Dropbox's Remotely Curious

I joined the Remotely Curious podcast from Dropbox to explore why rituals are essential for work, especially in a remote-first world. In this episode, I spoke with rituals scholar Casper Ter Kuile about how intentional, repeatable acts create structure, meaning, and connection in teams, even when we’re not in the same physical space.

When the workplace went virtual in 2020, many of the rituals that kept teams feeling connected—morning coffee chats, Friday wrap-ups, team lunches—suddenly disappeared. Without these built-in moments, collaboration became more transactional, and engagement suffered. Rebuilding rituals for the remote workplace isn’t just about maintaining productivity; it’s about preserving culture, creativity, and well-being.

In the episode, we explore:

• The difference between rituals, habits, and routines, and why rituals have deeper meaning
• The three core ingredients of a ritual—intention, attention, and repetition
• How to spot rituals in everyday work moments and be more intentional about designing them
• Why rituals in remote work require more creativity and flexibility but are even more important for connection
• How structured rituals create more freedom by providing rhythm and predictability

One of my favorite takeaways from this conversation is that rituals don’t have to be grand or complex to be powerful. A simple check-in question at the start of a meeting, a weekly moment of gratitude, or a shared team playlist can all serve as meaningful rituals that reinforce values, strengthen relationships, and bring a sense of belonging to virtual teams.

If you’re looking to build stronger team culture in a remote world, I encourage you to listen to the full conversation. Remotely Curious is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or you can listen here.