Brenda You’re on Mute - The Podcast

It's Coming Home - Brenda gets World Cup Fever

Rakhee and Heather tackle England's full-back dilemma, Japan's 100-year plan to win the World Cup and whether football really is coming home...
Just kidding.
Well... a little bit.
What we actually do is ask whether the biggest sporting event on Earth is really worth the billions spent hosting it.
Does the FIFA World Cup genuinely transform economies? Are the promised tourism booms real? Is winning the tournament actually better for a country's finances than hosting it?
Along the way we somehow end up discussing Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, Barcelona, Wrexham, Olympic legacies and why economists are the people least likely to believe the hype.
There's also Brenda's Sporting Economics Quiz, where Heather discovers that football trivia is much easier when there aren't any football questions.
Whether you're a lifelong football fan or someone who only tunes in when England are involved, this episode is less about tactics and more about the business behind the beautiful game.
Sources:
Goldman Sachs International (Kevin Daly & Mambuna Njie)https://www.sgieurope.com/sporting-events/world-cup-2026-big-event-small-economic-impact/121493.article
FIFA / WTO GoalEconomy & OpenEconomicshttps://inside.fifa.com/organisation/media-releases/fifa-wto-study-estimates-usd-47-billion-economic-output-from-fifa-club-world
Victor Matheson (College of the Holy Cross)https://www.sgieurope.com/sporting-events/world-cup-2026-big-event-small-economic-impact/121493.article
American Hotel & Lodging Association (via Euronews)https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/06/02/the-2026-world-cup-billions-promised-but-will-the-economic-boom-arrive
Natixis Corporate & Investment Bankinghttps://home.cib.natixis.com/articles/beyond-the-game-the-economics-of-the-2026-fifa-world-cup
Saxo Bankhttps://www.home.saxo/content/articles/equities/world-cup-2026-eng-26052026
Deloitte Spanish Latin Americahttps://mexiconewsdaily.com/business/deloitte-report-mexicos-windfall-as-world-cup-host
Moody's Local Méxicohttps://mexicobusiness.news/finance/news/moodys-cuts-mexico-world-cup-economic-boost-forecast
University of Surreyhttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/world-cup-win-could-boost-economy
University of Oxford (Flyvbjerg et al.)https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.02728
Olympic.org – Barcelona 1992 Legacyhttps://www.olympic.org/news/barcelona-1992-the-model-games
University of Michigan – Welcome to Wrexhamhttps://news.umich.edu/welcome-to-wrexham-brought-the-world-to-this-welsh-city-and-transformed-its-economy/
International Olympic Committeehttps://www.olympic.org/news/the-ioc-awards-the-olympic-games-2024-to-paris-and-2028-to-los-angeles
LA84 Foundationhttps://la84.org/about/
Utah Ski Infohttps://utahskiinfo.com/2002-winter-olympics-effect-on-utah-skiing/
The Guardian – Qatar World Cup Costshttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/18/how-much-did-qatar-spend-on-the-world-cup
 

Everything You Wanted to Know About AI But Were Too Afraid to Ask: Interview with AI guru, Katherine Mora

AI is everywhere right now — but how much of the hype is real?
In this episode, Rakhee sits down with AI strategist and fractional CTO Katherine Mora to unpack what artificial intelligence actually is, how businesses are using it, whether our jobs are safe, and why human expertise may matter more than ever.
They discuss:
What AI actually is (in plain English)
Why ChatGPT changed everything
The opportunities and risks for businesses
Whether AI is really replacing jobs
Why workflows and processes matter more than shiny tools
The future of work, security, regulation and big tech
Plus, Katherine shares the AI tools she genuinely recommends experimenting with right now:
Gamma – AI-powered presentation creation
Stitch – Google’s vibe design tool
Nano Banana – Google Gemini image creation
NotebookLM – Research partner, explainer videos and infographics
ElevenLabs – Realistic AI voice cloning
Synthesia – AI avatar video creation
Google AI Studio – Build and test AI tools without coding
If AI has ever felt confusing, intimidating or vaguely dystopian, this episode is for you.

Professionalism? More like, Oppressionalism

What does professionalism actually mean in 2026?
Is it about doing your job well…or is it still code for “fit in, don’t rock the boat, and definitely don’t say f**k”?
In this episode of Brenda, You’re On Mute, we’re joined by Dr Jamie Pei — coach, trainer, and unapologetic challenger of the “shoulds.”
Jamie shares the story of being rejected by a potential client for dropping a couple of F-bombs on her website — raising a bigger question:
👉 Who decides what’s “professional”… and who gets excluded?
We get into:
Why professionalism is vague — and easily weaponised
The hidden labour of code-switching
When to play the game (and when to walk away)
How to start breaking the rules — without blowing up your life
Jamie also hosts the podcast 'Notes on Being Unruly', where she dismantles the invisible rules we all live by: notes on being unruly | Jamie Pei
If you’ve ever felt like you’re performing a version of yourself at work… this one’s for you.
Show Notes / References:Jamie Pei: https://jamiepei.comAesthetic Labour: Rethinking Beauty Politics in Neoliberalism - Ana Sofia Elias, Rosalind Gill, Christina ScharffAmericanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Want to listen on your preferred podcast app?🔗 https://lnkd.in/eUH2VmQQ
Support the show & help us keep producing episodes ☕:https://lnkd.in/esijwsb6

Why are meetings so stoopid?

The Meeting Will Continue Until Morale Improves. We've all been there — the meeting that could have been an email, the 90-minute "alignment call" that aligned precisely nothing, and the induction session that somehow ended in a group sing-along to Lifted by the Lighthouse Family. Yes, really.
In this episode, Rakhee and Heather take a long, hard (and deeply cathartic) look at the workplace meeting — why so many of them are pointless, what they're actually costing businesses, and why the people most addicted to them are often the ones least qualified to run them.
They dig into the data from a 2024 German four-day week pilot — where meetings dropped by 60% — and ask why it takes losing a fifth of your working week before anyone questions whether a recurring Tuesday stand-up is actually achieving anything. Spoiler: it isn't.
Along the way, there's a corporate rebrand song with a key change, a 30-person pitch meeting that devolved into the Eurovision Song Contest, and some genuinely useful research on why large meetings make everyone less accountable and more exhausted.
Plus: what Amazon, Shopify, and GitLab are doing differently — and why calendar bankruptcy might be the workplace reset we all deserve.
Stats that will make you want to delete your entire diary:
Executives spend up to 80% of their time in meetings
72% of meetings are considered ineffective
The UK economy loses an estimated £50 billion a year to poorly run meetings
If you've ever sat in a meeting wondering why you're there, this one's for you.
If you've enjoyed the series so far and would like to support more episodes, please show us some love and support our production costs at BuyMeACoffee: Brenda You're on Mute 

Davos, Davos...who the f*** is Davos?

What is this “Davos” they speak of? A town… or a billionaire’s clubhouse? (Spoiler: it’s both.)
In this episode of Brenda, You’re on Mute, we lift the lid on the World Economic Forum in Davos — the annual Alpine gathering where CEOs, politicians and the ultra-wealthy meet to “shape the future.”
We break down:
Who actually gets in (and what it costs)
This year’s geopolitical drama and standout speeches
The rise of the “Davos Man” and billionaire influence
Climate pledges, vaccine alliances, and whether any of it really changes lives
The flaming “No Kings” protest on the mountainside 🔥
Is it global cooperation at its best — or elite deal-making dressed up as democracy?
We’re sceptical. We’re curious. We’re definitely not on the guest list.
Listen now — and tell us: if you've had a Davos lanyard, how did you use it?
Reading recommendations:
Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World
Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy - Mo Gawdat
 

BYOM Review of the Year

Join Rakhee Verma and Heather Deland for a review of 2025 in business, the global economy, and the world of work. From trade wars, tariffs, and Brexit fallout, to the rise of billionaires, AI, and climate challenges.
They explore the impact of global volatility on everyday life, consumer power, and political choices, and herald Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum as one of 2025's heroes.
Whether reflecting on the UK economy, graduate unemployment, or why Katy Perry is so annoying, Rakhee and Heather give their candid, side‑eyed perspective on a year that was tough but not without laughs. Tune in for sharp observations, occasional exasperation, and moments of hilarity—because 2025 was one for the books.
(Rakhee breaks her pledge to not swear on the podcast and can't stop saying the word 'shite'.)

Message Like Mamdani – Lessons for Business from New York’s Mayor-Elect

What can political campaigns teach business about communication?
In the last episode of Brenda, You’re on Mute for 2025, communications experts Rakhee Verma and Heather Deland break down modern political communications and translate the lessons to be learned by business. From the UK Government’s chaotic and reactive, vision-free messaging to the standout campaign success of Zohran Mamdani, New York's Mayor-elect, they explore what and how to cut through.
And the importance of data, data, data.
If you want to read more about Rakhee's advice to the Government, click here: Why are the UK Government’s communications so cr*p?
 

Maybe everyone in here wants to sleep with you, but do you know anything about SEO? Interview with Lisa Paasche - former CEO of Verve Search

In this episode of Brenda, You’re on Mute, Rakhee sits down with Lisa Paasche – Norwegian-born founder and former CEO of the award-winning SEO agency Verve Search, now part of Omnicom.
Building on the podcast’s recent conversation about immigration and the UK economy, Lisa shares her journey from a “one-year” gap year in London to leading one of the most successful SEO agencies in Europe.
They discuss:
Why so many tech founders are foreign-born
How immigration fuels innovation and grit
Lisa’s path from au pair to entrepreneur
The challenges of being a female, foreign CEO in a male-dominated industry
What happens when a direct Norwegian leadership style meets British corporate subtext
Insightful, funny, and refreshingly honest — this is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, culture, and the real stories behind the UK’s tech success. And yes, someone did say to her, "Maybe everyone in here wants to sleep with you, but do you know anything about SEO?"
To learn more about Lisa, or to hire her as a coach visit EKTE Vision | Lisa Paasche - Mentor, Business Adviser, Non Executive Director
 

Coming over 'ere, boosting our economy!

Rakhee and Heather talk about immigration and the economy, and how those “good-for-nothing foreigners” are coming over ’ere… taking care of our sick and elderly, starting businesses, and boosting the economy. Next you’ll be telling us curry is the national dish!

Unskilled and Unaware of It – Why Some People Don’t Get Imposter Syndrome (part 2)

Why do some people breeze through their careers with unshakeable confidence, while others — often the most competent — feel like frauds?
In part two of Unskilled and Unaware of It, Rakhee Verma digs into why imposter syndrome hits some harder than others.
Business psychologist Clare Radford, founder of &Culture, explains what imposter syndrome really is, how it shows up at work, and what individuals and leaders can do to manage it.
Then broadcaster and journalist Pip Tomson opens up about living with imposter syndrome under the public spotlight, sharing how she’s learned to quiet her inner critic and own her success.
Guest Links:🔗 Clare Radford – andcultureconsulting.com🔗 Clare on LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/clareradforduk🔗 Pip Tomson on Instagram – @PipTomson