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Workplace Weirdness

Workplace Weirdness

Written by: Maya Kadar Kovalsky
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 Welcome to "Workplace Weirdness," the podcast that takes a deep dive into the delightful oddities of office life. Ever wondered why the break room smells like a science experiment or why your boss insists on using 'synergy' in every meeting? We've got you covered! Join Maya and her revolving door of guest hosts as they unravel the mysteries of cubicle culture and decode the cryptic behaviors of your coworkers. From bizarre email sign-offs to the enigma of office fridge politics, no topic is too weird for us to tackle. Each week, we'll talk about hot HR topics, answer listener questions and dissect an awkward workplace theme, all while keeping things light, fun, and packed with HR humor. Tune in, because in the world of work, the only thing you can count on is the unexpected! So, grab your coffee, put your feet up on that ergonomic footrest, and let's get weird at work together. Trust us, it’ll be a productivity boost like no other!© Green Banana Consulting LLC | 2025 | All Rights Reserved Careers Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Success Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Who Actually Gets Ahead? Workplace Bias with Vernā Myers, Netflix’s First VP of Inclusion Strategy | Workplace Weirdness S2 EP10

    Who Actually Gets Ahead? Workplace Bias with Vernā Myers, Netflix’s First VP of Inclusion Strategy | Workplace Weirdness S2 EP10
    Jan 21 2026
    Is work actually merit-based, or do our systems just tell us they are? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion expert and thought leader Vernā Myers to unpack bias, inclusion, equity, and why conversations about difference have become so stigmatized at work. From the myth of merit-based workplaces to how difference actually fuels innovation, Vernā shares insights from decades of experience, including her time as Netflix’s first VP of Inclusion Strategy. They also tackle real listener questions about appearance-based bias, career risk, and when recommending a friend at work goes wrong. This is a thoughtful, honest conversation about fear, fairness, and what it really takes to build workplaces where people can thrive. Resources and Links Vernā Myers Website - https://vernamyers.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vernamyers/ Maya Kadar Kovalsky Website - ⁠https://www.mayakadar.com/⁠ LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/⁠ Workplace Weirdness Email: ⁠info@workplace-weirdness.com⁠ SpeakPipe - ⁠http://speakpipe.com/workplaceweirdness⁠ Website - ⁠http://workplace-weirdness.com⁠ Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/workplaceweirdpod/⁠ Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.
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    29 mins
  • The New Year Reset: Delete Your HR Tech and Start Over with William Tincup | Workplace Weirdness S2 E9

    The New Year Reset: Delete Your HR Tech and Start Over with William Tincup | Workplace Weirdness S2 E9
    Jan 7 2026
    What happens when someone actually tells the truth about Human Resources, recruiting, and HR tech? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with HR industry truth-teller William Tincup for an honest, open and unfiltered conversation about feedback, broken HR systems, AI hype, onboarding failures, and why most HR tech is solving last year’s problems. William shares why he once told a founder to delete their entire product, why positive feedback is overrated, and why HR leaders don’t care how your tech works- only whether it works. We cover: Why unsolicited feedback is often useless The real problem with HR tech and AI What onboarding should actually feel like Why skills now expire faster than milk How leaders should think about talent, growth, and discomfort If you work in HR, lead people, sell HR tech, or just enjoy uncomfortable workplace truths- this one’s for you. Subscribe for more conversations about the weird, wonderful, and wildly human side of work. In This Episode: [00:00] Introduction to William Tincup [01:08] Unpopular Opinions in HR Tech [03:29] The Reality of Workforce Planning [14:28] Listener Question #1: Transactional Office Friends [17:24] Listener Question #2: Feeling Left Behind [20:40] Cringeworthy Question: Onboarding Woes [24:18] Conclusion and Farewell William Tincup Website - https://wrkdefined.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/williamtincup Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/williamtincup/reels/?hl=en Maya Kadar Kovalsky Website - ⁠⁠https://www.mayakadar.com/⁠⁠ LinkedIn - ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/⁠⁠ Workplace Weirdness Email: ⁠⁠info@workplace-weirdness.com⁠⁠ SpeakPipe - ⁠⁠http://speakpipe.com/workplaceweirdness⁠⁠ Website - ⁠⁠http://workplace-weirdness.com⁠⁠ Instagram - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/workplaceweirdpod/⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.
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    26 mins
  • Why Ace Hardware Should’ve Failed (But Doesn’t) with Kane Calamari | Workplace Weirdness S2 E8

    Why Ace Hardware Should’ve Failed (But Doesn’t) with Kane Calamari | Workplace Weirdness S2 E8
    Dec 24 2025
    If your workplace runs on “vibes” and surprise criticism in Q4… congrats, you’ve unlocked the bad timeline. In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Kane Calamari breaks down what real leadership, employee engagement, and HR strategy look like inside Ace Hardware, a company he says “should be failing,” and yet keeps winning. We cover retail culture, co-op business models, leadership development, succession planning, retention strategy, and how to build trust with ongoing feedback instead of annual blindsides. Kane also shares how AI tools are already changing frontline work and why human leadership still matters most when cultures collide, teams merge, and communication breaks down (looking at you, Slack screenshots). Hit the like, share and subscribe buttons for more conversations about workplace culture, HR leadership, management, career growth, and the weird stuff that makes you say: “there’s no way this happened at work.” But it did. In This Episode [00:00] A Special Connection at a Hardware Store [01:13] Introduction to Kane Calamari [02:13] Ace Hardware's Unique Business Model [05:05] The Role of CHRO at Ace Hardware [06:07] Lessons Learned in Leadership [09:10] Weirdest Workplace Moment: The Drunk Futurist Incident [13:06] Week in Work: AI's Impact on Retail Jobs [17:07] Listener Question #1: Performance Review Blindsides [19:53] Listener Question #2: Company Culture Fusion [23:06] Cringeworthy Question: Slack Message Mishap [27:10] Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes Resources and Links Kane Calamari LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kane-calamari-53268014 Website - https://newsroom.acehardware.com/kane-calamari/ Maya Kadar Kovalsky Website - https://www.mayakadar.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/ Workplace Weirdness Email: info@workplace-weirdness.com SpeakPipe - http://speakpipe.com/workplaceweirdness Website - http://workplace-weirdness.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/workplaceweirdpod/ Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.
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    30 mins
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