Episodes

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle revisit the topic of AI (2 years after their first episode on the topic) and discuss the major objections to AI, how the perception of the technology has changed recently, and the best ways to use it to enhance your work. 00:00 Intro 01:27 How our perceptions of AI have changed in the past 2 years 03:56 The shifting public perception of AI - efficiency vs. enhancement 12:38 First objection to AI - environmental concerns 18:13 Second objection to AI - it’s wea...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle share their predictions for work and work culture in 2026. From “job kissing” to the careers we think might be eliminated in 2026, you’re not going to want to miss this episode. 00:00 Intro 01:48 Prediction #1: Slight imperfections will be a sign of effort 06:06 Prediction #2: There will be a premium on being able to explain the business impact of your work 08:50 Prediction #3: “Job kissing” 13:06 Prediction #4: Your degree and your network will matter more t...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss uncertainty at the individual, external, and societal level, and share their best strategies for managing and coping with the anxiety that comes with it. 00:00 Intro 03:08 Addressing uncertainty on the individual level 08:57 Kyle’s bucketing approach for tackling uncertainty 15:23 Dealing with external, corporate-level uncertainty 22:28 Discussing uncertainty at the societal level Want to get all of Kaila & Kyle’s career resources? Subscribe to Per M...

In this special bonus episode, Kaila and Kyle sit down with Industrious president Anna Squires Levine to discuss the role that connection plays at work, the future of offices and hybrid vs. remote work, the role of leadership in the modern workplace, and advice on making career pivots. 00:00 Intro 01:16 University of Chicago Booth School of Business study on human connection 07:45 What most companies get wrong about how to design a great working environment 10:31 Advice for companies trying ...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle get into personal finance—the money lessons they learned the hard way throughout their careers, and how they approach managing their savings, investments, and spending now. 00:00 Intro 02:36 A big wake-up call money moment in Kaila’s life 07:27 Kyle’s big wake-up call money moment 10:21 Kaila’s experience with lifestyle creep 13:56 An important salary negotiation in Kyle’s career 18:10 Learning to how to spend based on your values 21:40 Structuring your com...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle share the productivity tips that help them accomplish their to-do list, and to get your 2026 off to a strong start. 00:00 Intro 02:20 Kaila’s and Kyle’s word of the year 04:30 Productivity tip #1: The Sunday Setup 09:29 Productivity tip #2: The Bullet Journal 13:06 Productivity tip #3: Commit to S*** 16:57 Productivity tip #4: Lean into the Eustress Curve 19:09 Productivity tip #5: Time Block the Bull**** 22:20 Productivity tip #6: Create Boundaries Around...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss why there is a fear of being “left behind” in the workplace in 2026, and what you can do to avoid that outcome. 00:00 Intro 02:08 Where the “left behind” framing is coming from 04:19 The “K-shaped” economy 09:02 Kyle’s hot take prediction on 2026 13:58 How to set yourself up for success in 2026 16:50 How Kaila and Kyle have started incorporating AI into their workflows 23:14 An example of how AI proved to be incredibly helpful in Kaila’s work 25:52...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle break down their 5-step goal-setting framework that will help you get promoted in 2026. 00:00 Intro 02:17 Step 1 of goal-setting: Get clear on your company’s goals 07:21 Step 2 of goal-setting: Pick a word of the year 10:14 Step 3 of goal-setting: SMART goals 13:47 An important detail of setting SMART goals 17:08 Step 4 of goal-setting: Getting input 20:02 Step 5 of goal-setting: Create a check-in system 25:58 What if your goals are determined for you? Th...

This week, we’re bringing you a special (and very fun) variety show-style holiday episode. Listen to hear Kaila and Kyle quiz each other on 2025 news trivia, followed by a listener-submitted Am I the A******?, 2025 work rants, and finally our rose, bud, thorn of 2025. 00:00 Intro 01:31 2025 Workplace Trivia 18:26 Listener-submitted “Am I the A******?” Segment 24:12 Work rants 30:36 2025 Rose, Bud, and Thorn This episode was sponsored by Industrious. Try out Industrious for yourself with a ...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle break down their simple and effective End of Year Reflection Framework, which will help you give the best end-of-year performance review possible. 00:00 Intro 01:55 Kaila and Kyle’s 2025 overall vibe check 04:52 Step one of the reflection framework 08:34 Step two of the reflection framework 16:01 Big takeaways from completing the first two steps of the 4-step reflection framework 19:35 Step three of the reflection framework 27:46 Step four of the reflection...

In this very special bonus episode of PMLE, Kaila and Kyle are joined by comedian, actor, and producer Joel Kim Booster to get his holiday hot takes. Listen to hear how Joel would organize his own office holiday party, the rule he thinks would make corporate America more fun, and his honest opinions in a round of Iconic of Moronic. 00:00 Intro 00:31 What Joel’s performance review would say if he held an office job today 02:02 The most unhinged party theme Joel would institute if he were in ch...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss both how family has influenced their career paths, how they talk about work with their families, and the importance of figuring out what the right amount of spillover is between work and family life. 00:00 Intro 01:40 How Kaila and Kyle talk about work with their families 07:28 The “spillover-crossover model” 13:19 The danger of co-rumination 15:42 How Kaila’s family influenced her career path 20:34 How Kyle’s family influenced his career path 25:12...

Is it possible for us to start to digitally “detox” while still leveling up at work? In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by Kate Noel (host of the podcast People Person, and Morning Brew’s SVP of People Operations) to talk about how we can start to become less dependent on our screens, while still remaining diligent at our jobs. 00:00 Intro 02:53 Should we even be trying to digitally detox? 06:37 How Kate, as an HR leader, is approaching organizational boundary setting 10:55 How to cu...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle break down and debate the worst career advice they’ve ever heard, and what they think you should do instead. 00:00 Intro 02:45 Bad advice #1 09:28 Bad advice #2 16:28 Bad advice #3 23:30 Bad advice #4 27:50 Work rant This episode was sponsored by Industrious. Try out Industrious for yourself with a day pass OR a meeting room booking, now 50% off for Per My Last Email listeners. Visit industriousoffice.com/pmle to get your discount or free tour. Want to get...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle dig into “crisis culture” at work—what it is, how it came about, and what you can do about it if you’re experiencing it in your own workplace. 00:00 Intro 01:35 What is “workplace crisis culture”? 02:35 Why is this crisis culture happening? 09:49 How crisis culture has affected Kaila’s career 14:42 Kyle’s own experience with crisis culture 19:14 Another way to think about urgency 21:07 Tips and tactics for handling a workplace crisis culture This episode w...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle sit down with journalist, media executive, entrepreneur, and NKA Media founder Nora Ali to talk about the realities of becoming your own boss. Nora gets extremely candid about what pursuing entrepreneurship really looks like in detailing her transition from the traditional 9 - 5 to founding her former startup Mason Media. 00:00 Intro 02:09 Nora’s career trajectory 05:15 Why Nora decided to pursue starting her own business when she did 09:09 The unexpected down...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle give their strong and uninhibited opinions on some more spicy work-related AITA Redditor submissions. From refusing to cover for colleagues to reporting them to HR, this episode brings the drama. 00:00 Intro 02:23 Scenario #1 - The Credit Thief 09:35 Scenario # 2 - The Scrooge Boss 17:02 Scenario #3 - The Shady Firm 21:54 Scenario #4 - The Office Narc This episode was sponsored by Superhuman. You can check out Superhuman for free today at superhuman.com/podc...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss the demise of the traditional corporate structure—from co-CEOs, to the elimination of middle managers, and even the death of workplace loyalty. It seems like everything we know about the way companies are organized are changing, so what does this mean for you? 00:00 Intro 01:43 What’s unique about this moment in time for workplaces 04:36 A possible explanation for why these company structures keep changing 07:46 The AT&T memo and how workplace loyalty ...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss the pivotal life experiences that helped them in their careers in unexpected ways. Listen to hear Kaila and Kyle’s personal stories of rock-bottom moments and personal epiphanies that have ultimately made them better at their jobs. 00:00 Intro 03:13 Kyle’s biggest experience with failure 08:06 Kaila’s biggest experience with failure 11:54 The non-work things that have contributed to Kaila’s and Kyle’s careers 16:35 What Kyle learned from making his fi...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle break down “The Great Lock-In”—the Q4 period where it’s advantageous for your year-end review to focus and get down to business. Listen to hear Kaila and Kyle’s extremely tactical and actionable advice on how to accomplish the most before the end of the year. 00:00 Intro 02:01 What “The Great Lock-In” is about 07:17 The first phase of “locking in” 13:14 The second phase of lock-in 17:47 Bullet journaling 20:00 Timeboxing 23:42 Another important element of l...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle discuss the rise of the “quiet promotion,” how to know whether or not you’re receiving one, and what to do if you have. 00:00 Intro 01:50 “job hugging” 07:42 Defining “quiet promotions” 10:12 Why quiet promotions are happening 13:40 Kaila’s experience with quiet promotions 15:28 Kyle on whether he’s been quiet promoted 17:41 What to do if YOU’RE being quiet promoted 29:29 Recap: The 3 steps to take if you’ve received a “quiet promotion” This episode was s...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are responding to listener-submitted career advice questions…and they’re juicy! From how to handle conflicting feedback to wading through the “work fluff”, this episode is chock-full of useful tactics for handling tricky work situations. 00:00 Intro 01:25 Grab Bag Question #1 - communication issues 06:38 Grab Bag Question #2 - conflicting feedback 12:50 Grab Bag Question #3 - learning about different jobs 18:05 Grab Bag Question #4 - office decor 22:39 Grab ...

In this episode, Kaila and Kyle debate whether you should or should NOT pursue your office crush. That’s right—we’re talking office romance this week, and Kaila and Kyle hold strongly opposing positions on the matter, based in part on their own personal experiences. 00:00 Intro 02:57 Historical context for the conversation 04:23 Kaila’s opinion on pursuing a relationship in the workplace 08:19 The types of jobs where office romance becomes more likely 15:53 The most important thing to remem...

Is it cringe to try too hard? In this episode, Kaila and Kyle are joined by Normal Gossip co-creator and Defector Media co-owner Alex Sujong Laughlin to talk about the ins and outs of being a “try hard” at work. Alex’s new podcast, Try Hard, documents people attempting things that they’re afraid to do, and in this episode you’ll hear about a couple of moments when Alex and Kaila’s fear of being cringe nearly held back their career progress. 00:00 Intro 01:40 What is “Try Hard”? 05:29 Why bein...