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

Ep 1 | Why Does it Feel So Wrong To Be Human At Work?

Episode Summary

Pinaki and Chris embark on their journey to create a more human-centric workplace as they record this pilot episode live from the IABC World Conference stage in Toronto.

Episode Notes

Season 1, Episode 1 (Live): Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?

Episode Description:

Recorded live at the IABC World Conference 2023 in Toronto, this debut episode kicks off the Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work? podcast with a bold question: Are we slowly unlearning our own humanity at work?

Co-hosts Pinaki Kathiari (CEO, Local Wisdom) and Chris Lee (VP at Gallagher, President of IABC Toronto) take the stage to explore why workplace norms—from performance reviews to thank-you notes—often feel mechanical, outdated, or just plain wrong.

In front of a live audience, they break down:

• The habits we’ve inherited but never questioned
• Why “How are you?” is no longer a real question
• The workplace tension between productivity and authentic appreciation
• How performance reviews, workplace mandates, and default professionalism often strip away our humanness
• The origins of the podcast and how serendipity led to a live launch on a global stage

This unscripted, high-energy conversation mixes storytelling, audience interaction, and honest reflections on what it really means to be human in today’s corporate culture.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Welcome to the stage: Live from IABC World Conference
• 02:00 – What inspired the podcast (spoiler: it started at a bar)
• 06:00 – Rituals we never question: Email signatures, fax numbers, and apologies for appreciation
• 10:00 – The weirdness of annual performance reviews
• 14:00 – What it means to "unlearn" being robotic at work
• 17:00 – Why does it feel wrong to ask “How are you?” and mean it?
• 20:00 – Audience reactions: Code-switching, return-to-office, single parenting, tone-deaf messaging
• 25:00 – The human cost of transactional internal communications
• 28:00 – Why does it feel wrong to thank someone at work?
• 32:00 – Return to office: Rationales, resentment, and what’s missing in the messaging
• 38:00 – Emotional intelligence and new leadership styles
• 42:00 – Let’s stop calling it a “competitive benefits package”
• 47:00 – Psychological safety: Not a buzzword, a necessity
• 52:00 – Final thoughts and call to action: Be advocates for humanity

Books & Resources:

• The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson
• Reality-Based Leadership by Cy Wakeman
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• Humanocracy by Gary Hamel
• Good to Great by Jim Collins
• The Confidence Code by Katty Kay & Claire Shipman

Mic-Drop Moments:

“Why does it feel wrong to spend five minutes thanking someone, but not five hours chasing a spreadsheet?”

“If you have to explain authenticity, it stops being authentic.”

“Being human isn’t a distraction from work—it is the work.”

Connect with Us:

Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication

Special Thanks:

A heartfelt thank-you to the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), María Jesús Villagrán Cabanne, Letty Wong, and the entire IABC World Conference crew for helping us make podcast history on stage. And to our live audience—you brought the energy, vulnerability, and validation this show is all about.

Get Curious With Us:

What’s one thing you do at work that you’ve never questioned—until now? That’s where the unlearning starts. Hit play, subscribe, and follow along as we unravel the little (and not-so-little) things that make work feel… not-so-human.

Visit whydoesitfeelsowrong.com to learn more.