Inside Job

Hosted by Matt Sunbulli and executive produced by Aaron Calafato, this pilot episode of the Inside Job Podcast pulls back the curtain on one of the fastest-growing and least understood roles in the economy: AI data work.

We hear from Krista, a longtime data worker in Michigan, whose job is to quietly shape the intelligence behind the tools millions of people use every day.

“I’m teaching AI how to talk… how to see… how to think.”

But behind the promise of AI is something far more human:

A living room turned into a workplace

A constant search for tasks and income

Ethical dilemmas about the work itself

The isolation that comes with invisible labor

What sounds like cutting-edge technology is, in reality, a marketplace of clicks, decisions, and human judgment.

This episode introduces a new kind of storytelling about work, inspired by Working by Studs Terkel, capturing not just how people make a living, but how they make sense of it.

Because behind every “intelligent” system…there’s still a person.

The team digs through the archives of The Lonely Office and notices a pattern: even as work keeps changing, human nature doesn’t. From AI-driven layoffs to the strange new reality of job searching, Aaron, Matt, Leah, and Ken revisit some of the show’s most revealing conversations about meaning, work, and what might come next.

Important Note from the TLO team:
Hey TLO listeners, for those who enjoyed our bonus series Ask a Recruiter, that conversation is still going. This spring, find AAR live on Glassdoor's LinkedIn and YouTube, where hiring managers, career coaches, and talent leaders give you real talk on the job market - and ask your questions in real time. To be notified, follow us on LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/company/glassdoor

Also, 50 years working at a 7/11, bro gets an email

“Follow your passion” sounds great until you are burned out, laid off, or stuck in the same role for years. In this Ask a Recruiter bonus episode, Leah Ova sits down with career coach and Finding Brave host Kathy Caprino to unpack what is missing when vision boards and inspirational quotes stop working. They break down the bravery and power gaps that keep people stuck, plus practical moves to get clear, get visible, and make a realistic career pivot in today’s job market.

Important Note from the TLO team:
Hey TLO listeners, this will be the last Ask a Recruiter episode you’ll hear as part of this show. The AAR conversation isn't ending -  it's just getting started. This spring, find AAR live on LinkedIn and YouTube, where hiring managers, career coaches, and talent leaders give you real talk on the job market - and ask your questions in real time. To be notified, follow us on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/glassdoor

Interviews are not just about what you know. They are about how you think on your feet, respond under pressure, and show up with confidence when you do not have a perfect script. In this episode of Ask a Recruiter, Leah Ova sits down with improv coach and communication expert Holly Mandel to explore how improv techniques like “yes, and,” presence, and active listening can transform your job interview performance.

Holly Mandel is the founder of iMergence and a former Main Company member and instructor at The Groundlings. She works with professionals and Fortune 500 teams to build confidence, clarity, and real time communication skills that translate directly into high stakes conversations.

Together, Leah and Holly tackle tough interview questions from the Glassdoor community, from “Tell me about yourself” to curveballs like “How would you sell ice cream in the Arctic?” They break down practical tools you can use immediately, including how to pivot mid answer, manage interview anxiety, project warmth and energy on Zoom, and build the kind of charisma that gets you to the next round.

If you are job hunting, preparing for a promotion, or simply want to communicate with more authority and authenticity, this episode gives you actionable strategies you can try this week.