Explore every episode of the podcast Per My Last Email
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can I say no to this promotion? | 12 Sep 2024 | 00:36:22 | |
This week, we hear from letter-writers who are up for promotions at their workplaces—but are having some mixed feelings about accepting them. One is less than thrilled at the increased scope of operation tasks, but is scared to reject a sure thing and look for other opportunities. Another has been promoted four times in the last eight years and wants a chance to settle in and grow their team. Join Jen and Sara as they help these letter-writers make sense of where and how they want to grow right now—with or without a title change. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| Where are they now? | 22 Aug 2024 | 00:39:49 | |
It’s a Very Special Episode of Per My Last Email! This week, Sara and Jen share updates from four previous letter writers. One was upset by their company’s unfair hiring practices. Another felt they had outgrown their current role, but was scared of moving on. Yet another was contemplating burning it all down and opening a juice bar far, far away. And our last writer was processing being ghosted after a layoff. So, what’s changed for these letter writers? Did they quit their jobs, get the closure they wanted, or otherwise change their work lives? And most importantly: how have they changed in the process? Join Sara and Jen as they find out! Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com | |||
| Where do I go from here? | 14 Dec 2023 | 00:41:48 | |
Career transitions are always hard, but today’s letter writers are having an especially tough time deciding what their next move should be. One’s finding that their field of choice isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Another’s struggling to know how to position a harmful past experience in a way that doesn’t count them out of future opportunities. Both are feeling really stuck—and looking for help from Sara and Jen to decide what’s next for them, and how to get there. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| Who left the gaslight on? | 16 Nov 2023 | 01:04:40 | |
“Prioritize better,” “lead more,” “be more assertive.” In today’s episode, Sara and Jen take on questions from listeners who are deep in the midst of corporate gaslighting and help them understand their feelings, assess their options, and find a way forward—without just working harder. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| Can you keep a secret? | 26 Oct 2023 | 00:47:24 | |
“Transparency” sounds like a good thing…but is it always? When should you share personal info with your boss? What if you know a layoff is coming? This week, Jen and Sara look at tough situations about disclosing information—and help two listeners with very different scenarios decide whether spilling the tea is the right thing to do, or if it’ll cause more harm than good. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| What do I do with all this despair? | 05 Oct 2023 | 01:00:11 | |
What do you do when your burnout doesn’t just feel like exhaustion, but more like disillusionment—and maybe even cynicism? In today’s episode, Sara and Jen tackle questions from listeners who are struggling to keep afloat amid job search burnout, career malaise, and the kinds of communication breakdowns that leave us questioning, well, everything. Links:
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| You’re getting paid how much?! | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:48:47 | |
Managers being paid less than their ICs, punitive raise structures, cryptic pay bands…this week’s submitters are really going through it. But how do you start the compensation conversation when information is hard to come by? And what do you do when you’re told that there’s no way you’ll get a raise—just accept being paid less than your peers forever? This week, Sara and Jen tackle questions of pay inequity, when it’s time to fight, and when it might be time to move on. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| Who am I without this job? | 31 Aug 2023 | 00:49:51 | |
For many of us, our work identity and sense of self have become tied in a big knot. When your job has become your identity, it's easy to get stuck. How do you know when it’s time to stay and fight for change, or move onto something new? This week, Sara and Jen work through dilemmas from folks looking for a way forward—without losing themselves in the process. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| When mission-driven gets messy | 17 Aug 2023 | 00:56:26 | |
It shouldn’t be this hard to find a job that pays you well, fulfills you, and keeps your values intact. But when disillusionment and burnout strike, it can be hard to deal with workplace tradeoffs. Is the answer simply to strike out on your own? Navigating uncertainty, building your identity outside of work, and juggling passion projects: this week, Sara and Jen tackle dilemmas from folks looking for ways to align work with their values—without going broke. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| Why you gotta be so rude? | 27 Jul 2023 | 00:54:07 | |
Ever dealt with someone demanding that you find them a new job? Or have a friend and colleague go cold and ghost you the moment you get laid off? What about getting berated and then iced out by the head of your org? Other people’s unkind, over-the-top, and just plain rude behavior can make you question everything—even yourself. So how do you find a path forward? That’s what Sara and Jen tackle in this week’s episode. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at . | |||
| Can I uphold my values and still get a job? | 13 Jul 2023 | 01:00:42 | |
Dehumanizing hiring processes, swoop-and-poop bosses, and maybe the biggest question of all: does my design work even matter if I don’t care about propping up capitalism? This week, Sara and Jen answer dilemmas about pushing back against exploitative requests, working around a faux-inclusive boss, and managing disillusionment with design. And through it all, a theme emerges: How do you handle the tension between two conflicting truths? Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com | |||
| My manager is MIA—help! | 22 Jun 2023 | 00:53:52 | |
Canceled 1:1s, unrecognized accomplishments, meetings that drag on for eternity…oh my. When you have a conflict with your manager, it can feel incredibly risky to speak up. But having the courage to broach a difficult topic can be the first step toward real change. In this episode, Sara and Jen talk self-advocacy: how to identify your needs, outline desired outcomes—and actually START the conversation! Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| How do I hit the reset button? | 11 Jul 2024 | 00:41:39 | |
This week, we hear from letter-writers who are feeling trapped by their workplace relationships. One has a colleague who constantly escalates problems to management without talking to them first. Another quit their job a month ago, but is still being asked for free labor from their old workplace. Join Jen and Sara as they help these letter-writers prepare to have some difficult conversations, reset their barometers of what’s “normal” in the workplace, and decide what behavior they’re willing to accept from their coworkers moving forward. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| I have a job. These layoffs still feel rough. | 08 Jun 2023 | 00:45:53 | |
Layoffs are on a lot of people’s brains right now—but the challenges and complicated feelings aren’t limited to those who were laid off. In a bit of a companion to last week’s episode, Sara and Jen help listeners work through how to move on after others have lost their jobs, how to find your footing if your role has changed in a post-layoff reorg, and how to be present and supportive to loved ones who are struggling when your own work is going well. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com . | |||
| I got laid off. Should I panic? | 25 May 2023 | 00:47:21 | |
From the surprise notice, to the advance tipoff, to the not-even-one-year-in-your-role dissolution, layoffs take many forms. But hardly any of us give ourselves the space to grieve the loss before we throw ourselves back into the job search. This week, Sara and Jen discuss how to be kind to yourself after a layoff, build a sustainable action plan even in a tough job market, and avoid sinking into panic mode along the way. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| How do I handle this person’s bad behavior? | 11 May 2023 | 00:47:25 | |
Boundary-trampling coworkers. Absentee HR reps. And a whole lot of weird boss behaviors. This week, Sara and Jen help listeners make sense of toxic, abusive, and otherwise harmful situations—so they can process their feelings, get the support they need, and take meaningful action. Links: Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| How can I get my boss to have my back? | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:48:24 | |
What do you do when your needs aren’t being met or your boundaries are getting trampled? On today’s episode, Jen and Sara walk listeners through ways to advocate for yourself at work—without justifying your existence, begging for your boundaries to be respected, or feeling like a failure if it doesn’t work. You’ll come away with a few scripts you can try in your own workplace—and our very sincere permission to drop some of those balls you keep juggling. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com. | |||
| My review sucked—now what? | 13 Apr 2023 | 00:55:49 | |
You deserve an equitable, actionable, and thoughtful performance review. So how do you move forward when you get…something else entirely? That’s what we’re tackling in our very first episode. Listen in as Jen and Sara coach people through big dilemmas—and even bigger feelings—about the wild and weird world of performance reviews. You’ll leave with new tools to help you rebound after unfair or unexpected feedback…or at least some good stories for the group chat. Links: Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com. | |||
| Introducing: Per My Last Email | 03 Apr 2023 | 00:02:38 | |
Introducing Per My Last Email—coming April 13 How can I get my boss to advocate for me and have my back? Should I disclose my disability? Why can’t I juggle all of this work? Work raises a lot of questions—and too many of them get stuck in our heads, rattling around until we feel overwhelmed and unqualified. No more. Join hosts Sara Wachter-Boettcher and Jen Dionisio for this brand-new podcast designed to help you work through all the big feelings and confusing situations that come up at work. Each episode, they’ll share real-life dilemmas listeners are struggling with—from how to respond to passive-aggressive emails to what to do when your boss gives you truly terrible feedback. Then they’ll share the tools they use in their coaching sessions to help listeners get through whatever work throws their way. Per My Last Email starts April 13—so subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts. Because work gets weird. Sara and Jen can’t wait to help you get through it. -- Theme music: “(I’m A) Modern Woman” by Maria T Producer: Emily Duncan Created by: Active Voice | |||
| How do I navigate being an “only?” | 27 Jun 2024 | 00:52:30 | |
Today, Jen and special guest host Roberta Dombrowski tackle letters from “onlys”: folks who are the only woman, person of color, adoptee, etc. in their workplace. One writer is the only Black leader in their org navigating a disgruntled coworker who wants to take their job (and hands-off management to boot). Another is feeling frozen out by their former boss after a particularly personal-feeling layoff. Listen in as Jen and Roberta lend their coaching skills (and plenty of resources!) to help these listeners combat their “only loneliness.” Links:
Corrections: Internal Family Systems was developed by Richard Schwartz. Family systems theory was developed by Murray Bowen. | |||
| Is my reputation trashed forever? | 13 Jun 2024 | 00:41:17 | |
Today’s letter-writers are in their “Reputation” eras…and they’re struggling to move forward with management that has preconceived notions about their performance. One writer is receiving biased feedback from a manager, and oh yeah, they might also be missing out on secret company equity. Another is dealing with the aftermath of being passed up for the role they’ve been acting in for two years. Listen in as Sara and Jen help these letter-writers get a clearer picture of themselves and their needs, so they can step into the roles they really want to fill in their workplaces and in their lives. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| Where did I go wrong? | 09 May 2024 | 00:58:31 | |
Listen up, managers: this one’s for you. Today we’re hearing from letter-writers who’ve been struggling with giving feedback to their direct reports. One dilemma involves a team member whose work isn’t up to snuff—and their manager is putting in way too much overtime trying to fix it. Another deals with a team member who went over their manager’s head…and now the manager’s reputation is at stake. Listen in as Sara and Jen help these letter-writers get clear on what went wrong and how they can move forward—so they can show up as the great managers their teams need. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| Is this worth it? | 11 Apr 2024 | 00:52:26 | |
This week’s letter writers are looking to change their relationships to work. One is wondering if it’s time to leave UX all together and monetize a hobby instead. The other is a budding thought leader…who gets the ick whenever they say “thought leader.” Sara and Jen have brought out all their best questions and resources to help these folks get unstuck and plan their next career move—without ignoring the human being at the center. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| Why does my manager keep doing that? | 14 Mar 2024 | 00:49:18 | |
Our letter writers today are really going through it—public undermining, misogyny, gaslighting, intense micromanagement. So how can you speak up or push back when your manager is making you miserable? And what if it feels pointless to even try? Sara and Jen jump in with tools for holding difficult, but healthy, conversations with your manager—and also how to avoid letting bad managers suck up all the space in your life. Links:
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| What’s my role here? | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:41:23 | |
Today’s episode is all about job titles—and all the weird feelings that come with them. Our first letter writer enjoys their work and is paid well, but feels like they’ve been leveled lower than their peers. Another is considering a “demotion” to manage burnout, but is worried about taking a long-term hit in their career. They’re turning to Sara and Jen to help them get unstuck—without racing back onto the corporate ladder. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| How can I make this place do better? | 25 Jan 2024 | 00:49:14 | |
Today’s letter writers are working to make change in their organizations…but they’re running into all kinds of roadblocks. One wants their discipline to get more respect, but feels ignored and outnumbered. The other is pushing their company to hire more inclusively than “people we already know”—and hitting a brick wall. They’re both frustrated and exhausted. Listen in as Sara and Jen help them decide how to move forward—without burning out or burning bridges. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| How do I weather this storm? | 19 Dec 2024 | 00:35:23 | |
Today’s letter writers are facing different challenges, but both are looking for the same thing: a way to anchor themselves when things are feeling stormy. One has reached a huge moment in their career—but stress in their personal life is threatening to derail them. The other has been looking for work so long they’re starting to forget who they are and what they care about. Listen in as Jen and Sara help these letter writers recenter themselves, build and lean on their communities, and find a path forward. Links:
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| Who’s the boss? | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:45:30 | |
Today’s episode is all about ineffective leadership, and these letterwriters have a lot to say. One is fed up with their VP’s pattern of not advocating for their team…a pattern which seems to have cost their team tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses. The second writer is stuck in a culture of backbiting, fingerpointing, and a leadership team that even takes credit for other people’s work. Join Jen and Sara as they use insights from their latest research report to help these letterwriters get their power back at work—or decide when it’s time to exit gracefully. Links:
Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at | |||
| Should I feel guilty for leaving? | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:23:37 | |
Today’s letterwriter feels like she’s living a double life. As the only content strategist at an enterprise-level org, she’s burning herself out leading too many initiatives and trying to convince too many people to care about her work… only to go home and spend her evenings applying for jobs elsewhere. Should she feel guilty for being such an outspoken voice for change—while secretly thinking about abandoning ship? Listen in as Sara and Jen discuss how you can deal with feelings of guilt at work—and how to figure out what’s in your control and what’s not. Links:
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| Should I give up on success? | 24 Jul 2025 | 00:29:22 | |
Today’s letter-writer is filling about five different roles at his company—and feels like he’s failing at all of them. Add in gaslighting executives and the finite number of hours in a workday, and he’s about ready to shut down entirely. Should he just take off all these extra hats and quiet-quit? Should he just care less about work? Listen in as Jen and Sara help him decide which balls to drop and how to redefine success, and failure, on his own terms.
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| Can I get a do-over? | 26 Jun 2025 | 00:34:13 | |
Today’s letter writers thought they had their work lives sorted. But… turns out, maybe not. Should they start a new job search? And if they do, what questions should they ask themselves—and their prospective employers? Listen in as Jen and Sara help these folks pause their panic and get choosy—instead of waiting around to be chosen. Links:
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| My team won’t stop trauma dumping—help! | 12 Jun 2025 | 00:28:06 | |
It’s Groundhog Day for today’s letter-writer—every time she meets with her direct report for a one-on-one, they spend the entire meeting trauma dumping. It’s gotten to the point where this manager is feeling herself zoning out during their time together, and she’s worried she’s become a bad manager. Is it her job to be the team’s emotional sponge, regardless of all the other responsibilities she’s juggling? Listen in as Sara and Jen help this letterwriter set clear boundaries—and reexamine what should (and shouldn’t) be on her managerial plate. Links:
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| How do I give myself permission to rest? | 25 Sep 2025 | 00:34:45 | |
It’s our final episode of this season of Per My Last Email, and we’re tackling a topic a lot of people struggle with: rest. Today’s letter-writer was recently laid off, and they know they need to to take a break. They can afford to take a break. Their partner supports them taking a break. And yet… they’re still struggling to let themselves actually do it. Listen in as Jen and Sara help this writer unpack why rest might be making them feel so guilty—and how they can give themselves permission to do it anyway. Links:
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| My team expects me to solve all their problems—help! | 21 Aug 2025 | 00:35:57 | |
Today’s letter-writer has become a human “answer machine”: She’s her team’s first (and only) stop to get questions answered and problems solved. But these constant interruptions are leaving her with no time to do her own work, and making her question her skills as a manager. Listen in as Jen and Sara help this manager see that sometimes, stepping back is actually the best support you can give your team. Links:
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