Unstuck with 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 starts with a true story of modern professional challenges, 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.
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164: What If You Actually Could?
What if the question you’re asking is the reason you feel stuck? Meet Tanya. She opens her laptop and sees 72 unread emails. Audits, follow-ups, urgent requests. She’s great at solving everyone else’s problems, but when it comes to her own life, she feels stuck. Should she stay or leave? Speak up or stay quiet? Part of her wants something more, but the fear of change keeps her in place. In this episode, Jay sits down with Sarah Centrella, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and executive coach. After rebuilding her life from the ground up as a single mother, Sarah...
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...
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...
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 stab...
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...
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...
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...
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 traini...
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 saf...
155: The “ABC” Framework for Reframing Challenges
What if the way you see your challenges is the problem, not the challenge itself? In this solo episode, Jay introduces a simple yet powerful framework to help you reframe stress, overwhelm, and adversity in real time. Drawing from neuroscience, personal experience, and insights from working with leaders across industries, he challenges the idea that we need to reduce or cope with stress, and instead offers a more effective approach. Through the ABC framework, Jay walks you step-by-step through how to acknowledge what you’re feeling, become curious about your perspective, and channel that energy into meaningful action. If you’ve e...
