

Honest HR
SHRM
Honest HR is the go-to podcast for aspiring and informed HR professionals intent on transforming workplace challenges into golden opportunities. This podcast brings you insights, trends, and actionable advice through relatable stories from the REAL world of HR.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 18, 2025 • 28min
Managing Natural Disasters as an HR Pro
The 2025 LA wildfires prompted a national response from affected organizations. Host Monique Akanbi and Christine Rodman, founder and CEO of Lynx Employer Resources LLC and state director for SHRM CA, discuss how HR professionals can prepare and support their fellow employees in the event of a natural disaster. This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires March 1, 2026Honest HR is the go-to podcast for aspiring and informed HR professionals intent on transforming workplace challenges into golden opportunities. Hosted by Amber Clayton, Monique Akanbi, and Wendy Fong, this podcast brings you insights, trends, and actionable advice through relatable stories from the REAL world of HR. Along with Honest HR, the HR Daily newsletter delivers daily insights, trends, and expert advice, empowering HR professionals to build a productive, engaged workforce and drive organizational success. Subscribe to HR Daily to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/voegyz --- Episode Transcript Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63rRate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Feb 11, 2025 • 30min
Empowering Working Parents
Parent out loud. Host Monique Akanbi is joined by Chelsey Gonzalez, VP Human Resources, Acklen Avenue, SHRM-CP, to discuss how working parents can harmonize their competing priorities and how HR professionals can best support them. This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires March 1, 2026Honest HR is the go-to podcast for aspiring and informed HR professionals intent on transforming workplace challenges into golden opportunities. Hosted by Amber Clayton, Monique Akanbi, and Wendy Fong, this podcast brings you insights, trends, and actionable advice through relatable stories from the REAL world of HR. Along with Honest HR, the HR Daily newsletter delivers daily insights, trends, and expert advice, empowering HR professionals to build a productive, engaged workforce and drive organizational success. Subscribe to HR Daily to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/voegyz--- Episode Transcript Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63rRate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Feb 5, 2025 • 33min
Maximizing the Candidate Experience—and Your Recruiting Results
How many interviews is too many? Is a work assignment appropriate for the role you’re filling? Host Amber Clayton sits down with Nicole Belyna, Director of Talent Acquisition & Inclusion at SHRM, to answer these and other HR questions about the recruiting process. Learn ways to make job descriptions and your organization’s digital presence stand out to quality applicants. Plus, get tips for ensuring a positive experience for prospective employees while gathering the insights you need to make the right hiring decision. Episode Transcript Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63rRate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jan 28, 2025 • 25min
Joking Around at Work (Without Offending Anyone)
Incorporate humor in the workplace. Host Monique Akanbi sits down with Jamie Jackson, HR leader by day, “Chief Meme Officer” by night, to discuss the value of humor and lightheartedness at work, as well as how to make sure it stays appropriate.Episode TranscriptThis podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires February 1, 2026Rate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jan 21, 2025 • 31min
Supporting Your Transgender Colleagues
Be proactive in supporting transgender employees. Host Amber Clayton is joined by Ben Greene, transgender educator and speaker, to discuss the ways HR professionals can advocate for their transgender colleagues. Learn the difference between cultural and structural acceptance and how both are essential in creating an inclusive workplace.This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires February 1, 2026.Rate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jan 14, 2025 • 36min
Challenge Your Biases
Understand biases with the “if, then, therefore” framework. Host Amber Clayton sits down with Sarah Bettman, founder & principal, Bettman Consulting Group, to discuss the cognition behind our biases and how to counteract them, as well as when it’s appropriate to solicit leadership buy-in and address them within your organization.This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires February 1, 2026Rate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jan 7, 2025 • 30min
What It Truly Means to Be an Ally
Allyship is a verb. And when done correctly, it can be a great tool to further your I&D goals. Host Monique Akanbi sits down with Victoria Mattingly, founder and CEO of Mattingly Solutions, and Sertrice Shipley, founder & CEO of Plan to Action LLC, to dig into common misconceptions about allyship, what the ally/partner relationship looks like, and what HR professionals can do to be a good ally. Episode TranscriptThis podcast is approved to provide 0.5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires February 1, 2026.Rate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts

Dec 31, 2024 • 35min
Burnout: Symptoms, Recovery, and Prevention
How can you tell if you or a colleague is suffering from burnout? How do you then recover from and prevent it? Host Monique Akanbi dives into these questions with Deidre Gestrin, Founder at Abundant Wellness Essentials, Wellness Consultant, Author, and Trainer. From the individual to organizational level, Deidre shares actionable insights on how to manage burnout. Episode TranscriptThis podcast is approved to provide 0.5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires February 1, 2026. Rate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts

Dec 17, 2024 • 25min
Advocate for Change with the Tools of a Trial Attorney
Be a champion of change. Host Amber Clayton and Heather Hansen, CEO, Advocate to Win, discuss the three Cs of advocacy and how to wield the tools of a trial attorney to win over your leaders and colleagues to enact change. Episode TranscriptThis podcast is approved to provide 0.5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires January 1, 2026.Rate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts

Dec 10, 2024 • 36min
Navigating Microaggressions with Grace
Equip yourself with the tools to handle microaggressions in the workplace whether you were the recipient, witness, or perpetrator. Hosts Monique Akanbi and Amber Clayton sat down with Eden-Reneé Hayes, CEO and Owner, Pluralism Solutions, at SHRM INCLUSION 2024 to dive into what microaggressions are, why it’s so important to combat them, and what HR professionals can do to minimize them. Episode TranscriptThis podcast is approved to provide 0.5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires January 1, 2026.Rate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.