Talkward w/ guest Matt Visconage

Talkward: Cringeworthy Tales — Matt Visconage and the Day Job That Broke Him This week on Talkward, host Marty Dundics welcomes improviser, writer, and office-culture survivor Matt Visconage for a painfully relatable deep dive into temp jobs, cubicles, customer service trauma, and the quiet despair of corporate life. Matt—an alum of iO Theater and Upright Citizens Brigade, and co-host of CAGEMATCH—talks about the long road that led to his new book, The Day Job Survival Handbook, a satirical “orientation manual” for anyone who’s ever cried in a bathroom stall at work. The conversation covers everything from his viral Onion guacamole photo that refuses to die, to being a literal cog in the customer-service machine, to the emotional toll of talking to 150 furious strangers a day. Matt breaks down the fictional company at the center of the book—Smart Haven—and its unforgettable cast of employees, shadow executives, party subs, and the relentlessly upbeat organizational guide COG 760 (“David”), who’s always there to help… no matter how bad things get. Marty and Matt also dig into workplace romances, holiday party bingo, corporate gaslighting, bacon costumes worn at the office, and why working customer service permanently rewires your brain. Plus, Matt discusses adapting the book into a live stage show at UCB, where the audience becomes new hires, and why the world of The Day Job Survival Handbook feels disturbingly close to reality. If you’ve ever worked a day job you hated—or one you’re still stuck in—this episode will make you feel deeply seen… and slightly concerned. 🎧 Listen, cringe, and survive. Get the book today! The Day Job Survival HandbookBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talkward--2882431/support.