238. Mr Beast on hiring A-players, digital hangovers and risky workplace humour. PLUS! Are tall people really more successful?

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture.

Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, bringing you the latest workplace stories that actually matter.

News Round Up

Digital Hangover - The New Workplace Epidemic That feeling when you've been on your laptop all day, mindlessly scroll Instagram, and suddenly feel wired but weirdly drained? That's a digital hangover.

Psychologies Magazine article: https://pocketmags.com/us/psychologies-magazine/oct-25/articles/the-science-of-wellbeing-how-to-shake-off-a-digital-hangover?srsltid=AfmBOorVwGPxFvEpTNB5EZru-bMQUVahEMrR_Nk5KLVp4daxRgI7CV3W

Is Workplace Humour Too Risky? New research from Peter McGraw, Adam Barsky, and Caleb Warren suggests workplace humour might be too risky to attempt.

Research article: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-funny.html

MrBeast's Vibe Check: Smart Hiring or Commitment Avoidance? The world's biggest YouTuber has introduced 90-day trial periods for all new hires, complete with temporary housing and rental cars. The goal is testing whether someone can adapt to high-speed, high-stakes production work.

Business Insider article: https://www.businessinsider.com/why-mrbeast-vibe-checks-new-hires-2025-10

Truth or Lie?

Are Tall People Really More Successfully The verdict: TRUE, but with massive caveats. Research shows height correlates with career success - each inch predicts about £600 more in annual earnings. Since 1900, the taller US presidential candidate has won 81% of elections. But height explains only 7% of earning variation, leaving 93% to actual skills, education, and other factors. The effect operates through perceptual bias (we see tall people as more leader-like), modest correlations with intelligence and health, and self-fulfilling prophecies from being treated like a leader from childhood.

Workplace Surgery

Real listener questions this week:

• How do you build a reliable team when you're used to doing everything yourself without losing quality control?
• What do you do when you have to let someone go even though they're trying their best and improving?
• How do you keep great people when you can't compete on pay with bigger companies?

Mental Health Support

This episode discusses workplace stress, burnout, and the impact of digital overload on mental wellbeing. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health:

UK:

• Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 helpline) - https://www.samaritans.org/
• Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 - https://www.mind.org.uk/

US:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7) - https://988lifeline.org/
• NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) - https://www.nami.org/

International:

• Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ (directory of crisis helplines worldwide)
• International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ (global crisis center directory)

Connect with Your Hosts

• Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/
• Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
• Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/
• Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com
• Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork
• Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork
• YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork
• Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork

Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com

Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com