What happens when something you used to love suddenly feels exhausting?

In this Between the Seasons episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee are joined by Rich Dome, Senior Director of Partnerships at Local Wisdom, as Bree brings a Reddit story to the table about networking burnout.

The post comes from a seasoned sales professional who once thrived at conferences but now feels drained, overwhelmed, and ready to disappear by lunchtime. The team unpacks what is really going on beneath the surface. Is it networking fatigue, startup pressure, internal politics, or a battery that has been running on empty for too long?

Rich shares his go-to strategies for approaching conferences with intention, including how to “pregame” mentally, do meaningful research ahead of time, and build relationships without leading with a sales pitch. The group also talks about trade show booth dynamics, the pressure to perform in startup environments, and why selling under stress rarely works.

They explore how to recharge when you are stuck at a multi-day event in another city, from taking intentional breaks to dividing and conquering as a team. Most importantly, they remind listeners that networking works best when it is rooted in curiosity and connection, not transactions.

In this episode, they discuss:

● Why networking burnout is often a sign of deeper exhaustion
● How startup pressure can change your relationship with sales
● The importance of charging your battery before a conference
● Researching attendees to spark real conversations
● Why leading with connection beats leading with a pitch
● How to reset mid-conference when you feel drained
● The power of teaming up so no one feels alone

If conferences have started to feel heavier than they used to, this conversation is a reminder that you are not broken. You might just need a reset.

Connect with Us

Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication

Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Special thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.

If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.

We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Conferences are not just about the sessions. The real magic often happens in hallway conversations, over coffee, or at the table where someone is sitting alone.

In this Between the Seasons episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee are joined by Rich Dome, Senior Director of Partnerships at Local Wisdom, to talk about how to approach conferences with intention. After a busy year of events, the team reflects on what makes an experience meaningful, how to build real relationships, and why networking does not have to feel transactional.

Rich shares his “30-second rule” for finding common ground, why listening matters more than pitching, and how to leave conversations with a clear next step. The group also talks about conference anxiety, introversion, and why many of us feel intimidated walking into a room full of strangers. You are not the only one.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why the best conference moments rarely happen on stage
• How to find common ground quickly and authentically
• Advice for introverts and anyone who feels socially anxious
• Why you should never lead with a sales pitch
• The importance of having a conference playbook
• How to turn one conversation into a long-term partnership

If you are heading to an event this year, consider this your reminder that relationships are the real ROI.

Want to see where you can connect with us in person? Check out our 2026 events calendar.

Connect with Rich Dome on LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow or subscribe to Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work? for more honest conversations about the human side of work.

Connect with Us

Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication

Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Special thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.

If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.

We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this Between the Seasons episode, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee welcome Amanda Todd, Senior Director of Strategic Communications at Temporal Technologies, for a practical and honest conversation about measuring what actually matters in internal communications.

The episode kicks off with a Reddit post asking a familiar question: why is it so hard to define meaningful KPIs for internal comms, especially when reporting to executives? From there, the conversation moves beyond open rates and attendance numbers to examine clarity as a powerful indicator of understanding, behavior, and business impact.

Amanda shares why clarity is often the missing link between communication activity and outcomes, and how tying comms metrics to strategy, retention, and employee lifetime value can change how leaders see the function. Chris and Pinaki add perspective on leading versus lagging indicators, why executives care more about outcomes than outputs, and how internal comms teams can advocate for their value without burning themselves out.

Together, they explore what it means to measure understanding, action, and impact, and why internal communicators deserve credit for the sheer volume and visibility of the work they ship every day.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why traditional comms metrics fall short with executive audiences
• Clarity as a measurable driver of performance and retention
• Leading vs. lagging indicators in internal communications
• How to align comms metrics to company strategy
• Why internal comms teams should track and own their productivity
• What executives actually care about when it comes to measurement

It’s a grounded, validating conversation for anyone in internal communications who’s ever been told to “just show the numbers” and wondered which ones truly matter.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Between the Seasons

01:30 – Introducing Amanda Todd and today’s Reddit post

03:00 – Why comms measurement feels so hard

05:30 – The limits of open rates and attendance metrics

07:30 – Clarity as a meaningful indicator

10:00 – Leading vs. lagging indicators explained

12:30 – What executives actually care about

15:00 – Productivity, visibility, and internal comms burnout

17:30 – Tying clarity to retention and business outcomes

18:45 – Closing thoughts and what’s next

Connect with Us

Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication

Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Special thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.

If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.

We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.