Punk Rock HR

By WRKdefined Podcast NetworkBusiness Careers Management

Punk Rock HR episodes

November 02, 2020133: The Underbelly of Book Publishing with Scott Stratten
Punk Rock HR Episode 133:
In case you haven’t heard, I have a new book coming out called Betting On You: How to Put Yourself First and Finally Take Control of Your Career. The journey of writing a book has been both straightforward and surprising. Throughout each step of the process, something happened to my health or my family, making it a journey for sure.
The easiest part of it all is writing the book; the business of publishing, on the other hand, is extremely complex. Beyond the many surface-level considerations, there’s the whole secondary market of getting your books into the hands of people.
So that is what we’re talking about on the podcast today. I brought on my dear friend and Hall of Fame keynote speaker and author, Scott Stratten. Scott is the founder of The UnMarketing Movement and a true marketing genius. He has been where I am now, at the beginning of a book launch. So, this episode will be a good old-fashioned mentoring conversation. Tune in and I know you’ll learn something, too.
In this episode you’ll hear:
What the favor economy is and why it’s breaking my heart right now.
Some of the sketchy ways books are sold today.
What nominations really mean.
Why it’s so critical to figure out your end goal when writing a book.
All the work that actually goes into making a book.
One thing about the book publishing process that has surprised Scott.
Resources from this episode:
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie
UnMarketing
UnMarketing on LinkedIn
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
UnMarketing: Everything Has Changed and Nothing is Different
The Jackass Whisperer: How to deal with the worst people at work, at home and online―even when the Jackass is you

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EPISODE CREDITS:
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.
He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.
Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com
50 min
October 26, 2020132: Food and Social Activism with Chef Pierre Thiam
Punk Rock HR Episode 132:
My guest today is Pierre Thiam. He was raised in Senegal, but he is a New York-based chef, author, restauranteur, social entrepreneur, and culinary ambassador. Pierre is best known for bringing West African cuisine to the global fine-dining world. He is also the Executive Chef and co-owner of Teranga, a fast-casual food chain from New York City.
Pierre’s company, Yolele Foods, advocates for small farmers by opening up new markets for crops grown in Africa. Its signature product, fonio, is found at Whole Foods, Amazon, and other retailers across America.
Chef Pierre is on my show because I think he has an interesting perspective on COVID and what’s happening to small businesses, but also the climate crisis and, more importantly, leadership. We have an awesome conversation that highlights how an immigrant who got stuck in New York City can truly get things done. To learn more, sit back and enjoy this conversation with Pierre Thiam.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Pierre’s origin story.
The intense food culture in which he grew up.
How important his life in Senegal was for his career.
What West African flavors and fonio are.
The multifaceted work that he does.
The connection between politics and food in the US.
His message for those who are feeling lost or worried about the current state of the world.
Resources from this episode:
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie
Teranga's website
Learn more about Pierre
Yolele Food's website
Yolele Foods on Instagram
Pierre on Instagram

***
EPISODE CREDITS:
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.
He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.
Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com
36 min
October 19, 2020131: Chronically Capable with Hannah Olson
Punk Rock HR Episode 131:
My guest this week is Hannah Olson. She is the co-founder and CEO of an organization called Chronically Capable. Hannah had her dream job right out of college but later contracted Lyme Disease. Her treatments for her chronic illness got in the way of her job. Frustrated, she thought there had to be a better way.
So, she created that better way: Chronically Capable. It’s a technology platform, an ATS, and really a community that tries to match individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses with employers who are thoughtful, progressive, and aim to support that community. It’s National Disability Employment Awareness month in America, a time when we recognize disabled and chronically ill workers and acknowledge their contributions to the economy. So, this is the perfect time to bring Hannah onto the show.
Today, Hannah and I talk about her journey, her chronic condition, and what she’s doing to solve a problem that affects millions of people around the world. If you’re interested in what a 24-year-old entrepreneur is doing to change the nature of global corporations, sit tight and enjoy this conversation with Hannah.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Some of the companies Hannah is working with.
Common language around the community she serves.
What employers have to say about hiring the disabled and chronically ill population.
Why hiring that population is good for businesses.
What companies can do to reach out to that population and let them know they’re hiring.
The origin story of Chronically Capable, what it does, and who it serves.
What her entrepreneurial community looks like.
How she makes sure someone’s condition and the job they’re placed in will be a good fit.
How to keep members of the disabled and chronically ill community once you’ve hired them.
Resources from this episode:
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie
About Chronically Capable
Library of Congress article on Disability Employment Awareness Month
Hannah on LinkedIn

***
EPISODE CREDITS:
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.
He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.
Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com
28 min
October 12, 2020130: Compensation Truth & Lies with Laurie Ruettimann
I recently gave a keynote to a company called Curo Comp. It was about truth versus reality when it comes to talking about money at work. I’m so jazzed about this topic that I wanted to tell you about it.
Years ago, I interviewed for a job and the VP of HR was full of himself. At the end of the interview, I asked him what differentiated their HR department from others. He gave a long answer full of buzzwords, but he didn’t believe in any of it. That was in 2004, but even now every trend I read about human resources and compensation uses those buzzwords. It makes them all feel like lies.
In my keynote, I had to tell the audience that those trends were lies. I had to tell them that everything they aspirationally believe in is a lie. It was difficult, but it’s true. It's important to disclose the lies and talk about where we stand and where we can go in the future. So, tune in and let's talk about it.
In this episode you’ll hear:
The lie that equal pay and transparency matter.
The two things we’re terrible at in the workforce: evaluating and recognizing performance.
Why technology really doesn’t do anything.
The realities of money at work.
What we can do as a result of those realities.
Resources from this episode:
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie
Get my LI Learning courses for free for 30 days
Curo Comp

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EPISODE CREDITS:
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.
He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.
Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com
14 min
October 05, 2020129: Unleash the Extraordinary with Brant Menswar
Punk Rock HR Episode 129:
My guest this week is Brant Menswar. Brant is a top 10 motivational speaker, critically acclaimed author, award-winning musician, podcast host, and the CEO and founder of Rock Star Impact, a boutique agency that teaches people and organizations how to cultivate value-based leadership.
Brant is also the author of a new book called Black Sheep: Unleash the Extraordinary Awe-Inspiring, Undiscovered You. And I'm so excited that he came by to talk about self-leadership, individual accountability values, and really finding your core values and purpose in your life. So if you like your motivational speakers to be former rock stars, which I do, sit tight and enjoy this conversation with Brant Menswar.
In this episode you’ll hear:
How a sports injury led Brant to his career as a musician.
Why farmers don’t value black sheep as the rest of the flock.
How living through his son’s life-threatening cancer diagnosis helped him realize his own black sheep values.
How you know when you’ve made a good decision.
Why it’s vital we stop looking solely at results when it comes to promoting people in the workplace.
How to get in touch with your core values in the quiet moments before the storm.
What you should do to figure out what matters most to you so you can stop trying to be someone you're not.
Resources from this episode:
Brant’s Website
Brant on LinkedIn
Brant on Instagram
Brant on Facebook
Brant on Twitter
Brant’s Podcast
Brant’s Book
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie

***
EPISODE CREDITS:
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.
He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.
Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com
29 min
September 28, 2020128: Headspace for Work and Mental Health with Lindsay Crittendon
Punk Rock HR Episode 128:
Lindsay Crittendon is the head of Headspace for Work. If you thought that was a meditation app on your phone, so did I. However, it is actually so much more than that. They work with businesses across the spectrum to help them identify the best ways to improve the workplace.
Mental Health Awareness Day is coming up on October 5th. Honestly, it should be every day. We need to be having consistent conversations on this topic and on the effect work can have on our mental health. Today, Lindsay helps bring this to the forefront. She’s dedicated to making the world and the world of work a little bit better.
In this episode, we’re talking about the benefits of mindfulness and more thoughtful behavior on the work environment and on our individual lives when we’re not working. We also talk about COVID-19. We use this opportunity to talk about how to emerge from this pandemic in a healthier way. If you’re interested in a conversation about well-being at work and fixing work, sit back and enjoy this discussion with Lindsay from Headspace for Work.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Lindsay’s driving purpose behind what she does.
The vision of Headspace for Work and what they do to make it a reality.
How Headspace for Work defines mindfulness.
The challenges that are affecting workplace mental health and what to do with that information.
What a holistic mental health benefits program would look like in the workplace.
How mindfulness at work and Headspace for Work specifically can benefit people.
How to incorporate mindfulness into your workday, even if it’s not recognized as a priority by your employers.
How businesses and leaders can remove some of the barriers and lessen the stigma attached to mental health.
Resources from this episode:
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie
Lindsay on LinkedIn
Headspace for Work main page
2020 Mental Health Trends Report
Headspace has special programming planned for World Mental Health Awareness Day and will launch an exciting new initiative around Employee Mental Health.
Follow them on LinkedIn and stay tuned to be the first to find out about upcoming announcements!

***
EPISODE CREDITS:
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.
He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.
Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com
31 min
September 21, 2020127: COVID-19 Testing and PPE Q&A with 4 Oaks Ventures
Punk Rock HR Episode 127:
Today’s guests are Robert Williams and Brian Baucom. They are the co-founders of a company called 4 Oaks Ventures. The team at 4 Oaks provides quality PPE and COVID-19 testing to employees and industries all over America.
Robert and Brian are my neighbors in this community. They’re my friends. However, I also brought them onto the show to advise them on how to talk and work with HR departments to make clear the importance of quality PPE and COVID-19 testing and cut through the noise.
We’re talking about the real issues behind the challenges of finding a PPE that’s not counterfeit or just disgusting and finding COVID-19 testing and strategies that really work. If you work in human resources, logistics, or marketing and you need to go back to work in an office at some point, this episode will be very helpful for you. Tune in for an informative and incredible conversation with Robert and Brian.
In this episode you’ll hear:
The impetus behind Robert and Brian co-founding 4 Oaks.
Why they thought they could help when so many other organizations didn’t.
What the early days of the pandemic were like for them.
What Robert saw in the PPE testing market in April and where it is now.
Their particular area of response to COVID-19 and what they are providing.
COVID-19 testing and what it means for returning to work.
How their door to door service differentiates them in the marketplace.
What their interactions with multiple constituencies within organizations have been like.
What pool testing is.
Resources from this episode:
Brian on LinkedIn
Robert on LinkedIn
4 Oaks Ventures Website
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie

***
EPISODE CREDITS:
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.
He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.
Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com
35 min
September 14, 2020126: Revolutionizing The Workplace For Women of Color with Minda Harts
Punk Rock HR Episode 126:
Today’s guest is author and speaker Minda Harts. If you have ever wondered who’s fighting for women of color to get a seat at the table, it’s Minda. Her book, Memo, has opened the doors for women and other authors to talk about what’s really happening in the world of work.
On top of her nationally recognized book, Minda has a terrific LinkedIn account, a prolific blog, and great Instagram and Twitter accounts. Most importantly, she is an amazing podcaster and the host of the show, Secure the Seat. Minda is a self-proclaimed career revolutionary. Her goal is to leave the workplace better than she found it.
In this episode, Minda and I are talking about her work, including her new book. We discuss where she gets her inspiration and passion for the content she creates. I’m so excited to talk to someone who’s kicking butt and taking names. Tune in to be a part of the conversation.
In this episode you’ll hear:
The different mediums Minda uses to get her message out.
What her book, Memo, is all about and what lessons people can get out of it.
Where she learned the lessons she shares in Memo.
Her writing process for Memo and how she established her tone.
The origin story that made her who she is today.
How she knows she’s making a difference in her community.
How she responds to those who complain about what she says and does.
How to overcome imposter syndrome.
What success means to her.
Why she is excited about the future of work.
Resources from this episode:
The Memo book
Minda on LinkedIn
Minda on Twitter
Minda on Instagram
Minda's website
The Memo Virtual Experience
Minda on Real Leader's 40 Top Women Keynote Speakers for 2020 List.
Washington Post article
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie

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EPISODE CREDITS:
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.
He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.
Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com
30 min
September 07, 2020125: The Lies that Canceled Zach Ward
Punk Rock HR Episode 125:
Today’s guest is my friend Zach Ward. He is the former owner of a comedy theater whose career was ended in 2017. Zach was canceled before it was trendy.
Zach is someone who fulfilled a dream which many of us have. He came back home after college, created a community, and monetized his passion. But in creating that community, other things happened. Eventually, allegations were made against him and he was canceled.
I want Zach to not only survive this tidal wave but rebuild his life. That is why I brought him onto the show. In today’s episode, we are talking about serious issues like cancel culture and sexual assault allegations. Zach helps us understand where his career began and the lies that eventually made it come to an end. My hope is that, by hearing Zach’s story and his commitment to transparency, we can all begin to pause and ask our own questions when we hear accusations.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Zach’s college experience and how he came to open DSI Comedy Theater.
The smear campaign against DSI and Zach.
How he managed the rumors in the marketplace.
The Facebook thread in which he was accused of sexual assault and the details that made it untrue.
The collateral damage from those accusations.
How these lies followed him to his new job.
Social isolation and his perspective on it.
Takeaways for business leaders and professionals.
Resources from this episode:
The Story article
Zach on Twitter
Indy Week DSI Comedy Owner news article
Indy Week Misogny news article
News Observer DSI Comedy Owner Steps Down news article
DSI Comedy Insanity Reddit article
News Observer Indy Editor news article
NY Times Cancel Culture: Part 1 podcast
NY Times Cancel Culture: Part 2 podcast
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie

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1 hr 2 min
August 31, 2020124: The Power of Empathy with Mimi Nicklin
Punk Rock HR Episode 124:
Today’s guest is author and podcaster Mimi Nicklin. She is the author of Softening the Edge, a book all about empathy and how humanity’s oldest leadership trait is changing our world. Mimi believes that the ability to connect authentically with others has the power to shape not only our business environments but every part of our lives.
Michelle Obama recently gave a speech and said that there is an empathy deficit among many people in power in our country. I feel that truth in my bones. Empathy is something so primal, yet so hard to achieve. Mimi’s big ideas drive the conversation around empathy into the world, which is why I brought her onto the show today.
In this episode, Mimi and I talk about empathy. We discuss what it is, what it isn’t, and how you actually put empathy into practice at work. If you wonder how seeing someone’s perspective can help you be a better leader, listen in to this conversation with Mimi.
In this episode you’ll hear:
A simple definition of empathy.
How to overcome the empathy deficit in our world.
Where to go to add more empathy into the world.
What it would look like to implement empathy training in an organization.
Why listening is so important.
How to balance the need for speed with the need to be seen and heard.
How to control your microcosms to create a ripple effect in your company’s culture.
Why Mimi is passionate about empathy.
Resources from this episode:
Mimi’s website
Empathy for Breakfast Youtube Channel
Softening the Edge book
Mimi on Instagram
Laurie on Instagram
Laurie on LinkedIn
Read more from Laurie
Work with Laurie

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EPISODE CREDITS:
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.
He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.
Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com
27 min

About Punk Rock HR

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the Punk Rock HR Podcast, hosted by the influential and unconventional Laurie Ruettimann. This podcast breaks away from the traditional constraints of the HR world to bring you candid and compelling conversations with some of the most disruptive and innovative minds in the business. Each episode, Laurie dives deep into critical topics surrounding the real world of work, exploring the modern workplace's nuances, and challenging the status quo of HR.