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327 episodes

304: Joyful Workplaces with Yolanda Fraction
30/03/2026 | 29 mins.
Yolanda Fraction, organizational development consultant, doctoral student in IO psychology, and author of Joyful Workplaces, joins Punk Rock HR to make the case that joy at work is a strategy, not a perk. And for the leaders who bristle at the word "joy," she has a reframe: call it effectiveness. The outcome is the same either way.

Bad bosses. Turnover. Absenteeism. Mental health days taken just to survive the workload. Yolanda argues these are not culture problems. They are performance problems. And they are solvable, often for free.

If you lead people, support leaders in HR, or want to build workplaces that actually work, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why joy is the outcome of a high-performing organization, not a mood

What the opposite of joy actually looks like on a balance sheet

How Yolanda builds joyful workplaces without a budget

Why toxic managers are a performance problem, not just a culture problem

What self-determination theory has to do with performance reviews

Why an 82-slide deck won't change executive behavior, and what Yolanda does instead

Why Yolanda asks leaders to imagine their 7-year-old self watching them make a difficult call.
303: Healthy to 100 with Ken Stern
16/03/2026 | 31 mins.
What actually helps people live longer, healthier lives? According to longevity expert Ken Stern, it’s not just diet, exercise, or the latest health trend. The biggest factor might surprise you: Your relationships.

Ken Stern, author of Healthy to 100, joins Punk Rock HR to talk about what the longest-lived countries in the world are doing differently. Drawing from research and reporting in Japan, Singapore, Italy, Spain, and South Korea, Ken explains how social connection, community design, and policy shape how long (and how well) we live.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why loneliness is a serious health risk, comparable to smoking

What the world’s longest-lived countries do differently than the United States

How social connection impacts longevity more than diet or exercise

Why the traditional life stages of school, work, and retirement were invented — and can be reinvented

What Japan’s older workforce reveals about purpose and longevity

How housing policy and urban design influence healthy aging

Why the future of work will require rethinking retirement

How communities and public policy shape how long we live
302: Becoming Trustworthy: Race and Solidarity at Work with Karen Fleshman
02/03/2026 | 32 mins.
Karen Fleshman joins Punk Rock HR to talk about race, power, and the uncomfortable yet necessary work white women must do to build trust across differences. As the founder of the Interracial Sisterhood Coalition, Karen works with white women who are past the beginner stage of anti-racism and ready to examine how conditioning, proximity to power, and workplace dynamics reinforce racial hierarchy.

This conversation moves beyond theory. It explores accountability, institutional protection, intergenerational trauma, and what it actually takes to build solidarity in today’s workplace.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why Karen shifted from preparing young people of color for corporate America to preparing workplaces for them

What the “messy middle” of anti-racism work looks like

How white women’s proximity to power shapes HR and leadership roles

The tension between protecting institutions and protecting people

Why Karen prefers solidarity over performative allyship

How intergenerational trauma influences workplace behavior

What it takes to build trust across racial differences
301: The Manager Method with Ashley Herd
18/02/2026 | 35 mins.
Ashley Herd, founder and CEO of Manager Method and co-host of HR Besties, joins Punk Rock HR to talk about what it actually takes to lead people well. A lawyer turned HR executive, Ashley shares how mentorship, recognition, and practical judgment shape better managers — and why “common sense” leadership isn’t common at all.

If you manage people, support managers in HR, or sit in the C-suite and want employees to function like humans instead of headcount, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why mentors can sit anywhere on the org chart — including below you

The hidden human cost of how and when we terminate employees

Why recognition isn’t “fluffy” — it’s fuel

How Ashley’s Pause–Consider–Act framework changes everyday decisions

What HR Besties gets right about nuance in the profession

Why managers must stop thinking about people as spreadsheets
300: The Reality of Work Tech in 2026 with Mary Ellen Slayter and Steve Smith
18/12/2025 | 30 mins.
Mary Ellen Slayter and Steve Smith of Rep Cap join Punk Rock HR to talk about the state of the job market, the reality behind AI hype, and what’s actually changing in work tech and HR tech. Drawing on decades as journalists turned operators, they break down why this moment feels uniquely disorienting and where real opportunity still exists.

From capital shifts and consolidation to brand, people investment, and human connection, Mary Ellen and Steve share what’s breaking, what’s quietly working, and why 2026 may mark a turning point for companies willing to think long term.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why today’s job market feels brutal despite strong labor numbers

How AI hype differs from real innovation in work tech

Why VC-era assumptions are gone and what replaces them

Where private equity, consolidation, and M&A are reshaping the market

Why brand and long-term value matter more than short-term performance

Where optimism still exists for work, people, and leadership in 2026

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About Punk Rock HR

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. Guests range from renowned thought leaders, authors, and entrepreneurs to HR professionals and individuals who have reshaped the way we approach work and organizational culture. Punk Rock HR is not your usual HR talk. It’s a blend of insight, wit, and irreverence, aiming to bring a fresh, unfiltered perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing today’s workforce. Whether you’re an HR professional looking to revamp your approach, a leader trying to understand the people side of the business better, or just someone interested in the dynamics of the modern workplace, this podcast is your ticket to engaging discussions and actionable insights. Expect energizing conversations, guests with big ideas, and a punk rock twist, with episodes released every Monday. Follow the Punk Rock HR Podcast to keep your finger on the pulse of work, leadership, and human resources. Your journey towards a more progressive and enlightened workspace starts here!

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