Episodes

  • Work, Joy & the Death of Cancel Culture

    Work, Joy & the Death of Cancel Culture
    Mar 4 2026
    Let's face it - some people are just addicted to getting offended by everything, whether it impacts them or not. BUT... I think they're increasingly in the minority. Everywhere you look - politics, entertainment, pop culture - there are signs that Outrage, Inc. may be on the way out. This episode takes a look at some of the early indicators that, despite the odds, joy, hope, and levelheadedness just might be staging a comeback. Smart workplaces (and the HR pros who support them) will see the tide turning and react accordingly. Those who don't... well... from Bud Light to Target, we've seen how misreading cultural cues can hurt a business. No one is talking about abandoning principles, but a more rational approach just might win the day. 00:01 - Intro 02:24 - Jennifer Sey and the consequences of speaking up @ work 03:51 - Joy is staging a comeback 04:21 - Signs of rationality in politics 06:57 - Sports figures aren't taking the outrage bait 09:26 - Entertainment is trending away from the woke 13:34 - Using -ists and -isms as sword and shield 14:43 - A fork in the road: outrage fatigue @ work 21:06 - Closing
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    22 mins
  • Work, Joy & the Death of Cancel Culture

    Work, Joy & the Death of Cancel Culture
    Mar 3 2026
    Let's face it - some people are just addicted to getting offended by everything, whether it impacts them or not. BUT... I think they're increasingly in the minority. Everywhere you look - politics, entertainment, pop culture - there are signs that Outrage, Inc. may be on the way out. This episode takes a look at some of the early indicators that, despite the odds, joy, hope, and levelheadedness just might be staging a comeback. Smart workplaces (and the HR pros who support them) will see the tide turning and react accordingly. Those who don't... well... from Bud Light to Target, we've seen how misreading cultural cues can hurt a business. No one is talking about abandoning principles, but a more rational approach just might win the day.
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    22 mins
  • The Workforce Strikes Back

    The Workforce Strikes Back
    Feb 11 2026
    Tired of AI ghosting your job applications and being treated like garbage during your job search? In 2026, workers are fighting back! Some major class-action lawsuits against HR tech vendors, exposing hidden biases and secret scoring that reject qualified candidates (especially over 40) without a fair shot. Discover how these cases could level the playing field, why employers are scrambling, and real options like going independent to reclaim your career power. 00:01 - Introduction 01:51 - Corporate America & The Courts 02:35 - Workday Class Action Suit 04:01 - Worktech AI Systems 101 04:41 - Workday Class Action Suit (Continued) 05:58 - Eightfold.ai Class Action Suit 08:16 - What This Means for Job Seekers 08:59 - The Employer/Tech Provider Blame Game 10:00 - What This Means for HR & Employers 11:36 - How AI (and HR) Stacks the Decks Against Workers 15:02 - How YOU Can Fight Back 18:18 - Wrapping Up
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    20 mins
  • Top 5 Workplace Predictions for 2026

    Top 5 Workplace Predictions for 2026
    Jan 3 2026
    2025 is now in the rear-view mirror, and not a moment too soon. It has been a rough year for the workforce, but I think 2026 will mark a turning point. There are plenty of changes still looming on the horizon, but employers and HR may have overplayed their hand on multiple fronts. This is the year when I think workers have an amazing opportunity to step up, speak up, and show up in a way that will put them back into the drivers' seat. 0:01 - Intro 1:43 - Prediction 1: AI Hangover 5:45 - Prediction 2: Outrage Fatigue 13:33 - Prediction 3: HR's Year of Reckoning 20:01 - Prediction 4: Humanity + Authenticity WIns 24:29 - Prediction 5: The Rise of the "Disruption Natives" 29:29 - Outro
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    30 mins
  • Career Advice for New Workers, Job Seekers, and Workaholics

    Career Advice for New Workers, Job Seekers, and Workaholics
    Oct 23 2025
    What happens when you mix EPCOT, a college grad, a Gen X dad, and a whole lot of unsolicited opinions about work, life, and figuring things out? You get this video. We took a father-daughter day trip to EPCOT (because where else do you have deep conversations about burnout, ambition, and impostor syndrome?), and decided to flip the script on our usual content. This one’s a little different from the usual Rational Workforce videos. Less “expert analysis,” more “real talk on a park bench.” ➡️ She’s 22. Newly employed. Optimistic. Sharp. Slightly skeptical. ➡️ I’m… not 22. Slightly more jaded. Still hopeful. Definitely opinionated. We wandered through World Showcase and asked each other one question per country — no scripts, no rehearsals, just two generations trying to understand each other (and the world of work) a little better. If you’ve ever had a tough conversation with your kid (or your parent) about what work really means — or if you’ve ever wished someone had those conversations with you — this one’s for you. Leave a comment with your favorite question, a hot take, or something you wish your boss/mentor/parent/kid would understand.
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    31 mins
  • Outrage Marketing, Bad Rebrands, and the People Left Behind

    Outrage Marketing, Bad Rebrands, and the People Left Behind
    Aug 28 2025
    Why are brands torching their identities in the name of progress? In this episode of The Rational Workforce, we unpack the Sydney Sweeney/AEO campaign, Cracker Barrel’s botched rebrand, and the rise of outrage marketing. Who benefits? Who pays? And what does it say about the state of DEI, branding, and the workforce caught in the middle?
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    14 mins
  • The Silent Killer: Your Ego and Your Career

    The Silent Killer: Your Ego and Your Career
    Aug 17 2025
    We all feel it: The sting of being overlooked. The rush to defend ourselves. The quiet resentment after a meeting or message that just didn’t sit right. But here’s the hard truth: Not every reaction points to injustice. Sometimes it’s not them... it’s your ego. Today's episode presents a practical framework to help you decode what you’re feeling at work and why. It’s not therapy and it’s not fluff. It’s discernment for leaders, job seekers, and anyone who’s ever left a meeting replaying every word. If you want to lead with clarity, grow with humility, or just stop sabotaging your own progress, start here. 0:00 - Intro 0:33 - The Ego & Your Mojo: A Personal Story 2:20 - Fighting FOMO: The Power of Stepping Away 4:15 - My Background & My Journey as a Tech Exec 5:00 - Tips for Navigating Stages of Your Carer 7:15 - Tips for Job Seekers 9:16 - Parting Advice
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    11 mins
  • Carano and Disney Settle. Chalk One Up for the Workforce.

    Carano and Disney Settle. Chalk One Up for the Workforce.
    Aug 8 2025
    In a legal settlement that feels like it has been a long time coming, actress Gina Carano and Disney seem to have settled their differences. In today's episode, we give you a quick recap of the news and the events that got us here, and discuss how this could have broader implications for workers everywhere.
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    10 mins