HR Works: The Podcast for Human Resources

With the world outside the office in constant flux, the traditional leadership playbook HR leaders have been reading from needs to be thrown out. But one of the world's leading tech companies has been hard at work, studying and testing how HR can be the most effective in these tumultuous times.

In this week's episode of the HR Works Podcast, we sat down with the Head of Google's School for Learners, Alison Parrin, who took the stage at SPARK Talent this year to let HR leaders in on what scholarly studies have discovered on the ever-shifting front of human resources. She calls for her peers to make two fundamental shifts in their mindset, and that approaching situations with the mindset of a learner rather than a teacher may be the key to success. Check out what Alison has to say, and her behind-the-scenes thoughts of SPARK Talent below!

When you manage over 500 cinemas across the U.S., understanding the numbers is crucial to keeping the business successful. SPARK Talent attendees got a sneak peek into this world with speaker Adam Murphy, Director of People Analytics for AMC Theatres. With AI, Adam explains how easy it’s become to look at large swaths of data. But what makes an HR leader truly successful, is their ability to contextualize that data, and use it to build tools that people actually need.

We sat down with Adam on the scene at SPARK Talent to discuss everything AMC is doing to innovate in the HR space, and how our audience can get ahead with the latest tools and tricks. Watch the full episode below!

As student debt burdens increase and traditional white-collar career paths leave many college graduates underemployed, the skilled trades are emerging as an unexpected solution for both workers and employers. College graduates represent a largely untapped talent pipeline for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical careers, and they often outperform traditional hires in leadership potential, adaptability, and retention. While technical skills can be taught, the critical thinking, communication abilities, and problem-solving mindset that many graduates bring to the table prove invaluable in an industry facing acute labor shortages.

On today's episode of the HR Works Podcast, we're looking at part two of our conversation with Julie Anderson, SVP of Talent Strategy, Wrench Group, on how the HR and trade work world can update their workforce, and the hidden potential of recruiting a younger workforce.

As student debt burdens increase and traditional white-collar career paths leave many college graduates underemployed, the skilled trades are emerging as an unexpected solution for both workers and employers. College graduates represent a largely untapped talent pipeline for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical careers, and they often outperform traditional hires in leadership potential, adaptability, and retention. While technical skills can be taught, the critical thinking, communication abilities, and problem-solving mindset that many graduates bring to the table prove invaluable in an industry facing acute labor shortages.

On today's episode of the HR Works Podcast, we're looking at part one of our conversation with Julie Anderson, SVP of Talent Strategy, Wrench Group, on how the HR and trade work world can update their workforce, and the hidden potential of recruiting a younger workforce.

AI has been changing how we work for well over a couple years, and now employees and employers alike are starting to figure out what works, and what doesn't. A lot of organizations need to start asking harder questions about how AI actually works, as in many cases, employers still do not fully understand the tools they are buying, how they function and where the risks lie.

On today's episode of the HR Works Podcast, we'll explore the ins and outs of AI and its impact on hiring alongside Chief Compliance officer at ICIMS, Courtney Dutter.

Success in the workforce starts with your leaders. If those taking charge don’t have clarity and a focused direction, their talent will lag behind. But knowing exactly where you, your team, and your talent needs to go isn’t always simple, and sometimes, you need to bet on your success.

Few know this better than Ericka Portis, Director of Performance for Fanatics Betting & Gaming, who joined us for an exclusive Q&A ahead of our SPARK Talent 2026 conference to discuss with us her HR journey, the road she’s followed, and paved, for leadership success.

From talent systems to leadership strategy, Portis has led the charge in development for some of the most prominent businesses out there. Check out our full conversation with Portis below!

Burnout and boredom have been plaguing the workplace more and more with each passing year, with HR leaders feeling more pressure with less reward. But what if we could bring creativity, flexibility, and genuine joy back into the workplace, and up productivity. According to Kevin Bishop, the Director of Talent Development at LinkedIn, it's not just a pleasant wish, but how the workforce should be moving forward.

Coming from a unique, non-linear background in the performing arts (music and theater), Bishop treats his “corporate outsider” perspective as a superpower. Before he takes the main stage at SPARK TALENT this fall, HR Daily Advisor got to sit down with Bishop for a live webinar to discuss how LinkedIn is transforming it's workforce, and how HR leaders can challenge the status quo, handle modern disruptions, and build a future-ready workforce. Check out part two of our conversation below!

Burnout and boredom have been plaguing the workplace more and more with each passing year, with HR leaders feeling more pressure with less reward. But what if we could bring creativity, flexibility, and genuine joy back into the workplace, and up productivity. According to Kevin Bishop, the Director of Talent Development at LinkedIn, it's not just a pleasant wish, but how the workforce should be moving forward.

Coming from a unique, non-linear background in the performing arts (music and theater), Bishop treats his “corporate outsider” perspective as a superpower. Before he takes the main stage at SPARK TALENT this fall, HR Daily Advisor got to sit down with Bishop for a live webinar to discuss how LinkedIn is transforming it's workforce, and how HR leaders can challenge the status quo, handle modern disruptions, and build a future-ready workforce. Check out part one of our conversation below!

Back in May, the Vatican released an encyclical offering criticism on AI and its use. Now, stances on AI have always included scrutiny, but from such an official body, it alights a new question among the workforce who's faith or livelihoods have disparities with AI; can they be exempt from using it, and do employers have to comply?

On today's episode of HR Works, we're joined by Emily Scace, senior legal editor for Brightmine, to discuss the potential future of exemptions, religious and otherwise, growing in the face of AI.

The past decade has seen incredible change when it comes to the use of cannabis. The laws have changed, the culture has changed, but employee drug testing has largely remained the same. Drug tests often fall to the wayside of priorities for HR professionals, but leaving them to become outdated is a straight shot to logistical and compliance nightmares.

On today's episode of HR Daily Advisor, we're joined by Kate Riley, General Manager for recenTHC, to discuss how drug testing needs to move into the future, and the science behind compliance.