I Hate It Here

I hate to say it, but your “amazing culture” might be a lie. Today, Latesha Byrd and I are ripping off the culture band-aid to expose what’s actually happening in your org! You know the drill: shiny values on the wall that nobody abides by, all-hands full of empty promises, and that lovely gaslighty feeling when leadership says “we’re family” but acts like a toxic ex. We’re explaining why “bring y...

Look, I’ll be honest: most “leadership experts” lowkey make me want to throw my laptop into a pool.  But Dr. Matt Poepsel? This man’s the REAL DEAL! Marine veteran, Ironman triathlete, PhD in psychology, and the actual godfather of talent optimization (no, really, he wrote the book on it)!  So when he says leadership today is broken, you listen. Today, we’re dragging egos, calling out the “hero le...

Whether we like it or not, office politics are an unavoidable part of corporate life. But don’t worry—you’re in for a TREAT today because one of my absolute favorite humans, Jessica Winder, is back on the pod, and we’re diving into the BS of corporate life in detail!  You know, the kind where you’re expected to read minds, kiss ass, and perform miracles while leadership acts like promotions are so...

This should come as no surprise anymore, but your employees aren’t just asking for certainty these days, they’re BEGGING for it!  And yet, most workplaces still operate like a Magic 8 Ball: "Ask again later," "Outlook not so good," and my personal favorite, "Cannot predict now." Cool, cool.  So why do we keep acting shocked when people quit over unclear expectations, bad leadership, and the soul-c...

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: MONEY. 💸 And who better to talk about money with than compensation guru Matt McFarlane? In this episode, we’re ripping apart everything you think you know about fair pay.  Why do employees feel stiffed? Are pay gaps accidental or systemic? And why the hell is talking about salary still taboo? We’ll also be discussing why fair pay is still a myth at most...

Let’s get one thing straight: People Leaders are tired of companies pretending they care about equity while quietly rolling back DEI initiatives and gaslighting employees into thinking they’re the problem.  So I brought in someone I admire DEEPLY, Cierra Gross, Founder of Caged Bird HR and Wrk Receipts, to drag corporate America’s favorite lies—and yes, it got spicy! We’re discussing why “accounta...

Employees aren’t just asking for feedback—they’re begging for it.  So why are we still serving them stale, twice-a-year performance reviews like it’s 1999? This week, I’m sitting down with Jessica DeVlieger to unpack why your team is secretly screaming, “Just tell me if I’m doing a good job!”—and how leaders keep missing the mark. We’re digging into: 🔥 Why employees ALWAYS know who’s underperform...

Let’s talk about fairness—or, more accurately, let’s talk about how your company is probably failing at it! You know the drill: the ‘neutral’ policies that somehow always disadvantage the same people, the DEI initiatives that start and end with a Slack emoji, the performance reviews that feel more like a lottery than actual feedback.  This week, Zach Nunn (founder of Living Corporate and certified...

I’m back in your ears with another banger of an episode, and this one’s the season finale! I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap things up than by geeking out with my incredibly impressive friend Jeet Mukerji, co-founder and CEO of Kinfolk. Whether you’re an AI skeptic or a full-on tech enthusiast, there is a lot of food for thought to digest. Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your...

I’ve been on a mission this season to learn something new in every episode, and today?  Buckle up, because we’re diving into the world of investing and retirement planning—and I promise, it’s way more interesting than it sounds! It’s also an incredibly important topic that not enough people in our roles are talking about at length. Unfortunately, financial stress is the #1 stressor for most people...

Recruiting is rough right now. Job seekers are frustrated, recruiters are overwhelmed, and everyone’s wondering, “Is it just me, or is this whole system broken?”  In this episode, I sit down with Kiersten Greggs, founder of Trap Recruiter and a 24-year recruiting veteran, to unpack the chaos.  Kiersten pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening in today’s job market, why recruiters are the...

Work is changing FAST.  Between global pandemics, remote work, and the Great Reshuffle, it’s no wonder we’re all feeling a little unhinged! Nothing like building a deep work connection to help you adjust to it all, eh? That’s why this week’s episode is a fun (slightly wild) ride with Chris Hagood, CEO of AstutEdge and all-around HR powerhouse.  We’re covering everything from the role of work frien...

There’s more to people than what you see when they show up for work.  Stories matter because we are in the age of radical authenticity and transparency. Exciting? Yes! Challenging? Also yes. Torrin Ellis, a powerhouse in recruitment, talent development, and operationalizing diversity and inclusion is here to break it all down!  We’ll unpack Torrin’s latest report, Reducing Bias in HR Using AI, and...

There's so much we can learn from the sports that we love. So lace up your sneakers and pull up your socks, because this episode is a full-court press of insights, laughs, and way too many basketball metaphors! Today, Chris Henrichs is giving a masterclass on how the lessons from the court can transform the way we think about HR, leadership, and building a workplace that doesn’t just survive, but...

On today’s episode, you’re going to hear one word a million times… And that is strategic. Let’s be real, we’ve all heard the word “strategic” thrown around a million times, but what does it ACTUALLY mean? And why does it feel like everyone has a different definition?  It’s probably because they do.  Joining me today is the incredible Morgan Williams, CEO and founder of Peak HR. Morgan’s resume is...

Today we’re going to embrace the messy, imperfect, and downright hilarious side of learning from making mistakes. Kim has seen it all, done it all, and definitely messed it all up a few times too! It’s part of the growth process, as you know. From compensation catastrophes to performance management mishaps, she has the stories (and the scars) to prove that sometimes, the best lessons come from the...

Want to know what’s at the heart of every successful organization? Connection, gifting, recognition, and appreciation! All four of these are so core to making somebody feel seen and heard at work. So in today’s episode, we're discussing connection-building because let's face it, loneliness is hitting hard and it's an epidemic that is creeping into our workplaces.  Join me and Ross Langley from Sna...

If there is one silver bullet for connecting with other people, it’s storytelling! Last episode, my friend Georgia Clark and I unpacked the lessons HR can glean from romance novels about character development and storytelling.  Today, I’m pushing that conversation forward with Tara Turk-Haynes. Tara isn't just any guest—she’s a powerhouse in talent acquisition, employee engagement, and DEI, with a...

Beyond the typical day-to-day activities in HR… I’m just a mega-dorknerd with a fierce love for books, especially when they whisk me away to worlds filled with fantasy, sci-fi, and heart-stirring romance! And today, we're exploring how the twists and turns of romance novels can actually offer fascinating insights into HR.  I'm thrilled to have Georgia Clark with us to guide us through these narrat...

Welcome to a brand new season of the podcast, where I’m flipping the script and diving deep into more diverse topics! I’ll be challenging myself (and my guests) to rethink what we think we know about the world of work, and how seemingly unrelated topics still tie back to HR. Today, we’ve got the one and only Sarika Lamont, aka my Comp Guru Queen, joining us! If you want to understand pay transpare...

As we wrap up 2024, it's time to start thinking ahead to 2025—and let’s be honest, it’s about time we take our place as the experts in the room.  From fixing the broken candidate experience to building stronger bridges with other teams, it’s time for HR to show up and show out! This episode features a series of friends/leaders sharing their bold wishes for the future, and why 2025 is our year to m...

As People Leaders, we love our people, but sometimes we miss how the two worlds of business strategy and people strategy need to work together to drive results.  Joining me is the brilliant Halai Shukran, COO at Pluribus Digital, who’s built her career around understanding exactly how people and business strategy intersect. From leading talent functions to overseeing operations, IT, and comms, Hal...

If HR should be anything it’s these two things: creative and curious. This week’s guest is as delicious as the bagels her company makes (and that’s saying something).  Nikki Rappaport, Chief People Officer at Call Your Mother—aka my go-to for stress-eating bagels—is here to share her creativity and wisdom! With a decade of experience in creative marketing and employee experience design, Nikki shar...

Ever feel like recruiting is just herding cats—or maybe gremlins?  And job searching? Let's call it what it is these days: a special kind of torture. In this episode, I’ve rounded up some previous guests and we’re tackling the dual headache of being a recruiter and a job seeker in today’s chaotic market! With 2025 shaping up as the “Year of the Personal Brand,” we’re dishing out the tea on trust,...

Hot take: Nobody is inherently a good leader. Being a leader is a learned skill. What does it really take to be a good leader?  It’s not about being perfect, having all the answers, or walking in like a natural-born boss! Leadership is messy, vulnerable, and learned.  In this episode, my unofficial co-host (and leadership guru) Jessica Winder is back to break it all down.  We talk about why vulner...