Episodes
-
Welcome to a landmark episode of HRchat. As we celebrate Episode 900 and a decade of conversations with the world's leading HR thinkers, host Bill Banham is joined by longtime friend, strategic HR leader, and DisruptHR co-organizer Steve Foulger.
Bill and Steve reflect on how the HR profession has evolved over the past ten years, separating genuine progress from recycled ideas wrapped in new terminology.
The conversation explores why employee listening has become more effective through pulse surveys, how organizations are replacing annual performance reviews with regular one-to-one conversations, and why learning and development is increasingly focused on building capability rather than simply delivering training.
Steve also tackles one of today's biggest topics: generative AI in HR. Steve explains why AI should not yet be trusted as a standalone solution for compensation benchmarking, how poor-quality data can produce highly convincing but inaccurate recommendations, and why pay transparency makes human judgement more importantânot less.
The discussion then shifts to leadership, productivity, and sustainable performance. Steve introduces his practical "Five to Twenty-Five" approach for helping teams prioritize work that either generates revenue, reduces costs, or saves valuable time. They also explore why energy management is becoming a critical leadership capability in an era of constant pressure and rapid change.
Finally, Bill and Steve discuss what HR can genuinely learn from elite sport without falling into tired clichés, examine the ongoing debate around culture fit versus culture add, and share advice for the next generation of HR leaders navigating an increasingly complex profession.
In this episode you'll discover:
Why Episode 900 is the perfect time to reflect on HR's biggest changesWhere the profession has genuinely improved over the past decadeWhy pulse surveys workâand where they don'tHow regular one-to-one conversations are replacing annual appraisalsWhy AI cannot yet replace human expertise in compensation benchmarkingHow pay transparency raises the importance of trustworthy workforce dataWhy energy management may be leadership's next competitive advantageSteve's practical "Five to Twenty-Five" framework for improving business performanceLessons HR can borrow from elite sport without copying the clichĂ©sWhy culture fit and culture add should complement rather than compete with one anotherAdvice for emerging HR leaders on staying adaptable, collaborative, and humanIf you're interested in HR strategy, workforce planning, leadership, organizational performance, AI in HR, employee experience, or the future of work, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
For years, HR leaders have relied on dashboards to guide workforce decisions. But what happens when AI agents can analyse data, surface insights, and even recommend actions faster than any human?
In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, Bill Banham is joined by Ankita Poddar, speaker, blogger, and Senior Human Resources Business Partner at Amazon Web Services (AWS), to explore why the future of HR analytics isn't about building better dashboards - it's about asking better questions.
Fresh from her Disrupt Dublin presentation, "Dashboards Are Dead," Ankita explains how AI is fundamentally changing workforce planning, leadership, and organisational decision-making. Together, Bill and Ankita discuss why HR professionals must shift from reporting metrics to solving business problems, how global organisations are adapting to geopolitical uncertainty and changing talent mobility, and why leadership skills like empathy, systems thinking, and intellectual honesty are becoming more valuable than ever.
Whether you're an HR leader, People Analytics professional, Talent strategist, or simply curious about how AI is reshaping work, this conversation offers practical insights into what's coming next.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why traditional HR dashboards are becoming less valuable in an AI-driven world How AI agents are changing workforce analytics and decision-making Why better questions matter more than better reports How global businesses are adapting to geopolitical uncertainty and changing talent mobility What organisations are learning from the ongoing hybrid work experiment The five leadership capabilities every future leader will need: Intellectual honesty Empathy Systems thinking AI fluency The ability to slow down and think How leaders can rebuild trust through better communication Why HR professionals should look beyond HR for inspiration and innovationIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone passionate about the future of work.
Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
Missing episodes?
-
In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham talks with Chris Locke, Executive Director for Work + Family at Bright Horizons, about how employee benefits are evolving to meet the realities of modern life and work.
Traditional benefits packages were once built around a handful of standard offerings. Today, employers are being asked to support employees through a much wider range of life events and responsibilities, including fertility journeys, childcare challenges, menopause, eldercare responsibilities, and end-of-life care.
Chris explains why this shift is happening and what it means for HR leaders tasked with attracting, retaining, and supporting talent across an increasingly multi-generational workforce. The conversation explores the growing pressures faced by the "sandwich generation" â employees simultaneously caring for children and ageing relatives â and the significant impact caregiving responsibilities can have on wellbeing, productivity, engagement, and retention.
Bill and Chris also examine the growing complexity of benefits administration. Many organizations now manage dozens of benefits providers, creating fragmented employee experiences and making it difficult to demonstrate ROI. Chris shares practical insights into how benefits consolidation, personalization, and smarter technology can help organizations reduce friction and connect employees with the right support at the right time.
In this episode, listeners will learn:
How Chris Locke's career journey led him from sales and innovation into work and family supportWhy employee support expectations have changed dramatically over the past decadeThe impact of a multi-generational workforce on benefits strategyHow caregiving responsibilities affect employee wellbeing, productivity, and retentionWhy the sandwich generation presents a growing challenge for employersThe importance of making benefits easy to access at the moment of needHow personalization can improve employee engagement with benefitsThe hidden costs of managing 30-40 separate benefits providersWhy benefits consolidation can improve both employee experience and ROI measurementHow Bright Horizons is expanding from emergency care into expert guidance, planned care, and coachingPractical ways HR leaders can build a stronger business case for caregiving and wellbeing supportAbout Chris Locke
Chris Locke is Executive Director for Work + Family at Bright Horizons UK. He works with leading employers to develop solutions that help employees navigate the challenges of balancing work and personal responsibilities across every stage of life. His experience spans leadership, innovation, learning, and workforce support, helping organizations create more inclusive and effective employee experiences.
Key Takeaway
Employee benefits are no longer simply about offering perks. The most effective organizations are building life-stage support ecosystems that help employees navigate real-world challenges while improving retention, engagement, productivity, and business performance.
Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to HRchat, leave a review, and share this conversation with an HR leader who is rethinking their benefits strategy.
Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
What does it take to modernize HR systems in a complex, highly operational organization without damaging trust, culture, or employee engagement along the way?
In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham sits down with John Kennedy, HR leader at Irish Rail, to explore the realities of HR transformation in organizations where legacy systems, long-standing processes, and deeply embedded ways of working have become part of the culture itself.
John shares practical insights from leading large-scale change initiatives, including the implementation of Oracle Cloud HCM, and explains why successful transformation requires much more than simply replacing technology. Together, Bill and John discuss how HR leaders can redesign work, build stakeholder trust, and create the conditions for sustainable change.
Drawing on his background in operational leadership, John also offers a refreshing perspective on HR service delivery, emphasizing the importance of understanding frontline realities and delivering support when leaders need it most.
In this episode, listeners will learn about:
Why legacy HR systems often become intertwined with organizational cultureThe challenges of modernizing HR processes in complex and unionized environmentsHow Oracle Cloud HCM implementations force organizations to rethink how work gets doneThe importance of openness, transparency, and honest communication during transformationBuilding trust through listening and providing clear reasons behind difficult decisionsDelivering HR services that create tangible value for employees and leadersLessons from operational leadership that can improve HR effectivenessWhy HR credibility depends on understanding the business, not just the people functionThe role of continuous improvement and lifelong learning in modern HR leadershipWhat great leadership could look like in a workplace increasingly shaped by AIKey Takeaways
"Legacy systems don't just store dataâthey store habits, workarounds, and decades of organizational history."
John explains why many transformation projects fail when organizations attempt to automate outdated processes rather than redesign them.
The conversation also highlights the importance of psychological safety and creating environments where employees feel comfortable challenging plans, raising concerns, and contributing ideas.
Looking ahead, Bill and John explore how AI may reshape work and discuss the leadership qualities that will become increasingly important as technology handles more routine tasks.
About John Kennedy
John Kennedy is an experienced HR and business leader at Irish Rail. Combining extensive operational leadership experience with deep expertise in people strategy, John is passionate about building effective HR services, supporting organizational transformation, and helping leaders navigate change. He is also actively involved with the HR profession through his work with the CIPD and his commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
Margins are under siege. Between tariffs, retail media costs, markdown pressure, and the explosion of e-commerce complexity, suppliers are juggling more P&L lines than everâand the fallout doesnât stop with finance. We sit down with Dallas Counts, COO at Vendormint and former Walmart/Samâs Club leader, to explore how operational strain shows up in culture, talent decisions, and the day-to-day realities of AR, logistics, and sales teams. The conversation goes beyond buzzwords and into the mechanics of building resilient organizations when chargebacks climb and retailer policies keep changing.
Dallas breaks down why deduction recovery is only half the story and how the real win comes from fixing root causesâmodernizing legacy systems, aligning with retailer tech shifts, and empowering tenured teams to embrace new tools. We dig into a practical, human approach to AI: where it truly helps, how to communicate its impact without triggering panic, and why hiring for adaptability now prevents painful corrections later. Youâll hear the hallmarks of healthy change managementâplain language objectives, weekly reinforcement, scenario training, and anonymous feedback loops that invite candor and speed adoption.
We also zoom out to strategy. From channel choices and cost-to-serve visibility to sourcing shifts and org design, agility becomes the differentiator. Dallas shares how clear decision rights cut through blame loops, why transparent goals keep people moving in the same direction, and how to structure cross-functional teams so they can act fast when policies or tariffs move overnight. If you lead HR, operations, or revenue teams in retail or adjacent industries, this playbook helps you protect margins, reduce leakage, and keep your best people engaged through change.
Enjoy the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating chargebacks or system rollouts. Your feedback helps us bring on more leaders like Dallas and keep the conversation sharp.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
The fastest way to lose trust as a leader is to pretend youâre fine when youâre not. Bill Bannham sits down with leadership strategist and emotional intelligence practitioner Russell Robinson to unpack a deceptively simple idea: leadership has to be âselfishâ first. Not selfish in the ego sense, but selfish in the disciplined sense of knowing your values, naming your non-negotiables, protecting your well-being, and building the self-awareness needed to show up consistently for other people.
We talk about whatâs changing across generations and what isnât. No matter your age, people want meaningful work, to feel heard, and to operate in a psychologically safe culture where they can take smart risks. But Russell explains why Gen Z and younger Millennials are bringing more of the outside world into the workplace, and why emotionally intelligent leaders have to meet that reality with curiosity, not control. The conversation also gets practical for HR pros and talent leaders: hiring emotionally intelligent people early, building leadership development programs that strengthen self-awareness, and treating relationship-building as âpersonal currency,â not a soft extra.
Then we go straight at uncertainty. When the world feels unstable and fear shows up, Russell shares what separates leaders who keep teams grounded from those who amplify stress. We explore decision-making without guarantees, learning loops after setbacks, and how to be realistic while still giving people confidence that the sun will come up.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
AI is moving faster than most workplaces can rewrite their playbooks, and that raises a blunt question: if machines can handle more tasks, what should people leaders double down on? We sit down with chartered psychologist and leadership coach Dr. Mary Collins to make the case that emotional intelligence, empathy, and relationship building are not ânice to haveâ anymore. They are the skills that keep teams healthy, productive, and connected when the pace of change keeps spiking.
We get practical about what AI can and cannot replace, including a candid take on AI therapists and why deep trust still comes from human-to-human presence. From there, we zoom in on the real cost of distraction at work: weaker listening, thinner connection, and declining empathy. Mary shares why this matters for culture, mental health, and performance, plus how leaders can rebuild attention and communication habits in everyday moments like 1:1s and hard conversations.
Gen Z at work is a major focus too. We unpack the strengths younger workers bring, the data on stress tolerance and wellbeing, and what leaders often miss when managing intergenerational teams. Mary also breaks down three emotional intelligence competencies she consistently sees in leaders who thrive through uncertainty: self-awareness, cognitive empathy, and adaptability. If you care about leadership development, workplace wellbeing, and building human skills in an AI-driven workplace, this one will give you clear language and smarter next steps.
Subscribe for more conversations on the future of work, share this with a leader whoâs navigating change, and leave a review with your take: which human skill will matter most over the next decade?Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
Workplace bullying isnât rare â itâs a persistent, under-recognised business risk that quietly erodes culture, trust, and retention.
In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham speaks with Mary Cullen, Founder and Managing Director at Insight HR and host of The HR Room, to unpack the findings from the Insight HR Irish Workplace Bullying Report 2026.
Together, they explore what workplace bullying really means in practice â and why the legal definition often clashes with employee expectations. Mary shares patterns she sees time and again: complaints most frequently involve managers, the emotional toll affects both the accuser and accused, and unresolved issues often lead to exits, damaged trust, and long-term cultural harm.
The conversation goes beyond definitions to tackle what organisations get wrong. Many companies have policies, but far fewer invest in meaningful training, conflict resolution skills, or investigation capability. Bill and Mary also challenge the idea of âzero tolerance,â particularly when high performers are protected despite poor behaviour.
Youâll learn why complaints can spike during restructuring or performance management cycles, why malicious complaints are less common than assumed, and the single most effective step organisations can take to reduce risk quickly: train managers properly.
In this episode:
What the latest Irish data reveals about bullying complaints The difference between bullying and poor management behaviour Why legal thresholds create confusion in real workplaces The impact on mental health, performance, and retention Where most organisations fall short (even with policies in place) Why âzero toleranceâ often fails in practice How to reduce risk quickly with limited budgetIf you care about psychological safety, employee relations, and building a culture where people actually want to stay â this episode is essential listening.
Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
A candidate can look perfect on paper and still become the person who damages your culture, erodes trust, or puts your employer brand at risk with a single post.
In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham speaks with Ben Mones, founder and CEO of Fama, about how âpeople riskâ has evolved in a world where work and behaviour increasingly play out online.
With up to six generations now sharing the workforce and hybrid work pushing more interaction into platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, and Discord â the line between âonlineâ and âat workâ is disappearing. HR leaders must now rethink how they identify, assess, and manage risk in a way that is ethical, compliant, and fair.
Ben explains why regulators are starting to treat online behaviour as workplace conduct, how public posts can amplify organisational risk, and what HR teams can do to stay ahead â without turning hiring into surveillance.
What Youâll Learn:
Why people risk is increasingly visible in digital spaces How online behaviour can impact culture, trust, and employer brand The growing role of regulation in workplace conduct beyond the office Why intent and patterns matter more than one-off mistakes How to build a meaningful, modern code of conduct Ethical AI in hiring: moving beyond black-box decision-making The importance of consent, transparency, and public-only data Why AI should support â not replace â human hiring decisions A future-facing take: why employers may soon encourage candidates to use AIKey Takeaway:
The risks arenât new â but where and how they show up has changed. HR leaders who adapt their approach to people risk in digital environments will be better positioned to protect culture, trust, and brand.About the Guest:
Ben Mones is the Founder and CEO of Fama, an AI-powered platform that helps organisations identify job-relevant insights from candidatesâ public online presence while flagging potential misconduct risks. His work focuses on ethical AI, workplace safety, and the future of hiring.Call to Action:
If you care about ethical AI, safer hiring, and protecting workplace culture, follow HRchat, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a review to help others discover the show.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
AI is forcing a question many leaders would rather avoid: are we improving work â or quietly deleting it?
In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, Bill Banham is joined by Kevin Oakes, CEO and co-founder of the Institute for Corporate Productivity and author of Culture Renovation, to cut through the hype and explore whatâs actually changing inside organisations right now.
Together, they compare the current AI moment to the early internet era â but with one critical difference: speed. Kevin explains why many organisations start with efficiency and ROI conversations before addressing workforce design, and why that sequence is starting to break down as AI reshapes roles, entry-level pathways, and management structures.
The conversation also explores emerging use cases such as digital twins, the growing importance of skills readiness, and why HR is increasingly stepping into a central role in shaping AI strategy. With examples from companies like ServiceNow and IBM, Kevin outlines how leading organisations are approaching workforce redesign, internal mobility, and culture in a more intentional, data-driven way.
What Youâll Learn:
Why AI adoption is moving faster than the early internet â and catching companies off guard How AI is reshaping jobs, entry-level roles, and organisational structures Why organisations default to efficiency conversations before workforce design The emerging role of digital twins in HR, coaching, and decision-making Why HR is becoming the architect of the future of work How leading companies approach skills readiness and workforce planning The importance of mapping human vs AI tasks across roles Why internal talent mobility is critical for reskilling at scale How culture health and change readiness are becoming board-level prioritiesKey Takeaway:
AI isnât just a technology shift â itâs a work design challenge. Organisations that rethink skills, structure, and culture together will be best positioned to adapt.About the Guest:
Kevin Oakes is the CEO and co-founder of the Institute for Corporate Productivity, a research organisation focused on the practices of high-performance companies. He is also the author of Culture Renovation, a widely cited book on building and sustaining high-performance workplace cultures.Call to Action:
Subscribe to HRchat, share this episode with an HR or business leader building an AI roadmap, and leave a review with the biggest work redesign you expect to see next.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
âI think Iâm resigning.â Jennifer Outlaw still remembers blurting those words out in a meeting, and the clarity that followed. That single moment opens a bigger conversation about career reinvention, values-based leadership, and what it really means to be successful when the job looks great on paper but feels wrong in your body.
Pauline James is joined by Jennifer Outlaw, a values-rooted leadership strategist, licensed clinical social worker, and organizational change consultant with decades of nonprofit leadership experience. We talk about why sheâs less interested in formal leadership titles now and more committed to being a builder and connector. Jennifer shares how getting honest about what she actually loves to do, like strategizing, teaching, and creating, has changed how she shows up at work. We also explore why play is not fluff, especially for leaders navigating fast change, burnout risk, and the pressure to keep producing.
If youâre feeling stuck, depleted, or nervous about making a change, youâll hear practical steps you can try today: start with quiet reflection, name your intention, test your strengths with trusted friends, find communities that align with your goals, and consider working with a coach to spark new options. Jennifer also offers a powerful reminder for HR leaders and executives alike: your job title is not your identity, and your ânext chapterâ can be designed around healing, sustainability, and purpose.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership development and the future of work, share this with someone who needs a reset, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What would you pursue if you stopped chasing titles?Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
Workplace wellbeing is everywhere, yet too many programs still feel like duct tape on a deeper problem. Bill Banham sits down with Professor Jo Yarker, Professor of Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck University of London and managing partner at Affinity Health at Work, to get practical about what actually drives healthy performance and what HR leaders can do when quick fixes fail.
We dig into why the âtick boxâ approach breaks down, how to measure whether an intervention truly helps, and why job design often matters more than another round of stress training. Jo walks Bill through the IGLU framework, a multi-level model that looks at resources across the individual, group, leader, and organization, plus the wider world outside work. If one layer is missing, people feel exposed, and performance stops being sustainable.
From there, we get real about flexible work: when it boosts wellbeing and when it quietly creates strain as teams juggle competing needs. We also cover return to work after sickness absence, including mental health absence, and the small leadership choices that can prevent someone from feeling overwhelmed on day one. Jo shares overlooked psychological risks tied to international business travel, and we close with a forward look at healthy organizations in an AI-shaped labor market, including responsible technology, data transparency, consent, and support for different digital mindsets.
Subscribe for more conversations on workplace health, share this with an HR leader who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
Your HR tech stack can feel like a living creature: new tools arrive, contracts renew, integrations sprawl, and suddenly you are paying multiple vendors for the same capability. We wanted a grounded conversation on how to regain control, so Bill Banham brought back Matthew Hamilton, VP of People Analytics and HRIS at Protective Life, to talk about building a guiding HR tech strategy that actually drives decisions when the pressure is on.
We dig into why consolidation is not automatically the goal and how the real win is finding the right balance between an all-in-one platform and a maze of point solutions. Matthew shares how his team sets a clear vision, then makes it actionable with guiding principles that serve as a North Star when leaders disagree. From there, we get specific about what to document in your HR technology roadmap: a clear inventory of vendors and capabilities, centralized visibility into spend, an ecosystem map that reveals overlap, and a long-range plan built around subscription renewals so you do not accidentally box yourself into bad timing.
If RFPs have ever felt like a procurement checkbox exercise, you will like this part. We talk about owning the process inside HR, partnering effectively with procurement and IT security, and writing capability-based requirements that invite better vendor responses without creating a 900-item monster. We also cover how to build an HR tech business case and ROI story that resonates with executives by tying benefits to what matters most right now: cost savings, reduced complexity, employee experience, better analytics, and risk control. Plus, Matthew shares how market research resources and even generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot can help validate a shortlist faster.
If you want to stop being a passenger in HRIS and HR tech decisions, listen, subscribe, share this with your HR leadership team, and leave a review so more HR pros can find the show.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
For decades, careers have been framed as a linear path, one that builds, peaks, and then winds down. But what if that model no longer reflects how we live and work today?
In this episode of The Next Chapter, Pauline James, CEO of Anchor HR, speaks with Dr. Suzanne Cook, a Canadian social gerontologist and adult educator whose research is reshaping how we understand later-life careers. At the heart of the conversation is her concept of âredirectionâ, a stage where individuals transition into new, meaningful work in the second half of life rather than stepping away from it entirely.
Drawing on her research and real-world insights, Dr. Cook explains how people are navigating this shift, often independently, seeking both purpose and income. While some are driven by a desire for fulfillment, others continue working out of financial necessity, revealing a complex and evolving picture of todayâs workforce.
The discussion also surfaces the realities behind these transitions. Redirection is rarely quick or straightforward; it can take months or even years, requiring resilience, new skills, and significant personal investment. At the same time, systemic challenges, particularly ageism, continue to limit opportunities for experienced workers, highlighting the need for organizations to rethink how they attract, support, and retain talent across all career stages.
In this episode, youâll learn:
What âredirectionâ means and why it matters now more than everHow later-life career transitions are changing traditional career modelsThe key challenges individuals face when reinventing their workWhy ageism remains a critical barrier and how to address itHow organizations can better engage and support experienced talentWhether youâre an HR leader, people manager, or simply reflecting on your own next chapter, this episode will challenge assumptions and open new ways of thinking about work and life at every stage.
Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham is joined by Ingo Piroth, Chief Revenue Officer at Emapta Global, a leader in building high-performing global teams for some of the worldâs fastest-growing companies.
Listen as they explore how outsourcing and offshore teams are evolving into a strategic lever for workforce transformation.
With over 30 years of experience across global technology, outsourcing, and digital transformation, Ingo shares what organizations must get right to build high-performing distributed teams that go beyond cost savings and drive real business impact.
Together, they unpack a practical 90-day blueprint for launching offshore teams successfullyâcovering clarity of roles, workflow design, and leadership alignment. The conversation also explores how culture is built across borders, why governance matters more than ever, and how AI is reshaping outsourcing from labor arbitrage to capability arbitrage.
If you're scaling globally, rethinking workforce strategy, or exploring outsourcing in 2025 and beyond, this episode offers actionable insights to help you avoid common pitfalls and build sustainable, high-performing teams.
Key Topics Covered:
Workforce transformation through outsourcing and offshore teams The critical first 90 days when building global teams Designing clear roles, expectations, and workflows Why âminimum viable workflowsâ outperform perfection Embedding leadership to build trust across locations Creating culture through rituals, relationships, and recognition Structuring teams for agility through standardization What to demand from outsourcing partners beyond cost savings AIâs role in shifting outsourcing to capability arbitrage Managing compliance, risk, and privacy across international markets Aligning HR, finance, operations, and delivery teams Leadership skills for managing distributed, outcome-based teamsAbout the Guest
Ingo Piroth has held senior leadership roles at global organizations including IBM, SAP, AT&T, and Cognizant Softvision. He brings deep expertise in helping organizations scale through global talent strategies and operational transformation.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
Hiring used to be about looking shinier than the competition. Now that AI can polish any resume to perfection, the real work is separating signal from noiseâand telling the truth about what it takes to thrive. In this episode, Bill Banham sits down with Bryan Adams, CEO and founder of Happydance, to unpack why employer branding is key to business strategy, why âfriction by designâ beats mindless speed, and how culture can be measured and used as a competitive advantage.
Bill and Bryan talk through the new landscape: soaring application volumes, keyword-perfect CVs, and the growing need to qualify rather than simply attract. Bryan shares how his team built focused toolsâjob matching, a smart employer brand manager, and a culture compassâto help candidates self-select and help recruiters spend time where it matters. Instead of showcasing 1,200 roles, the experience narrows choices to the few that match mindset, behaviors, and real capability needs. The outcome is fewer mismatches, faster clarity, and a candidate journey that respects everyoneâs time.
We also explore how DEI has evolved from a label to embedded practice through authentic storytelling and social proof. By elevating employee voices and openly stating the âgive and getâ of work, companies help people make better decisions before they apply. That honesty can feel bold, but it reduces churn and strengthens teams that already operate in high-change environments. Along the way, Bryan offers a candid 2026 outlook, practical guardrails for AI-era hiring, and a vision for employer brand that finally earns its seat at the C-suite table.
If youâre ready to move from volume to value, design smarter hiring steps, and sell the truth without the hype, this conversation is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review telling us your favorite tactic for improving fit.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
AI is no longer a future conceptâitâs embedded in day-to-day HR operations. But with adoption comes pressure: to prove ROI, manage new risks, and rethink workforce strategies.
In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, Bill Banham speaks with Craig McCoy, Chair of the HR Connection Group and a trusted advisor to boards and C-suite leaders across the UK. With leadership experience at Sky, BT, BUPA, and The Crown Estate, Craig brings a front-row view into what senior HR leaders are really discussing behind closed doors.
Together, they unpack the realities of AI in HR, from automation wins to unexpected workload increases, and explore how shifting employment laws and economic pressures are reshaping workforce planning.
They also tackle one of the biggest emerging challenges: what happens to entry-level roles when AI begins to replace the work that traditionally starts careers?
Key Topics Covered:
AI in HR: From hype to real-world deployment Proving ROI on AI investments Automation vs. new workload: the hidden trade-off Employees using AI for grievances and complaints UK Employment Rights Act: risks and implications Rising employment costs and cautious hiring strategies Strategic workforce planning and skills prioritisation Recruitment challenges in a volatile labour market The growing threat to entry-level roles Apprenticeships, work experience, and future talent pipelinesWhy This Episode Matters:
HR leaders are navigating a perfect storm of AI disruption, regulatory change, and economic pressure. This conversation offers grounded insights into whatâs working, whatâs not, and what needs urgent attention.About Craig McCoy:
Craig is Chair of the HR Connection Group and London HR Connection, a thriving community of senior HR professionals across the UK. A former Chief People Officer and experienced NED, Craig has held leadership roles at organisations including Sky, BT, BUPA, and The Crown Estate.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
The future of work isnât about trends - itâs about design.
From the Cpl studio in Dublin, Bill Banham sits down with Barry Winkless, Head of the Future of Work Institute at Cpl and author of Future Work World, to explore whatâs really changing in work, HR, and leadership - and what organizations need to do next.
Barry shares a practical framework for understanding the future of work through three core lenses: "Workplace, Workforce, and Worktasks". Together, they unpack how HR leaders can move beyond policies and become designers of better organizations, stronger employee value propositions, and more compelling talent destinations.
Youâll also hear insights on:
The real drivers of employee retention and engagementWhy leadership teams often misread what talent actually wantsFlexible work, hybrid work, and the presence vs performance debateAI in HR and the workplace: human replacement vs human augmentationBuilding future-ready organizations with human-centered designThe rise of cooperative leadership and shared accountabilityUsing storytelling and âfuture objectsâ to improve strategic decisionsIf youâre an HR leader, talent strategist, or business executive navigating AI, hybrid work, and workforce transformation, this episode offers a clear and actionable perspective on designing the future of work.
Connect with Barry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-winkless-7357094/Check out Barry's new book: https://www.amazon.com/Future-Work-World-Leaders-Destinations/dp/1394349378
Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
What does it take to scale technology without leaving your people behind? Bill Banham sits down with Valerie Capers Workman - CHRO at Empower Pharmacy and author of Quantum Progression - to unpack the real playbook for building an AI-enabled workforce that is faster, fairer, and future-ready.
Valerie makes a clear case: human AI collaboration works when employees know exactly what to use and why it matters. Vague tool choices and unspoken fears, says Valerie, stall adoption and deepen inequity. She lays out how HR can design mandatory learning that raises the floor, surfaces slow adopters, and creates a shared language around safety, compliance, and culture. From regulated pharma to fast-moving tech, the goal is the sameâpair people and systems so trust, speed, and quality rise together.
We also challenge conventional views of the CHRO role. Valerie argues the seat is now a tech role, not at the expense of empathy, but in service of scalable systems and competitive advantage. She explains how to partner with CIOs, teach search firms to screen for AI-capable executives, and rewrite job descriptions around AI fluency. When headcount requests come in, the first questions become: what can AI do, what canât it do, and how do we decide that mix responsibly? Her lessons from hypergrowth translate into todayâs AI-first workforce planning.
On careers, Valerie champions âquantum leapsâ over ladders. Identify your core strengthsâcommunication, analytics, strategy, peopleâand apply them across domains, using AI to compress the time it takes to learn industry context. She spotlights two urgent skills for leaders: data fluency and prompt engineering. Build comfort with the metrics your C-suite needs, and craft rich prompts that turn AI into a true thinking partner. Use multiple modelsâClaude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grokâto triangulate insights and raise decision quality.
Ready to lead with clarity instead of fear? Follow along for practical tactics, candid stories, and a roadmap to make your teamâand your careerâ10x more resilient. If this conversation helped you think differently, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review so others can find the show.Follow and connect with Valerie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieworkman/
Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. -
The ground keeps shifting under every org chart, and AI is speeding up the tempo. We sit down with Tom McCarty, CEO of OrgChart, to map a practical path to an AI-ready organization that doesnât lose sight of people. Tom has helped thousands of companies redesign during M&A, hypergrowth, and downturns, and he shares why most reorgs fail before they start: leaders donât have a single, live view of their workforce. If your headcount model lives in a dusty spreadsheet, youâre guessing, not planning.
We dig into the steady state of uncertainty that now defines workforce planning and how to build credible what-if scenarios. Tom breaks down the data foundationâconnecting HRIS, ATS, LMS, performance systems, and acquisitions into one trusted sourceâso you can see roles, skills, critical talent, and team dependencies in real time. From there, we explore where AI agents fit in the org chart, how to design for complementarity rather than replacement, and why judgment and empathy still decide the final call. Visualizing teams with real people, not just cells, helps leaders avoid costly mistakes like cutting the quiet expert who holds a process together.
Trust is the next frontier. Tom lays out a clear approach to data security, access controls, and staged AI adoption that protects sensitive information while unlocking speed. We also tackle HRâfinance collaboration: how bottom-line targets become brittle when handed off in silos, and how cross-functional planning aligns goals over one, two, and three years. Communication emerges as the underrated superpowerâfree HR from data chasing so they can orchestrate the trade-offs, sequence change, and tell a story people can follow.
If youâre a CHRO or people leader standing at the starting line of AI-enabled org design, Tomâs first move is decisive: get an accurate current-state view before buying tools. From there, let AI be the copilot that surfaces options while your leaders make the calls. Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, share with a colleague making 2026 plans, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.Support the show
Feature Your Brand on the HRchat Podcast
Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. - Show more
