Bringing the Human back to Human Resources

This week's greatest hits replay features generational researcher Dr. Meghan Grace breaking down who Gen Z actually is, what drives them at work, and how leaders can better engage and retain them. Dr. Meghan Grace is a leading generational researcher, host of the Hashtag Gen Z podcast, and co-author of three books on Generation Z. She co-leads the Institute for Generational Research and Educat...

This week, Traci sits down with Brett Hoogeveen, co-founder of Better Culture, to pull apart what culture actually is, why perks and benefits aren't it, and what organizations can do right now to build something that lasts. Brett shares the philosophy behind Better Culture's 20 Tenets of Culture, a research-backed framework built around the attitudes and behaviors that define high-performi...

This week on a replay episode, Traci welcomes Bianca Best to discuss what actually stops burnout and why values alignment matters more than sleep, exercise, or vitamins. Bianca Best is a globally recognized speaker, author, and strategist whose career includes collaborations with Google, Amazon, Deloitte, Barclays, and Unilever. She's dedicated to empowering professionals to achieve extraordin...

This week on the Traci explores what it really means to be cynical at work with Hywel Berry , CEO and founder of Alicorn Learning. A veteran of corporate leadership, sales, and organizational training, Hywel challenges the narrative that cynicism is inherently toxic—and argues that some of the most valuable people in your organization might just be the ones asking tough questions. Throughout this...

This week, Traci welcomes Karen Worthy, an executive career transition coach who helps leaders accelerate their job search and land their dream roles often in half the time of their peers. Karen unpacks why building community and leveraging your network is the most powerful tool in your career transition toolkit. What We Cover: Your personal "champions list" and how it opens doors across companies...

This episode is all about taking control of your own career development instead of waiting for your manager to hand you opportunities. Traci shares personal lessons learned from influential leaders and her own journey as both an HR professional and podcast founder. You'll walk away understanding that career growth—whether vertical promotions or horizontal skill-building—is ultimately your resp...

Traci sits down with Chris Hamilton, a benefits consultant who specializes in helping employers cut through the noise of rising healthcare costs, to dig into what's really driving the hardest insurance market in 15 years.  If you sat through open enrollment this year wondering why insurance premiums jumped 20% when you thought it would be single digits, this episode reveals why—and what you ca...

Traci shares an exciting update about the podcast's production plans for 2026. What You'll Hear: A peek at the production schedule and what's planned for the coming months Why Policy Pulse episodes will return in the summer with new content An invitation to share what topics and guests you want to hear about A sneak peek at next week's episode on insurance and benefits Connect with...

This episode unpacks the real danger of a female-dominated profession being policed through male eyes, the seismic shift happening with NLRB independence, and what HR leaders need to prepare for as workplace regulation becomes a political ping-pong ball. Bryan breaks down why the next few years will be anything but predictable for your compliance calendar. What We Cover – The Michigan firefighter...

This week, Traci sits down for a solo catch-up to address the elephant in the room: the influx of obviously AI-generated resumes and job applications flooding inboxes. Plus, this is our last episode of 2025, so you won't want to miss this episode! What starts as a cautionary tale about resume fraud becomes a deeper conversation about reputation, confidence, and why the "spray and pray&quo...

Join Traci and Emily Erstad , author of It's Not That Deep , regional operations strategist, executive director in hospice, and soulful leadership coach, as they explore how to break free from the mental loops that keep us stuck—and still lead with heart. Spoiler alert: Being a deep thinker and deep feeler is a gift, but staying there indefinitely is the problem. Emily unpacks why so many high...

This week, Traci sits down with Dr. Greg Giuliano, founder of GA Ultra Leadership and executive coach to senior leaders worldwide. For nearly 30 years, Greg has been helping leaders understand that the way they lead directly impacts whether people show up engaged or just show up. Spoiler alert: That micromanaging leader you're frustrated with? Their anxiety is driving every decision—and you're pro...

This week, Traci connects with Renaud Delaquis, Head of Product Marketing at Coastline Academy, the nation's largest driving school scaling across 500+ cities. Spoiler alert: What if your biggest hiring problem was actually a revenue problem in disguise? When Renaud noticed a tiny dip in quality metrics—just 1%—he could've ignored it. Instead, he discovered something most marketing leaders...

This month's Policy Pulse episode with Traci and co-host Bryan Driscoll is packed with the compliance updates every HR leader needs heading into 2026. With new EEOC leadership officially in place, federal enforcement is shifting, state protections are becoming more critical, and workplace culture decisions are getting harder to navigate. Spoiler alert: You're about to feel major whiplash a...

This week, Traci welcomes Laura Tolhoek, founder and principal consultant at Essential HR, where she leads a team delivering clear, results-focused solutions to businesses facing HR challenges across Canada. With her CHRL designation and over 20 years of experience, Laura specializes in helping companies navigate the complex world of Canadian employment law. Laura has built her career guiding mana...

This week, Traci welcomed Wendy Sherry, Chief Executive Officer for Global Health Benefits within International Health at Cigna Healthcare, overseeing healthcare delivery to more than 3,700 clients in over 250 countries. With 30 years at Cigna spanning multiple leadership roles, Wendy is a strong advocate for inclusion and the advancement of women in leadership. She also serves as an advisor to He...

Join Traci and attorney Bryan Driscoll for this month's Policy Pulse episode covering the latest workplace regulations that demand your attention. Together they break down the DOL's new emergency pay ruling, a shocking discrimination lawsuit, California's pay transparency expansion, and Supreme Court cases that could reshape federal workplace regulation. Spoiler alert: Emergency pay ju...

Content Warning: This episode discusses pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death. Please take care of yourself if these topics are sensitive or triggering for you. This week, Traci tackles a topic that touches one in four pregnancies but remains largely invisible in workplace conversations: pregnancy and infant loss. A longtime listener and HR professional reached out to share her...

This week, Traci sits down with Tan Moorthy, CEO of Revature and accomplished business leader with over three decades of experience in the global IT services industry. After 23 years with Infosys—where he served as Executive Vice President across multiple functions including Head of Delivery Operations for US, Canada, and LATAM, Group Head of HR, and Global Head of Education—Tan now focuses on bri...

This week, Traci welcomes Kelly McGinnis, certified Gottman educator, emotion coach, and CEO of Incredible Family—an organization committed to unleashing potential in working parents through developing strengths. With over 20 years of experience educating and empowering families, Kelly shares her own journey through the abrupt transition to motherhood with three daughters and how it ignited her pa...

This week, Traci sits down with Scott Shickler, one of the world's leading experts on mindset-based empowerment and CEO of Seven Mindsets. Scott has interviewed billionaires, Olympic athletes, and celebrities (including an unforgettable three-hour dinner with Oprah Winfrey) to uncover what truly drives success. Spoiler alert: It's not talent, luck, or connections. It's mindset. Scott r...

In this month's Policy Pulse episode, Traci and Bryan explore the increasingly complex landscape of HR compliance across U.S. states and cities. With federal deregulation on one side and stricter state-level laws on the other, HR professionals are feeling the squeeze. They discuss how employers can stay compliant with an evolving "patchwork" of laws—from pay transparency and AI in hi...

In this deeply moving and eye-opening episode, Traci sits down with Matthew Megson, an HR professional and mental health advocate, to discuss how HR leaders can better support employees navigating mental health challenges.  With over 21 years in the field and personal experience living with bipolar disorder, Matthew brings a unique dual perspective, both as someone who has created accommodations a...

This week on Bringing the Human Back to Human Resources, we’re talking about what it really means to be the “shield” in HR, and how to protect yourself from burnout while doing it. Traci is joined by Lindsey Carnick, psychotherapist and founder of Onward Psychological Services, to unpack the emotional weight of HR, especially when you’re stuck between the needs of your company and the needs of you...

This week on Bringing the Human Back to Human Resources , we're shaking things up... literally. Traci is joined by Stefanie Adams, keynote speaker, author of Cheer Leadership , and Chief Empowerment Officer, to talk about how leaders can bring energy, trust, and humanity back into the workplace. With 20+ years of leadership experience and a background in cheerleading, Stefanie shares her power...