Honest HR

Work has never been busier — yet progress often feels elusive. Eric Martin, executive director of Blue Pinnacle Solutions, joins host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to unpack why meetings, hidden work, and outdated productivity norms are draining organizational capacity. Together, they explore how reclaiming capacity supports agility, focus, and performance — and what HR leaders can do to move from meas...

As the cost of living rises, employee financial wellness has become a growing concern for workers and a complex challenge for employers. Tyler Horn, Head of Planning at Origin and a Certified Financial Planner, joins host Monique Akanbi, SHRM-CP, to discuss how HR can approach financial wellness as an employee experience strategy while balancing organizational sustainability.  Subscribe to Honest...

HR is often seen as the people function, but the reality is far more complex. Warren Wang, founder of Double Fin, joins host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to unpack the hidden weight HR leaders carry as they balance trust, compliance, and business performance. Together, they dismantle outdated views of HR, showing how speaking the CHRO language — and aligning closely with finance — elevates credibility...

Employee perks are evolving beyond traditional benefits, with workers expecting more personalization, choice, and support than ever before. Jordan Peace, CEO and co-founder of employee experience platform Fringe, joins host Monique Akanbi, SHRM-CP, to explore how non-traditional perks, recognition programs, and employer-covered AI tools are reshaping the employee experience in 2026 and beyond. Lea...

Posting a job and waiting for candidates to apply is no longer enough in today’s competitive labor market. Tim Sackett, CEO of HRUTech.com, joins host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to explore how HR leaders can use creative sourcing strategies, social media, and networking to find top talent where it’s actually active. They dig into the uncomfortable realities of recruiting, how to attract culture-fit...

AI coaching is reshaping how employees learn, grow, and navigate their careers — but the real story is what it means for the humans at the center of it all. Theresa Fesinstine, AI educator and founder of peoplepower.ai, sits down with host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to explore how HR can use AI coaching to personalize development, support diverse learning styles, and make growth more accessible acro...

As businesses face faster timelines and shifting skill needs, flexible talent has become a core part of the modern workforce — not a backup plan. Sunita Solao, CPO of Upwork, the freelance marketplace to hire top talent, joins host Monique Akanbi, SHRM-SCP, to unpack what that shift means for HR pros, how organizations can use flexible talent strategically, and why freelancers and contractors are...

Updating your employee handbook isn’t just about compliance — it’s about connection. With major workplace law changes coming in 2026, now’s the time to refresh your policies. Kiri Grant from SHRM’s HR Product Solutions team joins host Monique Akanbi, SHRM-CP, to explain how HR professionals can get ahead of upcoming changes, make their handbooks more engaging, and use SHRM’s Employee Handbook Buil...

As politics continue to dominate the headlines, HR professionals find themselves on the front lines of free speech at work. Can employees be fired for expressing political opinions — or does the First Amendment protect them? Attorney Tom Spiggle joins host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to unpack the legal limits, HR policy challenges, and real-world scenarios workplaces must navigate when politics and...

Many employees juggle significant responsibilities beyond their professional roles. Those in the “sandwich generation” are balancing careers alongside caring for children and supporting aging parents, managing a complex and demanding load. Marvell Adams Jr., CEO of the Caregiver Action Network, speaks with host Marjorie Morrison to discuss the emotional and financial strains often faced by this gr...

When outdated leadership ideas linger, they don’t just slow progress — they shape how people think, act, and connect at work. Alex Haslam, co-author of “Zombie Leadership: Dead Ideas That Still Walk Among Us,” joins host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to uncover why these poor leadership practices keep coming back and what it takes to break the cycle. Together, they unpack the myths, behaviors, and cult...

As entry-level roles shrink, internships are filling the gap and reshaping how businesses grow talent. Ranked number one on Yello’s Top 100 Internship Programs of 2025, engineering consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., demonstrates how a well-designed program can fuel long-term success for both interns and employers. Lane Greene, Kimley-Horn’s college recruiting leader, joins host Nico...

This episode has been nominated for a 47th Annual People’s Telly Award! Cast your vote by April 17, 2026, now: https://peoples.tellyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/peoples-telly/general/online-series-shows-segments/quiet-cracking-the-silent-strain-thats-breaking-workplaces The silent threat in today’s workplaces isn’t people “quiet quitting,” or doing the bare minimum in their job. It’s employees wh...

Stay interviews go beyond job satisfaction surveys — they uncover why employees stick around, what frustrates them, and what might send them looking elsewhere. Carlyne Ervin, SHRM-CP and VP of HR at Chrysalis, a nonprofit removing barriers to work, joins host Monique Akanbi, SHRM-CP, to share how HR can make these proactive conversations meaningful to minimize the high expense of turnover. She als...

We’ve all heard it: coworkers sharing a little too much or swapping gossip while at the office. These behaviors can create tension, blur boundaries, and impact team dynamics. HR consultant Heidi Hartman, SHRM-SCP, sits down with Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to discuss practical strategies for guiding conversations, maintaining boundaries, and cultivating a respectful, authentic workplace.    This podc...

Over 70 million Americans have incarceration records that make finding work after serving time extremely difficult. In today’s tight labor market, overlooking this vital talent pool could be a costly mistake.   Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.) — now director of the Los Angeles County Justice, Care, and Opportunities Department — explains how HR teams can embrace second-chance hiring for these individ...

Amid today’s talent shortages, older workers remain one of the most overlooked sources of skill and experience. Isaac Agbeshie-Noye, Ed. D., of the SHRM Foundation joins Nicole Belyna to share how HR teams can overcome biases, engage older talent, and reimagine recruitment, retention, and development strategies for a rapidly growing segment of the workforce.   This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs...

Curiosity might be the spark your workplace is missing — the key to unlocking innovation, engagement, and even retention. Diane Hamilton, Ph. D., behavioral expert and creator of the Curiosity Code Index, joins host Monique Akanbi to dig into what blocks curiosity at work, how HR can turn it into a culture-shaping advantage, and why curiosity might just be the competency of the future. Expect fres...

Burnout is brewing, layoffs are looming, and AI is changing the game! SHRM’s Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Link, SHRM-SCP, sits down with host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, from his HR team for a candid conversation about the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s workplaces. From reductions in force to managing worker well-being to reimagining HR’s role in business risk, learn how HR can lea...

For anyone starting a new job, creating a sense of connection, culture, and belonging from day one can transform what was once a routine orientation into a powerful, lasting experience. Two leaders at Vanderbilt University — Joanna Echols, senior director of operational optimization, and Chance Ryon, operations services and solutions manager — share their bold reinvention of the institution’s onbo...

As immigration policies evolve and enforcement activity increases across organizations, I-9 and E-Verify compliance is more critical than ever. John Fay, immigration attorney and director of product strategy at Equifax Workforce Solutions, joins host Nicole Belyna to break down the latest updates to Form I-9, virtual verification, worksite enforcement, and what HR professionals need to know to pro...

What’s behind the changing priorities for an HR department of one in 2025? Jennifer Currence, senior partner at HR Soul Consulting, joins host Monique Akanbi, SHRM-CP, to break down the results of her annual survey of small business HR professionals. She reveals why organizational effectiveness surged to the top of the list, how business acumen is becoming essential for HR pros, and what’s driving...

Once seen as a bonus benefit, telehealth is now a vital part of any modern HR strategy. Teira Gunlock, CEO of First Stop Health, joins host Marjorie Morrison to explore how virtual health care is modernizing employee benefits. They dive into the pressing challenges HR teams face today — from rising healthcare costs to low employee engagement — and discuss how to strategically evaluate, implement,...

Imagine stacks of $100 bills stretching from Earth past the International Space Station — that’s the staggering reality of America’s $1.77 trillion student debt crisis. Heather Jarvis, executive director of Fosterus — a nonprofit that helps employers administer loan assistance programs — joins host Monique Akanbi to unpack how this burden affects today’s workforce and why employer-sponsored loan r...

Expert legal voices Amy Epstein Gluck, Esq., founding partner at Pierson Ferdinand LLP, and SHRM’s Allen Smith, J.D., share best practices in applying the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) across the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment to post-employment. Starting with their own personal experiences with managing a disability, they join host Monique Akanbi to tackle real HR dilemmas in c...