SpeakEasy HR

In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, David Noe takes a closer look at what really shapes workplace culture—and why culture isn’t what’s written on the wall or in the employee handbook. Culture is the experience people have every day at work.

From leadership and managers to recruiters, new hires, and every employee in the organization, everyone plays a role in shaping that experience. David explores how everyday behaviors, decisions, recognition, communication, and the people we hire can strengthen—or undermine—the culture we’re trying to build.

And here’s the real test: What does work feel like on Sunday night?

If your employees are experiencing the Sunday Scaries every week, it may be time to take a closer look at your culture.

One topic. One perspective. One takeaway.

Because your company culture isn’t just something you talk about.

Your company culture is showing.

In this week’s Top Shelf Take, David challenges job seekers to rethink the traditional interview. An interview isn’t just an opportunity for a company to decide whether you’re the right candidate—it’s also your opportunity to decide whether the company, leader, team, culture, and role are right for you.

David shares practical questions to ask, things to watch for during the recruiting process, and why the way a company communicates with you before you’re hired can provide valuable insight into the employee experience.

The goal isn’t simply to get the offer. It’s to find the right opportunity for you.

This week’s Top Shelf Take focuses on seven simple ways job seekers can stand out in an interview—not by trying to be extraordinary, but by doing the basics exceptionally well.

David is an HR leader with 20 years of experience, small business owner, recruiter, content creator, and host of SpeakEasy HR.

He brings recruiting experience to highlight the importance of preparation, knowing your story, using real examples, listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, being authentically yourself, and following through professionally. He did this in one take and it's not perfect, it's authentic, and covers some amazing tips to help job seekers in 2026.

The episode is a practical reminder that great interviews are less about perfect answers and more about making it easy for an interviewer to understand who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you’re the right fit.

And there’s a bonus strategy for your job search that can make it easier for others to understand your career goals and advocate for you.

Know someone who’s currently looking for their next opportunity? Send this to them. They might just find their next job by doing the basics exceptionally well.

In this episode of Top Shelf Take, David Noe explores a different way to think about AI in HR. Instead of focusing only on what AI might take away, what if we focus on what it could give back: time?

With HR professionals facing increasing complexity, expectations, and pressure. HRCI’s 2026 State of HR research, which found that 41% of HR professionals are considering careers outside of HR.

The episode asks an important question: If AI can help HR work faster, how should we use the time we get back?

The answer isn't simply to fill it with more tasks.

It's an opportunity to become more human—to build relationships, coach managers, connect with employees, think strategically, and invest in the HR community.

I challenge HR professionals to get away from their desks at least once a month, attend an HR event, connect with peers, find a mentor, or become one. Get out there HR people!

Because some of the best ideas won't come from another spreadsheet, webinar, or AI tool.

They'll come from a conversation.

The Top Shelf Take: Don't use AI just to do more work. Use it to create more time for the work that matters.

The future of HR may not be about becoming less human.

It may be about finally having more time to be human.

Helpful Links:

https://www.hrci.org/docs/default-source/pdf-documents/hrci-2026-state-of-hr-report.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://fortune.com/2026/03/09/hr-design-career-paths-unclear-chro-promotions/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://lattice.com/articles/emotional-resilience-hr?utm_source=chatgpt.com

About:

Great leadership isn't about having the perfect title—it's about consistently demonstrating the qualities that inspire others to trust, grow, and succeed.

In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, we're joined by Jay Kuhns, enterprise healthcare HR executive, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of Unstoppable Power, to discuss The 3 Essentials of Great Leadership and why these principles are more important than ever in today's workplace.
With more than 25 years of leadership experience across some of the nation's most respected healthcare organizations, Jay has helped transform workforces, strengthen organizational culture, and develop high-performing leaders in complex, high-pressure environments. From leading enterprise HR strategy and workforce transformation to advising executive teams on organizational effectiveness, Jay brings practical, real-world experience that applies far beyond healthcare.

In this conversation, Jay shares the three essential leadership principles that have guided his career and empowered leaders to build trust, inspire performance, and create lasting impact. We discuss what separates good leaders from truly great ones, how leaders can earn credibility through their actions, and why intentional leadership has never been more critical in a rapidly changing world of work.

Jay also shares lessons learned from leading large-scale workforce initiatives, reducing multimillion-dollar staffing costs through strategic workforce planning, navigating organizational change, and coaching executives to become more authentic and effective leaders. Whether you're leading a team of five or an organization of thousands, his insights offer practical strategies that leaders can immediately apply in their own workplaces.

Whether you're an HR professional, business executive, people manager, or an aspiring leader looking to grow your influence, this episode is packed with actionable leadership insights, inspiring stories, and practical takeaways that will help you become the kind of leader others want to follow.

Tune in to discover The 3 Essentials of Great Leadership and learn how intentional leadership can transform your team, your organization, and your own professional journey.

Top Shelf Take: One Voice. One Take.

A new segment of SpeakEasy HR where I step behind the mic solo for a quick five-minute conversation about one HR or workplace topic.

While the podcast’s longer guest conversations aren’t going anywhere, Top Shelf Take is designed to be short, practical, and easy to fit into your day—with one topic, one perspective, and one takeaway you can actually use.

The first episode introduces the new format, with the next Take tackling AI and why it may not be replacing HR—but raising the bar for HR.

Every person brings more to work than their job title, experience, or résumé. Behind every employee is a story, a mindset, and potential that may not yet have been discovered.

In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, David sits down with Rocío Pérez, Founder and CEO of Veertuous, LLC, international bestselling author, speaker, coach, and creator of The MindShift Experience©, to explore the power of identity, mindset, and human potential.

Rocío shares her incredible journey of overcoming adversity, transforming her own identity, and helping more than 60,000 professionals discover what they are capable of achieving.

Together, David and Rocío discuss:

1. Why leaders must look beyond performance and understand the person behind it.

2. The difference between someone's current identity and their future potential.

3. How mindset impacts confidence, leadership, and growth.

4. Why traditional approaches to developing people often miss the human element.

5. How HR leaders can unlock potential within their organizations

6. The importance of leading from the inside out
7. Because before someone can become a great employee, leader, or teammate — they first have to understand who they are. 

To learn more about her work, visit:  

https://www.skool.com/the-mindshift-experience/about

https://tmsexp.com/

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future trend—it's transforming the way HR leads today. In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, we're joined by Enrique Rubio, founder of Hacking HR, globally recognized AI thought leader, and author, to explore how human resources professionals can confidently lead in the age of artificial intelligence.

As AI continues to reshape the workplace, HR leaders are uniquely positioned to guide organizations through one of the most significant workplace transformations in decades. Enrique shares his perspective on why AI should be viewed as a powerful tool to enhance human potential rather than replace it. He discusses how organizations can thoughtfully adopt AI to improve efficiency, elevate the employee experience, and enable HR professionals to spend more time on the strategic, people-focused work that truly drives organizational success.

Throughout the conversation, we dive into practical AI applications that HR teams can begin implementing today—from recruiting and talent acquisition to employee development, performance management, and workforce planning. Enrique also addresses many of the common misconceptions and fears surrounding AI, offering a balanced perspective on both the opportunities and the challenges organizations should consider as they integrate these technologies into their people strategies.

The discussion also explores the evolving role of HR in an AI-driven workplace. What new skills will HR professionals need? How can leaders foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation? And what responsibilities come with ensuring AI is used ethically, transparently, and in ways that strengthen trust across the organization? Enrique provides thoughtful insights on how HR can lead these conversations while keeping people, culture, and purpose at the center of every decision.

Whether your organization is just beginning to explore AI or you're already implementing advanced technologies, this episode offers practical advice, forward-thinking perspectives, and actionable strategies to help you navigate the future of work with confidence. You'll walk away with a better understanding of how AI can empower HR leaders, enhance organizational effectiveness, and create more meaningful experiences for employees—all while reinforcing the human connection that remains at the heart of great leadership.

If you're looking to stay ahead of emerging workplace trends and better understand how AI is redefining the future of HR, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

The workplace is changing faster than ever, and one of the biggest shifts leaders are navigating is the rise of the fractional workforce. But is this trend a threat to traditional employment—or a powerful opportunity for organizations to access talent, expertise, and flexibility in new ways?
In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, we sit down with Brook Rushing, Founder of The People Collab, for a conversation about the evolving world of work, leadership, culture, and the human side of organizational change.
Brook brings nearly 20 years of HR experience, including leadership roles with organizations like Nike and NBCUniversal, where she partnered with senior leaders through complex challenges including organizational transformations, leadership transitions, and culture shifts.
Together, we explore:
1. Why the fractional workforce is becoming a growing part of the future of work.

2, How organizations can determine when fractional talent is an opportunity versus a risk.

3. What HR leaders need to consider when blending full-time employees, contractors, and fractional experts.

4. How leaders can maintain culture and connection in an increasingly flexible workforce.

5. Why the best organizations focus less on frameworks and more on creating trust, clarity, and psychological safety.

6. How AI is reshaping HR and people work while keeping the human element at the center.
Brook also shares her perspective on why successful organizations are not the ones with perfect answers—they are the ones willing to have honest conversations about what isn’t working and create environments where people can grow.
Because the future of work isn’t just about where people work or how they’re hired.
It’s about how leaders create meaningful connections, develop talent, and build cultures where people can thrive.
Join us for an uncut, unfiltered, and authentic conversation on whether the fractional workforce is a threat—or one of the biggest opportunities ahead for HR leaders. For a free assessment with Brook, go schedule it here: https://calendly.com/thepeoplecollab/discovery-call?month=2026-07

HR is serious business—but the best HR leaders know that connection, authenticity, and even a little humor can be powerful tools for building trust.

In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, we sit down with two incredible voices in the HR community—Peter Phelan, Founder of ValuesCulture, and Marc S. Miller, President and Founder of Marc S. Miller Associates—for a conversation about the human side of HR, culture, technology, and leadership.

Peter brings more than 20 years of People & Culture leadership experience, including Chief People Officer roles at leading global technology companies. Through ValuesCulture, he helps organizations use data to define, develop, and evolve values-based cultures that improve engagement, retention, talent attraction, and business performance.

Marc has spent more than 38 years helping organizations leverage HR technology to increase HR’s strategic impact. As an author, consultant, keynote speaker, and adjunct professor, Marc has challenged HR leaders to think differently about technology, transformation, and the future of the profession.

Together, we’ll explore:

Because while HR continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: People want to work with people they trust, respect, and connect with. And sometimes, the best way to build that connection starts with a conversation—and maybe even a laugh.

Join us for an uncut, unfiltered, and authentic conversation on why HumoR belongs in HR.