Food media has taken over the pop-culture landscape since the launch of The Food Network in the early 2000's, but how do these shows influence the actual kitchen workspace? Good thing we have a sociologist to talk about it! This week, Dr. Ellen Meiser joins hosts Laura Louise Green and Kate McKiernan to talk about the violent chef trope that comes up in media over and over again (even back to The Little Mermaid), the new Pope, and octopuses.

Raise your hand if you've ever dated someone at work! Whether you have or not, we'd be hard-pressed to find a TV show or film that takes place in the workplace that doesn't have an example of workplace romance.

In this episode, Laura & Kate talk with Sean Horan, PhD, a professor of communication specializing in organizational and interpersonal communication--specifically workplace romance. GOODNESS what a great chat. If you've ever had a work crush or yearned for a relationship like something out of Grey's Anatomy, this is the episode for you.

We're back and revisiting The Pitt (at least) once more time with Dr. Caylyn Yost. In this episode, we talk about Caylyn's experience in medical school, the pressures of doctors in the emergency department, the realities of irl doctor life that show up in The Pitt, and the implications of the mistrust of science in the general population. Fun fact: Caylyn is Kate's cousin! Another fun fact: she was very pregnant and preparing to be induced the next day! AND buying a house! WOW.

Thank you for sharing your experience and insight with us.

Enjoy!

What's more chaotic than the last day of a week-long stay at a White Lotus? This episode. We really put our poor guest, doctoral candidate & psychotherapist Jess Pomerantz, through the wringer. Like, we know she had fun but also, like, chaos abound. We discuss everything from her work in studying coercive control to conformity to friendship to everthing Mike White got wrong about hospitality professionals (we have a bone to pick with you, my dude).

Put on your headphones and settle in. Lots to ponder with this episode.

Here's the thing: We likely won't stop talking about Severance...at least not anytime soon. Why? Because it's so rich! So much depth! So much to continue to explore!

To that end, we're delighted to have Levi Baer on the show for what's likely to be the first of many appearances. To be blunt: Levi is brilliant, kind, patient, thoughtful, and creative when it comes to the workplace (and in general), making him one of our favorite organizational consultants in town. His mission is to make working not suck (great mission), and as you'll hear in this episode, routinely investigates the kaleidoscope of factors that influence workplace culture, and uses those factors to craft workplace design that facilitates an authentic and caring environment.

We love to see it.

We get deep into all things Severance. Who is Cobel? What does she want? What's Milchick's deal? What do the managers in Severance tell us about leadership? What can we learn about the role of social relationships as a function in the workplace?

Enjoy!

This week, hosts Laura Louise Green and Kate McKiernan talk with Colorado ED Nurse Jill Hapak about her experience and thoughts about watching The Pitt while working in a trauma center. This episode was recorded March 30, 2025.

Guess how many names Laura messes up. (She meant Charlie Cox, not Charlie Day, and no, she did not say Steven.)

SPOILERS & MENTIONS: The Pitt, ER, The Studio, The Bear, White Lotus, Grey's Anatomy, Chicago Hope, Sirens, Bosch, Yellowjackets

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mentions of suicide, physical violence, gun violence, mass casualty incidents, trauma, death & dying, substance use, and addiction

REFERENCED WORK:

Matthew Barzun, ⁠The Power of Giving Away Power⁠

Amy Edmundson, ⁠Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams⁠

Christina Maslach & Michael Leiter, ⁠The Burnout Challenge⁠

Christina Maslach & Michael Leiter, ⁠Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry⁠

First off, Christopher Guest is not here. Sorry.

Second, this is the first episode of Workplace Drama, the podcast that explores the impact and reflections of the workplace in popular media. Hosts Laura Louise Green and Kate McKiernan kick off the series by discussing the current state of TV and some of their favorite shows and hopes for the future of this podcast.

Welcome, and we're happy to have you.

Shows Discussed (so, spoiler warnings!): Severance, White Lotus, The Bear, The Pitt