Best Backchannel Podcasts (2025)

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Nobody Told Me (Backchannel) 9:39

Play Pause

12d ago9:39

9:39

What happens when feedback is buried in politeness? In Nobody Told Me, a manager looks back on how silence and vague comments cost a strong performer her promotion. This Backchannel episode pairs with "Soft Skills Audit," revealing how cultures of indirect feedback fail both employees and leaders. Listen, reflect, and rethink how you share the trut…

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You Seemed Fine 12:34

18h ago12:34

12:34

Meena seemed fine—always dependable, always helpful, always smiling through exhaustion. But being praised for never needing support came at a cost. This episode explores masking, fawning, boundaries, and what it takes to stop performing and start healing. Support the show Humans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent crea…

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Expectations of Albanese-Trump meeting 1:14:30

5d ago1:14:30

1:14:30

Anthony Albanese is about to embark on a trip to the United States, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. After a series of diplomatic disappoints in the Pacific, Arthur Sinodinos discusses how important a meeting with Donald Trump will be. Jon Sopel from the News Agents podcast catches up with Nick to talk UK and US politics. Amanda Cahill expl…

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Difficult by Design 22:52

8d ago22:52

22:52

Maggie gave tech five years, her health, and everything she had, yet was still labeled “difficult.” This episode explores autism, gender bias, and the high cost of masking in corporate culture. It’s not about defeat, but about knowing when enough is enough. Support the show Humans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent cr…

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Is America trapped in cycle of political violece? 1:16:25

13d ago1:16:25

1:16:25

Over the past year, the US has seen political assassination attempts and murders - the latest being Charlie Kirk, a leading, young conservative activist. Nick Bryant delves into the history of American political violence with historian Jeremi Suri from University of Texas at Austin. Also, filmmaker Max Uechtritz's new documentary PNG The Road to In…

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Soft Skills Audit 11:51

16d ago11:51

11:51

What happens when your metrics are flawless, but you’re still called “too intense” or “not a cultural fit”? In “Soft Skills Audit,” Nadia delivers results but gets lost in a maze of tone policing, vibe checks, and vague feedback that never arrives. If you’ve ever been held to a moving standard, or watched neurodivergent strengths get reframed as ri…

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The US Department of War and China's revisionist history 1:15:14

19d ago1:15:14

1:15:14

Harvard historian Rana Mitter, on China’s war experience and the parade in Beijing this week. One of America’s most seasoned diplomats, Nicholas Burns gives his perspective on the parade and President Trump's order to rebrand the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Big picture thinking to tackle the problem of invasive species in Austra…

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The Pivot Reflex 13:26

23d ago13:26

13:26

What happens when being the team fixer goes from “lifesaver” to “liability”? In “The Pivot Reflex,” Liam navigates constant change, context switching, and the emotional whiplash of being indispensable, until a reorg turns his agility into a problem. If you’ve ever been praised for pivoting until it burned you out, or felt your strengths get rebrand…

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Maria Ressa: the Nobel Peace Prize laureate on democracy, facts and truth 1:17:44

27d ago1:17:44

1:17:44

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Supportive in Theory 21:13

30d ago21:13

21:13

What happens when “we’ve got your back” only counts if it’s on paper? Cassandra had it all figured out, until a reorg meant her informal accommodations had to be formalized for a new boss who played by different rules. If you’ve ever relied on a handshake deal at work, this one’s for you. Listen now and learn why vibes alone won’t protect you. Supp…

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Famine declared in Gaza and US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell bites back at President Trump 1:15:08

1M ago1:15:08

1:15:08

Hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin gives a fascinating insight into his conversations with Hamas negotiators as a UN-backed group declares famine in part of Gaza, and Israel prepares to send troops to occupy Gaza City. Plus, Allegra Spender and Innes Willox on what we should take away from this week's Economic Reform roundtable, former Deputy Secret…

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We Brought Her In (Backchannel) 6:12

1M ago6:12

6:12

The HR rep who booked Penelope’s keynote records an apology she never sent. It’s a confession about good intentions, performative inclusion, and the painful gap between talking about neurodivergence and making space for it. Sometimes, the hardest truths come too late—and stay unsent. 👉 The last Backchannel in the "Quiet Architects" arc, following “…

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Focus Time Failed (Backchannel) 4:34

1M ago4:34

4:34

Ellie launched a “deep work” initiative, complete with color-coded focus blocks and surveys to measure engagement. But when silence came back as the only response, she declared the program a failure. Ezra challenges her on whether absence of data might have been the very proof she was looking for. A story about quiet, metrics, and missing the point…

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It Didn't Land (Backchannel) 7:24

1M ago7:24

7:24

The executive who approved Penelope’s keynote thought he was buying innovation. Instead, he says, “it didn’t land.” In this candid debrief, Ezra presses for plain English while the exec doubles down on flight metaphors and “strategic imperatives.” A story about turbulence, takeoffs, and what happens when big ideas never make it past the runway. 👉 T…

1
Kyle Doyle 1:51:49

1M ago1:51:49

1:51:49

Fan to drive. Kyle Doyle the leader of the OSMT army!! Is here to chat with usBy Brad Shaw and Dan Cheech Agosh

1
Quiet Architects 12:34

1M ago12:34

12:34

Penelope was hired to spark innovation. She left the room exhausted. "Quiet Architects" tells the story of a neurodivergent consultant who offered blueprints for real change, only to discover her audience wanted soundbites, not scaffolding. When good intentions meet systems built to filter out difference, whose voice carries? And what happens when …

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Uncovering Trump's backchannel to Putin 1:15:06

1M ago1:15:06

1:15:06

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Edge of Insight 18:32

1M ago18:32

18:32

How do bipolar disorder, mania, and psychosis shape cybersecurity talent? In this episode of Humans in the Loop, cybersecurity analyst Alex reveals how neurodivergent minds excel at pattern recognition and threat detection, yet still face bias in performance reviews and workplace culture. Host Ezra Strix and Alex’s manager, David, unpack mental hea…

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Trump to meet Putin in Alaska to broker Russia Ukraine peace deal 1:17:28

2M ago1:17:28

1:17:28

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Out of Nowhere (Backchannel) 12:40

2M ago12:40

12:40

When the brakes are ripped out of a moving car, what do you do next? Frank didn’t think the AI Ethics team would be the ones to go, but now he’s left navigating guilt, isolation, and a workplace stripped of its conscience. If you’ve ever watched your company trade values for efficiency, this episode’s for you. Hit play and join the conversation on …

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Habo Gutierrez 1:59:23

2M ago1:59:23

1:59:23

Hosted of The toughest Monster truck tour! and Bmx workBy Brad Shaw and Dan Cheech Agosh

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Algorithmic Exit 14:44

2M ago14:44

14:44

What happens when your worth at work is decided by code? In Algorithmic Exit, James, a loyal employee, is cut loose, not by a person, but by an algorithm. This episode of Humans in the Loop explores the human cost of automated layoffs, what’s lost when decisions are made by machines, and how James navigates the emotional aftermath of being let go w…

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Is Donald Trump winning his trade war? 1:14:36

2M ago1:14:36

1:14:36

Analysis of President Trump’s move impose worldwide tariffs; calls for the Federal Government to to scrap the "Job ready" university fee system, with the barrister and former broadcaster Steve Vizard; and the BBC's International Editor Jeremy Bowen on the latest in the Middle East.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Allen and Brandon Pezo 1:19:40

2M ago1:19:40

1:19:40

40 plus years of owning and driving Monster trucks. Allen and his son Brandon Pezo. Chats and join us!!By Brad Shaw and Dan Agosh

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The Risk Is You 23:52

2M ago23:52

23:52

Is stress leave really safe to use? In The Risk is You, Elena unpacks the stigma and silent career risks around taking time off for mental health. Candid stories, real talk, and a satirical ad break down why workplace culture, not the benefits, still holds us back. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s safe to ask for help at work, or worried about …

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The truth behind Joe Biden's decline: Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson 1:14:58

2M ago1:14:58

1:14:58

Two of America's top journalists break down one of the most fateful decisions in American political history: Joe Biden’s run for re-election despite evidence of his serious decline. Plus, week one of the 48th parliament and a former French spy who turned his secret life into bestselling spy thrillers.…