Truth, Lies and Work

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 sharing part two of our conversation with Jon White and Nick Korte, hosts of the Nerd Journey podcast. If you missed part one, it’s in our feed as episode 224. In that first half we explored the pressure on managers in flatter organisations. Today, we flip the lens: what it’s like to be in the team, and how to thrive in uncertain times. 🔥 What We Cover 📌 Clarity is everything Why asking your manager “What does good look like?” is the most powerful way to stand out and support your team. 📌 Psychological safety in action A story from Toyota’s production line — where pulling the stop cord is a daily ritual — shows why culture matters more than rules. 📌 The role of the quiet hero Why the colleagues who make life easier for everyone else are the ones you’ll remember, and why every team needs a “Bob.” 📌 Managers need support too How leaders can stop stress rolling downhill by finding their own outlets — from peers to coaches — instead of passing pressure to their teams. 📌 Becoming an entrepreneur of your own reputation How to take control of how you’re seen at work without falling into “personal brand” clichés. 🎧 Want more from Jon & Nick? Nerd Journey Podcast: ⁠https://www.nerd-journey.com⁠ Connect with Jon White on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwhite173/⁠ Connect with Nick Korte on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickkorte/⁠ 👉 Listen to Part 1 on Nerd Journey here:⁠⁠https://nerd-journey.com/task-cohesion-managing-a-larger-team-in-a-flatter-organization-amidst-a-climate-of-uncertainty-with-al-and-leanne-elliott-1-2/⁠ 🧠 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

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 joined by Meghan French Dunbar — author, speaker, business anthropologist, and former CEO who built a nationally distributed magazine before realising she was chasing all the wrong metrics. Meghan has interviewed over a thousand business leaders and in her new book This Isn’t Working she argues that everything we’ve been told about business success is upside down. 🔥 What We Cover 📌 Banana-hoarding billionaires Why we celebrate exploitative leaders — and what it says about our values. 📌 The power of active listening How one of Meghan’s best hires started with an unexpected, deeply human conversation. 📌 What’s really broken in business Why shareholder supremacy and profit-at-all-cost thinking is destroying wellbeing, and the companies proving there’s a better way. 📌 Redefining success The shift from extrinsic motivators like money and titles, to intrinsic motivators like purpose, growth, and autonomy. 📌 Practical inspiration Case studies from Zingerman’s to Eileen Fisher showing how treating people well leads to long-term profitability and resilience. 🎧 Want more from Meghan French Dunbar? – Website: https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/book – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanfrenchdunbar – Substack: https://meghanfrenchdunbar.substack.com – Email: meghan@frenchdunbar.com – Book: This Isn’t Working (use code TLW for 20% off) → https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/meghan-french-dunbar/this-isnt-working/9781541704862/?lens=basic-venture 🧠 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

Get ready for a refreshing reset as you dive into practical strategies for a successful Q4. Discover the transformative 'STOP' technique to regain clarity and mindfulness. Uncover the power of gratitude with a nightly reflection on three good things that boosts your mood and resilience. Learn about the science of visualization to enhance performance and tackle psychological barriers like procrastination. Plus, engage with the WOOP method to set achievable goals and stay motivated as the year wraps up.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. I’m Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott, joined as always by business owner Al Elliott, and together we simplify the science of work. This week’s guest is Patrick Fagan — behavioural scientist, bestselling author, and consultant on influence and psychology. Patrick spent a year doing something completely new every single week, from joining cults to attending cuddle workshops, from My Little Pony conventions to colonic irrigation, all to see how novelty shapes happiness, memory, and meaning. His reflections are part science, part personal experiment — and the lessons go way beyond fun stories. They show us how leaders, teams, and individuals can use novelty and experience design to build happier, more connected, and more creative lives. 🔥 What We Cover 📌 The science of novelty and happiness Why our brains crave new experiences — and how they can literally make life feel longer. 📌 52 weeks, 52 experiments From cult meetings to cuddle workshops, what Patrick learned by pushing himself into the uncomfortable and unusual. 📌 Pleasure vs purpose The psychology of why struggle and awkwardness can create deeper meaning than comfort alone. 📌 From marketing to management What behavioural science and experiential retail can teach leaders about creating workplaces that people remember. 📌 Practical takeaways Why even small changes — like trying a new recipe or changing your work setting — can transform how you feel about life and work. 🎧 Want more from Patrick Fagan? – Website (consulting, behavioural science): https://patrickfagan.co.uk/ – “Just Do Stuff” blog (Patrick’s 52 experiences): https://justdostuff.co.uk/ 🧠 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

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

Joel Zeff, a keynote speaker and improv performer, reveals how fun is the secret ingredient for a thriving workplace. He introduces the ‘Ta-Da’ philosophy, explaining how celebrating small wins boosts team spirit and engagement. Joel critiques the impact of ‘dumb ass managers’ who stifle creativity and energy. He emphasizes that genuine appreciation is a powerful tool for leaders, enhancing connection and motivation. Join him in rethinking workplace culture to foster positivity and joy!

Jon White and Nick Korte, co-hosts of the Nerd Journey podcast, share their expertise in helping tech professionals thrive. They talk about the crucial skills that many managers lack but need, the art of navigating career pivots confidently, and the difference between being a mere boss and a true leader. The duo emphasizes that valuable career stories often stem from mistakes rather than perfect plans, offering insights gleaned from over 300 interviews with tech experts. Their discussion is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone in the fast-evolving tech landscape.

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. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this is your Thursday deep-dive with a workplace expert. 🎙️ This Week's Guest: John Michel Associate Professor at Loyola University of Maryland, John discovered that awkward small talk doesn't just make people uncomfortable — it leads to emotional exhaustion, the precursor to burnout. His research reveals the dark side of workplace chatter that's hiding in plain sight. 💡 Key Takeaways from John Michel Surface-level is better. Until trust develops, keep workplace conversations professional. Personal topics can harm professional image. Forced fun backfires. Don't mandate Fun Fridays. Organic socializing builds stronger relationships than manufactured activities. Uncomfortable conversations isolate. Bad small talk makes people feel excluded, reducing their support network and increasing burnout risk. 🎧 Want more from John Michel? – Website: https://johnwmichel.wordpress.com/ – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-michel-33883a5/ 🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave us a review — and join us Tuesday for our summer session where we chat about the fun side of work. 🧠 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

It’s week three of our Summer Sessions and in the same week AOL dial-up finally went quiet, we’re taking a trip down memory lane… with help from Reddit’s Ask Old People thread. Armed with gin, sunscreen, and questionable wisdom, we answer some of the internet’s best nostalgia questions — from “what’s a behaviour you no longer tolerate” to “how did we find out a song name before Shazam?” Plus, we unpack the workplace quirks, fashion crimes, and tech disasters that shaped our early careers. 🔥 What We Cover 📌 Back in our day… From office smoking rooms to fax machine rage, we share the work habits and cultural norms we’re glad to leave in the past. 📌 Career curveballs The ‘Plan B’ moments that turned out better than Plan A — and why it’s worth embracing the detours. 📌 Finding music before the internet Yes, it involved cassette tapes, patience, and sometimes a lot of guesswork. 📌 What really earns respect The small but meaningful actions that instantly win us over in colleagues and leaders. 📌 Stress that didn’t exist What younger generations worry about now that simply wasn’t on our radar growing up. 🧠 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: Truth, Lies & Work – 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

This week’s guest is Carolina Lasso — a former Google and AmEx high-flyer who, on her 34th birthday, realised she had everything she'd ever worked for… and felt absolutely nothing. What followed was a six-month sabbatical, a solo trip around the world, and a radical redefinition of what it means to be successful. Let’s get into it. 🔑 Key Takeaways 📌 When achievement becomes identity Carolina opens up about using her accomplishments to feel loved, and how this deep-rooted drive masked real emotional needs — until her health and happiness collapsed. 📌 “I am busy” isn’t a flex She explains why constantly saying you're “too busy” might be a warning sign, not a badge of honour — and how to start replacing output obsession with genuine wellbeing. 📌 Flourishing isn’t about being happy all the time Forget peak performance. Carolina’s idea of success is being able to say, “I am well,” even when things aren’t perfect — and she shares how to get there. 📌 Your ego isn’t your enemy In a surprising twist, Carolina reframes the ego as a protective force. When it’s chasing achievement, it’s often trying to secure love and belonging. 🔗 Resources & Links Explore Carolina’s work:🌐 https://www.carolinalasso.com Follow her journey on Instagram:📸 https://www.instagram.com/carolinalasso_/ Connect on LinkedIn:💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinalasso 🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being – Mind UK: ⁠mind.org.uk/information-support – Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email ⁠jo@samaritans.org 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: Truth, Lies & Work – Al Elliott: ⁠linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: ⁠linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: ⁠hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: ⁠savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat