Across The Bar Podcast

It's internship season — and whether you're the one trying to land a spot or the manager running the program, this episode has something for you.Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein are joined by career coach and magazine industry veteran Eliot Kaplan — former VP of Talent Acquisition at Hearst, former Editor-in-Chief of Philadelphia Magazine, and former Executive Editor of GQ — for a full breakdown of the internship lifecycle.In this episode:🎯 Where to find internships and how to start your search early📝 Cover letters, networking, and how to get a human to actually see your application🎤 Interview tips — including the "three greatest hits" strategy and questions that make you stand out📅 Day one dos and don'ts — how to read the room and set yourself up for a great summer🚫 What NOT to do (yes, including the alcohol at the work party)🏢 Advice for employers — structure, mentorship, communication, and the value of reverse mentoring💼 How to stay in touch after your internship ends and actually convert it into a job offer⚖️ A quick legal note on confidentiality — what you can and can't share when you go back to school🎙️ New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss a drink.

Employment attorney Peter Rahbar and journalist Laura Brounstein break down this week's biggest stories at the intersection of news, work, and the law — straight from a beautiful spring day in New York City. 🍹 This week we cover:🎬 Toxic workplace allegations at Mr. Beast & Unwell — what these high-profile cases reveal about the real dangers of hiring family members to run your company, and what every founder needs to know before they hand the keys to a spouse or cousin👩‍💼 Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer's resignation — another woman out of Trump's cabinet; Peter and Laura break down the pattern, the allegations, and what no employer should ever tolerate⌨️ Meta tracking employee keystrokes "for AI training" — is that really what's going on? Peter and Laura dig into employee surveillance, what's legal, and why this is a massive morale problem💼 Layoffs vs. buyouts — Meta cuts 8,000 jobs while Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts; why the distinction matters and what employees need to know about their rights in each scenario🤖 When your boss is a boomer about AI — why managers pushing AI too hard (or too clumsily) are demoralizing their teams and driving people out the door🍹 Grab a drink and join the conversation.🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on the laws shaping your work and life.

The world doesn't stop when you clock in — and this week, neither do we. Employment attorney Peter Rahbar and journalist Laura Brounstein tackle four topics that are impossible to ignore right now. In this episode:⚔️ Balancing Work & War — When the headlines feel like too much, your employees feel it too. Peter and Laura discuss how managers can check in on their teams, what mental health resources employers should be offering, and how to support your people — including those with family in conflict zones — without making grand public statements.🏕️ Corporate Retreats Gone Wrong — The WSJ story about the 2017 Plex retreat in Mexico went viral for good reason: a hotel manager who quit, a sick CEO, Navy SEALs, and yes — someone eating a tarantula. Peter and Laura share their own retreat war stories and break down what makes a retreat great vs. a total disaster (hint: it's about inclusion, not intimidation).🙋 Voluntold — You didn't raise your hand, but suddenly you've got a new assignment and the same paycheck. Peter explains when to embrace the opportunity, when to push back, and why managers need to be careful about who they keep tapping for extra work.🤯 What to Do When Your Boss Has Lost His Mind — No, we're not naming names. But if you're an executive watching your leader make fiscally reckless, erratic, or potentially illegal decisions, Peter walks through your real options: internal reporting channels, audit committees, whistleblower programs, and when it might just be time to walk.🎙️ Across the Bar is your weekly drink with a lawyer and a journalist — where employment law meets real life.New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss a round.

Employment attorney Peter Rahbar and journalist Laura Brounstein break down this week's biggest stories at the intersection of news, work and the law. This week we cover:🏛️ White collar crime prosecutions are at a 40-year low under the Trump administration — what that means for corporate accountability and why companies should still be watching their backs📱 Meta's rough week — a landmark court ruling finds Meta liable for harm to minors, a new eye-popping executive compensation plan is announced, and Zuckerberg lands a seat on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology👀 JPMorgan is tracking its junior investment bankers — is it really about employee wellbeing or is something else going on?💻 Your personal life is on your work computer — why that's more dangerous than ever in the age of AI🏆 Heroes & Zeros — airport chaos, ICE agents at LaGuardia, Chili's wins the internet and a fashion data account you need to follow🍹 Grab a drink and join the conversation.🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on the laws shaping your work and life.

This week on The Across the Bar Podcast, Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein discuss the continuing battle between Anthropic and the Pentagon, the regulatory battle over AI, companies moving to Texas, finance bros doing fashion shoots without permission and more trouble at Noma. In this episode:Anthropic v. Hegseth: Is Claude banned from the government? 🌍🛡️The Texas Exodus: Why giants in tech and finance are ditching Delaware and California for the Lone Star State. Is it just about taxes? 🤠💼The Finance Bros of Interview Mag: We dissect the viral "Finance Bro" feature. How can they be so dumb? 🍸📈Noma’s Culture Crisis: René Redzepi is under fire (again). We discuss the fallout of toxic "genius" in the world’s most famous kitchen. 🍴🔥

This week on the Across the Bar Podcast, Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein talk about the latest stories impacting the workplace, including the workplace implications of the State of the Union address, the President’s latest power play—a move to influence corporate boardrooms—and a deep dive into how and why AI is negatively affecting women.Inside the Episode:SOTU 2026 Breakdown: We analyze the President’s speech and what it means for the workplace. 🏛️⚖️Why AI is Bad for Women: From biased hiring algorithms to the rise of workplace deepfakes, we discuss why AI is creating a new, digital glass ceiling. 🤖👠Government in the Boardroom: The administration wants a seat at your table. We discuss the legal implications of the government’s latest push to pick corporate board members. 💼🏢The 8-Hour Sleep Debate: Should junior investment bankers be entitled to sleep? We tackle the latest lawsuit detailing how young analysts are really treated. 😴💰We discuss these topics, snowball fights, the US hockey team and more! Please watch, subscribe and share the latest episode of The Across the Bar Podcast!

Is the 2026 "AI Job Panic" justified? This week on Across the Bar, employment attorney Peter Rahbar and media veteran Laura Brounstein break down the headlines that are reshaping the modern workplace.In this episode:The AI Panic: With mass layoffs hitting tech and media, and AI engineers spreading fear about replacing jobs, AI panic is setting in. Is this a genuine shift in the economy? We discuss the different views of how AI is impacting the workplace and what you should be doing at work.Salesforce’s ICE Controversy: Marc Benioff’s "jokes" about ICE agents during a company kickoff in Las Vegas have sparked an internal revolt. We discuss the legal implications of a hostile environment and why "Ohana" culture is feeling like a memory. ☁️⚖️Washington Post Bloodbath: One-third of the newsroom is gone. Sections wiped. Metro gutted. We dive into the "WTF" of it all: Why was Will Lewis at the Super Bowl during a massive public layoff, and what is Jeff Bezos actually doing with the Post? 🏛️📰Please watch this week's episode of The Across the Bar Podcast to hear more about these topics, Bad Bunny, curling, the Super Bowl and more!

In this episode of Across the Bar, Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein break down the high-stakes legal and corporate shifts dominating the workplace in 2026. From the surprising new focus of the EEOC to the "Great AI Adaptation," we’re looking at who is winning—and who is losing—in the modern workplace.Inside the Episode:Corporate vs. ICE 🛡️: Corporate leaders are increasingly vocal against ICE actions. We discuss the legal risks, the PR impact, and what this means for workplace sanctuary policies.The Layoff Wave Continues 🌊: Amazon and the Washington Post are making major cuts, again. Is the economy stalling? How will employees view these actions while Amazon is simultaneously spending $35m to market the Melania documentary.The EEOC’s New Battleground ⚖️: In a surprising turn, the EEOC is actively litigating to protect white men under Title VII. Learn more about how this administration has reshaped this agency to carry out its agenda. 🏛️Gen X & The AI Revolution 🤖: Gen X is in the lead in adapting to AI. We dive into the data on why the sandwich generation is the most adept at integrating AI into their workflows—and what every other generation can learn from them. 📈Watch The Across the Bar Podcast to hear more about all of these topics and our views on the Olympics, cold plunges and more!

Can you be suspended for your political views? ⚖️🇺🇸In this week's episode of The Across the Bar Podcast, co-hosts Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein break down today's hottest workplace issues, including the legal and professional issues related to a UAW worker suspended for yelling at Donald Trump during his visit to a Ford factory, the shocking news regarding the raid of the home of a Washington Post reporter, and the minefield associated with OpenAI hiring consultants to upload their past projects for AI training. Finally, we look at Jerome Powell’s leadership style and share a masterclass on how to disagree with your boss without risking your career.Please watch or listen, share and subscribe!

In this special episode of The Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein break down the essential roadmap for anyone looking to turn their expertise into a thriving business. Whether you're leaving a corporate role or scaling a side hustle, we cover the administrative, legal, and financial hurdles you need to clear to succeed.In this episode, we discuss:🎯 Defining Your Niche: How to figure out exactly what your business is (and isn't).🚀 The Launch Plan: Setting a timeline and preparing for Day 1.⚖️ Legal & Admin Basics: Business structures, contracts, and the "boring stuff" that protects you.💰 Pricing Your Services: Value-based vs. hourly—how to charge what you're worth.📣 Marketing & Networking: Getting your first client and building a sustainable brand.

On this episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Peter Rahbar & Laura Brounstein dive into today's hottest workplace issues, including the Michigan football scandal, worker fatigue, explaining COBRA, the structural reasons women are falling behind in the workplace, and office holiday gifts. 0:00 Introduction 3:00 Michigan Football Scandal8:45 Combatting Worker Fatigue and Burnout in the Office15:55 COBRA Explained19:00 The Women's Workplace Gap: Why Women Are Falling Behind in Careers23:50 Holiday Gift Ethics: Rules for Bosses, Employees, and Secret SantasPlease watch, share and subscribe!

In this week's episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar tackle three essential workplace topics that every leader and employee needs to navigate this season.📰 This Week's Topics:🤖 Workplace AI Ambassadors Rise - Companies like ServiceNow are identifying 1,000 high performers to serve as internal AI influencers who train colleagues on AI adoption. How organizations are using peer-to-peer AI champions, what makes an effective AI ambassador program, and why this approach works better than traditional training.📉 How to Communicate Layoffs with Empathy - Are we really laying off workers by text message? Research shows poorly handled layoffs result in 31% increased turnover and 74% productivity decline among remaining employees Best practices for delivering difficult news, supporting both departing and staying employees, and maintaining trust during workforce reductions in the AI era.🎉 Holiday Party Dos & Don'ts 2025 - Should you have a holiday party? YES! Essential etiquette rules, legal pitfalls to avoid, alcohol tips, and how to ensure your office party builds culture instead of creating HR nightmares.Join us for expert analysis on this pre-Thanksgiving edition of the Across the Bar Podcast and get the insight for a strong finish to 2025!

In this week's episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar explore the critical workplace trends that reveal where work culture and the economy are headed.📰 This Week's Topics:🗳️ Mamdani and your Workplace - What the election of NYC's new mayor Zohran Mamdani means for your workplace, and whether companies will really leave NYC. 👥 Male Affinity Groups Emerge - The surprising rise of men's vulnerability groups in workplaces. Why companies are creating safe spaces for men and what it means for workplace culture and DEI initiatives.🌯 Chipotle as Economic Canary - How Chipotle's struggles reveal deeper economic warning signs as customers aged 25-35 pull back spending. What this bellwether brand tells us about consumer confidence, wage pressures, and the two-speed economy affecting your workplace.Please listen to the Across the Bar Podcast as we discuss these topics and other issues impacting your workplace! Please watch, share and subscribe!