AI: Magic or Miss? Potential. Cheap Labor. Productivity Mirage. Brain Fry.

What the Hell is Going on with Work Right Now? w/ HR Brew's Adam DeRose and People Managing People's David Rice

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2280460/fan_mail/new] What the hell is happening at work right now? After a spring packed with HR, AI, leadership, and future-of-work conferences, we sat down with Adam DeRose (HR Brew) and David Rice (People Managing People) for an honest conversation about what they’re actually seeing inside organizations right now. And honestly? The vibes are weird. In this episode, we dig into: * why work feels increasingly unstable and disconnected * the growing trust gap between leaders and employees * AI adoption vs. actual transformation * layoffs being made on “promises that haven’t reconciled” * burnout, disengagement, and survival mode at work * why organizations keep layering new strategies onto systems that can’t support them * the tension between speed, pressure, and thoughtful leadership * what gives them hope (yes, there’s some hope) This isn’t a polished “AI will save us” conversation. It’s four people who spend their lives studying work, reporting on work, and redesigning work trying to make sense of a moment that feels increasingly uncertain for a lot of people. Come for the state of work. Stay for the existential crisis, plumber bots, and surprisingly deep thoughts about human greatness. Featuring: * Adam DeRose, Senior Reporter at HR Brew [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-derose/] * David Rice, Executive Editor at People Managing People [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-j-rice13/] New episodes every Tuesday (sometimes Wednesday - hey, we're indie) from Your Work Friends. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! * On The Socials!  You Tube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAL9szUM3KOHHB-3dLSQXgA], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1], Instagram [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1] on LinkedIn - Mel [http://linkedin.com/in/melissamplett] + Francesca [http://linkedin.com/in/francescaranieri]. * The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9558237/] * Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com [friend@yourworkfriends.com]

From Cigarettes to Smoke-Free: What Real Transformation Actually Takes w/ Philip Morris International's Dr. Kaleen Love

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2280460/fan_mail/new] From cigarettes… to smoke-free. What does real organizational transformation actually take? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kaleen Love, U.S. Chief People and Culture Officer at Philip Morris International, to explore what it looks like to lead change inside one of the most complex business transformations happening in real time. As PMI works toward a smoke-free future by 2030, Kaleen shares a candid look at the human side of transformation. From power dynamics and passive resistance to burnout, culture, leadership, and AI, this conversation breaks down why change is never just about strategy. It’s about how people respond when identity, control, and the future all start shifting at once. We explore: *  Why resistance at work is often a signal, not a problem  *  How power dynamics shape employee behavior during change  *  Why traditional change management breaks down at scale  *  The difference between managing change and leading it  *  How organizations can build culture that actually supports transformation  *  Why human judgment matters even more in an AI-enabled workplace  *  The role of courage, energy management, and self-awareness in modern leadership  A practical, thoughtful, and refreshingly honest conversation about what it really takes to move an organization from strategy to execution. About Dr. Kaleen Love: Dr. Kaleen Love (PhD) is a pioneering social scientist, organizational strategist, and the U.S. Chief People & Culture Officer at Philip Morris International (PMI). She joined PMI in 20 [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kaleen-love-phd-4b995723_just-over-three-months-ago-i-touched-down-activity-7134942022586527744-zcZA]21 https://www.unleash.ai/unleashamerica/contributors/kaleen-love-phd/to lead organizational strategy for 80,000 employees globally and took over her current role leading the PMI U.S. People & Culture team in 2023, supporting the company's mission of a smoke-free future. Prior to her tenure at PMI, Kaleen held various roles in the public and private sectors. For the first decade of her career, she worked primarily with NGOs and government institutions, focusing on gender equality, women’s empowerment and reproductive health. Kaleen transitioned to the private sector in 2008 as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, focusing on financial services clients. She later joined Capital One, where, as chief of staff to the president of the company’s retail and direct bank, she led the communication team and founded the bank’s first centralized customer insights, research and analytics fun Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! * On The Socials!  You Tube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAL9szUM3KOHHB-3dLSQXgA], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1], Instagram [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1] on LinkedIn - Mel [http://linkedin.com/in/melissamplett] + Francesca [http://linkedin.com/in/francescaranieri]. * The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9558237/] * Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com [friend@yourworkfriends.com]

AI: Magic or Miss? Potential. Cheap Labor. Productivity Mirage. Brain Fry.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2280460/fan_mail/new] AI: Magic or Miss AI has officially become the corporate answer to everything. Need more productivity? AI. Need fewer people? AI. Need to sound innovative on an earnings call? Definitely AI. But underneath all the hype, a real question is starting to creep in: Is this actually making work better — or are we just making bigger decisions on shakier logic? In this episode, we get into the gap between the promise of AI and what’s actually happening inside organizations right now: burnout, bad strategy, fuzzy thinking, and leaders making workforce bets before the evidence is really there. We talk about where AI is genuinely useful, where it’s being wildly overapplied, and why so many companies seem more focused on not falling behind than on solving a real problem. Because this tech could be magical. It could free people up for better thinking, better work, and better outcomes. But that’s not where a lot of organizations are headed. They’re chasing efficiency. They’re cutting before redesigning. And they’re mistaking motion for strategy. So: is AI a breakthrough? Or are we using it in ways that quietly make work worse? That’s the conversation. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! * On The Socials!  You Tube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAL9szUM3KOHHB-3dLSQXgA], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1], Instagram [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1] on LinkedIn - Mel [http://linkedin.com/in/melissamplett] + Francesca [http://linkedin.com/in/francescaranieri]. * The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9558237/] * Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com [friend@yourworkfriends.com]

More Than What You Do: How to Rebuild Identify, Purpose and Direction After Leaving a Role That Defined You w/Former NFL'er and Leadership Coach Alex Molden

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2280460/fan_mail/new] What happens when the thing that defined you ends? In this episode, we sit down with former NFL first-round draft pick Alex Molden [https://alexmoldenspeaks.com]to talk about reinvention, identity, and what it actually takes to build the next version of yourself. After spending eight years in the NFL, Alex had to face a question a lot of people are asking right now: who are you when the role, career, or identity you built your life around no longer fits? In this conversation, he opens up about the loss of identity that came after football, the moment a job interview forced him to confront it, and the framework he used to rebuild from there. We get into: * Why career transitions can feel like identity collapse * The difference between what you do and who you are * Alex’s framework for reinvention: alignment, assignment, adjustment, and assessment * How to practice becoming the person you want to be * What to do if you’re in the middle of a pivot, layoff, retirement, or major life change If you’re navigating a transition, questioning your next move, or trying to build a version of yourself that fits your life now, this one’s for you. Subscribe for more conversations on work, leadership, identity, and the future of how we live and work. About Alex Molden: Alex helps high-performers (especially athletes and leaders) master their transitions, elevate their influence, and lead with purpose. Whether on the field, in the boardroom, or at a retreat, he brings a proven playbook built from real experience, hard-won lessons, and intentional growth. ✔️ Drafted #11 overall in the 1996 NFL Draft ✔️ 8-year NFL veteran turned respected leadership consultant  ✔️ 2x Author ✔️ Creator of the "A4" framework ✔️ Trusted by athletes, teams, and corporate leaders nationwide www.alexmoldenspeaks.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! * On The Socials!  You Tube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAL9szUM3KOHHB-3dLSQXgA], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1], Instagram [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1] on LinkedIn - Mel [http://linkedin.com/in/melissamplett] + Francesca [http://linkedin.com/in/francescaranieri]. * The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9558237/] * Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com [friend@yourworkfriends.com]

The Tech is Here. People are the Decision. Our Download from the UNLEASH America Conference.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2280460/fan_mail/new] We just got back from UNLEASH America with one big conclusion: The tech decision is over. The people decision is still up for grabs. In this episode, we break down what we heard from some of the biggest voices in AI, HR, leadership, and the future of work and where the conversation is getting very real, very fast. Because right now, companies are saying humans are the competitive advantage. At the exact same time, the market is rewarding cuts, automation, and cheaper labor. That contradiction is the story. We get into the three futures of work, why AI training is becoming obsolete almost as soon as it’s delivered, why psychological safety is suddenly a business survival issue, why middle managers are getting absolutely hammered, and why so many organizations are mistaking tool adoption for actual transformation. We also unpack the bigger questions underneath all of it: What work still belongs to humans? What happens when AI can generate the output? What skills actually matter now? And who is making these choices for everyone else? Inside the episode: * the three possible futures of work * why the AI and jobs conversation feels so chaotic * insights from Ethan Mollick, Amy Edmondson, Gary Bolles, and more * why you can’t install your way through change * how culture debt is building inside organizations * the pressure building on managers, employees, and leaders * and 8 practical moves to respond right now If you work in HR, leadership, talent, strategy, learning, or you’re just trying to figure out what AI is actually doing to work, this episode is for you. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! * On The Socials!  You Tube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAL9szUM3KOHHB-3dLSQXgA], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1], Instagram [https://www.tiktok.com/@your.work.friends?_t=8ht7EwIBvJb&_r=1] on LinkedIn - Mel [http://linkedin.com/in/melissamplett] + Francesca [http://linkedin.com/in/francescaranieri]. * The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9558237/] * Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com [friend@yourworkfriends.com]