

Punk Rock HR
WRKdefined Podcast Network
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 14, 2020 • 30min
126: Revolutionizing The Workplace For Women of Color with Minda Harts
Punk Rock HR Episode 126:Today’s guest is author and speaker Minda Harts. If you have ever wondered who’s fighting for women of color to get a seat at the table, it’s Minda. Her book, Memo, has opened the doors for women and other authors to talk about what’s really happening in the world of work. On top of her nationally recognized book, Minda has a terrific LinkedIn account, a prolific blog, and great Instagram and Twitter accounts. Most importantly, she is an amazing podcaster and the host of the show, Secure the Seat. Minda is a self-proclaimed career revolutionary. Her goal is to leave the workplace better than she found it.In this episode, Minda and I are talking about her work, including her new book. We discuss where she gets her inspiration and passion for the content she creates. I’m so excited to talk to someone who’s kicking butt and taking names. Tune in to be a part of the conversation.In this episode you’ll hear:
The different mediums Minda uses to get her message out.
What her book, Memo, is all about and what lessons people can get out of it.
Where she learned the lessons she shares in Memo.
Her writing process for Memo and how she established her tone.
The origin story that made her who she is today.
How she knows she’s making a difference in her community.
How she responds to those who complain about what she says and does.
How to overcome imposter syndrome.
What success means to her.
Why she is excited about the future of work.
Resources from this episode:The Memo bookMinda on LinkedInMinda on TwitterMinda on InstagramMinda's website The Memo Virtual Experience Minda on Real Leader's 40 Top Women Keynote Speakers for 2020 List. Washington Post articleLaurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Sep 7, 2020 • 1h 1min
125: The Lies that Canceled Zach Ward
Punk Rock HR Episode 125:Today’s guest is my friend Zach Ward. He is the former owner of a comedy theater whose career was ended in 2017. Zach was canceled before it was trendy.Zach is someone who fulfilled a dream which many of us have. He came back home after college, created a community, and monetized his passion. But in creating that community, other things happened. Eventually, allegations were made against him and he was canceled. I want Zach to not only survive this tidal wave but rebuild his life. That is why I brought him onto the show. In today’s episode, we are talking about serious issues like cancel culture and sexual assault allegations. Zach helps us understand where his career began and the lies that eventually made it come to an end. My hope is that, by hearing Zach’s story and his commitment to transparency, we can all begin to pause and ask our own questions when we hear accusations. In this episode you’ll hear:
Zach’s college experience and how he came to open DSI Comedy Theater.
The smear campaign against DSI and Zach.
How he managed the rumors in the marketplace.
The Facebook thread in which he was accused of sexual assault and the details that made it untrue.
The collateral damage from those accusations.
How these lies followed him to his new job.
Social isolation and his perspective on it.
Takeaways for business leaders and professionals.
Resources from this episode:The Story articleZach on Twitter Indy Week DSI Comedy Owner news article Indy Week Misogny news article News Observer DSI Comedy Owner Steps Down news article DSI Comedy Insanity Reddit article News Observer Indy Editor news article NY Times Cancel Culture: Part 1 podcast NY Times Cancel Culture: Part 2 podcastLaurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***

Aug 31, 2020 • 26min
124: The Power of Empathy with Mimi Nicklin
Punk Rock HR Episode 124:Today’s guest is author and podcaster Mimi Nicklin. She is the author of Softening the Edge, a book all about empathy and how humanity’s oldest leadership trait is changing our world. Mimi believes that the ability to connect authentically with others has the power to shape not only our business environments but every part of our lives.Michelle Obama recently gave a speech and said that there is an empathy deficit among many people in power in our country. I feel that truth in my bones. Empathy is something so primal, yet so hard to achieve. Mimi’s big ideas drive the conversation around empathy into the world, which is why I brought her onto the show today.In this episode, Mimi and I talk about empathy. We discuss what it is, what it isn’t, and how you actually put empathy into practice at work. If you wonder how seeing someone’s perspective can help you be a better leader, listen in to this conversation with Mimi.In this episode you’ll hear:
A simple definition of empathy.
How to overcome the empathy deficit in our world.
Where to go to add more empathy into the world.
What it would look like to implement empathy training in an organization.
Why listening is so important.
How to balance the need for speed with the need to be seen and heard.
How to control your microcosms to create a ripple effect in your company’s culture.
Why Mimi is passionate about empathy.
Resources from this episode:Mimi’s websiteEmpathy for Breakfast Youtube Channel Softening the Edge bookMimi on InstagramLaurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Aug 24, 2020 • 29min
123: The Future of Independent Workers with Carl Camden
Punk Rock HR Episode 123:Carl Camden is the former CEO of Kelly Services and the current president of iPSE-U.S. He has dedicated more than 25 years of his life to advocating for the independent workforce. This has looked like creating career opportunities and seeking justice for independent workers by challenging leaders to adapt to the future of work.In 2017 Carl assembled industry leaders, House members from both parties, and association leaders for an exclusive D.C. event. This eventually became the genesis for iPSE-U.S. Today, this organization partners with a variety of other companies to provide the protection that corporations offer to their employees for independent workers.In this episode, we talk about the differentiation between full-time workers and the gig economy and how often that differentiation turns people into second-class citizens. We also talk about the third rail of work, health-insurance benefits, and how iPSE-U.S. helps make it accessible to contractors. The gig economy covers everybody from Ph.D. scientists to delivery drivers and it could include you. So, if you have any interest in the topic, listen to my conversation with Carl. In this episode you’ll hear:
How Carl got to where he is today.
Where we are today in the world of work.
What Carl is doing to advocate for independent workers today.
How independent workers are treated differently in the workplace.
Independent work within marginalized communities.
Carl’s prediction regarding breakthroughs in this area in the next generation.
Resources from this episode:iPSE-U.S.Laurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Aug 17, 2020 • 31min
122: Culture First with Damon Klotz
Punk Rock HR Episode 122:Today's guest is Damon Klotz. Damon has spent his career working at the intersection of people & technology. He's held roles as an HR Consultant, Digital Strategist, and he’s the co-founder of a men’s mental health charity. He joined Culture Amp as an early employee where he grew their community to one of the largest in the world and scaled the company during a time where the employees and customer base grew by over 2500%. But what I want you to know about Damon more than anything is that he believes that businesses can be a force for good in this world. I have known him for over 11 years, and a lot of people mistake optimism for naivete. But here's the deal about Damon, he is savvy, he understands how to build relationships, he understands the world of work. And yet, knowing how nefarious the startup scene can be, and knowing how crazy the world of work is, he still believes that people are good that human resources can make a difference. And then when it comes down to it, culture first really matters. In this episode you'll hear:
The story of how Damon and I met.
What Damon sees when he looks out at America.
What Damon’s company, Culture Amp, is doing right now in the marketplace.
His beliefs about culture and what culture truly is.
Damon’s thoughts on the future of HR leaders.
Resources from this episode:Damon on TwitterCulture AmpCulture First PodcastLaurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Aug 10, 2020 • 14min
121: Defund HR
Punk Rock HR Episode 121:Just like the conversation all over America, and really the world, about defunding police work, today I want to talk about defunding human resources, recruiting, and compensation. HR oversees a system with rules that they don’t control and might not even agree with but can’t change, and they rarely see people at their best. For the past 40 years, we’ve been pumping money into human resources and we are not getting the ROI we deserve.In this episode you'll hear:
Management science is not with HR.
How compensation programs are still biased.
How to embrace the golden age of technology.
Why you need to quit a job that requires you to police people.
Have you thought about the legacy you’re leaving behind?
Resources from this episode:Laurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Aug 3, 2020 • 33min
120: Improving The Employee Experience with Gary Beckstrand
Punk Rock HR Episode 120:Gary Beckstrand is the vice president of The OC Tanner Institute. OC Tanner is a recognition company that’s focused on aligning people with their passion and their purpose. They do a tremendous amount of research on the employee in order to accomplish that goal. I have the amazing opportunity to partner with OC Tanner during the month of August on a webinar series called the Culture Trends Tour. This is a tour that brings together HR leaders, experts, and professionals to really connect and talk about the insights from OC Tanner’s 2020 Global Culture Report. I'm excited and honored to participate in it.We talk a little bit about this partnership in today’s episode, but mostly Gary and I talk about terms like recognition and employee experience. We discuss what these things really mean for modern leaders and the people that they support. Listen in for a really great conversation about leadership and employee experience in 2020 and beyond.In this episode you’ll hear:
What employee experience means to Gary.
The six aspects of employee experience that matter most when creating a satisfying work experience.
The 21st-century methodology of leadership.
The expectations of employees in 2020.
How to begin moving a company towards modern leadership.
The role of HR in the employee experience.
Resources from this episode: Global Culture Report: Our latest organizational culture research looks at current culture trends, company culture statistics, and how employees feel about their workplaces. See how companies with strong cultures recruit and attract top talent, reduce employee turnover, and become places where employees thrive. Culture Trends Tour: The Culture Trends Tour brings together HR leaders, experts, and professionals to connect and discover insights from the 2020 Global Culture Report—the largest annual study on workplace culture. Come to learn essential best-practices for shaping thriving workplace cultures that fuel organizational success. Influence Greatness: The most insightful conference on workplace culture is going virtual and international. With world-class speakers, a first look at the 2021 Global Culture Report, a wealth of on-demand content, and no registration fee. Talent Magnets: White Paper on the Six Essential Aspects of Workplace Culture The Work Place Podcast: Conversations with leaders in culture and experience, featuring tangible takeaways in every episode. Request a Product Demo: Culture Cloud Recognition: Welcome to the most complete collection of employee recognition tools for celebrating daily wins and team triumphs.Gary on LinkedInLaurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Jul 31, 2020 • 36min
Mentorship Friday: Looking for Work in a Pandemic with Cameron Sackett
Punk Rock HR Mentorship Friday:Cameron Sackett is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan who is looking for his first full-time job right now in marketing or social media management. Cameron is not just a young adult entering the workforce but is facing searching for a job in the middle of a pandemic.I first met Cameron when he was in middle school. Now, we have known each other for over 10 years. I wanted to bring him on to have a conversation on what he’s looking for in a job, how he’s doing it, and what it’s going to take to get him into the workforce.This episode isn’t a workforce generational discussion. Instead, Cameron and I talk about life stages and what he is looking for at this period in his life. He has some keen insights and lessons for all of us. Whether you work as a leader or a human resources professional, you’ll want to listen in to this great conversation with Cameron.In this episode you’ll hear:
Cameron’s unconventional college journey and how his worldview has changed during his time in college.
What it’s like looking for a job in the midst of a pandemic.
How his dad’s career in the human resources and recruiting industry has been a blessing and a curse.
His excitement and concerns about the future of work.
The line between politics and the workplace.
How to manage your social media profile while job hunting.
How to build connections on social media without revealing too much.
Resources from this episode:Cameron on LinkedIn HR Famous PodcastLaurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Jul 27, 2020 • 29min
119: Amplifying Black and Brown Voices with Zach Nunn
Punk Rock HR Episode 119:Zach Nunn is a change management consultant and one of the co-founders of the podcast and movement Living Corporate. The goal of that platform is to tell black and brown stories related to the world of work. You think you’ve heard good conversations about diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging, but you have not heard Living Corporate. On the show, Zach and his team talk to all kinds of people and have real conversations. They talk about the types of things that aren’t normally talked about at work or even in diversity inclusion programs. It is a terrific podcast that everybody needs to download and listen to.In the episode, Zach shares about the work he is doing. He explains why it has become his goal to create platforms in spaces that amplify and center black and brown voices at work. Zach has a perspective that causes him to speak with authority and provide answers to the questions many of us are asking, especially regarding what we can do to help right now. Listen in for another conversation on big ideas to do things differently.In this episode you’ll hear:
Zach’s story and how Living Corporate came to be.
The team of people who helps make Living Corporate happen.
Why Zach confronted white DNI professionals on the podcast.
A healthy perspective on the need to defund HR.
How to keep this antiracism movement from becoming another cyclical thing and make it a true reconstructive moment.
Why it is crucial for white people to be giving our capital.
Resources from this episode:Zach Nunn on LinkedIn Living Corporate podcastLiving CorporateLaurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Jul 20, 2020 • 33min
118: The Future of Business Conferences with Lauren Davis
Punk Rock HR Episode 118:Lauren Davis was a marketer, community organizer, and record store owner. Her real claim to fame, though, is that she does social media for conferences speakers like me. She helps speakers really connect with their audiences in a different way. Lauren has been named as one of the "20 People You Should Know" and a "Person to Watch." She has also received US Senate recognition for her passionate dedication to helping businesses succeed. Her expert social media advice has been featured in articles by Huffington Post and Readers Digest. She hosts her own podcast, The Business Event Playbook, that helps people grow their presence so they can focus on sales, exposure, leadership, and community impact.Lauren is all about community in a virtual world. I needed to bring her on today to talk about what is going on in the world of conferences. Many of us have questions about how speakers are doing and what the future of networking and events looks like. Today we talk about this and what it means to have a conference in an age when you can’t stand within six feet of someone.In this episode you’ll hear:
Why she loves conferences.
What the conference world looks like in the age of Coronavirus.
What the future state of conferences is.
The limitations of the push towards virtual.
How to have a successful virtual conference.
How to create good content in uncertain times.
The importance of empathy in this season.
Resources from this episode:Lauren’s websiteLauren on InstagramLauren on Facebook Lauren on LinkedInLaurie on InstagramLaurie on LinkedInRead more from LaurieWork with Laurie ***EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com


