The World Cup of Business

The Executive Athlete Mindset: Why Recovery Drives Better PerformanceHost: Steve Boese and Trish SteedGuest: Nicole Elizabeth Ward, AON Executive Leader & Performance Strategist SummaryOn this episode of At Work in America, Steve Boese and Trish Steed are joined by author, executive leader, and performance strategist Nicole Elizabeth Ward to explore why sustainable performance requires more than hard work and long hours.Drawing from her book Biohacking for the Sales Athlete, Nicole shares the personal wake-up call that transformed her approach to health, leadership, and success. The conversation challenges the workplace culture that rewards exhaustion and constant availability, offering a new perspective on performance through the lens of recovery, sleep, movement, nutrition, and physiological well-being.Together, they discuss why leaders should think of themselves as athletes, how stress impacts communication and decision-making, and practical ways individuals can improve performance without sacrificing their health. This episode offers actionable insights for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone looking to perform at their best while building a more sustainable relationship with work. Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Executive Athlete Mindset03:30 A Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything07:51 Why Corporate Culture Rewards Burnout11:39 Sleep, Recovery, and Sustainable Performance20:28 Taking Control of Your Wellbeing at Work24:12 Rethinking Workplace Performance and Rewards28:36 The Leadership Impact of Physiological Health31:30 Practical Biohacking Strategies for Everyday Success Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Every year, companies spin their wheels searching externally for senior leaders. Meanwhile, their next VP is already on their payroll. Recognized by peers, but overlooked on the org chart. Future Leaders™ by Workhuman fixes that. Using AI and real-time recognition data, Future Leaders identifies your highest-potential talent four years ahead of schedule — before they burn out, check out, or get picked up by someone who saw what you missed. Build smarter. Promote confidently. Keep your best people. Future Leaders. Only from Workhuman. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

The World Cup of BusinessHosts: Jack McFarlane & Nick Schlemmer SummaryJoin this episode of The Play By Play, where hosts Jack McFarlane and Nick Schlemmer walk through an engaging and humorous simulation of the World Cup of Business, where major tech companies compete in a virtual tournament filled with strategic moves, AI-powered tactics, and industry insights. Discover how innovation, branding, and technology determine the ultimate champion in this lively, unpredictable event. Listen in! Chapters00:00  World Cup Excitement and Overview03:05  Game Simulation Begins12:24  Match Highlights and Analysis18:54  Final Match and Tournament Wrap-Up21:43  Semi-Final Round30:20  The Final Showdown35:08  Conclusion and Reflections on the Tournament Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Every year, companies spin their wheels searching externally for senior leaders. Meanwhile, their next VP is already on their payroll. Recognized by peers, but overlooked on the org chart. Future Leaders™ by Workhuman fixes that. Using AI and real-time recognition data, Future Leaders identifies your highest-potential talent four years ahead of schedule — before they burn out, check out, or get picked up by someone who saw what you missed. Build smarter. Promote confidently. Keep your best people. Future Leaders. Only from Workhuman. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

Workplace Movie Hall of Fame - Devil Wears Prada 2Host: Steve Boese and Trish Steed SummaryOn this episode of At Work in America, Steve Boese and Trish Steed are back with another workplace movie hall of fame episode! They explore the themes of the new 'Devil Wears Prada 2' movie, its reflection on the modern workplace, AI's impact, and gender dynamics in leadership. This is a thought-provoking analysis of how characters evolve and what it reveals about work culture today. Listen in! Chapters00:00 Home Again: Reflecting on Travel and Change02:48 Workplace Dynamics: A Movie Review 05:49 Character Development Over Time09:05 Leadership and Growth 12:00 AI in the Workplace14:46 Gender Roles at Work and How They Evolve 17:43 The Role of Movies in Work Conversations20:49 Lessons Learned from the Movie  Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Every year, companies spin their wheels searching externally for senior leaders. Meanwhile, their next VP is already on their payroll. Recognized by peers, but overlooked on the org chart. Future Leaders™ by Workhuman fixes that. Using AI and real-time recognition data, Future Leaders identifies your highest-potential talent four years ahead of schedule — before they burn out, check out, or get picked up by someone who saw what you missed. Build smarter. Promote confidently. Keep your best people. Future Leaders. Only from Workhuman. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

Making AI Matter: Leadership, Culture, and the Future of HiringHosts: Mervyn DinnenGuest: Matt Alder, Talent Acquisition Strategist SummaryIn this episode of the HR Means Business podcast, Mervyn hosts Matt Alder to discuss the current state and future of AI in HR. The conversation focuses on recruitment, candidate experience, and organizational readiness. Listen in to discover practical insights, real-world examples, and strategic advice for leveraging AI effectively in HR practices. Chapters02:14 Current State of AI Adoption in Talent Acquisition07:57 Balancing AI and Human Interaction in Recruitment11:15 The Role of AI in Enhancing Candidate Experience17:58 Ownership of AI Strategy in Organizations21:50 Leadership and Culture in AI Adoption25:08 Intergenerational Workforce and AI Adoption30:24 Underappreciated Aspects of AI in Recruitment Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Every year, companies spin their wheels searching externally for senior leaders. Meanwhile, their next VP is already on their payroll. Recognized by peers, but overlooked on the org chart. Future Leaders™ by Workhuman fixes that. Using AI and real-time recognition data, Future Leaders identifies your highest-potential talent four years ahead of schedule — before they burn out, check out, or get picked up by someone who saw what you missed. Build smarter. Promote confidently. Keep your best people. Future Leaders. Only from Workhuman. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

Revolutionizing Women's Health in the WorkplaceHost: Steve Boese and Trish SteedGuest: Susan Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at Lucy Rx SummaryOn this episode of At Work in America, Steve Boese and Trish Steed are joined by Susan Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at Lucy Rx, to explore why women’s health is becoming a critical workforce and business conversation.The discussion covers perimenopause, menopause, cardiovascular health, workplace support, and the hidden impact these challenges can have on productivity, leadership, and employee wellbeing. Susan shares how Lucy Rx is helping employers rethink benefits, education, and care navigation to better support women through every stage of their health journey, while improving outcomes for both employees and organizations. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Women's Health in the Workplace03:00 Understanding Women's Health Needs 06:09 Navigating Hormonal Changes and Healthcare08:52 The Role of Employers in Supporting Women's Health 15:02 Implementing Effective Health Strategies17:52 The Importance of Data in Women's Health24:05 The Future of Women's Health Initiatives Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Every year, companies spin their wheels searching externally for senior leaders. Meanwhile, their next VP is already on their payroll. Recognized by peers, but overlooked on the org chart. Future Leaders™ by Workhuman fixes that. Using AI and real-time recognition data, Future Leaders identifies your highest-potential talent four years ahead of schedule — before they burn out, check out, or get picked up by someone who saw what you missed. Build smarter. Promote confidently. Keep your best people. Future Leaders. Only from Workhuman. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

Global Hiring in 2026 : New Roles, New Technology, and New ChallengesHost: Steve Boese and Trish SteedGuest: Lauren Thomas, Labor Economist at Deel SummaryOn this episode of the HR Happy Hour, Steve Boese and Trish Steed are joined by Lauren Thomas to discuss into the evolving landscape of global labor markets. They explore the role of technology and the emerging opportunities in AI-related roles. Lauren shares insights from Deel's recent State of Global Hiring Report, revealing how companies are prioritizing talent over cost and the growing significance of local expertise in international expansion. Listen in! Chapters00:00 Introduction to Global Hiring and Labor Market Trends04:08 Overview of Deel's Global Hiring Report and its Purpose08:40 Capability Gaps as a Driver for Hiring in Tech11:12 The Role of Soft Skills in Sales and Client Relation 18:22 Compensation Levels for AI Trainers22:53 The Potential Influence of AI and Technology on Job Markets29:28 Regional Hiring Trends and Diversity Across Different Markets31:16 Opportunities for Small and Mid-Sized Companies to Leverage Global Talent Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Employees recognized for milestones are three times more likely to believe their company actually cares about them. Three times. So why are companies so bad at it? The stale bagels. The branded swag. The audacity. Workhuman believes milestones deserve their moment. A space for the people who know you best — your actual work circle — to reflect on your journey, your wins, your impact. The inside jokes. The big moments. All of it. It's called Service Milestones. AI finds the right people. Automation handles the rest. And employees choose their own reward — from millions of options, curated just for them. Milestone like you mean it with Workhuman, a proud supporter of the HR Happy Hour Network. Find out more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

The Sacred Cow Problem: When Founders Protect the Wrong PeopleHost: Sabrina Baker SummaryFor people managing HR in a company of 1–500 employees, sacred cows aren't just frustrating — they're destabilizing. This episode is about what happens when leadership protects the wrong person and HR is expected to clean it up.Sabrina breaks down why this is misdiagnosed as a performance problem when it's actually a protection problem, what visible inconsistency does to the rest of your workforce, and three concrete moves for navigating it without authority: priming the feedback before you need to deliver it, bringing patterns instead of isolated incidents, and packaging decisions rather than escalating problems.She also covers what to do when you don't have a survey or formal project to anchor the setup conversation to — and what it looks like when a leader keeps hedging even after you've done everything right.The honest reality: sometimes something major has to happen before a founder acts. Knowing the difference between an influence problem you can solve and a leadership problem you can't is part of the job. Key TopicsWhat makes someone a sacred cow — and why it's almost never hiddenThe real cost: it's not a fairness issue, it's a retention and standards issueThree moves for navigating without authorityWhen nothing changes, and how to keep the conversation alive Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Employees recognized for milestones are three times more likely to believe their company actually cares about them. Three times. So why are companies so bad at it? The stale bagels. The branded swag. The audacity. Workhuman believes milestones deserve their moment. A space for the people who know you best — your actual work circle — to reflect on your journey, your wins, your impact. The inside jokes. The big moments. All of it. It's called Service Milestones. AI finds the right people. Automation handles the rest. And employees choose their own reward — from millions of options, curated just for them. Milestone like you mean it with Workhuman, a proud supporter of the HR Happy Hour Network. Find out more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us. 

Agentic AI Meets HR: Paychex Introduces WISE for SMBsHost: Steve Boese and Trish SteedGuest: Ryan Bergstrom, Chief Product Officer at Paychex SummaryOn this episode of At Work in America, Steve Boese and Trish Steed are joined by Ryan Bergstrom to discuss the launch of Paychex Wise AI and what it means for the future of payroll, HR, and workforce technology.The conversation explores how AI is reshaping the small business experience by reducing administrative burden, surfacing real-time workforce insights, and helping organizations move from reactive processes to proactive decision-making. Ryan shares how Paychex is approaching AI through the lens of “augmented intelligence,” helping organizations streamline payroll, compliance, workforce management, and employee support while keeping humans firmly in the loop.The discussion highlights the growing pressure facing small and midsize businesses, from compliance complexity and workforce changes to tool sprawl and operational overload. The episode also dives into how agentic AI can help organizations identify anomalies, guide managers through next steps, and automate repetitive work without sacrificing trust, security, or oversight. Chapters02:10 Challenges Faced by Small and Medium Businesses05:56 The Strategic Role of AI in HR and Payroll08:07 Revolutionizing Payroll with AI Assistance11:56 Real-Time Anomaly Detection and Compliance13:20 Introducing Paychex WISE18:23 Security, Trust, and Data Privacy in AI25:00 Customer Feedback and Adoption of AI Tools27:04 Training and User Onboarding28:23 Future Outlook Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!This episode of At Work in America is sponsored by Paychex, an industry-leading human capital management (HCM) company that helps businesses of all sizes succeed with its award-winning combination of digital HR technology and advisory services. Have you met WISE? Workforce Intelligence Strengthen by Expertise or WISE isn’t just an AI feature. It’s an intelligence platform trained on 50 years of real workforce data, built into the system that already manages your business. And when the work calls for human judgment, real Paychex advisors are there for support. Where others give you tools to help with HR work, WISE is built to reduce how much HR work you have to do at all. To learn more about WISE, the AI that gets work done, head to paychex.com/ai. The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Employees recognized for milestones are three times more likely to believe their company actually cares about them. Three times. So why are companies so bad at it? The stale bagels. The branded swag. The audacity. Workhuman believes milestones deserve their moment. A space for the people who know you best — your actual work circle — to reflect on your journey, your wins, your impact. The inside jokes. The big moments. All of it. It's called Service Milestones. AI finds the right people. Automation handles the rest. And employees choose their own reward — from millions of options, curated just for them. Milestone like you mean it with Workhuman, a proud supporter of the HR Happy Hour Network. Find out more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

From Data to Dialogue: Building a Listening OrganizationHosts: Mervyn DinnenGuest: Nick Court, CEO at the People Experience Hub SummaryIn this episode of the HR Means Business podcast, Mervyn hosts Nick Court to explore how organizations can move beyond mere data collection to become truly listening entities that understand, respond, and evolve with their employees. They shares ideas and insights on building a listening culture, leveraging technology, and empowering employees in your organization. Chapters00:00 The Importance of Listening in Organizations06:03 The Role of Surveys in Listening Strategies08:56 Creating a Culture of Listening11:43 Always-On Feedback: A Double-Edged Sword17:29 Ownership and Action in Listening20:42 Building Trust in a Listening Culture23:18 The Skills and Mindset of Effective Leaders Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Employees recognized for milestones are three times more likely to believe their company actually cares about them. Three times. So why are companies so bad at it? The stale bagels. The branded swag. The audacity. Workhuman believes milestones deserve their moment. A space for the people who know you best — your actual work circle — to reflect on your journey, your wins, your impact. The inside jokes. The big moments. All of it. It's called Service Milestones. AI finds the right people. Automation handles the rest. And employees choose their own reward — from millions of options, curated just for them. Milestone like you mean it with Workhuman, a proud supporter of the HR Happy Hour Network. Find out more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

AI in HR: Driving Adoption, Impact, and Real ResultsHost: Steve Boese and Trish SteedGuest: Tony Truong, VP of People Strategy at Chime SummaryOn this episode of At Work in America, Steve and Trish are joined by Tony Truong from Chime to explore putting AI into practice across people operations, and reshaping how HR teams recruit, support employees, and make decisions in real time.From reducing recruiting cycle time to resolving the majority of employee inquiries through AI-powered self-service, this conversation moves beyond theory and into real-world application. The discussion highlights how data, automation, and thoughtful change management come together to create more responsive, efficient HR functions.At its core, this episode looks at what it truly takes to adopt AI in a way that works—aligning technology with culture, building trust in new systems, and using AI not just to automate tasks, but to improve how people experience work every day. Chapters02:51 The Impact of AI on Work Processes05:57 AI in Recruiting: Transforming Traditional Practices08:48 Feedback and Adoption of AI Tools11:54 Measuring Success: Metrics in AI Implementation17:50 Enhancing Employee Service Delivery with AI20:46 Cultural Alignment and AI Responsiveness Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.Employees recognized for milestones are three times more likely to believe their company actually cares about them. Three times. So why are companies so bad at it? The stale bagels. The branded swag. The audacity. Workhuman believes milestones deserve their moment. A space for the people who know you best — your actual work circle — to reflect on your journey, your wins, your impact. The inside jokes. The big moments. All of it. It's called Service Milestones. AI finds the right people. Automation handles the rest. And employees choose their own reward — from millions of options, curated just for them. Milestone like you mean it with Workhuman, a proud supporter of the HR Happy Hour Network. Find out more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.