Skip to content
#202 - Bali-ache episode artwork

Sep 5, 2026 31 min

#202 - Bali-ache

from The Middle Hosted by Andy and Roger

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 202 – Bali-ache Roger returns from Bali having finally discovered the appeal of doing absolutely nothing in a five-star resort, before Andy drags him back to the less relaxing world of workplace politics. In this episode, Andy and Roger tackle a listener question about the colleague who is much better at looking competent than actually being competent. They explore the dark arts of managing up, why perception and influence are genuine workplace skills, and whether confronting someone who leaves everyone else cleaning up their mess is ever worth the political cost. The conversation expands into office psychopaths, toxic colleagues, bullies, favouritism and the uncomfortable reality that businesses do not always reward the hardest-working or most deserving person. They also discuss why some difficult personalities still get results, the difference between competence and aggression, and how quickly workplace power dynamics can change. Roger finishes with a story from his graduate days involving a notorious office bully, a name badge and an unexpectedly effective observation about the man’s chest. Hashtags: #WorkplacePolitics #OfficePolitics #ManagingUp #ToxicWorkplace #WorkplaceCulture #CareerAdvice #Leadership #OfficePsychopaths #WorkplaceBullying #CorporateCulture #CareerGrowth #Management #WorkplaceDrama #Influence #ProfessionalDevelopment #AndyAndRoger #PodcastDiscussion #FakeItTillYouMakeIt #ToxicColleagues #BusinessCulture Engage with us on social media: Website: http://themiddle.site/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_middle_podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themiddlepodcastandyroger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Middle-Podcast/100089236832534/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMiddlePC Email: [email protected] Sign up to our subscriber email list: Visit our website: http://themiddle.site/ Or click: https://forms.gle/4qATmU2yiHgjZrej8

Episode details come from the podcast's RSS feed.

Embed this episode

Ready to play

#202 - Bali-ache

0:00 31:40

No transcript yet.

Requests help us decide what to transcribe next.

Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of The Middle?

This episode is 31 minutes long.

When was this The Middle episode published?

This episode was published on September 5, 2026.

Can I download this The Middle episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.