Jessica Childress, a lawyer, author, and workplace culture expert, returns to the show for a deeper look at what toxic workplaces really do to people on the inside. Not the office politics. The quiet internal damage that slowly strips away confidence, identity, and direction.

We discuss real-life examples, including the subtle red flags people often ignore, the way self-doubt takes hold, and why so many capable professionals stay long after the job has started to break them. We also explore the practical tools that help you recognise when staying is doing more harm than good, and the steps people take to rebuild their sense of self once they finally leave.

A grounded and honest conversation for anyone who feels worn down, stuck, or unsure whether the problem is the workplace or the voice inside their own head. If you are trying to find your way back to yourself, this episode will give you clarity, language, and direction.

Thanks for listening to Peace at the Water Cooler.

Conflict doesn’t fix itself, but it can shift, with the right conversation. If you’ve got a story, a question, or a workplace dilemma you'd like me to explore, connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email at (saranne@segalconflictsolutions.com.au)

That smirk? That "accidental" oversight? That email CC’d to your boss for "visibility"? Yep, we’re talking about passive-aggression, and it’s everywhere.

In this episode of Peace at the Water Cooler, Saranne Segal delves into one of the most maddening (yet maddeningly common) behaviours in the modern workplace: passive aggression. It’s subtle. It’s slippery. It’s usually delivered with a smile. And if you’ve ever worked with someone who says “no offence” right before deeply offending you, congrats, you’ve met Trevor. (More on him inside.)

From sighs, eye-rolls and weaponised politeness to mysteriously forgotten deadlines and oh-so-polite sabotage, Saranne unpacks why passive-aggression isn’t just irritating. It’s corrosive. And if left unchecked, it can quietly unravel even the most functional of teams.

Expect:

• Real stories from the conflict resolution trenches, including a Trevor who turned a training session into a slow-burning nightmare
• Insight into why passive-aggression is rarely about the task and almost always about unspoken emotion
• Practical, no-nonsense strategies to deal with it without losing your cool or your credibility
• Tips on setting boundaries, staying neutral, and not taking the bait when the sarcasm starts flying

You’ll hear how vague sabotage got called out with clarity, how a quietly undermining colleague was confronted with calm professionalism, and why the smartest move is sometimes refusing to play the game at all.

So if you're managing a team, stuck in a toxic loop, or simply trying to get through a meeting without plotting revenge over spreadsheets, this one's for you.

🔈 Tune in. Laugh. Learn. And get ready to outwit the most maddeningly "polite" people in your workplace.

Thanks for listening to Peace at the Water Cooler.

Conflict doesn’t fix itself, but it can shift, with the right conversation. If you’ve got a story, a question, or a workplace dilemma you'd like me to explore, connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email at (saranne@segalconflictsolutions.com.au)

It started with chocolate on the couch and The Good Wife on the TV. One fictional mediation scene later, I was Googling courses and rethinking my entire legal career.

When a fictional lawyer sparked a very real career pivot, I had no idea it would lead me from the courtroom to the mediation room. In this season opener, I share the story behind that shift: from practising family law to becoming a full-time mediator, and the surprising moments that reshaped how I understand conflict, especially at work.

There’s the team leader who wore sunglasses indoors and channelled full Jack Nicholson energy, a colleague clutching a plastic brain stress ball, and some tough conversations that never made it into any training manual.

More importantly, I unpack two things I’ve learned about workplace conflict - insights that can help anyone trying to repair a fractured working relationship, rebuild trust, or move a difficult dynamic forward.

This episode is for anyone navigating conflict and looking for a way through.

Thanks for listening to Peace at the Water Cooler.

Conflict doesn’t fix itself, but it can shift, with the right conversation. If you’ve got a story, a question, or a workplace dilemma you'd like me to explore, connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email at (saranne@segalconflictsolutions.com.au)