226. Ranking the Wildest Workplace Stories of 2025 (So Far) - Summer Sessions Episode 4

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast 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, we’re here to simplify the science of work.

This week, we’re rolling out a brand-new format: Ranking the Wildest Workplace Stories of 2025. From four-day weeks to CEO meltdowns, overemployment scams to viral kiss cams, these are the headlines shaping work this year — and we’re grading them like a school report card.

Some get an A+. Some fail spectacularly. All of them tell us something about where work is headed.

🔥 The Stories We Cover

📌 🌍 200 UK Companies Go Four-Day Week
A permanent shift for over 5,000 workers. Future of productivity or privileged luxury?

📌 🤬 Jamie Dimon’s WFH Rant
The JPMorgan CEO’s viral meltdown over hybrid petitions. Authentic leadership or toxic boomer energy?

📌 🤖 Duolingo’s AI-First Revolution
Replacing writers and translators with AI. Bold innovation or corporate creativity-killer?

📌 💼 Soham Parekh’s Overemployment Scam
One man, four startups, 140-hour weeks. Audacious hustle or scam that risks remote work trust?

📌 🎵 Kiss Cam Coldplay CEO Affair
Caught live at a concert — and out of a job days later. Just comedy, or proof of workplace power imbalance?

📌 🔥 Sydney Sweeney “Jeans or Genes” Ad
A viral American Eagle campaign gone global. Smart controversy marketing or harmful echo of eugenics?

🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being
– Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/
– Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

📬 Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat