“Can Work Be Fun?” with Bree Groff, workplace expert and author of “Today was Fun,” and Mary Kate Stimmler, Practitioner Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford

“Can Work Be Fun?” with Bree Groff, workplace expert and author of “Today was Fun,” and Mary Kate Stimmler, Practitioner Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford

From Future of HR by JP Elliott

April 14, 2026 · 51 min · Episode 188

About this episode

This episode explores how leaders can make work enjoyable while maintaining high performance, featuring insights from workplace expert Bree Groff and behavioral sciences fellow Mary Kate Stimmler.

How can leaders make work both fun and drive high-performance? Why do the high performers find joy in intense work? My guests on this episode are Bree Groff, workplace expert and author of “Today was Fun,” and Mary Kate Stimmler, Practitioner Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford During our conversation, Bree, Mary Kate, and I discuss the following: Why the belief that high performance requires pressure and sacrifice is flawed How leaders can design work that creates energy, not burnout Why “fun” at work is about experience, not perks Why stress undermines creativity and long-term performance How small, everyday moments shape culture more than large-scale initiatives Connecting with Bree and Mary Kate presenters: Connect with Bree Groff on LinkedIn Learn more about Bree’s book, “Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously) Connect with Mary Kate Stimmler on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your…

People in this episode

Host: JP Elliott

Guests: Bree Groff, Mary Kate Stimmler

Topics covered

  • workplace culture
  • high performance
  • leadership
  • employee engagement
  • creativity
  • burnout prevention

Keywords

  • fun at work
  • high performance
  • leadership strategies
  • employee satisfaction
  • work culture
  • creativity
  • burnout

Sponsors

Next-Gen HR Accelerator, HR Leader’s Blueprint, Succession Planning Playbook

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford, Succession Planning Playbook

Books & works: Today was Fun

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