Gut+Science explores employee engagement insights you can act on, from CEOs you can trust. Get ready for high energy interviews led by employee engagement evangelist Nikki Lewallen—ones that’ll have you rethinking what it means to build successful people-first cultures.
If you think this is just another podcast, think again. We are the heart and soul of crucial conversations focused on helping you reimagine your tomorrow and exploring the convergence of people, business, and technology. Our guests included business and HR global thought leaders who help us make sense, grow, and thrive in the never normal.
Has the SHIFT hit your plans? Hosted by Ira S Wolfe, The Geeks, Geezers and Googlization Podcast interviews global thought leaders to help make sense of this new world of unknown unknowns and adapt effectively to the new waves of normal. We talk about the convergence of the wired, tired, and technology and its impact on the future of work, jobs, careers, business, and HR.
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Geeks Geezers and Googlization Show


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The Surprising Power of Community with Nikki Lewallen
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“Relationship building is the number one skill set you can have and being involved in community is the core that builds systems for you to really make the most of that skill." Nikki Lewallen is a partnership and relationship growth expert. As Founder and Chief Meaningful Work Officer at PeopleForward Network, Nikki knows just how important a sense …
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A Crossfit Gym for Your Brain with Cory Chadwick
52:25
52:25
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Do you feel stuck? Just going through the motions? Living someone else’s dream? Everyone knows that when you want to improve your physical health, lose weight, and get ready to show off that beach body as you head into summer, you head to the gym, right? Physical exercise is even recognized as a great way to get rid of stress - and we certainly hav…
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Clarifying Your Talent Strategy with Marc Effron
34:33
34:33
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What does the best academic science say about how people and companies operate together? Here to tell us is Marc Effron, Founder and President of The Talent Strategy Group, and co-author of Harvard Business Review books One Page Talent Management and 8 Steps to High Performance. In this episode, Marc shares his top learnings on talent management, t…
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Clarifying Your Talent Strategy with Marc Effron
34:33
34:33
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What does the best academic science say about how people and companies operate together? Here to tell us is Marc Effron, Founder and President of The Talent Strategy Group, and co-author of Harvard Business Review books One Page Talent Management and 8 Steps to High Performance. In this episode, Marc shares his top learnings on talent management, t…
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Eroded Trust? We Can Rebuild with Ophelia Byers and David Black
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For the month of May, Gut + Science is highlighting leadership in the healthcare industry, and this episode features Dr. Ophelia Byers Chief Nurse Executive for Atlantic Health System. Trust is key when it comes to working in a team. While everyone knows trust has to be earned, Ophelia is here to remind us it also has to be fortified and renewed. A…
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Leading and Managing: Two Crucial Skills for New Leaders
11:20
11:20
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Are you a leader or a manager? You know they are not the same, right? Not at all. There are small, yet crucial differences in the skills and traits required to manage and lead a team of individuals. Humancentric Coach and Advisor Anne Bono distinguishes the differences and shares why it’s important (especially for new and emerging leaders) to focus…
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Build Connection, Culture, Communication, and Retention in Remote Teams with Scott Novis
50:17
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Transitioning from in-person work to work-from-anywhere teams is undoubtedly different. Building culture, connectivity, collaboration, and engagement can be awkward. How can businesses create the space to collaborate, connect, and communicate in a remote and hybrid workplace? Scott Novis, Founder of GameTruck, believes we need to be intentional abo…
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Build Connection, Culture, Communication, and Retention in Remote Teams with Scott Novis
50:17
50:17
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50:17
Transitioning from in-person work to work-from-anywhere teams is undoubtedly different. Building culture, connectivity, collaboration, and engagement can be awkward. How can businesses create the space to collaborate, connect, and communicate in a remote and hybrid workplace? Scott Novis, Founder of GameTruck, believes we need to be intentional abo…
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Geeks Geezers Googlization


1
The Surprising Power of Community with Nikki Lewallen
38:00
38:00
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38:00
“Relationship building is the number one skill set you can have and being involved in community is the core that builds systems for you to really make the most of that skill." Nikki Lewallen is a partnership and relationship growth expert. As Founder and Chief Meaningful Work Officer at PeopleForward Network, Nikki knows just how important a sense …
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138: Leading Destigmatization of Mental Health with Nigel Girgrah and John Levy
27:08
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For the month of May, Gut + Science is highlighting leadership in the healthcare industry and this episode features Dr. Nigel Girgrah, Chief Wellness Officer at Ochsner Health. Nigel is championing a culture where mental wellbeing is front and center, and the data shows making mental health a priority benefits employees, employers, and the people y…
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Leaning Into Discomfort Gracefully with Brian McComak
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Having conversations on sensitive, complex, and emotional topics can be difficult. Learn how to lean in gracefully to sensitive conversations in a way that acknowledges our humanity and celebrates our differences. Brian McComak, CEO + Founder of Hummingbird Humanity shares tools and tips that allow you to comfortably lean in as a coworker, a leader…
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Creating a Safe Space, First with Dr. Maureen Fagan and David Black
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For the month of May, Gut + Science is highlighting leadership in the healthcare industry and we brought Dr. Maureen Fagan, Chief Nursing Executive for the University of Miami Health System, back to kick off the series. In this episode, Maureen shares her insights on building trust. For her, the practice starts with asking powerful questions and mo…
So many of us see and hear about ESG as a topic that is trending, but we don't really have a good framework for understanding what it is, or why we should care. Listen in on what ESG is, why it’s exploding, and learn the 3 things you should ask yourself if you begin to engage in this work.
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The Future Came Too Soon, Future Shock v.2022
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More than 50 years the futurist Alvin Toffler described a future human condition called “future shock”: a shattering stress and disorientation that we induce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time.” Welcome to 2022, when SHIFT seemed to hit all our plans, leaving many of us all FCDD*up (*Frustrated-Confused-Disappo…
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The Future Came Too Soon, Future Shock v.2022
46:05
46:05
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46:05
More than 50 years the futurist Alvin Toffler described a future human condition called “future shock”: a shattering stress and disorientation that we induce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time.” Welcome to 2022, when SHIFT seemed to hit all our plans, leaving many of us all FCDD*up (*Frustrated-Confused-Disappo…
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Adaptability is Our Superpower in the Never Normal with Greg Verdino
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49:05
The New Normal will be Never Normal, VUCA is our kryptonite, and adaptability will be our superpower. Our future isn’t just about digital transformation and how digital you are but how you are digital, says this episode’s guest Greg Verdino. There is a whole generation of new workers who are embracing Web3 as a model. It's almost like gig workers o…
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Adaptability is Our Superpower in the Never Normal with Greg Verdino
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49:05
The New Normal will be Never Normal, VUCA is our kryptonite, and adaptability will be our superpower. Our future isn’t just about digital transformation and how digital you are but how you are digital, says this episode’s guest Greg Verdino. There is a whole generation of new workers who are embracing Web3 as a model. It's almost like gig workers o…
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136: Help Your People Live Their 10 with Cory Chadwick
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37:47
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Can you imagine a world where everyone is living their best lives? Cody Chadwick, Founder of The Mental Gym, can, and he’s determined to help others “live their ten.” Cory was faced with a number of challenges in his life and he knew they could either take him out of commission or teach him something. He decided to go with the latter and find the b…
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Having the Courage To Do What Scares You with Dr. Joe Serio
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36:57
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Nothing scares people more than the unknown. And the concentration of the uncertainty the world is currently experiencing is unprecedented. In this episode of Geeks, Geezers, Googlization, author, speaker, and leadership trainer, Dr. Joe Serio, talks about how he went from being afraid of everything to hanging around the Russian mafia and the KGB. …
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Having the Courage To Do What Scares You with Dr. Joe Serio
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Nothing scares people more than the unknown. And the concentration of the uncertainty the world is currently experiencing is unprecedented. In this episode of Geeks, Geezers, Googlization, author, speaker, and leadership trainer, Dr. Joe Serio, talks about how he went from being afraid of everything to hanging around the Russian mafia and the KGB. …
Gut+Science is celebrating four years of having phenomenal conversations with leaders. While we are taking a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, we are always looking forward to the next big thing coming. Listen in to find out what you can expect to hear from Gut+Science and the PeopleForward Network as we look at expanding what we offer our w…
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Inclusion is for everyone, not just a lucky few with Amy C Waninger
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42:51
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Inclusion has officially become a buzzword. Companies tout it all the time, but it's mostly all talk, little action. It's time for them to stand up and read the writing on the wall. While 80% of employees want to work for an inclusive company, a recent report byJoshBersin.com revealed that 80% of companies are merely going through the motions. Incl…
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Inclusion is for everyone, not just a lucky few with Amy C Waninger
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42:51
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Inclusion has officially become a buzzword. Companies tout it all the time, but it's mostly all talk, little action. It's time for them to stand up and read the writing on the wall. While 80% of employees want to work for an inclusive company, a recent report byJoshBersin.com revealed that 80% of companies are merely going through the motions. Incl…
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How Relationship Intelligence Helps Leaders Excel and Communicate Better
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47:27
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Relationship intelligence is a missed opportunity for managers and businesses. It helps leaders excel and communicate better. But many leadership development and workplace training programs follow a “one-size-fits-most” approach. That’s just not enough to help leaders be their best, according to our guest leadership communication expert Michael Pip…
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How Relationship Intelligence Helps Leaders Excel and Communicate Better
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47:27
Relationship intelligence is a missed opportunity for managers and businesses. It helps leaders excel and communicate better. But many leadership development and workplace training programs follow a “one-size-fits-most” approach. That’s just not enough to help leaders be their best, according to our guest leadership communication expert Michael Pip…
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Gut + Science


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135: An Alive Culture Guide with Frank Kelly III
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It takes thoughtful, dedicated work to get your company values off the wall and into the life of your organization. In this episode, Frank Kelly III, CEO of Kelly Benefits, shares examples of how their pervasive culture is realized within the company daily. As you listen, you’ll learn what action statements are and how to use them to put an organiz…
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Creating an Army of Recruiters Through Recognition with Sarah McVanel
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A paycheck alone isn’t enough anymore. Meaningful compensation and recognition have become just as important. So how can you show your people appreciation to both attract and retain talent? In this episode of Geeks, Geezers, Googlization, Sarah McVanel, a leading recognition expert and author, sheds light on some myths that get in the way of acknow…
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Creating an Army of Recruiters Through Recognition with Sarah McVanel
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A paycheck alone isn’t enough anymore. Meaningful compensation and recognition have become just as important. So how can you show your people appreciation to both attract and retain talent? In this episode of Geeks, Geezers, Googlization, Sarah McVanel, a leading recognition expert and author, sheds light on some myths that get in the way of acknow…
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Vocal Empowerment for Virtual Communication with Dr. Laura Sicola
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44:56
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We’ve gone from phone, to email, to text, to video. Communication is constantly evolving. Are you adapting with them to make sure you’re both heard and, more importantly, understood? In this episode of Geeks, Geezers, Googlization, leadership communication and influence expert Dr. Laura Sicola discusses the subtle changes that make communication mo…
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Geeks Geezers Googlization


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Vocal Empowerment for Virtual Communication with Dr. Laura Sicola
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We’ve gone from phone, to email, to text, to video. Communication is constantly evolving. Are you adapting with them to make sure you’re both heard and, more importantly, understood? In this episode of Geeks, Geezers, Googlization, leadership communication and influence expert Dr. Laura Sicola discusses the subtle changes that make communication mo…
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Gut + Science


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134: Purposeful Inclusion with Jennifer Morales and Shawn Harris
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“At Starbucks, we aren't in the coffee business serving people, we're in the people business serving coffee.” Jennifer Morales, director of Technology Strategy and Partner Engagement at Starbucks, is one of many people in the organization striving to make the company an inclusive and diverse people-first workplace. In this episode, she and director…
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Everywhere Workplace in a Never-Normal World
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52:38
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Remember the good old pre-pandemic days when people woke up, showered, got dressed, crawled through long commutes, and searched for a coveted parking spot, just so that they could sit at a desk in a building to do work? Today, workers demand flexibility - to work from everywhere, anywhere, at any time. Building an Everywhere Workplace is not just a…
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Everywhere Workplace in a Never-Normal World
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Remember the good old pre-pandemic days when people woke up, showered, got dressed, crawled through long commutes, and searched for a coveted parking spot, just so that they could sit at a desk in a building to do work? Today, workers demand flexibility - to work from everywhere, anywhere, at any time. Building an Everywhere Workplace is not just a…
Workers are stressed. Many employees are burned out, running on fumes. Symptoms of stress and burnout are proliferating. A recent McKinsey report revealed that nearly 1 out of every 4 employees has moderate needs for counseling and psychotherapy. The World Health Organization estimates the impact of mental health symptoms on absenteeism, presenteei…
Workers are stressed. Many employees are burned out, running on fumes. Symptoms of stress and burnout are proliferating. A recent McKinsey report revealed that nearly 1 out of every 4 employees has moderate needs for counseling and psychotherapy. The World Health Organization estimates the impact of mental health symptoms on absenteeism, presenteei…
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Level Up Your Career Transition, Find Your "It" factor
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46:26
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To everyone else, it looked like Dr. Loubna Erraji had a perfect life. She is a high achiever, a neuroscientist with 20 years of experience encompassing scientific research, teaching, consulting, and coaching. She’s held important academic positions and executive corporate roles. But despite her distinguished career and a long list of accomplishmen…
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Level Up Your Career Transition, Find Your "It" factor
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46:26
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To everyone else, it looked like Dr. Loubna Erraji had a perfect life. She is a high achiever, a neuroscientist with 20 years of experience encompassing scientific research, teaching, consulting, and coaching. She’s held important academic positions and executive corporate roles. But despite her distinguished career and a long list of accomplishmen…
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Putting the Humanity Back In HR with Steve Browne
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38:41
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The Great Resignation, The Great Attrition, The Big Quit - whatever you want to call it, Steve Browne isn’t buying it. Steve, Chief People Officer at LaRosa’s Pizzeria, says people aren’t leaving the workforce, they are simply leaving places that don’t value them as both a person and an employee. That’s why Steve is making Larosa’s an organization …
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Putting the Humanity Back In HR with Steve Browne
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The Great Resignation, The Great Attrition, The Big Quit - whatever you want to call it, Steve Browne isn’t buying it. Steve, Chief People Officer at LaRosa’s Pizzeria, says people aren’t leaving the workforce, they are simply leaving places that don’t value them as both a person and an employee. That’s why Steve is making Larosa’s an organization …
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Gut + Science


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133: Designing A People-First Culture with Wilson Jones, Presented by Performa
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During Wilson Jones’s tenure as CEO of Oshkosh Corporation, he led the charge to adopt a people-first culture. “Performing cultures are good but performing around healthy cultures are even better.” This episode is presented by Performa (now EUA), a purpose-driven architecture and engineering firm. As you listen, you’ll quickly understand why, even …
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Positive Impact of Purpose with Kiersten Rippeteau
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46:59
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For Kiersten Rippeteau, purpose, meaning, and company culture aren’t just lofty words but high-impact actions. Unfortunately for many business leaders, they are just word-du-jour. They toss them around in the hopes something sticks. She, however, believes that every business can have a powerful positive impact on its employees, customers, and commu…
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Positive Impact of Purpose with Kiersten Rippeteau
46:59
46:59
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46:59
For Kiersten Rippeteau, purpose, meaning, and company culture aren’t just lofty words but high-impact actions. Unfortunately for many business leaders, they are just word-du-jour. They toss them around in the hopes something sticks. She, however, believes that every business can have a powerful positive impact on its employees, customers, and commu…
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Geeks Geezers and Googlization Show


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Taking a Pulse on Today’s Labor Market with Gad Levanon
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“We are now experiencing two, once-in-a-century trends happening at the same time—the labor shortage is one and the shift to remote work is the other.” Gad Levanon, Chief Economist at the Burning Glass Institute, has won awards for accurately forecasting U.S. economic trends. What’s his take on the shift to remote work? It’s dramatically changing t…
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Taking a Pulse on Today’s Labor Market with Gad Levanon
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“We are now experiencing two, once-in-a-century trends happening at the same time—the labor shortage is one and the shift to remote work is the other.” Gad Levanon, Chief Economist at the Burning Glass Institute, has won awards for accurately forecasting U.S. economic trends. What’s his take on the shift to remote work? It’s dramatically changing t…
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Gut + Science


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132: Maximize Your Total Rewards Strategy | Megan Nail
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Megan Nail, Vice President of Total Rewards Practice at NFP, works with companies to help them create unique and meaningful rewards packages to attract and retain talent. In this episode, Megan discusses the dramatic changes rewards strategies have undergone and explains why it’s an opportunity for organizations to get creative. Listen to learn how…
On this episode of Geeks, Geezers, Googlization, show hosts Jason Cochran and Ira S Wolfe are joined by the Dulead leadership team of Eric Hiler and Scott Himes to explore the importance of growth mindset and how a micro-learning coaching experience can give everyone from the front-line to the C-Suite the power to make change work. While winning th…
On this episode of Geeks, Geezers, Googlization, show hosts Jason Cochran and Ira S Wolfe are joined by the Dulead leadership team of Eric Hiler and Scott Himes to explore the importance of growth mindset and how a micro-learning coaching experience can give everyone from the front-line to the C-Suite the power to make change work. While winning th…
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Gut + Science


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131: Filling the Workplace Purpose Gap | John Qualls
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John Qualls, the CEO and President of Purpose HQ, is the inventor of the Purpose Gap Matrix which helps teams find the exact gaps as individuals in their roles and as a whole. In this episode, John shares his mindset around purpose at work and the key components he has found to give employees a meaningful work experience. Listen to learn how your t…
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Plan, Integrate, Automate with Chad Sowash
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39:02
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Last year over 18 billion dollars were infused into HR tech, yet only 40% of senior HR leaders say they have a digital transformation plan in place for their businesses. According to Chad Sowash, the issue isn’t the tech, it’s the planning and integration. Chad is an HR legend, especially in recruitment, and is currently co-host of “Chad and The Ch…
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Plan, Integrate, Automate with Chad Sowash
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Last year over 18 billion dollars were infused into HR tech, yet only 40% of senior HR leaders say they have a digital transformation plan in place for their businesses. According to Chad Sowash, the issue isn’t the tech, it’s the planning and integration. Chad is an HR legend, especially in recruitment, and is currently co-host of “Chad and The Ch…