How to Spot (and Survive) a Toxic Boss with Mita Mallick

How to Spot (and Survive) a Toxic Boss with Mita Mallick

From Ambition 2.0 by Girlboss

May 12, 2026 · 43 min

About this episode

Amanda Goetz interviews Mita Mallick about identifying and surviving toxic bosses in the workplace.

You've probably had one. Maybe you even have one right now. And if Glassdoor data is anything to go by, you're far from alone—mentions of "toxic boss" in workplace reviews have surged 6.7x since 2018. 🤯 This week, Amanda Goetz sits down with Mita Mallick—bestselling author, workplace culture expert, and self-described recovering people pleaser—to talk about the bad bosses we've all worked for, the ones we've quietly become, and how to tell the difference. Mita's new book, The Devil Emails at Midnight, breaks down 13 archetypes of bad bosses (yes, they all have nicknames), and this conversation goes deep on the ones you'll recognize immediately—and the ones that are dangerously easy to miss. They get into why bad bosses are made, not born; what the midnight email really signals about a leader's psychology; and why toxic positivity might actually be the sneakiest trap for high-achieving women. Over 70% of workers say they've quit a job because of a bad boss. This episode is for everyone who has—and everyone who's still figuring out whether they should. Key Takeaways Bad bosses are made, not born. The sneakiest toxic boss, The Cheerleader. Demanding excellence and coaching…

People in this episode

Host: Amanda Goetz

Guest: Mita Mallick

Topics covered

  • toxic boss
  • workplace culture
  • leadership
  • self-awareness
  • employee retention

Keywords

  • toxic boss
  • workplace culture
  • leadership
  • employee retention
  • self-awareness
  • bad bosses
  • Mita Mallick

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Devil Emails at Midnight

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