Frequently Ignored Questions - podcast cover

Frequently Ignored Questions

Graham & Claypodcasters.spotify.com
What is the purpose of an email signoff if it already says who it's from? Is being added to a slack channel actually a disguise for being invited to a digital 24/7 meeting? 2 genius tech coworkers tackle the tough questions about the modern workplace since early 2020.
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Episodes

Out of Office

Email out of office autoresponders, slack away messages, etc. you get it

Jun 18, 202133 min

Uptight Holiday BS

When exactly are "the holidays"? There is no clear answer, yet everyone refers to them with a mythical level of respect when it comes to people taking time off from work. Why is it that from the 3rd week of November until January 2nd, nobody can seem to commit to getting any amount of work done? What is this "Holiday math" that everyone does when adding up the days people are actually working?

Dec 23, 202019 min

Next Steps Not Assigned to You

What is everyone's dream meeting outcome? Next steps! (But just don't assign them to me). What about when the next steps from Meeting A is to schedule next steps for Meeting B? Do you ever remain silent for 50 minutes in a meeting and chime in at the last minute just to "get credit"? This episode is for you!

Dec 15, 202037 min

30 under 30

Is the Forbes 30 Under 30 rigged? Are the non-forbes 30 Under 30s the equivalent of TedX talks (aka the McDonalds of TED)? Are there always exactly 30 people worth talking about every single year in each category? Is it just a coincidence that the qualifying age (30) is exactly the same as the number of people worthy of discussion, or is God real?

Dec 01, 202019 min

Do you unmute yourself when you laugh on Zoom?

In this special edition "grabbag" episode we tackle questions such as: What does "Feel free to DM me with any questions" on Slack REALLY mean? Are handicap bathrooms exclusively for people with a handicap, akin to the parking spot, or simply accessible and prioritized for their use if there's a line? What is the metric system equivalent to a man being 6 feet tall? (It's 182.88cm but that's not a really catchy/round number, so we doubt it's actually a meaningful milestone in metric based societie...

Oct 28, 202026 min

Can I get your Netflix password?

How long can the Ponzi scheme of sharing Netflix passwords last? How soon after a breakup do you change your Netflix password and boot your ex out forever? If someone gives you their password once, how long does that entitle you to their account for? Few questions are answered, many more are posed.

Oct 19, 202027 min

8 Ways to Sound Smart in Meetings

Do you have a lot of meetings each day? Do you want to sound smart without actually being smart or doing any work? This episode is for you! We break down 8 of Sarah Cooper's favorite tricks to sound smart in meetings . Check out her calendar with 365 tricks to appear smart in meetings - makes for a great gift!...

Sep 17, 202028 min

Forgot Password?

To listen to this episode you must include at least 4 of the following: a capital letter, a lower case letter, a symbol, a number, and more than 8 characters.

Sep 09, 20201 hr 1 min

Why are emails still a thing?

In this episode we discuss pressing questions such as: What do email marketers and heroin addicts have in common? How come you can't unsubscribe from snail mail? How do legitimate Viagra (or penis enlargement) marketers get through Gmail's spam filter?

Aug 26, 202039 min

Cover Letters

Are cover letters just the TLDR of resumes? How do you balance talking about yourself (i.e. bragging) with talking about the company? Why isn't there a "common app" for job applications? Do cover letters even get read or are they just a speed bump to applying designed to filter out those not willing to jump through the hoop?

Aug 05, 202029 min

😉

We tackle pressing questions such as: Is the winky face condescending? 😉 Are emojis unprofessional in the workplace? 😘 💩 Can a woman mansplain? 💁‍♀ This episode also features the podcast's first ever anonymous caller 🤫 who tells their story of an emoji skin tone picker going awry!

Jul 28, 202034 min

Should you show your video on Zoom?

In another pandemic special, we cover Zoom once again, in particular: Should you show yourself on video? Is it an invasion of privacy to explicitly request someone on a call show their video? Why is the 5 seconds between when everyone says goodbye and when a Zoom call actually ends so awkward? Is not showing yourself on video with someone trying to sell to you a power move?

Jul 08, 202029 min

How many inboxes do you have?

We tackle the insane multitude of chat/messaging features within apps in the modern age. Comment in your podcasting app with what you think, we'll send you an email in response, and then you can text us, we'll reply via whatsapp, you can DM us on instagram, we'll get back to you via Linkedin message, and you can round this all out by Facebook messaging us.

May 06, 202014 min

I'm literally lol'ing out loud

The modern challenges of communicating laughter digitally. We address such important questions as: What's the difference between: Lol, LOL, LOLOL, Hahahaha, LMAO, ROTFL, and "literally dead"? Is saying "lol'ing" is nonsensical or is it acceptable in the same way "ATM Machine" is (even though "ATM Machine" is not acceptable FYI)? Is dying of laughter a legitimate medical concern? (You actually don't have to listen to this to find out the answer. The answer is "no", or you can just google it)...

Apr 29, 202013 min

Social Norms on Zoom during a Pandemic

Critical questions raised such as: If your Zoom call ends after 40 minutes because you're too cheap to pay for a full account, but the call was sort of about to end anyway, do you dial back in? Does the size of someone's notebook in a meeting correlate with how high level their job position is? In a work meeting is the person taking notes the group secretary or the most powerful person in the room? On a Zoom Happy Hour, why when one person says they have to go does everyone start dropping like f...

Apr 24, 202023 min

Baby on board

Nothing to do with office culture, but there was really so much to say on this one we couldn't help but make an episode. Why do people have baby on board stickers? Are you less likely to hit a car that has that sticker? Is it fraudulent to put the sticker on before your baby is born? Who is enforcing this??

Feb 06, 202010 min

What do you write down in an interview?

Should you always take notes in a job interview? What happens when you stop writing/typing midway through what the other person is saying? Is it inappropriate to take your pants off?

Feb 03, 20208 min

Are you a clockwatcher?

Is the 40 hour workweek dead? Are you above watching the clock at work or do you just pretend to be? When there is never an end to the work you could be doing, do you have any choice but to timebox? Is your life itself just a giant timebox?

Jan 30, 20208 min

A Shitty Discussion (#2)

The much anticipated final installment (#2) of our limited series on workplace bathrooms. Many serious and important questions addressed, including: Are modern workplace bathrooms designed for discomfort to minimize time on toilet (TOT)? Is it inappropriate to discuss work related matters in the bathroom? Eye contact at the sink? Urinal? Is it worth rotating your shoes in order avoid recognition from your stall mates?

Jan 27, 202016 min

Peecrastinating (#1)

Why is going to the bathroom at work such a complicated affair? Long ignored questions include: Is soap required when you wash your hands if you just go #1? Can you use being in the bathroom as an excuse for being late to anything? Why do we get paid by our employers to go to the bathroom?

Jan 24, 202011 min

Does anyone know how to do anything?

Graham and Clay address the uniquely modern workplace problem where no one knows how to actually do anything and instead is forced to just ask someone else to do it

Jan 21, 20206 minEp. 4
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