Podcast · 134 episodes
Truth, Lies and Work, page 2
by HubSpot Podcast Network · English
Truth, Lies & Work is the UK's #1 Management Podcast. Brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, this award-winning podcast is where behavioural science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, the show has reached #2 in the UK Business Podcast Charts and consistently ranks as a Top 10 trending business podcast globally. With a unique blend of evidence-based insight and lived experience, Leanne and Al simplify the science of people and culture to help leaders attract, engage, and retain great talent. Episodes drop twice a week. Tuesdays feature a global people and culture news round-up, a hot take from an emerging or established voice, and the world-famous Workplace Surgery—where Leanne answers real listener questions with practical advice. Thursdays dive deeper with expert guests from across the business and psychology worlds, sharing fresh perspectives and actionable strategies. Whether you're scaling a startup or leading a large team, Truth, Lies & Work delivers the tools, thinking, and inspiration to build thriving, toxic-free workplaces that prioritise well-being and drive sustainable growth. Also, the hosts are married—so expect unfiltered honesty, occasional banter, and a real-life lens on work and life.
All episodes, page 2
316. Botsitting, Microsoft's Xbox Layoffs and Finance Burnout. PLUS! Does Growth Mindset Really Work? With Rob BrinerThe episode covers three workplace topics: “botsitting” (the hidden labor cost of using AI), burnout and pay tradeoffs among UK finance professionals, and Microsoft/Xbox layoffs plus strategy changes.7 Jul 2026 · 55 min · 18 chapters
315. How to Handle Crisis in the Workplace, with Andrew Blotky, Facebook's first Director of Global Internal CommunicationsHow leaders should communicate during workplace crises (scandals, layoffs, recalls, AI-driven job cuts) without obfuscation or silence, using values-based preparation and grounded, honest messaging.2 Jul 2026 · 51 min · 19 chapters
314. Why do we all love an underdog? PLUS! Responsible A.I., Ford's human rehiring spree AND the psychology of disagreements.Responsible AI training at NatWest; Ford’s failed AI quality rollout and rehiring human inspectors; psychology of disagreements (talking vs typing); “underdog” support in workplaces and beyond;…30 Jun 2026 · 52 min · 15 chapters
313. "I told Jimmy Carr to quit his job", with Mike Harle, Jimmy Carr's (last ever) managerMike Harle (Shell’s former UK CMO) recounts the moment he told young employee Jimmy Carr to leave Shell and pursue stand-up comedy instead of a high-status consulting job (BCG).25 Jun 2026 · 52 min · 18 chapters
312. Remote Work Makes You Lonely, Should You Trust Your Gut or the Data, PLUS workplace surgery with Dr Jake TuberRemote work’s health and loneliness claims; UK NEET youth unemployment vs US unemployment; whether gut instinct beats data; workplace management advice (“workplace surgery”).23 Jun 2026 · 55 min · 18 chapters
LIVE! Can Cultural Intelligence actually improve performance at work? With Polly Collingridge and Bernadette Thompson OBECultural intelligence (CQ) as an evidence-based, measurable capability framework for improving workplace performance, inclusion, and patient care—contrasting it with “tick-box” inclusion training.19 Jun 2026 · 1 h 8 min · 25 chapters
311. Are middle managers being set up to fail? With Kristien TurnerWhether middle managers are being set up to fail amid talent shortages, AI-driven cost cutting, and declining engagement/training.18 Jun 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 28 chapters
310. Workplace Nostalgia, Stalling Careers and Leaked Microsoft Data. PLUS! How to Praise IntrovertsWorkplace nostalgia and recognition; career “stalling” (no meaningful promotion/wage growth); Microsoft employee engagement trends from a leaked internal memo; critique of technical interviews and a…16 Jun 2026 · 57 min · 22 chapters
309. Stop Asking the Chatbot (And Start Asking Your Colleague), with Sean O'SheaThe episode argues that AI should not replace human “messy moments” at work—small, vulnerable interactions (asking for help, debating respectfully) that build connection, psychological safety, and…11 Jun 2026 · 54 min · 19 chapters
308. Dark Showering, Google A.I. Interviews and the M&S Cyber Attack. PLUS! Is Experience the Best Predictor of Job Performance?“Dark showering” (dim lights to aid sleep via temperature drop and melatonin), Google allowing AI assistants in code interviews (Gemini fluency/prompting/debugging evaluated), M&S cyber attack…9 Jun 2026 · 57 min · 14 chapters
307. What skills do leaders actually need in the age of A.I.? With Vince SandersonLeadership skills in the age of AI, using World Economic Forum “Future of Jobs” (2025–2030) as a framework; why untrained managers are a bigger threat than AI itself.4 Jun 2026 · 51 min · 18 chapters
306. Firing your HR department, restroom lurking and the accidental manager. PLUS! Does Gen Z value purpose over pay? With Dr Jake TuberWorkplace culture and behavioral science. Segments cover “restroom lurking” (employees using office bathrooms to regain composure because there’s nowhere else to hide), a US fintech (Bolt) firing its…2 Jun 2026 · 1 h 4 min · 18 chapters
305. How to go from Founder back to Employee (Without the Shame), with Laurie MacPhersonFounders (especially COVID-era self-employed) who feel ashamed and struggle to re-enter employment, and how to job search effectively without “shame.”28 May 2026 · 42 min · 14 chapters
304. Al Elliott: "I've just ruined the last three years of my life.", Our co-host talks business, bankruptcy and the meaning of successAl Elliott’s origin story as an entrepreneur, including building “Gimme Some Beer,” getting pulled into licensing trouble, going bankrupt in 2007 (about £103k personally guaranteed), reframing…26 May 2026 · 1 h 15 min · 32 chapters
303. What can veterans teach us about leadership? With Danny Wareham, Major General (Ret) Matt Smith and James HardieLeadership lessons from the military for civilian workplaces, focusing on mission command/“leaderless” leadership, trust, psychological safety, and translating military experience into business…21 May 2026 · 1 h 23 min · 28 chapters
302. How Do You Stop Being the Person Everything Falls On? PLUS! Bot bosses, poisoned chocolate and the dumbest Teams call mistake. With Cait DonovanFuture-of-work anxiety (“circling forward”), AI/automation predictions, employee retaliation and performance reviews, and a workplace-surgery segment on burnout and pushing back.19 May 2026 · 58 min · 20 chapters
301. Are you too smart to succeed in business? With Dr Rosenna BakariWhether “too smart” (academically gifted, right/winning on intellect) can sabotage entrepreneurship; Dr Rosina Bakari argues brilliant people often fail in business due to hyper ego and related…14 May 2026 · 46 min · 19 chapters
300. JP Morgan's sex scandal, A.I. fears and the executive presence problem. PLUS! Are diverse teams better? With Dr Jake TuberWorkplace behavioral science episode 300 covering (1) Gen Z “FOBO” (fear of becoming obsolete) and backlash to AI adoption, (2) a JP Morgan sex scandal lawsuit and how settlements shape…12 May 2026 · 1 h 14 min · 33 chapters
299. “There are 200 people on a waiting list to work here”, with Rachel Harris, StriveX AccountantsHow StriveX Accountants (UK) recruits “24-7” by treating recruitment like marketing, using constant interviewing, systemized hiring, and employee-generated content (EGC) that turns staff into the…7 May 2026 · 50 min · 22 chapters
298. Dry chatting, Gen-Z CEOs and toxic bosses. PLUS! The science behind 'bring your dog to work day'Toxic bosses and weak manager development; Gen Z “build your own rungs” amid hiring freezes and AI; and a Truth-or-Lie science review of “Bring Your Dog to Work Day,” plus workplace surgery on…5 May 2026 · 53 min · 21 chapters
LIVE! Is A.I. changing the way we think? With Charli Nordone, Gabrielle Dolan and Paul SpiersWhether AI is changing knowledge-work thinking, critical thinking, and trust in workplaces—framed through the “irony of automation” (humans shift from doing complex work to supervising outputs,…1 May 2026 · 1 h 18 min · 36 chapters
297. Why Everything You Know About Sales Is Wrong, with Thomas WaitesThomas Waites argues that founders’ beliefs about sales being pushy, manipulative, and “slippery” are wrong.30 Apr 2026 · 52 min · 23 chapters
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 FurnessMicrosoft’s “voluntary” one-time retirement for certain US employees (age + years of service = 70+), NVIDIA’s reported leadership practices after hitting $5T valuation, and whether the Kubler-Ross…28 Apr 2026 · 59 min · 22 chapters
295: $30M to $2M in 18 Months: How to Lead When Everything Falls ApartFounder leadership through collapse and reinvention at Blade Air, including revenue falling from $30M (2021) to $2M (2024), two acquisitions (2023 and 2024), and the “deep learning” period of…23 Apr 2026 · 52 min · 22 chapters