Freedom of Work

80% of transformation programs fail - often because they overlook the human element. In this episode of Freedom of Work , Leah chats with independent program director Rita about how remote and distributed teams can lead transformation projects that actually stick. From radical transparency and agile pods to psychological safety and change agents, they explore what it really takes to build meaningf...

Structured games aren't just fun, they're powerful tools for uncovering how teams think, communicate, and collaborate. Alexandra Suchman , Co-Founder of Barometer XP, joins Leah our Host to explore how intentionally designed play can surface hidden patterns, build psychological safety, and drive meaningful team development. Drawing on real-life examples and insights from her work with global teams...

How can travel do more than move people - it can move culture, too? Leah, our Host, chats with Stephen from Roamr about shifting the mindset from travel as a perk to travel as a culture-building tool. They explore how distributed teams can build deeper connections, improve collaboration, and reduce travel costs - all while making remote work more human. What you'll learn: The difference between wo...

What if we could design our workdays to actually work for our brains? Leah sits down with Natalie Lineton, HR leader and neuroscience enthusiast, to unpack how brain science can help us build healthier, more productive workplaces. From fighting decision fatigue to fostering trust and psychological safety, this episode is packed with practical, brain-friendly tips for leaders, people teams, and cur...

Join host Leah Cottham as we ditch the dull and dive into the art of remote connection. We'll explore: What does belonging look like in a global team? Why do some teams struggle, and how can you turn stumbles into success? Discover fun strategies, from Slack coffee bots to emoji check-ins, that bridge distances and foster genuine inclusion. Learn to create those crucial "water cooler moments" that...

Welcome back to  Freedom of Work, the podcast by RemoFirst where we explore the evolving world of global hiring and what it means for modern HR and People leaders. In this episode, Leah is joined by Fernando, one of RemoFirst's Senior Account Executives, who spends his days speaking with HR and People teams around the world. As the first point of contact for many companies navigating the complexit...

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is more than a standalone initiative—it's a strategic lever for driving innovation, alignment, and growth in remote-first and global organizations. In this episode of the Freedom of Work podcast, host Leah Cottham is joined by Anthony Vaughan, from Boundless and the E1B2 Collective podcast, to dive deep into how leaders can weave DEI into the very DNA of thei...

We explore how innovative recognition and feedback practices can truly drive employee engagement. Joined by Mike from iVendi, we dive into the importance of making engagement programs personal, meaningful, and ongoing—rather than just another checkbox exercise. Mike shares insights on the Extra Mile Awards , a unique recognition program that celebrates employees for going above and beyond. We also...

There's more to global benefits than just checking boxes. Leah, our Host of the Freedom of Work podcast, sat down with Ashley, a People Partner who focuses on creating global benefits packages for remote start-ups. In this episode, we explore the strategy of creating worldwide perks that genuinely resonate with diverse cultures and produce tangible business results. We'll question common assumptio...

HR is no longer just about policies and paperwork - it's transforming into a strategic, people-first function. In this episode, Leah chats with Jag, a PeopleOps Leader and Founder with over a decade of experience scaling high-growth startups and the founder of HLSTK LABS . We explore the evolution from traditional HR to People Ops, the key drivers of this shift (remote work, employee expectations,...

Employer branding is more important than ever - especially in a remote-first world where candidates can work from anywhere. But how do you build a brand that attracts top talent globally? In this episode, Leah Cottham our Host at RemoFirst breaks down what makes a strong employer brand in a distributed workforce, how companies can adapt to the shift from traditional to remote-first branding, and t...

Introducing the Freedom of Work Podcast! Freedom of Work is for HR and people teams, founders, or anyone looking to better prepare for the future of work. You'll find engaging discussions with experts and leaders on navigating the day-to-day experience of global hiring, what the future of work may look like, and how flexible work is changing the game. We'll dive deep into various topics around rem...