The Biological Case for Crying at Work: The Deep Dive

This week, Alex and Emily are discussing one of the most uniquely human behaviors, emotional crying, and what it means for leaders in high-pressure environments. They explore the fascinating science behind tears, including why humans are the only species that cries from emotion, the three different types of tears and what each serves, and the evolutionary purpose of weeping.

The conversation takes a personal turn as they unpack Julien’s experience crying at work from overwhelming joy when a project finally succeeded, and contrast that with the tears that came during his breakdown at Fort Lauderdale Airport. They examine the research on whether crying at work helps or hurts your career (spoiler: it’s complicated), why some people cry when sad, others when angry, and still others—like Julien—when overwhelmed by positive emotions. The episode wraps with an honest look at the cathartic effects of tears and why giving ourselves permission to be human might be one of the most important things leaders can do.