Dr. Caroline Leaf Podcast

Is return to office really about “culture”—or is it quietly draining families, energy, and trust?In this episode, I unpack what’s actually happening in your mind and brain when RTO policies shrink your choices, stretch your days, and turn Sunday nights into dread. You’ll learn why lost autonomy registers as threat, how that shows up as jaw tension, irritability, and exhaustion, and why none of this makes you weak or “not a team player”—it makes you human.We’ll walk through the science of motivation (autonomy, competence, and connection), allostatic load, and how your brain’s stress chemistry changes when your work rhythm stops matching your life rhythm. Then I’ll show you how to use the 5-step Neurocycle to translate “return to office rage” into practical redesigns: small, repeatable choices that protect family rituals, restore a sense of control, and rebuild culture based on trust instead of attendance. This episode is for parents, new grads, managers, and leaders who feel torn between policy and people