Best Shaping A Fairer World Podcasts (2025)

1
The workplace triple threat: Disengagement, RTOs, and Fake AI Applicants 33:26

3d ago33:26

33:26

This week, we're diving into three concerning workplace trends: First, employee engagement is declining sharply, with managers under 35 and female managers leading this downward slide—potentially because they're caught in middle management roles with high responsibility but little decision-making power. Meanwhile, BNY Mellon is increasing its offic…

1
The path from CPO to COO, employee choice in RTOs, and job ads for narcissists? 21:06

10d ago21:06

21:06

This week, we discuss why HR professionals are naturally positioned for C-suite operations roles, examining the journey of Hinge's Angel Franklin from CPO to COO and why this transition shouldn't be considered unusual. We also dive into MongoDB's approach to hybrid work models, and fascinating research on how job ad language may inadvertently attra…

1
Come build the future 1:16:43

15d ago1:16:43

1:16:43

Join us to celebrate the opening of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and discover the most exciting ideas and innovations shaping our future. At a time when the world risks becoming fragmented and divided, the World Expo represents a unique opportunity to show what humanity can achieve when we come together. The UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 w…

1
Target's DEI rollbacks hit their bottom line, LGBTQ discrimination on the rise, and quiet cracking 21:58

17d ago21:58

21:58

This week, we dive into the real-world impacts of DEI rollbacks, workplace discrimination, and employee disengagement. We examine how Target faced boycotts and significant business impacts after eliminating DEI initiatives recently met with Rev. Al Sharpton to address the impacts of boycotts. We'll also explore troubling new research showing increa…

1
Workplace Accessibility: How policy changes like RTOs disproportionately impact employees with disabilities 56:28

24d ago56:28

56:28

This week, we welcome Nathan Chung, Jessica Donahue, and Greer Procich for a critical conversation about workplace accessibility and inclusion. With collective experience in HR, cybersecurity, and disability advocacy, our panel examines how current workplace policies often overlook the experiences of disabled and neurodivergent employees. The conve…

1
Meta's "do not rehire" list, the decline of workplace friendships, and HR teams too stretched to action employee feedback 26:19

1M ago26:19

26:19

In this episode, we analyze new Glassdoor research suggesting employees are increasingly deprioritizing workplace relationships, questioning whether this shift stems from broader social disconnection or reflects changing priorities in a hybrid world. We also discuss a revealing Perceptyx survey showing that while 95% of HR teams are collecting empl…

1
How a fairer world could save the planet 56:50

1M ago56:50

56:50

Tony Juniper and Mya-Rose Craig bring together two powerful perspectives on the interconnectedness of equity and the environment. Tony, an esteemed environmentalist and author, draws on decades of experience advocating for a balance between human needs and ecological preservation. His work demonstrates how fairness – whether in resource distributio…

1
Tokyo's 4-day workweek, resignation by proxy, and a low status desk 15:37

1M ago15:37

15:37

Kim Minnick joins this week as we dive into three fascinating workplace trends from around the globe. We examine Tokyo's move toward a four-day workweek aimed at addressing Japan's population crisis and work-life balance challenges, while questioning why it takes demographic emergencies to implement family-friendly policies. We also explore the "re…

1
April Fools - can we tell the real headlines from the fake? 28:18

2M ago28:18

28:18

In this special April Fool’s Day episode, host Stacey Nordwall hands over the reins to co-producer Lexi Croswell for a fun twist on the usual format. Instead of tooting or booting HR headlines, Stacey and HR consultant Nadia Eran have to decide if the headlines are real or fake – and why! Connect: Nadia Eran -> on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com…

1
Patron’s Lecture: why social capital matters 1:17:41

2M ago1:17:41

1:17:41

This year’s keynote speaker is world-renowned political scientist Robert D. Putnam, author of the groundbreaking work Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, which has shaped global conversations on the importance of communal ties and social capital. Robert Putnam will be speaking to us about the vital role of social connecti…

1
Live in Las Vegas at Transform 13:20

2M ago13:20

13:20

Last week our team was at the Transform Conference in Las Vegas, connecting with HR practitioners and thought leaders. We decided to have some fun and do quick on the conference floor interviews with fellow attendees and friends of the pod. So this week we're spreading the fun and bringing you a special compilation episode of all of our interviews,…

1
Get on board or get out buyout tactics, sex discrimination and revenge quitting 41:34

2M ago41:34

41:34

We discuss a recent sex discrimination case where a male employee in a female-dominated workplace filed a claim after being excluded from awards with the announcement "it's not going to be any of the men." We explore the complex dynamics of being in the minority at work. Next, we analyze the growing trend of companies like Google and the Trump admi…

1
Accelerating action: leading the change 1:00:28

2M ago1:00:28

1:00:28

What bold actions are needed to realise true gender equity? This International Women’s Day, the RSA invites you to a powerful event focused on advancing women’s leadership and action for systemic change. Featuring an incredible panel of women including I. Stephanie Boyce, the trailblazing first Black and first person of colour President of the Law …

1
Ageism, career catfishing, and a 10-year low for US employee engagement 36:57

2M ago36:57

36:57

In this episode, we start with the concerning prevalence of workplace ageism, where research shows nearly all employees over 40 experience age discrimination and feel pressured to downplay their experience. We then explore the puzzling "career catfishing" phenomenon, where 34% of Gen Z workers reportedly accept positions only to deliberately skip t…

1
How business lost our trust 57:47

2M ago57:47

57:47

From big tech scandals to soaring executive pay gaps, public trust in major corporations is at an all-time low. Despite life-changing innovations like vaccines and digital tools, we increasingly “love the product but hate the producer”. Renowned economist John Kay visits the RSA to deliver a bold critique of modern business. He’ll unpack how the re…

1
JPMorgan CEO hates on remote work, Britain takes on flexible working, and work-life balance 28:30

2M ago28:30

28:30

Matt is back to talk about the growing divide in workplace flexibility across different sectors of the workforce. We dive into new research showing how Britain's frontline workers are being left behind in the flexible work revolution, creating a "two-tier" system. We'll explore Randstad's 2025 Workmonitor report revealing that workers now prioritiz…

1
Are we falling for the myth of minority rule? With Ash Sarkar 46:47

3M ago46:47

46:47

We are living in a time of contradictions.For the last forty years, our politics and media have been dominated by neoliberal, right-wing voices - yet pundits insist that the UK is dominated by a woke, left-wing elite.Our politicians claim to champion the voices of the forgotten working class - yet working-class people are not seeing better wages, h…

1
Meta lays off "low performers," AI's guardrails in Oz, and DOGE spyware 24:26

3M ago24:26

24:26

In this episode, we dive into layoffs due to performance, AI and workplace monitoring. First, we chat Meta's controversial "low performer" layoffs, where terminated employees are challenging the company's performance-based justification. And we talk about the shift in messaging from previous layoffs that were described as cost-cutting measures. We …

1
Russia’s war in a global perspective 1:08:00

3M ago1:08:00

1:08:00

An evening with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, and BBC journalist Clive Myrie. On the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (2020–2024) and Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School, ref…

1
Do we really value care? 1:10:04

3M ago1:10:04

1:10:04

The provision of care for dependents young and old is one of the great challenges of the modern age. The last 60 years have seen significant shifts in family and working lives with greater choice and autonomy bringing great gains for human freedom. Yet many private and public challenges and dilemmas remain. The social care system faces ever-rising …

1
Is the Labour government delivering on its promises? 48:34

3M ago48:34

48:34

Half a year ago, the Labour Party swept into power with a huge parliamentary majority and Kier Starmer celebrated by saying that the country could “get its future back”. Today, Labour are dogged by low approval ratings, having upset everyone from environmentalists to pensioners, farmers to small-business owners. And just last week Reform overtook b…

1
What is burnout? And why is it so prevalent in HR? 1:12:01

3M ago1:12:01

1:12:01

Join host Stacey Nordwall and special guests Julie Turney and Stephanie Lemek for a deep dive into HR burnout - an issue that has become critical for the field. Drawing insights from Emily and Amelia Nagoski's book "Burnout," the conversation goes beyond the oversimplified notion that burnout is just feeling tired or can be fixed with a long weeken…

1
Why should the left care about central banks? 38:00

3M ago38:00

38:00

The price of your food shop rocketed because of inflation and now your mortgage is going up hundreds of pounds because the Bank of England decided to increase interest rates. You might be struggling to make ends meet and wondering why our central bank has made your life more difficult. Across the pond Donald Trump is putting pressure on the America…

1
What 2025 holds for RTOs and why Americans may be accepting lower salaries 34:21

3M ago34:21

34:21

Coming up on today's episode: We're diving into the latest RTO trends for 2025! We'll explore how major companies are taking wildly different approaches - from WPP's new four-day office mandate to firms like Spotify doubling down on flexibility. Plus, we'll discuss some fascinating findings about workers choosing flexibility over higher salaries, a…

1
Anticipated employment law changes, soft quitting, and the new deputy labor secretary 34:02

3M ago34:02

34:02

This week we kick it off with some anticipated employment law changes that could impact your workplaces. We'll unpack 5 laws expected to impact businesses in 2025, from pay transparency mandates to revamped contractor rules. We'll also analyze key leadership changes in Washington, as we discuss Keith Sonderling's appointment as deputy labor secreta…

1
What's new in the fight for workers rights 35:13

4M ago35:13

35:13

Do you work from home? Then you’re probably not doing proper work, and you’re causing the UK’s economic decline! At least that’s what the former boss of Asda and M&S said last week. Meanwhile, gig economy Deliveroo riders have launched a new campaign for greater openness around the opaque algorithms that rule their working lives. It’s clear with ne…

1
HR preps for new administration, Apple pushes back on anti-DEI, and reverse discrimination lawsuits 22:48

4M ago22:48

22:48

Get ready for your HR news fix! This week we're diving into three timely stories: guidance on how to approach the administration change, Apple's response defending their DEI initiatives against shareholder pushback, and a potential emerging trend of "reverse discrimination" lawsuits. Join us as we unpack what these developments mean for workplaces …

1
The Real Welfare Queens 17:31

4M ago17:31

17:31

Send us a text Billionaires are rewriting the rules of democracy—should we be worried? Join us alongside my guest, Ohio State Representative Joe Miller, as we dissect the seismic shifts in political influence. We tackle complex questions about transparency, the rise of dark money, and the ethical dilemmas posed by wealthy billionaires steering poli…

1
CEO Lecture: counting the cost of bowling alone 1:03:16

4M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

In his annual RSA Chief Executive's Lecture, Andy Haldane examines the profound socio-economic consequences of eroding social capital, a theme famously explored by Harvard political scientist Bob Putnam in Bowling Alone. While macroeconomic advancements helped address past crises like the Great Depression, today’s challenge lies in confronting the …

1
2025 HR Predictions: Toot-worthy or Boot-worthy? 48:25

4M ago48:25

48:25

In this week's special episode, your host Stacey Nordwall joins the Toot or Boot hot seat with Erica Spitale and Rebecca Taylor, and producer Lexi comes out from behind the scenes for a rapid-fire edition of Toot or Boot, all about 2025 HR predictions. Lexi reviewed 15 different predictions sources (that’s over 75 predictions) which were organized …

1
How optimists change the world 54:59

4M ago54:59

54:59

Optimism is central to the human psyche: it seems to give us an advantage in both everyday life and in addressing great collective challenges. Sumit Paul-Choudhury, former editor-in-chief of New Scientist, visits the RSA to make a vital and transformative new argument: that optimism is not only the natural state of humanity, but an essential one. S…

1
All things DEI with Vijay and Tara 52:11

4M ago52:11

52:11

What do we mean when we say DEI? Are the companies rolling back their DEI programs making substantive changes? And what is DEI going to look like under the new administration? In this episode of Toot or Boot, we welcome back guests Vijay Pendakur and Tara Turk-Haynes for an in-depth discussion on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in the workpl…

1
Candidates love-bombed and ghosted, the return of bro culture, and volunteering as a wellbeing program 30:09

4M ago30:09

30:09

In this episode, we explore the turbulent landscape of modern workplaces, starting with Greenhouse's survey revealing that over half of job seekers experience ghosting or "love-bombing" during the hiring process—creating frustration and mistrust in organizations. What’s driving these behaviors, and how can HR professionals and hiring managers do be…

1
From Poverty to Policy Change 35:12

4M ago35:12

35:12

Send us a text Growing up in a working-poor family, State Representative Joe Miller (OH-53) brings a gritty, firsthand perspective to the table that challenges the status quo. Our discussion weaves through Joe's life experiences and combines them with insights from Matthew Desmond’s "Poverty by America" to expose the harsh realities of poverty and …

1
What are we getting wrong about tax 37:23

5M ago37:23

37:23

Last week hundreds of tractors drove through Parliament Square. It was the latest protest by UK farmers against changes to inheritance tax announced by the chancellor. From farmers’ protests to the poll-tax riots in the 90s, the amount of tax we pay to the government churns up intense emotions. We want to rescue our cash-strapped public services - …

1
The Golden Toots and Coal-filled Boots of 2024 40:09

5M ago40:09

40:09

2024 was a challenging year. We saw the implementation of six-day workweeks, so many layoffs, return-to-office (RTO) mandates, and DEI rollbacks. SHRM removed the E from DEI and Silicon Valley CEOs and VCs seemed to want a return to days of HR past (or no HR at all. We also had some progress with parental leave policies, new prenatal care protectio…

1
The cost of workplace ageism 1:30:56

5M ago1:30:56

1:30:56

Current research reveals that workers over 50 are being rejected from key roles across the country, with discrimination and bias from employers and recruiters often endemic. Over 1 million people aged 50+ across the UK want to work but are unemployed. This RSA event is in collaboration with the OECD to launch their new report, Promoting Better Care…

1
Profiting from Poverty 27:44

5M ago27:44

27:44

Send us a text Jerry’s expertise provides a rare window into the, sometimes, exclusive world of investment strategies, encouraging us to question who truly benefits from the current financial system and how we can make smarter choices on our financial journeys. Through the lens of corporate giants like Walmart, we dive into the moral and economic d…

1
Elon to X remote work, RTOs as retaliation, and what employees really value 28:50

5M ago28:50

28:50

In this episode, we dive into Elon Musk's and Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial task force, cheekily named the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Their mission? To slash federal workforce numbers by targeting remote and hybrid work—impacting up to a million federal employees. We unpack the implications, including potential productivity myths…

1
Can BlackRock save the UK economy? 40:47

5M ago40:47

40:47

From housebuilding to sewage systems to the NHS, private companies are deeply intertwined with our essential public services. But is partnering with big corporations the only way of improving people’s lives? Is private investment a vital ingredient in economic renewal? Or will it just lead to price gouging for us and soaring profits for corporate e…

1
Episode 5: From FAB to the Future - Apprenticeships, AI, and Welsh Innovation in Education 42:37

5M ago42:37

42:37

Welcome to the latest episode of "Will This Be in the Test?" – your go-to podcast for all things education, training, qualifications, and assessment. In this edition, we’re bringing you insights straight from the FAB Conference in Leicester, where we caught up with Tim Burnett of The Test Community Network and explored the role of AI, innovation, a…

1
What is Poverty? 22:41

5M ago22:41

22:41

Send us a text Every day, millions wake up to a cycle they didn’t choose—a system built to keep them struggling, surviving, but never truly living. Poverty isn’t just an empty wallet or a lack of opportunity. It’s a network of barriers: broken systems, historical injustices, and policies that perpetuate inequality. Welcome to Survive Everyday Podca…

1
Unlocking civic voice 1:04:46

5M ago1:04:46

1:04:46

Join us in the Great Room at RSA House, where our expert panel will share insights and experiences from their work on impactful, community-led projects. Discover how these initiatives have empowered citizens to speak up for their communities and shape their shared future. The panel will explore key aspects of our Prosperous Places framework, includ…

1
Managers' toxic positivity, the legacy of Steve Jobs' leadership style, and a 2025 quitting spree? 30:25

5M ago30:25

30:25

This week I'm joined by Vijay Pendakur, an author and HR advisor and consultant, to dive into toxic positivity, toxic leadership and more. First, we chat about managers glossing over bad news, creating an atmosphere of toxic positivity, and losing employee trust. Next, we talk about the leadership style of Steve Jobs, and how many too often misattr…

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