Brenda You’re on Mute - The Podcast
Brenda You’re on Mute is the podcast that dissects the absurd theatre of business, the economy, and the world of work—one boardroom blunder at a time. From HR nightmares to baffling corporate jargon, we offer a sardonic, tongue-in-cheek exploration of modern workplaces, office politics, and the occasional managerial farce. If you’ve ever endured an interminable Zoom, winced at the word “synergy,” or suspected your role could be performed by a particularly competent goldfish, this show is for you. With sharp wit, real-world anecdotes, and a healthy dose of satirical scrutiny, we reveal the art of how not to do busi...
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Professionalism? More like, Oppressionalism
<p>What does professionalism actually mean in 2026?</p> <p>Is it about doing your job well…<br> or is it still code for “fit in, don’t rock the boat, and definitely don’t say f**k”?</p> <p>In this episode of Brenda, You’re On Mute, we’re joined by Dr Jamie Pei — coach, trainer, and unapologetic challenger of the “shoulds.”</p> <p>Jamie shares the story of being rejected by a potential client for dropping a couple of F-bombs on her website — raising a bigger question:</p> <p><br> 👉 Who decides what’s “professional”… and who gets excluded?</p> <p>We get into:</p>...
Why are meetings so stoopid?
<p >The Meeting Will Continue Until Morale Improves. We've all been there — the meeting that could have been an email, the 90-minute "alignment call" that aligned precisely nothing, and the induction session that somehow ended in a group sing-along to Lifted by the Lighthouse Family. Yes, really.</p> <p >In this episode, Rakhee and Heather take a long, hard (and deeply cathartic) look at the workplace meeting — why so many of them are pointless, what they're actually costing businesses, and why the people most addicted to them are often the ones least qualified to run them.</p> <p >They dig into...
Davos, Davos...who the f*** is Davos?
<p>What is this “Davos” they speak of? A town… or a billionaire’s clubhouse? (Spoiler: it’s both.)</p> <p>In this episode of Brenda, You’re on Mute, we lift the lid on the World Economic Forum in Davos — the annual Alpine gathering where CEOs, politicians and the ultra-wealthy meet to “shape the future.”</p> <p>We break down:</p> <p>Who actually gets in (and what it costs)</p> <p>This year’s geopolitical drama and standout speeches</p> <p>The rise of the “Davos Man” and billionaire influence</p> <p>Climate pledges, vaccine alliances, and whether any of it really changes...
BYOM Review of the Year
<p>Join Rakhee Verma and Heather Deland for a review of 2025 in business, the global economy, and the world of work. From trade wars, tariffs, and Brexit fallout, to the rise of billionaires, AI, and climate challenges.</p> <p>They explore the impact of global volatility on everyday life, consumer power, and political choices, and herald Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum as one of 2025's heroes.</p> <p>Whether reflecting on the UK economy, graduate unemployment, or why Katy Perry is so annoying, Rakhee and Heather give their candid, side‑eyed perspective on a year that was tough but not with...
Message Like Mamdani – Lessons for Business from New York’s Mayor-Elect
<p>What can political campaigns teach business about communication?</p> <p>In the last episode of Brenda, You’re on Mute for 2025, communications experts Rakhee Verma and Heather Deland break down modern political communications and translate the lessons to be learned by business. From the UK Government’s chaotic and reactive, vision-free messaging to the standout campaign success of Zohran Mamdani, New York's Mayor-elect, they explore what and how to cut through.</p> <p>And the importance of data, data, data.</p> <p>If you want to read more about Rakhee's advice to the Government, click here: Why are the UK G...
Maybe everyone in here wants to sleep with you, but do you know anything about SEO? Interview with Lisa Paasche - former CEO of Verve Search
<p>In this episode of Brenda, You’re on Mute, Rakhee sits down with Lisa Paasche – Norwegian-born founder and former CEO of the award-winning SEO agency Verve Search, now part of Omnicom.</p> <p>Building on the podcast’s recent conversation about immigration and the UK economy, Lisa shares her journey from a “one-year” gap year in London to leading one of the most successful SEO agencies in Europe.</p> <p>They discuss:</p> <p>Why so many tech founders are foreign-born</p> <p>How immigration fuels innovation and grit</p> <p>Lisa’s path from au pair to entrepreneur</p> <p>The...
Coming over 'ere, boosting our economy!
<p>Rakhee and Heather talk about immigration and the economy, and how those “good-for-nothing foreigners” are coming over ’ere… taking care of our sick and elderly, starting businesses, and boosting the economy. Next you’ll be telling us curry is the national dish!</p>
Unskilled and Unaware of It – Why Some People Don’t Get Imposter Syndrome (part 2)
<p>Why do some people breeze through their careers with unshakeable confidence, while others — often the most competent — feel like frauds?</p> <p>In part two of Unskilled and Unaware of It, Rakhee Verma digs into why imposter syndrome hits some harder than others.</p> <p><br> Business psychologist Clare Radford, founder of &Culture, explains what imposter syndrome really is, how it shows up at work, and what individuals and leaders can do to manage it.</p> <p>Then broadcaster and journalist Pip Tomson opens up about living with imposter syndrome under the public spotlight, sharing how she’s learned to qui...
Unskilled and Unaware of It – Why Some People Don’t Get Imposter Syndrome (part 1)
<p>Why do the most capable people doubt themselves — while the catastrophically overconfident never do?</p> <p>In Part One of our Imposter Syndrome special, Rakhee and Heather unpack the strange psychology behind self-doubt and the Dunning–Kruger effect — a bias so strong it can convince someone they’re ready to run the country (looking at you, Liz Truss 👀).</p> <p>Imposter syndrome affects around 70% of people at some point in their lives — and yes, it’s a problem for men too.</p> <p>🎧 Part Two coming next week features Clare Radford, Occupational Psychologist, and Pip Tomson, award-winning radio and TV presenter, shar...
I Read The Art of the Deal, So You Don't Need To
<p>Rakhee had a knock to the head and decided to read Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal. Interviewed by Heather, the hosts pull apart the book’s gold-plated bravado, missing negotiation strategy, and questionable legacy. Expect sharp takes, a few laughs, and some actually useful book recommendations along the way.</p> <p> Recommended Reads Mentioned in This Episode</p> <p>Getting to Yes – Roger Fisher & William Ury</p> <p>Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time – Howard Schultz</p> <p>Let My People Go Surfing – Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia founder)</p> <p>Nut...
