HR Happy Hour Network

Why Gen Z is Rethinking Careers: The Rise of Skilled Trades Hosts:  Jack McFarlane  and  Nicholas Schlemmer Guest: Jake Adams, Journeyman Carpenter   Summary In this episode of  The Play by Play Podcast , Jack McFarlane and Nick Schlemmer revisit the world of blue-collar work with returning guest Jake Adams, a journeyman carpenter who first joined the show at the beginning...

Leadership in the AI Era: How Great Managers Create Clarity Through Change Host:  Steve Boese  and  Trish Steed Guest:  Ben Brooks , Founder & CEO at  PILOT   Summary On this episode of  At Work in America , Steve Boese and Trish Steed welcome leadership expert and Pilot founder Ben Brooks for a timely conversation on leading through uncertainty. As AI, econo...

Building a Culture of Innovation: What Leaders Get Wrong Hosts:  Mervyn Dinnen Guest:  Cris Beswick  - Leadership, culture, and innovation expert   Summary On this episode of  HR Means Business , Mervyn is joined by leadership, culture, and innovation expert Chris Beswick to challenge one of business's most misunderstood concepts: innovation. Together, they explore why inn...

HR Keeps Inheriting Everyone Else’s Problems Host:  Sabrina Baker   Summary If no one owns it, HR gets it. That's not a bandwidth problem, it's an ownership boundary problem. And they require completely different solutions. In this episode, Sabrina Baker breaks down why unowned work keeps landing on HR's plate and how HR's own greatest strength — operating in ambiguity — works again...

Why AI Transformation Requires a New People Strategy Host:  Steve Boese   Guest:  Ravin Jesuthasan , Global Transformation Leader & Partner at Mercer   Summary On this episode of  At Work in America , Steve Boese is joined by Ravin Jesuthasan to discuss why successful AI transformation requires more than simply deploying new technology. Drawing from Mercer’s...

The Executive Athlete Mindset: Why Recovery Drives Better Performance Host:  Steve Boese  and  Trish Steed Guest:  Nicole Elizabeth Ward , AON Executive Leader & Performance Strategist   Summary On this episode of  At Work in America , Steve Boese and Trish Steed are joined by author, executive leader, and performance strategist Nicole Elizabeth Ward to explore wh...

The World Cup of Business Hosts:  Jack McFarlane  &  Nick Schlemmer   Summary Join this episode of The Play By Play, where hosts Jack McFarlane and Nick Schlemmer walk through an engaging and humorous simulation of the World Cup of Business, where major tech companies compete in a virtual tournament filled with strategic moves, AI-powered tactics, and industry insights. Dis...

Workplace Movie Hall of Fame - Devil Wears Prada 2 Host:  Steve Boese  and  Trish Steed   Summary On this episode of  At Work in America , Steve Boese and Trish Steed are back with another workplace movie hall of fame episode! They explore the themes of the new 'Devil Wears Prada 2' movie, its reflection on the modern workplace, AI's impact, and gender dynamics in leadersh...

Making AI Matter: Leadership, Culture, and the Future of Hiring Hosts:  Mervyn Dinnen Guest: Matt Alder, Talent Acquisition Strategist   Summary In this episode of the  HR Means Business  podcast, Mervyn hosts Matt Alder to discuss the current state and future of AI in HR. The conversation focuses on recruitment, candidate experience, and organizational readiness. Listen in to...

Revolutionizing Women's Health in the Workplace Host:  Steve Boese  and  Trish Steed Guest:  Susan Thomas , Chief Commercial Officer at Lucy Rx   Summary On this episode of  At Work in America , Steve Boese and Trish Steed are joined by Susan Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at  Lucy Rx , to explore why women’s health is becoming a critical workforce and business...

Global Hiring in 2026 : New Roles, New Technology, and New Challenges Host: Steve Boese and Trish Steed Guest: Lauren Thomas , Labor Economist at Deel Summary On this episode of the HR Happy Hour , Steve Boese and Trish Steed are joined by Lauren Thomas to discuss into the evolving landscape of global labor markets. They explore the role of technology and the emerging opportunities in AI-related r...

The Sacred Cow Problem: When Founders Protect the Wrong People Host:  Sabrina Baker   Summary For people managing HR in a company of 1–500 employees, sacred cows aren't just frustrating — they're destabilizing. This episode is about what happens when leadership protects the wrong person and HR is expected to clean it up. Sabrina breaks down why this is misdiagnosed as a performance probl...

Agentic AI Meets HR: Paychex Introduces WISE for SMBs Host: Steve Boese and Trish Steed Guest: Ryan Bergstrom , Chief Product Officer at Paychex Summary On this episode of At Work in America , Steve Boese and Trish Steed are joined by Ryan Bergstrom to discuss the launch of Paychex Wise AI and what it means for the future of payroll, HR, and workforce technology. The conversation explores how AI i...

From Data to Dialogue: Building a Listening Organization Hosts:  Mervyn Dinnen Guest:  Nick Court , CEO at the People Experience Hub   Summary In this episode of the  HR Means Business  podcast, Mervyn hosts Nick Court to explore how organizations can move beyond mere data collection to become truly listening entities that understand, respond, and evolve with their employe...

AI in HR: Driving Adoption, Impact, and Real Results Host:  Steve Boese  and  Trish Steed Guest:  Tony Truong , VP of People Strategy at  Chime   Summary On this episode of  At Work in America , Steve and Trish are joined by Tony Truong from Chime to explore putting AI into practice across people operations, and reshaping how HR teams recruit, support employees,...

The Future of Work: AI and Gen Z in HR Hosts:  Jack McFarlane  &  Nick Schlemmer   Summary In this episode of The Play By Play, hosts Jack McFarlane and Nick Schlemmer talk about the evolution of AI in HR. They explore how AI is transforming HR practices, from recruitment to employee development, and how Gen Z's values are shaping the future workplace. Discover the latest t...

Inside the Pay Gap: What’s Changing for Women at Work Host:  Steve Boese Guest:  Noreen Farrell , Executive Director at  Equal Rights Advocates   Summary On this episode of  At Work in America , Steve is joined by Noreen Farrell from Equal Rights Advocates to break down what’s really happening with pay equity, transparency, and workplace fairness right...

Why Intergenerational Conversations Matter at Work Hosts:  Mervyn Dinnen Guest:  Danielle Farage   Summary In this episode of the  HR Means Business  podcast, Mervyn hosts Danielle Farage to explore the complexities of intergenerational and multi-generational workforces. They discuss how understanding, curiosity, and open dialogue can bridge gaps, foster collaboration, and...

Mastering Disruption: Strategies for Leading in Rapid Change Host:  Steve Boese Guest:  Patrick Leddin , NYT Best-selling Author on Business and Leadership   Summary On this  At Work in America  episode, Steve met with leadership expert Patrick Leddin to discuss how to manage disruption and change in organizations. They emphasize the importance of strategic discernment, co...

The Operating System Small Business HR Was Never Taught Hosts:  Sabrina Baker  and  Marie Rolston   Summary In this episode of  HR Connection  Sabrina Baker and Marie Ralston explore how small HR teams can manage chaos through a triage system called “Ready Mode.” They share practical strategies, including color-coded prioritization and intentional boundary-setting, to...

Ultimate Business Efficiency: Entrepreneurship Hosts:  Jack McFarlane  &  Nick Schlemmer Guest:  John Baldino , President of Humareso   Summary In this episode of The Play By Play, hosts Jack McFarlane and Nick Schlemmer dive into enterpreneurship. John Baldino shares his journey from HR to founding his own company, emphasizing the importance of experience, resilience,...

The System of Execution: What's Next in Enterprise Technology Hosts:  Steve Boese  &  Trish Steed Guest:  Chris Leone , EVP/GM AI Agents + Oracle Human Capital Management & Supply Chain Management & Customer Experience Clouds   Summary Welcome back to the  System of Record ! This episode features Chris Leone from Oracle discussing the evolution of enterpri...

Replay: The ROI of Kindness in the Workplace Hosts:  Steve Boese  &  Trish Steed Guest:  Tara May , CEO of  Aspiritech   Summary On this  At Work in America  episode, Trish and Steve sat down with Tara May, CEO of Aspiritech, a nonprofit with 95% autistic employees, to discuss neurodiversity and the ROI of kindness. Tara shared her journey into neurodive...

What AI and Economic Shocks Mean for Work in Europe Hosts:  Mervyn Dinnen Guest:  Julius Probst , Senior Economist at  Appcast   Summary In this episode of the  HR Means Business  podcast, Mervyn explores the latest European labor market trends with Julius Probst, Senior Economist at Appcast. Together, they cover economic shocks, AI impact, wage dynamics, and strategi...

Mastering Influence in Small Business HR: 4 Proven Strategies Hosts: Sabrina Baker and Marie Rolston Summary This episode of HR Connection isolates the core constraint in small business HR: lack of influence. Workload is misdiagnosed as the problem; it is the downstream effect. The discussion breaks down why HR is structurally positioned to be ignored in SMBs and outlines specific behavioral shift...