Ep 44: If Corporate Emails Were Honest

In this Christmas Day episode of The Corporate Burnouts, Mandy Holt and Mandy Alt keep things light, relatable, and painfully accurate by decoding corporate emails and translating what they actually mean when no one is allowed to say it out loud. From “just checking in” and “per my last email” to “friendly reminder,” “let’s circle back,” and emails that quietly CC your boss, the Mandys break down the passive-aggressive language, unspoken expectations, and emotional landmines baked into professional communication.

Drawing from years of corporate leadership experience, they explore why email tone causes spirals, how paper trails protect people more than they solve problems, and why so many misunderstandings could be avoided with direct conversations, clearer priorities, and a little less corporate fluff. Along the way, they unpack leadership styles, feedback preferences, ADHD productivity realities, and why humor is sometimes the only way to survive professional life.

If you’ve ever reread an email six times, felt personally attacked by “no rush,” or laughed to keep from screaming at your inbox, this episode will make you feel seen.

Listen in, share this with a coworker who needs the laugh, and follow The Corporate Burnouts for honest conversations about work, burnout, communication, and life after corporate.

And if you’re looking for a reset in the new year, check out the Become Conference in St. Louis this March and come say hi, we’d love to meet you. Here is the link to register for Become now - https://littleblackbook.wildapricot.org/event-6349380

FAQs

1. Who is this episode for?
Anyone who works (or has worked) in a corporate environment and has ever read an email that instantly raised their blood pressure or made them question their life choices.

2. Is this episode meant to be funny or serious?
Both. It’s lighthearted and humorous, but it also shines a spotlight on the unspoken realities of corporate communication and workplace culture.

3. What kinds of corporate emails do you cover?
The classics—“just circling back,” “quick question,” “per my last email,” fake urgency, passive-aggressive follow-ups, and the emails that sound nice but definitely aren’t.

4. Will this episode help me handle corporate communication better?
While it won’t rewrite your inbox, it will help you recognize patterns, stop taking certain emails personally, and laugh instead of spiraling when they show up.