6 Characters Who Ruin Every Meeting

Ever wondered why meetings always feel like a circus, but without the entertainment?In this episode, Rahul and I dive into the hilarious chaos of corporate meetings, role-playing six unforgettable characters who derail every discussion. From Hijack Hassan, who’s stuck in his past glories, to Checked-out Sheena, who's mentally on vacation, we capture exactly why meetings achieve nothing. As hosts of the Just Business podcast, we decode workplace quirks with humour drawn from our years in corporate leadership roles. Tune in—you'll recognise yourself or at least the person next to you!IN THIS EPISODE(00:30) Breaking our own rules today!(02:32) Meet the one everyone secretly dislikes(03:55) Here he comes... Brace yourself!(06:16) Anyone awake out there?(09:06) Confidence level: Off the charts(11:16) Ideas so wild, even we got lost(13:44) Decisions? Yeah, maybe tomorrow…(15:25) Ever wondered why meetings exist?(16:07) HR decoded (or maybe not)(18:25) Guess who's back, again?(19:13) That awkward mid-meeting moment(20:42) Wait, which topic are we on?(21:38) Reinventing the wheel, corporate style(23:02) Can someone please decide?(23:58) We promise, it was worth it!Rahul PhondkeRahul Phondke has been a prolific writer of humour columns since his childhood days which ended sometime last year. People are still wondering how this happened. He turned to writing humour at an early age in an effort to find some meaning to the angst of life, which he found almost immediately after his first two cans of beer. Based in Singapore, he is extremely sought after by the locals ...unfortunately most of whom happen to be the police. He is an active member on Facebook and can be easily reached...unless he happens to owe you money.Connect with Rahul at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul |phondke |522a17Paddy RangappaPaddy Rangappa has worked in marketing for more than twenty |six years. After over a decade in Procter & Gamble in India, Indonesia, and Singapore, he became vice president, brand development for McDonald’s in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) and developed strategies to significantly grow breakfast, beverages, and desserts, especially the McCafé brand, across APMEA. Outside work, Paddy is an avid tennis player and a freelance writer. He has also taught Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) to senior undergraduates and MBA students at the Singapore Management University (SMU). He is the author of Been There Bungled That and Spark.Connect with Paddy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/About the ShowThe Jest Business is a podcast that pokes fun at the wild world of corporate speak and boardroom absurdities. Hosted by Paddy Rangappa and Rahul Phondke, it’s where business meets banter—with a healthy dose of self deprecating humour. From buzzwords to bloopers, we decode jargon, laugh at leadership, and challenge the serious side of success. If you’ve ever sat through a strategy meeting and thought, Wait, what did that mean?—this one’s for you.