Mel Plett & Francesca Ranieri
Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of Work
We break down the now and next of work. You stay ahead. Its not just you - work is bonkers. Burnout is high, trust is low, and everything is changing at breakneck speed. Friend-to-friend? We get it. We're in it. And we're here to guide you through it. We’re two leadership insiders—and real-life friends—who’ve led teams, sat in the tough seats, and know first hand how fast, complex, and personal work has become. Every week, we break down what’s happening at work and to work, taking you behind the scenes of what's happening now, and preparing you for what you'll see in 6 months. We're bringi...
Author
Mel Plett & Francesca Ranieri
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jun 30, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Hiring Your Next Job: Rethinking Career Moves with Michael B. Horn & Bob Moesta 28.01.2025 51:24
Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Michael Horn (Co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute, Harvard Graduate School of Education) and Bob Moesta (Founder of Rewired Group, Kellogg School of Management) to discuss their groundbreaking book "Job Moves" and revolutionize how you think about career transitions. Discover why the traditional job search process...
When Everything Hits the Fan: Crisis Communication 101 w/ Anne Marie Squeo 21.01.2025 48:40
Send us Fan Mail In our latest episode of Your Work Friends , we dive into the art and science of crisis communications with expert Anne-Marie Squeo. From understanding what qualifies as a crisis to mastering the first 24 hours, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for leaders, teams, and anyone navigating turbulent times. What you’ll learn: ✅ How to recognize and define a crisis...
New Week, New Headlines: The Death of Happy Hour? & Silicon Valley Drama: Zuckerberg's 'Masculine Energy' & Why Tech Workers Are Fleeing 14.01.2025 22:49
Send us Fan Mail Here's the work news we're covering this week. Nearly half of tech workers are job hunting in 2025 - but why? Join us as we dive into the shifting landscape of workplace benefits and what's really driving the Great Tech Migration. Plus, is this the end of corporate happy hours? We explore the US Surgeon General's new alcohol advisory and its impact on workpla...
LIVE Sound Off: Jobs, Politics & Policy: How a Trump Administration May Change the Workplace w/Ryan Stygar & Harrison J Newman 09.01.2025 1:15:21
Send us Fan Mail What happens at the top impacts what happens at work. With the 2024 election on the horizon, many are asking: how could a second Trump administration reshape the workplace? From labor policies to healthcare, DEI, immigration, and safety regulations—there’s a lot to consider, whether you’re leading teams or navigating your own career. So, we called up a few friends to talk about it...
New Week, New Headlines: Texas Overtime Rules, $270K Success Salary & Childcare Crisis | Weekly Work News Breakdown 26.11.2024 23:29
Send us Fan Mail Join Mel and Francesca, your workplace insiders, as they break down the biggest workplace news affecting your career and wallet. This week: Major developments in overtime pay as Texas courts strike down new federal rules, shocking new data about the salary Americans say they need to feel successful ($270K!), and the latest research on paid family leave that could change your bene...
Beyond the Ping Pong Table - Why Top Companies Actually Use Play to Win 05.11.2024 47:22
Send us Fan Mail In a world obsessed with productivity, could play be your team's secret weapon? Brandon Wetzstein has helped transform teams at major organizations by tapping into the power of strategic play. In this episode, he breaks down why traditional "serious" approaches often lead to mediocre solutions, and how structured play can break through conventional thinking to unloc...
New Week, New Headlines: AI Is Making 71% of Workers Less Productive: The Truth About Tech Burnout + Why You Need $1.6M to Retire 30.10.2024 30:09
Send us Fan Mail AI Is Making 71% of Workers Less Productive: The Truth About Tech Burnout + Why You Need $1.6M to Retire We're tackling tackle two major workplace challenges: AI & Burnout: We expose alarming new research that shows a massive disconnect between executives and workers when it comes to AI. While 96% of leaders are betting big on AI to boost productivity, 71% of employees re...
New Week, New Headlines: The Ageism Paradox: Young Women Bear the Brunt, The $15K Hidden Cost of RTO & Why Companies Are Offering Divorce Benefits 22.10.2024 25:16
Send us Fan Mail In this week's workplace headlines, dive into the groundbreaking 2024 McKinsey & Lean In Women in the Workplace report revealing young women face twice the ageism as their male peers. Learn why it will take 50 years to reach pay parity and discover the shocking real cost of return-to-office mandates - averaging $1,200 monthly per employee. Plus, explore why progressive co...
New Week, New Headlines: The Hidden Costs of Layoffs and Building Trust for AI Adoption. Also, the CHRO at Spotify is a Bada**. 15.10.2024 32:04
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Your Work Friends, Francesca and Mel dive into the long-term impacts of corporate layoffs and the crucial role of trust in AI adoption. They discuss recent research revealing how layoffs can damage employee morale, engagement, and company recovery for up to 24 months. We also explore Fortune's findings on how top European companies are building trust to fa...
New Week, New Headlines: The Future of Work: Managers Fading and Bonus-Based Pay Rising & Human Capital Is Investment - Not Expense 08.10.2024 26:17
Send us Fan Mail Discover two major work trends that are reshaping the workplace: the shift away from managers and the growing importance of bonus-based pay. Learn why human capital is an investment, not an expense. Two Game-Changing Work Trends: 👉 Explore two major work trends transforming corporate America: the decline of traditional managers and the rise of bonus-based pay. Find out what this...
Trauma-Informed Leadership: Building Psychologically Safe Workplaces w/ Deborah Lee founder at Creaturae 02.10.2024 50:32
Send us Fan Mail In an era where employee wellbeing is paramount, leaders are increasingly recognizing the need for more compassionate and psychologically safe work environments. But what if I told you that over 80% of people globally have experienced some form of trauma? This statistic, highlighted in the latest episode of "Your Work Friends" podcast, underscores the urgent need for tr...
New Week, New Headlines: The Company with a 5:1 CEO Salary Cap, What the Comments Section Tells us About Nike’s CEO & Send Your Recruiter a Pizza 24.09.2024 27:04
Send us Fan Mail The work news is HITTING in September, here are the four what we're watching... Pizza Hut : Wanting to help you get a job, Pizza Hut will print your resume on a pizza box and send it to a recruiter. We referenced: https://adage.com/creativity/work/pizza-hut-will-deliver-pizza-your-resume-box-potential-employer/2580841 Sam's Club and Bank of America : We’ll also shine a l...
How to Fuel Your Org With Soul and Talent w/Author and Talent Executive Mike Ohata 18.09.2024 44:05
Send us Fan Mail There are a lot of reasons why you'd want to talk to Mike Ohata about talent. First, he's got the chops: Fortune 15 Talent Leader (KPMG, Microsoft), Founding Board Member at Ezra Coaching and the Author of "The Talent Fueled Enterprise". He's knows how to put major points on the board the biggest and most complex orgs. In Talent circles, we like to call h...
🔥 #7: Pride - From Our Fishbowl LIVE "7 Deadly Work Sins" Summer Series 10.09.2024 56:16
Send us Fan Mail Help a friend? Tell us how we're doing (we're seriously curious) by filing out this short (seriously, short) survey: https://forms.gle/VG19hQRLy8bCyFMS6 ABOUT THE EPISODE : From our Fishbowl LIVE series , the "7 Deadly Work Sins ", we bring you the last sin , PRIDE … You know PRIDE : That feeling of apathy , laziness , like you just don't want to be here...
🔥 #6: Sloth - From Our Fishbowl LIVE "7 Deadly Work Sins" Summer Series 10.09.2024 48:41
Send us Fan Mail Help a friend? Tell us how we're doing (we're seriously curious) by filing out this short (seriously, short) survey: https://forms.gle/VG19hQRLy8bCyFMS6 ABOUT THE EPISODE : From our Fishbowl LIVE series , the " 7 Deadly Work Sins ", we bring you the #6th sin , SLOTH … You know sloth, that feeling of apathy, laziness, like you just don't want to be here. M...
🔥 #5: Greed - From Our Fishbowl LIVE "7 Deadly Work Sins" Summer Series 10.09.2024 54:12
Send us Fan Mail Help a friend? Tell us how we're doing (we're seriously curious) by filing out this short (seriously, short) survey: https://forms.gle/VG19hQRLy8bCyFMS6 ABOUT THE EPISODE : From our Fishbowl LIVE series, "The 7 Deadly Work Sins", we bring you sin #5: GREED. You know greed...that feeling of nothing is ever good enough and you need more - the title, the money,...
New Week, New Headlines: Office Therapists on Payroll, Is Wellbeing Fixable & Don't Leave Teammates on Mountains 04.09.2024 33:18
Send us Fan Mail The work news just doesn't quit - here's what we're talking about.... WTF News: Two stories that had us going, WTF?! WellsFargo employee dies at her desk. Co-workers don't find her for four days. Four. Teammate gets stranded on the side of a mountain during a work-sponsored team building event. Can we stop with the mountaineering already? Office Therapists on...
How Socioeconomic Status Impacts Work w/Brayden Olson, Co-Founder of Almas Insight 27.08.2024 56:06
Send us Fan Mail Your socioeconomic status dictates your future. Wealth inequality has a more significant impact on where you go and what you can do. From the education you receive to the career paths you can access, and even how you view yourself in society. And this isn't just your problem—it's a generational crisis. We sat down with expert, Brayden Olson co-founder of Almas Insight an...
New Week, New Headlines: Why Are So Many Executive Women Quitting? & Work Resorts and Remote CEOs 20.08.2024 28:04
Send us Fan Mail This week, we're talking about... Why Are So Many Executive Women Quitting? We tackle the unsettling trend of women leaders stepping down from Ivy League presidencies amid intense scrutiny. This concerning pattern highlights the persistent gender biases in leadership roles across academia and corporate America. As we dig into statistics from the Chronicle of Higher Educati...
How to Reduce Human Debt in the Workplace w/ Duena Blomstrom Co-Founder of PeopleNotTech & Tech Led Culture Author 13.08.2024 38:28
Send us Fan Mail You may not have heard the term Human Debt before. But, you've felt it. We had the privilege of sitting down with powerhouse Duena Blomstrom to talk about HumanDebt™ in the workplace. Duena is a HumanDebt™ fighter, author of Tech Led Culture, Co-founder of PeopleNotTech , and N eurospicy at Work . She also has a fantastic newsletter on LinkedIn, Chasing Psychological Safety,...
New Week, New Headlines: Project 2025's Impacts to Workers & There's a Happiness Gap at Work 06.08.2024 32:12
Send us Fan Mail We're back with New Week, New Headlines! Here's what we're talking about this week.. Topic #1: Project 2025's Impacts to Workers: unpacks the conservative Project 2025 agenda and its potential ramifications for the Department of Labor and US workers. We tackle the intricate implications of a conservative policy proposal aimed at bolstering American workers and...
🔥 #4: Envy - From Our Fishbowl LIVE "7 Deadly Work Sins" Summer Series 01.08.2024 48:03
Send us Fan Mail From our LIVE event on Fishbowl... Let's talk about...ENVY You know envy, that little green monster that likes to show up from time-to-time. 🔥 Maybe your co-worker got the promotion you've been waiting for for three years. 🔥 Maybe your college roommate made a billion dollars in tech and your back in your parents basement. 🔥 Or, maybe you find yourself hovering over...
How to End Workplace Abuse w/ "Workplace Psychological Safety Act" Authors and End Workplace Abuse Founders, Deb Falzoi & Vicki Courtemanche 23.07.2024 34:56
Send us Fan Mail In the US, do you have a right to a safe, psychologically safe workplace? Because, right now, there is no legislation protecting employees from toxic work environments. None. Join us for an eye-opening discussion with Deb Falzoi and Vicky Courtemanche, founders of the End Workplace Abuse Initiative. They are spearheading efforts to implement the Workplace Psychological Safety A...
🔥 #3: Gluttony - From Our Fishbowl LIVE "7 Deadly Work Sins" Summer Series 17.07.2024 56:21
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we are talking about Gluttony ...you know gluttony, that feeling of entitlement - to time, resources, office supplies. Maybe you think it is ok to spend 20-minutes of a 30-minute meeting talking about your weekend to your co-workers. Maybe you steal the free snacks before you head home from training. Or, maybe you find yourself arguing with the same co-worker ove...
How to Deal with Jerks at Work w/ Dr. Tessa West 09.07.2024 57:47
Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how to handle that gaslighter or micromanager in your office? Join us as we explore these challenging workplace dynamics with Dr. Tessa West, a psychology professor at NYU and author of "Jerks at Work." Dr. West shares her journey from the high-end retail world to academia, offering practical advice and engaging anecdotes that illuminate the complex nature...
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