Episodes

  • The Pros and Cons of Fractional HR

    The Pros and Cons of Fractional HR
    Oct 6 2026
    On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Elles Skony, Founder of Fractional People People about what it means to have a fractional HR role, how you can find these opportunities, and the pros and cons you should know about doing this work. 00:00: Intro 03:00: What is fractional HR and how does it differ from consulting 06:40: Why startups look for fractional people 10:00: When to know if you need an HR role 12:00: How do fractional leaders balance the work 17:00: How Elles began her fractional work 22:40: Pros and Cons of fractional 27:40: Advice for those pursuing fractional work This episode is presented by Equifax. To learn more, visit: equifax.com/hrbrew For more on Elles and Fractional People People, visit: https://www.fractionalpeoplepeople.com/ For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe Watch People Person on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ Have a question for us? Send us an email to: peopleperson@morningbrew.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers. Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.
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    36 mins
  • Advice You Can Actually Use to Become a Board Member

    Advice You Can Actually Use to Become a Board Member
    Sep 22 2026
    On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Deepali Vyas, Founder & CEO of Vyas Media, executive recruiter, and board member herself, about what it takes to actually land a board seat. Deepali explains what you can be doing in your career now to prepare yourself for this move later, what it takes to be qualified to sit on a board, and shares actionable advice about how you can make this into a reality for yourself, even when it feels far away. 00:00: Intro 04:00: Boardroom or BS game 08:10: What is a board member 12:20: How is board information passed to leadership 14:40: How and why to join a board 19:00: Prepare now for a board seat later 21:00: Diversity in board rooms 25:30: Deepali’s advice for pursuing board seats This episode is presented by Equifax. To learn more, visit equifax.com/hrbrew For more on Deepali: https://www.deepalivyas.com/ Deepali’s e.l.f. series on becoming a board member: https://elfbeauty.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web https://elfbeauty.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web https://elfbeauty.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web https://elfbeauty.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe Watch People Person on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers. Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.
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    34 mins
  • How HR Can Combat Spiking Healthcare Costs

    How HR Can Combat Spiking Healthcare Costs
    Sep 8 2026
    On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Director of Benefit Solutions at Nava Benefits, Colleen Locke. From the reasons behind rising healthcare costs to what information about those expenses you should be sharing with employees (and when), this episode can help fellow HR pros navigate open enrollment season and your benefits strategy throughout the year. 00:00: Intro 04:08: What Nava Benefits does 07:30: Why are healthcare costs so expensive right now 11:00: How much should HR teams share about benefit expenses with employees 15:30: Adjusting what the employer covers 19:30: Other benefits that HR teams should know about 23:00: How HR can be helpful in choosing their plans This episode is presented by Equifax. To learn more, visit equifax.com/hrbrew For more information on Nava Benefits: https://www.navabenefits.com/ For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe Watch People Person on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers. Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.
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    31 mins
  • How to Avoid Burnout in HR

    How to Avoid Burnout in HR
    Aug 25 2026
    On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Eliana Goldstein and Amina AlTai, both career coaches with a history of corporate burnout, about how HR pros can be sure to prioritize their own self care. From building your community to practicing celebration rituals, they share tips on not only how to manage burnout, but how to prevent it before it gets in the way of your work. 00:00: Intro 02:20: Kate’s perspective on self care 04:00: Eliana and Amina define self care 10:50: Networking vs. relationship building 13:40: The physical toll stress takes on your body 16:00: Painful vs. purposeful ambition 17:00: Lessons that carry over from a corporate experience 22:00: Celebration rituals and ambition cycling for high performers 25:40: Productive ways of winding down This episode is presented by Equifax. To learn more, visit equifax.com/hrbrew For more about Amina: https://www.aminaaltai.com/ Amina’s book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-ambition-trap-how-to-stop-chasing-and-start-living-amina-altai/27c64b46ca961db5? For more about Eliana: https://www.elianagoldsteincoaching.com/ The Gap and The Gain book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-gap-and-the-gain-the-high-achievers-guide-to-happiness-confidence-and-success-dan-sullivan/13b3af53fc11bb37?ean=9781401964368&bkshp-astro=t For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe Watch People Person on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers. Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.
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    35 mins
  • When is an Employee's Private Life HR's Problem?

    When is an Employee's Private Life HR's Problem?
    Aug 11 2026
    On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Sarah O’Melia, VP of Talent at Cisive, and co-host of their podcast "Don't Get Played", about what elements of an employee’s personal life, actually affects the professional. From background checks during the hiring process to social media activity, we learn when HR has to step in, and when it’s better for them to step back. 00:00: Intro 02:25: HR business or Mind Your Business 05:50: Deciding what is personal information vs. a business risk 08:20: Informal background checks 15:00: Having written and unwritten guidelines and policies 17:00: Addressing “Open to Work” on an employee’s LinkedIn 21:00: Establishing trust in the workplace This episode is presented by Equifax. For more information, go to equifax.com/hrbrew Listen to the Cisive Podcast "Don't Get Played": https://www.cisive.com/dont-get-played-podcast For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe Watch People Person on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers. Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.
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    33 mins
  • From A Starbucks Store to the Board Room: Advice On The Road to CHRO

    From A Starbucks Store to the Board Room: Advice On The Road to CHRO
    Jul 28 2026
    On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Sara Kelly, EVP and Chief Partner Officer at Starbucks. Sara shares her unique journey to leading people ops at Starbucks, the principals that have guided her career, and the programs around education, parental leave, and retention that have kept Starbucks employees growing within the company. 00:00: Intro 02:00: The recipe for being a CHRO 06:50: Starbucks college education program 08:55: Sara’s journey from store to Chief Partner Officer 12:35: How her principals have informed her role 13:20: Implementing the Coffeehouse Coach program 15:45: How to grow in your role 18:15: Non-negotiables for executive roles 22:00: Advice for becoming a leader 26:50: Listening to employees to change benefits and Starbucks parental leave This episode is presented by Leapsome. To learn more, visit: https://www.leapsome.com/request-a-demo For more on the Starbucks College Achievement Plan: https://about.starbucks.com/press/2026/starbucks-celebrates-nearly-20000-asu-graduates-and-counting/ For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe Watch People Person on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers. Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.
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    34 mins
  • Posting Responsibly: Emily Durham’s Best Social Media Practices for HR Pros

    Posting Responsibly: Emily Durham’s Best Social Media Practices for HR Pros
    Jul 14 2026
    On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Emily Durham, a former recruiter and current content creator, podcast host, and author of the book “Clock In.” Emily shares tips for showing up authentically online without getting yourself in trouble with HR, how she transitioned from corporate to content, and what to keep in mind for your own social media so that it doesn’t impact your career. 00:00: Intro 03:00: How Emily’s social strategy is used with coaching clients 05:00: Transition from corporate to content 12:00: How to (professionally) still be your authentic self online 21:10: How your social can impact a job offer 24:10: Your personal identity vs. your job 27:45: Clock In or Clock Out game This episode is presented by Leapsome. To learn more, visit: https://www.leapsome.com/request-a-demo To take our People Person survey, visit: https://www.morningbrewbreakroom.com/c/r/People-Person?Platform=Podcast To purchase Emily’s book “Clock In”: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/797902/clock-in-by-emily-durham/ For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe Watch People Person on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers. Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.
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    39 mins
  • How HR Pro Deepali Vyas Uses AI in Her HR Department and Life

    How HR Pro Deepali Vyas Uses AI in Her HR Department and Life
    Jun 30 2026
    On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Deepali Vyas, The Elite Recruiter and an HR pro herself. The two HR powerhouses sat down at our latest HR Brew event in New York City to discuss how Deepali uses different AI tools in her personal and professional life, the little white lie she told around her PTO days, and why a return to office can be a good thing for you depending on what season of your career you’re currently in. 00:00: Intro 01:30: How she uses each AI tool 04:50: AI’s impact on the current job market 06:40: The benefits of RTO 11:05: Ideal PTO 13:50: HR Hot Take To learn more about Deepali: https://www.deepalivyas.com/ For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe Watch People Person on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers. Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.
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    18 mins