Work 2.0: The Podcast

Join Rachel Wells for a conversation with Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, who led teams on the ground through the Artemis II mission. Vanessa breaks down how mission success is engineered through readiness and systems thinking, and defines “gritty” leadership.

She also shares how NASA is bringing AI into everyday work with a “summer of AI” that invited teams to experiment.

If you work in high‑stakes decision‑making, building lasting leadership pipelines, or practical AI adoption across functions, this episode is for you.

What you’ll learn

* How NASA tested Artemis II and built team structures that demand clear judgment

* The “summer of AI” approach: treating AI as a tool for every role, from comms to engineers

* Vanessa’s leadership framework: vision, readiness, and what “grit” means

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more.

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend.

What happens when AI makes every resume look perfect? On this episode of Work 2.0 Rachel sits down with Dr. Jasmine Escalera, career expert at Zety, to unpack the rise of “off‑the‑clock” recruiting — hiring that happens in real life, outside job boards and ATS.

Highlights you’ll hear:

* Shocking hiring hotspots: hiring conversations are happening in restaurants (42%), grocery stores (32%) and even airports (20%).

* Why TikTok is now a recruitment channel (it ranked #1 in Zety’s social media research).

* Practical advice for candidates and hiring leaders to play the game of offline recruiting fairly to get a win-win

Whether you hire, hire for, or are looking for work, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in for surprising data, practical tips, and a human‑first take on the future of recruiting.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more.

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend.

In this episode Rachel speaks with Tiffany Gaskell, CEO of Performance Consultants and co‑author of Coaching for Performance, about how AI is reshaping leadership — for better and worse.

The interview unpacks the central tension leaders face today: AI can drive enormous efficiency, but when used as a substitute for presence it can erode trust, psychological safety, and long‑term innovation.

Should AI coaches replace human coaches in the professional development and transformation space?

Listen to Gaskell’s take and discover what it takes to lead and coach teams in the AI era.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more.

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend.

In this episode of Work 2.0, Rachel Wells sits down with Tyler Denk, CEO and co‑founder of beehiiv, to explore how creators, founders, and organizations should rethink content in an AI‑enabled world. Tyler — who helped build Morning Brew’s tech and growth engine and launched beehiiv in 2021 — explains why creator-led strategies are becoming essential business infrastructure, how AI can augment (not replace) unique human expertise, and the practical steps creators can take to scale multi‑channel businesses and monetize effectively.

What we cover

Why “abundance” and “diversity” are the defining words for the next wave of creators.

How founder‑led marketing builds long‑term customer relationships and brand trust.

Practical monetization options creators should consider: ads, subscriptions, and digital products.

How AI and custom tools (MCP integrations) can automate tedious tasks — from subject‑line testing to advertiser reports — letting creators focus on differentiated, one‑of‑one content.

Key takeaways

Visibility is a long‑funnel business asset — content from founders and leaders converts over time.

Use AI to augment workflows (editing, testing, reporting), but prioritize lived experience, unique analysis, and personal perspective that AI cannot replicate.

Choose platforms that align with your business model and offer portability and monetization options — avoid closed ecosystems that extract revenue or lock you in.

Consistency and experimentation are non‑negotiable for building durable audience businesses.

Listen, subscribe, and share — full episode and clips available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Work 2.0’s newsletter.

Want exclusive clips and behind‑the‑scenes insights? Subscribe via the link in bio.

In this episode Rachel Wells sits down with Ian Bell, Senior Vice President of Global Talent Management at Sedgwick, to discuss how graduates can stand out in an AI‑shaped job market.

Ian explains:

* Which human skills still matter to employers

* How to tell the story behind your achievements

* And why emotional intelligence and adaptability are now the real competitive advantages.

You’ll hear practical tips for showcasing impact, thriving in ambiguity, and demonstrating confidence — plus a concrete example of how AI is already being used to surface insights in HR.

Tune in for actionable advice for new grads (and anyone changing careers) who want to move beyond polished resumes and show employers the qualities that machines can’t replicate.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more.

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend.

In this urgent, eye‑opening episode of Work 2.0: The Podcast, host Rachel Wells sits down with the father of AGI, Dr. Ben Goertzel (CEO, SingularityNET) to unpack AGI: what it means, how close it really is, and why the next few years could reshape work, wealth, and human purpose.

Ben explains the technical ingredients still needed for human‑level AI, the risks of centralized rollout, and a hopeful—yet realistic—vision of abundance if AGI is built with global participation and compassion.

If you’re worried about job displacement, curious about UBI, or want practical advice on skills that will matter, this conversation provides clear, actionable insight.

Why listen?

* Learn why Ben thinks human‑level AGI could arrive within years — and what that means for jobs.

* Discover the most resilient skills (math, science, human judgment, rapid adaptability).

* Hear a utopian and a cautionary roadmap for rollout, governance, and global equity.

Special episode alert:

Christina Koch, astronaut and self‑described “space plumber,” sits down with Rachel Wells for a wide‑ranging short conversation about her Artemis II mission:

* What it’s really like to work on the far side of the Moon

* The qualities and mantras that enabled her to succeed

* And her mission to inspire the next generation of women in STEM

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more.

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend.

Rachel Wells sits down with Trisha Epp, Director of Innovation at Freelancer.com, to unpack one of the most heartwarming and unexpected stories from Artemis II: the Rise plushie floating in zero gravity.

Trisha explains how NASA turned to open innovation to crowdsource a zero-gravity indicator, why the winning design captured the world’s imagination, and how a second-grader’s idea became a historic symbol aboard the spacecraft.

Along the way, she reveals behind-the-scenes details about the NASA–Freelancer.com collaboration.

Beyond the Rise plushie, Trisha shares how Freelancer.com matches niche expertise to high-stakes problems—from spaceflight software updates to genome-editing research—and why prize competitions and crowdsourcing are changing how organizations solve impossible challenges.

Whether you’re curious about Artemis II, dreaming of turning a side hustle into a business, or looking for creative ways to monetize specialized skills, this episode offers practical advice, inspiring stories, and a new perspective on the future of work and innovation.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more.

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend.

What really happens behind the Oscars? Rachel Wells sits down with culinary legend Wolfgang Puck and his son Byron, who reveal how they lead 450 staff and deliver under pressure on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Learn how a team of hundreds, restaurant‑level standards, multiple live stations (from sushi to black‑truffle pasta), and on‑the‑spot problem solving make a flawless night possible.

Wolfgang shares vivid anecdotes — from building kitchens in parking lots to handling a sudden power outage — while Byron reflects on legacy, mentorship, and taking the pressure that builds great hospitality.

Perfect for leaders, founders, and anyone curious about high‑stakes operations and succession planning.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more.

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend.

In this episode Rachel Wells speaks with Dan Bulteel, co‑founder and CEO of an AI calendar startup (Meet-Ting).

We dig into why meetings consume so much of leaders’ time, how better clarity and intelligent scheduling can reclaim that time, and what the future of corporate connection could look like as AI augments our workflows.

Expect practical perspective from an early‑stage founder who’s already live in multiple markets and thinking big about time, people and productivity.

Follow Meet-Ting on Substack: Chief Ting.

Share your thoughts or questions for Dan in the episode comments, and subscribe for more conversations about the future of work, creativity, and AI.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, and more.

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a co-worker or friend.