The Love Monday Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Let’s talk about the uncomfortable truth behind the return-to-office push. It’s not about culture.  It’s not about collaboration.  And it’s definitely not about those stale bagels in the breakroom. In this episode of Love Monday , I unpack what’s really going on: control, surveillance, and a system that punishes high performers by giving them more work instead of more reward. I sh...

Send us Fan Mail If you're dreading Mondays because your job drains the life out of you, this episode is for you. I’m walking you through my 12-step Bulletproof Process for landing a job that makes you actually look forward to Monday. Whether you’re stuck in a soul-sucking role or just ready for something more aligned with your strengths and purpose, this isn’t your average job hunt advice. T...

Send us Fan Mail They say, “It’s not personal—it’s just business.” But what happens when it is personal? In this raw and timely episode of the Love Monday Podcast , Ryan shares the heartbreaking story of his daughter, who was laid off from the company she had dreamed of working for since she was 13. Like so many others, she was told it wasn’t personal. But the impact on her health, identity, and s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Love Monday Podcast , Ryan Houmand explores a deceptively simple but powerful question: Do they want to lead? Many people step into management roles because it's the next rung on the ladder—but what if they were never actually interested in leading ? Ryan breaks down why some managers never fully embrace leadership—not because they lack the skills, but...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Love Monday , I ask a question every organization should be asking about their managers: Will they lead? Too many managers stay in the weeds, doing the work their teams should be doing—avoiding the hard, essential work of coaching, developing, and leading . Whether it’s clinging to tasks, covering for underperforming team members, or claiming they’re just "...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Love Monday Podcast , I ask a tough but necessary question: Why do we keep settling for mediocre leadership? It started with a conversation I had with a friend. I dropped the stat from Gallup—that organizations choose the wrong person for management 82% of the time —and she pushed back. But as we kept talking, even she admitted her current and past leaders w...

Send us Fan Mail If you’re job hunting, don’t just look for a better paycheck—look for a better boss. A great manager can make or break your experience at work, and finding the right leadership could be the key to loving Monday just as much as Friday. In this episode, I break down 12 essential questions you can use to evaluate a potential boss before you take the job. These questions will help you...

Send us Fan Mail Not sure if you’re working for a good company with a great manager —or if you’re just surviving in a toxic workplace? In this episode, I break down 12 critical test questions to help you evaluate whether your manager and organization are truly employee-oriented . If you disagree with any of these, and especially if layoffs are looming, it may be time to update that resume and star...

Send us Fan Mail Layoffs aren’t just unfortunate events—they’re a lagging indicator of management failure. In this episode, I break down why layoffs signal a lack of vision from upper management and how failing to coach employees and track productivity at the frontline leads companies straight into trouble. If your company is laying people off, it’s already too late —leadership missed the warning...

Send us Fan Mail Your personal brand is more than just a LinkedIn profile—it’s how you show up in the world, online and off. In this episode, I sit down with branding expert Lindsey Carnett to talk about the power of building your personal brand through your own website, optimizing your LinkedIn presence, and managing your online reputation. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or job seeke...

Send us Fan Mail Can AI help build better leaders? Robert Buckley, Chief People Architect at Enveda, says yes—but only if you start with the right leadership philosophy. In this episode, Robert shares how AI and data-driven insights transform leadership development and manager effectiveness. He emphasizes that "people create all value" and that great leadership starts with knowing where...

Send us Fan Mail It was the best of management; it was the worst of management. A tale of two managers, where one inspires their team to thrive, and the other leaves their team in disarray. In leadership, just like in Dickens’ classic A Tale of Two Cities, we see contrasts—hope and despair, light and darkness, order and chaos. Today, we’re diving into what separates the 93rd percentile manager fro...

Send us Fan Mail What if the secret to organizational success is simpler than we think? In this episode, we explore the powerful Service Profit Chain and how it connects employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Drawing insights from a popular LinkedIn article, we break down the key elements of this proven framework and share actionable tips to help your organization thrive. I...

Send us Fan Mail I pushed record and started just talking about what's on my mind, the state of work, and the issues that impact it. It's kinda ugly, so strap in if you're going to listen.  Support the show For more information on how to love Monday just like Friday, got to: LoveMondayLikeFriday.com . Find more information from Ryan on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-houm...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Love Monday Podcast , I tackle a common workplace challenge: people managers who get stuck managing projects instead of leading their teams. If you’re a senior leader, I’ll share actionable strategies to help your frontline managers shift their focus from tasks to people. And if you’re a frontline manager yourself, you’ll learn how to empower your team to ta...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Love Monday Podcast , we sit down with Kaylene Fedor, Senior Manager of Recruiting at Enveda Biosciences, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and recruitment. Kaylene shares her insights on leveraging AI to enhance efficiency in the hiring process while maintaining a personal touch with candidates. She discusses practical strategies for in...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode of the Love Monday Podcast , we sit down with Amy Skyles, Author and Human Resources Executive, to explore the powerful difference between complacency and loyalty in the workplace. Amy, who brings years of HR expertise from diverse organizations, explains how action and enthusiasm can transform a “check-the-box” mindset into genuine employee engagement....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Love Monday Podcast , host Ryan Houmand sits down with Brian Fink , a seasoned recruiter and thought leader in the talent acquisition space, to dive deep into the evolving world of recruitment. Brian shares his expert insights on the latest trends shaping the recruitment industry, the impact of technology on hiring processes, and the importance of building a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Love Monday Podcast , Ryan dives into two common types of long-term role holders in the workplace: Anchored Achievers and Empowered Performers . Discover the key differences between these two personas and learn how managers can either anchor employees to repetitive tasks or empower them to reach new heights of innovation and success. Ryan breaks down the cha...

Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode, we explore the hidden pitfalls of employee reskilling and how it can lead to disengagement, high turnover, and unexpected costs for businesses. As companies rush to adapt to changing markets, they often move employees around like pawns on a chessboard—forcing workers into roles they didn’t apply for and weren’t trained for. Using real-world examples, i...

Send us Fan Mail Wish you could build your own culture on your team because the culture of your org is less that stellar?  YOU CAN! And in this episode, you'll learn how to do it! 12 Elements of Engagement I Know What’s Expected of Me at Work I have the Materials and Equipment I Need to Do My Job Right At Work, I Have the Opportunity to Do What I Do Best Every Day In the Last 7 Days, I Have R...

Send us Fan Mail Leaders should be the best, most effective ambassadors for their products and services. Unfortunately, most leaders rarely have the passion or ability to tell an effective story of their products and services. Sometimes it's because they are so busy with other, often less important functions. Most often, they just don't have the training they need. Let's change this...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're talking about how people-pleasing will cause you to hate Monday.   Support the show For more information on how to love Monday just like Friday, got to: LoveMondayLikeFriday.com . Find more information from Ryan on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-houmand/ Get the book! "A Passion for Monday"  

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kortney Ross, founder of NextGen Work Culture, joins us to discuss the things most important for managers to know about enabling parents to be successful and even LOVE where they work. Listen up managers and business leaders! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kortneyross/ Website: https://kortneyross.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextgenworkculture...

Send us Fan Mail It's okay to be a friend and a boss at the same time, though controversial the primary reason for not being a friend to your employees is that you're too weak a leader to be able to have a hard conversation with a friend. Don't let anybody, including the voice inside your head treat you that way. Set boundaries and let your people know that even though you love &apo...