Truth, Lies and Work

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  328. Am I the Workplace A**hole? Summer Sessions #4, with Dr Jake Tuber 18.08.2026 53min

  Are workplace dilemmas ever really black and white? Welcome back to another Summer Session of Truth, Lies & Work! For this episode, Al and Leanne are ditching the traditional workplace news to tackle some of the internet's most controversial, outrageous, and downright petty workplace dilemmas—Am I the Arsehole? style. Joining the panel is organisational psychologist and friend of the show, Dr. Jake Tuber. Together, they dissect real-life workplace conflicts to decide who is in the right, who is in the wrong, and who was completely out of order. ⚖️ The Dilemmas on Trial Today: The $1,800 Stolen Chair: What happens when a colleague steals your high-end office chair, your boss tells you "first-come, first-served," and the police get involved? The Tragic Firing: Is a company justified in firing a 22-year-old employee whose performance dropped right after losing both parents in a tragic accident? The Public Ultimatum: What should happen when an employee bypasses their line manager to escalate an issue publicly to senior executive leadership? Whether you're listening on your morning commute or relaxing by the pool, play along and see if you agree with the verdicts! 🤝 Connect with Dr. Jake Tuber LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaketuber/ Website: http://www.ticonadvisory.com Podcast: https://www.ticonadvisory.com/podcast 🎁 Special Offer: Get 6 months of free access to Jake's Substack, Workwise: https://workwise.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=1e481d0b 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com
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  327. Top 5 Tips to Actually Switch Off This Summer, with Dr Rachel Morris 13.08.2026 56min

  Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. When was the last time you came back from a holiday genuinely refreshed? For many leaders, managers, and high-achieving professionals, summer isn't relaxing. You spend weeks clearing your inbox before you leave, spend your holiday feeling guilty for not working, check your emails "just in case", and come back to an overflowing inbox needing another break. So why is switching off so difficult? In this episode, hosts Al and Leanne are joined by Dr. Rachel Morris, former GP, keynote speaker, and host of the You Are Not A Frog podcast. Together, they explore why high achievers struggle to rest, how summer can inadvertently trigger burnout, and 5 practical strategies to genuinely recharge before September. 💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode The "Responsibility Trap": Why conscientious professionals struggle to unplug. The Pre-Holiday Firefight: Why working double time before taking leave backfires. Rest vs. Guilt: How to reframe the guilt you feel when stepping away from work. 5 Practical Recovery Tips: Actionable ways to protect your energy and return to work genuinely refreshed. 📌 Dr Rachel Morris's 5 Tips to Switch Off Book your recovery in before anything else Get clear on what’s in your control in the summer Stop rescuing other people Expect the guilt and use it as evidence You don’t need to earn your rest 🔗 Links & Resources Self-Assessment Resource: Download the Am I Stressed, Overwhelmed or Burned Out PDF Self Assessment Toolkit: https://youarenotafrog.com/toolkit/ Connect with Dr Rachel Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rachel-morris Listen to You Are Not a Frog Podcast: ⁠https://youarenotafrog.com/about/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com
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  326. We Play Corporate Family Fortunes with Danny Wareham! Summer Sessions #3 11.08.2026 54min

  Welcome to another edition of our Truth, Lies & Work Summer Sessions! For this episode, Al and Leanne take a quick break from workplace news and heavy behavioural science to host a special summer game: Corporate Family Fortunes. Joining the fun is organisational psychologist, leadership expert, speaker, and author Danny Wareham. They dive into survey results on the most irritating workplace habits, awkward social activities, how people really unwind after a stressful day, and the hidden psychological traps of office life. ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 – Intro & Summer Sessions Housekeeping 02:40 – Introducing Danny Wareham & Constellation 05:00 – Post-Book Tour Life, Award Season, & Authentic LinkedIn Content 09:50 – What Makes a True Christmas Movie? (In August!) 13:05 – Round 1: Most Annoying Office Habits & Smelly Food 16:45 – Round 2: What Makes People Angriest at Work? 20:50 – Round 3: Which Work Social Activities Do People Avoid? 28:00 – Round 4: What Keeps Employees from Quitting? 34:00 – Round 5: Annoying Communication Styles & Voice Note Debates 45:30 – Round 6: The Weirdest Things Found in Desk Drawers 51:00 – Round 7: How Workers Really Unwind After a Stressful Day 57:50 – Wrap-up & What’s Coming Next Week 🎧 Want more from Danny Wareham? – Website: dannywareham.co.uk – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-wareham/ – Buy Danny's Book: https://dannywareham.co.uk/constellation-leadership/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com
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  325. He cancelled his meetings for a week (and nobody noticed), with Chris Lovett, best-selling author 06.08.2026 52min

  Have you ever looked at a calendar packed with back-to-back, colour-coded blocks and felt a strange sense of pride? In today’s workplace culture, a hectic diary isn’t just a schedule—it’s an identity. But what if all those reflex "yeses," endless Zoom syncs, and low-value emails are actually destroying your performance and pushing you toward burnout? In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, host Al Elliott sits down with executive coach, author, and speaker Chris Lovett to discuss how applying a "less is more" mindset to your job can lead to radically better results. From stepping on an old 1990s CD case to convincing a senior leader to decline every meeting for a week, Chris shares actionable strategies to help you break free from busywork, reclaim your time, and become a true "corporate athlete." The Break Point: How stepping on a Mark Morrison CD case led Chris to sell almost everything he owned, board a flight to Copenhagen, and completely redefine success. The Meeting Experiment: What happened when a senior leader declined a whole week of meetings—and why only one person noticed? The "Needing to Be Needed" Trap: Why we treat calendar invitations like hits of dopamine, and how over-helping your team actually stunts their growth. Are You a Corporate Athlete? Why high performers build tactical rest into their days, and how back-to-back meetings drop your attention and engagement by up to 40%. Strategic Laziness & Small Rebellions: Tactical scripts and questions you can start using today to protect your time without burning bridges or looking uncooperative. Connect with Chris: Website: https://chrislovett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lovett-29176933/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok/@chris_lovett Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christolovett/ Books: Relentless & Discovery of Less 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com
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  324. Workplace Red Flag or Green Flag? Summer Sessions #2, with Meghan French-Dunbar 04.08.2026 59min

  Welcome to another episode of our Summer Sessions! Every August, we take a short break from our usual news roundups and deep dives to bring you lighter, conversational, and debate-style episodes. These are designed to be enjoyed while you're out on a summer walk, driving, or taking a well-deserved break from work. In this second episode of the series, Al Elliott and Leanne Elliott are joined by author, speaker, and host of the Unbehaved podcast, Meghan French Dunbar. Together, they put some of the biggest workplace behaviours, leadership advice, and organisational trends to the test in a fast-paced game of Workplace Red Flag or Green Flag? From unlimited PTO and salary transparency to reception wall values and office dogs, we debate the unwritten rules of work—and challenge whether the things we accept as "normal" are actually helping or hurting workplace culture. Topics We Debate in This Episode: Unlimited Holiday: A genuine employee perk, or a trap that leads to taking less time off? Values on the Wall: Inspiration, or a clear sign of corporate virtue signaling? Salary Transparency: A green flag for pay equity, or a recipe for workplace chaos? Workplace Tropes: What do office dogs with email addresses, "we're like a family" statements, and founder-led interviews really say about a company? 🏢 Companies & Resources Mentioned: Barry-Wehmiller: https://www.barrywehmiller.com/ Torani Syrups: https://www.torani.com/ Zingerman's: https://www.zingermans.com/ 🎧 Want more from Meghan French Dunbar? – Website: https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/book – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanfrenchdunbar – Substack: https://meghanfrenchdunbar.substack.com – Email: meghan@frenchdunbar.com – Book: This Isn’t Working (use code TLW for 20% off) → https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/meghan-french-dunbar/this-isnt-working/9781541704862/?lens=basic-venture 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🧠 Mental Health Support – UK & ROI — Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org – UK — Mind: Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk – US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org – Australia — Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au – Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies and Work is brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  323. Why you believe you're right, even when you're wrong, with Owen Fitzpatrick, social psychologist and author 30.07.2026 59min

  When you hear the word propaganda, you picture a dictator, a politician, or an ad executive. You never picture yourself. But turns out, you are running the exact same campaign on yourself every day. In this episode, charter occupational psychologist Leanne Elliott and entrepreneur Al Elliott are joined by psychologist, speaker, and author Owen Fitzpatrick. Owen has spent the last 25 years studying how beliefs form, why they change, and how they shape our leadership, choices, and success. From coaching billionaires and Olympic athletes to speaking across 100 countries, Owen breaks down his concept of Inner Propaganda—the story you sell to yourself—and why logic bullying never works when trying to change minds. 🎙️ In This Episode: What is "Inner Propaganda"? Why beliefs aren't based on objective evidence, but on what feels true and protects who you think you are. The "It'll Be Grand" Effect: How your brain functions as a prediction machine designed for survival and stability, not necessarily your success. Desired Truth vs. Objective Truth: How startup founders (like James Dyson and Melanie Perkins) rely on desired truth to push boundaries—and how to avoid letting it blind you. Why "Logic Bullying" Fails: Why bombarding people with data rarely changes minds and why changing how someone feels is the real secret to influence. Leading Through AI & Future Change: How to frame organizational shifts around your team’s identity and potential, rather than triggering fear. Steve Jobs & Reality Distortion: How legendary leaders shift feelings to paint desired identities for executives and teams. 💡 Top Takeaways Stop Leading with Logic: Evidence comes last, not first. Work out how you want someone to feel before you deliver the arguments. Catch Your Desired Truth: Ask yourself whether you believe an idea because the data supports it, or because you need it to be true. Believe in Potential First: The leaders people willingly follow are the ones who believe in who someone can become, long before the evidence proves it. 👤 About the Guest Owen Fitzpatrick is a psychologist, international speaker, author of 10 books, and host of the Inner Propaganda podcast. He helps global companies, leaders, and individuals master belief leadership to drive better decisions, influence teams, and reduce polarization. Website: owenfitzpatrick.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenfitzp/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owenf23/ Listen to Owen's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inner-propaganda-with-owen-fitzpatrick/id1441538919 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  322. The World’s Weirdest Jobs: Penguinologists, Snake Milkers, Ice Cowboys and more! Summer Sessions #1, with Georgia Hodkinson 28.07.2026 51min

  Welcome to Episode 1 of our Summer Sessions on Truth, Lies & Work! For the next few weeks, Al and Leanne are taking a short break from the workplace news and heavy management analysis to bring you something a bit lighter, funnier, and completely fascinating. Joined by special guest host Georgia Hodkinson (Associate Producer and Organisational Psychologist), the team goes head-to-head in a battle of bizarre careers. Each host brings genuinely real, highly specialised, and wildly strange jobs to the table—guessing what they involve, breaking down how you actually get into them, revealing what they pay, and scoring them on a leaderboard for sheer weirdness. Whether you're lounging by the pool, commuting to work, or hiding from your inbox on holiday, hit play to discover the most unbelievable ways people make a living around the globe! Unbelievable Careers Revealed: Deep dives into penguinologists, snake milkers, ice cowboys, professional apologists, and golf ball divers. Day-in-the-Life Breakdown: What these jobs actually involve, how rare they are, and how much they pay. How to Land One: Do you need a PhD, niche training, or do you just fall into it by accident? The Weirdest Job Leaderboard: Scores for pure weirdness, "Would you actually do it?", and the ultimate dinner party conversation-starter! 🎙️ Special Guest Host Georgia Hodkinson (GMBPsS) – Associate Producer & Organisational Psychologist LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-hodkinson-gmbpss/ Company: Georgia's Psy Work 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  321. Is HR the Loneliest Job in the Building? With Tom Emery 23.07.2026 52min

  HR leaders spend all day surrounded by people. So why does it often feel like the loneliest job in the building? In this episode, Tom Emery, former Chief People Officer at a top City of London wealth manager, 20-year corporate HR veteran (ex-HSBC), and founder of HEX Talent & Development, joins Al and Leanne to pull back the curtain on the reality of HR leadership. Tom shares his powerful "Vet Analogy" for HR: just like veterinarians enter the profession out of love for animals only to see them at their illest, weakest, or most aggressive, HR leaders enter the role because they love people, only to be brought in when people are backed into a corner. Together, they dive deep into how HR leaders can step out of the isolated "police officer" role and step into the room as true strategic drivers, how senior leaders can build psychological safety by simply asking for help, and why learning to disagree well is the missing ingredient in high-performing C-suites. 🎧 What We Cover in This Episode The Vet Analogy: Why HR professionals frequently meet employees at their lowest points—and how to handle the emotional toll. Breaking Out of the "Outside Looking In" Trap: How HR leaders can build true credibility with the board, C-suite, and CFOs by becoming commercial explorers. The Art of Disagreeing Well: Why storming and surfacing productive conflict is essential for high-performing, psychologically safe teams. Modelling Psychological Safety: Why asking for help as a senior leader increases trust rather than weakening authority. Humanising Workplace Change in the Age of AI: Navigating digital transformation, layoffs, and organisational shifts without losing the human touch. Setting Boundaries & Sitting in the Discomfort: Learning to accept that you can't fix every outcome or make everyone happy. ⚡ Top 3 Takeaways Get curious about the business, not just the people: The HR leaders who get taken seriously understand how the company actually makes money and manages cost levers as deeply as the CFO does. Build safety by asking for help yourself: Admitting you don't have all the answers isn't a sign of weakness—it's the fastest way for senior leaders to model and build trust. You can't fix every outcome: Chasing 100% approval or trying to solve every hard moment will lead straight to burnout. Sometimes the job is just sitting with someone in a difficult moment, not solving it for them. More from Tom: Website: https://www.hex-development.com/ Book (People, People): Claim a free UK copy at https://www.hex-development.com/ (or available globally on Amazon) Podcast (Beyond Potential): https://beyondpotential.podbean.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomemery-b8809818/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomemeryhex/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomemeryhex YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HEX-development 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  320. Can you bulls*it a bullsh*tter? PLUS! The European hiring crisis, Gen-Z perfectionism and Tik Tok training 21.07.2026 56min

  The Hiring Crisis, TikTok Training and Gen Z Perfectionism. PLUS How to Keep Quiet Teams Motivated Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. In this episode of This Week in Work, business owner Al Elliott and Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott break down why fewer than half of recruitment processes actually succeed, why TikTok-style L&D might be sabotaging employee memory, and how economic pressure is driving an epidemic of Gen-Z perfectionism. Plus, in Truth or Lie, we test the psychological myth: Can you bullshit a bullshitter? 🔥 Stories covered 1. Are we actually in a European hiring crisis? While corporate layoff headlines dominate the news, data from McKinsey’s HR Monitor survey reveals European hiring success sits at just 46% when accounting for offer acceptance and probation survival. With an aging workforce retiring and AI changing entry-level work, skilled talent is scarcer than ever. We discuss why smart companies like Spotify are shifting focus from external recruitment to internal mobility and growing talent from within. Source: https://apple.news/ATgORe8gTRY2tHZs98wLVag 2. Why short-form videos are terrible for L&D Thinking of using 60-second TikTok-style reels for workplace training? Think again. A new study demonstrates that chopping learning content into micro-clips tanks test scores and dramatically speeds up overnight forgetting. Brain scans revealed that continuous video syncs brain regions responsible for attention and memory formation, whereas micro-clips over-stimulate change-detection reflexes without actual absorption. Source: https://www.psypost.org/the-illusion-of-learning-from-short-videos/ 3. Is work making young people hyper-perfectionist? Analysing 35 years of data across 82,000 students, a major study in Psychological Bulletin shows a sharp rise in socially prescribed perfectionism—the belief that others demand perfection and will judge mistakes harshly. Rather than being "fragile" or "entitled," Gen-Z employees are operating under intense economic pressure and fear of failure. We cover how leaders can foster true psychological safety to overcome paralysis and indecision. Source: https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/perfectionism-young-adults-higher-ever-says-new-study 🧠 Truth or Lie: "You Can’t Bullshit a Bullshitter" It’s an age-old saying: frequent liars and exaggerators have a built-in radar for deception. But does the psychological research back it up? Leanne examines studies by Christian Blötner & Sebastian Bergold (2023) and Dr. Shane Littrell et al. (2021). We break down the crucial difference between persuasive bullshitters (who talk a big game with buzzwords) and evasive bullshitters (who dodge questions defensively). Want to dive deeper? Check out cognitive psychologist Dr. Shane Littrell’s research on Substack: https://bullshitology.substack.com/ Workplace Surgery In this week's Workplace Surgery, we tackle three real questions submitted by listeners: On Employee Perks: "Am I being naive putting in a free gym?" On Downtime Motivation: "How do you keep people motivated when work goes quiet?" On Inclusive Hiring: "I want to give someone a chance, but am I doing more harm than good?" 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  319. Why Nobody is Listening to You at Work, with Strategic PR Director, Ellie Glason 16.07.2026 47min

  Have you ever put together a perfectly logical, data-backed presentation or sent a highly detailed company-wide email, only to be met with complete silence? Meanwhile, a seemingly trivial update or a random piece of news gets everyone talking. In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we unlock the secret to getting people to actually listen to you. It isn’t about louder voices, longer emails, or bigger slide decks. It is entirely about storytelling. Our guest is Ellie Glason, a leading PR consultant for founders and former publishing specialist. Ellie explains why our brains are hardwired to ignore dry information dumps and how you can use the classic "Seven Basic Plots" of human storytelling to get instant buy-in from your team, your board, or the media. 🎧 In This Episode, We Discuss: The "Baby with Tall Hair" Phenomenon: Why Al's data-heavy, perfectly logical press release from 20 years ago was completely ignored in favor of a silly human-interest story—and what it teaches us about workplace communication. The Inverted Triangle of Communication: How to hook your audience in the first few seconds instead of burying the lead under a mountain of context. The Seven Basic Plots of Business: How legendary stories like The Quest, Overcoming the Monster, and Rebirth can be used to handle tough internal corporate messages—like return-to-office mandates, budget cuts, and major digital transformations. The Pub Test: The quick, foolproof metric to test if your business update or pitch is actually interesting to another human being. The Credibility Ladder for Introverts: How leaders who hate the spotlight can still build powerful thought leadership and authority without having to yell on social media. The Future of PR in the Age of AI: How AI search is changing the game, making niche trade publications and trusted third-party sites more valuable than ever. 📖 Resources Mentioned in This Episode Why Nobody is Listening to You at Work: https://ellieglasonpr.com/ The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories by Christopher Booker: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Basic-Plots-Tell-Stories/dp/0826452094 Connect with Ellie Glason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-glason/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🧠 Mental Health Support If you or someone you work with is struggling, please reach out to one of the trusted support services below: UK & ROI: Samaritans — Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK: Mind — Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global Helplines: https://findahelpline.com
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  318. Toxic Founders, HR Rebels and Stalling Women’s Progress. PLUS! Is it good to have fun at work? With Rebecca Taylor 14.07.2026 1godz 9min

  Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. Brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the ultimate audio destination for business professionals. In this episode of This Week in Work, hosts Al and Leanne Elliott are joined by a very special guest: Rebecca Taylor, host of the HR Voices podcast! Together, they unpack the hilarious reality of unhinged leadership conversations, dive deep into the newly stalling progress of women at work, put "forced fun" to the test under the psychological microscope, and answer some incredibly sticky workplace relationship questions. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. The HR Rebel Calling Out Unhinged Leaders You might not be surprised to hear that some of the conversations HR professionals have to have with leaders are… somewhat unhinged. But what happens when an HR professional calls them out on LinkedIn in the best, most direct way ever? We dive into the viral waves being made by the brilliant Emma Djemil (Founder of Be Unstoppable and The HR Club). Follow Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/be-unstoppable/ Check out the post: https://lnkd.in/p/dHKzfSRe 2. Is the "Lean In" Generation Now Leaning Out? Women have made extraordinary gains in the past few decades across the world of work, but are things stalling? Sheryl Sandberg’s infamous 2013 book advised women to "lean in," but new data suggests women's progress at work appears to be stalling. Leanne and Rebecca dissect the learned behaviours—from over-apologising and avoiding conflict to taking on invisible "empathy tax" work—that are holding talented people back, and ask: Have workplaces actually changed enough? Read the original article in The Economist: https://archive.is/20260706073156/https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/07/05/womens-progress-at-work-appears-to-be-stalling 🧠 Truth or Lie: Does Fun at Work Undermine Performance? For generations, work has been treated as the serious part of life, while fun is something you earn once the job is done. If people are laughing or messing around, it must mean less work is getting done… right? Leanne dives deep into decades of organizational psychology to give you the ultimate verdict. The "For" Case: Research shows that forced, "managed fun"—like mandatory pajama days or awkward icebreakers—can cause employee cynicism, frustration, and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, blurring work and play too closely can encourage workaholism and make it harder for people to switch off. The "Against" Case: On the flip side, spontaneous humour and micro-breaks (even short personal internet breaks!) actually restore attention, boost mental energy, and increase productivity by up to 9% when done in moderation. The Verdict: Forced fun rarely works. True workplace fun isn't something managers can force; it’s a natural byproduct that emerges when organizations get the psychological safety, autonomy, and human elements right. 💬 Workplace Surgery❓ In this week's workplace surgery, we take on your real-life culture and management dilemmas: "I’ve been casually seeing someone at work for about a year. Until now we’ve worked in different departments, but I’ve just been promoted and will be managing their department. Should I tell my employer about the relationship, or keep it private unless it becomes an issue?" Plus we answer: Should a manager judge an employee’s private social media? What to do when a team member runs a public account following adult content but is otherwise an excellent employee. What do you do when the toxic person is the founder? How to handle senior leadership when the person destroying the culture owns the entire business and there is no board. 🎙️ Connect with Our Guest: Rebecca Taylor We are thrilled to be joined this week by Rebecca Taylor, host of HR Voices—the incredible scenario-based podcast for People Leaders who have to make the tough calls in real-time employee relations. Listen to the HR Voices podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-voices/id1833927442 Connect with Rebecca Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebebeccataylor2/ Support for HR Professionals: Check out AllVoices, the ultimate platform to manage employee relations, documentation, and investigations in one secure place: https://www.allvoices.co 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com
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  317. He built his company around happiness, but was he happy? With Richard Clarke 09.07.2026 42min

  Have you ever hit a massive milestone—like selling the business you spent a decade building—only to feel an unexpected wave of grief instead of pure joy? In this episode of Truth, Lies and Work, we sit down with Richard Clarke, founder of software company Secret Source. He did what every entrepreneur dreams of: he grew his business, put team happiness at the absolute center of his culture, and successfully exited. But instead of finding ultimate contentment, Richard fell face-first into the ultimate happiness trap: "I’ll be happy when..." Richard opens up about the bittersweet reality of exiting a business, the sudden loss of community, and how he had to use his own behavioral science background to climb out of the post-exit slump. Plus, he breaks down the 5 essential needs every human requires to be truly happy at work and thoroughly busts the famous myth surrounding Google's "20% time." Key Takeaways from This Episode The 5 Workplace Needs: Based on the US Surgeon General’s framework, everyone requires five core elements to thrive: Safety, Community, Autonomy, Growth, and Purpose. The Post-Exit Slump: Founders often find that while an exit checks off the "safety" and "autonomy" boxes, it completely strips away their daily sense of "community" and "belonging." Ask, Don't Guess: Richard shares a brilliant case study where simply mapping out his team's anonymous scores on these five needs revealed a massive, easily fixable issue with scheduling meetings. The Google 20% Myth: Think Google employees spend a fifth of their week working on passion projects? Richard talks to ex-Googlers who have a very different story to tell. Connect with Richard Clarke 📬 Grab Richard's short ebook outlining the fundamental science of workplace happiness, or reach out to him directly on social media: – Free Ebook: https://www.richardclarke.eu/ebook – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmclarke/ – Website: https://www.richardclarke.eu/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is proud to be part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  316. Botsitting, Microsoft's Xbox Layoffs and Finance Burnout. PLUS! Does Growth Mindset Really Work? With Rob Briner 07.07.2026 55min

  Is AI really making us more productive, or are we spending more time managing it than benefiting from it? Should employees pay the price when leadership gets strategy wrong? And is Growth Mindset really the performance booster it's often claimed to be? This week on Truth, Lies & Work, Leanne introduces a brand new Word of the Week: Botsitting – the hidden work of feeding AI context, checking its answers and correcting its mistakes. Drawing on new research from Glean's Work AI Index, we explore why AI may be creating a new form of invisible labour that's leaving employees exhausted rather than empowered. We also unpack Microsoft's decision to cut around 3,200 Xbox jobs after CEO Asha Sharma admitted the business had "lost focus", asking where accountability should lie when strategy fails. Plus, new UK research suggests many senior finance professionals are choosing better leadership, career opportunities and work-life balance over higher salaries, challenging long-held assumptions about what motivates top talent. In Truth or Lie, Leanne is joined by Professor Rob Briner, one of the UK's leading experts in evidence-based management, to separate the science from the hype around Growth Mindset. Together they explore what the research actually says, why fashionable workplace ideas often outpace the evidence, and why organisations should focus less on finding the next big trend and more on understanding the problems they're trying to solve. Finally, in Workplace Surgery, we answer your questions about rebuilding team energy, supporting employees who don't want promotion, and whether exit interviews really reveal why people leave. Resources & Links Lincolnshire's unusual place names:https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/strange-place-names-lincolnshire-list-438323 Rebecca Hinds' LinkedIn post:https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rebecca-hinds_we-recently-published-our-first-work-ai-index-share-7478531898693066752-jv9u/ Glean Work AI Index:https://www.glean.com/work-ai-institute/reports/work-ai-index HR Director:https://www.thehrdirector.com/business-news/remuneration/finance-candidates-no-longer-choosing-roles-salary-alone-report-finds/ Full Croft&Co Finance Professionals Report: www.croftandco.com/report Fortune:https://fortune.com/2026/07/06/exclusive-xbox-ceo-asha-sharma-job-cuts-studios-axed-layoffs/ More from Rob Briner Rob Briner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-briner/ Rob Briner’s Is That Really a Thing LinkedIn posts (including one on Growth Mindset): https://tinyurl.com/2rzzzus3 Corporate Research Forum’s Work Psychology Network: https://tinyurl.com/4s4pmz9e Work Psychology Network report on behaviour change in organizations: https://tinyurl.com/3p3rwerb Connect with Truth, Lies & Work – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork  – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott  – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne  – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com  – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🧠 Mental Health Support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org  UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk  US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org  Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au  Global helplines https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is proud to be part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  315. How to Handle Crisis in the Workplace, with Andrew Blotky, Facebook's first Director of Global Internal Communications 02.07.2026 50min

  Welcome to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. How do you steady your team and maintain trust when everything around you is chaotic? This week, we are joined by Andrew Blotky, an executive coach, author, and the founder of Azure Leadership Group. Andrew has managed internal communications at global scales, building Facebook’s first global employee communications function during a period of intense growth and scrutiny, and leading HR communications at Johnson & Johnson. In this episode, Andrew shares practical wisdom on leading with integrity through periods of change, crisis, and uncertainty. Moving past standard PR templates, he dives deep into the human side of leadership, discussing how authenticity, self-reflection, and mindfulness can help you stay grounded when you are under fire. 💡 Key Takeaways From This Episode The First 24 Hours: Why speaking early—even without all the answers—is critical to preventing people from creating their own negative narratives. Honesty vs. Oversharing: Navigating the boundaries of what you can say, what you can't, and how to admit uncertainty without losing your credibility. The Power of Pre-Work: Why the best crisis management happens long before the crisis hits by grounding your organisation in true core values. Compassion in Commercial Decisions: Dealing with the fallout of modern workplace challenges, like mass layoffs and the anxiety surrounding generative AI. Level 2 Listening: How to move out of a reactive "fight-or-flight" state and practice deep, curious listening to understand what your team truly needs. 👤 About the Guest Guest Name: Andrew Blotky Job Title: Executive Coach, Founder/CEO Organisation: Azure Leadership Group Website: https://www.azureleadership.com LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewblotky/ Instagram: @blotblot Andrew’s Book: Honestly Speaking: How the Way We Communicate Transforms Leadership, Love, and Life Get the book here: https://www.azureleadership.com/honestlyspeaking 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  314. Why do we all love an underdog? PLUS! Responsible A.I., Ford's human rehiring spree AND the psychology of disagreements. 30.06.2026 51min

  Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we are breaking down major shifts in the AI landscape, the science behind how we handle workplace friction, and a deep dive into why we naturally root for the underdog. 🔥 Stories Covered NatWest Group Commits to Responsible AI Training for All 60,000 Staff While many companies are rushing into AI deployment, NatWest is taking a human-centric approach by prioritizing data ethics. They have announced mandatory AI and data ethics training for all 60,000 employees, rolling out principles previously built in partnership with the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Futures Institute. The most fascinating takeaway? Over 50% of staff actively opted into extra training completely off their own back. With formal regulation still lagging behind, the bank is actively setting its own standard for corporate judgment and digital responsibility. NatWest Case Study: https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/executive-education/case-studies/ai-data-ethics-programme-natwest-group-leaders-colleagues NatWest Insights Article: https://www.natwestgroup.com/news-and-insights/latest-stories/ai-and-data/2025/may/upholding-ethical-use-of-ai-and-data-management.html 2. Ford’s AI Rollback: Rehiring 300 Human Engineers In a major corporate pivot, Ford has confirmed it is rehiring more than 300 veteran quality inspectors after its automated, AI-driven quality checks failed to match human engineering expertise. Ford learned the hard way that automation cannot replicate decades of tacit institutional knowledge. These veteran engineers are returning to factory floors not just to inspect vehicles, but to mentor the next generation and properly train the AI systems moving forward. BBC News Coverage: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrkd41n2v9o 3. Talk or Type? The Psychological Reality of Disagreements When friction arises at work, our immediate instinct is often to hide behind a carefully drafted email or Slack message. However, new research featured by the British Psychological Society highlights that talking it out outperforms typing every single time. Spoken conversations naturally foster more active listening language, lower conflict, and build better mutual understanding. Despite this, 84% of people still choose text over talk. Al and Leanne discuss why it's time to pick up the phone. BPS Research Digest: https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/better-disagreement-use-your-voice 🧠 Truth or Lie: Do We All Love an Underdog? From global sports tournaments to workplace dynamics, there is an assumption that humans are universally wired to root for the underdog. Leanne dives into the behavioural science behind this phenomenon, looking at the "effort heuristic" and why we value struggle over raw talent. However, this preference comes with a massive catch: the moment the stakes get high or personal risk is involved, our support for the underdog evaporates. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week, Al and Leanne tackle three real-world questions from the listener mailbag: The Accidental Manager: "Nobody prepared me for management. I got promoted because I was good at my job, but managing people is a completely different skill. What is the one thing you wish someone had taught you before you took the role?" The Workplace Drain: How do you handle watching a line manager slowly drain the happiness out of a stellar colleague when it's happening outside your department? Pre-Meeting Chit Chat: Is a leader being a misery for wanting to skip the weekend catch-up and get straight to business, or is casual social time a vital team-building tool? 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🧠 Mental Health Support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is proud to be part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the ultimate audio destination for business professionals
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  313. "I told Jimmy Carr to quit his job", with Mike Harle, Jimmy Carr's (last ever) manager 25.06.2026 51min

  What do you do when a brilliant, Oxford- or Cambridge-educated graduate walks into your office, chronically late, completely uncommitted to the business, but undeniably sharp? If you’re Mike Harle, you don’t fire them—you tell them to follow their heart and join the circus. This week, we sit down for an exclusive, world-first public interview with Mike Harle, the former UK Chief Marketing Officer of Shell. In a legendary two-minute conversation around the year 2000, Mike looked past the corporate KPI metrics of a young, nervous junior executive named Jimmy Carr and gave him the ultimate piece of career advice: Do give up your day job. In this episode, Mike shares the fascinating backstory behind one of comedy’s most famous career pivots, why he turned down an exclusive UK deal with a struggling new startup called Red Bull, and what it truly means to manage potential over performance. 🎧 What We Cover in This Episode: The "Event" That Changed British Comedy: The real story behind Mike's office chat with a 24-year-old Jimmy Carr, who was torn between a high-octane job offer at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and performing stand-up in local pubs. The Fine Line Between Managing and Leading: Why management is about resources and objectives, but true leadership is about helping people find deep, individual meaning in their work. Managing Vulnerability and Breaking Corporate Boundaries: How personal tragedy and a shared love for the entertainment world fostered an unconventional mentorship between a top-tier CMO and a junior exec. Saying Yes to Jimmy, Saying No to Red Bull: Mike openly shares his corporate "bad decision"—turning down exclusive UK distribution rights for Red Bull back when the energy drink category didn't even exist. Life Beyond the Corner Office: Mike's incredible pivot from Shell executive to serving as a Church of England priest for 10 years, supporting asylum seekers, and starting a fresh career lecturing in the Czech Republic. "If you can't take a chance at 24 or 25 on your future, you're sunk. My job wasn't just to manage a pipeline; it was to do the best by a human being." — Mike Harle 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork⁠ – Al Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott⁠ – Leanne Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne⁠ – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: ⁠https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat⁠ Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit ⁠https://www.samaritans.org⁠ UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠ US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit ⁠https://988lifeline.org⁠ Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ Global helplines: ⁠https://findahelpline.com⁠ Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  312. Remote Work Makes You Lonely, Should You Trust Your Gut or the Data, PLUS workplace surgery with Dr Jake Tuber 23.06.2026 54min

  Welcome to Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. In this episode of This Week in Work, Al is joined by guest co-host Dr Jake Tuber as they dig into a landmark report on youth unemployment, a blockbuster NYT piece on remote work and loneliness, and whether you should ever trust your gut over the data. Connect with Dr Jake Tuber: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaketuber Subscribe to his newsletter: https://workwise.substack.com 📰 The News Round-Up One Million Young People Locked Out of Work — The UK's NEET Crisis A major government-commissioned report from former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn lays bare a structural failure in the UK's approach to youth employment. Around one million 16–24 year-olds are currently NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) — roughly one in eight — and that figure could hit 1.25 million by the early 2030s. Perhaps most striking: six in ten young NEETs have never held a single job, up from four in ten twenty years ago. The report also reveals that for every £25 spent on benefits for young people, just £1 is spent helping them back into work. Read the Milburn report coverage: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/28/a-record-of-failure-whats-in-the-first-part-of-alan-milburns-neet-report https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/27/neets-could-hit-125m-by-early-2030s-milburn-review-young-people-employment-uk Is Remote Work Making Us Lonelier? A NYT Deep Dive A new study published in Science tracked workers in remote-eligible roles — finance, software engineering and the like — and found they're working from home three times more than five years ago, and reporting significantly higher loneliness. But Stanford remote work researcher Nick Bloom urges caution: does remote work cause distress, or do people already under stress seek out remote work to cope? Dr Jake unpacks why the headline conclusions may be overstated. Read the NYT piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/opinion/remote-work-depression.html Read the original study: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aec7671 🧠 Truth or Lie: Is Gut Instinct Better Than Data? Dr Jake takes on one of the oldest debates in decision-making — and delivers a verdict with a twist. The case for data: Decades of research, including a seminal 1954 study by Meehl and two major meta-analyses (Grove et al., 2000; Ægisdóttir et al., 2006), consistently show that analytical, statistical approaches outperform gut instinct on important decisions. The case for gut: When someone is a genuine expert in a stable, predictable environment with good feedback loops, intuition can reflect deep tacit knowledge — not guesswork. The verdict: It's a false binary. Your gut is partly made of data — years of pattern recognition your brain has processed unconsciously. The best decisions let intuition generate hypotheses and evidence test them. 🏥 The Workplace Surgery "My star player has become my biggest headache" — A brilliant employee has started missing deadlines, pushing back on everything, and dismissing feedback. She says she's been carrying the team for years. Do you owe her more patience, or have you already been too patient? "Why does returning to work feel harder than the work itself?" — Every time this listener takes time off, re-entry feels brutal — even though they actually enjoy their job. Is this psychological, or just a "them" problem? "Why is my team working hours I never asked for?" — Fully flexible, no core hours, work gets done. So why are people sending emails at 7am and Slack messages on weekends — and should their manager be more worried than they are? 🎙️ Coming Thursday We're joined by Mike Harle — the man who told Jimmy Carr to quit his corporate job and pursue comedy. He managed Jimmy at Shell, had the conversation that changed everything, and has some brilliant management stories to share. Don't miss it. 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork⁠ – Al Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott⁠ – Leanne Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne⁠ – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: ⁠https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat⁠ Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit ⁠https://www.samaritans.org⁠ UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠ US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit ⁠https://988lifeline.org⁠ Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ Global helplines ⁠https://findahelpline.com⁠
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  LIVE! Can Cultural Intelligence actually improve performance at work? With Polly Collingridge and Bernadette Thompson OBE 19.06.2026 1godz 8min

  Most of us have sat through an inclusion training program that didn't change much—maybe a workshop, a follow-up email, and then it's back to normal. But what happens when an organization moves past the standard checkboxes and actually puts Cultural Intelligence (CQ) to work? In this special LinkedIn Live episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we dive deep into the framework of CQ—an evidence-based, academically validated skill that measures your ability to relate to and work effectively alongside people from different cultural backgrounds. We look at a remarkable real-world case study at Barts Health NHS Trust. By training thousands of staff members across their workforce, they achieved measurable improvements in staff engagement, team dynamics, and patient care in one of the most pressurized environments imaginable. Following the structural approach seen in our Show notes example, this episode breaks down how leaders of any size organization can use CQ to reduce toxic conflict, improve retention, and build a workplace where everyone belongs. 🔥 Key Takeaways From This Episode What CQ Actually Is (and Isn't): Cultural Intelligence is not a rigid rulebook on how to behave, nor is it just basic cultural awareness. It is a distinct, measurable capability divided into four core pillars: Drive, Knowledge, Strategy, and Action. The 10 Behavioral Preferences: Workplace misunderstandings often stem from deep-seated preferences rather than malice. We explore dimensions like expressive vs. non-expressive communication styles and how mapping these helps teams collaborate seamlessly. The Real Cost of Poor Culture: High employee turnover, costly legal tribunals, and skyrocketing absenteeism aren't just HR headaches—they are massive financial drains. From tribunal payouts to bank and agency staff costs, investing in culture is always the more cost-effective option. Baking CQ into the Employee Lifecycle: To prevent training momentum from fading into the background, leaders must systematically embed it into operational processes—from recruitment checklists to pre-disciplinary reviews. The Hybrid & AI Twist: Why distributed hybrid environments and the rise of cognitive offloading to AI make human-to-human cultural intelligence more critical today than ever before. 👥 Meet Our Guests Polly Collingridge Polly is the UK General Manager at the Cultural Intelligence Centre. As a CQ-certified facilitator with a rich background in global mobility, intercultural training, and employee well-being, she has been partnering with organizations since 2022 to build sustainable, long-term cultural frameworks. Connect with Polly on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pollycollingridge Cultural Intelligence Centre UK LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/cultural-intelligence-centre-uk⁠ Bernadette Thompson OBE Bernadette is the Director of People and Culture at North Middlesex University Hospital and Community Services, and an associate facilitator at the Cultural Intelligence Centre. She spearheaded the operational rollout of CQ at Barts Health and has spent her award-winning career figuring out exactly what it takes to make people truly belong at work. Bernadette Thompson OBE Website: bernadettethompsonobe.co.uk Bernadette Thompson LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bernadettethompson 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is proud to be part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  311. Are middle managers being set up to fail? With Kristien Turner 18.06.2026 1godz

  Why Are Middle Managers Being Set Up to Fail? (And How to Fix It) with Kristien Turner Are middle managers facing an absolute existential crisis? According to today’s guest, the answer is a resounding, 100% yes. In this episode of Truth, Lies and Work, Al and Leanne sit down with Kristien Turner, founder and CEO of TK Talent Group, who works with global brands across the Americas and Europe to solve the modern talent crisis. Together, they pull back the curtain on why middle managers are drowning under the weight of AI disruption, corporate layoffs, and a severe lack of actual leadership training. If you are a middle manager who feels like they are drowning, or an executive wondering why engagement numbers are plummeting, this episode offers a raw, practical roadmap to reclaiming control of your career and leadership strategy. 🔥 Key Takeaways From This Episode The "Sally" Problem: Companies consistently reward top-performing individual contributors by promoting them into management without giving them a toolkit, a coach, or proper support mechanisms. The AI Illusion: Many organizations are cutting headcount assuming AI can fully replace human roles, failing to realize that technology cannot navigate tricky performance reviews, handle workforce drama, or look a struggling employee in the eye. The 8x8 Structural Trap: Middle managers are stuck acting as an emotional buffer for massive teams (sometimes up to 64 people deep) while running on an empty battery themselves. The Gen Z Shift: A massive shift is occurring where younger generations do not aspire to traditional corporate management roles and prefer gig or portfolio careers, paving the way for a severe leadership skills gap by 2030. The Power of Volunteering: How stepping outside your day job to give back can radically boost your mental health, redefine your core purpose, and expand your executive network. 🎒 Your 3-Step "Kit Bag" Strategy to Protect Your Career If you’re a manager struggling to stay afloat right now, Kristien outlines three immediate actions you must take this week: Have the Honest Conversation: Be vulnerable with your senior leader. Show them what is broken, present the data on why it isn't working, and ask for support. Give your organization one last chance to show up for you. Stop Trying to Be Everyone's Everything: You are not a workplace therapist, a buffer, or a corporate savior. Share the load by implementing peer mentoring programs and opening up communication access to the senior leadership layer above you. Build Your Kit Bag Now: Don't wait for a corporate restructuring call. Keep your CV polished, optimize your LinkedIn profile, and get out to in-person networking events to build real-world connections. 🔗 Connect with Kristien Turner & TK Talent Group Website: https://tktalentgroup.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristienturner/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🧠 Mental Health Support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
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  310. Workplace Nostalgia, Stalling Careers and Leaked Microsoft Data. PLUS! How to Praise Introverts 16.06.2026 57min

  Welcome to Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. In this episode of This Week in Work, Al and Leanne dive into a massive career longevity study, a leaked corporate memo from Microsoft, the sudden collapse of a 50-year-old hiring ritual, and the surprising psychological impact of the "good old days." 📰 The News Round-Up The Rise of "Stalling Out" in Mid-CareerInside New research from the Burning Glass Institute and NYU reveals a hidden crisis: stalling out. This happens when a professional goes five or more years without a meaningful promotion and experiences little to no wage growth. The study analyzed over 1.3 million career histories and found that nearly 1 in 4 mid-career professionals (24.2%) are completely stuck. Read the full study in the Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/white-collar-workers-career-nyu-study-a81a7d9c Microsoft’s Leaked Employee Engagement Survey Thanks to an internal memo leaked to Business Insider, we get a rare sneak peek into employee sentiment at Microsoft. While their overall "Thriving" score hit a healthy 79%, critical management metrics took a significant hit. The score for managers coaching employees fell five points to 76%, and giving clear feedback fell four points to 79%. Read the leaked memo details on Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-surveys-employees-sentiment-memo-2026-6 The Death of the Technical Interview For 35 years, tech giants like Google and Amazon have relied on grueling, whiteboard-based technical interviews. Now, Steve Yegge—the legendary senior engineer who helped build these systems—declares them completely broken. Internal data showed interview scores had almost zero correlation with actual on-the-job performance. 🧠 Truth or Lie: Can Nostalgia Make Teams Stronger? Is looking back holding your company back, or is it a secret leadership superpower? Leanne puts "organisational nostalgia" under the psychological microscope. The Case For: Peer-reviewed research from 2024 tracking over 3,800 employees found that during massive organizational change, employees who felt higher workplace nostalgia became better colleagues. The Case Against: When nostalgia occurs naturally during the workday, it can make employees distracted, reduce daily task performance, and trigger lower daily well-being. The Verdict: It's a conditional truth. Nostalgia is a powerful tool for resilience during major organisational shakeups, but leaders must use it intentionally. 🏥 The Workplace Surgery Question 1 (Introverted Recognition): Most of my team are introverted. If I praise them publicly, they look like they want the ground to swallow them up. How do you make people feel valued without making it awkward? Question 2 (Financial Anxiety): I get the feeling my team are carrying a lot of anxiety about the economy and layoffs. Should managers acknowledge that sort of thing, or is it better not to open a conversation you can't really solve? Question 3 (Handling Unpopular Corporate Mandates): Our company has just mandated more days in the office and my team are not happy. How do you handle that as a manager when you end up being the face of a decision you had no say in? 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com