Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

There’s a difference between a difficult leader and a toxic one. Do you know how to spot it? In this solo episode, Jay shares a personal story from his time at Tesla to explore the difference between a difficult leader and a truly toxic one. Drawing from an experience he has rarely discussed in detail, he breaks down seven warning signs that can help you determine whether a chal...

A difficult boss makes work harder. A toxic boss causes harm. Meet Adrina. She’s a successful senior director who loves her work, but something has changed. Her CEO’s constant criticism and subtle comments have slowly chipped away at her confidence. Meetings are quieter, people second-guess themselves, and Adrena has stopped looking forward to Mondays. She doesn’t hate her caree...

The best leaders don’t solve every problem. They empower others to solve them. In this solo episode, Jay explores a common leadership trap: playing the hero. Drawing from his own experience as a leader, he explains why constantly answering questions, solving problems, and swooping in to save the day can unintentionally prevent your people from becoming more resourceful and capab...

Motivation doesn’t create action. Action creates motivation. Meet Melissa. She stares through the windshield at the county administration building, overwhelmed by the demands of work, family, and being the person everyone turns to when things fall apart. She loves helping people, but she has become so focused on carrying everyone else's problems that she has forgotten to make sp...

The best of Unstuck may still be ahead of us. After 200 episodes of Unstuck, Jay looks ahead to what’s next. In this solo episode, he shares five areas he wants to explore more deeply as the podcast evolves, along with the types of experts and leaders he hopes to bring into future conversations. From AI and neuroscience to real-world corporate leadership, peak performance, and g...