The TroopHR Podcast

What does it take to build a culture so strong it drives a $7B business and why might the best HR leaders come from outside HR?

In this episode of the TroopHR Podcast, Taylor Bradley sits down with Paul Yater, Chief People Officer at 84 Lumber, to explore how culture truly becomes a company’s competitive advantage. Paul shares his unconventional journey from IT to HR and how his deep understanding of the business helped him reshape recruiting, onboarding, and employee development at scale. From “Lumber Camp” training to AI-powered recruiting and a relentless focus on listening to frontline employees, Paul offers a practical blueprint for building a people-first organization that promotes from within and delivers real career mobility. 

If you’re an HR leader or operator looking to strengthen culture, modernize talent strategies, or better align people operations with business outcomes, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and visit troophr.com to learn more about our community and upcoming events.

Credits
TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin
Show Producer: Nicole Fealey
Show Host: Taylor Bradley

What happens when HR leaders step away from the noise of their roles and into a space designed for real connection, reflection, and growth?

In this special TroopHR episode, host Taylor Bradley reflects on his experience at the 2026 TroopHR Retreat in Arizona, sharing a personal perspective on the power of community in HR. 

From unexpected moments of connection and vulnerability to insights on professional growth, intentional space, and the human side of leadership, Taylor captures what makes the TroopHR community so impactful. Through stories of hallway conversations, inspiring sessions, and even a few unforgettable moments from "jumping cacti" to stargazing, this episode highlights how creating space for HR leaders to simply “be” can lead to meaningful renewal, perspective, and lasting relationships.

If you’re an HR leader looking for authentic community, fresh perspective, and space to recharge, this episode is for you. Be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your network, and learn more about upcoming TroopHR events at troophr.com.

How can leaders embrace AI without losing the human edge and what does it really take to bring teams along for the journey?

In this episode of the TroopHR Podcast, Taylor Bradley sits down with Jalie Cohen, CHRO at Radiology Partners, to explore the evolving intersection of AI, leadership, and human capability. Jalie shares how Radiology Partners is leveraging AI to augment—not replace—radiologists, addressing workforce shortages while improving patient care. The conversation dives into the real challenge of AI adoption,human change management, along with practical insights on self-education, multigenerational communication, and how leaders can use AI to enhance decision-making, efficiency, and strategic thinking. 

If you’re navigating AI in your organization or looking to future-proof your leadership approach, this episode offers a grounded, real-world perspective you won’t want to miss.

For more insights, resources, and upcoming TroopHR events, visit troophr.com and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast.

Credits

TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin
 Show Producer: Nicole Fealey
 Show Host: Taylor Bradley

Note: Transcripts generated by AI.

Before the weekend existed as we know it, before child labor laws, before Social Security — there was Frances Perkins standing on a sidewalk in Greenwich Village watching history burn.

On March 25, 1911, Perkins witnessed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire firsthand — 146 workers, mostly young immigrant women, killed in minutes because factory doors were locked from the outside. That moment didn't just move her. It changed the trajectory of American labor history.

In this mini-sode, host Taylor Bradley traces the remarkable life of Frances Perkins — from social worker to the first woman ever appointed to a U.S. presidential cabinet. When FDR asked her to serve as Secretary of Labor in 1933, she didn't just say yes. She walked into the room with a list of demands: a 40-hour workweek, a minimum wage, unemployment insurance, a ban on child labor, and Social Security.

Over her 12 years in office — the longest tenure of any Labor Secretary in history — she turned that list into law.

Every Friday afternoon when you shut down your laptop and head into the weekend, you're living inside the world Frances Perkins built.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• The story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and why it was a turning point in American labor
• How Perkins leveraged her expertise to become the architect of the New Deal's worker protections
• The landmark legislation she championed: the Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) and the Social Security Act (1935)
• Why her legacy is the foundation of the modern American workplace

Key Takeaway: Leadership isn't about being the loudest voice. It's about the clearest vision and the most persistent heart.

For more information about joining our community and upcoming events like the TroopHR Retreat, please visit troophr.com.

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel or qualified legal professional for advice regarding their specific situation.

Credits
TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin
Show Producer: Nicole Fealey
Show Host: Taylor Bradley

How can HR leaders build real trust with employees while keeping pace with compliance, technology, and the rise of AI?

In this episode of the TroopHR Podcast, host Taylor Bradley sits down with Nicola Barry of AirMason to explore how HR teams can rethink policies, onboarding, and employee handbooks to better balance compliance with culture. 

Nicola shares how generative AI can help HR professionals streamline policy creation, extract key insights from complex legislation, and reduce time spent on repetitive legal reviews, freeing teams to focus on clarity, employee experience, and trust-building across the organization. Together, they discuss practical ways HR leaders can use AI as a foundational tool rather than a replacement for human judgment, while transforming traditionally static documents like employee handbooks into engaging onboarding experiences that reinforce company culture. 

Whether you’re an HR leader experimenting with AI workflows or a people professional looking to improve onboarding and internal communication, this conversation offers actionable insights on using technology to create more transparent, engaging, and human-centered workplaces.

For more information about joining our community and upcoming events like the TroopHR Retreat, please visit troophr.com.

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel or qualified legal professional for advice regarding their specific situation.

Credits
TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin
Show Producer: Nicole Fealey
Show Host: Taylor Bradley

Note: Transcripts generated by AI.

What does it really take to become a transformational leader—and why is self-awareness the starting point?

In this episode of the TroopHR podcast, Taylor Bradley sits down with Sonja Mustiful, executive coach and founder of Essence of Coaching, to explore the journey of transformational leadership in today’s ever-evolving workplace. Sonja breaks down the difference between leadership and title, introduces the concept of “connection quotient” alongside emotional intelligence, and shares practical strategies for building trust through transparency, accountability, and integrity. From leveraging 360-degree feedback to navigating change with clarity, this conversation offers HR executives and people leaders actionable insights on how to move from inspiration to true integration—while modeling the behaviors they want to see across their organizations.

If you’re ready to elevate your leadership impact and guide your organization through meaningful transformation, subscribe to the TroopHR podcast, leave us a review, and visit troophr.com to learn more about joining our community and upcoming events like the TroopHR Retreat.

Credits
 TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin
 Show Producer: Nicole Fealey
 Show Host: Taylor Bradley

Note: Transcripts generated by AI.

What does it really look like to support employees through grief at work—and why are most organizations getting it wrong?

In this deeply human and practical conversation, Taylor Bradley sits down with CJ Infantino, founder of Unvoiced, to explore the realities of grief in the workplace. After losing his wife in 2020, CJ experienced firsthand how traditional bereavement policies, performance expectations, and manager discomfort often fail grieving employees. Together, they unpack common misconceptions about grief (including the myth of a timeline), the physiological and performance impacts leaders often miss, and why codifying bereavement leave policies is both a humanitarian and business imperative. CJ also shares how he worked with Facebook’s leadership to create a formal bereavement policy, and offers actionable guidance for HR leaders on building psychological safety, training managers to have hard conversations, and designing thoughtful return-to-work plans that retain talent and protect productivity.

If this conversation resonates, subscribe to the TroopHR podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow HR leader. To learn more about joining our community and upcoming events, visit troophr.com.

Credits
TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin
Show Producer: Nicole Fealey
Show Host: Taylor Bradley

Note: Transcripts generated by AI.

In this episode of the TroopHR Podcast, Taylor Bradley dives deep into the evolving role of compensation with Bobby Benfield, CEO of OpenComp. Together, they unpack how compensation can be transformed from a static system into a strategic, trust-building tool for talent retention and organizational success.

Bobby shares actionable insights on crafting a strong pay philosophy, the pitfalls of misalignment between HR and finance, and how OpenComp’s platform empowers companies to ditch outdated spreadsheets in favor of real-time, scalable compensation data. From navigating merit cycles to equipping managers for difficult conversations, Bobby emphasizes the importance of clarity, consistency, and communication. You’ll also hear why "people aren’t comp ratios" and how redefining the compensation narrative can build lasting trust across your organization.

To learn more about joining our community, upcoming events like the 2025 TroopHR Retreat, or OpenComp’s solutions, visit troophr.com
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Credits
TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin
Show Producer: Nicole Fealey
Show Host: Taylor Bradley
Note: Transcripts generated by AI.

What does it take for a CHRO to become a CEO?

In this episode of the TroopHR Podcast, host Taylor Bradley sits down with Katie Stricker, executive advisor and founder of The Potential Equation, to explore what it means for HR leaders to boldly step into broader operational roles, including the C-suite. 

Katie shares the eye-opening moment that sparked her mission: recognizing how many CHROs are already operating like presidents or COOs—without the title. From breaking down limiting beliefs around P&L ownership to mapping career pivots using her “three-column filter,” Katie offers a powerful roadmap for HR executives ready to build their path to CEO or board roles.

Listeners will gain valuable insights on the top three traits that set people leaders up for business leadership success, how to shift mindset blocks into strategic growth, and why vulnerability and curiosity are must-have traits for today’s HR innovators. Whether you’re eyeing a board seat, COO title, or just want to strengthen your business acumen, this episode delivers tactical advice and inspiration to help HR leaders own their seat at the table and beyond.

Credits
TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin
Show Producer: Nicole Fealey
Show Host: Taylor Bradley

Note: Transcripts generated by AI.

What does it really take for an HR leader to step into the COO seat? In this episode, Taylor Bradley sits down with Jamie Coakley, Chief Operating Officer at Electric, to explore her remarkable journey from recruiter to HR leader to executive operator. With over eight years helping scale Electric from its early days, Jamie unpacks the mindset shifts, skills, and business fluency required to evolve from HR into a broader operational role.

Jamie shares how being a recruiter honed her ability to read people, why owning problems end-to-end is the hallmark of a true operator, and how mastering the P&L transformed her influence across the business. She also opens up about leading with kindness, the power of building a trusted network of mentors, and what she looks for in high-impact hires—hint: it’s all about “smart, kind people.” Whether you're an HR professional aspiring to the C-suite or simply navigating your own growth, this conversation offers rich takeaways on operational leadership, self-advocacy, and driving business impact through people.

.Credits
 TroopHR Founder: Tracy Avin
 Show Producer: Nicole Fealey
 Show Host: Taylor Bradley
 Note: Transcripts generated by AI.