Best Gotta Hack Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 583 - The Men of Chivalry, Part 3 41:57

2d ago41:57

41:57

This week: we take a look at the genre of the yakuza movie, or ninkyo eiga, which started off as a branch of the samurai film genre before becoming very much its own thing--and, for a decade or so in the 1960s and 1970s, dominating the Japanese box office. Show notes here.

1
The Snack: Raynapalooza vs. Tr*mp’s Bday Party 1:00:39

3d ago1:00:39

1:00:39

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Raynapalooza (aka Rayna’s birthday festival) Ja Rule headlining the party Trump’s birthday parade + No Kings protests America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is back Donna Kelce cast on Traitors Tourists break a crystal chair in Italy Celeb …

1
Culture Over Quota : Rethinking Sales Leadership Capacity 8:30

5d ago8:30

8:30

In this freestyle riff from the Culture Over Quota series, AJ gets deep on two overlooked truths in modern sales orgs: span of control and change readiness. How many AEs can a leader actually lead well? And when new markets, products, or pivots hit the roadmap—are your people built to bend or break? AJ explores the hidden impact of ego, strategy fa…

1
Learning Is Revenue: How L&D Can Transform Sales Cultures w/ Alex Cawthon 50:23

6d ago50:23

50:23

In this top-tier episode of The E1B2 Collective Podcast, AJ Vaughan sits down with Alex Cawthon a Director of Learning and Development - for a deeply reflective and practical conversation that shatters traditional silos between L&D and sales. This isn’t your standard HR chat. Together, they unpack the often-overlooked relationship between psycholog…

1
DIY Delusion: Why Average Teams Can’t Hack Extraordinary Outcomes 9:22

6d ago9:22

9:22

In this episode of The E1B2 Collective Podcast, AJ Vaughan unpacks a provocative insight sparked by a recent listen to The Ready Podcast: why do we expect the same average teams—who’ve struggled to innovate for years—to suddenly spark change just by “collaborating more”? He explores the seductive myth of internal DIY transformation, the overlooked …

1
Doom that Came to Sanctaris E06 - An Inclement Night For A Stroll In The Gardens 41:25

6d ago41:25

41:25

It is, perhaps, not the most ideal weather to observe the beautiful grounds of Chateau LeRoux but, even in the most inauspicious weather, we trust you will enjoy the topiary and landscaping. It is, one would suggest, even more beautiful when seen from above, and to that end we would suggest joining us aboard the Colonel's personal airship... Please…

1
Episode 582 - The Men of Chivalry, Part 2 42:51

9d ago42:51

42:51

This week: we take a look at postwar samurai film/jidaigeki in order to understand better the trajectory of the most influential genre in the history of Japanese film. Why did jidaigeki, a staple of pre-1945 film, storm back with a vengeance to the big screen after the end of World War II? What makes post-1945 samurai films distinctive or unique? A…

1
DEI Is Not a Department , It’s a Discipline 8:48

10d ago8:48

8:48

In this raw, unscripted drive-home monologue, Anthony Vaughan pulls no punches. He dives headfirst into the recent noise around DEI layoffs, SHRM headlines, and the hollow punditry flooding the space—then flips the script. This episode makes one thing brutally clear: DEI was never meant to be a siloed initiative. It's not a program. It’s not a camp…

1
Where Paper Ends and People Begin w/ Dominique Lelonek : Building Immigration with Heart 40:07

11d ago40:07

40:07

In this soul-stirring episode of The E1B2 Collective Podcast, we sit down with Dominique Lelonek—a rare kind of leader who doesn’t just manage immigration… she humanizes it. Dominique, named one of the Top 250 Women in Global Mobility, brings a profound mix of operational brilliance and deep empathy to every conversation. She sees what most miss: t…

1
Culture Can’t Be a Ghost: You’ve Gotta Make It Real 6:21

12d ago6:21

6:21

AJ hits record midstream in a passionate convo about what it really takes to activate culture—not just talk about it. He challenges the empty rituals of readout meetings and culture decks by laying down a blueprint for behavior change: empathetic breakout rooms, team-led problem solving, skill-sharing, and deliverables that actually mean something.…

1
It’s SPICY GIRL SUMMER (how to do it right) 1:17:49

13d ago1:17:49

1:17:49

It’s SPICY GIRL SUMMER and we have all the advice, tips, and tricks you need for making the most of it. We’re sharing the top 10 goals for summer (submitted by our listeners) and how you can accomplish them – everything from surviving a younger sibling’s wedding to having a threesome to getting tan without the sun damage. We’re also sharing travel …

1
The Rise of the Superworker: Multipliers in Motion 5:33

14d ago5:33

5:33

What if your next hire wasn’t just a marketer or a PM, but a force multiplier—a Swiss Army knife of capability that moves across product, brand, partnerships, and people ops with fluidity and impact? In this episode, AJ introduces the concept of the Superworker: a cross-functional operator who thrives in 6–12 month sprints across multiple departmen…

1
Episode 581 - The Men of Chivalry, Part 1 35:24

16d ago35:24

35:24

This week, we're starting a history of the most famous genre in the history of Japanese film: the jidaigeki, and its related genre of the ninkyo eiga. This week: what do we know about early jidaigeki, and how do they fit into the wider history of early Japanese film? Show notes here.

1
The Middle Gets Missed: Why Managers Must Evolve or Collapse the Culture 15:18

17d ago15:18

15:18

In this episode of The E1B2 Collective, I confront a quiet fear that’s been growing louder—what happens when the middle tier of management stalls out? I’m talking about that critical layer between individual contributors and senior leadership—managers to directors—the ones tasked with execution, but rarely trained for transformation. We explore wha…

1
The Snack: Commencement Speeches, Cringe Phone Sex, and Kylie’s boobs 59:59

17d ago59:59

59:59

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Rayna’s beef with her neighbor The “Clean Girl” influencer lawsuit Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively update Chrisley family pardon 50 Cent won’t let Diddy get pardoned Best (and worst) commencement speeches of 2025 And Just Like That is back (and is it g…

1
Culture Over Quota 007: Misaligned Metrics, Human Moments 5:40

20d ago5:40

5:40

In this unscripted firestorm of a rant, AJ Vaughan channels the spirit of Gary Vee to challenge the fractured foundation of HR Tech sales. Inspired by Gary's unapologetic views on undervalued channels and outdated structures, AJ draws a bold parallel to the misalignment running rampant between sales, marketing, finance, product, and leadership team…

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Doom that Came to Sanctaris E05 - Flight Of The (Space) Bumblebee 45:14

20d ago45:14

45:14

Alas, we fear the weather has grown further inclement, but that will not impede the noble Captain Heek from showing off the aerial skills of his steed. We would invite you to settle yourself where your view will be least occluded and enjoy the daring flight of this pedigree Apidae! Please join us as we discover the Doom that Came to Sanctaris! Cast…

1
How to Trust the Timing of Your Life with Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik of Almost 30 1:37:46

20d ago1:37:46

1:37:46

No matter what stage of life you’re in (but especially if you’re feeling lost/unbalanced/behind at all), this episode will help guide you. We loved recording with Krista and Lindsey of Almost 30 podcast again and talking about all the changes that have happened in our own lives over the years in friendships, career, romantic relationships, breakups…

1
Culture & Quota 006: Curious Enough to Learn, Honest Enough to Pivot, Bold Enough to Decide 5:38

23d ago5:38

5:38

In today's episode we are getting into the real leadership meta. Because here's the truth: the best sales, product, and marketing leaders aren’t just experts—they’re curious, self-aware, and decisive as hell. We break down the trifecta: Why curiosity fuels customer obsession and uncovers game-changing insights How self-awareness prevents ego-driven…

1
Stop Asking for Loyalty You Haven’t Earned 14:11

23d ago14:11

14:11

This one’s a rant with receipts. We’re breaking down why putting employees first isn’t some soft HR pipedream—it’s a hard business advantage. From retention and innovation to resilience and revenue, this episode unpacks the brutal truth: if you treat your people like widgets, they’ll give you just enough to not get fired. But if you lead with empat…

1
Episode 580 - The Kings of the Ring, Part 7 39:51

23d ago39:51

39:51

This week: we wrap up the miniseries with the end of Akebono's career, as the first gaijin yokozuna takes his post-dohyo trajectory in a very different direction from the other yokozuna before him (or at least, from most of the other yokozuna before him). Plus some final thoughts on sumo today. Show notes here.…

1
Faster Minds, Better Teams: Unlocking Growth with ChatGPT 8:54

24d ago8:54

8:54

In this episode, we explore how to strategically use ChatGPT—not just as a productivity hack, but as a thinking partner that helps you think faster, bigger, and wider. Whether you’re leading a team or building within one, we'll unpack how this tool can expand your problem-solving lens, elevate your collaborative spirit, and make you a more helpful,…

1
The Snack: Biebers, Back Hair, and Books for Summer 1:01:25

24d ago1:01:25

1:01:25

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: George Clooney’s jarring new look Travis Kelce’s hairy back Hailey Bieber’s Vogue cover + Justin’s post Book recs for summer Beef between Chrishell Stause and Emma Hernan Bill and JordOn are engaged!? French President getting smacked by his wife Love i…

1
Google, GPT & the Alignment Gap 7:18

25d ago7:18

7:18

In this episode, AJ breaks down a quietly seismic shift: tech professionals using ChatGPT more than Google. What does that mean for how we find information, make decisions, and structure workflows? AJ shares why the implications go far beyond ad revenue — this is about trust, utility, and attention. He then pivots to a bigger theme: alignment. Not …

1
Culture over Quota 005: Onboard or Flatline -The Revenue Risk Hiding in Your Sales Ramp 14:15

26d ago14:15

14:15

Early attrition. Missed quotas. Pipeline black holes. In this episode, we expose the hidden revenue killers lurking in your sales org—starting with bad onboarding. Anthony Vaughan breaks down why onboarding isn’t an HR function—it’s a frontline revenue strategy. Learn how to reframe ramp time, quantify opportunity cost, and make the case for treati…

1
Scaling Without Cracking: The Role You’re Not Hiring 25:45

27d ago25:45

25:45

You’re scaling fast- 40% headcount growth year over year, systems flying in from every direction. But inside? Sales is misfiring. Product is bogged down. Marketing is out ahead of a culture that hasn’t caught up. That’s not just a growing pain. That’s what happens when you scale without someone architecting the experience of execution. In this epis…

1
Culture over Quota 004: Psychological Safety in Sales & Product Teams 13:44

1M ago13:44

13:44

In this episode of Culture & Quota, we get brutally honest about what happens when psychological safety issues fester inside your sales and product orgs. We walk you through a practical, no-BS process: how to first admit the problem, measure the financial and productivity drag it causes, and finally—how to decide when and how leadership will addres…

1
Episode 579 - The Kings of the Ring, Part 6 37:40

1M ago37:40

37:40

This week: Akebono becomes a yokozuna, and finds himself burdened with new expectations on and off the dohyo. Plus, a brief foray into pay and compensation for rikishi, and a final section on one of the most infamous moments of the 64th yokozuna's career. Show notes here.

1
Rethinking Workforce Planning from the Inside Out 8:12

1M ago8:12

8:12

In this episode of E1B2 , we dismantle the outdated, spreadsheet-driven approach to workforce planning and rebuild it around what really matters: the humans doing the work. We explore how great companies don’t just forecast headcount — they forecast humanity. You’ll hear why workforce planning should be rooted in life stages, skill evolutions, and …

1
The Snack: Pedro Pascal, Perfume Nostalgia, and Pickleball with Ashley Underwood 55:16

1M ago55:16

55:16

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Theo James’ horny Dolce&Gabbana campaign Throwback perfumes Pedro Pascal stealing our hearts 50 Cent trolling Diddy Lauren Sanchez’s bachelorette And then we welcome Ashley Underwood, producer and director of Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story, to talk a…

1
Behind the Buy: The Untold Politics of HR Tech Decisions 20:48

1M ago20:48

20:48

In this episode, we expose the messy, human side of HR tech buying—from emotional triggers and budget showdowns to timing misfires and turf wars. If you’ve ever pitched a “game-changing” tool and hit a wall, this one's for you. We unpack the friction, the fear, and what it really takes to get buy-in.…

1
Culture Over Quota 003: The Human Reset: Why HR Tech Needs a Reboot 12:05

1M ago12:05

12:05

In a world spinning faster than ever—burnout rising, trust fraying, attention splintered—the way humans behave at work is shifting... and HR leaders are feeling it in their budgets, buying cycles, and belief systems. This episode dives into the critical need for a reset: not just in tools or tech stacks, but in how we think about value, urgency, an…

1
Doom that Came to Sanctaris E04 - The Solarium 47:34

1M ago47:34

47:34

We invite you to join us in the manor's Solarium, where our host stores a number of interesting artefacts from Sanctaris' history and also the colony ship which brought us all here! With respect, we would ask you not to handle the items here as they are of some age and a number of them could be dangerous. Please treat the items with respect and mak…

1
Travel Hacks & Hottest Tips with The Points Guy Brian Kelly 1:19:25

1M ago1:19:25

1:19:25

Presenting your Summer (and Fall) 2025 Travel Guide! Yes we have The Points Guy himself, Brian Kelly, joining us to share all the tips, tricks, and hacks you need for traveling, including which credit card(s) to have, which airlines to fly, the best hotel rewards programs, and sites and apps to use for planning trips and finding deals. We also disc…

1
Built to Last: The Ronnie Fieg Standard of Culture + Product 13:20

1M ago13:20

13:20

In a world chasing volume, Ronnie Fieg chose impact. On this episode of The E1B2 Collective Podcast, I break down the creative philosophy and business blueprint behind Kith—a brand that sits at the intersection of fashion, lifestyle, and legacy. This isn’t a story about selling more hoodies or dropping the next hyped collab. It’s a lesson in restra…

1
Episode 578 - The Kings of the Ring, Part 5 36:17

1M ago36:17

36:17

This week: in the span of just a few years, Akebono goes from a rookie in sumo to one of its most prominent names, and alongside Konishiki one of the Americans dominating in the top division. But unlike Konishiki, he has the potential to go one step further. So, how does a guy from Waimanalo become the first non-Japanese citizen ever to claim the t…

1
The Snack: Taylor Swift Update, American Pope, and Must-See TV 53:30

1M ago53:30

53:30

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Taylor Swift sighting & subpoena The new American Pope Halle Berry’s steamy Mother’s Day post Cowboy Carter tour review Harry and Meghan at Beyoncé Materialists movie review Bravo updates + must-see TV Headlines (Tell Me Lies bombshell, Bill and Jordon…

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