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 business. Because sometimes, when work is this ridiculous, laughter is the only sensible response.
Episodes
What can political campaigns teach business about communication?
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 ...
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.
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.
They discuss:
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Why so many tech founde...
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!
Why do some people breeze through their careers with unshakeable confidence, while others — often the most competent — feel like frauds?
In part two of Unskilled and Unaware of It, Rakhee Verma digs into why imposter syndrome hits some harder than others.
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 manag...
Why do the most capable people doubt themselves — while the catastrophically overconfident never do?
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 👀).
Imposter syndrome affects around 70% of people at some point in their lives — and y...
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.
Recommended Reads Mentioned in This Episode
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Getting to Yes – Roger Fisher & William Ury
Episode 1: Woke or Joke 🎙️
In our debut episode, Heather and Rakhee tackle the sometimes absurd, often contradictory world of corporate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives. Inspired by the wave of corporate pledges following George Floyd’s murder five years ago, we ask the big question: are companies genuinely committed to change, or is it just PR panic?
From Microsoft’s multi-million-dollar DEI programs to Walmart’...
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