Work 2.0: The Podcast

Adecco CEO Denis Machuel Explains The AI Workplace Readiness Gap Crisis, Ep. #28

What does it take to scale AI across an organization? Rachel Wells talks with Denis Machuel, CEO of Adecco Group, about key findings from the newly-released 2026 Business Leaders Report [https://www.adeccogroup.com/our-thinking/flagship-research/business-leaders-research-2026] — a survey of 2,000 C‑suite leaders across 13 countries. The conversation reveals a worrying gap: the proportion of “future‑ready” organizations has dropped, and only a minority of leaders have talent strategies that clearly show how AI will create opportunities for workers. Denis argues that successful AI adoption hinges on people‑centered leadership: measuring trust as a business metric, co‑designing job changes with employees, prioritizing upskilling (only 22% of leaders feel confident they’re developing AI skills), and deploying agents where they augment frontline work. He shares real examples from Adecco on how co‑design and focusing agents on client‑facing processes have increased job satisfaction and adoption. A must‑listen for leaders who want to avoid resistance and wasted investment, and instead build an AI‑enabled workforce that works with people, not to replace them. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more. Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend. Get full access to Work 2.0 at therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe [https://therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Leading Artemis II: NASA's Vanessa Wyche on Mission, Teams, and "Grit," Ep. #27

Join Rachel Wells for a conversation with Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, who led teams on the ground through the Artemis II mission. Vanessa breaks down how mission success is engineered through readiness and systems thinking, and defines “gritty” leadership. She also shares how NASA is bringing AI into everyday work with a “summer of AI” that invited teams to experiment. If you work in high‑stakes decision‑making, building lasting leadership pipelines, or practical AI adoption across functions, this episode is for you. What you’ll learn * How NASA tested Artemis II and built team structures that demand clear judgment * The “summer of AI” approach: treating AI as a tool for every role, from comms to engineers * Vanessa’s leadership framework: vision, readiness, and what “grit” means 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more. Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend. Get full access to Work 2.0 at therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe [https://therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

TikTok, Weddings, Airports: The Weird New Places Companies Recruit, with Dr. Jasmine Escalera (Zety), Ep. #26

What happens when AI makes every resume look perfect? On this episode of Work 2.0 Rachel sits down with Dr. Jasmine Escalera, career expert at Zety, to unpack the rise of “off‑the‑clock” recruiting — hiring that happens in real life, outside job boards and ATS. Highlights you’ll hear: * Shocking hiring hotspots: hiring conversations are happening in restaurants (42%), grocery stores (32%) and even airports (20%). * Why TikTok is now a recruitment channel (it ranked #1 in Zety’s social media research). * Practical advice for candidates and hiring leaders to play the game of offline recruiting fairly to get a win-win Whether you hire, hire for, or are looking for work, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in for surprising data, practical tips, and a human‑first take on the future of recruiting. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more. Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend. Get full access to Work 2.0 at therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe [https://therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Coaching for Performance in The Age of AI, With Tiffany Gaskell (CEO, Performance Consultants), Ep. #25

In this episode Rachel speaks with Tiffany Gaskell, CEO of Performance Consultants and co‑author of Coaching for Performance, about how AI is reshaping leadership — for better and worse. The interview unpacks the central tension leaders face today: AI can drive enormous efficiency, but when used as a substitute for presence it can erode trust, psychological safety, and long‑term innovation. Should AI coaches replace human coaches in the professional development and transformation space? Listen to Gaskell’s take and discover what it takes to lead and coach teams in the AI era. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more. Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend. Get full access to Work 2.0 at therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe [https://therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Why Every Founder Needs to Build a Content Engine, With Tyler Denk (beehiiv), Ep. #24

In this episode of Work 2.0, Rachel Wells sits down with Tyler Denk, CEO and co‑founder of beehiiv, to explore how creators, founders, and organizations should rethink content in an AI‑enabled world. Tyler — who helped build Morning Brew’s tech and growth engine and launched beehiiv in 2021 — explains why creator-led strategies are becoming essential business infrastructure, how AI can augment (not replace) unique human expertise, and the practical steps creators can take to scale multi‑channel businesses and monetize effectively. What we cover Why “abundance” and “diversity” are the defining words for the next wave of creators. How founder‑led marketing builds long‑term customer relationships and brand trust. Practical monetization options creators should consider: ads, subscriptions, and digital products. How AI and custom tools (MCP integrations) can automate tedious tasks — from subject‑line testing to advertiser reports — letting creators focus on differentiated, one‑of‑one content. Key takeaways Visibility is a long‑funnel business asset — content from founders and leaders converts over time. Use AI to augment workflows (editing, testing, reporting), but prioritize lived experience, unique analysis, and personal perspective that AI cannot replicate. Choose platforms that align with your business model and offer portability and monetization options — avoid closed ecosystems that extract revenue or lock you in. Consistency and experimentation are non‑negotiable for building durable audience businesses. Listen, subscribe, and share — full episode and clips available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Work 2.0’s newsletter. Want exclusive clips and behind‑the‑scenes insights? Subscribe via the link in bio. Get full access to Work 2.0 at therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe [https://therealrachelwells.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]