Pull Up a Chair

About Pull Up a Chair

Pull Up a Chair is where law meets life — and structured debate replaces hot takes. Hosted by Brandee Blocker Anderson and Haleh Rabizadeh— both lawyers, educators, authors, and entrepreneurs — this podcast brings the IRAC method (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Closure) out of the classroom and into culture. Each episode tackles real-world dilemmas — workplace ethics, imposter syndrome, nepotism, AI, power, gender, leadership, loyalty, ambition — and breaks them down with clarity, nuance, and intellectual honesty. We don’t argue to win. We argue to think better. As lawyers and longtime friends, we believe disagreement doesn’t require disrespect — and diverse friendships sharpen critical thinking. Pull Up a Chair is for people who value depth over noise, structure over chaos, and conversations that go beyond the algorithm. Because opinions are easy. Structured reasoning is rare. Law. Ethics. Real Life.

Publisher

Brandee Anderson / Haleh Rabizadeh

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Mar 2026

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Workplace Boundaries: Where Is the Line Between Awkward and Illegal? (Part 2)

   Everyone recognizes blatant workplace harassment, but how do you actually manage the everyday, confusing grey area where harmless intent collides with uncomfortable impact? In Part 2 of this deep dive on Pull Up a Chair, hosts Brandee Blocker Anderson and Haleh Rabizadeh Resnick shift from theoretical legal debates into practical, real-world action. Packed with candid personal stories and executive insight, this episode delivers 10 essential rules of thumb designed to help both employers and employees set healthy boundaries, avoid career-ending missteps, and build a culture of genuine mutual respect. Inside the 10 Rules of Thumb: The "HR Litmus Test": If you feel the instinct to glance around before saying something or wouldn't say it directly in front of HR, that is your immediate sign to keep it to yourself. Compliment Choices, Not Anatomy: Move away from vague or physical remarks ("You look good") and focus on specific, professional choices (like a sharp haircut or great shoes). Can They "Decline for Free"?: A game-changing power-dynamic test for supervisors: Will saying "no" to this dinner or coffee invite cost this person professionally, socially, or politically in the office? The "Discoverability" Warning for Texts & DMs: Why after-hours communication should always mirror the formality of a company email. If you wouldn't want an investigator reading it aloud during a deposition, do not hit send. When Reciprocation Stops, You Stop: Haleh shares a story about complimenting a stylish colleague and explains why repeated praise must immediately cease the moment the other person's response turns neutral or quiet. The Post-#MeToo Access Dilemma: When in doubt, creating professional distance is healthy—but managers must never solve their personal discomfort by cutting off junior employees (especially women) from mentorship, client exposure, or career advancement. Handling Uncomfortable Jokes: Why employees should feel empowered to speak up rather than endure discomfort just because the room is laughing, and why addressing awkward moments one-on-one in private is often the best first step. "Ethical workplaces aren't about eliminating human connection—they are about reading the room, checking the power dynamics, and ensuring respect always leads the conversation." Pull up a chair, tune in, and level up how you navigate office dynamics! What is your personal golden rule for setting boundaries at work? Drop your favorite rule of thumb in the comments!

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Workplace Boundaries: Where Is the Line Between Awkward and Illegal? (Part 1)

   We all know the blatant violations that cross the line into sexual harassment at work. But what happens in the massive, murky grey area in between? What do you do with the compliment on your appearance that makes you hesitate, the after-hours text that feels a little too familiar, or the one-on-one dinner invite you are terrified to decline? Is it just harmless workplace bonding, an awkward generational gap, or the subtle start of something unlawful? In Part 1 of this two-part series of Pull Up a Chair, hosts Brandee Blocker Anderson and Haleh Rabizadeh Resnick dig into the tension between what is uncomfortable and what is illegal under Title VII. Using their signature IRAC framework, they debate the everyday workplace scenarios that leave professionals second-guessing their instincts and wondering: Who actually gets to decide where the boundary lies—the person who crossed it, or the person who felt it? In This Episode: The "Compliment" Dilemma: When does a simple comment about how you look stop being polite and start placing a mental burden on an employee? Off-the-Clock Dynamics: The real stakes behind after-hours check-ins and late-night texts—are they signs of career dedication or red flags of blurred boundaries? Power & Pressure: How subtle social expectations can quietly corner employees into compromising their comfort to protect their upward mobility. Pull up a chair, tune in, and see where you draw the line before Part 2 drops next week! Have you ever faced a workplace interaction that felt off, but you couldn't quite name why? Share your perspective in the comments!

3. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Working for Free: Open Door or Labor Exploitation?

   You’ve landed a dream opportunity: a company loves your work, invites you to present at a major industry conference, and promises game-changing exposure—all they need is a week of your time for free. But the moment you ask, "Whose name goes on the final work?", the enthusiasm abruptly cools. When does working for free open a real door, and when is it just an employer helping themselves to your unpaid labor? In this episode of Pull Up a Chair, hosts Brandee Blocker Anderson and Haleh Rabizadeh Resnick unpack the ethics and economics of unpaid work. Using their signature IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) analytical framework, they look at both sides of the coin: When is it ethical to ask someone to work for free, and when is it ethical to say yes? Inside the Episode: The Conference & Speaking Circuit Dilemma: Is exposure real compensation? Brandee and Haleh discuss the ethics of speaking for free, drawing the line between mission-aligned nonprofits with zero budget and profitable corporate entities that charge attendee fees yet refuse to pay their presenters. Why demographic blind spots matter: women, people of color, immigrants, and industry newcomers are statistically far more likely to under-negotiate or accept unpaid gigs while their peers are compensated. Haleh’s "donate-back" strategy: why charging a nominal fee—even if you donate it back—forces organizers to actually value and market your appearance. The "Black Box" Law Firm Stepping Stone: Haleh shares a personal story of re-entering the legal profession after a 15-year hiatus and accepting an arrangement where the firm only paid her if the client paid them—often working 20 hours and getting paid for two. How to evaluate an unfair arrangement with eyes wide open: when is eating the short-term cost worth the long-term resume credential? Interview "Spec Work" and Ghost Job Red Flags: Where does a skills assessment end and wage theft begin? Brandee recounts walking away from a final-round executive interview after the employer demanded an entire one-year strategic plan for free. How to spot exploitative hiring practices designed to extract free consulting from eager applicants without ever making an offer. The Framework: How to Evaluate Any "Free" Opportunity Before saying yes to unpaid work, run it through the hosts' practical litmus test: Calculate the True Opportunity Cost: An opportunity is never truly "free" if it steals time away from paid client work, your family, or your own rest. Prepare for the Worst-Case Scenario: Ask yourself: If this opportunity leads to absolutely zero follow-up work or recognition, was the experience, learning, or relationship still worth my time? Negotiate Non-Monetary Value: If a partner genuinely lacks the budget, negotiate for clear attribution, website logo placement, a guaranteed honorarium, or client referral commitments. Don't Give Away What You Should Sell: Mission-driven, education, and public-good professionals often fall into the trap of undervaluing their craft. Major corporations never give away their resources for free—neither should you. Pull up a chair, tune in, and learn how to value your craft without getting taken for a ride. Have you ever agreed to work for free or asked someone else to donate their labor? Looking back, was it worth it? Drop your story in the comments!

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.