Corporate “culture” isn’t what you think — and loyalty won’t save you. In Part 2 of this brutally honest conversation on Work Trauma: How Corporations Really Work, host Michael Denisoff continues his deep dive with Dan Denisoff, a veteran executive from Pepsi, Pernod Ricard, and Ole Smoky. Together, they dissect how the modern workplace twists ideas like loyalty, leadership, and culture into corporate theater. They cover: The truth about corporate loyalty and why it’s always transactional How executives disguise bad leadership as culture programs Why “We’re like family” usually means “We’ll lay you off next quarter” Real stories of executive ego, toxic bosses, and fake culture campaigns The philosophy of honest leadership and pay-for-performance Why you can’t outperform bad leadership — and what real leaders do instead This episode is a masterclass in understanding what actually drives company behavior — and how great leaders cut through corporate nonsense with transparency and accountability. 01:30 Loyalty vs. fairness: What employees really want 03:00 Pay for performance vs. fake appreciation 04:35 Culture vs. compensation — what actually matters 06:00 When executives fake culture with money 07:03 “Work isn’t family” — Dan’s blunt reality check 07:46 Inspiring excellence over fake motivation 08:26 “Money makes people happy — not BBQs” 08:44 Pay-for-performance done right 09:17 Caring leadership without performative fluff 10:07 The Pepsi story: “That was stupid.” 11:18 Don’t sell your soul for a job 12:10 The rose story: corporate appreciation gone wrong 12:54 Why honesty matters more than slogans 13:46 Leadership lessons from sports coaches 14:45 The brutal truth about mediocrity 15:15 Why companies fail — and always will 16:16 What blue-collar workers really want 16:52 Executives who stop leading once they get paid 17:50 Dealing with egos and bad leadership 18:36 Confidence vs. arrogance in executives 19:30 How bad leadership creates collateral damage 20:33 The Cracker Barrel example 21:11 Corporate missteps and tone-deaf decisions 22:22 “The fish rots from the head down” 23:03 Worst boss ever: measuring success by exhaustion 24:03 You can’t outperform bad leadership 25:14 Advice to your younger self 26:14 Listen more, talk less 27:22 The art of humility and learning 28:04 The purpose of Work Trauma 28:46 Stop with the fluff and distractions 29:11 Turning chaos into excellence 29:30 The power of a trusted ally 30:25 Find your sounding board 31:01 Closing thoughts & wrap-up Thanks for Watching! Legal Disclaimer: The content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and reflects the opinions and experiences of the host and guests. It is not intended to serve as professional advice, including but not limited to legal, financial, or psychological guidance. Listeners should consult their own advisors or seek professional assistance tailored to their specific circumstances. The host and podcast team disclaim any liability for decisions made based on the information discussed in this episode.