Work Sucks

Toby has worked with Patrick three times and has vowed never to do it a fourth. Calli met him an hour ago and they're already best friends. This one's for the deep thinkers, with brand-new sound effects that nobody asked for.

Find Patrick on Linkedin and learn more about his work at Byte & Build.

The podcast episode features Joe Kheng as the guest, who shares his experiences and insights related to workplace training, cultural misunderstandings, financial product training, and first day jitters. The conversation delves into the challenges of workplace training, the impact of cultural differences on communication, the complexity of financial product training, and the humorous anecdotes of first day experiences. The conversation covers work travel experiences, the frustration of work-related phone calls, and the role of voice notes in communication. The speakers share amusing and challenging experiences related to work travel, express frustration with the need to book phone calls for work discussions, and discuss the use of voice notes as a communication tool. The conversation covers the impact of communication and technology on modern interactions, as well as workplace experiences and the life and career of Joseph Kheng. It delves into the challenges of phone communication, the use of technology in communication, and the impact of generational differences. Additionally, it explores workplace nightmares, email anxiety, and the humorous side of name misspellings. The conversation concludes with insights into Joseph Kheng's career and life experiences.

This week on Work Sucks, Calli and Toby sit down with Jessica D. Winder: 14 years in HR, LinkedIn's resident spicy provocateur, and (despite what her posts might suggest) genuinely very nice in person. Plus, a discussion of HR as accidental security, a pencil-throwing exit, and the eternal question of why it's always pizza, and a Cardi B-approved philosophy on getting back up.

Toby brought whiskey, Jessica brought a Red Bull, and Calli brought an empty can of Diet Coke. Hollow, like the dreams of the workplace.

Where to find Jessica on LinkedIn and her blog.
Her book, The Hidden Gem Within, on Amazon.

This week, Calli and Toby are joined by Toby's longtime friend, former colleague, and (by his own ranking) top-three facilitator: Laura Jones. Nearly two decades in the training room, zero interest in LinkedIn, and our very first guest who is completely off the grid. She came ready to relive the worst of work, and she did not hold back!

Season two is here and we're opening with Sonia Moore, co-founder of Sytuate and possibly the most gloriously unbothered person we've ever put in front of a mic.

Sonia's the HR leader who turned down a great job because the company offered her a saloon when she needed an estate for her three dogs — and another because she didn't like how the contract was written. She'll name any pointless policy, box-ticking training, or "golden child" who's really just a single point of failure, all with warmth and zero guilt. Along the way: the worst first day imaginable, one truly unhinged HR-conference fishbowl question, the coworker from hell (spoiler: it was her), and a farm in France with eighteen cats.

If you've ever wanted permission to say "absolutely not," tell a CEO the truth, and stop apologising for keeping things simple, this one's for you!

Find Sonia on LinkedIn and check out the Sytuate website!

This week on Work Sucks, we sit down with Nick Halder.

Nick makes a compelling, grounded case for why imperfect action beats polished paralysis every time, and what it actually looks like to build a culture where experimentation is expected, not feared. But this conversation goes deeper than permission to try things. It's about what it means to take work seriously enough to test it, to question it, and to lead in ways that hold up when the results come back messy.

Thoughtful, precise, and genuinely passionate about progress over perfection, Nick is the kind of guest who leaves you rethinking things you thought you'd already figured out and itching to go run an experiment of your own.

Find Nick on LinkedIn.

On this episode of Work Sucks, we sit down with Peter Laughter — lifelong entrepreneur, former staffing-firm owner, and current public speaker who has accumulated enough leadership lessons to fill several very candid management manuals. 

With a mix of charm, honesty, and the kind of perspective only earned by surviving a thousand tiny workplace implosions, Peter breaks down what great leadership actually looks like — and why most of us get it wrong. He reflects on his wildest staffing adventures, the surprising truths he learned while building companies from scratch, and the moments that forced him to become the kind of leader he wished he’d have been earlier. 

If you’ve ever wanted a no-nonsense, deeply human roadmap for staying honest while guiding other humans, Peter’s stories and insights might just change how you think about work… and maybe even how you show up on Monday. 

Check out Peter's website and find him on LinkedIn

On this episode of Work Sucks, we sit down with Greg Arthur, a product strategy and learning innovator who’s seen (and survived) his fair share of workplace chaos. From passionately debating the correct pronunciation of “Blink-182” to reliving the unforgettable era of the piano-key necktie, Greg brings humor, insight, and a surprising amount of nostalgia to the table. 

Greg spills on his worst on-the-job moments and reveals the simple fixes that could’ve saved everyone a whole lot of pain, panic, and passive-aggressive emails. It’s fast, it’s funny, and it might even make your job feel slightly less terrible. 

Check out Greg's website and find him on LinkedIn

Work Sucks x Dan Riley (S1, E9)

The conversation covers the introduction of the guest, Rocket, and his interaction with the hosts. It then delves into Rocket's worst interview experience, followed by his worst boss experience in a family business.

The discussion also explores workplace relationships and the challenges of leadership in real conversations. The conversation delves into the dynamics of interpersonal communication, emphasizing the importance of soft answers and the need for patience and space in dialogue. It also explores the impact of training provision and effective leadership on work experiences, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in training and development.

Additionally, it addresses the recurring nightmare of losing creative inspiration and the pressure to consistently deliver creative output. The conversation delves into the fear of losing access to creativity and the impact of necessity on creativity. It explores the importance of a supportive work environment and the role of necessity in unlocking creativity. The discussion provides valuable insights into the creative process and the factors that influence it.