

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

Jul 13, 2020 • 40min
117: Creating a Culture of Trust with JeVon “JT” McCormick
Punk Rock HR Episode 117:JeVon “JT” McCormick is the CEO of Scribe Media, a publishing company that helps authors write, publish, and market their books. More importantly, he is someone with an incredibly interesting backstory. JT grew up amidst chaos, never went to college, and started his career in labor-intensive jobs. Yet, through these experiences, he managed to understand society better. That eventually became his avenue to success.Now, he runs a company that published the most sought after book in America last year: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins. He also recently wrote a piece that appeared on CNN.com and went viral. In today’s episode, we talk about work, power, politics, money, the Coronavirus, Black Lives Matter, and what it means to be a leader in uncertain times.In this episode you’ll hear:
What got JT to where he is today.
His chaotic origin story that helped contribute to his business success.
The 3 rules of leadership he lives by.
Why the future of work should be a combination of remote and office space.
The toxicity of binary thinking.
How to create a culture of trust.
How to measure success in a way that honors employees.
The changes and conversations that have occurred in Scribe Media amidst COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The role of corporations in addressing the systemic problems in our country.
Resources from this episode:Scribe WritingJT's WebsiteJT on LinkedInNapolean Hill's Think & Grow Rich 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

Jul 6, 2020 • 52min
116: BFF Chat with Jennifer McClure
Punk Rock HR Episode 116:Today on the podcast, I’m talking to my best friend, Jennifer McClure. We have one of our BFF chats, Jennifer’s first on this iteration of the podcast. During COVID-19, a lot has changed in Jennifer’s life. She has moved into her new house, navigated through the sickness of a family member, and rebooted her business. Like many of us, these life changes brought on by the pandemic have taught her many life lessons. Jennifer shares those with us today. Jennifer is a full-time professional speaker, business advisor, and host of the podcast Impact Makers. She has spoken at over 350 industry-related conferences, helping international leaders embrace the future of work and leverage their influence. In this episode, she updates us on her life and provides valuable wisdom on all different areas of work.In this episode you’ll hear:
Jennifer’s experience selling her house in a pandemic.
The story of how her mom became sick in March and what that taught her about herself.
The capacity of humans to step up and care for other humans.
How she is now rebooting her business.
How hiring a coach at the beginning of her transition from the corporate world changed the trajectory of her career.
The way to know if your content is providing value to your email community.
How COVID-19 has impacted Laurie’s business.
Why any step forward is a good step.
The real truth about what it’s like to write a book.
Jennifer’s wisdom around getting fired.
Resources from this episode:Jennifer’s websiteStory BrandStoryBrand BookLaurie 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

Jun 29, 2020 • 43min
115: The Future of Work after COVID-19 with Karina Schultheis
Punk Rock HR Episode 115:This week, I’m joined by Karina Schultheis. She is a manager of human insights and HCM evangelism at Ultimate Software. However, even though Karina has an amazing job now, it hasn’t always been that way. She has worked in other jobs with other bosses and therefore brings a unique perspective to the table. Currently, Karina is a newly promoted employee at an amazing company. Ultimate Software really gets it right on so many levels and they have been recognized for it. It is one of the best companies to work for, not just in America, but the world. Karina is also a working mother who is about to give birth to her second child. In this episode, Karina and I talk about the future of work post-COVID. If you like insights on human behavior and what it’s going to take for companies to turn it around, listen in to this conversation with Karina Schultheis.In this episode you’ll hear:
How integral the human element is to a company’s culture.
Why personalization is going to become crucial for organizations.
What it takes to build a culture of trust in a company.
The importance of well-being for the employees and leaders of an organization and how it leads to better retention rates.
The role of authenticity and flexibility in leadership teams.
What substance abuse is doing to our workforce right now as influenced by COVID-19.
The role of HR in driving productivity and maintaining healthy boundaries.
How we can move forward post-COVID and amidst all the social justice reforms happening in our country.
Karina’s hopes for HR and for the workforce going forward.
Resources from this episode:Karina's TwitterKarina's InstagramUltimate Software On TwitterUltimate Software On Instagram Ultimate Software Facebook PageEquity at Work CouncilEquity at Work Social RoomLaurie 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

Jun 22, 2020 • 29min
114: Grief, God and George Floyd with Reverend Wendy Hamilton
Punk Rock HR Episode 114:Reverend Wendy Hamilton joins me to talk about the storm before the calm. In other words, the process of dealing with recurring problems and tackling the root cause of what's happening in our society, to get to a place of social justice. Reverend Wendy is a D.C. area activist, minister, and mother who's holding workshops on grief and trauma in the age of civil unrest. Wendy helps us work through grief, addresses faith, and the intersection of the two. This episode covers power, politics, money, race, and God. Yes, we cover a lot. I hope you enjoy our conversation. In this episode you'll hear:
Universal basic income and why everyone deserves to have their basic needs met.
The intersection of social justice and faith.
Reverend Wendy's perspective around grief and trauma and what she's doing to address it.
We discuss the various PR statements distributed by businesses around racism and equality.
The many opportunities available to leaders in this moment of societal and civil change.
The problem with our identity being so tied to our work.
Resources from this episode:Reverend Wendy on Twitter Reverend Wendy on YouTubeA Conversation With Presidential Candidate Andrew YangLaurie 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

Jun 15, 2020 • 29min
113: Resilience in The Hospitality World with Jim Knight
Punk Rock HR Episode 113:The hospitality industry has suffered tremendously because of COVID. The jobs the industry provides, well, they're the backbone of American families. This week, Jim Knight joins me to talk about the recession, staying motivated, and being resilient in hard times. We go deep into the retail, hospitality, and foodservice industries because that's the area of the economy that Jim knows best. Jim Knight is a training and development veteran with over 30 years of experience. He trains people to be their best. While I find the term 'rockstar' often overused, Jim Knight is a rockstar in every sense. I hope you enjoy my conversation with him. In this episode you'll hear:
Jim breaks down what is going on in the hospitality and foodservice industry today, how many within the industry are discovering what it means to be resilient.
Tension around wages, earnings, and unionization; Jim shares his take.
How safety and engagement are related.
With more and more foodservice workers going on unemployment, what are incentives to go back to work, especially if an organization doesn't have a plan to handle guidelines or a policy in place for COVID-19?
Jim shares some of the organizations he believes are doing right by their employees during COVID-19 times - those who are communicating who they are and how they're keeping not only their customers safe but their employees safe as well.
Some ways in which we can help the food and hospitality industries and its workers.
We discuss essential workers and what the future holds for them.
Resources from this episode:Jim's websiteJim on LinkedInNational Restaurant AssociationNo Kid HungryFeeding AmericaLaurie 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

Jun 8, 2020 • 26min
112: The Comeback from a Setback with Emily O'Brien
Punk Rock HR Episode 112:So, what does a Canadian millennial entrepreneur know about making a comeback? This week's guest, Emily O'Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks, is going to tell us. In today's episode, Emily opens up about her journey from a sales professional at a global corporation to an entrepreneur, to a convicted felon, and then back again to an entrepreneur. She is someone who is trying to give back, make amends, and help her community. Many motivational professionals like to say the setback is a setup for the comeback. And often, it sounds over-sensationalized. But in the case of Emily's story, I think that's true. If you'd like to hear about a person who overcame their worst instincts and how they turned it around, I think you're going to love this conversation with Emily O'Brien. In this episode you'll hear:
Emily's story of graduating college with honors, starting her own business, and how things took a left turn when she got arrested.
She shares openly about life after her arrest, being sentenced, and going to jail.
How prison forces you to be mindful in a weird, unfortunate way.
She started her popcorn business, Comeback Snacks, in prison.
How Emily deals with the pressures of entrepreneurship.
Emily's perspective on how to grow as a leader and challenge yourself to do better.
What Emily would like Executives and HR professionals to learn from her story.
Resources from this episode:Comeback Snacks Emily 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

Jun 1, 2020 • 18min
111: So You Want To Be a Coach?
Punk Rock HR Episode 111:If you want to be an executive or career coach, you have to approach doing so like a business, not a side hustle. You need a business plan, you need to know how to run a business, and you need to determine who you can help and who you cannot help. In this episode, I am sharing four pieces of advice for those interested in starting a coaching business of any kind. In this episode you'll hear:
Why creating a business plan is a necessity, plus some resources to help you write one.
The importance of knowing your "Why?"
Understanding and acknowledging your skills and why you need to be ready to turn down clients you know you cannot help.
Why executive coaching is not a side hustle.
Resources from this episode: Score.org Business Plan TemplateSmall Business AdministrationJennifer McClureLaurie 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

May 25, 2020 • 34min
110: Behind the Scenes of HR Podcasting with Wendy Dailey & Jon Thurmond
Punk Rock HR Episode 110:Podcasting is a little bit of art, a little bit of science, and a lot of hard work. Today, HR podcasters, Wendy Dailey and Jon Thurmond, hosts of the HR Social Half Hour Podcast, join me on the show. If you've ever wanted to know what it takes to host a podcast about Human Resources, buckle up because this episode is for you. In their podcast, Wendy and Jon talk to ordinary individuals working in the trenches of Human Resources, who are doing extraordinary things. Wendy and Jon are two examples of humans doing it right, so I invited them to come on to Punk Rock HR. They give us a behind the scenes look into their podcast, which inspires them to keep going, and how community is the driving force in everything they do. I respect what Wendy and Jon are doing. I think at the end of this conversation, you may admire them too. In this episode you'll hear:
How the name HR Social Half Hour Podcast was born out of a Twitter Chat, and why the word social is so important to show's online culture.
"What's in your glass?", why Wendy and Jon begin their podcast episodes with this simple question, every single time.
Podcasting as a gateway to networking, connecting with others, being intentional, and sharing ideas.
Jon and Wendy share some of their favorite guests and episodes, including an interview with Melanie Peacock and Minda Harts.
HR Social Half Hour focuses on community and community activities; Jon and Wendy share what they are doing to knit the HR community together using the podcast.
What community has meant to each of them, how it sustains them, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some lessons about podcasting for anybody who is dreaming about starting a podcast.
Resources from this episode:The HR Social Half Hour Podcast on the Web The HR Social Half Hour Podcast on Apple Podcasts Jon and Wendy talk to Valorie Kondos Field HR Social Half Hour Wonder Women EpisodeHR Social Half Hour on Twitter - #HRSocialHour chat on TwitterWendy on TwitterJon on TwitterLaurie 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

May 18, 2020 • 24min
109: You are #Qualified with Amanda Nachman
Punk Rock HR Episode 109:If you've ever wondered, am I qualified? Or am I the right person for this role? You are going to enjoy this week's conversation with Amanda Nachman. With graduation season upon us, Amanda is perfectly positioned to talk about looking for a job in a pandemic. She is an author and professional speaker who is passionate about helping emerging professionals become career strategists and achieve their dream careers. She's also a motivational speaker at Find Your Passion Career and the CEO of the College Magazine. In this conversation, Amanda and I talk about her new book #Qualified: You Are More Impressive Than You Realize, her journey developing College Magazine, and the growth of her career. Amanda has lessons for you, whether you're a new grad or someone who has been doing your job for twenty years. You don't need to wait around for someone to tell you that you're qualified. You can build this experience on your own. In this episode you'll hear:
How Amanda turned her idea to create a guide that would help students be successful in what is known today as College Magazine.
About Amanda's new book #QUALIFIED and how you don't need to wait around for someone to tell you that you're qualified. You can build this experience on your own.
What's going to have the path of least resistance isn't always what's most exciting or what's most fulfilling for us. And I think we lose sight of that.
Amanda's message for somebody who feels average and unqualified.
Some of the bumps Amanda has had on the road to her success.
The importance of making courageous connections.
How to level up your story first, so you're ready for moments of rejection.
Resources from this episode: Amanda Nachman on LinkedInAmanda’s website #QUALIFIED: You Are More Impressive Than You RealizeCollege MagazineLaurie 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

May 11, 2020 • 35min
108: Pick a Fight with David Burkus
Punk Rock HR Episode 108:David Burkus is one of the world's leading business thinkers and speakers, focusing on topics such as leadership and innovation. He's also the best-selling author of an audiobook called Pick a Fight: How Great Teams Find a Purpose Worth Rallying Around. I like a good battle. I love a good cause too. So David is on the podcast this week because I am someone who is motivated by a fight. In his book, David asks great questions like, "As an organization, what are we fighting for?" Or "What are you doing to change the world? And why are you doing it?" It's such a great perspective to have, especially in the age of a pandemic. If you're not fighting for something, if you don't know your purpose or your mission, what are you doing? So if you are looking for some motivation, want to think about your job in a more significant way or find your purpose, I think you're going to enjoy this conversation with my friend David Burkus.In this episode you'll hear:
Why David decided to release his book, Pick a Fight, as an audiobook only and some of the challenges he's hit up against in doing so.
The difference between having a purpose and having a mission statement.
How to creatively think about what the big battle is and break people from complacency, getting them excited to fight.
David's TEDx Talk: Why you should know how much your coworkers get paid was genius. He shares what it was about and how it was received.
How to have mature conversations about mission or purpose.
How artifacts symbolize or reinforce an organization's story, Savannah Bananas, is a perfect example of this.
Why picking a fight and having a purpose will allow you to return home a more energized person than you were when you left.
Resources from this episode:David on LinkedIn Pick a Fight: How Great Teams Find a Purpose Worth Rallying AroundDavid’s websitePela Case David’s TEDx Talk: Why you should know how much your coworkers get paidThe Savannah BananasLaurie 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


