
Punk Rock HR
Welcome to the Punk Rock HR Podcast, hosted by the influential and unconventional Laurie Ruettimann. This podcast breaks away from the traditional constraints of the HR world to bring you candid and compelling conversations with some of the most disruptive and innovative minds in the business. Each episode, Laurie dives deep into critical topics surrounding the real world of work, exploring the modern workplace's nuances, and challenging the status quo of HR.Guests range from renowned thought leaders, authors, and entrepreneurs to HR professionals and individuals who have reshaped the way we approach work and organizational culture. Punk Rock HR is not your usual HR talk. It’s a blend of insight, wit, and irreverence, aiming to bring a fresh, unfiltered perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing today’s workforce.Whether you’re an HR professional looking to revamp your approach, a leader trying to understand the people side of the business better, or just someone interested in the dynamics of the modern workplace, this podcast is your ticket to engaging discussions and actionable insights. Expect energizing conversations, guests with big ideas, and a punk rock twist, with episodes released every Monday.Follow the Punk Rock HR Podcast to keep your finger on the pulse of work, leadership, and human resources. Your journey towards a more progressive and enlightened workspace starts here!
Latest episodes

Aug 2, 2021 • 28min
Reissue: The Rise of Addictive Technology with Adam Alter
This summer, I'm reissuing some of my favorite episodes of Punk Rock HR. This one is my interview with Adam Alter, a professor of marketing at the NYU Stern School of Business and author of the book “Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked.”Listen in to hear just how bad our addiction to technology has become over the years and the steps we can take to reclaim our time.

Jul 26, 2021 • 24min
#176: BookThinkers with Nick Hutchison
My guest today is Nick Hutchison, the founder of BookThinkers, a business dedicated to helping authors and readers make a connection in the personal development space. If you’re interested in hearing us discuss how to get the most out of personal development books, hearing about what to look for in a great book, as well as advice for authors who are trying to grow their audience, sit back and enjoy this conversation.

Jul 23, 2021 • 28min
Reissue: Why Hustle Culture Is Failing with Mary Ellen Slayter
This summer, I'm reissuing some of my favorite episodes of Punk Rock HR. Here's a conversation I had in 2019 with Mary Ellen Slayter, the founder and CEO of Rep Cap Media. We chat about why our culture is so obsessed with the side hustle, why it is failing us and solutions for the future of work. This conversation is valuable to revisit as we emerge from the pandemic and you find yourself tempted to take on that fifth side job.

Jul 19, 2021 • 23min
#175: Digital Body Language with Erica Dhawan
According to my guest this week, Erica Dhawan, it’s just as important to effectively master the art of digital body language as it is to master the other types of nonverbal language. Erica is the author of a tremendously valuable book on this topic, “Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance.” If you’re leading cross-cultural teams or you’re just trying to avoid mixed messages with friends, you’ll gain important insight about modern communication from this episode.

Jul 16, 2021 • 27min
Reissue: Defining Psychological Safety in the Workplace with Professor Amy Edmondson
This summer, I'll be reissuing some of my favorite episodes of Punk Rock HR. Here's a conversation I had in 2019 with Professor Amy Edmondson from Harvard Business School and author of "The Fearless Organization". Our conversation about generating psychological safety, inviting participation and using humor to destigmatize failure is still essential today. If you’re ready to empower your workforce to create and innovate, sit back and learn from Amy Edmondson.

Jul 13, 2021 • 26min
#174: You Are the Brand with Mike Kim
My guest for today is Mike Kim, author of “You Are The Brand: The 8-Step Blueprint to Showcase Your Unique Expertise and Build a Highly Profitable, Personally Fulfilling Business.” Mike’s expertise has always been invaluable, but it’s essential right now, when so many smart and talented people are pivoting in the post-COVID world. If you want to learn how to position your expertise in the most effective way possible, then listen in!

Jul 12, 2021 • 22min
#173: The Future of HR Leadership with Dr. Amy Dufrane
My guest for today is Dr. Amy Dufrane, the CEO of HRCI, the leading certification body for human resources — and she’s also a longtime listener of Punk Rock HR! Amy joined me to talk about on the show today to talk about the future of work, the future of human resources, and all things human capital. If you’re like Amy and me and nerd out over all things HR, this is one you don’t want to miss!

Jul 5, 2021 • 28min
#172: The Real Truth of Becoming an Entrepreneur with Gino Wickman
Do you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur? My guest on this week’s episode, Gino Wickman, is here to help you figure that out. He’s the author of the book “Entrepreneurial Leap: Do You Have What It Takes to Become an Entrepreneur?” He makes his point clear: becoming an entrepreneur is rewarding, but it definitely isn’t for everyone. Listen in to hear Gino break down all of the parts that make up a successful self-leader so that you can figure out if becoming an entrepreneur is right for you.

Jun 28, 2021 • 31min
#171: Fair Pay with David Buckmaster
My guest this week, David Buckmaster, has a ton of experience working for corporate compensation teams. He’s a prolific writer and is the author of the new book “Fair Pay: How to Get a Raise, Close the Wage Gap, and Build Stronger Businesses.” Listen in to hear David’s solutions on providing employees with full transparency, the role that negotiation has in fair pay and HR’s role in closing the racial and gender pay gaps once and for all.

Jun 21, 2021 • 26min
#170: Rewire Your Brain with Dr. Rebecca Heiss
My guest today, Dr. Rebecca Heiss, uses her degrees in biology to help people overcome evolutionary limitations that are hardwired in the brain and improve their self-awareness and leadership skills. She’s also an ornithologist, which means that she can tell us what we can learn about this type of human behavior by studying birds. Listen in to discover the methods you can use to rewire your brain and live more positively, and find out how birds fit into all of this.