Exploring Severance and Beyond: A Deep Dive with Allen Stare

In this episode, Vanessa Gorelkin and Allen Stare, creator of the acclaimed Severed: The Ultimate Severance Podcast and host of the brand new (as of February 2026) Hello Carol: The Ultimate Plur1bus Podcast spend time exploring themes of work-life balance and corporate satire.

Vanessa and Allen do some behind-the-scenes storytelling about what makes Severance such a phenomenon—plus listeners gain insights into Allen’s passion for deep analysis, storytelling, and his latest projects. Hello Carol: The Ultimate Plur1bus podcast being his newest endeavor into ultimate rewatch territory.

Key Topics:

• The origins and creative process behind AppleTV's Severance and its thematic depth
• How corporate culture and identity resonate with audiences
• The role of humor and satire in dark, heavy series like Severance
• Allen’s deep research techniques, including identifying Easter eggs and production details
• The inspiration and influence of Office Space, Breaking Bad, and other pop culture on Allen’s podcasts
• Practical advice on maintaining work-life balance and finding joy in hobbies that spill over into work
• The importance of detail-oriented viewing and enjoying media on a layered level
• Behind the scenes stories from production, including script insights and casting details
• The cultural commentary on employee identity and corporate control in modern workplaces
• How Allen’s podcasts serve as love letters to storytelling and analytical engagement

Resources

• Hello Carol - The Ultimate Pluribus Podcast by Allen Stare
• Severed: The Ultimate Severance Podcast by Allen Stare
• Apple TV+ Severance: https://tv.apple.com/show/severance
• The Matrix (1999):
• Office Space (1999)
• Sandy Pony Donuts: https://sandypony.com

Allen Stares shares a passion for storytelling, detailed analysis, and connecting with audiences over themes of work and identity. His podcasts go beyond surface-level critique, offering a richly layered exploration of beloved series and their cultural impact. Whether you’re a Severance fan or just love deep dives into media, Allen’s work enriches understanding and sparks curiosity. Get busy taking a listen to Hello Carol: the Ultimate Plur1bus Podcast-- you won't be sorry.

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If you'd like to read about Vanessa's background, treatment perspective and techniques, or other handy information about her practice, check out her Psychology Today profile here:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/vanessa-gorelkin-scottsdale-az/809467