Ep 29: The Mask We Wear: Corporate Burnout and Authenticity

In this episode of The Corporate Burnouts, Mandy Holt and Mandy Alt dive deep into the hidden cost of corporate life and how constantly “turning it on” reshapes your personality and leaves you questioning who you really are outside of work. From concerts with Red Clay Strays and Pantera to binge-worthy Netflix documentaries like The Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, the conversation starts lighthearted but transitions into a powerful discussion on authenticity, identity, and the corporate chameleon effect.

Together, the Mandys unpack what it means to read the room, adjust your personality to fit every audience, and balance professional adaptability with personal authenticity. They share stories of how corporate life teaches you to lead up, down, and across, but also how that constant shape-shifting can cause burnout, imposter syndrome, and even an identity crisis when you step away from the job.

The key takeaway? Being adaptable is a valuable skill, but if it comes at the cost of losing your true self, the price is too high. This episode is a gut-check for anyone navigating the blurred line between who you are at work and who you are at home, and a reminder that authenticity should always be at the core of your identity.

If you’ve ever found yourself putting on a “work mask,” struggling with burnout, or questioning how corporate culture has changed you, this episode will resonate deeply.

Be sure to subscribe to The Corporate Burnouts wherever you listen to podcasts, leave us a comment with your own experiences of corporate masking, and share this episode with a friend who needs the reminder that their worth isn’t defined by their job title.