Truth, Lies and Work
Truth, Lies & Work is the UK's #1 Management Podcast, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, it blends behavioural science with workplace culture. The show offers evidence-based insights and practical advice for leaders to attract, engage, and retain talent. Episodes drop twice a week, featuring news round-ups, expert interviews, and listener Q&A sessions.
Episodes
321. Is HR the Loneliest Job in the Building? With Tom Emery
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 A
320. Can you bulls*it a bullsh*tter? PLUS! The European hiring crisis, Gen-Z perfectionism and Tik Tok training
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
319. Why Nobody is Listening to You at Work, with Strategic PR Director, Ellie Glason
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 bi
318. Toxic Founders, HR Rebels and Stalling Women’s Progress. PLUS! Is it good to have fun at work? With Rebecca Taylor
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
317. He built his company around happiness, but was he happy? With Richard Clarke
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
316. Botsitting, Microsoft's Xbox Layoffs and Finance Burnout. PLUS! Does Growth Mindset Really Work? With Rob Briner
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, checkin
315. How to Handle Crisis in the Workplace, with Andrew Blotky, Facebook's first Director of Global Internal Communications
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
314. Why do we all love an underdog? PLUS! Responsible A.I., Ford's human rehiring spree AND the psychology of disagreements.
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
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313. "I told Jimmy Carr to quit his job", with Mike Harle, Jimmy Carr's (last ever) manager
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
312. Remote Work Makes You Lonely, Should You Trust Your Gut or the Data, PLUS workplace surgery with Dr Jake Tuber
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
LIVE! Can Cultural Intelligence actually improve performance at work? With Polly Collingridge and Bernadette Thompson OBE
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, a
311. Are middle managers being set up to fail? With Kristien Turner
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 s
310. Workplace Nostalgia, Stalling Careers and Leaked Microsoft Data. PLUS! How to Praise Introverts
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 o
309. Stop Asking the Chatbot (And Start Asking Your Colleague), with Sean O'Shea
When you don’t know the answer to a problem at work, what is your immediate reflex? Do you search for a quick answer from an AI chatbot, or do you pick up the phone to ask a colleague?
In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we dive deep into the hidden cultural cost of digital convenience. While artificial intelligence is incredible for cutting through administrative noise and streamlining corpor
308. Dark Showering, Google A.I. Interviews and the M&S Cyber Attack. PLUS! Is Experience the Best Predictor of Job Performance?
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.
This week, hosts Al Elliott and Leanne Elliott unpack the sleep science taking over TikTok, a massive shift in how Google interviews tech talent, and the ethical dilemma of corporate accountability after a major cyberattack. Plus
307. What skills do leaders actually need in the age of A.I.? With Vince Sanderson
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
As artificial intelligence accelerates and automation becomes a fixture in our workplaces, a massive shift is happening. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs data maps out the skills that will define the next five years, and the top of the human skills list reads less li
306. Firing your HR department, restroom lurking and the accidental manager. PLUS! Does Gen Z value purpose over pay? With Dr Jake Tuber
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
This week, hosts Al and Leanne Elliott are joined by returning guest, organisational psychologist Dr. Jake Tuber! Together, they tackle the biggest news in business, bust media myths, and solve your trickiest management dilemmas.
This Week: Restroom Lurking, Firing HR and The Sales
305. How to go from Founder back to Employee (Without the Shame), with Laurie MacPherson
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture . This week, we are tackling a massive, silent trend affecting thousands of professionals: The Great Reentry .
During the pandemic, thousands of people left their corporate jobs to seek purpose and flexibility in self-employment . But now, six years on, a quiet crisis is happe
304. Al Elliott: "I've just ruined the last three years of my life.", Our co-host talks business, bankruptcy and the meaning of success
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
This week, we are adjusting our usual format for a specific reason. Co-host Al Elliott recently celebrated his birthday, so Leanne is taking over the reins to give him a brief respite from the standard news cycle. Instead, we are answering our most requested listener query: a
303. What can veterans teach us about leadership? With Danny Wareham, Major General (Ret) Matt Smith and James Hardie
Welcome back to this special live edition of Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, Al, Leanne and Associate Producer Georgia, are joined by three exceptional experts to explore a straightforward but powerful question: what does the military do differently when it comes to leadership, and what can businesses actually le
302. How Do You Stop Being the Person Everything Falls On? PLUS! Bot bosses, poisoned chocolate and the dumbest Teams call mistake. With Cait Donovan
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we are skipping Truth or Lie because we have a massive, jam-packed episode featuring the brilliant Cait Donovan! Cait is a culture and leadership keynote speaker, host of Fried: The Burnout Podcast, and author of an upcoming book out later this year.
Together, we t
301. Are you too smart to succeed in business? With Dr Rosenna Bakari
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture.
Have you ever wondered why some of the most brilliant people struggle to get a business off the ground? This week, we are joined by Dr. Rosenna Bakari, a psychologist, empowerment expert, and author of Seven Exits.
Rosenna’s story is a wake-up call for high achievers. After heading to
300. JP Morgan's sex scandal, A.I. fears and the executive presence problem. PLUS! Are diverse teams better? With Dr Jake Tuber
Episode 300 is here! 🥂 To celebrate this massive milestone, Al and Leanne are joined by a very special guest, Dr. Jake Tuber. In this jam-packed anniversary edition, we’re tackling the "FOBO" phenomenon, the radical 10% pay rise experiment, and the truth behind high-performing diverse teams.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. The Rise of "FOBO": Why Gen Z is Resisting AI
Move over FOMO—there’s a new acronym
299. “There are 200 people on a waiting list to work here”, with Rachel Harris, StriveX Accountants
Welcome to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.
Most businesses struggle with recruiting. They post jobs on Indeed, sponsor LinkedIn ads, and cross their fingers. Rachel Harris, co-founder of StriveX Accountants, does the exact opposite. She has built a multimillion-pound firm from
298. Dry chatting, Gen-Z CEOs and toxic bosses. PLUS! The science behind 'bring your dog to work day'
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we explore the shifting vocabulary of the modern office, the rise of "Gen Z entrepreneurs," and a sobering look at the prevalence of toxic leadership.
Plus, for Mental Health Awareness Month, we dig into the research behind "Bring Your Dog to Work Day" and answer t
LIVE! Is A.I. changing the way we think? With Charli Nordone, Gabrielle Dolan and Paul Spiers
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. We are part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
In this special LinkedIn Live edition, hosts Al Elliott and Leanne Elliott are joined by three world-class experts to tackle one of the most pressing questions of the modern era: If
297. Why Everything You Know About Sales Is Wrong, with Thomas Waites
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
If you’re a founder who has built something brilliant but finds the idea of 'selling' it a little bit icky, this episode is for you. Today, we’re joined by Thomas Waites, a fractional Chief
296. Why has $5 Trillion NVIDIA scrapped performance reviews? PLUS! Microsoft’s voluntary retirement, well-being hacks and the truth about the change curve, with Matt Furness
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Part of the HubSpot Podcast Network.
This week, we explore Microsoft’s new retirement strategy, NVIDIA’s radical management secrets, and the one wellbeing investment most businesses are overlooking. Plus, we debunk a legendary psychological model and answer your burning questions about
295: $30M to $2M in 18 Months: How to Lead When Everything Falls Apart
What does it actually feel like when the company you built starts falling apart?
In 2021, Aedan Fida’s company, Blade Air, was on top of the world. They had a $20 million school board contract, 25,000 square feet of manufacturing space, and revenue hitting $30 million. Then, the pandemic ended, and revenue dropped off a cliff—falling to just $2 million by 2024.
In this episode, Aedan (a Forbes 3
294. Are Extroverts Better Leaders? PLUS! 5 A.I. proof skills, Zuckerberg’s digital clone and new job red flags
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we’re unpacking the "human" skills needed for an AI-driven future, a bizarre experiment in digital leadership at Meta, and whether the "loudest" person in the room is actually the best person to lead it.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. 5 Skills LinkedIn Says Will AI-Proof
293. Only Two Job Titles: How to Flatten Your Entire Company (And Why It Works), with GentleForces Founder and CEO, Danni Mohammed
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.
This week, Al and Leanne are joined by Danni Mohammed, founder of the creative and innovation practice Gentle Forces. Danni has spent her career at some of the world’s most iconic agencies—including Saatchi & Saatchi and WPP—but she’s now d
292. Is your A.I. getting 'token anxiety'? PLUS! Sh*tcuts, Sweden’s empty offices and the truth about vulnerable leadership, with Live+Work More Human Podcast hosts, Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week is a very special "cross-over" episode as we are joined by Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke, hosts of the Live+Work More Human podcast. Together, we tackle the "bums on seats" myth, the stress of AI limits, and why being a "vulnerable" leader is more nuanced than you think.
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291. They Said "One Minute Manager" Would Embarrass Him. It Sold 15 Million Copies, With Martha Lawrence
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
Ken Blanchard was told in college he couldn't write. His graduate professors said he lacked academic ability. When he finished The One Minute Manager, his colleagues warned him it would embarrass him professionally. It went on to sell 15 million copies and become one of the m
290. Is money the best motivator? PLUS! Londonmaxxing, hustling after 40 and The Deliberate Manager, featuring Dr Jake Tuber
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. This week, we are joined by special guest Dr. Jake Tuber, an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and founder of Ticon Advisory, recently named one of the Leadership Center for Excellence’s 40 Under 40.
In this episode, we explore the surprising power of "Londonmaxxing," why hu
LIVE! Employee engagement in times of crisis (why bother?), with Jeffrey Fermin and Kristien Turner
Welcome back to a special live edition of Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. This episode is brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
In this panel discussion, hosts Leanne Elliott (Chartered Occupational Psychologist) and Al Elliott (Business Owner) are joined by two industry tita
289. The Canary in the Coal Mine: What Autistic Employees Reveal About Your Workplace, with BPS President Elect, Dr Laura Dean
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. Today, April 2nd, 2026, marks World Autism Day. Statistically, if you have 70 employees, at least one is likely autistic—whether they have disclosed it to you or not.
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Laura Dean, a chartered occupational psychologist, President-Elect of
288. The pink ice cream maker disaster. PLUS! A.I. assistants, the glass cliff and managing friends at work.
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. In this episode of This Week in Work, we tackle the overwhelm of 2026, explore a "hallucination-free" AI tool, and investigate if women are being set up for failure in leadership.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. Reclaiming Your "Psychological Sovereignty"
Feeling overwhelmed by the 2
287. What if A.I. is Fairer Than Humans? The Truth About Bias in Recruitment, with Kate Young, Head of People Science at Sapia.ai
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we’re diving into the high-stakes world of recruitment. If you’ve ever hired someone who looked perfect on paper but failed on day one, this episode is for you.
Most businesses are making hiring decisions based on fundamentally broken data: the CV. This week, we
LIVE! Are we entering the 'Great Career Reset?', with Che Ugwuala, Kelly Garthwaite and Erica Breuer
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
Over the past few years, the world of work has shifted. Layoffs are rising, AI is reshaping industries, and career paths that once felt like solid ground now feel uncertain. But beyond the
286. The 'Cockroaches of HR', interview hacks and return-to-office Dilemmas. PLUS! Should you hire for culture fit?
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week we’re deconstructing the "cockroaches of the employment world," exploring a new AI tool that helps you nail your next interview, and digging into the data to see if hiring for "culture fit" is actually a good idea.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. The $75 Lunch That Beats An
285. "I built OfficeVibe & here's why most HR Tech doesn't work," with Jeffrey Fermin
Fifteen years ago, Jeffrey Fermin co-founded OfficeVibe, one of the world's first employee pulse survey platforms. Since then, the HR tech market has exploded with over 200 similar tools, yet global employee disengagement remains stubbornly high.
In this very honest episode, Jeffrey joins Al and Leanne to explain why the industry he helped create hasn't solved the problem it promised to fix. We d
284. Corporate Bullshit, new-collar jobs and interview red flags. PLUS! Are Morning People More Successful?
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we’re diving into the "Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale," exploring why a university degree might be holding your hiring back, and debunking the toxic productivity of the 3:50 AM wake-up call.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. The Science of "Corporate Bullshit"
Leanne i
283. How Google and Netflix design engagement surveys that actually work, with Bill Yost
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.
This week, we are joined by Bill Yost, a People Analytics powerhouse who has operated at the very highest levels of data-driven culture. Bill spent four years running Googlegeist, Google’s legendary annual survey that consistentl
282. No Tech Bros Allowed, The Death of Coworking and Managing Zero Ambition. PLUS! Can we really multitask?
Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
In this episode: We explore why "Brand Well-being" is the new secret to a 47% ROI, why a Silicon Valley startup is banning "tech bros" in favour of over-50s, and why the coworking dream is being replaced by the "proworking" revolution. Plus, we debunk the multitasking myth and solve your w
281. "I was the adult at Facebook", with FB's #57 employee & author Tom LeNoble
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.
This week, we are joined by the "adult in the room" from the early days of Facebook, Tom LeNoble. Tom has led in boardrooms and fought for his life in hospital rooms, surviving multiple life-threatening illnesses. From shaping
280. Jack Dorsey’s A.I. Gamble, Friction-maxxing and The 10:47 PM Email. PLUS: Are Leaders Born or Made?
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.
This week, we explore why "friction" might be the secret to better judgment, the brutal reality of AI-driven layoffs at Block, and why your boss's 10:47 PM emails are exhausting your entire team. Plus, we dig into the science of
279. The Leadership Assessment Tool we're ALL using wrong, with Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Juliette Alban-Metcalfe
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets organisational culture.
In the corporate world, we are obsessed with personality. We use DISC, Myers-Briggs, and Enneagrams to "colour-code" our colleagues and predict who will be a great leader. But what if we’ve been looking at the wrong data?
In this episode, we sit down with Juliette Alban
278. Gen-Z Office trends, unlimited holiday leave and silent disengagement. PLUS! Do people really leave managers, not jobs?
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
This week, we explore the "silent disengagement" trend, the surprising truth about Gen Z and the office, and the psychological reason why the end of a project feels harder than the beginning. Plus, we settle the ultimate workplace debate: do people leave managers or jobs?
277. What REALLY happens when you let A.I. run your workday, with The Economist's Boss Class Host, Andrew Palmer
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
This week we’re diving into how AI is actually landing in the workplace — and what that means for managers, employees and the future of work.
Our guest is Andrew Palmer, host of Boss Class from The Economist and author of the Bartleby management column. In Season 3 of Boss Class, Andrew goes hands-
276. Is your career giving you the ick? PLUS! A.I. literacy for managers, finding hope and the verdict on NLP
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week we explore career motivation, generative AI for leaders and the psychology of meaningful work. Plus we put Neuro-Linguistic Programming under the microscope and answer career questions from future business psychologists.
🔥 Stories covered
1. The rise of the “career
275. Why your 13th hire is like puberty (and what to do about it), with Steve Kemish
What happens when a small, tight-knit team suddenly starts to grow fast?
This week on Truth, Lies & Work, we’re joined by Steve Kemish to talk about the most uncomfortable phase of company growth. The moment when your business moves from a handful of people to a real organisation. Steve calls it the puberty of a company and if you have ever scaled a team, you will know exactly what he means.
Ste
274. Is this the internet’s most unsettling AI story? PLUS! Hiring Gen-Alpha, Career Destiny and the Truth About 'Matrescence'
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
This week we’re asking: how prepared are workplaces for real life transitions, what happens when AI becomes your colleague, and does your name secretly shape your career?
🔥 Stories covered
Matrescence: the workplace transition nobody plans for
Leanne introduces a word we should all know: mat
273. What Taylor Swift can teach leaders about workplace change, with Hollywood screenwriter turned organisational psychologist, Lindsey Caplan
Why do so many change initiatives, town halls and big launches create excitement and then fade with no real behaviour change?
In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, Al and Leanne speak with Lindsey Caplan, a former Hollywood screenwriter turned organisational psychologist, about why leaders struggle to influence groups at work and what actually works instead.
Lindsey shares the MOVED Model, a pr
272. What if work was about purpose, not survival? With Louise Hill, Founder of GoHenry, and Ruth Handcock OBE, CEO of Octopus Money
A LinkedIn Live conversation on money confidence, risk and the future of careers
Over the last few years, work has quietly shifted from ambition to survival.
Rising living costs, economic uncertainty, layoffs and AI have changed how people make career decisions. Instead of taking risks or pursuing meaningful work, many are staying put not because they want to, but because it feels safer to stay.
271: "This Is and Will Always Be the Best Place I've Ever Worked", with Gemma & Xav from Studio XAG
What happens when two art students fall in love, start freelancing together, and accidentally build one of the UK's happiest creative brand agencies?
In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we're joined by Gemma Ruse and Xavier Shariff, the husband-and-wife co-founders of Studio Zag, a 60-person agency that designs and builds experiential installations for brands all over the world.
STUDIO XAG
270. Is flexible work actually fair? PLUS! Corporate politics, motivating Gen X and the truth about learning styles
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work — the podcast where behavioural science meets real working life.
This week, we’re asking a simple question with uncomfortable answers: who really gets flexibility, who’s trusted around AI, and what psychology myths are still shaping work decisions?
🔥 Stories covered
1. Who actually gets flexible work — and why
Leanne introduces a new term this week: i-deals
269. Why Truth is Funny: 7x Emmy Winner Beth Sherman on Building Trust at Work
What do late-night comedy writers know about trust, influence, and human connection that most business leaders don’t?
In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we’re joined by Beth Sherman — a seven-time Emmy-winning comedy writer who spent three decades in Hollywood writers’ rooms before taking what she learned into the world of business.
Beth has written for The Late Show with David Letterman, Th
268. Does complaining at work rewire your brain? PLUS! Gen Z growth hunting, wellbeing perks and how to manifest success
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
This week we’re exploring what employees and leaders are really looking for at work right now — and how it’s shaping leadership behaviour, burnout, employee wellbeing, and workplace culture.
🔥 Stories covered
Why are Gen Z leaving jobs so quickly?
According to a Fast Company article by Jeff L
267. How to build a business bigger than you, with Dustin Hillis
Most founders pride themselves on being “high-capacity”.
The person who can sell, operate, strategise, and firefight all at once.
But there’s a point where that strength quietly becomes the problem.
In this episode, Al and Leanne are joined by Dustin Hillis, a serial entrepreneur and executive coach who has led businesses from early-stage chaos through to $100m-plus scale, and is now building ag
266. Is Blue Monday actually real? PLUS! Autistic Barbie, career pivots and the science of 'wintering' - This Week in Work, 13th January 2026
January blues are back — but is Blue Monday actually real?
In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we explore wintering, career pivots, and what behavioural science really says about mood, motivation and burnout at work during January.
If the start of the year feels heavy, flat or strangely exhausting, you’re not alone. Instead of pushing harder, this week we ask a different question: what if slow
265. Are We in a Hope Crisis at Work? With Matt Poepsel, PhD
This week on Truth, Lies & Work, Al and Leanne sit down with Dr Matt Poepsel, Marine veteran, author and the self-proclaimed Godfather of Talent Optimization at The Predictive Index. In a world shaped by burnout, uncertainty and rapid AI disruption, Matt argues that many organisations are facing a “hope crisis” – and it is quietly draining performance, motivation and leadership effectiveness.
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264. How to Measure Culture Like a Business Metric - Great Mondays Radio X Truth, Lies and Work
This week, we're sharing a special feed drop from Great Mondays Radio! Our very own Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Leanne Elliott, takes the guest chair as host Josh Levine (Work Futurist, author, and culture consultant) interviews her on creating amazing workplaces.
In this candid conversation, Leanne and Josh dismantle the myths around company culture and redefine it as a strategic, busin
263. The Expert Predictions for 2026 (Part 2): Hybrid work, unionisation and more of the same?
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work. This is part two of our Predictions 2026 series, where we ask leaders, researchers and thinkers what they believe is coming our way next year. If part one was warm and reflective, part two brings the heat!
🧠 What We Cover: The Big Predictions for 2026
Hybrid Will Fracture Before It Settles – Professors Ina Purvanova & Alanah Mitchell
The authors of The New
262. Expert Predictions for 2026 (Part 1): Ethical AI, text chat and the death of the resume
Welcome back to a very special edition of Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. This episode features Part 1 of our annual Predictions for 2026.
Join Leanne and Al as they speak to top experts who share their contrasting views on how AI, leadership, identity, and productivity are about to fu
261. This Year in Work 2025 (Part 2) - Our favourite guests of the year, your listeners’ choice, and the most-downloaded expert episode of 2025.
Merry Christmas! And welcome back to This Year in Work!
Today we’re back with Part 2 of our 2025 highlights series, and this time it’s all about our guest interviews.
If you’re new here, welcome along. This is Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. Brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.
⭐ Our Favourite Guest Interviews of 2025
260. This Year in Work 2025 (Part 1) - Featuring Bosses, Benders and Big Toddler Energy
Welcome to This Year in Work!
As we countdown to Christmas, we’ve pulled together the standout moments from our Tuesday episodes across 2025 — the stories, segments and listener questions that defined the year.
From new workplace vocabulary to tech scandals, CEO tantrums and the wildest listener dilemmas, this episode is a celebration of everything that made TWIW what it is.
Word of the Year:
259. One year in: lessons from my first year as a full-time coach, with Jeremy Cline. Change Work Life X Truth, Lies and Work
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work. Today we’re doing something a little different for the Christmas break. We’re sharing an episode from our friend Jeremy Cline’s podcast Change Work Life, where Al joined him to reflect on Jeremy’s first year as a full-time coach.
This conversation marks Jeremy’s 200th episode, and instead of interviewing someone else, he turns the spotlight on himself. It’s a r
258. Does Christmas Change Your Mood? PLUS! Apple's Lost Leaders, Veteran Talent and the Top 1% of Employers
Welcome back
This is Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Al and Leanne break down the biggest stories shaping the way we work, with practical insights for founders, leaders and anyone trying to build a better workplace.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. Escape The City launches its ‘Top 1 Percent
257. "Get Your Shit Together": Rob Kalwarowsky on How to Capitalise on 2025's Chaos (Before It's Too Late)
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work! This week, Leanne is joined by returning guest Rob Kalwarowsky, Executive Coach, Author, and Speaker, to discuss his book, Capitalizing on Chaos. In this crucial conversation, Rob argues that the world is experiencing an unprecedented level of chaos—87% higher than the peak of the pandemic.
This episode explores why our brains struggle with uncertainty, how to
256. Gen-Alpha are coming! PLUS! Micro-joy, power poses and what to get the CEO for Christmas
Welcome back to This Week in Work — the show where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.
Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. Generation Alpha are coming (Benenden Health report)
A major new workforce study shows the 11–15 age group expect flexible careers, strong
255. Why some people are difficult at work, with Aoife O'Brien
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
This week, Al and Leanne sit down with Aoife O’Brien Founder of Happier at Work and host of the Happier at Work podcast — for a conversation about why so many people feel misaligned at work, and what leaders can do about it.
Aoife combines evidence, honesty and lived experience to
254. AI-xiety, dreamers vs doers, and toxic COVID culture. PLUS! Can you really fake it till you make it?
Welcome to another edition of This Week in Work, where Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott break down the latest news on people, culture, and behavioral science.
This week, we look at the direct, measurable impact of toxic culture and unpack the new anxieties surrounding Artificial Intelligence. Plus, in our Truth or Lies segment, we dive deep into the
253. What happens when you bet on people the world overlooks?: The story of Standout Socks, with Co-founder and MD, Christian Laing
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the show where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.
This week, Leanne sits down with Christian Laing, co-founder of Stand Out Socks and one of the most compelling voices in ethical employment today. Christian’s story began with something simple: wanting his younger brother Ross, who has Down syndrome, to ha
252. QuitTok returns, rising Gen-Z confidence and LinkedIn’s most memorable interviews. PLUS! Do high achievers really sleep less?
Welcome back to This Week in Work
This week: workplace confidence flips, QuitTok resurfaces, and LinkedIn shares its most chaotic interview stories. In Truth or Lie, we tackle the myth of the “four-hour sleeper.” And in the Workplace Surgery, we unpack micromanagement, occupational health, and senior-level flatness.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. QuitTok makes a comeback
Employees are once again filmi
251. WD-40’s Garry Ridge on leadership: "Any dumbass can do it"
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
Today, we’re joined by a leader who has shaped the modern understanding of culture, belonging and performance more than almost anyone else working today: Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman of WD-40 Company, now the founder of The Learning Moment.
Garry led WD-40 for more than two dec
250. The Post Office scandal, beating imposter syndrome and the UK's work crisis. PLUS! Does time really speed up as we get older?
Welcome back to This Week in Work, the show where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.
This week, Al and Leanne unpack one of the darkest stories in British business — and what it reveals about organisational failure and human systems.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. Can the government really ‘Keep Britain Working’?A major new review led by Sir Cha
249. Why LinkedIn feels fake, with Nick Power
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
This week, Al and Leanne sit down with Nick Power — senior marketing leader at The Noun Project and one of the most talked-about voices on LinkedIn. With more than 30 000 followers and mil
248. What Celebrity Traitors can teach us about lying. PLUS! Trump's war on woke, quiet-quitting success and the work impact of bad music.
Welcome back to This Week in Work, your Tuesday news round-up where workplace culture meets behavioural science. This week: political shockwaves for DEI, an unexpected quiet-quitting success story, retail workers pushed to the brink by Christmas music, a myth-busting Truth or Lie, and three big Workplace Surgery questions.
🔥 Stories Covered
1. Trump appoints DEI critic to lead the EEOC
The AP
247. Emotion Hacks: 50 Ways to Feel Better Fast, with Dr Ryan Martin
It’s Thursday, and we’re back with a guest conversation built for leaders who want practical psychology without the fluff. Today: how to feel better, think clearer, and lead smarter with Dr Ryan Martin — The Anger Professor.
Guest intro
Dr Ryan Martin is a psychologist and emotion researcher known as The Anger Professor. In this conversation he explains why emotions are information, not emerge
246. Career catfishing, outrageous interview hacks and recognition at work. PLUS! The truth behind the 10,000 hours rule.
It’s time for another This Week in Work — your Tuesday round-up of workplace news, research and real-world dilemmas. Hosted by Leanne Elliott, Chartered Occupational Psychologist, and Al Elliott, business owner.
This week: fake job ads, clever interview hacks, the power of recognition, and whether it really takes 10 000 hours to master anything.
🔥 Stories Covered
Career Catfishing
Nearly 80 p
