Truth, Lies and Work

Latest Episodes:

223. Why small talk is exhausting (according to science), with Associate Professor John Michel Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

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

222. Ask old people! Answering Reddit’s funniest nostalgia questions - Summer Sessions Episode 3 Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

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

221. Is chasing success making you unhappy? With Carolina Lasso, former Google and AmEx high-flyer Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

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

220. Remote Work Roulette: the best (and worst) places we’ve ever worked - Summer Sessions, Episode 2 Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

This is Episode 2 of our Summer Sessions — and this week, we’re going global. After visiting nearly 50 countries together, we’re spilling the tea on where to go, where to avoid, and how to actually get work done without melting, buffering, or losing your mind.

From long-stays in Southeast Asia to one-night stands in Northern Europe, we’re unpacking the joy and chaos of remote work around the world. Expect real talk, surprising tips, and at least one mosquito-related meltdown.

🔥 What We Cover

📌 Best countries for remote working Where Wi-Fi, weather, and work-life balance all hit that sweet spot (hint: not Bali).

📌 Holiday vs. Nomad: don’t get it twisted Why not every dreamy destination is cut out for your inbox.

📌 Places we’ll never return to (for work) Loud, cold, lonely or just plain awkward — the countries that didn’t make the cut.

📌 The unexpected winners Countries we didn’t expect to love as a base… but it totally surprised us.

🧠 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

219. What is holiday anxiety - and why can’t we switch off? With clinical psychologist, Dr Elaine Smith Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

This week we’re breaking down the science behind switching off — and how to finally reclaim your holidays. From boundary-setting to return-to-work anxiety, clinical psychologist Dr. Elaine Smith shares what it really takes to disconnect (without guilt).

🔥 What We Cover

📌 Email addiction is real
Dr. Elaine explains why our brains are wired to check messages — even on holiday — and how to break that cycle with simple psychological strategies.

📌 Setting better boundaries at work
From crystal-clear out-of-office messages to handling pushy colleagues, Elaine lays out exactly how to protect your time off without burning bridges.

📌 Toxic holiday cultures
We hear from a listener who was told to check emails daily while on leave — and got angry messages when they didn’t. Elaine breaks down what’s really happening in these workplaces and how to respond.

📌 The secret to a smooth return
Why your return-to-work inbox shouldn’t ruin your last two days off — and Elaine’s practical plan for managing the emotional spike that comes with coming back.

🎧 Want more from Dr. Elaine Smith?

Explore her work: www.drelainesmith.com
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-elaine-smith-creating-compassionate-workplaces/
Try her Holiday Headspace masterclass:
https://www.drelainesmith.com/beat-annual-leave-anxiety
Use code truthlieswork20 for 20% off (normally £39)

🧠 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

218. The F-ckup Files: Our biggest work (and life!) failures. Summer Sessions, Episode 1 Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

This week we’re diving into our biggest professional disasters — and the personal embarrassments we still think about in the shower. From losing £103k on a failed business to being demoted out of a dream job, these are the moments that shaped us. And the ones we usually keep quiet.

Recorded poolside with a gin in hand, this is the first of our Summer Sessions — stripped-back, slightly tipsy, and very real.

🔥 What We Cover

📌 Leanne’s first big management flop
The dream promotion that turned into a living panic — and what she learned about boundaries, leadership, and starting again after being publicly demoted.

📌 Al’s bankruptcy at 26
The booze delivery startup that collapsed under licensing laws — and the brutal lessons in risk, resilience, and recovering from £103k of debt.

📌 Public fails and poolside humiliation
Leanne’s wedding faceplant in Thailand. Al’s Tesco meat counter catastrophe. We relive the awkward moments that taught us more than any win ever has.

📌 Why failure is worth sharing
We talk honestly about panic attacks, identity crises, and the long tail of shame — and why we still believe in taking big swings.

🎧 Want more from Truth, Lies & Work?
– Website: https://truthliesandwork.com
– 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

🧠 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

217. What makes a better boss? With The Economist’s Andrew Palmer, host of Boss Class Podcast Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Andrew Palmer has spoken to the head executives form Stripe, Netflix, LinkedIN, Google, Toyota - and he's uncovered the counterintuitive leadership lessons from all of them!

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: Andrew Palmer Bartleby columnist and senior editor at The Economist, Andrew is also the host of Boss Class — a podcast that goes behind the scenes with the leaders of some of the world’s most admired companies.

From Toyota to Netflix, IKEA to Unilever, Andrew’s spent the last year asking one deceptively simple question: What makes a better boss?

In this conversation, he shares the themes that kept coming up — and the surprising patterns that didn’t.

💡 Key Takeaways from Andrew Palmer

Great bosses know when to shut up. The best leaders don’t try to win the room. They create the space for others to think — and listen before they speak.
Trust is built slowly — and breaks fast. The CEOs who lead well focus less on controlling people and more on designing systems that earn trust every day.
There’s no ‘one way’ to lead. From the founder of Patagonia to the CEO of Toyota, the styles vary wildly. But what they share is a clear sense of purpose — and an ability to reflect on their own behaviour.
Being a boss means learning constantly. The best leaders aren’t finished products. They’re works in progress who stay curious, ask questions, and remain open to being wrong.

🔗 Find out more Andrew Palmer on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-palmer-a3012a3/⁠ Boss Class podcast: ⁠https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/boss-class⁠

🎧 Enjoying the show? Follow, share, and leave us a review — and don’t forget to catch Tuesday’s episode for the latest workplace news, hot takes, and real listener dilemmas.

🧠 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 – Mental Health at Work: ⁠https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/⁠

📬 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

216. The intruder paradox, hiring extremes and return-to-office pressure. PLUS! Should you ever admit you’re planning to quit? With Becky Simms Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

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 Tuesday news round-up, workplace surgery, and expert take — all in one.

🔥 This Week’s Stories

📌 1. The Intruder Paradox: Is imposter syndrome actually a workplace problem?
New research says it’s not always your confidence that’s the issue — it’s your environment. We explore the study behind a new term: the intruder paradox — and what it means for inclusion at work.
📰 Source: https://asmepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/medu.15741
🗞️ Commentary: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matt-smeed-b6033922_intruder-paradox-activity-7346916286867681281-O3Kv
📖 Read more: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/imposter-syndrome-isnt-your-fault-it-s-a-workplace-problem-c2e00fbe67df

📌 2. How to hire an A-player: Tough love or recruitment theatre?
A viral hiring post lays out a bold approach: multi-hour interviews, deep reference checks, and a “hard truths first” philosophy. But does this really help you hire better — or just scare off the best people? Al and Leanne unpack the thinking behind this controversial method and explore what hiring top talent really takes.

📌 3. Return-to-office rules are harming wellbeing — even before they’re enforced
A new Hays poll finds that just the threat of stricter office policies is denting morale. We unpack the anticipatory anxiety building across the UK workforce.
🗣️ Featuring insight from SWAA’s December 2024 data and Hays UK research.

🔥 Hot Take: Should you talk openly about quitting?

Guest: Becky Simms (CEO, Human First Collective)

It’s the workplace conversation nobody wants to have — until it’s too late. Becky explains why talking about career moves before they happen could be the secret to better retention, stronger trust, and less awkward exits.

📬 Register your interest to support Aspiration Digital: https://forms.gle/qFSqSurv1soNF4sL8
📱 Follow Aspiration Digital on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspirationdigital/
📱 Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aspirationdigital

💬 Workplace Surgery
This week, we’re joined by experts from The Curve Group to answer 3 complex HR dilemmas:

❓ “How do you handle a workplace complaint when one employee wants to make amends — and the other wants them gone?”
🎧 Response from: Catherine Coggins – Head of HR & Legal at The Curve Group

❓ “Are job boards still worth it for small businesses?”
🎧 Response from: Liam Reed – Head of Recruitment Operations at The Curve Group

❓ “How do bank holidays work for compressed hours?”
🎧 Response from: Catherine Coggins – Head of HR & Legal at The Curve Group

🎧 Enjoying the show?
Follow, share, and leave us a review — and don’t forget to join us Thursday as we’re joined by Boss Class host and The Economist senior editor Andrew Palmer for a deep dive on leadership lessons from the world’s best-run companies.

🧠 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
– Mental Health at Work: https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/

215. How to lead with confidence, not control. With law firm CEO, Tim Lupinacci Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ This Week’s Guest: Tim Lupinacci

He runs a law firm with hundreds of employees across the U.S. — and he’s doing it by flipping traditional leadership on its head.

Tim Lupinacci is the CEO and Chair of Baker Donelson, a 130-year-old U.S. law firm. But unlike the archetype of a power-hungry managing partner, Tim leads through vulnerability, service, and personal values.

In this conversation, Tim shares how he’s built a culture of trust and transparency in a sector that’s famously high-pressure, high-burnout, and historically low on empathy. Expect real-world lessons on humility, motivation, and leading with impact in complex, change-resistant environments.

💡 Key Takeaways from Tim Lupinacci

Service is power.
Tim explains why true leadership means removing barriers — not issuing commands.
Vulnerability builds trust.
By showing up as a real human, Tim found his team became more loyal, engaged, and resilient.
Law firms don’t have to be toxic.
Culture change is possible — even in legacy-driven sectors — when leaders go first.

🔗 Connect with Tim Lupinacci
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-lupinacci/

🎧 Enjoying the show?
Follow, share, and leave us a review wherever you listen — and don’t forget to check out our Tuesday news round-up for the latest in people, culture, and the science 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
Truth, Lies & Work on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-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

214. The wildest overemployment scam in tech history. PLUS! Fake empathy, nepo hires and salary secrets, with Rameez Kaleem Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

🔥 This Week’s Stories

📌 1. Empathsplaining: Are today’s leaders all talk, no trust?
From “I hear you” to “we care deeply,” modern leaders know how to sound empathetic — but are they actually avoiding hard conversations? Leanne explores a growing trend of emotional performance without action — and why Gen Z isn’t buying it.

📰 Source: Jeff LeBlanc – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jeff-leblanc-93212510a_leadership-workplace-management-activity-7347583849054302208-Fzy0

📌 2. Silicon Valley’s million-dollar scammer
One engineer, 22 startups, $1 million a year — and barely any work. Al breaks down the most outrageous employment heist in recent tech history, what it tells us about the future of remote work, and the ethical chaos of overemployment.

📰 Source: The Pragmatic Engineer – https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/the-10x-overlemployed-engineer

📌 3. What really happens when leaders break their word?
A new study reveals that it’s not the gap between values and actions that kills trust — it’s how leaders explain that gap. Leanne digs into the psychology behind word–action misalignment, and why high-integrity leaders are judged more gently.

📰 Study: https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/joop.70030
📰 Medium write-up: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/when-leaders-break-promises-this-is-what-saves-trust-198a94a6220b

🔥 Hot Take: Let’s Talk About Pay, with Rameez Kaleem

Why are companies still scared of pay transparency — and what’s that fear really costing them?

Rameez Kaleem, founder of 3R Strategy, says pay isn’t just a finance issue — it’s a culture issue. He explains why younger workers are demanding honesty, how pay secrecy fuels inequality, and how transparency builds trust even without revealing everyone’s salary.

🗣 Guest links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rameezkaleem/

https://3r-strategy.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/a-case-of-the-mondays/id1691526371

💬 Workplace Surgery

❓ Should I hire my spouse into my small team?
A listener wonders if working with their partner will strengthen trust — or spark chaos.

❓ How far should employers go to protect wellbeing?
What’s realistic when you want to care for your team — but you’re also trying to survive as a small business?

❓ Can DISC fix team tensions — or is it just a fad?
With personality clashes brewing, one leader asks whether DISC assessments can help — and what other tools might work better.

🎧 Enjoying the show?
Follow, share, and leave us a review wherever you listen — and don’t forget to join us Thursday for an expert masterclass on how to manage people who are way smarter than you.

🧠 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

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