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On the show
Recent episodes
Finding Good in the Hardest Moments with James Ferguson
May 5, 2026
Unknown duration
The Shift From Reactive to Proactive Mental Health at Work with Stephen Sokoler
Apr 28, 2026
Unknown duration
Why Human Performance Will Define the Next Era of Work with Dr. Jennifer Posa
Apr 21, 2026
Unknown duration
Why Engagement Numbers Haven't Budged and What Leaders Are Missing with Aoife O'Brien
Apr 14, 2026
Unknown duration
The Canary Code and What Neurodivergent Employees Are Trying to Tell You with Ludmila Praslova
Apr 10, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/5/26 | Finding Good in the Hardest Moments with James Ferguson | James Ferguson is back on the show to talk about his new book, Seek the Good and Celebrate, and the leadership framework that came out of 12 weeks of chemotherapy. He shares what it was like to lose his job, get a cancer diagnosis, and watch his wife go into early labor all in the same week, and how that experience rewired the way he shows up as a leader. We get into his CONFETTI model, the mindset shift from protecting your team to preparing them, why engagement is a practice and satisfaction is just a promise, and the simple Friday habit he uses to celebrate small wins. Practical, honest, and full of ideas any leader at any level can put to work tomorrow. Timestamps (00:00) Welcome and a quick word from our sponsor, Xenium HR (02:00) The mantra born during 12 weeks of chemotherapy (04:30) Job loss, a cancer diagnosis, and a premature birth in the same week (07:00) Finding the good in the worst day of your life (09:30) Why an attitude of gratitude has to be a daily habit (11:30) The CONFETTI framework explained (13:00) Why most leaders skip celebrating themselves (15:00) The Friday gratitude jar practice (18:00) Protect or prepare, the mindset shift every leader needs (21:00) Coaching your team by asking better questions (23:00) Engagement is a practice, satisfaction is a promise (25:00) What you want FROM people versus what you want FOR people (28:30) Why your biggest wins come on your worst days (31:00) What James would tell himself during treatment Learn more about James Ferguson A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders. About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube | — | ||||||
| 4/28/26 | The Shift From Reactive to Proactive Mental Health at Work with Stephen Sokoler | Most companies don't think about employee mental health until something goes wrong and by then, it's already too late. In this episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Stephen Sokoler, founder and CEO of Journey and author of The Mental Health Advantage, to make the case for flipping that script entirely. Stephen shares his own transformative personal journey from a decade of rollercoaster habits to discovering meditation through a book he bought at a mall and connects those lessons to what he's building at the organizational level. The conversation covers why traditional EAPs are fundamentally broken, what a 30%+ engagement rate looks like compared to the industry-standard 3%, how AI and tools like Journey Signal are enabling real-time proactive mental health support, and why culture change has to start at the top. Whether you're an HR leader, executive, or someone simply trying to build better habits, this episode is packed with insights you can't afford to miss! ⏱️ Key Timestamps 00:02 — Welcome & introductions: Stephen's book, The Mental Health Advantage, and the focus on proactive mental health at work 00:48 — Stephen's personal story: from gym rat to sloth — and how discovering a book called Buddhism for Busy People at a mall changed everything 02:22 — Demystifying meditation: why it's simple but not easy, and what consistent practice actually does for your day 05:05 — The reactive vs. proactive gap: why society — and employers — default to treating mental illness rather than building mental wellness 08:14 — The EAP problem: why only 3% of employees use their benefits, why EAPs are designed to stay in the background, and what a better model looks like 10:30 — Journey's approach: flipping the EAP model on its head to achieve 30–40%+ employee engagement and treating mental health as "the operating system of the company" 11:32 — Mental health is not a peak state: why the goal isn't to "achieve" mental wellness and check a box — it's an ongoing practice, like going to the gym 14:04 — Bridging the gap: supporting employees with diagnosed mental health conditions while simultaneously building a proactive culture for everyone else 16:13 — Constant engagement in practice: how Journey meets employees where they are — from Slack and Teams apps to break room tablets to daily check-in emojis 18:22 — Introducing Journey Signal: the real-time AI intelligence engine that detects patterns and reaches employees before burnout or turnover happens 20:06 — Wearables and the future of data: the promise and current limits of integrating biometric data into workplace mental health programs 22:00 — Leadership buy-in: why culture change starts at the top, and how a CEO's behavior — even indirectly — sets the mental health tone for 25,000 employees 24:36 — Industry-specific mental health: why a law firm and a hospital system have very different needs, and what Journey is quietly rolling out to address that 26:24 — Metrics that matter: from awareness and engagement to clinical outcomes, daily emoji check-ins, healthcare cost trends, and absenteeism 29:25 — AI and the future of mental health: personalized care recommendations, smarter benefit navigation, and why Stephen isn't excited about replacing therapists with AI 35:07 — Parting wisdom: the compounding effect of simple, consistent mental health practices — and how to connect with Stephen and Journey 🔗 Connect with Stephen Sokoler & Journey Stephen on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephensokoler Journey: linkedin.com/company/journeymeditation Book: The Mental Health Advantage by Stephen Sokoler A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn | Instagram | About Connect with Xenium HR: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | — | ||||||
| 4/21/26 | Why Human Performance Will Define the Next Era of Work with Dr. Jennifer Posa | What if your company's biggest untapped competitive advantage isn't technology or talent, but well-being? In this episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Dr. Jennifer Posa, an organizational psychologist with 30 years of experience building well-being strategies inside some of the world's most demanding organizations, including Mayo Clinic, Johnson & Johnson, and the CIA. Jennifer shares her bold 2026 predictions for the workplace, explains why most well-being programs fail before they start, and reveals what it actually takes to build a strategy that drives real business results. From psychological contracts to the AI culture crisis brewing right now, this conversation is packed with insights that HR leaders, executives, and people managers can't afford to miss. If you care about the future of your workplace and who's going to be left standing after the next wave of disruption, this episode is essential listening. Key Timestamps [00:01] – Introduction & Jennifer's Unique Background Brandon introduces Dr. Jennifer Posa and her remarkable 30-year career in well-being at high-performing organizations including Mayo Clinic, Johnson & Johnson, and the CIA. [00:55] – When Well-Being Became a Strategy, Not a Perk Jennifer shares the personal and professional turning points that revealed well-being isn't just a "nice to have"—it's backed by decades of research showing measurable improvements in business outcomes. [03:03] – Lessons from the CIA: Well-Being in High-Stakes Environments What does well-being look like when the stakes couldn't be higher? Jennifer unpacks three powerful lessons from her role as Chief Well-Being Officer at the CIA, starting with the critical insight that well-being is individual—not prescriptive. [07:25] – Proactive vs. Reactive: The Well-Being Gap Most Employers Miss Brandon and Jennifer discuss why so many organizations wait for burnout, turnover, and absenteeism before taking action—and what a truly proactive approach looks like when it's embedded at the C-suite level. [08:27] – Prediction #1: Accountability Is the Differentiator in 2026 Jennifer's first 2026 prediction: organizations that hold themselves accountable for employee pain points will win. She breaks down what accountability actually looks like—hint: it's a business strategy, not a wellness app. [13:32] – How to Find the Real Pain Points (Not the Ones You Assume) Jennifer reveals her research-first approach—why she leads with qualitative focus groups before any survey, and how asking "what matters most to you?" unlocks a well-being strategy grounded in truth, not assumption. [17:59] – Prediction #2: Strategic Employee Relationships Drive Exceptional Growth Jennifer introduces the concept of the "psychological contract" and explains why every decision an employer makes right now is either building or breaking that unspoken agreement with their workforce. [21:32] – Scaling the Personal: Well-Being Across 140,000 Employees at J&J How do you make well-being feel personal inside an organization with 140,000 employees across 77 countries—during a global pandemic? Jennifer shares how J&J humanized their strategy at scale. [27:26] – Prediction #3: AI Is a Cultural Issue, Not Just a Technology Issue Jennifer's most provocative prediction: organizations that fail to address the human side of AI adoption will fracture their culture from the inside out. She explains why AI integration is one of the biggest C-suite conversations of our time. [31:45] – How to Prepare Your Workforce for an AI-Driven World Jennifer offers a practical framework for thinking about AI and humans as collaborative partners—and introduces the concept of "performance tradecraft" to help employees build the brain skills needed to thrive amid rapid change. [36:49] – Where to Connect with Dr. Jennifer Posa Brandon wraps up the conversation and Jennifer shares how listeners can follow her work, access her insights, and continue the conversation. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn | Instagram | About Connect with Xenium HR: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | — | ||||||
| 4/14/26 | Why Engagement Numbers Haven't Budged and What Leaders Are Missing with Aoife O'Brien | Only 21% of people globally are engaged at work. That number hasn't moved much despite years of attention, investment, and intervention. So what's going wrong? Aoife O'Brien is back on the show to talk about her new book, Thriving Talent, How Great Leaders Drive Performance, Engagement and Retention. After 20 years in corporate roles, a Master's in Organizational Behavior, and over 200 conversations with business leaders on her podcast Happier at Work, Aoife built a practical framework that helps leaders stop chasing engagement scores and start creating the conditions where people actually do their best work. In this episode, Brandon and Aoife dig into why most workplace interventions fail, why busyness is not the flex we think it is, how AI tools are making us busier instead of freeing us up, and why psychological safety is the foundation everything else depends on. Whether you lead a team of five or five hundred, this conversation will challenge how you think about culture, motivation, and what it really takes to help people thrive. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction and sponsor message 2:42 Welcome back, Aoife O'Brien 3:17 Why global engagement numbers haven't improved 5:38 The busyness trap and why it's not productivity 8:38 What else is wrong with work today 10:22 Why traditional workplace interventions fail 12:30 The personal experiences that shaped the Thriving Talent framework 15:15 Breaking down the Thriving Talent framework 20:20 Psychological safety and the signals leaders miss 23:17 How leaders create culture unintentionally 26:26 Should you stay or leave a toxic workplace? 29:42 Why money fails as a motivator and the case for emotional salary 33:26 The Eggbeater Effect and why AI is making us busier 37:38 Leadership as the capstone, not the foundation 40:42 Where to find the book and connect with Aoife A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaws/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonlaws About: https://www.intothepodverse.com/about Connect with Xenium HR: Website: https://www.xeniumhr.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenaborhood Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/xenaborhood Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumResources #Leadership #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceCulture #ThrivingTalent #PsychologicalSafety #HRStrategy #PeopleFirst #TransformYourWorkplace | — | ||||||
| 4/10/26 | The Canary Code and What Neurodivergent Employees Are Trying to Tell You with Ludmila Praslova | What if the employees struggling most in your workplace are actually detecting problems everyone else will eventually feel? Dr. Ludmila Praslova, organizational psychologist and author of The Canary Code, joins Brandon Laws to unpack why neurodivergent employees are often the first to feel workplace dysfunction and why that signal matters for everyone. From rethinking job postings and ditching "culture fit" hiring to fixing performance reviews that punish personality instead of measuring outcomes, this conversation is packed with practical ideas leaders can act on now. If you've ever wondered why your best people keep leaving or why your culture feels off despite good intentions, this episode will challenge how you think about inclusion, belonging, and what a healthy workplace actually looks like. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction and sponsor message 2:12 Meet Dr. Ludmila Praslova and The Canary Code 4:18 Why neurodivergent employees feel workplace dysfunction first 7:30 Defining neurodivergence and who it includes 9:42 Why the business case for inclusion can actually backfire 11:30 What holistic inclusion means and why people aren't brains on a stick 13:45 The six principles of the Canary Code framework 16:42 Culture fit vs. culture add and why we keep hiring clones 19:15 How to rewrite job postings that attract different kinds of talent 22:15 Pre-onboarding and setting up belonging before day one 24:30 Productivity theater vs. real outcomes 26:45 The story of Charlie and fixing performance management 28:30 Supporting neurodivergent leaders who are hiding in plain sight 32:00 The Glastonbury moment and what true belonging looks like 34:30 Where to connect with Dr. Praslova A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonlaws Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonlaws About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws/ Connect with Xenium HR: Website: https://xeniumhr.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenaboratories Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/xeniumhr | — | ||||||
| 4/7/26 | Why Love Is the Most Powerful Force in Business with Marcus Buckingham | What if the secret to sustained business performance isn't strategy, efficiency, or even culture, but love? In this episode, renowned researcher and bestselling author Marcus Buckingham joins host Brandon Laws to discuss his new book Design Love In: How to Unleash the Most Powerful Force in Business. Marcus makes a compelling, data-backed case that "love" isn't a soft concept. It's the most predictive force in driving employee loyalty, customer behavior, and long-term business value. From a behind-the-scenes look at Disney's most beloved executive to a cautionary tale about a Netflix CMO using AI to crank out 26 performance reviews in 20 minutes, this conversation is packed with insights that will fundamentally change how you think about leadership. If you care about building a workplace where people genuinely thrive and a business that sustainably grows, you cannot afford to miss this one. Key Timestamps [00:00:00] — Introduction: Marcus shares the personal, vulnerable story of selling his company and watching love drain out of the organization he built — the catalyst for everything in Design Love In. [00:04:00] — The crisis of trust: Why we're living in the least trusting workplace environment ever recorded, what AI and surveillance are doing to human connection, and how leaders must respond differently today. [00:07:00] — Experience Intelligence: Marcus introduces the core leadership competency that top business schools don't teach — and why experiences, not directives, are the only path to sustained behavior change. [00:09:00] — The Josh Effect: Marcus recounts his days shadowing Josh D'Amaro, a senior Disney executive, and what his instinctive, human-first leadership style reveals about what great experience design actually looks like in practice. [00:18:00] — The business case for love: How data from an 8,000-store retailer proved that the relationship between experience and outcomes isn't linear — it's a hockey stick — and why "fives" are the only scores that matter. [00:24:00] — Why fives and fours are fundamentally different: Marcus explains why lumping top scores together (net promoter score, top-two-box) is a critical mistake, and why the word customers and employees use to describe their best experiences is always love. [00:29:00] — The Experience Continuum: A framework for understanding the spectrum from exploitative to loving experiences — and how to identify where your organization currently falls. [00:36:00] — AI, performance reviews, and the Netflix CMO: A real-world cautionary tale about using AI in ways that quietly destroy the very force that drives business value. [00:42:00] — The Five Feelings of Love: Marcus breaks down the sequential blueprint leaders can use to intentionally design love into any experience — control, harmony, significance, warmth of others, and growth. [00:50:00] — One thing you can do tomorrow: A simple, 15-minute weekly ritual that activates the first three feelings of love and is the single most powerful thing a leader can do to start designing love in. [00:54:00] — Where to find Marcus and the book: Design Love In and the new company, Love That. About the Guest Marcus Buckingham is a researcher, entrepreneur, and bestselling author with roots at Gallup, where he joined in 1987. He has spent decades studying leadership, strengths, and what makes people thrive at work. His new book, Design Love In: How to Unleash the Most Powerful Force in Business, makes the data-driven case that love — properly understood — is the most powerful and predictive force in business. Learn more at designlovein.com or lovethat.com. A Quick Glimpse Into Our Podcast Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn | Instagram | About Connect with Xenium HR: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | — | ||||||
| 4/3/26 | The Leadership Skill No One Talks About (But Everyone Needs) with Margaret Andrews | Most leaders get promoted because they're great at their job. But being great at your job and being a great leader are two very different things. In this episode, Brandon sits down with Margaret Andrews, leadership educator and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others, to explore why self-understanding is the real foundation of effective leadership. Margaret shares stories from decades of working with executives, including the moment a high-achieving engineer stood up in front of his peers and admitted he'd been a terrible manager. They dig into why 85% of the reasons people choose their best boss come down to interpersonal skills, what happens when your intentions don't match your behaviors, and how to build the muscle of pausing before you react. Whether you're a new manager trying to find your footing or a seasoned leader who's hit a wall, this conversation will challenge you to look inward before you try to lead outward. Timestamps 0:00 Welcome and Xenium HR sponsor message 2:30 Intro to Margaret Andrews and episode preview 3:00 The Dr. Ventura story and why high achievers see themselves in it 6:30 Why talent, hard work, and good intentions aren't enough 7:00 There's no single right way to lead. So how do you find yours? 9:30 The Best Boss Exercise and what 85% of people say 14:14 The gap between intentions and behaviors 15:45 What happens when leaders stop growing 17:30 Phil's story and finding your own definition of leadership 20:30 Bad Mood Beth and why self-awareness without self-management falls short 22:30 Using the pause between stimulus and response 25:45 Sharon's approach to getting the best out of her team 27:00 Culture makers vs. culture takers 31:30 The John Reed story and why small ethical lapses matter 33:00 Why people fear their potential more than their limitations A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR: Website: https://xeniumhr.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR #Leadership #SelfAwareness #ManageYourself #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #EmotionalIntelligence #TransformYourWorkplace #HRLeadership #NewManagers #InterpersonalSkills | — | ||||||
| 3/31/26 | What Small Business Leaders Need to Know About the Economy Right Now | What happens when the labor shortage economists warned about finally arrives, AI reshapes entire industries overnight, and the economic outlook is anything but certain? Economist Dr. Bill Conerly joins Brandon Laws to break it all down. With over 1,400 speaking engagements and decades of experience advising business leaders, Bill brings a rare combination of sharp data analysis and plain-spoken clarity. This conversation covers the demographic forces squeezing the labor market, why AI's impact on jobs is more uneven than the headlines suggest, how small businesses can start adopting AI without overthinking it, and what a "flexible stance" looks like when the range of economic possibilities keeps widening. If you're a business owner, HR leader, or anyone making workforce decisions right now, this is the episode you need to hear. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction and episode overview 2:00 The labor shortage economists predicted is now here 5:30 Why doom and gloom forecasts keep missing the mark 7:30 Is the pipeline behind Baby Boomers enough to fill the gap? 9:30 How an era of labor abundance created sloppy management habits 11:00 Are there people who could work but choose not to? 13:00 The trades shortage and whether younger workers are filling it 15:00 What skills people should be learning in the age of AI 17:30 Are AI-driven layoffs real or a convenient excuse? 20:00 Could we see 10% GDP growth and 10% unemployment at the same time? 23:00 The shift from wanting stuff to wanting experiences 26:00 The productivity paradox of doing more but not working less 28:00 How small businesses should start adopting AI 32:00 Is AI an existential threat? 35:00 Fed decision, inflation, and the economic outlook 38:00 Why small businesses are struggling while the stock market climbs 41:30 What's underhyped and overhyped in the economy right now 44:00 What's going on in Oregon's economy 45:30 What a flexible stance looks like for business leaders right now A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonlaws Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonlaws About: https://www.intakecreative.com/about Connect with Xenium HR: Website: https://www.xeniumhr.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenaborhood Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xeniumhr Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/xenaborhood Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/xeniumhr Connect with Bill Conerly: Website: https://www.conerlyconsulting.com | — | ||||||
| 3/24/26 | High Functioning Alcoholism Is the Workplace Problem Nobody Talks About with Sarah Allen Benton | In this eye-opening episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Sarah Allen Benton, licensed mental health counselor, treatment program owner, and author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic: Breaking the Cycle and Finding Hope. Together, they unravel one of the most misunderstood issues affecting modern professionals and workplaces today: high‑functioning alcoholism. Sarah shares her personal journey to sobriety, the psychology behind addiction, and the cultural and workplace systems that keep high achievers hidden in plain sight. She offers practical guidance for leaders and HR professionals on creating healthier work cultures, supporting employees in recovery, and recognizing silent struggles before they escalate. This conversation is raw, insightful, and essential for anyone committed to fostering a workplace where people can truly thrive. This is a powerful conversation that every workplace leader, team member, and caring human should hear. Key Timestamps 00:02 — Brandon welcomes guest Sarah Allen Benton to discuss high‑functioning alcoholism. 00:39 — How high-functioning alcoholism hides in plain sight. 01:53 — What defines an alcoholic vs. a high-functioning alcoholic. 02:43 — The danger of craving, obsession, and loss of control. 03:19 — Sarah's personal story: from early drinking to "functioning" success. 05:04 — The strict rules high-functioning alcoholics create to justify drinking. 06:15 — Reaching a breaking point and the failed attempts to control alcohol. 07:03 — Sobriety begins: the moment things had to change. 08:20 — The internal motivators that pushed Sarah to recovery. 09:17 — The illusion of "not hitting bottom" and why accountability matters. 10:43 — Why Sarah believes the workplace is full of high-functioning alcoholics. 12:06 — The harmful stereotype of the "chronic severe alcoholic" and why it misleads us. 13:37 — How workplace culture and performance expectations keep problems hidden. 15:05 — The legal field and professions with high rates of alcohol use disorder. 16:28 — How alcohol becomes normalized in workplace cultures. 17:20 — Why alcohol-centered workplace events can be harmful. 18:03 — Rethinking workplace wellness: burnout, alcohol, and healthier alternatives. 19:26 — Younger generations drinking less—what it means for culture. 20:20 — How alcohol-focused events impact employees in recovery. 22:42 — Respecting personal choices: why some people don't drink. 23:18 — The moments and seasons that make sobriety hardest. 25:22 — What happens in the brain: genetics, dopamine, and self-medication. 28:42 — When alcohol stops "working" and the fear that follows. 29:01 — Talking to kids about alcohol and family risk factors. 31:54 — Shame, guilt, and the stigma surrounding alcoholism. 35:47 — Building pride in recovery and finding support. 36:50 — What leaders and HR can do to support employees struggling or in recovery. 39:18 — The first step someone can take if they're questioning their alcohol use. 41:14 — Where to find Sarah's work and additional resources. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR | — | ||||||
| 3/20/26 | What Leaders Get Wrong About Helping Their Struggling People | What should you do when someone on your team is struggling? Most leaders default to jumping in and solving the problem. But that instinct, while well-meaning, can do more harm than good. In this episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Lacey Partipilo, VP of Client Success at Xenium HR, to talk about how leaders can uncover what's really getting in the way of their people's success. They dig into the difference between being stuck and struggling, why leaders need to take their own "backpack" off before coaching conversations, and the ego trap that comes with being the one who always saves the day. If you manage people, this one will change how you show up in your next one-on-one. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction to the episode and Lacey Partipilo 1:48 Why regular time with your people is non-negotiable 3:18 The difference between stuck and struggling 4:00 Taking the backpack off: going in with an open mind 5:07 The three conversations: solve it, fix it for me, or let me vent 6:30 Setting ground rules for better one-on-ones 7:30 Helping people solve their own problems by asking better questions 8:48 Patterns that signal someone is struggling 11:48 Building a culture of trust so people can be honest about their gaps 13:50 How self-sabotage and outdated beliefs keep people stuck 16:22 Why accountability starts on day one, not when things fall apart 18:24 The ego trap: why solving feels good but holds your team back 19:48 Angela Perkins' advice on finding fulfillment through your team's success 21:48 Practical changes leaders can make starting now 23:18 Why every leader needs a peer group A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Connect with Lacey Partipilo: LinkedIn #Leadership #TransformYourWorkplace #PeopleManagement #Coaching #HRLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeDevelopment #XeniumHR #LeadershipDevelopment #OneOnOnes #ManagerTips #PeopleFirst | — | ||||||
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| 3/17/26 | How AI Is Redefining the Future of Work with Sharon Gai | In this compelling episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Sharon Gai, author of How to Do More with Less: Future-Proofing Yourself in an AI-Driven Economy. Sharon shares eye-opening stories—from witnessing AI compress weeks of work into seconds at Alibaba to her global perspective on how human roles are rapidly evolving. Together, they explore the widening gap between people who embrace AI and those who resist it, and why learning to orchestrate AI—not fear it—will define the next era of work. Sharon introduces practical frameworks (like becoming a "centaur worker") that help knowledge workers offload repetitive tasks, elevate their creativity, and reclaim agency in a world that often feels like it's moving too fast. If you're unsure how to keep up—or overwhelmed by all the talk of automation—this conversation will leave you feeling informed, inspired, and ready to adapt. If you miss this episode, you'll miss the roadmap to staying relevant and empowered in the AI economy. Key Timestamps 00:02 – Welcome Sharon Gai Brandon introduces Sharon and her new book, highlighting its practicality for both beginners and experienced AI users. 01:13 – The Growing AI Divide Sharon explains why the workforce gap isn't just about technology—it's about power, agency, and access to information. 01:43 – The Bee vs. Beekeeper Metaphor How a simple analogy became the foundation for Sharon's philosophy on doing more with less. 04:52 – The Alibaba Aha Moment Sharon shares the night in 2018 when she watched an AI design tool compress weeks of work into seconds—forever changing her view of what's possible. 12:00 – Resistance to AI & Fear of Replacement Why some people reject AI tools and how fear, identity, and uncertainty shape adoption. 15:26 – A Future of AI-First Workflows A discussion on billion‑dollar one‑person companies, automation, and which predictions hold weight. 19:34 – The Centaur Worker Sharon introduces the half‑specialist, half‑orchestrator worker who will thrive in the AI era. 22:15 – Prompting as the New Literacy Why prompting matters and how employees can level up their "prompt IQ." 26:13 – Who Wins the AI Race? Sharon breaks down today's major AI players—ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini—and why switching costs and use cases matter more than loyalty. 32:24 – The Shift Toward AI Companions How hardware devices and wearable AI may shape the next decade. 35:16 – Fear, Opportunity & Public Pressure Balancing utopian and dystopian futures, and why consumer decision‑making still matters. 37:10 – Creativity, Originality & the Camera Analogy Why AI isn't killing creativity—it's redefining it and pushing humans toward deeper originality. 41:07 – The Future of Learning & Upskilling How HR teams can help employees adapt through AI education and fluid intelligence. 45:24 – Where to Find Sharon Gai Sharon shares how listeners can follow her work, speaking, and updates. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more → https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR | — | ||||||
| 3/10/26 | What Leaders Can Learn From HR's Meme Culture with Jamie Jackson | 📋 Episode Description What happens when an HR director reaches her breaking point during a global pandemic — and decides to cope by making memes? For Jamie Jackson, it became a movement. With over 3 million combined followers across her Instagram channels Humorous Resources and Millennial Misery, Jamie has turned the unfiltered reality of workplace life into one of the most relatable communities on the internet. In this episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with Jamie to unpack the behind-the-scenes chaos of HR, what it's really like being laid off when you've spent 22 years laying others off, why employers are flat-out refusing to hire her because of her social media, and why she wouldn't change a single thing. This one is funny, honest, and hits close to home — whether you work in HR or just survive the workplace every day. Don't miss it. ⏱️ Key Timestamps [00:01] — Welcome & introductions: Brandon explains how he found Jamie through Instagram and why he knew she'd make for a great episode. [00:08] — The meme that defines Jamie: She shares her all-time favorite ("per my last email… they didn't know you were a gangster") and why it perfectly captures her spicy, no-nonsense personality. [01:50] — The origin of Humorous Resources: Jamie takes us back to the pandemic, when she was an HR director managing 150 employees across four nonprofit health clinics — tracking daily CDC changes and carrying the weight of an entire organization's safety. [03:07] — Breaking point and birth of a community: Isolated as a "department of one," Jamie created the page as a personal outlet — never expecting it to go anywhere, let alone resonate with hundreds of thousands of HR professionals who desperately needed to laugh. [05:59] — The vaccine mandate chaos: Employees screaming in her face, and Jamie walking back to her desk to make a meme about it. The coping mechanism at its finest. [07:04] — How she actually makes memes: Chronically online (now on purpose), stockpiling screenshots, filling her Notes app at her kids' basketball games — Jamie's creative process is equal parts chaotic and brilliant. [09:49] — Getting laid off after 22 years on the other side of it: Jamie opens up about being let go last April, the dark days that followed, and the identity crisis of an HR pro who suddenly didn't feel needed. [11:03] — The data-driven HR work nobody wanted to see: She breaks down how she built out an entire HR metrics system — beyond just turnover — and how her new boss didn't see the value, leading to her elimination (and the role being posted two days later for a friend). [15:11] — Why nobody will hire her: The worst job market since the pandemic, plus employers flat-out refusing to bring her on because of her social media presence. One quote? "I wouldn't touch her with a 10-foot pole." She gets it. She'd still do it again. [18:21] — Workplace behaviors that get meme-ified: The dreaded Teams "Hi there" with no follow-up. Being called when you're showing green. People lurking outside conference rooms 60 seconds before the booking ends. All of it. [19:36] — Leadership behaviors that always land: "We're all family." Pizza parties instead of raises. A $5 taxed Starbucks card as the response to low engagement scores. Jamie's delivery here is priceless. [21:21] — Is humor masking burnout? Brandon asks the uncomfortable question. Jamie's answer: "The line does not exist." A surprisingly honest and important moment in the episode. [22:13] — HR for HR — Jamie's upcoming keynote speech: She's the closing keynote at an HR conference this April, and instead of positioning HR as the hero, she's going deeper — focusing on what HR professionals need to survive the role, including psychological safety, community, and permission to laugh. [26:42] — HR Besties Podcast: How Jamie, Ashley Heard (Manager Method), and Lee Henderson (HR Manifesto) got on a call, vibed immediately, and accidentally built one of the most-listened-to HR podcasts — complete with "water cooler talk" featuring wild real-world HR stories. [29:15] — What's next for Jamie: Leadership coaching, keynote speaking, branded content, and the ongoing mission to make HR people feel less alone — all while being unapologetically herself. 🔗 Connect with Jamie Jackson Instagram: @humorous_resources Instagram: @millennial_misery Personal page: @the_chief_meme_officer Podcast: HR Besties (available wherever you listen to podcasts) 🎧 A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." 🏢 About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn | Instagram | About Connect with Xenium HR: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | — | ||||||
| 3/3/26 | The Growth Strategy Hiding Inside Delegation with Brad Federman | Most leaders think delegation is about getting things off their plate. Brad Federman, author of Never Delegate Again, argues it's actually one of the most powerful — and most misused — tools for growing your people, your company, and yourself. In this episode, Brad joins host Brandon Laws to challenge the outdated models that have shaped how leaders hand off work, and introduces a new framework built for today's fast-changing, AI-driven workplace. If you've ever handed an assignment to your go-to person out of convenience, told a struggling employee "just figure it out," or wondered why your team isn't developing the way you'd hoped — this conversation is for you. Don't miss it. KEY TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Welcome & Introduction — Brad Federman joins the show 0:07 – Working harder on someone else's career than they are — the trap well-intentioned leaders fall into 1:38 – The Olivia story: how shifting ownership transformed an employee's trajectory 3:25 – Brad's unconventional reflection habit — two children's books that help him gain perspective 6:05 – Why most delegation models are built for a different era — and how AI is changing everything 8:59 – Introducing the Growth Matrix — a new model for thinking about tasks as growth opportunities 11:41 – The disappearing entry-level job problem and what leaders must do about it 12:18 – Time, reflection, and value: the three ingredients of real growth leaders routinely skip 15:50 – Brandon's personal story: a delegation experience from his 20s still in use 17 years later 17:20 – Why delegation gets glossed over — and why it's finally time to treat it as a strategic imperative 19:02 – Mini-me syndrome and the "I can do it better" trap — how leaders recognize growth-limiting control 23:15 – A VP of sales with 25 years of experience and the 6-month benchmark problem 25:29 – The Fast Forward Model — meeting people where they are during change 29:33 – How to decide what to keep, delete, automate, or assign as a real growth opportunity 32:17 – What leaders assume they've communicated clearly — but almost never have 33:23 – Leaders as coaches, not players — how to stop stepping back onto the field 35:42 – Investment feedback: giving direct, honest feedback that builds confidence instead of fear 39:08 – One key takeaway — and why relevance is the new superpower for leaders and companies 40:43 – Where to connect with Brad and find the book A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more [https://www.xeniumhr.com/] Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon] About [https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws] Connect with Xenium HR: Website [https://xeniumhr.com/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR] Twitter [https://twitter.com/XeniumHR] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR] | — | ||||||
| 2/24/26 | Why Leaders Are Struggling in Silence (And What to Do About It) with Melissa Doman | What happens when the people leading your organization are silently falling apart — and no one has a system in place to help them? Psychologist and author Melissa Doman returns to Transform Your Workplace to pull back the curtain on one of the most overlooked conversations in the workplace: leadership mental health. In her new book Cornered Office: Why We Need to Talk About Leadership Mental Health, Melissa makes the case that leaders have been conditioned — by biology, sociology, culture, and centuries of expectation — to hide their emotional struggles. And that silence? It's costing organizations their best people. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who leads, works with, or aspires to lead — because the cost of ignoring this conversation is far greater than the discomfort of having it. Key Timestamps [00:00] — Welcome & episode intro from host Brandon Laws; why this conversation hits home for leaders [02:00] — What's in the episode: silence, burnout, and a practical framework for leaders to talk about mental health [03:30] — Melissa on why she wrote Cornered Office — including the workshop moment in London that changed everything [07:00] — How leadership mental health has been "quietly erased" by history, biology, and social norms [10:30] — The psychology of authority, impression management, and why leaders are conditioned to hide emotional struggle [13:00] — Melissa's three-stage framework: look back, name the present, choose differently — and where leaders get stuck [16:00] — Why not every workplace is safe for this conversation, and how leaders can find external peer support [18:30] — What happens when mental health goes unaddressed: burnout, reactive behavior, and the domino effect on teams [21:00] — How identity, culture, gender, and industry shape whether a leader feels safe speaking up [24:30] — Systemic change vs. personal responsibility: why individual leaders must take full ownership of their mental health regardless of the environment [26:30] — Leadership mental health archetypes and why communicating your struggles to your team actually protects them [28:00] — How to recognize the belief systems (your internal "operating system") that may be quietly undermining your leadership [31:00] — Mental Wellbeing Non-Negotiables™: Melissa's trademarked, personalized approach to mental health care that throws out one-size-fits-all wellness advice [34:00] — Why leadership mental health is a strategic and ethical priority — not a nice-to-have [36:00] — Melissa's biggest takeaway: normalizing the humanity inside leadership is the key to its sustainability [38:00] — Where to find Melissa, her keynotes, legal compliance program, leadership mental health training, and more A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn | Instagram | About Connect with Xenium HR: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | — | ||||||
| 2/17/26 | The Small Behaviors That Build Trust (and the Common Ones That Destroy It) with Dr. Paul Zak | Most leaders say they value trust. It shows up in mission statements and team meetings. But when trust breaks down, few can explain why performance slows, collaboration frays, or innovation quietly disappears. Dr. Paul Zak doesn't treat trust as an abstraction. As a behavioral neuroscientist with over 25 years of research, he studies trust the same way an engineer studies load-bearing structures. His work has identified the specific neurochemical, oxytocin, that drives human connection. And the behaviors that trigger it are simpler than most leaders expect. In this episode, Paul breaks down what trust actually looks like day to day, why autonomy outperforms surveillance, how recognition needs to happen to actually stick, and why human connection matters more than ever in a world shaped by AI and remote work. Whether you lead a team of five or five hundred, this conversation will change how you think about the small moments that drive performance. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 2:00 What trust actually looks like at work 3:30 The role of oxytocin in team performance 4:48 Why moderate stress builds stronger teams 6:42 The adjective hack for better Monday conversations 8:32 Why emotional states are contagious 9:48 How the brain values experiences (and the 20-minute rule) 12:28 The real cost of micromanagement and surveillance 14:30 Coaching to high performance (and firing with dignity) 16:22 Why forward-looking reviews beat backward-looking ones 18:08 How home life and work life feed each other 19:30 Trust in hybrid and remote work environments 21:40 Vulnerability as a leadership superpower 23:12 Ovation: How to celebrate wins the right way 25:20 How to tell the difference between trust and manipulation 27:30 Why recognition needs to be fast, personal, and peer-driven 28:48 Celebrating failure to accelerate learning 29:30 Why human connection matters more in the age of AI 32:30 The loneliness epidemic and rebuilding social skills 34:30 Simple trust hacks every leader can use today 37:20 Where to find Paul Zak and the Six app https://pauljzak.com/ Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders. About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube #trust #leadership #workplaceculture #neuroscience #oxytocin #teambuilding #remotework #employeeengagement #hrleadership #transformyourworkplace | — | ||||||
| 2/10/26 | Why High Performers Burn Out First (and How to Stop It) with Guy Winch | Most of us think burnout only hits people who hate their jobs. Psychologist and bestselling author Guy Winch says the opposite is true. In this episode, Guy joins Brandon to unpack the hidden ways work takes over our lives, from the autopilot trap and procrastination to evening rumination and self-neglect. Drawing from his new book, Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life, Guy shares research-backed exercises that any professional can use to reclaim their time, protect their health, and actually be present when they get home. If you have ever told yourself "it's just a busy season," this episode is for you. Key Timestamps [00:00] Why even mental health experts miss their own burnout [02:30] The survival mode trap and how autopilot takes over your life [05:30] The Goldilocks zone: how stress improves performance until it doesn't [06:30] Why more strokes happen on Mondays and how a simple brain hack can ease the Sunday scaries [09:15] Reframing procrastination: why treating dreaded tasks as nuisances gets them done faster [11:45] Challenge state vs. threat state: the mindset shift that changes how you perform under pressure [14:30] The mind whisperer exercise and how to prep your brain before high-stakes moments [15:45] Rumination: why replaying work conflicts at home is unpaid overtime that damages your health [20:30] The "locating your job stress" exercise that turned 90% stress into 10% [23:30] Role curation: how to take charge of your career growth when your manager won't [26:00] The red light, green light technique for managing after-hours emails without losing your evening [30:15] Canaries in the coal mine: identifying your personal early warning signs of self-neglect [34:30] The empathy effort exercise for switching from work mode to home mode [36:45] Triple dipping: how to squeeze a month of happiness out of a single weekend away A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube | — | ||||||
| 2/3/26 | Designing Meetings That Actually Get Work Done with Rebecca Hinds | Are your meetings indistinguishable from 1940s wartime sabotage tactics? You're not alone. In this episode, Rebecca Hinds, author of Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done, reveals why corporate meetings have become the single most dysfunctional practice in modern organizations—and how to fix them. Brandon and Rebecca explore a radical idea: what if we treated meetings like products, applying the same design principles that make great products great? From "meeting doomsday" (a complete calendar reset) to Amazon's study hall approach, Rebecca shares actionable strategies that organizations like Slack, Dropbox, and Shopify have used to declare war on meeting bloat. You'll discover why double-booking has become a toxic badge of honor, how the visibility bias makes us associate presence with productivity, and why crowdsourcing your agenda using the "Dory method" can transform boring monologues into engaging collaboration. Rebecca also tackles the AI paradox—why more meeting bots might be making your meetings worse, not better—and shares the "iron rule" that every leader needs to embrace. If you've ever walked out of a meeting wondering what you just accomplished (or why you were even there), this episode is your blueprint for change. Don't miss Rebecca's insights on why meetings are the most important—and least optimized—product in your organization. KEY TIMESTAMPS 00:01 - Introduction and welcome to Rebecca Hinds 00:08 - Brandon introduces Rebecca's book Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done 00:24 - Rebecca explains why meetings are the most important yet least optimized product in organizations 00:58 - The fascinating 1943 OSS sabotage manual story: how wartime meeting sabotage tactics mirror modern corporate meetings 01:33 - Why we use meetings as a "lazy substitute for smart thinking and real work" 03:24 - The toxic "badge of honor" culture: why busyness in meetings signals importance but kills productivity 04:08 - What does it mean to treat meetings like a product? Introduction to the seven product design principles 04:18 - Meeting debt explained: How meetings accumulate technical debt just like software products 05:57 - Meeting Doomsday: The 48-hour calendar cleanse and complete reset strategy 06:13 - Case studies: How Slack, Dropbox, and Shopify implemented organization-wide calendar purges 08:05 - The IKEA effect: Why employee involvement in rebuilding calendars creates lasting change 26:15 - Amazon's study hall approach: How six-page memos and silent reading time revolutionize high-stakes meetings 27:19 - Fighting boring meetings: The Dory method for crowdsourcing agendas 27:37 - User-centric meeting design: Why the organizer and biggest talker are the most satisfied (and why that's a problem) 29:28 - The automation paradox: Why AI and meeting bots might be making bad meetings worse 29:57 - Calm technology: The right way to integrate AI into meetings without letting bots outnumber humans 32:12 - The iron rule of meetings: Treating attendees' time as more valuable than your own 33:39 - Where to find Rebecca's book and connect with her work 34:09 - Closing and final thoughts A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn | Instagram | About Connect with Xenium HR: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | — | ||||||
| 1/27/26 | Why Perfectionism Is Slowing Your Team Down (And What to Do Instead) | Perfectionism can look like "high standards," but in real life it often turns into burnout, bottlenecks, and teams that overthink everything. In this episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Jason F. McClennan, author of The Magic of Imperfection, to unpack his three-quarter baked philosophy: a practical way to ship smarter, get better feedback, and unlock innovation without lowering the bar. Jason breaks down the difference between quarter-baked, half-baked, three-quarter baked, and the illusion of "fully baked." They also dig into how leaders can build cultures where failure is treated as valuable data, how to use feedback without taking it personally, why deadlines must be owned, and how teams can avoid mission drift before they waste months heading in the wrong direction. If your team is stuck polishing the last 10% while everything else suffers, this conversation will help. Key timestamps 00:00 Intro and why "imperfection" is a leadership advantage 01:00 The three-quarter baked idea and why perfectionists struggle with it 02:40 How perfectionism fuels burnout and steals time from real work 04:30 Quarter-baked vs half-baked vs three-quarter baked (and why the timing matters) 06:45 The Buckminster Fuller dome story: reframing failure as a data point 08:55 How leaders reward learning, not just outcomes 09:45 The "crit" method: separating ego from work so feedback actually helps 12:00 The significance meter: calibrating effort so everything is not treated like heart surgery 14:00 "If you accept the task, you own the deadline" and why that changes everything 15:30 Momentum surfing: when to push, when to pause, and why grinding backfires 18:30 Process turning into bureaucracy: how to spot when the system is blocking the outcome 20:10 End-game thinking and mission drift: the two boats metaphor for team alignment 22:30 How to bring a team along when perfection is the default culture 23:40 Becoming a "trim tab": how individual contributors can shift big organizations 25:20 Bird-dogging vs micromanaging: checking in as a sign of care and performance 27:15 Communication hierarchy in hybrid work: reducing noise, increasing clarity 29:00 Building an inner compass: trial, error, and learning without shame 30:00 Final thoughts and where to find Jason's work A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders. About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR: Website https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR | — | ||||||
| 1/20/26 | Why People-First Leadership Still Works in Brick-and-Mortar Retail with Brianne Mees | Brianne Mees, CEO of Tender Loving Empire, shares how a people-first background in psychology and social work shaped the culture of a retail brand built to champion artists, makers, and small businesses. Brianne walks through the company's growth from a scrappy early storefront to seven locations (including airport stores), the toughest leadership decisions during the pandemic, and why mission alignment is the anchor for hiring and culture. Brandon and Brianne also explore "regenerative retail," community investing through Wefunder, and how leaders can build a business that supports local economies without losing sight of sustainability and scale. Key Timestamps 00:00 What the show is about + sponsor message from Xenium HR 01:00 Introducing Brianne Mees and the Tender Loving Empire mission 03:00 Brianne's unconventional path: psychology, social work, and a people-first approach 04:40 Why Tender Loving Empire started as a "helping profession" for artists and makers 05:00 The business today: seven retail locations, hundreds of makers, and a record label 06:00 The early days: starting before major online platforms existed for creators 07:00 The turning point: moving locations, hiring the first employee, and shifting from hobby to sustainable business 08:40 How Brianne's psychology background supported hiring and leadership 09:20 Scaling a creative retail brand into airports without losing the "feel" 10:00 Becoming "Portland tour guides" and translating local culture for travelers 12:00 Leading through the pandemic: scrappiness, resilience, and hard choices 13:00 The toughest day: furloughing the team while keeping leadership in place 13:50 Post-pandemic momentum: new airport locations and +$3M in annual revenue 14:10 How they keep 65 employees aligned: mission fit and kindness 15:20 The "Empire" name origin and the heart of the brand 15:40 The impact: celebrating $20M returned to artists and makers 16:00 Vendor selection today: buying team, data-driven decisions, and mission alignment 17:00 The ripple effect: vendors who reinvest through sustainability and social impact 18:00 Geographic focus: Portland and the broader Pacific Northwest 19:00 Why music remains the heart and soul of the brand 19:10 Why Tender Loving Empire chose Wefunder and community investing 20:40 Why VC is not the right fit for a values-based retail brand 21:20 How their Wefunder raise works: $1.2M goal and a convertible note approach 23:00 Advice to her 2007 self: confidence, trusting instincts, and staying close to the core 25:00 Preparing leaders for the next growth phase: transparency and sharing the full vision 27:20 What keeps Brianne going on tough days: impact, community, and walking into the stores 28:50 "Regenerative retail" explained: supporting communities vs. extracting from them 29:50 A first step for leaders: rethink suppliers and where resources flow 30:30 AI and the creator economy: efficiency benefits vs. IP and compensation concerns 33:00 Founder advice: grit, tenacity, support systems, and learning along the way 33:40 Closing: how listeners can support Tender Loving Empire and invest (starting at $100) 34:00 Podcast disclaimer and wrap-up A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more [https://www.xeniumhr.com/] Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon] About [https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws] Connect with Xenium HR: Website [https://xeniumhr.com/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR] Twitter [https://twitter.com/XeniumHR] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR | — | ||||||
| 1/13/26 | Belonging, Trust, and the Human Side of HR with Nae Hakala | In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws is joined by Nae Hakala, HR Business Partner at Xenium HR, for a thoughtful and practical conversation about leadership, empathy, and building workplaces that truly support people. Nae shares her career journey, from managing creative teams early in her career to supporting organizations through complex and often difficult people challenges today. Together, Brandon and Nae explore what it really means to lead with humanity, why belonging and trust are essential business strategies, and how leaders can balance results with empathy in a rapidly changing workplace. Listeners will hear real-world insights on recruiting with care, navigating hard conversations like reductions in force, the risks of over-automating HR with AI, and why everyday leadership behaviors matter more than big, performative initiatives. This episode is especially relevant for leaders, HR professionals, and nonprofit organizations navigating growth, change, and limited resources. Key Timestamps 00:00 – What Transform Your Workplace is all about and why this conversation matters 02:00 – Nae's early leadership experience managing creative teams and what it taught her 04:00 – Why getting involved builds community at work and beyond 05:30 – How retail and hospitality shaped Nae's empathetic approach to HR 07:00 – Seeing the human behind every HR request, especially in difficult moments 08:30 – Handling reductions in force with dignity, respect, and compassion 10:00 – Recruiting at scale without losing the human touch 11:30 – Where AI helps HR and where it risks doing harm 13:00 – Lessons from equity-focused work in public education 16:00 – Why discomfort is part of growth for leaders and organizations 18:00 – Turning belonging into a practical, everyday business strategy 20:00 – Moving from talent acquisition into a broader HR business partner role 22:00 – Studying leadership frameworks and applying them in real time 23:30 – What today's workforce is asking for that wasn't as visible before 25:00 – Consulting across different organizations, cultures, and constraints 27:00 – Supporting nonprofits with limited resources and long-term thinking 29:00 – Building strong HR foundations that reduce firefighting 31:00 – Why supporting employees drives results and reduces turnover 33:00 – Final thoughts on leadership, trust, and showing up for people A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About Brandon: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR | — | ||||||
| 1/9/26 | Nicole Blevins on Compensation Planning | Compensation is one of the most sensitive and misunderstood topics in the workplace, and one of the most consequential. In this episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with Nicole Blevins to unpack what compensation structure really means, why informal pay decisions stop working as organizations grow, and how leaders can approach pay with more clarity, fairness, and confidence. Nicole explains how a well-designed compensation structure creates consistency without limiting flexibility, helps leaders navigate difficult pay conversations, and reduces risk tied to pay equity and compliance. The conversation also explores pay transparency laws, common signals that it is time to revisit compensation practices, and why avoiding pay equity analysis often creates bigger problems down the road. This episode offers practical insight for leaders, HR professionals, and business owners who want to scale responsibly, build trust, and make pay decisions that stand up to scrutiny. Key Timestamps 00:00 – Why compensation conversations matter more than ever 02:00 – What compensation structure actually means in practice 04:00 – The misconception that structure limits flexibility 06:00 – What breaks when organizations grow without guardrails 08:30 – Pay transparency, employee conversations, and trust 10:30 – The hidden risk of retention raises and pay compression 12:30 – Why pay equity analysis is no longer optional 14:30 – Oregon pay equity laws and the importance of proactive action 16:00 – The real pros and cons of pay transparency laws 18:00 – Addressing the fear of uncovering pay inequities 20:30 – How compensation structure changes manager conversations 23:30 – Why compensation is not a one-time exercise 25:30 – How often organizations should revisit pay structures 26:30 – Signals that it is time to review compensation practices 28:30 – How leaders can approach compensation work without overwhelm A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About Brandon: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR | — | ||||||
| 12/30/25 | The 8 Laws of Employee Experience with Jacob Morgan | In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws welcomes back Jacob Morgan to explore ideas from his upcoming book, The Eight Laws of Employee Experience: How to Build a Future-Ready Organization, releasing in February 2026. Drawing from more than 100 interviews with CHROs, Jacob shares why many organizations have lost direction since the pandemic and how well-intended employee experience efforts have sometimes drifted into entitlement, reactivity, and trend-chasing. The conversation unpacks why leaders often operate in "defense mode," how AI is being misunderstood and misused at work, and why employee experience is not an HR initiative but a shared responsibility across the organization. Listeners will also hear practical frameworks for separating trends from truths, rethinking learning and development, understanding employees beyond survey data, and designing flexibility and culture in more intentional ways. This episode offers clear perspectives for leaders who want to stop reacting and start building the future of work they actually want. Key Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and episode overview 02:00 – Why organizations have lost their way post-pandemic 05:30 – Employee experience, entitlement culture, and unintended consequences 08:00 – Why leaders are stuck playing defense instead of offense 11:00 – Trends vs truths and the risks of chasing competitors 13:00 – AI at work and the rise of "work slop" 15:00 – A framework to adapt, pause, or push back on trends 17:00 – Overview of The Eight Laws of Employee Experience 19:00 – Decoding the human signal and knowing employees beyond data 24:30 – Surveys vs real conversations and the importance of human connection 27:00 – Rethinking learning, skill-building, and application on the job 31:00 – The limits of AI and why managers still matter 34:00 – The growth framework for development, readiness, and decision-making 37:00 – Designing flexibility and the idea of a career "command center" 40:00 – Using technology to amplify humanity, not replace it 43:00 – Choosing the future you want to build as an organization 45:00 – Final reflections and where to learn more A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR | — | ||||||
| 12/23/25 | How to Protect Culture When Pressure Is High with Kate McKinnon | In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws sits down with Kate McKinnon, a fractional Chief People Officer with deep experience in high-pressure, high-visibility environments across sports and entertainment. Kate shares what it takes to protect culture when speed and stress are constant, how to address burnout and disengagement without pretending everything is fine, and why "stop, start, continue" feedback loops can help leaders turn frustration into action. They also unpack generational friction, the reality of AI reshaping HR and leadership work, and why developing first-time managers before they step into leadership is one of the most overlooked levers for performance. The conversation closes with practical ways to build belonging without huge budgets, and a reminder that grace and kindness still matter in modern workplaces. 0:00 Welcome to Transform Your Workplace + episode overview 2:00 Meet Kate McKinnon and why her background matters 4:00 Protecting culture in high-pressure, high-performance environments 6:00 Burnout, disengagement, and the power of "stop, start, continue" 9:00 Generational friction at work and how leaders can bridge the gap 11:00 Gen AI, new grads, and the future of work 13:00 Making work more human in an AI-driven workplace 15:00 Why great performers struggle as new managers 17:00 The future of learning and development: microlearning vs in-person 20:00 Belonging without big budgets: practical, low-cost ideas 22:00 Leadership lessons from crisis, M&A, and COVID 25:00 What sports culture teaches us about performance and growth 27:00 Using data, feedback, and scorecards to drive engagement 29:00 Bridging the gap from college (and military) to career 32:00 What the next decade of culture and leadership will demand 34:00 Final thoughts: grace, kindness, and what leaders should remember A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders. About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more [https://www.xeniumhr.com/] Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon] About [https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws] Connect with Xenium HR: Website [https://xeniumhr.com/] Learning & Development Programs [https://xeniumhr.com/learning-development] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR] Twitter [https://twitter.com/XeniumHR] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR] | — | ||||||
| 12/16/25 | The Case for Curiosity: Why Wonder Might Be the Most Undervalued Skill in the Modern Workplace | Van Lai-DuMone discusses her book on transforming curiosity into action through small steps. She shares her mother's refugee story of building the nail industry, emphasizes reframing limiting beliefs, and advocates for workplace cultures that welcome all ideas. The framework includes pausing, asking "what if" questions, and embracing creative chaos. TAKEAWAYS Curiosity requires pausing to ask "what if" and "how might we" questions. Small steps overcome fear and build confidence toward big goals. Welcome all ideas without judgment to foster innovation and trust. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR | — | ||||||
| 12/9/25 | Why the Return-to-Office Can't Fix Broken Work | Sarah Escobar and Corinne Murray discuss their book "Work Then Place," arguing that return-to-office mandates alone won't drive transformation. They emphasize understanding how work actually happens before designing physical, digital, and experiential environments. The authors advocate for empirical approaches, building trust through small changes, and creating adaptive organizations prepared for AI's fourth industrial revolution. TAKEAWAYS Work must inform place - analyze workflows first, then design environments to support them Leaders must actively participate in change themselves, not just orchestrate it from above Address foundational friction like burnout and connectivity before pursuing innovation A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR | — | ||||||
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