208: Office Politics - This American Life Recap
Podcast: This American Life
Published: 2026-03-01
Duration: 1 hr 1 min
Guests: Calvin Morrill, David Rakoff, Julie Snyder
Summary
The episode explores high drama within American workplaces, illustrating how office politics echo the intensity and intricacies of real-world politics. It delves into stories of conflict, hierarchy, and the unexpected methods used by employees to manage workplace dynamics.
What Happened
Sociologist Calvin Morrill studied the intricate office politics at companies like Old Financial and PlayCo. At Old Financial, secrecy and sabotage were rampant, while PlayCo's lack of hierarchy resulted in open conflicts and even physical fights among executives. Ira Glass recounts a personal experience at a public radio startup where a disagreement over the show's format led to him punching his boss, highlighting the intense emotions often hidden in professional settings.
Starlee Kine tells the story of a young employee named Kelly who, when faced with extreme office politics at her startup, turns to a psychic for help. The psychic, Anne, uses her abilities to reveal office dynamics and confirms Kelly's suspicions of sabotage, offering her a sense of relief and understanding amidst the chaos.
David Rakoff explores the peculiar customs of celebrating holidays like National Secretary's Day and Christmas within offices. He humorously describes the blurred lines between editorial assistants and secretaries in the New York publishing world, where assistants are promised future promotions but face lower pay and similar duties.
Julie Snyder and sociologist Mitch Duneier examine the unique office politics among street vendors on Sixth Avenue in New York City. Here, a strict hierarchy determines roles such as placeholders and movers, with many vendors facing challenges like homelessness and addiction.
The vendors' livelihoods have been impacted by technological changes, such as the rise of smartphones, which have reduced the demand for physical books and magazines. Despite these challenges, the street vendors remain a vibrant community, with some like Ishmael Walker retiring but still engaging with the neighborhood.
Throughout the episode, the stories reveal that office politics, while often nonsensical outside the workplace, are driven by the same emotions and ambitions found in personal relationships. The episode underscores the complex social structures that exist in professional environments and the creative ways people navigate them.
Key Insights
- Office politics can turn physical even in creative environments. Ira Glass once punched his boss over a format disagreement at a public radio startup, showing professional tensions can explode into personal conflicts.
- Street vendors on Sixth Avenue in New York City operate under a strict hierarchy, with roles like placeholders and movers. Despite facing issues like homelessness, they maintain a vibrant community even as technology like smartphones reduces demand for physical media.
- At PlayCo, the lack of hierarchy led to open conflicts and even physical fights among executives. This contradicts the common belief that flat structures automatically result in harmony and collaboration.
- A psychic named Anne helped a young employee, Kelly, navigate extreme office politics by confirming suspicions of sabotage. This unconventional approach provided Kelly relief amidst the chaos of startup life.
Key Questions Answered
What did Calvin Morrill discover about office politics at Old Financial and PlayCo?
Calvin Morrill found that Old Financial was characterized by secretive sabotage among subordinates, while PlayCo lacked a clear hierarchy, leading to open conflicts and physical altercations between executives.
How did Kelly seek help for her office problems at the startup?
Kelly sought help from Anne, a psychic who used her abilities to analyze office dynamics and confirm suspicions of sabotage, providing Kelly with emotional relief.
What challenges do street vendors on Sixth Avenue face?
Street vendors face challenges like homelessness, addiction, and the impact of technological changes reducing demand for their products, while navigating a strict hierarchy in their community.