Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

Jay Abbasi

Real people. Real stories. Real solutions. I’m Jay Abbasi, host of Unstuck, and as a former leader at Tesla, I understand the whirlwind of challenges in the modern work scene. In this podcast, we reveal how to thrive in demanding work environments through relatable, real-life stories.   Each episode begins with a story based on real life professional challenges (some details are changed to protect anonymity), followed by expert insights to help you thrive at work including practical advice on resilience, mental health, and work life balance. Get unstuck and build the life and career you’ve always wanted.

  1. 163: How to Respond to Negativity (7 Steps)

    1D AGO

    163: How to Respond to Negativity (7 Steps)

    You can’t control negativity, but you can control what happens next. In this solo episode, Jay breaks down a practical, step-by-step framework for handling complaints, venting, and negativity without getting pulled into it. Whether it’s in the workplace or your personal life, these moments require a balance of empathy and intention. Drawing from real-world experience and timeless principles, Jay explains the critical difference between reacting and responding, and how a simple pause can shift the entire outcome of a conversation. He walks through seven clear steps to help you acknowledge others without reinforcing negativity, guide conversations toward solutions, and maintain a positive, grounded presence. Notable Quotes “To respond is positive. To react is negative.” — Zig Ziglar “A response is composed, logical, and intentional.” — Jay Abbasi “You can acknowledge how someone feels without agreeing with their logic.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Tonya, a professional who feels stuck, unfulfilled, and unsure of her next move despite financial stability. Jay is joined by Sarah Centrella, bestselling author and executive coach, to explore how to build clarity, trust your voice, and create a future you’re excited about.

    13 min
  2. 162: How to Deal with Irreversible Change

    5D AGO

    162: How to Deal with Irreversible Change

    What happens when the life you planned is no longer an option? Meet Andrew. He’s a Director of Business Development navigating a major company acquisition. New systems, new leadership, new expectations. In a moment of frustration, he joins in on the negativity with his team, only to walk away feeling like he’s added to the problem instead of leading through it. What he wants most is to show up with clarity, confidence, and control in the middle of change. In this episode, Jay sits down with John Register, a Paralympic silver medalist, Army combat veteran, and Hall of Fame keynote speaker who knows firsthand what irreversible change looks like. After a life-altering injury led to the amputation of his leg, John rebuilt his life and now teaches leaders how to navigate change with courage and conviction. Notable Quotes “New means no prior point of reference.” — John Register “Certainty is often just arrogance.” — John Register “Inspiration means to breathe life into others.” — John Register About Our Guest John Register is a Paralympic silver medalist, Army combat veteran, and Hall of Fame keynote speaker. After losing his leg in a training accident while preparing for the Olympics, he rebuilt his identity and went on to compete at the highest levels of sport. Today, he helps leaders navigate irreversible change by embracing a “new normal,” building resilience, and leading with purpose. Resources & Links John Register Website – https://johnregister.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnregister/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/johnfregister/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JohnFRegister X – https://x.com/jfregister YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiG9MrQUc3AogdmIlMArT3w Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/johnfregister/ Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay breaks down exactly how to respond when someone comes to you frustrated, venting, or complaining. He walks through what to say, how to say it, and how to shift the conversation without dismissing the person or joining in the negativity.

    56 min
  3. 161: 3 Practices to Cultivate Unconditional Happiness

    APR 17

    161: 3 Practices to Cultivate Unconditional Happiness

    What if happiness wasn’t something you had to earn… but something you could access right now? In this solo episode, Jay challenges the common belief that happiness is something we achieve through outcomes, success, or external circumstances. Instead, he introduces a powerful shift in perspective, showing how conditional thinking keeps us stuck in cycles of striving, resisting, and clinging. Drawing from philosophy, research, and personal insight, Jay breaks down how attachment drives unhappiness and how we can rewire our thinking to experience fulfillment in the present moment. He shares three practical, actionable practices to help you cultivate a more stable, grounded sense of happiness, regardless of what’s happening around you. Notable Quotes “Perfect happiness is the absence of striving for happiness.” — Chuang Tzu “Human beings are not wired for happiness. You’re wired for survival.” — Jay Abbasi “In this moment, you have everything you need.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Andrew, a Director of Business Development navigating a company merger and struggling with negativity within his team. Jay is joined by John Register, Hall of Fame keynote speaker and expert in navigating change, to explore how leaders can shift mindset, lead with conviction, and turn uncertainty into opportunity.

    17 min
  4. 160: Why Success Still Feels Empty

    APR 13

    160: Why Success Still Feels Empty

    Why do “successful” people so often feel unfulfilled? Meet Raj. He leads a team of 15 in a fast-growing sustainability division. On paper, everything looks right: meaningful work, strong performance, a stable career. But lately, the spark is gone. The work that once challenged him now feels like background noise. He’s delivering, but inside, something feels flat. In this episode, Jay sits down with Bernie Borges, founder of Fulfilled at Work Academy and creator of the Fulfillment Centric Leadership Framework. Together, they explore why success without purpose can feel empty, and how fulfillment is built by aligning achievement with meaning across different areas of life. Notable Quotes “Fulfillment is the emotion we experience when we have achievement or purpose.” — Bernie Borges “Happiness is tied to circumstance. Fulfillment is deeper.” — Bernie Borges“ We can’t just ask, ‘Am I fulfilled?’ We have to ask it across five areas of life.” — Bernie Borges About Our Guest Bernie Borges is the founder of Fulfilled at Work Academy and creator of the fulfillment-centric leadership framework. With decades of experience in B2B technology and leadership, Bernie helps organizations and leaders redesign how they approach performance by making fulfillment, not just results, the foundation for success. Resources & Links Bernie Borges Fulfilled at Work Website – https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernieborges/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bernieborges/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/bernie.borges X – https://x.com/bernieborges TikTok – https://www.instagram.com/bernieborges/ Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on the show? Submit it through the link below and Jay may highlight it in a future episode, offering personalized insights to help you move forward. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay explores a different perspective on happiness and why tying it to external circumstances may actually be setting you up for disappointment. He shares a new framework to help you experience a deeper, more consistent sense of happiness, independent of what’s happening around you.

    55 min
  5. 159: Leading at the Speed of AI

    APR 10

    159: Leading at the Speed of AI

    AI is moving fast. The real question is, can we keep up as humans? In this solo episode, Jay breaks down how leaders can navigate rapid technological change without losing the human connection that drives performance, trust, and culture. While AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, Jay explains that human psychology has not changed nearly as quickly, and that gap is where leadership matters most. Drawing from his keynote work and real-world experience, Jay introduces a simple three-step framework to help leaders guide their teams through uncertainty, fear, and disruption. By acknowledging emotions, asking better questions, and channeling energy into positive action, leaders can build adaptability while maintaining strong, human-centered relationships. Notable Quotes “Day by day, machines are gaining ground on us. Day by day, we are becoming more subservient to them.” — Samuel Butler “People need to feel heard. People need to feel understood.” — Jay Abbasi “Questions are the most powerful tool that you can use to help people to be adaptable.” — Jay Abbasi “Energy is not something we should be suppressing. It’s something we should be leveraging.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on the show? Submit it through the link below and Jay may highlight it in a future episode, offering personalized insights to help you move forward. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Raj, a senior leader in renewable energy who feels disconnected and unfulfilled despite leading a high-performing team. Jay is joined by Bernie Borges, founder of Fulfilled at Work Academy, to explore how leaders can reconnect with purpose, reignite engagement, and rediscover what meaningful work truly feels like.

    13 min
  6. APR 6

    158: My Wife Took Over The Podcast

    What happens when the host becomes the guest… and nothing goes as planned? Meet Jay… from a completely different perspective. This time, the questions aren’t coming from him. They’re coming from Alexandra, his wife, who flips the script and takes over the podcast. What follows is an unscripted, honest, and hilarious conversation that pulls back the curtain on Jay’s story, from the origin of his name to his early days in sales, a short-lived rap career, and the moments that shaped his transition into speaking and personal development. But beyond the laughs and stories, this episode reveals something deeper: the human side behind the work. The habits, quirks, values, and relationship dynamics that don’t usually make it into a keynote or a polished talk. Notable Quotes “I made a decision on the kind of work I wanted to do long term.” — Jay Abbasi “I love using language to shift how people think.” — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Alexandra Preziosi is a real estate professional and entrepreneur known for her authentic, relatable approach to content and client relationships. In this special episode, she brings a fresh, unfiltered perspective as she steps into the host role, creating a candid and engaging conversation that reveals a different side of her husband, Jay. Resources & Links Alexandra Preziosi Website – https://alexpreziosirealestate.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrapreziosi/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070492525113 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/alexpreziosi_real_estate/ Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on the show? Submit it through the link below and Jay may highlight it in a future episode, offering personalized insights to help you move forward. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay dives deeper into a conversation around AI and leadership. Rather than exploring how to use AI, this episode will be about how to lead humans through the AI disruption. If you’re a leader who sees how AI is impacting how people are showing up, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

    1h 7m
  7. 157: The Real Reason You Get Distracted

    APR 3

    157: The Real Reason You Get Distracted

    Distraction isn’t new, but there are evidence-based ways to cultivate greater focus. In this solo episode, Jay breaks down the real reason we struggle with focus and attention, and why distraction is not a modern problem caused by technology, but a deeply human trait that once helped us survive. Drawing from neuroscience and research, he explains how attention actually works and why trying to “fight distraction” often leads to frustration. Jay introduces practical tools to help you regain control of your attention, including understanding what your mind prioritizes, asking yourself powerful awareness questions, and building the habit of mindfulness training. If you’ve ever felt scattered, unfocused, or overwhelmed by distractions, this episode gives you a clear path to sharper focus and greater presence. Notable Quotes “Attention is the flashlight that illuminates your life. Learn to hold it steady and everything changes.” — Dr. Amishi Jha “Your attention will go to what you deem is most important.” — Jay Abbasi “You could be missing so much of your life because your attention is on something else.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on the show? Submit it through the link below and Jay may highlight it in a future episode, offering personalized insights to help you move forward. Submit Your Story  Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, Jay hosts a special and lighthearted conversation as his wife, Alex, takes over the podcast and interviews him. From his background in music to their relationship, favorite shows, and personal insights, this episode offers a fun and refreshing break from the usual format.

    17 min
  8. 156: Pursue Your Spark

    MAR 30

    156: Pursue Your Spark

    What happens when the life that once excited you… no longer fits? Meet Emma. After 30 years in real estate, she’s built a successful career, but lately even picking up the phone feels heavy. The routines that once energized her now feel exhausting. She doesn’t want to quit, but she knows something has to change. In this episode, Jay sits down with Heike Yates, midlife fitness expert, author of Pursue Your Spark, and creator of the Spark Framework. Together, they explore what it really takes to reinvent yourself when your current path no longer feels aligned. From letting go of safety to rebuilding self-trust, Heike shares practical strategies for navigating change without overwhelming yourself, and why progress comes from small, consistent steps, not overnight transformation. Notable Quotes “Leaving safety is gutsy.” — Heike Yates “Progress takes work, effort, consistency, and follow through.” — Heike Yates “You don’t have to jump all at once. Take small steps.” — Heike Yates About Our Guest Heike Yates is a midlife fitness expert, author, and coach with over 35 years of experience in fitness, nutrition, and mindset. Through her Spark Framework, she helps individuals rebuild energy, confidence, and direction when their current routines no longer align with the life they want to live. Resources & Links Heike Yates Pursue Your Spark book – https://heikeyates.com/midlife-mindset-book-pursue-your-spark/ Website – https://heikeyates.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/heike-yates/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQIeOesGLGAOD5RhI2KYjcA Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/heikeyates/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pursueyourspark X – https://x.com/Heike__Yates Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/heikeyates/ Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story  Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay dives into the science of attention and why most people misunderstand how focus actually works. He shares research-backed insights and practical techniques to help you reduce distractions, strengthen concentration, and direct your attention toward what matters most.

    56 min
5
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Real people. Real stories. Real solutions. I’m Jay Abbasi, host of Unstuck, and as a former leader at Tesla, I understand the whirlwind of challenges in the modern work scene. In this podcast, we reveal how to thrive in demanding work environments through relatable, real-life stories.   Each episode begins with a story based on real life professional challenges (some details are changed to protect anonymity), followed by expert insights to help you thrive at work including practical advice on resilience, mental health, and work life balance. Get unstuck and build the life and career you’ve always wanted.