Caleb and Adriele answer listener-submitted questions. What should Target have done? Is AI art theft? Can you imagine working in a VR environment? Plus, how did they find themselves in the careers they have, and how can we best communicate to bring people along on things like digital transformation? All that plus travel wins and losses, and a brand new podcast from Caleb and producer Dave Sandell, Best Album For. 

Caleb and Adriele look at the Republicans entering the presidential race, Chick Fil-A's DEI backlash and what it means for other companies, 3M's $10 billion fine, and how returning to the office can be like a 2-3% pay cut. Then, they go deep on research that says middle management may be most hit by AI, and what that means in light of other research that says middle management jobs are often meaningless. Will it be a chance for people to flourish or will most people flounder? Next, research says that great managers spend more time on praise than criticism. All that, plus Brooklyn's experiment policing itself, and The Little Mermaid and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Hosts: Caleb Gardner & Adriele Parker

Producer: Dave Sandell

Today's links:

It's becoming clear that AI is going to whack the mediocre middle of office workers - Business Insider

Bullshit Jobs: A Theory a book by David Graeber

Great managers don't spend equal time on criticism and praise - Big Think

Caleb and Adriele discuss the potential debt ceiling deal, the botched Ron DeSantis launch on Twitter, the DEI ban in Texas and HBO Max's rebranding to just … Max. Then, they wrestle with the responsibility of protecting employees from threats to their jobs due to artificial intelligence. Next, companies keep raising prices (and increasing profits), but it’s a major cause of inflation. What are the ethical implications of profiting at the expense of both individual consumers and the larger economy? All that, plus France bans short-haul flights and Adriele has finally started Succession.

Links in today's episode:

Employers will be responsible for A.I. hiring discrimination | Fortune

A.I.’s Threat to Jobs Prompts Question of Who Protects Workers - The New York Times

AI Poses ‘Risk of Extinction,’ Industry Leaders Warn - The New York Times

Companies Push Prices Higher, Protecting Profits but Adding to Inflation - The New York Times

Shareholder Activists Drag Companies Into U.S. Culture Wars - WSJ

Caleb and Adriele react to Disney pulling a billion dollar development in Florida, Uber suspending their Chief Diversity Officer after an ill-advised workshop, and Target pulling their Pride collection after threats to employees. Then, they take a long look at what it means to create psychological safety in your workplace—especially for black women, many of whom are bringing workplace trauma with them from prior jobs. Next, a new workplace trend: employees are doing multiple full-time jobs at once. What is the responsibility employees who commit to working full time—even if they can complete their jobs in half the time? And what level of oversight should employers have on their employees? All that, plus a new surgeon general warning about social media and children, and a recommendation for a new series from Peacock.

Links in today's episode:

Creating Psychological Safety for Black Women at Your Company

“Right Within: How to Heal from Racial Trauma in the Workplace” by Minda Harts

‘Overemployed’ Hustlers Exploit ChatGPT To Take On Even More Full-Time Jobs

Caleb and Adriele unpack the Trump town hall from the perspective of a CNN exec and then discuss Twitter's new CEO, the Open AI senate hearing, Montana's TikTok ban, and a new study that says only 21% of employees trust leaders. Then, what is the responsibility of leaders in caring for their employees with mental health conditions—especially in a remote work environment? Next, they go deep on the ripple effects of the new Florida law blocking DEI from public colleges starting July 1. All that, plus San Francisco's reparations plan and a different study that says workers are actually happier than they have been in decades.

Links in today's episode:

Why Trust in Leaders Is Faltering and How to Gain It Back

A Potential Downside to Remote Work? Higher Rates of Depression

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill banning DEI initiatives in public colleges : NPR

Workers Are Happier Than They’ve Been in Decades - WSJ

Caleb and Adriele touch on the Trump ruling and the arrest of George Santos, the White House's plan to promote ethical AI, another interest rate hike, and the end of the COVID emergency. Then, as companies continue to work out the value of hybrid work, they explore what's good about being in the office. And leaders at Goldman Sachs and Ben & Jerry's are getting it right (except when they aren't) by investing in equity. All that, plus how the carbon market could benefit food rescue groups and Janet Jackson on a day of (mostly) good things on Leadershit.

Links this week:

People Working in the Office Spend 25% More Time on Career Development

Working in office is worth the commute if you want career advancement | Fortune

American worker productivity is declining at the fastest rate in 75 years—and it could see CEOs go to war against WFH

Goldman Sachs | Press Releases

One Million Black Women

Goldman settles pay equity lawsuit | LinkedIn

‘Joint’ venture: Ben from Ben & Jerry's starts pot nonprofit | AP News

Will carbon markets throw food rescue groups a lifeline? | Greenbiz

Caleb and Adriele run through the EU’s carbon tax on imports, the clean energy boom in the US, our looming debt default, and more (mostly bad) AI news. Then, nonprofits are starting to unionize. How should we rethink salaries at organizations that use mission to limit pushback on benefits? Plus, a new study reveals 30 ways women are held back from leadership. All that, plus Mattel’s line of “Fashionista” Barbies are getting it right, and Adriele is appearing on Bloomberg TV!

Links this week:

Adriele’s Bloomberg TV appearance: Saturday, May 6, at 8:00 PM eastern and Sunday, May 7 at 2:00 PM eastern

Caleb and Adriele unpack a busy news week, including more CEOs stepping in it, the Twitter verification blunders, Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon’s departures, the Buzzfeed news shutdown, and Florida being Florida. Then they go deep on a New York Times article about  “decarb bros” in tech, and what it could mean for both our climate crisis and for where leaders will need to step up. Next, multiple universities are facing legislation to limit or block DEI efforts on campus. What could that mean for future generations of students and faculty? Finally, “one more thing” becomes “one good thing,” including more jobs focusing on skills instead of degrees, and a Whitney Houston documentary that will leave you humming the rest of the day.

Links in today’s episode: 

Do You Even Decarbonize, Bro?

At U.Va., an Alumnus Attacked Diversity Programs. Now He Is on the Board. 

DEI Legislation Tracker 

Skills-First: Reimagining the Labor Market and Breaking Down Barriers

Caleb and Adriele unpack more AI news and the latest Elon Musk shenanigans, as well as the Fox settlement, the Netflix  “Love is Blind” livestream debacle, and more. Then they go deep on the “pity city” viral video from MillerKnoll’s CEO, and Anheuser Busch’s unfortunate response to the pushback on their Bud Light partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. All that, plus the looming debt limit crisis and Somerville, Massachusetts’ legal protections for polyamorous families.

'Leave pity city,' MillerKnoll CEO tells staff who asked whether they'd lose bonuses

Anheuser Busch CEO Issues Statement Following Uproar Over Bud Light's Partnership With Dylan Mulvaney

Caleb and Adriele do a deep dive into the biggest issues in social responsibility for business: the alphabet soup (CSR vs. ESG vs. DEI, IEB, IDEA, I&D, JEDI, etc), leading from an integrated place on social issues versus just responding to news cycles (and also responding to news cycles), and how hybrid work is skewing labor statistics. All that plus one non-work thing you should know about our hosts.

Hosts: Caleb Gardner and Adriele Parker

Producer: Dave Sandell