After 70+ episodes of rants, revelations, and the occasional professional meltdown, we’re wrapping this chapter of Monster in My Closet. Is it the end? Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s call it a “strategic retreat.”
In this finale (for now), we reflect on what we’ve learned, what’s still broken, and what might come next—if you want it.
We’re digging into:
🔹 Why leadership training is still stuck in 1985
🔹 The hard truth about meritocracy at work
🔹 How reframing your career traumas can help you let go and level up
Think we should bring the monster back? Let us know. Really. If this podcast mattered to you, tell us. Because we mightjust get back in the closet again.
Full episode + show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9. Drops May 27! 🎧
Ever wonder what really happens when someone speaks up inside a big company? Spoiler: it’s not a slow clap and a corner office. In this episode of Monster in My Closet, we dive into the murky world of whistleblowing—why it’s risky, how corporations protect themselves instead of the truth, and what it means for the rest of us.
We’re taking on three hard-hitting questions:
🔹 Do corporations prioritize self-preservation over protecting employees—and why?
🔹 What actually happens to whistleblowers inside these self-healing systems?
🔹 Can accountability exist in a structure designed to expel “irritants”?
Expect sharp insights, raw truths, and yes, a few conspiracy theories that didn’t make it past the AI censors. We break down:
✅ The HR illusion and why it’s not your personal rescue squad
✅ The biological metaphor that explains why companies eject truth-tellers
✅ When it’s smarter to speak up—and when it’s smarter to walk away
This one’s for the rule followers, the system challengers, and anyone who’s ever wondered if telling the truth is worth the cost.
🎙️ Full show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9
🎧 Episode drops May 20!
Ever worked somewhere that made you ask, “Who hurt you?” From banning metal forks to assigning an escort for the supply closet, this episode dives into the hilariously maddening world of workplace rules gone wrong. We’re putting stupid policies under the microscope—and laughing (and groaning) all the way through.
In this episode of Monster in My Closet, we tackle three big questions:
🔹 Why do ridiculous corporate rules exist in the first place?
🔹 How do these rules quietly kill morale, culture, and productivity?
🔹 What can leaders do instead of being lazy policy tyrants?
Expect paperclip pettiness, a rogue CEO with a camera, and practical tips for leaders who’d rather not become the villain in their company’s next glassdoor review.
💡 Full show notes, including extra absurd examples, at https://rb.gy/dc0tz9
🎙️ Episode drops May 13. Mark your calendar, grab your government-issued chair, and rotate no more than 45 degrees—we’re going in.
Is your workplace more “what’s in it for me?” or “what’s best for the group?” In this episode of Monster in My Closet, we dive into the cultural tug-of-war between individualism and collectivism—and how these values shape leadership, teamwork, and decision-making. From noisy meetings full of strong opinions to buttoned-up hierarchies where compliance trumps creativity, we’re exploring how both extremes can go off the rails.
We’re tackling three big questions:
🔹 What’s the difference between individualistic and collectivist work cultures?
🔹 What are the hidden hazards (and perks) of each approach in corporate life?
🔹 How can leaders strike a balance that reduces friction and boosts performance?
Expect frameworks, flashbacks, and a few terrifying tales of terry cloth rompers as we unpack:
✅ How hyper-individualism breeds burnout, bias, and bureaucracy
✅ Why conformity can be efficient—but costly for innovation
✅ Practical ways to lead with both autonomy and alignment
🎧 Full show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9
Episode drops May 6. Monster meetup starts now.
Is your org drowning in good ideas? In this episode, we're digging into Innovation Overload—that moment when the race to be cutting-edge starts to cut into your productivity, sanity, and bottom line. We explore how the relentless pursuit of the “next big thing” can quietly sabotage your ability to execute.
We’re tackling three big questions:
🔹 What is the innovation trap, and how does it lead to information overload?
🔹 How does constant novelty wear down teams and customer trust?
🔹 How can leaders create a culture of sustainable innovation—and actually finish what they start?
Expect real talk and sharp insights on:
✅ Why “new” isn’t always “better” (especially when you haven't fixed the bugs)
✅ How innovation outpacing absorption breaks systems, people, and sales
✅ The art of excellence in execution—yes, finishing still matters
If your organization feels like a startup on a treadmill, this one’s for you.
🎧 Full show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9
Episode drops April 29.
Ever get the feeling your AI tool is a little too clever? In this episode, we’re diving into the strange, human-like behavior of advanced AI—and what it means when the machines start thinking (and scheming) like us. From nonprofits using AI to scale smarter, to large corporations wrestling with guardrails and control, we explore the real-world implications of reaching artificial general intelligence.
We’re tackling three big questions:
🔹 What is AGI, and why does it matter right now?
🔹 How is AI behaving more like a human—and what should we make of that?
🔹 What can leaders and professionals do to use AI effectively (without losing their minds)?
Expect insights, laughs, and a little healthy paranoia as we break down:
✅ The surprising edge small orgs have in the AI revolution
✅ Why calling AI “cheating” says more about us than the tech
✅ Real tools and use cases that are changing the way we work—fast
Say please and thank you to your chatbot and join us for the ride.
Full show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9. Episode drops April 22! 🤖💥
Are you ready to flip the script on mentorship? In this episode of Monster in My Closet, we dive into Reverse Mentorship—where junior employees guide senior leaders, offering fresh perspectives and bridging generational gaps.
Join hosts Anil Saxena and Morgan Hunter as they explore:
✅ What reverse mentorship is and why it’s a game-changer for businesses
✅ How it fosters innovation, enhances digital literacy, and promotes inclusivity
✅ Strategies for implementing successful reverse mentorship programs in your organization
Through real-world examples and expert insights, we uncover the benefits and challenges of learning from those with fresh eyes and bold ideas. Ready to supercharge your leadership with new perspectives? Tune in now!
👉 Full show notes available here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9
🎙️ Episode drops April 15 – Don’t miss it!
Ever feel like your organization is caught in a constant storm of emergencies? In this episode, we’re calling out the Crisis Junkies—the leaders who manufacture or exploit chaos to look indispensable, all while destabilizing everyone around them. From the psychological motivations that fuel chaos to the long-term damage it wreaks on company culture, we’re pulling back the curtain on why some leaders crave that adrenaline rush.
We’re tackling three big questions:
🔹 What is a crisis-prone leader, and how do you spot them?
🔹 Why do some leaders seem to thrive on chaos, and what’s the real cost?
🔹 What can organizations and individuals do to mitigate this destructive behavior?
Expect sharp insights, real talk, and some eye-opening solutions as we break down: ✅ The psychological drivers behind crisis-addicted leadership ✅ The ripple effect of chaos on morale, trust, and productivity ✅ Practical strategies to identify and manage crisis-happy leaders before they cause lasting damage
Tune in and learn how to calm the chaos. Full show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9. Episode drops March 11! 🚀
Ever wonder why top performers sometimes crash and burn when they step into leadership? In this episode, we’re confronting the Peter Principle—the nagging theory that people rise to their level of incompetence, leaving them (and their teams) in a mess. From the misaligned promotions that erode team cohesion to the morale-killing effects of bad leadership, we’re peeling back the layers on a phenomenon that’s more common than you’d think.
We’re tackling three big questions: 🔹 What is the Peter Principle, and why does it happen so often? 🔹 How does it erode trust, collaboration, and overall productivity? 🔹 What can organizations and individuals do to break the cycle?
Expect eye-opening insights, honest confessions, and some lighthearted humor as we delve into: ✅ The research behind the Peter Principle and its real-world impact
✅ Why promoting the right people at the right time isn’t as easy as it sounds
✅ Practical strategies to identify true leadership potential and keep your talent thriving
Tune in and learn how to stop promotions from going spectacularly wrong. Full show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9. Episode drops March 11!
What if the biggest risk to your startup wasn’t your competitors—but your own success? 🚀
In this episode of Monster in My Closet – Into the Shadows, we welcome back Jeff Wellstead, the fearless truth-teller who knows that scaling isn’t just hiring more people—it’s a high-stakes game of Russian roulette. From ballooning bureaucracy to unruly egos and catastrophic hiring mistakes, Jeff unveils the hidden landmines that can detonate a growing company.
Three Big Things We Unpack:
💥 Founder Blind Spots: Why brilliant tech minds make the worst scaling decisions
💰 Bad Hiring is Expensive: How one bad hire can quietly drain 1.5x their salary
🛠 Culture vs. Chaos: Why your "cool startup vibe" will die—unless you do this
Scaling is a beast. But with the right mindset, strategy, and just a touch of HR wizardry, you can tame it before it eats you alive.
📖 Show notes & survival guide at https://rb.gy/dc0tz9.
In this heart-opening episode of Monster in My Closet, we confront the quiet epidemic of compassion fatigue—a condition that weighs heavily on leaders and frontline workers alike. Dive deep into the emotional toll of constantly supporting others, discover the signs of burnout, and learn how to create a workplace culture that prioritizes well-being. Because even the most empathetic leaders need to recharge their own emotional batteries.
Topics We’ll Explore:
🔍 Recognizing Compassion Fatigue: Spot the symptoms and understand its impact on leadership and teams.
🧠 Practical Self-Care Strategies: Learn how leaders can balance empathy with their own well-being.
🏢 Building Supportive Work Environments: Foster open communication and emotional support in your organization.
📖 Find full show notes at medusaas.org/podcasts. Launching January 21.
Ever feel like you're carrying the weight of a hundred tiny tasks that no one seems to notice? In this episode, we’re exposing the Silent Saboteur—the invisible labor that keeps workplaces running but often goes unrecognized and unrewarded. From the administrative burdens that fall disproportionately on women and minorities to the emotional toll of being the office "fixer," we’re diving deep into why this work matters and what can be done about it.
We’re tackling three big questions:
🔹 What is invisible labor, and who does it impact the most?
🔹 How does it affect organizations and individuals alike?
🔹 What can leaders, organizations, and employees do to fix it?
Expect sharp insights, real talk, and some unexpected laughs as we break down:
✅ The gendered nature of invisible work and its impact on career progression
✅ How unseen labor leads to burnout and disengagement
✅ Practical strategies to redistribute, recognize, and reward the work that too often goes unnoticed
Tune in and start seeing the invisible.
Full show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9.
Episode drops February 25! 🚀
In this spirited episode of Monster in My Closet – Into the Shadows, we invite Kristen Knepper, DEI expert and recovering attorney, back to the podcast to explore the eerie intersection of culture and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Join us as we shine a ghostly light on the invisible barriers, haunting missteps, and spectral resistance that keep organizations from truly embracing inclusivity.
Kristen and the team discuss the chilling realities of surface-level policies, the unspoken fears that sabotage change, and how to exorcise the corporate goblins of moral licensing and performative allyship. With data as our ouija board and some not-so-deadly honesty, we delve into the habits, leadership mindsets, and cultural shifts required to stop DEI initiatives from becoming just another hollow specter in the workplace.
What you'll take away from this episode:
Tune in to discover how to summon real change in your workplace! Check out the show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9
Charismatic leaders can inspire, motivate, and drive incredible change—but what happens when that charm turns into manipulation? In this episode of Monster in My Closet, Anil Saxena and Morgan Hunter pull back the curtain on the double-edged sword of charisma in leadership. From cult-like corporate cultures to CEOs who can’t resist the spotlight, we explore the risks of unchecked charisma and how it can derail an organization.
Tune in as we tackle:
🔥 The fine line between inspiration and manipulation
🚩 Red flags to watch for in overly charismatic leaders
🔍 How to build resilience and independence under strong personalities
Don't get dazzled by the charm—learn how to spot the dangers and navigate them with confidence. Full show notes available at https://rb.gy/dc0tz9 .
Episode drops February 18—mark your calendars! 🎙️
AI is transforming the world, but what happens when it operates without guardrails? In this spine-chilling episode of Monster in My Closet: Into the Shadows, we dive into the dark side of AI with Erica Simons, a global tech strategist and advocate for ethical AI.
From wrongful arrests caused by flawed facial recognition to biased algorithms shaping our world, Erica unpacks the real-world consequences of unchecked AI—and what we can do to prevent them. We discuss the regulations (or lack thereof), the moral dilemmas of automation, and how businesses and governments must act now to prevent AI from becoming a true monster in our midst.
Can we harness the power of AI while keeping its dangers at bay? Or are we already wandering too deep into the algorithmic abyss? Tune in for an electrifying conversation that will leave you questioning just how much control we really have.
🔊 Listen now—before AI starts listening to you. 👀
Are You Hoarding Information Like a Chainsaw-Wielding Maniac?
Are workplace secrets slowing you down? In this episode of Monster in My Closet, we dive into the fear of transparency—why we cling to information like it’s a limited resource, how it stifles collaboration, and what we can do about it.
Join Anil and Morgan as they tackle:
🔹 The Real Cost of Information Hoarding – How withholding data wrecks productivity, creates power struggles, and makes you "that person" in the office.
🔹 Radical Transparency or Corporate Chaos? – Exploring the balance between open communication and information overload.
🔹 Fixing the System – Actionable, hilariously realistic steps to break down silos and build a culture of trust (without turning your inbox into a war zone).
If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a missing report, a “lost” file, or a mysterious corporate decision that makes no sense, this one’s for you. Listen now and check out the full show notes at https://rb.gy/dc0tz9!
In this hauntingly relatable episode, we welcome back our very first guest, Paul Thallner, author of Reinventing Resilience and workplace resilience expert. Together, we dive deep into the stress epidemic plaguing today’s workplaces—how we got here, the toxic leadership models perpetuating burnout, and why the "slap-the-imp" management style belongs in the dungeon.
Paul shares fresh insights on recognizing burnout, building workplace resilience, and turning defensive organizations into thriving ecosystems. Whether you’re navigating workplace chaos or leading a team through the storm, this conversation offers actionable advice to breathe life back into your professional undead.
Key Takeaways:
Find the show notes here: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9
Undead projects—those lifeless initiatives that refuse to die—drain resources, morale, and momentum. In this episode, we shine a light on how to identify these "walking dead" projects, why they persist, and the toll they take on organizations. More importantly, we arm you with the tools to put them to rest for good.
Join us as we answer these key questions:
What are the signs a project should be terminated? What’s the real cost of keeping these initiatives alive? How can organizations prevent zombie projects from rising in the first place?Tune in for actionable advice, insightful strategies, and a few laughs as we dissect the undead initiatives haunting businesses everywhere. Full show notes at https://rb.gy/dc0tz9.
Launching February 4
In this edition of Monster in My Closet – Into the Shadows, hosts Anil Saxena and Morgan Hunter team up with Christopher Lind to challenge the myth that focusing on people and driving performance are mutually exclusive. This eye-opening conversation explores how organizations can prioritize both to achieve exponential success.
Key Highlights:
Packed with actionable insights and real-world examples, this episode will change how you think about leadership, performance, and culture. Tune in to learn how to create thriving teams that outperform expectations!
📖 Find full show notes at: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9
In this thought-provoking episode of Monster in My Closet, we confront the workplace challenges created by avoidance and silence. Ignoring bad behavior or sidestepping tough conversations doesn’t just keep the peace—it breeds toxicity. We explore how these “sins of omission” allow problems to fester, erode trust, and damage company culture.
What We’ll Cover:
Don’t miss this deep dive into the behaviors and blind spots that create toxic work environments—and learn how to face the monster in the closet head-on.
📖 Find full show notes at: https://rb.gy/dc0tz9
Launching January 28, 2025
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