What The F* is Happening to The Office?

Are we designing offices that are already obsolete before anyone moves in? Workplace strategist and circular economy advocate Celeste Tell joins Bob Fox to challenge one of workplace design's most embedded assumptions — and make the case for a fundamentally different approach.Celeste Tell, co-founder of Epicycled, argues that in an era of constant organizational change, designing a workplace for a fixed outcome is designing for failure. Instead, she makes the case for treating the workplace like a kit of parts — think original Lego, not the themed sets — that can be reconfigured again and again without tearing everything out and starting over.In this episode of What the F* is Happening to the Office?, Bob and Celeste dig into why architects and contractors walk away on day one while owners are left holding a space that no longer fits, why landfill economics are the real obstacle to circularity in workplace design, how the auto industry mastered producer responsibility while office design hasn't, and what it would actually look like to design a workplace for a 50-year lease.If you work in corporate real estate, architecture, workplace strategy, or facilities — and you've watched a perfectly good space get scraped because things changed, or it was custom for a specific organization. — this conversation is for you.Like, subscribe, and share with anyone working to build better work environments.Download our State of the Workplace Report → https://workdesign.beehiiv.com/industry-report

The people deciding the future of your company… aren’t talking about the workplace.And it’s costing more than anyone realizes.Not in real estate—but in performance.In this episode of What the F* is Happening to the Office?, Phil Kirschner explains why the workplace has become one of the biggest blind spots in modern organizations—and what leaders are getting wrong.At major conferences, CFOs, CHROs, and CIOs shape strategy, but rarely discuss the workplace. Meanwhile, workplace and real estate conversations happen without them.So who actually owns the workplace?This isn’t a design issue—it’s a leadership problem.We dig into:Why workplace strategy keeps getting ignored at the topThe real reason offices feel generic and underperformWhy companies are “fixing the past” instead of building the futureThe hidden conflict between HR, IT, Finance, and Real EstateWho should own the workplace (and why no one does)What the workplace should actually be doing todayPhil brings a rare cross-industry perspective from his work across McKinsey & Company, WeWork, JLL, and Credit Suisse—along with his research through The Workline.If you're responsible for the future of work—or trying to be—subscribe.We focus on the conversations most people aren’t having.McKinsey Organizational Health Index: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/hybrid-can-be-healthy-for-your-organization-when-done-righthttps://walktheworkline.com/article/all-ceos-agree-where-work-happens-mattersSubscribe to The Workline:https://walktheworkline.com/Download the State of the Workplace Report:https://workdesign.beehiiv.com/indust...#futureofwork #workplacestrategy #hybridwork #leadership #corporaterealestateAbout Work DesignWork Design explores how work, the workplace, and the office are changing—and the forces driving that change before it shows up in the built environment.What the F is Happening to the Office?* is a video podcast featuring real conversations with the leaders shaping the future of work across corporate real estate, architecture, design, technology, HR, and organizational leadership.We focus on the issues that matter:The shift from office as a place to office as a tool for performanceHybrid work, distributed teams, and the “return to office” debateThe impact of AI and emerging technologies on how work gets doneWorkplace experience, wellbeing, and human-centric designThe changing role of corporate real estate and facility managementCulture, connection, mentorship, and organizational effectivenessMeasuring performance, engagement, and return on the workplaceThis is not about trends or finished spaces. It’s about the thinking, decisions, and trade-offs shaping the next generation of work environments.

Bringing people back to the office does not automatically create collaboration. In this episode, Ben Waber breaks down why the design and use of the physical workplace can have a major impact on communication, innovation, and organizational success.In this conversation, Bob Fox talks with MIT Media Lab lecturer and researcher Ben Waber about what collaboration really is and why most organizations misunderstand it. Ben explains that collaboration is not just what happens in meetings or teamwork, but the larger pattern of how communication, knowledge transfer, and relationships flow across an organization. One of the biggest takeaways is that the physical workplace still plays a major role in shaping those patterns. Proximity matters. Who sits near whom, how teams are arranged, where shared spaces are located, and how easily people can move between groups all influence the likelihood of interaction. The workplace is one of the strongest levers organizations have to reduce silos, and support the kinds of informal encounters that often lead to trust, idea-sharing, reduce risk, and better long-term performance.He also makes the case that simply requiring people to come back to the office is not enough. Attendance alone is not collaboration. The real value of the workplace comes from how intentionally it is designed and used to support the right kinds of connections. For hybrid organizations in particular, the office should not just be a place for individual work, but a tool for fostering meaningful interaction across teams, functions, and levels of leadership. Ben suggests that future headquarters may need to be more dynamic, more adaptable, and more focused on creating the conditions for collaboration rather than assuming it happens automatically. The message is clear: if organizations want better performance, innovation, and alignment, they need to think much more carefully about how the physical environment supports the way people actually work together.Check out Ben's Book: People Analytics: How Social Sensing Technology Will Transform Business and What It Tells Us About the Future of Work: https://amzn.to/4sQEQ8rDownload our State of the Workplace Report here: https://workdesign.beehiiv.com/industry-report

What if we could look into a crystal ball and design the future workplace today?Are we preparing for what’s next, or redesigning yesterday’s office?In this episode of What the F* is Happening to the Office?, Bob Fox sits down with Mark Bryan, Chief Research & Strategy Officer at IIDA, to explore why most “future of work” conversations are stuck debating layouts, policies, and attendance - instead of how work itself is fundamentally changing.Mark introduces strategic foresight, a data-driven discipline focused on preparation, not prediction, and explains why organizations must design for measurable human outcomes: trust, wellbeing, learning, social cohesion, and performance.We explore:• The convergence of AI, connected devices, and digital twins• Why utilization data can mislead decision-making• How immersive environments go beyond headsets• The coming technology “supercycle” reshaping work• Why the workplace must evolve from container to trust platformIf you're a workplace leader, architect, designer, CRE executive, or strategist trying to prepare your organization for the next 10 years, this conversation will expand how you think about work, technology, and human potential.Subscribe for weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future of work and the built environment.Special thanks to Global Furniture Group for supporting this episode.https://www.globalfurnituregroup.com/

What if the next evolution of work isn’t an office — but a marketplace of hidden genius?We’re applying old thinking to new technology — and wondering why work still feels stuck.In this episode of What the F* is Happening to the Office?, futurist and executive coach Rex Miller introduces The Fourth Place — a bold new model for how work, learning, and human connection come together in an AI-driven world.The Fourth Place is a hybrid environment — part café, part makerspace, part internal Genius Bar — designed to unlock the “long tail” of hidden expertise inside every organization. It’s a continuous learning hub where AI, human wisdom, and curiosity converge to solve problems traditional management structures can no longer handle.Rex joins host Bob Fox to explain why the future belongs to organizations that move beyond command-and-control hierarchies and toward distributed networks of value.In this episode we explore:The Fourth Place, defined — Why the office must evolve into a mashup of Kinko’s, Starbucks, and an internal Genius BarThe long tail of talent — How to bypass management bottlenecks and tap into infinite employee capabilityMedia rewires the brain — Why generational differences are really media-platform differencesAI as a partner, not a replacement — Shifting from “expert” to “guide” while eliminating frictionThe loneliness crisis at work — Why belonging drives retention and performance“Friday is Fourth Place Day” — A radical way to turn the quietest day of the week into the most valuableThe bottom line:The next workplace isn’t a place you’re required to go — it’s a place you want to go to learn, connect, and create.💬 Question for you:If your organization had an internal Genius Bar where employees taught each other skills, what would you sign up to learn — or teach?Future of Work · Workplace Strategy · AI and Work · Organizational Culture · Leadership

What happens when Gen Z starts reshaping the rules of work—while the Boomers are still playing by the old ones? In this essential episode, host Bob Fox sits down with generational researcher and leadership expert Warren Wright, CEO of Second Wave Learning (formerly of Gallup), to explore how the newest generation is changing the workplace culture from the inside out.Warren brings decades of insight to unpack the forces driving this generational shift. Gen Z is challenging traditional norms with a fierce desire for purpose-driven work, radical transparency, and strong psychological safety. We dive into how these values—alongside unique workplace communication styles—stack up against those of the multigenerational workforce (Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers). Learn what organizations must do now to adapt their leadership development, enhance employee engagement, and leverage reverse mentoring to foster effective generational collaboration, ensuring they are ready for the true Future of Work.

Is the real workplace problem space—or is it leadership? Host Bob Fox sits down with Ray Milora, Senior Director of Workplace Design & Construction at Cisco, to unpack the critical elements that actually drive people back to the office. Ray shares an inspiring, candid blueprint: it’s not excessive amenities, but leadership presence, clear purpose, and friction-free hybrid tech that truly matter.This episode reveals how Cisco is using a single, unified tech stack to eliminate common meeting friction, effectively making the office a powerful business tool for talent attraction and closing sales. Learn how Ray is leveraging AI for workplace strategy to convert design conversations into visuals in hours, not months, radically accelerating workplace design. We challenge outdated metrics and explore how to build portfolio flexibility while right-sizing, proving that activated spaces and intentional culture are the real keys to the future of work.

What would it truly take to make the office matter again? Host Bob Fox sits down with Lauren Hasson, Senior Vice President of Workplace Strategy at JLL, to tackle why the post-pandemic office hasn't evolved as expected—and how to fix it. This is an essential conversation for leaders, facility managers, and designers rethinking how and where we work.Lauren shares an inspiring vision, urging organizations to turn their office into a "living lab" for continuous innovation, where experimentation is ongoing, not one-time. She reveals why choice is the ultimate workplace benefit, necessitating a variety of settings designed for neurodiversity and high employee satisfaction. We dive deep into the real ROI of good workplace design, arguing that metrics must upgrade from simple square footage to experience-based value, such as cost per visit and employee engagement scores. Learn why beautiful, thoughtful design and strong leadership modeling are crucial for compelling people to choose the office over their curated home environments, ultimately driving the Future of Work and successful Hybrid Work strategies.

Prepare to redefine what corporate wellness truly means! Bob Fox welcomes Brendan Herbert, COO of Infinity Wellness Partners, for an inspiring conversation on creating healthier, high-performing teams in the era of hybrid work. Brendan reveals how innovative companies are moving past outdated programs, embracing a holistic model that integrates ergonomic tips, accessible on-demand fitness, and impactful mental health support through strategic HR strategies. Discover how simple, fast interventions like 1-5 minute "brain breaks" and advanced AI wellness concierge systems are breaking down barriers to employee wellbeing and transforming the office into a vibrant wellness lounge. This episode is a powerful call to action for leaders ready to elevate their workplace culture and demonstrate that a commitment to employee health is the ultimate driver of performance and a successful return to office.

Workplace experience expert Jess Klay joins Bob Fox to break down the Three Pillars of Workplace Strategy—Connection, Wellbeing, and Adaptability—and how they are shaping the next generation of office environments. Whether you're a facility manager, workplace strategist, corporate real estate leader, or HR professional, this conversation is packed with insights on how to create dynamic, human-centered spaces that drive engagement, innovation, and business success.What You’ll Learn:How connection and community impact workplace cultureWhy wellbeing and sustainability are critical for employee retentionThe role of AI-driven space planning in optimizing real estate decisionsHow companies can evolve and adapt to meet changing workforce expectationsAs organizations rethink their offices, hospitality-driven experiences, hybrid work models, and smart workplace technologies are defining the future. Whether you're navigating an office redesign, workplace policy shift, or simply wondering what makes people want to return to the office, this conversation is for you.

The United State of Work: Julia Hobsbawm on the Global Transformation of Work What the F* is Happening to the Office?In this episode of What the F is Happening to the Office?, host Bob Fox is joined by Julia Hobsbawm, a globally recognized author, speaker, and thought leader on the future of work, workplace culture, and social health.Julia shares her personal journey from a nontraditional career path in media and communications to becoming one of the leading voices reshaping how we think about work in a post-pandemic world. Together, they explore her groundbreaking new report, “The United State of Work,” which marks five years since the global lockdowns began and examines how work has fundamentally changed across 12 countries.

Join us for a powerful conversation with Leigh Stringer, Global Director of Advisory Services at Perkins&Will and bestselling author of The Green Workplace and The Healthy Workplace. Leigh explores how the pandemic reshaped our understanding of equity, health, and inclusion at work—digging into invisible factors like air quality, sensory experience, and neurodiversity. From hybrid collaboration to community-driven design, she shares strategies for creating more adaptable, inclusive, and sustainable workplaces. A must-listen for anyone shaping the future of work. Subscribe for more insights on how work and the workplace are evolving.