Every time I think I should throw in the towel on our weekly show, someone comes out of the woodwork and tells me we saved them during Covid. Made them cry when I talked about losing my brother. Shares something important with me. Hugs me at a conference and asks about my feisty kids because they soooooo relate. Introduces their daughter to me for mentorship. Sends me a guest no one knows yet but should. Thanks me for being real when so much feels like bullshit.

My favorite word has always been permission. Or maybe truth. I don't know why we need give ourselves and each other permission to be human. To be real, flawed, imperfect, hungry, trying, growing, learning, loved. We make actual business cases for it and call it recognition, engagement, DEI, belonging, culture, our shiny new EVP.

You guys. When everything is changing, remember nothing has changed. The world needs our full humanity, our full community, our full hearts. And we need each other.

Our silly little show grew to over 3,500+ weekly audience members because we created space for all this. I don't know why I need reminding, but sometimes I do. The Now of Work is a community for HR, work tech, AI, all of that....and humans. Not so silly, I guess.

I brought my friend Thorald Koren back to the Now of Work community because you should know him. He's so human he's not even on LinkedIn. 😂 Knows love, loss, mental health, community, and the power of voice. Happens to be one of my favorite musicians. He talks with us, sang to us, he was present with us.

If you're still working this week, poor things, spend an hour with us. ❤️

-Jess Von Bank