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