hear from you. What's working? What isn't? What questions do you have? Reach out and your question might be featured in an upcoming episode. Follow Us:  TikTok: @TheRealityGapPod Instagram: @TheRealityGapPod LinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod YouTube: @TheRealityGapPod Watch Or Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Interested in advertising? social@realitygappod.com Learn more at https://realitygappod.com Note: We may earn revenue from some of the links we provide. The Search by Reality Gap is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark. #TheSearch #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #JobHunting #RealityGap

    30 min

  7. JAN 14

    Ep08. What Happened To Our Lunch Break? The Rise of Slop Bowls

    Lorenzo takes the mic in this spotlight episode to share his journey from pre-med biology major to food policy advocate — and how a single class changed everything. We get into why nutrition is the "unsung hero" of preventative health, what happened to the American lunch break, and why we're all eating out of slop bowls now (yes, that's Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year). Plus: the worst foods to bring to the office, why ties were a terrible invention, and a call for your best slop bowl recipes. 🔗 Links mentioned in this episode: → World Central Kitchen (José Andrés' nonprofit): https://wck.org/ → GW Global Food Institute & "The World on a Plate" course: https://globalfoodinstitute.gwu.edu → "Living the Slop Life" – Emma Goldberg, The New York Times (May 2025): https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/style/ai-slop-slop-bowls-shein-slop-hauls.html → Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year: "Slop": https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-of-the-year 📩 What's your go-to slop bowl combo? What should you NEVER bring to the office for lunch? Email us: social@realitygappod.com #TheRealityGapPod #TheRealityGap #CareerPodcast #LunchBreak #WorkLifeBalance #FoodPolicy #SlopBowl #Slop2025 #Slop Follow Us:  TikTok: @TheRealityGapPod Instagram: @TheRealityGapPod LinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod YouTube: @TheRealityGapPod Watch Or Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Want to share your own career mess? Got an idea for an episode? social@realitygappod.com Interested in advertising? social@realitygappod.com Learn more at https://realitygappod.com Note: We may earn revenue from some of the links we provide. The Reality Gap Pod is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark.

    43 min

  8. JAN 7

    Ep07. Would You Be Severed? TV Jobs vs. Real Jobs

    What if you could completely forget work the moment you left the office? Lorenzo's in... Tom's not so sure. This week we're breaking down the TV shows that shaped how we think about work: Severance, Criminal Minds, The Office, and Silicon Valley. What did they promise us? What did they get wrong? And why does Gen Z still crave the in-person office experience when most of us are working from our bedrooms? Plus: If we made a TV show about the Reality Gap podcast, what would it actually look like? (Antonia demands a ball pit.) Tell us: What's your favorite workplace show, and how long could you actually survive working there? Drop a comment or email us at social@realitygappod.com #Severance #TheOffice #CriminalMinds #WorkLifeBalance #GenZCareers #CareerTok #WorkplaceCulture #RealityGap #RemoteWork #HybridWork #WorkFromHome #PodcastClips — Follow Us:  TikTok: @TheRealityGapPod Instagram: @TheRealityGapPod LinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod YouTube: @TheRealityGapPod Watch Or Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Want to share your own career mess? Got an idea for an episode? social@realitygappod.com Interested in advertising? social@realitygappod.com Learn more at https://realitygappod.com Note: We may earn revenue from some of the links we provide. The Reality Gap Pod is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark.

    45 min
See All (14)

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Career advice is contradictory, AI is weird, burnout is real, and your five-year plan is a joke. But you still need rent money and something to care about. We navigate the gap between what work is supposed to be and what it actually is. No gurus, no blueprints. Pull up a seat with Tom, Antonia, and Lorenzo for honest, funny conversations about navigating the mess of modern work. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Watch now (and subscribe!) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealityGapPodSubscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on: TikTok: @TheRealityGapPodInstagram: @TheRealityGapPodLinkedIn: The Reality Gap Pod Want to share your own career mess? Got an idea for an episode? Looking to advertise? We actually read your messages! Write us at social@realitygappod.com or visit us at https://realitygappod.com/contact. The Reality Gap Pod is a production of Signal + Pattern LLC. Registered trademark. https://realitygappod.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Signal + Pattern Productions LLC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Signal + Pattern Productions LLC