Listen and LERn: The LER Podcast

On May 23rd, Reese Hogan takes you behind the scenes of her first week as an HRBP Intern with PepsiCo (Frito-Lay) in St. Louis, MO! She reflects on key experiences from attending the PepsiCo North America People’s Conference, sitting in on grievance meetings, and going on a route ride with a Frito-Lay Route Sales Specialist (RSS). In addition, she also provides a recap of the  “Tools to Prep for Y...

On April 29th, Reese Hogan was joined by her classmates - Destiny Ortega, Alessandra Beth Kurian, and Ava Charity - from Professor Riordan’s  LER 542: Collective Bargaining  course. The group discussed the case study they developed throughout the semester. Together, they explored the role of LiUNA (Laborers' International Union of North America) as a construction union, examined the broader hi...

On March 5th, Reese Hogan sat down with Maddie Wilson, Assistant Director of Student Recruitment and Strategic Outreach, to share everything a prospective student needs to know about the School of Labor and Employment Relations. Maddie provided an overview of the MHRIR, Online MHRIR, and PhD programs. They highlight key opportunities across each path - from hands-on recruitment experiences to care...

In this episode, Reese Hogan sits down with her classmates - Lucy Moss, Tamia Roberts, and Lauren Meier - about their LER trip to Seattle, WA, in January 2026. They talk about what they learned from meeting with HR professionals at Boeing, the University of Washington, Amazon, and Zillow, as well as some of their favorite moments exploring the city. The students also share why this trip is such a...

In this episode, Reese Hogan introduces herself as the new podcast host of  Listen and LERn . She briefly discusses her upbringing as a military child in the southern outer banks of North Carolina, moving to the Midwest, what to expect on the podcast this semester, and her love for the School of Labor and Employment Relations. Please reach out to her at reesech2@illinois.edu with any comments or t...

When fall graduation was approaching in December, Neenah, Eva, and the rest of their cohort were gearing up to transition from student life to full-time HR professionals. In this final episode of the season, they sit down with former host Amy, who shares insights from her own recent move into the workforce. She talks about relocating to a new city, building strong relationships with her team, and...

In this episode, Neenah and Eva sit down with Augustus Wood, Assistant Professor in the Labor Education Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Originally from Atlanta Georgia, Dr. Gus Wood reflects on how his upbringing shaped his commitment to labor studies and organizing. He shares insights on labor organizing. community resistance, and the importance of centering how people liv...

In this episode, Neenah sits down with Maddie Wilson, the new Assistant Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach at LER. A proud Champaign native, Maddie reflects on her previous roles in higher education, her journey back to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and her passion for helping students find their path in the world of labor and employment relations.

To kick off the semester, Neenah and Eva welcome Jacque and Jacobi to share insights from their summer internships across the CPG, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. They discuss key learnings, challenges, and advice on overcoming imposter syndrome, finding community, and making the most of your summer experience.

In this episode, Neenah and Eva sit down with Seth Harris to share his insights on labor, employment relations, public policy, and the future of work. He discusses his vast experiences working in labor throughout three presidential administrations and how this has shaped his vision for the future of labor. He highlights his current work illuminating labor via blogcast  Power at Work , which can be...

In today's episode, Eva and Neenah welcome Jen Tiner, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of Highridge Medical. Jen shares insights into a day in the life of a CHRO and her journey to the role. She also highlights how labor and employment work vary across industries, company sizes, and countries. Whether you're dreaming of a C-suite role or just curious about the world of HR, this conversatio...

In this episode, Neenah and Eva welcome Elizabeth Kerwin, a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and an LER alum. Elizabeth shares her journey to discovering her passion for public service and offers valuable advice for those interested in a similar path. She provides an insider’s perspective on the NLRB, walks listeners through a typical day in her role, and discusses ho...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the annual LER TraveLER trip, an incredible opportunity for students to gain firsthand exposure to the HR field. This year’s trip took participants to Houston, Texas, where they explored various industries and connected with professionals in the field. Joining us are Kathy Chen and Connor Milton, two students who attended the trip. They share their experiences,...

In this episode, Anthony and Amy sit down with Kate Friedman to discuss her journey into the energy industry, what sets it apart from other sectors, and her experience interning at an energy company this summer. Kate also shares how she adapted to life in Houston and built a sense of community. We also reflect on our time at LER, sharing key takeaways and favorite memories from the program. Be sur...

In today's episode, we're joined by Jason Greer, MHRIR '02, the CEO of Greer Consulting, Inc., and widely recognized as "The Employee Whisperer." With his expertise in employee and labor relations, as well as diversity and inclusion, Jason shares valuable insights on the impact of an MHRIR degree and how to leverage it for career success. He also dives into the concept of "owning your brand"- expl...

In this episode, Amy chats with Linda Larsen, Associate Director of Research, and Richard Benton, Executive Director of the Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) about how CJI started, their passion for clean energy research, and the work their team is doing to support Illinois’ clean energy transition. Through research rooted in climate and economic justice, CJI envisions a clean energy future where worke...

Join hosts Amy and Anthony as they dive into the intricate world of where HR meets the legal system in this episode featuring Professor Michael LeRoy. A proud University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduate, Professor LeRoy brings a wealth of knowledge from his law studies at the University of North Carolina and his experience teaching law courses at both the School of Law and the LER program at...

In today's episode, Anthony and Amy are joined by Daniel Echeverria, a summer intern at Abbvie who will be returning full-time after graduation, and Erin Melrose, MHRIR '23, who changed careers from teaching to HR, interned at UHG and is now in her first full-time rotation at the company. They discuss their journeys to LER, what drew them to the healthcare industry, and how working in healthcare d...

In this episode, Amy and Anthony welcome guests Scottley Leddy and Jose Chavez to discuss their career transitions from teaching to human resources. Scottley taught Spanish for six years, while Jose taught History for one year before making the switch to HR. They share their reasons for changing careers, the transferable skills from teaching that have helped them in HR, and how LER has supported t...

In this episode, join Amy as she discusses with guest Morgan Stromberg about why she chose LER as an out-of-state student, her experience in the LER program, building community in Illinois, and advice for out-of-state students taking the leap to move states and pursue their Master's degree.

To kick off the semester, Anthony & Amy discuss their summer internship experiences working in manufacturing plants, including challenges and key takeaways, and share how they are preparing for back to school. You'll hear them give advice for recruiting, time management for the semester, favorite study spots, and how to tackle your summer internship.

On today's episode, I have a discussion with Professor Johnnie Kallas, who serves as project director of the Labor Action Tracker, a publicly accessible, comprehensive database of strike activity displayed on an interactive map. If you would like to access the Labor Action Tracker, please use the following link:  https://go.illinois.edu/LaborActionTracker .

In this episode, we will be discussing the experience of the annual LER trip that students have the opportunity to go on, which was to Atlanta, GA, this year. We will hear from current student Anthony Gonzalez, who attended the trip, and alum Elizabeth Lopez, who spoke to students in Atlanta about her HR career post-graduation.

In this episode, join Amy and Anthony for a discussion with Professor Ryan Lamare about the online MHRIR program. We will dive into the online program's structure, the courses Dr. Lamare teaches, and advice for prospective students.

In this episode, join C.J. and guest co-host Amanda Donald-Phillips for an interview and discussion with alumna, Ulyssia Dennis, about her story, the importance of relationships, authentic confidence, imposter syndrome and more!