Popularly Unpopular

Someone is watching videos without headphones in a waiting room. Someone else is taking a speakerphone call on a train. A coworker is on a loud Teams meeting while sitting next to the people they're meeting with.Most of us have experienced these moments.And most of us have probably stayed quiet.In this solo episode of Popularly Unpopular, I reflect on the conversations from the recent two-part series on office culture and asks a broader question: Have we become less considerate of the people around us—or simply less willing to talk about it?This isn't a conversation about manners or nostalgia. It's about how we navigate shared spaces, shared experiences, and our obligations to one another in a culture that increasingly prioritizes the individual.Because maybe the question isn't why people are louder.Maybe the question is why everyone else feels they have to stay silent.

What if the modern workplace isn’t a change — but simply the starting point?In Part 2, I speak with David, a professional who entered the workforce during the pandemic and has only known remote, hybrid, and open office environments shaped by digital communication and evolving cultural norms.Together, they explore:What it means to work in an environment built on flexibility and constant connectivityHow tools like Microsoft Teams shape communicationThe role of respect, inclusivity, and psychological safety in everyday work interactionsThe tension between authenticity and self-awarenessAnd why, in a culture that encourages openness, many people still choose their words carefullyThis episode offers a different perspective — not on what changed, but on what this version of work is shaping us to become.

What happens when you’ve seen the workplace before — and after — its biggest cultural shift?In Part 1, I am joined by Tosin, a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience navigating office environments that have evolved from structured spaces with clear expectations… to open, flexible workplaces where the rules feel less defined.Together, we explore:The shift from offices and cubicles to open floor plansThe rise of constant noise and overlapping meetingsThe “same meeting” paradox in tools like Microsoft TeamsAnd the disappearance (or transformation) of workplace etiquetteThis episode isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about perspective.Because when you’ve seen both versions of the workplace, the differences are hard to ignore.

There was a time when office culture felt clearly defined.Meetings happened in conference rooms. Calls were taken in private.And the unspoken rules of the workplace were widely understood.Today, the modern office looks very different — open layouts, constant digital communication, and a new emphasis on respect, inclusivity, and authenticity.But alongside these changes, a quieter question has emerged:In a workplace that encourages openness… why do so many people choose to stay silent?In this two-part series, Popularly Unpopular explores how office culture has evolved — and what may have been lost, gained, or simply left undefined along the way.Two guests. Two perspectives. One question:Has office etiquette disappeared… or just changed?

Health has become a lifestyle.From supplements and protein powders to peptides and weight-loss medications like Ozempic, we’re constantly surrounded by new ways to optimize, improve, and upgrade our bodies.But behind the trends, a bigger question emerges:Are we actually becoming healthier—or just better at consuming health as a product?In this episode of Popularly Unpopular, I’m joined by a PhD in chemical and biomolecular engineering scientist to explore the growing gap between what’s popular in health culture and what’s supported by science.