Shows / Unstuck with Jay Abbasi
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi
Real people. Real stories. Real solutions. I’m Jay Abbasi, host of Unstuck, and as a former leader at Tesla, I understand the whirlwind of challenges in the modern work scene. In this podcast, we reveal how to thrive in demanding work environments through relatable, real-life stories. Each episode begins with a story based on real life professional challenges (some details are changed to protect anonymity), followed by expert insights to help you thrive at work including practical advice on…
Episodes
- Unstuck with Jay Abbasi
104: 3 Components to Maximizing Happiness and Resilience
In our last episode, we met Sam, a communications manager wrestling with self-doubt and hesitation. Together with guest Hussain Halak, we explored how…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi103: Play, Learn, Get Better
Meet Sam. He’s just stepped off stage at a media leadership conference, still riding the high of a panel that went better than expected. An attendee leans in…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi102: 10 Steps to Crush Procrastination and Take Action
In our last episode, we met Theo, a senior account executive who had no clear goals or direction. Alongside Caroline Miller, we explored how grit and goal…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi101: Why SMART Goals Don’t Work
Meet Theo. He rolls out of bed, head pounding from too many drinks with old friends, scrolling through Slack messages while convincing himself he’ll figure…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi100: 10 Lessons From 100 Episodes (Part 2)
In our last episode, we celebrated the first 100 episodes of Unstuck by reflecting on lessons 10 through 6. From the power of discomfort to the value of…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi99: The Truth Recruiters Won’t Tell You
Meet Charlotte. She ends the Zoom meeting and stares at her reflection in the blank screen. The word overqualified rings in her ears. She forces a smile, then…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi98: 10 Lessons From 100 Episodes (Part 1)
In this milestone episode, Jay reflects on the journey of creating nearly 100 episodes of Unstuck and distills the top lessons learned from world-class guests…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi97: Stop Waiting for the “Perfect Time”
Meet Jonah. He’s paced this same hallway dozens of times, phone pressed to his ear, telling his cousin all the reasons he can’t start his own thing. Twenty…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi96: The Skill That Prevents Burnout
In our last episode, we met Matthew, a nonprofit leader who felt he was on the fast track to burnout, and worried his team was headed there too. Burnout…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi95: The Hidden Resentment That’s Draining Your Energy
Meet Matthew. He’s in his office, blinds half closed, watching one of his department heads wipe away tears. “I’m trying,” she whispers. “But I just can’t keep…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi94: You Can Be Angry Without Being the Victim
In our last episode, you met Nico, who was struggling with unhealthy patterns of suppression, numbing, and comparison. Jay spoke with Allan Kehler, who shared…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi93: The Cost of Staying Silent
Meet Nico. He just finished another 12-hour day consulting with overwhelmed pharmacies, troubleshooting systems, and putting out fires. On the surface, he…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi92: Stop Being Nice. Start Being Honest
In our last episode, we met Daniela, a passionate leader trying to fix the toxic culture in her workplace. Jay met with Dr. Sherene McHenry, who emphasized the…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi91: Toxic Cultures Don't Fix Themselves
Meet Daniela. As the Director of HR and Risk Management for the City of Orlando, she’s staring at a survey that confirms her worst fears: disengaged employees…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi90: The People Pleasing Trap (And How To Escape It)
In our last episode, we met Wendy, a professional drained by constant giving with little in return. Alongside guest Sharon Weinstein, we explored the “disease…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi89: Overcoming the ‘’Disease to Please’’
Meet Wendy. After another busy shift where she had worked so hard yet felt unseen and undervalued, she leaves, tears in her eyes, questioning her worth. She’s…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi88: The Feedback That Changed Me As A Leader
In our last episode, we met Billy, a high-energy leader struggling to connect with his team, alongside guest Dr. Nicole Lipkin, who shared insights on…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi87: The Gap Between Intent and Impact
Meet Billy. Four months into his new role as Director of Operations at a fast-growing EV charging company, he replays a recent one-on-one with his senior…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi86: The Danger Of Thinking You Already Know
In our last episode, we met Sunny, a seasoned risk manager navigating a high-stakes merger and feeling deeply undervalued. Cassandra Worthy joined us to…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi85: Mastering Change Through Emotional Agility
Meet Sunny. After years of high performance, he’s blindsided by a performance review that praises his results but flags his stakeholder relationships. As his…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi84: Aria: A 4-Step Framework To Cultivating Resilience
In our last episode, we met Omar, a Director of Talent Acquisition struggling with self-doubt and uncertainty. Julian Placino joined to unpack how to lead with…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi83: What Most Ambitious Professionals Get Wrong About Success
Meet Omar. He’s sitting in his car during lunch, engine off, sandwich in one hand, doom-scrolling through reels of everyone else winning. Once passionate about…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi82: 10 Books That Changed My Life (Part 2)
In our episode last Friday, we explored five powerful books that shaped Jay’s mindset, values, and approach to life. This week, Jay continues that journey with…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi81: How A Federal Prison Sentence Led To A Life Of Purpose
Meet Ellen. A senior sales manager juggling endless tasks, she’s known for getting results, but lately, her life feels like a pressure cooker. She’s constantly…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi80: 10 Books That Changed My Life (Part 1)
In our last episode, we met Taylor, a Scrum Master struggling to unify her team. Alongside expert Nisha Joshi, we uncovered the invisible dynamics behind team…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi79: How To Fix A Broken Team
Meet Taylor. As a Scrum Master, she’s responsible for leading a product team through tight deadlines and ever-changing priorities. But lately, things are…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi78: How I Stopped Being A Slave To My Phone
In our last episode, we met Chris, a senior advisor drowning in digital overload. Alongside guest Dr. Mary Donohue, we explored how screen saturation affects…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi77: How To Avoid Digital Overload
Meet Chris. He’s a senior advisor at a global consulting firm. A calm leader in high-stakes environments. But lately, Chris has been dragging himself through…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi76: Why Positive Thinking Isn’t the Answer
In our last episode, we met Alina, a high-performing leader burning out from over-functioning and under-recovering. Alongside resilience expert Anne Grady, we…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi75: Train Your Brain, Change Your Life
Meet Alina. As Director of Operations at a fast-growing consulting firm, she’s smart, capable, and trusted. But under the surface, she’s overwhelmed. Her…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi74: The Judgment Trap That Destroys Trust
In our last episode, we met Ryan, a leader struggling to connect with his team and build trust. Alongside guest Amy Wong, we explored how authenticity opens…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi73: Authenticity Over Performance
Meet Ryan. As the VP of Product at a fast-growing tech company, he’s brilliant, composed, and strategic. But lately, his team feels disengaged. People nod in…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi72: How High Achievers Actually Spend Their Time
In our last episode, we met Julian, a founder who was overwhelmed by the weight of decision-making and constant busyness. Alongside guest Bobby Mascia, we…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi71: Designing A Life Of Freedom
Meet Julian. He is a startup founder with a growing team and a packed calendar—but behind the scenes, he’s overwhelmed, exhausted, and questioning how…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi70: How To Help Anyone Get Unstuck
In our last episode, we met Layla, a leader navigating the emotional aftermath of a team member’s death by suicide. Alongside guest AnneMoss Rogers, we…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi69: Turning Pain Into Purpose And Hope
Meet Layla. She stands at the window of her 14th-floor office, haunted by the memory of a team member’s recent death by suicide. As VP of HR, she feels an…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi68: Rumi's Lesson On Inner Peace And Growth
In our last episode, you met Lorenzo—a high-performing professional struggling under the weight of unrealistic expectations. His career success came at the…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi67: Stop Performing, Start Expanding
Meet Lorenzo. The apartment door slams behind him. His girlfriend’s words—“You’re never present.”—echo in his mind. He slumps onto the couch, takeout bag still…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi66: Speak Their Language, Win Their Trust
In our last episode, we met Veronica, who felt like she’d lost her spark for the work she once loved. She struggled to get buy-in for her ideas and found…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi65: Lead With Joy: How To Reignite Your Spark
Meet Veronica. Her heart sinks as her CEO once again shelves her latest initiative to rebuild trust and boost morale. Though she pours her energy into her…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi64: How To Ask For Help Without Feeling Weak
In our last episode, we met Andy, a capable leader struggling in silence. Despite the pressure of high performance, Andy avoided asking for help—afraid it…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi63: Don’t Eliminate Awkwardness, Train for It
Meet Andy. He’s a software program manager with years of experience and a team that counts on him. But lately, he feels like he’s barely holding it together…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi62: Love Yours
In our last episode, we met Gary, a CFO navigating organizational change and uncertainty. Alongside guest Rachel Burr, we explored how to chart a new course…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi61. The Down And Dirty Truth Of Transformation
Meet Gary. He’s rinsing dishes in the kitchen while his mind can’t let go of what’s going on at work. A new CEO, major structural shifts, and an overwhelming…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi60: How To Deal With Negative People
In our last episode, we met Anita, who felt torn between launching her own venture and staying stuck in familiar thought patterns. Jay chatted with Kaya…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi59: The Singularity Circle: Growth Through Networking
Meet Anita. The warmth of Jamaica lingers on her skin as she boards the flight back to London, but the dread of returning to work tightens its grip. Her role…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi58: How To Make Fear Your Friend
In our last episode, we met Diego, a marketing director who finds himself frozen by fear whenever he’s expected to step into high-stakes situations. The…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi57: Fear Is The Direction Of Travel
Meet Diego. It’s late evening in Madrid, and the glow of his laptop is the only light in the room. He’s a senior leader at a global firm, known for his sharp…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi56: 3 Steps To Be Impervious To Change
In our last episode, we met Dylan, a high-achieving professional facing uncertainty at work and indecisiveness about his future. Jay was joined by Nick Tasler…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi55: Embracing Change and Making Better Decisions
Meet Dylan. It’s past midnight, and he’s still awake, staring at the TV while his thoughts spiral. In just a few days, he’ll start a new job—a fresh…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi54: 5 Simple Steps To Finding A Mentor
In our last episode, we met Laura, who was feeling lost in her career, unsure how to regain her excitement and direction. Jay spoke with Dean Craig to share…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi53: What It Takes To Love Your Career
Meet Laura. She’s successful, respected, and good at her job, yet every Sunday night, a familiar sense of dread creeps in. After six years at the same company…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi52: 7 Strategies to Get Out of Your Own Way
In our last episode, we met Selena, a leader struggling with self-doubt and hesitancy to take bold action in her organization. Jay spoke with Kenston Henderson…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi51: The Mindset Of A Game-Changer
Meet Selena. As a senior leader, she’s passionate about transforming workplace culture, but self-doubt and resistance from her team keep her from fully…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi50: The SPEAR Model of Storytelling
In our last episode, we met Noah, a collaborative leader struggling to assert himself and communicate with confidence. Jay was joined by Erdem Koch, an expert…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi49: How To Communicate Like The Top 1%
Meet Noah. In a high-stakes meeting, he finally speaks up with a transformative idea—only to be cut off before he can finish. The conversation moves on without…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi48: 3 Principles Of Conscious Leadership
In our last episode, we met Lily, a senior VP at a software development company who found herself drowning in responsibilities and struggling with burnout. She…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi47: Avoiding Burnout Through Self-Efficacy
Meet Lily. It’s nearly 9 p.m., and she’s still at her desk, drowning in reports and unread emails. The office is empty, but she keeps pushing through. Her…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi46: Ask These Questions To Be A Better Leader
In our last episode, we met Ravi, a father, husband, and professional who felt stretched thin between work and home. He struggled with prioritization, time…
Unstuck with Jay Abbasi45: Heart Centered Leadership
Meet Ravi. It's Wednesday evening, and he stands in his garage, holding a basketball as his kids laugh outside. His phone vibrates on the workbench, lighting…