With every layoff, there's the blackbox of what's really going on behind the scenes. Why did it go down the way it did? Was it really not about your performance, like they told you? How does the layoff list get made anyway?

In our inaugural proxy conversation, we connect Miles and Elliot with a proxy HR professional to answer their layoff questions.

From the episode:

• You can listen to original layoff song Gold Star on Tidal and Spotify, and watch the ridiculous layoff interpretive pole dance music video on YouTube. Gold Star was written by Yowei Shaw and Kyle Pulley, produced and mixed by Kyle Pulley of Headroom Studios, The music video was directed, filmed, and edited by Alex Beebe, with art by typobrekkie, and production and costume support from Joanna Solotaroff.
• Thank you to Catie Maillard for being our proxy HR professional. You can find out more about Catie's work at somehowimanagehr.com, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

Episode credits:

Produced by Yowei Shaw

Edited by John DeLore

Mixed by Kyle Pulley

Research and reporting support by Kim Nederveen Pieterse

Proxy is a completely independent production. To support the show and get exclusive bonus episodes and other goodies, go to patreon.com/proxypodcast.

Other ways you can support:

• Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts! That stuff matters apparently.
• Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter for updates, BTS, and shenanigans.
• Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
• Sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/proxypodcast.
• Share with loved ones and spread the word! We don't have a marketing budget and rely on word of mouth.

Please note: This story contains brief mention of suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8, or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

Elliot and Miles loved working at the same company, until the spectre of layoffs came to haunt them.

From the episode:

• Ofer Sharone's book The Stigma Trap

Episode credits:

Produced by Yowei Shaw

Edited by John DeLore

Mixed by Kyle Pulley

Research and reporting support by Kim Nederveen Pieterse

Proxy is a completely independent production. To support the show and get exclusive bonus episodes and other goodies, go to patreon.com/proxypodcast.

Other ways you can support:

• Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts! That stuff matters apparently.
• Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter for updates, BTS, and shenanigans.
• Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
• Sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/proxypodcast.
• Share with loved ones and spread the word! We don't have a marketing budget and rely on word of mouth.

When Yowei Shaw got laid off from NPR, she didn't just feel bad. She was confused by how bad she felt and how long the bad lasted. So Yowei does what she usually does in a situation like this - she reported on her feelings. Then things go left.

From the episode:

• Ofer Sharone's book The Stigma Trap

Episode credits:

Produced by Yowei Shaw

Edited by John DeLore

Mixed by Kyle Pulley

Research and reporting support by Kim Nederveen Pieterse

Proxy is a completely independent production. To support the show and get exclusive bonus episodes and other goodies, go to patreon.com/proxypodcast.

Other ways you can support:

• Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts! That stuff matters apparently.
• Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter for updates, BTS, and shenanigans.
• Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
• Sign up for our free newsletter at patreon.com/proxypodcast.
• Share with loved ones and spread the word! We don't have a marketing budget and rely on word of mouth.