About Raw and Real at Work: An Experiment to Find Authenticity and Connection
We spend 40+ hours a week with coworkers but often know little about them beyond their work roles. During COVID, I started “Curiosity Conversations,” sitting one-on-one with colleagues to uncover their lives, challenges, and passions. These conversations revealed vulnerability, connection, and the power of seeing coworkers as people. This podcast shares inspiring stories, revealing how deeper connections can transform work into a supportive community. Join me as I uncover inspiring stories behind the people we spend so much of our lives with.
From Mumbai to Motherhood: You'll Figure It Out (Episode 14)
Growing up in Mumbai, Natasha was surrounded by constant noise—millions of people, endless activity, expectations, and responsibilities. Finding the quiet to hear her own voice wasn’t easy. Then, while she was still in college studying engineering, her father was diagnosed with cancer and died just a year and a half later. Overnight she found herself navigating grief, adulthood, and the realizationthat life cannot be controlled.
Searching for a new purpose, Natasha left India to pursue graduate school in the United States, where she faced the challenges of adapting to a new culture, building a career, and navigating years of visa uncertainty before eventually joiningGilead. Later came another transition she couldn’t fully prepare for: becoming both a scientist and a mother.
Throughout each chapter of her life—from losing her father to immigrating across the world, from building confidence as a professional to balancing career and family—one simple message from a mentor became an anchor: “You’ll figure it out.”
In this conversation, Natasha reflects on grief, identity, motherhood, leadership, vulnerability, and why the people who believe in us often change our lives more than they realize.
1 Jul 2026
The Weight of Legacy: Passing Down Stories without Passing Down Fear (Episode 13)
In this episode of Raw and Real at Work, Sean sits down with Adam for a deeply human conversation about parenting, identity, legacy, and how our personal histories quietly shape how we show up at work.
Adam, a chemist and father of a 2-year-old and 6-year-old, shares the unfiltered reality of modern parenting: relentless, exhausting, and profoundly transformative.
Their conversation expands beyond day-to-day parenting into generational legacy. Adam opens up about his family’s Holocaust history, the weight of inherited trauma, and the responsibility—and uncertainty—of carrying a story shaped by survival without passing down fear or hate. Together, Sean and Adam explore how vulnerability, intention, and empathy can bridge divides—at home, at work, and across the “tribes” we belong to.
This episode is a reminder that our stories don’t exist in isolation. When shared honestly, they become connective tissue—helping us understand each other more fully and work together more humanely.
2 Dec 2025
From Giving Birth in Grad School to Becoming an Executive — The Power of Support (Episode 12)
Jamie Moore, now a Gilead executive, gave birth during grad school and kept going. She was propelled by teachers who spotted her spark, a boss who saved a leadership role for her when she felt ready, and a spouse who took on caregiving so she could step into the lab and the boardroom.
Her reflections echo across our series: how early champions, stretch assignments, and shared family responsibility create the scaffolding for talent to thrive. She also shares how thriving inside supportive systems can blind us to the struggles others face
Jamie thought she didn’t have much of a story. Yet in her journey, we see the universal truth: drive + support = impact. And it raises the question—what breakthroughs could we see if those conditions were available to everyone?
25 Aug 2025
The Boy Who Raised Himself on the Streets of Nepal at Age Ten (Episode 11)
Damai was only ten years old when his mother died. His father was overwhelmed caring for his two younger siblings, so Damai left his childhood home—a mud hut with a straw roof in the hills of Nepal. He set off alone in search of work, shelter, and food. Alone. Hungry. Without guidance or comfort, he became a dishwasher in a tea house for five cents a month, sleeping where strangers let him, surviving moment to moment. At age ten!
This episode traces the extraordinary life of a boy who became an adult far too soon. From being sent to school in Nepal by kindhearted European tourists who noticed this young boy living alone on the streets to working as a Sherpa to Everest Base Camp in his twenties, to receiving a fiancé visa from an American woman he spent two weeks with on the mountain. From one impossible moment to the next. One chance encounter to the next shepherded Damai to building a new life in the United States. Damai’s story is one of unimaginable hardship, surprising kindness from strangers, and unbelievable grit.
Now a father to a college graduate, he reflects on a life without role models, love, or safety—and the steady peace he continues to seek with that absence.
2 Aug 2025
From Isolation to Intimacy: The Search for Friendship in a Disconnected World (Episode 10)
In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Sean sits down with Rankin, a Filipino-American biotech professional and former entomologist, to explore what it means to belong, connect, and follow your gut—both inside and outside the workplace. From growing up between cultures, to studying invasive ants in Australia, to navigating disconnection in post-COVID America, Rankin shares how identity, friendship vs friends, and deep self-reflection have shaped his journey. Together, he and Sean reflect on the courage it takes to be real in corporate America, and why, in an age of AI, human connection is more vital than ever.
17 Jul 2025
Climbing Out: Sean’s Journey to Self-Acceptance as an Asian American Woman (Episode 9)
In this honest and powerful conversation, Sean—a process chemist at Gilead—shares her experience growing up as the child of Taiwanese immigrants. From a young age, she felt unseen in her own home: a tomboy who loved skateboarding and climbing, but who was handed frilly, feminine clothes by a mother trying to mold her into the “ideal” Chinese daughter.
Through therapy with her mom as an adult, Sean began to break the cycle of generational trauma. She set boundaries, showed her parents who she truly is, and learned that love remains—even when expectations aren’t met.
Sean opens up about the pressures growing up in a culture that prizes docility, whiteness, thinness, and perfection. She reflects on body image, beauty standards, sometimes being underestimated as a woman in science, and finding her voice in spaces that often overlook women—especially Asian women.
She also shares touching stories of her bond with her grandmother, her evolving relationship with cultural identity, and how she’s finally learning to feel at home in her own skin. One powerful moment: wearing a traditional Asian dress for her city hall wedding—something she wouldn’t have done five years ago
1 Jul 2025
From War Zone to Glass Washer to Homeowner: A Salvadoran Survivor’s Journey (Episode 8)
A Salvadoran immigrant recounts his survival during a brutal civil war and his journey to building a new life in the U.S. through resilience and a future-oriented mindset in this interview.
7 Jun 2025
An Executive Gets Raw & Real: On Childhood, Family & Human Connection (Episode 7)
Gilead SVP Ken shares his personal and professional journey, discussing childhood experiences, family relationships, and the importance of human connection, in an interview with the host.
23 May 2025
The Story My Colleague Did Not Plan to Tell (Episode 6)
An employee shares a deeply personal story about growing up without a father, revealing the quiet strength that shaped him in this interview with the host.
8 May 2025
From England to the US: Keeping Family Ties and Finding Community (Episode 5)
My colleague Nick describes his childhood in England as deeply intertwined with his church community—his father was the pastor, and he played the organ. That tight-knit community felt like family. But when he moved to the U.S. to broaden his career in chemistry, he missed his childhood connections. This emotional distance grew heavier when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Feeling helpless from afar, everything changed when he flew home and saw her illness up close. In this episode, Nick reflects on the challenges of managing family ties across continents, and why creating meaningful connection—wherever we are—is essential to feeling rooted and whole.
25 Apr 2025
Cultural Bridges: From Africa to America (Episode 4)
In this episode, my colleague describes growing up in the Ivory Coast in a STEM-oriented family who deeply valued education and achievement. She describes being raised with a strong sense of pride, possibility- what could be referred to as ‘Black excellence.’
In this episode, she shares her journey of coming to America for college and reflects on the cultural differences she experienced between African and African American communities. This conversation opened my eyes to the complexity and diversity within the global Black experience and how the concept of excellence can be shaped by context, history, and place.
I feel fortunate to have engaged in such a thoughtful and sensitive conversation about race, culture, and identity with a coworker—especially in a work setting, where these conversations are rare.
9 Apr 2025
Lineage of Strength: Balancing Sacrifice and Family - A Pursuit of the American Dream
Astrid’s journey highlights the complexities of achieving the American Dream—while she has found academic and professional success, her relationship with her mother remains shaped by cultural expectations and generational differences. Her story underscores the tension between assimilation and tradition, the sacrifices made by immigrant families, and the deep desire for connection despite differing worldviews. Ultimately, Astrid’s experience reflects a broader narrative of identity, belonging, and the challenges of bridging two cultures while staying true to oneself.
24 Mar 2025
Growing up Gay in Wisconsin
This is the story of a boy growing up under the weight of shame for being gay—constantly battling the natural urge to embrace his true self. Societal expectations, enforced by the rigid hand of the church, only deepened his internal struggle, making the burden of secrecy even heavier.
Coming out was not easy. It was filled with fear and uncertainty, especially when meeting new people or facing family. The shame ran deep, and it took years—until college—for my colleague to fully accept and be at peace with who he is. Even then, he felt the need to soften the revelation, framing his identity in a way that aligned with society’s expectations of “normal.”
He intentionally mentioned having a boyfriend, not to share a personal truth, rather as a way to counter the stereotype of gay men being promiscuous. His world revolved around managing how others perceived his truth.
But perhaps the most ironic and climactic part of his story? His own father had secrets too. You’ll have to listen to hear the big reveal!
12 Mar 2025
Lost in America: Searching for Belonging & Connection (Episode 1: Part 3 of 3)
In this episode, my colleague grapples with finding connection and belonging in the U.S.—alone, without family. He longs for Guatemala, especially the loved ones he left behind, and begins to regret his decision to come. As the saying goes, ‘You are the company you keep,’ and when he falls in with the wrong crowd, one mistake nearly costs him his life. But in that moment of crisis, he finds a turning point—one that will change everything.
4 Mar 2025
The Journey to Freedom: Guatemala to the US via Coyote (Episode 1:Part 2 of 3)
In this episode, my colleague shares his journey of attempting to enter the U.S. at just 18 years old—guided by a coyote. He recounts, in vivid detail, the many failed attempts and the risks he faced at the border. But crossing was only the beginning. After finally making it to the U.S., he reunites with his mother for the first time in 13 years—only to find that their long-awaited moment is not what either had imagined. The journey to freedom hasn’t ended. It has just begun.
3 Mar 2025
Raised in a Guatemala Junk Yard (Episode 1: Part 1 of 3)
This deeply personal and difficult story captures my colleague’s journey from growing up in a Guatemalan junkyard to building a new life in the U.S. After hearing his story, I understand why he works so hard and fights for every inch in life. His resilience, determination, and unbreakable spirit are a testament to the power of perseverance.
3 Mar 2025
Intro to The Raw and Real Podcast: Why Bother Listening?
Why I'm Doing This Experiment and Why It Matters to Me
Starting a podcast has been a journey full of self-doubt and questioning. I’ve spent so much time wondering if I should even take this step. There's this constant internal battle: What if no one listens? What if my voice doesn’t resonate? I’ve struggled with the fear of putting myself out there, and the vulnerability that comes with it. But I’ve come to realize that this experiment isn’t just about launching a podcast; it’s about overcoming that fear and finally pushing myself to do something that’s important to me.
Who has been a guest on Raw and Real at Work: An Experiment to Find Authenticity and Connection
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
A Salvadoran immigrant
Ken
employee
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 13 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
12
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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