Podcast · Business

Per My Last Email

by Morning Brew · English · Business

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 36 min
Latest: 5 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026 · 35 min

The “Enshittification” of Work: Why Your Career Feels Broken

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle dive into Kaila’s theory that we’re seeing the “enshittification” of work, and how it is impacting the job market, college, and the career ladder. Listen to hear them explain the theory, and discuss what you as either a job-holder or job-seeker can do about it. 00:00 Intro 01:24 Where the inspiration for this topic came from 05:13 What we mean by “enshittification” 11:13 The promise we were sold of college 15:49 The “planned obsolescence” of the career ladder 18:50 The messiness of the job market 25:54 Advice for navigating the “enshittification” of work Want…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

28 Sep 2026 · 36 min

What Gen Z Really Thinks About Work, Loyalty, and Ambition

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by Morning Brew creators Annie Bennett and Meg Baniewicz to talk about Gen Z and work—the stereotypes, myths, truths, and how they REALLY feel about all of it. 00:00 Intro 01:44 How Annie and Meg come up with work-based sketch ideas 04:40 The work life themes resonating with people right now (beyond AI) 09:16 The technological shift that defines Gen Z 12:18 Has the role of the office changed for Gen Z? 15:34 Is Gen Z trying to “act their wage”? 23:22 Lightning Round This episode was sponsored by Croissant. Croissant handles the sourcing, bookings,…
21 Sep 2026 · 24 min

5 Daily Habits That Could Transform Your Career by Year-End

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle break down a 5-step plan on how to make the most of the last 100 days of the year, and how to not only achieve your goals, but also improve upon them. 00:00 Intro 01:33 The inspiration for this episode 04:26 Why we made the Last 100 Days of the Year plan 06:26 Step 1 09:51 Step 2 11:23 Step 3 13:07 Step 4 16:32 Step 5 18:23 Preparing to start the Last 100 Days of the Year plan This episode was sponsored by Croissant. Croissant handles the sourcing, bookings, and vendors for your distributed team all in one place. Try Croissant now and they'll host lunch for…
14 Sep 2026 · 31 min

The Problem with “Executive Presence”

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss the idea of “executive presence”—what it is and is NOT, why it can be harmful, and how to either adopt or navigate around it in order to move forward in your career. 00:00 Intro 02:05 The problem with the idea of “executive presence” 07:27 The chicken or egg problem 10:31 Game: Executive Presence or Executive Privilege? 16:59 Listener email about executive presence 20:09 Amanda Goetz’s KUBA framework 22:53 How to handle it if someone tells you that you don’t have executive presence This episode was sponsored by Croissant. Croissant handles the…
7 Sep 2026 · 31 min

6 Habits to Steal From the Most Successful Leaders

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle talk about the habits they’ve observed in the most effective and successful leaders they know, and how to incorporate them into your own work life. (And let’s just say a few of them are a bit controversial.) 00:00 Intro 02:31 Habit #1 08:50 Habit #2 12:38 Habit #3 17:59 Habit #4 21:18 Habit #5 24:32 Habit #6 This episode was sponsored by Croissant. Croissant handles the sourcing, bookings, and vendors for your distributed team all in one place. Try Croissant now and they'll host lunch for you and your team in a Croissant space. Go to: getcroissant.com/PMLE.…
31 Aug 2026 · 27 min

Am I the A**hole? Clapping Back at Work, Refusing a Referral and More

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle bring you another round of a fan favorite: Am I The A******? Listen to hear Kaila and Kyle react to some of the wildest, work-related AITA posts on Reddit, and weigh in with their professional advice. 00:00 Intro 00:25 Scenario 1 | Clapping back at a coworker 06:41 Scenario 2 | Office desk assignment 12:44 Scenario 3 | Job referral 18:27 Scenario 4 | Covering my friend’s maternity leave Want to get all of Kaila & Kyle’s career resources? Subscribe to Per My Last Email: https://www.permylastemailshow.com/ Watch Per My Last Email on YouTube: @PerMYLastEmailShow…
24 Aug 2026 · 29 min

4 Types of Networking You’re Probably Ignoring

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle dig into the more subtle (but incredibly important) forms of networking that you might not be thinking about. Whether it’s honing your personal brand or expanding your weak ties, Kaila and Kyle share some excellent tips on the more unexpected ways to network. 00:00 Intro 00:39 Kaila’s experience with back-channeling 04:26 Peer-to-peer networking 10:56 Building up weak ties 14:16 Building your personal brand 18:42 Ways to grow your personal brand (beyond posting on LinkedIn) 20:17 The networking you do with your own boss Want to get all of Kaila & Kyle’s career…
20 Aug 2026 · 43 min

BONUS: The Career Advice We Wish We Knew in Our 20s (Live)

In this special bonus episode, Kaila and Kyle tape their very first live episode at Verizon HQ in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Listen to hear Kaila and Kyle share what they learned from their own early career experiences with Verizon’s intern class (aka VTerns), as well as hear professional insights and advice from Christina Schelling, Verizon’s own SVP of Human Resources (whose early career experiences include working for the CIA). 00:00 Intro 03:08 Kaila’s internship experience at Goldman Sachs 04:19 Kyle’s first career experiences 08:57 On figuring out what you want to do with your career…
17 Aug 2026 · 29 min

Why “Good Enough” Is Better for Your Career

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss why perfectionism is actually a negative at work (and in life), and how to overcome it. And as a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist, Kaila offers some excellent tactics and tips. 00:00 Intro 01:48 The misconception about perfectionism 06:16 The impacts of perfectionism 14:38 On whether we overrate intelligence 16:22 Measuring the delta between time and output 19:31 100 rejections in 100 days Want to get all of Kaila & Kyle’s career resources? Subscribe to Per My Last Email: https://www.permylastemailshow.com/ Watch Per My Last Email on YouTube:…
10 Aug 2026 · 28 min

The Most Overrated Work Perks (And the Ones You're Ignoring)

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle dig into and debate the most overrated and underrated work perks, and how to make the most of the ones you’re probably overlooking. Summer Fridays? Education credits? Unlimited PTO? You might be surprised by some of their controversial takes. 00:00 Intro 00:14 Reviewing the Morning Brew company party 05:09 Kaila’s party strength vs. Kyle’s party strength 06:53 Are company parties a good work perk? 08:42 Underrated work perk #1 10:28 Underrated work perk #2 11:37 Underrated work perk #3 14:15 Underrated work perk #4 15:04 Underrated work perk #5 16:18 Overrated…
3 Aug 2026 · 29 min

Coworker Pet Peeves: What We Hate and What We Love

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle list the most annoying and the most appreciated qualities in a coworker. Plus, how to make the most of those good qualities and navigate the grating ones. 00:00 Intro 01:08 Coworker pet peeve #1 06:02 Coworker pet peeve #2 10:15 Coworker pet peeve #3 12:50 Coworker pet peeve #4 15:23 Coworker green flag #1 19:19 Coworker green flag #2 21:00 Coworker green flag #3 23:23 Coworker green flag #4 Want to get all of Kaila & Kyle’s career resources? Subscribe to Per My Last Email: https://www.permylastemailshow.com/ Watch Per My Last Email on YouTube:…
27 Jul 2026 · 30 min

AI Is Changing How We Talk to Each Other...And It's Annoying

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss how AI is starting to impact how we communicate with one another at work. There are both obvious and subtle ways in which the technology is affecting how we speak, and Kaila and Kyle have some strong feelings about it. 00:00 Intro 00:18 The problem 04:04 How we got here 09:41 The inciting concern about how we talk to chatbots 13:05 Another communication heuristic that has been altered by AI 15:56 How using AI can be corrosive to work relationships 21:11 The linguistic tip-offs that signal something might have been written by AI 23:35 Another way that…
20 Jul 2026 · 35 min

The Workplace Habits That Are Quietly Hurting Your Body & Brain

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle dig into the unexpected ways in which work impacts our mental and physical health, and provide some tactics for how to avoid some of these health risks whether you work remotely or in an office. 00:00 Intro 02:22 Remote work and unhappiness 09:28 Kaila’s hot take on remote work 11:27 Tactics to avoid the pitfalls of remote work 16:00 The impact of work on our physical health 18:55 The thing impacting our health more than sitting all day 22:08 Why going into the office (vs working remotely) might be healthier overall 24:13 Middle Manager-itis 29:54 Per My Last…
13 Jul 2026 · 38 min

The Workplace Tech Trends You Can't Ignore (AI, Surveillance & RTO)

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by Tech Brew’s editor Saira Mueller to discuss current and emerging tech trends—from AI to surveillance technology—and how they’re impacting the workplace, and what we can do to improve our own work environment with them (or in spite of them). 00:00 Intro 01:39 How AI use has trended in the workplace 11:14 The AI software that has most impressed Tech Brew’s editor 12:24 The tech trends that have emerged with RTO (return to office) 15:33 Surveillance technology 18:47 The other reason companies use surveillance technology 21:44 Technology backlash and…
6 Jul 2026 · 32 min

Does a Real Vacation Even Exist Anymore?

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle debate whether or not taking a real vacation even exists anymore, and provide tactics for how to protect your off time. Can you ever really fully log off in a world with flexible working conditions? And how can we reclaim PTO? 00:00 Intro 02:20 How we got to the state of the working “vacation” 06:59 The real vs imagined expectations of your employer 11:08 Setting clear expectations with your team 14:32 Flexibility’s pros and cons 21:27 The other reason we can’t fully log off anymore 25:20 Other tactics for getting your vacation time back Want to get all of…
29 Jun 2026 · 34 min

The Career Advice You Need at 25, 35, and 45

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by Cherry Miao, CFO of Hightouch, who gets into the art of conducting an effective job interview, how she susses out a job candidate’s mindset, and what she thinks should be changed about the job interview process in general. She also breaks down the skills that are most important to hone in each stage of your career—from your first entry-level job all the way to the C-Suite. 00:00 Intro 01:06 The art of the interview, and how Cherry identifies top talent in interviews 07:27 The blameless retro 09:26 Mindset vs skillset 11:05 What Cherry would like…
22 Jun 2026 · 39 min

How Ambitious Do You Actually Need To Be To Succeed?

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are debating ambition: do you really need to be super ambitious to have a successful career? What level of ambition is the ideal amount? And can you be ambitious in both work and life in equal measure? 00:00 Intro 01:21 How we’re defining “ambition” 05:42 Can you succeed without ambition? 13:30 What is the opposite of ambition? 17:05 Kaila’s framework for thinking about the qualities necessary for career success 18:18 How ambitious SHOULD you be? 24:04 Can you be ambitious at work and have some level of work life balance? 27:07 Advice if you’re questioning…
15 Jun 2026 · 47 min

The Surprising Power of Constraints at Work (with David Epstein)

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by author David Epstein to discuss the topic of his latest book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. Listen to hear why constraints increase both productivity and creativity, and how to implement them on your own to help you in work and life. 00:00 Intro 02:05 The story of General Magic 06:02 Additive bias 09:14 Brooks’s Law 12:34 How Bell Labs is an example of useful constraints 14:48 Can removing constraints ever be beneficial? 19:31 How do we build a constraint to prevent distraction? 23:49 David’s observations on AI’s impact on human…
8 Jun 2026 · 34 min

Following Coworkers on Instagram and Other Social Media Dilemmas

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle dig into the unspoken rules of social media at work. When is it okay to follow a colleague on Instagram? When is posting about your company empowering vs. harmful? And is it okay to have no social media presence at all? 00:00 Intro 00:58 Which social platforms you should and should not follow your coworkers on 08:05 A good rule of thumb for deciding whether or not to follow a coworker on Instagram 09:58 The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to following on social media 18:11 Posting as a form of empowerment 21:32 Finding the balance between…
1 Jun 2026 · 37 min

The Rise of the Career Generalist (and Why It Matters More Than Ever)

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by Milly Tamati, the founder of generalist.world, to talk about the benefits of being a career generalist (vs. a specialist), what people get wrong about generalists, and how to start building a portfolio career. 00:00 Intro 01:29 Defining what a “generalist” is 02:27 What does a long-term generalist career look like? 04:42 What people get wrong about specialists vs generalists 07:39 How do you figure out your strengths and fit as a generalist? 14:52 What is a “portfolio career”? 21:16 Are there certain personalities that are best suited for a…
25 May 2026 · 36 min

Retirement Has Changed—Here’s How to Plan For What It’s Really Like

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss all things retirement—how the concept of retirement has changed, how they’re financially planning for their own retirements, and what their ideal retirement looks like. 00:00 Intro 01:33 What does retirement look like right now? 08:48 How Kaila and Kyle approach the financial element of retirement 12:58 Thinking about the non-financial aspects of retirement 22:30 Mini retirements 25:45 Where Kaila and Kyle plan to retire 31:13 Per My Last Policy This episode was sponsored by Granola. Head to granola.ai/brew to try Granola for free. That’s…
18 May 2026 · 40 min

Why “Optimization” Is Actually Making You Miserable

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by author Brad Stulberg to dig into what we get wrong about “excellence,” what true excellence really looks like, and the achievable strategies to achieve it. Also check out Brad’s new book, The Way of Excellence: A Guide to True Greatness and Deep Satisfaction in a Chaotic World. 00:00 Intro 02:08 How Brad define’s “excellence” 05:47 What is “zombie burnout”? 07:59 How to avoid a sh**** flow state 11:05 Identity house 18:38 Should we be thinking in terms of a “minimum effective dose”? 21:42 The real meaning of grit 25:32 How do you know if you’ve…
11 May 2026 · 33 min

Should You Be Friends With Your Boss? + 3 More Career Dilemmas

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle answer listener-submitted questions around career advice and work dilemmas. From just how friendly you should get with your boss to how to ask for remote work accommodations, this episode addresses a wide range of relatable scenarios. 00:00 Intro 02:56 Question 1 - Can you befriend your boss? 10:37 Question 2 - Can I ask for a raise after a round of layoffs? 15:50 Question 3 - How can I ask for remote work accommodations? 21:57 Question 4 - How should you prepare for a merger/acquisition at your company? This episode was sponsored by Granola. Head to…
4 May 2026 · 45 min

The Hidden “BS” Holding You Back at Work (And How to Break It)

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by Aiko Bethea, Founder of Rare Coaching, to talk about the hidden bullsh*t at work, how it’s holding you back, and what you can do about it. From holding yourself, your colleagues, and even bosses accountable, to freeing yourself of a scarcity mindset, this conversation is packed with practical advice for anyone feeling stuck in their career. And don’t forget to pick up Aiko’s new book, Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives and Work. 00:00 Intro 02:04 What Aiko is referring to when she…
27 Apr 2026 · 38 min

The 5 Sneaky Ways You Might Be Sabotaging Your Career

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle break down the five sneaky (and surprising) things that are affecting your career, and what you can do about them. 00:00 Intro 02:42 Why your commute is more important than you think 08:00 Tactics if your commute is negatively impacting your career 11:00 How discussing your AI use can impact your career 17:59 The consequences of being unknown at work 22:27 Tactics for making yourself better known at work 24:51 How bad tech affects your career 30:16 Dealing with manager burnout This episode was sponsored by Allergy Insider. Ask your primary care provider about…
20 Apr 2026 · 39 min

Meetings Suck—Here are the Science-Backed Ways to Fix Them

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by Rebecca Hinds, PhD, author of Your Best Meeting Ever: 7 Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done. Rebecca breaks down the science behind why meetings so often fail—and shares research-backed tactics to decide which meetings are actually worth having, and how to design them for better outcomes. 00:00 Intro 02:36 Why do meetings suck? 03:47 Meeting Doomsday 05:40 Determining which meetings are actually useful 08:03 Considering remote employees 10:11 Making better meeting agendas 13:53 How to stop attendance inflation 16:13 How to…
13 Apr 2026 · 36 min

Should You Flex at Work? The Career Math Behind Showing Wealth

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss the politics of displaying wealth at work, and how the perception of it depends on what stage you are at in your career. When does it go from being gauche to cool to flaunt your wealth at the office? And is it ever strategic to appear more or less wealthy than you actually are? 00:00 Intro 01:40 Why we’re discussing wealth at work 04:43 Kaila’s and Kyle’s experiences with the perception of wealth early in their careers 10:45 What the research says about how flaunting wealth impacts perception 14:11 How presenting wealth becomes a strategy mid-career…
6 Apr 2026 · 40 min

Why AI Isn’t Killing Jobs (And What It’s Actually Changing)

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by LinkedIn Chief Economic Opportunity Officer (and former speech writer for President Obama) Aneesh Raman to talk about why we can be optimistic about AI. Aneesh’s new book, Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI, challenges the notion that AI is the death of entry-level work and instead argues that the technology is simply changing work as we know it in exciting and innovative ways. 00:00 Intro 02:30 How does AI unleash human potential? 06:25 Will AI weaken our ability to think? 11:48 Will AI increase the potential for cognitive debt?…
30 Mar 2026 · 39 min

You Survived a Layoff…Now What? (The Truth No One Tells You)

While there is a lot of advice out there about what to do if you’ve been laid off, there isn’t a lot of information for how to manage if you’re one of the lucky (or not so lucky) survivors of a layoff. From being more vulnerable to burnout to taking on more responsibilities, Kaila and Kyle discuss how to handle surviving a layoff both emotionally and professionally, as well as discuss how they navigated their own layoff survival stories. 00:00 Intro 03:06 Kaila and Kyle’s layoff survival story 07:35 What NOT to do if you’ve survived a layoff 12:27 How your work changes post-layoff 16:48…
23 Mar 2026 · 36 min

Inside the Recruiter’s Brain: How to Get Hired in the Age of AI

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by author, speaker, and ZipRecruiter career expert Sam DeMase (@apowermood) to share the best tips for landing a job in the age of AI. From understanding how recruiters think and operate, to structuring your resume for maximum impact, to mastering the “upper third,” this is one episode you don’t want to miss. 00:00 Intro 01:10 What is the life of a recruiter like? 06:28 How people are finding new jobs is changing 09:28 How to make yourself more appealing to recruiters on LinkedIn 12:59 Shifting from a experience-based resume to a skills-based resume…

About Per My Last Email

Is it okay to ask your coworker how much they make? Is Gen Z set up for failure in the workplace? Should you really bring your whole self to work? Each week on Per My Last Email, Morning Brew's resident career experts Kaila and Kyle—whose careers have collectively spanned the corporate, government, nonprofit, and startup sectors—debate the trickiest challenges in work life, and share tactics on how to overcome them.

Per My Last Email is a English business podcast from Morning Brew. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Morning Brew
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 36 min
Latest episode: 5 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1739653481

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