Humans in the Loop

Most exits end with a badge drop and a goodbye speech. Martin’s ended with a new role—and a system designed around how his brain actually works. “Better Than Goodbye” is the Season 1 finale of Humans in the Loop, exploring how better questions at goodbye can reshape the future of work. Listen, subscribe, and share.Thank you so much for staying with us through Season 1! Humans in the Loop returns with all-new episodes in December. While you wait, look for candid, behind-the-scenes interviews about the show’s creation and loads of bonus content, available exclusively for our paid Patreon members. Want to stay in the loop? Support the show on Patreon.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

Hannah spoke up when no one else did. She drafted the policy, carried the weight, and watched leadership stay silent—until her words appeared in their slides. “Doing the Work” is about equity labor, stolen credit, and the quiet exits that follow when trust is broken. Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 truth at work.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 risks, this episode is for you. Listen now, subscribe, and share—because real feedback shouldn’t hide in the shadows. Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

 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 rebranded as flaws, this one’s for you. Listen now, follow, and share—because chaos shouldn’t be a job requirement. Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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. Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 “It Didn’t Land” and “Focus Time Failed.” Together, they reveal how a keynote turned into a cautionary tale. Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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.👉 This conversation sits between the executive’s doubts in “It Didn’t Land” and the HR rep’s regrets in “We Brought Her In,” all part of the "Quiet Architects" series.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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.👉 This is the first Backchannel to "Quiet Architects"—listen alongside “Focus Time Failed” and “We Brought Her In” for the full picture of how Penelope’s work was received.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 the only applause you get is for the keynote, not the work that follows?👉 In the Backchannel episodes that follow, you’ll hear from the executive who signed off, the learning lead who measured outcomes, and the HR rep who brought her in—all seeing the same moment from different angles.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 health stigma, neuroinclusion, and what true advocacy looks like for employees who see what others miss. If you care about workplace diversity, burnout prevention, and unlocking hidden cybersecurity potential, this conversation is essential listening. Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 what it really means to lose your moral compass at work. Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 without warning or reason. From the first confusing group call to the cold reality of system-driven separation, this is a story about dignity, identity, and the growing gap between people and the processes that shape their lives.Tune in for a raw, honest look at what it means to be seen and dismissed by a system that doesn’t know your name.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

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 the consequences, this episode is for you. Listen now, follow Humans in the Loop, and share if you believe it’s time for workplaces to put people before performance.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

Leadership isn’t about how much someone can handle. It’s about how often you ask them to.In this episode of Humans in the Loop, Sophie, a well-meaning but overzealous manager, reflects on how one high-performing employee—Ryan—nearly burned out under the weight of vague feedback, invisible expectations, and overcompensating for his own wiring. From misreading perfectionism as passion to missing the signs of a mental health crisis, Sophie shares the story of what happened, what she regrets, and how it changed her approach to leadership forever.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

Some employees go above and beyond until there’s nothing left to give. In this episode of Humans in the Loop, we meet Ryan: a brilliant data analyst whose intensity, perfectionism, and internal pressure masked a growing mental health crisis. Diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, Ryan talks with host Ezra Strix about what led to his burnout, why he struggled to ask for help, and how a single moment shifted everything. It’s a story about performance, perception, and what it really means to protect our people, before it’s too late.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

Nina sees patterns others miss. When she spots a privacy risk, she follows protocol—flag it, escalate it, fix it. But instead of receiving thanks, she’s punished: brushed off by her manager, resented by her team, and stuck cleaning up the mess she tried to prevent. In this episode of Humans in the Loop, we unpack what happens when speaking up backfires, and what real psychological safety looks like.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

Jordan and Sasha don’t know Christopher, but they know the tools his managers used. The policies. The performance system. The need to sound aligned, reasonable, calibrated—no matter what’s actually happening on the team. In this companion to Trust and Bias in AI Decision Making (Episode 3), we step sideways into the world of HR-approved feedback, alignment meetings, and quiet complicity. What happens when no one wants to say the hard thing… but everyone needs it on record?Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

Christopher was a high-performing engineer, but his performance reviews were vague: generic praise, no specifics. When an AI system summarized that input for leadership, it didn’t clarify his value. It erased it.In this episode of Humans in the Loop, we explore how vague manager feedback, combined with AI-generated summaries, can derail career advancement for neurodivergent professionals. You’ll learn how performance management systems built on weak input can amplify bias, stall growth, and reinforce exclusion. Because AI doesn’t fix bad management. It scales it.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

Claire wasn’t lazy. She was overwhelmed. Constant noise. Harsh lighting. Interrupted focus. She masked it all—until she couldn’t.In this episode of Humans in the Loop, we explore what happens when neurodivergent employees experience chronic sensory overload, and how inclusive workplace design and proactive leadership can prevent burnout before it begins. Because inclusion isn’t just about empathy. It’s about design.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

In a world built on performance, this podcast chooses presence. Humans in the Loop explores neurodiversity and workplace culture with satire and heart. The host isn't real, but the stories are.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.

Jo didn’t break the rules. They just couldn’t see the ones no one wrote down.After making a thoughtful suggestion, they were removed from the project alias. When they filled a workflow gap, they were accused of overstepping…by someone they’d never met.In the debut episode of Humans in the Loop, we explore what happens when neurodivergent professionals contribute with clarity and initiative, only to face conflict, confusion, and quiet exclusion. This story unpacks the unspoken norms of workplace communication, the hidden cost of “reading the room,” and what happens when permission matters more than impact.Perfect for listeners interested in workplace inclusion, psychological safety, and neurodiversity at work.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.