The Elephant in the Org

Send us Fan Mail Deb Haas spent 24 years in corporate HR before getting laid off — and finally getting free. Now, she’s helping others reimagine work for the AI era with transparency, humor, and zero tolerance for business as usual. In this episode: – The psychological toll of layoffs – Late-stage capitalism & the myth of the “dream job” – Why Gen Z won’t play along – What leaders keep getting...

Send us Fan Mail Let’s talk about the difference between looking inclusive — and actually being inclusive. In this powerful episode, Marion and Danny are joined by Dr. Angela Young, a bold advocate for digital accessibility, to break down the emotional labor, internalized ableism, and corporate gaslighting that so many disabled, neurodivergent, and non-binary professionals still face at work. From...

Send us Fan Mail Leaders love to claim they're "data-driven" — right up until the numbers challenge their egos. In this episode, Marion, Cacha, and Danny sit down with Future of Work strategist Angelique Slob to dig into why industrial-era mindsets still dominate modern workplaces, why ignoring internal data is costing organizations dearly, and how real workplace experience data can...

Send us Fan Mail We’re going dark… but in a totally self-aware, psychologically fascinating kind of way. This week on The Elephant in the Org , we’re diving into the Dark Triad — narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism — and how these personality traits show up in leadership. Our guest, the brilliant Danny Wareham (organisational psychologist, coach, and self-proclaimed bee-lover), joins us...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Special Edition – Oh Shit, What’s Happened Now? This is one of those moments when we pause our scheduled programming because something in the news is just too wild to ignore. In this special edition of The Elephant in the Org , we dive headfirst into the explosive lawsuit between HR tech giants Rippling and Deel — featuring Slack honeypots, alleged corporate spying, stolen sale...

Send us Fan Mail Ever come back from a vacation feeling like you need… another vacation? Welcome to the Fakecation Crisis —where we take time off but somehow end up just as exhausted (or more) than before. In this episode, Marion, Cacha, and Danny rank different types of time off based on how rejuvenating (or soul-sucking) they actually are. From all-inclusive beach lounging to visiting family (a....

Send us Fan Mail Pregnancy loss, infertility, and the challenges of motherhood remain some of the biggest workplace taboos—until now. In this deeply personal and powerful episode, co-hosts Marion, Cacha, and Danny sit down with Ashley Kera to break the silence around miscarriage, the emotional toll of pregnancy in the workplace, and the impossible balancing act so many women face when navigating c...

Send us Fan Mail Burnout isn’t a personal failure—it’s a systemic problem.  Ever been told to do more with less ? Yeah, us too. And we’re calling bullshit. In this episode of The Elephant in the Org , Danny, Marion, and Cacha sit down with the one and only Cassandra Babilya, creator of Make Work Suck Less , career coach, employee experience leader, and oh yeah—ex-spy (which is possibly the coolest...

Send us Fan Mail  If your workplace isn’t actively inclusive, it’s actively exclusive. In this episode, we’re calling out the ableism hiding in your workplace—from HR’s internalized biases to managers who don’t know what they don’t know to “inclusion” efforts that are all show, no substance. 🔥 What’s Inside: ✔️ The jaw-dropping story of a manager who told Lia not to use her wheelchair in front of...

Send us Fan Mail Mark Zuckerberg is back in the headlines—this time for claiming that workplaces need more "masculine energy"and blaming Sheryl Sandberg for Meta’s past DEI initiatives. But is this just another case of tech bro nonsense, or is there a bigger political and corporate strategy at play? In this episode of The Elephant in the Org , Danny, Cacha, and Marion dive deep into: ✔️...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Elephant in the Org , Danny, Marion, and Cacha take on a leadership game-changer: how to transform dissent from a workplace disruption into a strategic driver of progress. The hosts explore why embracing rebels and fostering a culture of constructive dissent is critical for organizations to innovate, adapt, and thrive. Spoiler: it all starts with empowering...

Send us Fan Mail From hybrid work hiccups to the turbulence in DEI initiatives, 2024 has been a whirlwind for HR and workplace culture. In this special year-end wrap-up of The Elephant in the Org , Danny, Marion, and Cacha reflect on the defining “elephants” of the year. We’re diving into the challenges that shaped the workplace, sharing key lessons from the year’s most heated debates, and unpacki...

Send us Fan Mail Employee wellness programs are everywhere, but are they actually making a difference? In this episode of The Elephant in the Org , Danny, Marion, and Cacha tackle the big questions about workplace wellness. From flashy perks and meditation apps to the critical need for psychological safety, we’re breaking down why so many wellness initiatives fall flat—and what companies need to d...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Thanksgiving! This week, we’re serving up a hearty helping of gratitude—but is it heartfelt or just for show? In this special Thanksgiving episode of The Elephant in the Org , Danny, Marion, and Cacha carve into the complex world of workplace thankfulness.  Are annual "thank-you" emails and pizza parties really enough? Or are they just, as Marion says,  "all f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Elephant in the Org , we’re tackling the controversial “work family” narrative. Is calling your workplace a family a sign of authentic connection, or is it just another way to blur boundaries and exploit loyalty? Join Danny, Marion, and Cacha as they explore: The red flags behind the "work family" narrative. Why this language gives some people “the...

Send us Fan Mail Election season is upon us, and it’s not just your social media feed that’s feeling the heat—your workplace is, too. In this episode of *The Elephant in the Org*, hosts Danny Gluch, Marion Anderson, and Cacha Dora tackle the tension that creeps into offices during politically charged times. From navigating differing opinions at work to managing post-election anxieties, we explore...

Send us Fan Mail In this explosive episode, Danny Gluch, Marion Anderson, and Cacha Dora dive deep into the turbulent world of middle management. Inspired by the recent MSN article "Being a middle manager is getting increasingly toxic," our hosts explore whether it's the hardest it's ever been for those caught between the C-suite and the frontlines. Our hosts unpack: The growin...

Send us Fan Mail We are back! Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of "The Elephant in the Org"!  Danny, Cacha, and Marion are thrilled to kick off a new season, bringing you fresh insights into workplace dynamics and organizational culture. While Marion is on assignment for this episode, Danny and Cacha are excited to welcome a very special guest: Acey Holmes, founder of BoredLess. Acey is a...

Send us Fan Mail Amazon's return-to-office mandate (sort-of) shocks the tech industry!  Join The Elephant in the Org for a pre-season special as your favorite Fearless PX trio, Danny, Marion, and Cacha, analyze this game-changing decision. Is Amazon redefining workplace flexibility or taking a step backward? We're dissecting this 5-day in-office requirement, covering: • Debunking the myt...

Send us Fan Mail As we close the chapter on Season 1 of The Elephant in the Org, join hosts Marion, Cacha, and Danny for a heartfelt reflection on our journey so far. In this special finale episode, we look back at the highs, the laughs, and the eye-opening moments that have shaped our podcast. We'll reminisce about our favorite guests, from Jessica Donahue's candid talk on workplace tra...

Send us Fan Mail In an unexpected turn of events, SHRM has set the HR world ablaze with its shocking announcement to remove "equity" from its DEI acronym. As the HR community erupts in a chorus of disbelief and disappointment, we couldn't resist sharing our thoughts. Join our Fearless PX trio Danny, Cacha, and Marion as they unpack this bombshell decision, exploring its implications...

Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode of The Elephant in the Org, hosts Marion, Cacha, and Danny tackle the latest trend in workplace rebellion: quiet vacationing. Inspired by a recent Korn Ferry article, our hosts dive deep into this stealthy practice where employees take time off without explicitly informing their employers. Are your zoom backgrounds more present than you are? Is your cub...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode of the Elephant in the Org Podcast, Jim D'Angelo, Founder of Heartwired, joins hosts Marion Anderson, Danny Gluch, and Cacha Dora to explore the intricate balance between inclusion and exclusion in the workplace. The discussion centers around "Compassionate Excellence," which emphasizes caring for people while maintaining high-performance...

Send us Fan Mail Are your performance conversations falling flat? You're not alone. In this episode of The Elephant in the Org, hosts Danny Gluch, Marion Anderson, and Cacha Dora are joined by special guest Greer Procich to explore why most companies struggle with effective performance management and continuous feedback.  Discover the key barriers holding organizations back from meaningful pe...

Send us Fan Mail Are your work friendships fading away? You're not alone. In this episode of The Elephant in the Org, hosts Danny Gluch, Marion Anderson, and Cacha Dora dive into the declining state of work besties and its impact on employee engagement, happiness, and retention. Inspired by a recent Korn Ferry article, they explore the factors contributing to this trend, such as remote work,...