Truth, Lies and Work

Latest Episodes:

193. The Sweaty Startup's guide to finding top talent, with Nick Huber May 01, 2025

Show notes

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week, we’re joined by Nick Huber, entrepreneur, investor, founder of Sweaty Startup, and author of the brand-new Sweaty Startup book.

Nick built his empire on what most entrepreneurs overlook: boring businesses that print cash. With over 325 employees across multiple companies, Nick is shaking up how we think about leadership, scale, and simplicity.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a business without burning out, or if you should stop chasing the shiny stuff and focus on what actually works, this episode is for you.

💡 Key Takeaways from Nick Huber

🚀 Boring Businesses Win Nick explains why storage units, cleaning companies, and pest control are more scalable (and profitable) than flashy tech startups.

📈 Focus on Scale, Not Ego Forget personal branding. Nick reveals how he structures teams, delegates, and makes decisions that actually drive results.

💥 How to Lead Without Losing Your Mind From mental health to mindset, Nick shares how to stay sane while managing multiple companies—and why simplicity beats complexity.

📚 The Sweaty Startup Playbook Nick’s new book distills his best strategies for launching, scaling, and selling service businesses, even if you have zero experience.

🎯 Why Hiring Right Changes Everything Nick dives into why early hires are the make-or-break moment for small businesses—and how to get it right.

🔗 Resources & Links

Nick Huber Online: Website: www.sweatystartup.com Personal site: www.nickhuber.com Book site: www.sweatystartupbook.com Somewhere.com: www.somewhere.com Bolt Storage: www.boltstorage.com Recost Seg: www.recostseg.com Ad Rhino: www.adrhino.com Spidexx: www.spidexx.com Bold SEO: www.boldseo.com Webrun: www.webrun.com Titan Risk: www.titanrisk.com RecruitJet: www.recruitjet.com Huber Method: www.hubermethod.com

Social & Media: X/Twitter: www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram: www.instagram.com/sweatystartup LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup YouTube: www.youtube.com/sweatystartup TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sweatystartup Threads: www.threads.net/@sweatystartup.com

Podcasts:
The Nick Huber Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-huber-show/id1576120606 The Sweaty Startup Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sweaty-startup/id1445260221

Book Links: Buy on Amazon (US): https://amzn.to/4bLazjW Buy in the UK: https://bit.ly/422njPW

📢 Enjoyed this episode? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. And share this episode with a founder, manager, or curious friend—you’ll look smart for doing it.

🧠 General 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
Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne/ Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

192. Will your job exist in 2030? PLUS! Mindful maneuvering and why Gen -Z isn't the problem, with Sophie Wade – This Week in Work, 29th April 2025 Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

This week, we’re asking one big question:

Will your job even exist in five years, and if not, what should you be doing now?

This Week's News

Is Your Job Safe? The 21 Job Titles Predicted to Disappear by 2030
Al breaks down the World Economic Forum’s latest predictions—and why roles from data clerks to travel agents might soon vanish. Plus, how to future-proof your career without panicking.
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2025/04/16/21-job-titles-that-will-disappear-by-2030/

WTF Is Mindful Maneuvering?
Leanne introduces a new leadership concept: mindful maneuvering—the strategic, empathetic art of influence. Forget manipulation; this is about guiding, building trust, and moving teams forward.
Read more: https://www.worklife.news/talent/wtf-is-mindful-maneuvering/?utm_campaign=worklifedis&utm_source=worklifedaily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=42425&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Worklife%20Briefing%2004242025&utm_content=Worklife%20Briefing%2004242025+CID_afdeff85d5538c9d159a3cc926384495&utm_source=wldis&utm_term=READ%20MORE

What Actually Makes Employees Stay? (It’s Not Perks)
Recognition, not bonuses, is what really makes employees stay, according to a fresh Inc.com piece. Leanne explores why simple, specific, frequent praise can do more for engagement than any expensive perk.
Read more: https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/want-better-employees-richard-branson-says-you-need-to-start-with-1-simple-strategy/91180207

Hot Take

Work futurist and empathy advocate Sophie Wade shares why workplaces need to stop blaming Gen Z for cultural clashes—and start adapting leadership styles to match a new world of work.
Key points Sophie explores:

Gen Z expects flexibility and flat hierarchies, not because they're entitled, but because the world changed.
Information isn’t power anymore—relationships and trust are.
Human-centric leadership is no longer optional.
Speaking up shouldn’t be punished if you say you want independent thinkers.

Connect with Sophie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-sophie-wade/
Courses: https://www.sophiewade.com/courses-overview/courses/
Podcast: https://www.sophiewade.com/podcasts/
Newsletter: https://www.sophiewade.com/work-in-progress/

Weekly Workplace Surgery

Can Business Owners Really Put Their Well-Being First?
One listener asks if it’s realistic to prioritise health and family while running a business without letting everything else fall apart.

Is 50% Staff Turnover in Two Years a Red Flag?
A business owner wants to know if their turnover rate is normal—or a sign of deeper problems.

What Am I Supposed to Do When My Employer Isn’t Helping Me Grow?
A frustrated employee shares how being left out of development opportunities has them questioning whether they should stay.

Next week:

We’re joined by Nick Huber—entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Sweaty Startup—who’s built a career on boring businesses that print cash. No hype, no buzzwords, just practical strategies for scaling.

Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. And come say hi on LinkedIn—we always love hearing your thoughts.

Mental Health Support

Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/
Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

👋 Connect with Al & Leanne

Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/
Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/
Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne/
Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

191. How one dad is redesigning work for parents, with Amit Singh Kalley Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

This week, we’re joined by Amit Kalley, former deputy headteacher turned founder of For Working Parents. Amit’s mission is simple: make workplaces genuinely parent-friendly. But his journey here wasn’t. After the traumatic birth of his daughter during lockdown and a late ADHD diagnosis, Amit reached breaking point. What followed was a powerful pivot—one that’s now helping hundreds of parents and employers build cultures where family and work don’t have to fight.

💡 Key Takeaways from Amit Kalley

👶 Support for Parents Isn’t a “Nice to Have”

Amit explains why parental support—especially for dads—is essential infrastructure, not a perk.

🧠 ADHD Isn’t a Superpower

He talks candidly about late diagnosis, stigma, and the unhelpful pressure to be ‘productive’ while masking neurodivergence.

🗣️ Storytelling Changes Culture

Amit shares how his lived experience is shifting the conversation inside businesses—by making space for honesty, not hype.

💼 No More Perfect Parent Myths

Whether it’s guilt, burnout or hustle culture, Amit breaks down the invisible load working parents carry—and how to change it.

📱 The Viral Emoji Table Is Real (and Slightly Terrifying)

His Periodic Table of Emojis is helping parents decode what their teens are really saying online—and it’s more useful than you think.

🔗 Resources & Links

Website: https://forworkingparents.com/

Newsletter: https://forworkingparents.com/parent-up-newsletter/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitsinghkalley/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forworkingparents/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forworkingparents

Emoji Decoder Guide: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7308760051261853696-5gmt?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAPpxk8B1ivB8GiszIgdppDkaIkcd6hBmOo

📢 Enjoyed this episode?

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a review, and share this with someone who needs to hear it—especially if they’re balancing parenthood, leadership and life.

🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you’ve been affected by anything in this episode or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may help:

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

👋 Connect with Al & Leanne

Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

190: Is being busy a personality? PLUS! Being lucky, manager mates and job offer red flags - This Week in Work, 22nd April 2025 Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

🔥 Stories Covered This Week:

What is 'Alonement Space'

Leanne breaks down why post-pandemic offices are embracing “alonement spaces”—areas where people can work privately, with focus and peace.

Cambridge Dictionary blog: https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2025/03/17/new-words-17-march-2025/

Are You Lucky? Why Bezos Might Ask You That

Al unpacks Jeff Bezos’s favourite interview question—“Are you a lucky person?”—and explores the psychology behind optimism, self-awareness, and perceived control.

Inc.com: https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/jeff-bezos-favorite-job-interview-question-is-weird-psychology-says-its-also-brilliant/91171188

What Great Teams Actually Do Differently

Leanne revisits a huge study of nearly 1 million workers that found one powerful truth: leadership makes or breaks team performance. Great cultures aren’t built on perks or policies—but by how people are led every day.

Occupational Health Science research summary: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/why-great-teams-protect-people-from-bad-work-52127efd73ac

🔥 Hot Take: “Being Busy Isn’t a Personality” – with Cass Briscoe

Workplace culture expert Cass Briscoe, founder of Soft Work Society, challenges the culture of overwork. She argues that chronic busyness is often fear-based—driven by insecurity and control rather than productivity. Cass shares how to create micro-boundaries, make space for deep thinking, and reject the hustle-as-identity mindset.

Cass Briscoe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassbriscoe/

💬 Workplace Surgery: This Week’s Dilemmas

“Six Interviews, Then a Pay Cut?”

After six rounds of interviews, a new graduate is offered the job—at £5k less than advertised. When questioned, the recruiter gets defensive. Is this standard practice, or a flashing red flag?

“I Hate Working—Is That Bad?”

One listener doesn’t hate their job—they hate the whole idea of working. Is that burnout talking, or is it time to rethink what work should be?

“Can Managers Still Have Mates?”

A team lead is torn: half their mates are on their team… and they're all going to game night. Can leaders still be social, or is this a boundary they shouldn’t cross?

🎧 Coming Up Thursday…

We’re talking to Nick Huber, aka The Sweaty Startup guy—entrepreneur, investor, and newly minted majority stakeholder in Somewhere.com. With 325+ employees, no fluff, and a bold philosophy on hiring and leadership, Nick brings the straight-talking energy you need to hear.

🎯 Enjoyed this episode?

Follow, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast platform of choice. And connect with us on LinkedIn—we love hearing your thoughts.

🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you’ve been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be helpful:

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

🤝 Connect with Al and Leanne

Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

189. How to build a $10M company without meetings or managers, with James Hawkins, Co-CEO at PostHog Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week, we’re joined by James Hawkins, co-founder and co-CEO of PostHog—a dev tools company turning $10M+ ARR without any managers, meetings, or micromanagement. James’s approach? Treat your company like a bunch of tiny startups.

👀 If you’ve ever wondered what work would feel like without middle managers, weekly check-ins, and change committees… this is your episode.

💡 Key Takeaways from James Hawkins

⚙️ Small Teams > Big Bureaucracy

James explains how structuring PostHog into autonomous 2–6 person teams has helped them ship faster, stay scrappy, and avoid the productivity drag of large orgs.

🔁 Engineers Lead, Managers Step Aside

Forget micromanagement. At PostHog, engineers decide what gets built—and team leads don’t even get paid more.

💥 Just Ship It

Forget pre-meetings and permission-seeking. PostHog favours “build it and test it” over endless validation and speculation.

🔍 Radical Transparency

From salaries to sabbatical policies, PostHog runs almost everything in public. Their internal company handbook? It’s online for the world to read.

🚀 Chaos is a Feature, Not a Bug

James shows how a dose of “organised chaos” can unlock innovation, ownership, and next-level productivity—if you hire the right people.

🔗 Resources & Links

PostHog website

https://posthog.com/

James on X (Twitter)

https://x.com/james406

PostHog’s Newsletter

https://newsletter.posthog.com/

📢 Enjoyed this episode?

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow founder, engineer or curious manager who wants to do work differently. And come say hi on LinkedIn—we’d love to hear your thoughts.

🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you’ve been affected by anything in this episode or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may help:

Mind: 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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

188. Is British Work Culture Holding Us Back? PLUS! Why People Quit and The Hidden Cost of HR, with Emma Djemil - This Week in Work 15th April 2025 Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

This week, we’re asking one big question: Is British work culture quietly killing innovation, clarity and leadership?

🔥 Stories Covered This Week:

Buzzword Bingo Is Funny—Until It Isn’t

Christine Armstrong sparked a LinkedIn firestorm with her corporate jargon bingo card—featuring favourites like “sweat the asset” and “brain dump.” We explore why overusing buzzwords damages leadership credibility and trust.

Is British Work Culture Holding Us Back?

Tom Scourfield’s viral post questions whether UK businesses are too risk-averse and obsessed with tone over truth. We unpack the five reasons he thinks the UK is falling behind—and whether he’s right.

What Really Motivates People in a Crisis?

During Greece’s financial crisis, researchers found that non-financial motivators—recognition, trust and empowerment—kept teams going. So why do we still default to bonuses and job titles?

🔥 Hot Take: HR Burnout Is Real, with Emma Djemil

HR coach and founder of The HR Big Meet, Emma Djemil, joins us to call out the emotional toll of working in HR. From navigating toxic dynamics to being the organisation’s emotional sponge—Emma explains why HR needs its own support system now more than ever.

The HR Big Meet: https://thehrbigmeet.com

Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-djemil

💬 Workplace Surgery: This Week’s Dilemmas

“Why do people quit instead of speaking up?”

One listener watched their most talented colleague walk away from the company without ever raising concerns.

“Gen Z text speak is confusing my Gen X boss. Should I stop using it?”

From “y” to “bet ✌️”, we unpack how language creates friction between generations—and how to find middle ground without compromising personality.

“Our startup has 30 employees and zero HR policies—am I right to panic?”

Leanne breaks down the actual risks and helps this founder figure out what they need to formalise (and what can wait).

🎧 Coming Up Thursday…

We’re joined by James Hawkins, co-founder of PostHog, who believes the future of work lies in small, autonomous teams with no hierarchy, no managers, and flat pay. But can that model scale without chaos? Find out Thursday.

🎯 Enjoyed this episode?

Follow, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast platform of choice. And connect with us on LinkedIn—we love hearing your thoughts.

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

187. Gen-X deserves better: How to create your dream career over 50, with John Tarnoff Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network.

This week, we’re joined by John Tarnoff, executive career coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Boomer Reinvention, to explore how professionals over 50 can turn career challenges into powerful second acts. Whether you're being ghosted by employers or wondering if it's “too late” to pivot, John is here to tell you it’s absolutely not.

💡 Key Takeaways from John Tarnoff

🧠 Being Over 50 Is Not a Liability—It's an Advantage

Experience, resilience, and perspective are your superpowers. The key is learning how to position them.

👋 Stop Chasing Job Ads—Start Building Relationships

Most jobs aren't advertised. John breaks down how to tap into the hidden job market through strategic networking.

🧰 Ditch the Resume Obsession

Your resume won’t get you hired. Your story will. John shares how to craft a narrative that attracts opportunities.

🎯 Use the 3 Elements Career Builder Framework

John’s proven method helps late-career professionals align purpose, skill, and opportunity into a thriving new path.

💥 Get Clear on Your Value and Claim It

From ageism to “overqualified” labels, John teaches how to turn perceived weaknesses into standout assets.

🔗 Resources & Links

John Tarnoff Website

https://johntarnoff.com/

Free Worksheet: 4 Ikigai Questions

https://johntarnoff.com/4questions/

LinkedIn

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

Book: Boomer Reinvention

https://johntarnoff.com/book/

TEDx Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWhM3sEHGTA

🎧 If this episode struck a chord, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone rethinking their next chapter. Join the conversation on LinkedIn too! Back Tuesday with another This Week in Work.

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

186. Are Gen-X the forgotten generation? PLUS! The 5 words all great leaders use and the emotional wreckage of DOGE, with Sara Weiner - This Week in Work, 8th April 2025 Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week, we’re asking one big question: Has Gen X become the forgotten generation at work?

🔥 Stories Covered This Week:

Has Gen X Become the Biggest Work Losers?

The Independent’s piece highlights how Gen Xers are increasingly overlooked, underpaid, and edged out—despite being the most resilient and experienced generation in the workforce.

The Power of One Word to Sound More Persuasive

Al shares five words that can instantly boost your credibility as a leader—including “because”, “together” and “yet”. (Yes, there’s science behind it.)

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-wise/201310/the-power-of-the-word-because-to-get-people-to-do-stuff

Dr Cheryl Robinson: https://www.drcherylrobinson.com/

Can Work Coaches Really Fix Long-Term Unemployment?

With nearly 3 million UK adults off work due to long-term sickness, the government’s new plan to deploy 1,000 work coaches sounds promising—but is it?

Yahoo Finance UK: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/unemployment-sickness-workplace-coach-060033452.html

🔥 Hot Take: DOGE, Layoffs & Workplace Trauma

Sara Weiner, organisational psychologist and SIOP UN Chair, shares why mass layoffs without empathy create trauma—not just for those let go, but for everyone left behind.

Sarah Weiner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-weiner-4843a08/

Workplace Surgery: This Week’s Dilemmas

– “They promoted the 30-something again. After 30 years, I’ve become invisible.”

– “The CEO’s nephew applied—and now I’m being pressured to hire him.”

– “My team’s faking online activity… even though I don’t care when they work.”

🎧 Coming Up Thursday…

Our next guest is TED speaker and late-career coach John Tarnoff, a man who’s been fired from 40% of his jobs and still built a wildly successful second act. If you're over 45 (or just curious what career reinvention really looks like), don’t miss it.

🎯 Enjoyed this episode?

Follow, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast platform of choice. And connect with us on LinkedIn—we love hearing your thoughts.

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

185. Burnout Isn’t Your Fault (But Here’s How You Fix It), with Cait Donovan Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott. 🎧✨

🎙 Meet Our Guest: Cait Donovan

This week we're joined by Cait Donovan, burnout expert, speaker, author, and host of the hugely popular FRIED The Burnout Podcast. Cait’s unique approach blends modern biobehavioural health science with Chinese medicine, providing powerful insights into burnout recovery and resilience. 🌟🔥

Cait Donovan challenges the conventional narrative about burnout—that it's solely caused by individuals or their workplaces. She introduces the concept of the "Six Buckets" of burnout, highlighting that burnout results from a mix of factors including family background, personality, work environment, cultural pressures, physical health, and community support.

📌 What's Covered in This Episode?

Cait shares why the typical strategies for preventing burnout often fail, and why real recovery involves filling multiple "burnout protection buckets". She reveals how leaders can meaningfully support teams experiencing burnout without taking on the role of therapist, and explains why addressing burnout requires collective accountability rather than blame.

You'll hear practical advice on how to align personal and organisational values to build a healthier workplace culture, learn the science behind why asking for help is critical, and find out how to turn burnout recovery into resilience and growth.

If you're experiencing burnout, managing others through stressful periods, or simply looking to foster a healthier workplace, Cait's insights are essential listening.

💡 Key Takeaways From Cait Donovan

Cait explains why burnout isn't a simple blame game—neither fully the individual's fault nor solely the company's responsibility. Discover why collective resilience and shared accountability are vital to genuinely overcoming burnout.

Understand how "values misalignment" between what companies say and do can intensify burnout, and get practical strategies to genuinely support yourself and others through recovery.

🔗 Connect with Cait Donovan

Website:

https://www.caitdonovan.com/

LinkedIn:

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

Spotify (FRIED The Burnout Podcast):

https://open.spotify.com/show/2VhzgpY24d6xDhxPLGn9Ex

Apple Podcasts (FRIED The Burnout Podcast):

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fried-the-burnout-podcast/id1469939920

🎧 Coming Up Next

Join us next Tuesday for our regular episode packed with workplace news, expert insights, another provocative hot take, and our popular Workplace Surgery—solving your toughest workplace dilemmas. 🔥🎙

🎯 Enjoyed the episode?

Subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a colleague. Connect with us on LinkedIn to continue the conversation—we’d love your feedback!

Thanks for tuning into Truth, Lies and Work—see you next week! 👋

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Thanks for tuning into Truth, Lies & Work—see you next week!

184. Primark CEO’s Shock Exit, Jack Dorsey’s 'Good Layoffs' & Why Job Candidates Ghost Employers. PLUS! Why Tech Can't Fix Burnout, with John Chan - This Week in Work, 1st April 2025 Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

Each week we unpack workplace news, explore the psychology behind behaviour at work, and tackle your toughest workplace questions.

🎙 What's in this Episode?

Primark CEO Steps Down Amid Harassment Allegations

Paul Marchant, CEO of Primark, resigned following allegations of inappropriate behaviour toward a colleague. Was this swift accountability or brand protection in action? Read more.

Jack Dorsey's "Good" Layoffs: Can a CEO Do It Right?

Jack Dorsey recently laid off 931 employees at Block—but unlike most mass layoffs, his transparent approach earned praise. Read More.

Ghosting Employers: The Dark Psychology of Job Applicants

Ever wonder why job candidates vanish mid-process? A new study links ghosting behaviour with psychological traits including narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Read more.

🔥 Hot Take: Why Tech Won’t Fix Your Workplace, with John Chan

Our hot take comes from organisational psychologist John Chan, Managing Director of Infinite Potential and a lead researcher behind the 2025 State of Workplace Burnout report. John challenges the assumption that technology alone can boost productivity, arguing that systemic issues—like burnout, unsustainable workloads, and erosion of trust—must be addressed first.

Download the 2025 State of Workplace Burnout Report here:

https://infinite-potential.com.au/the-state-of-burnout-2025

Watch the full launch webinar:

https://youtu.be/ihie8n7pvVc?feature=shared

Connect with John Chan on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-chan-ph-d-7883611/

💡 Workplace Surgery: Solving Your Toughest Problems

This week’s dilemmas:

"I’ve Inherited a Toxic Department—Now What?"

A listener steps into a troubled department plagued by missed deadlines and deep divides. How do you turn things around without driving good people away?

"I’m the Operations Director, Not HR—Help!"

With no HR team, a listener suddenly has to handle a serious discrimination complaint. What's the best way to respond professionally and protect the organisation?

"Consultants Keep Stealing My Ideas!"

An employee’s internal expertise is overlooked in favour of expensive external consultants. How do you get management to value internal talent and stop making costly mistakes?

🔗 Additional Resources

CIPD Guidance on Discipline Procedures: CIPD Discipline Factsheet
ACAS (UK): acas.org.uk

🎧 Coming Up Next

Join us this Thursday as we welcome Cait Donovan, speaker, author, and host of FRIED. The Burnout Podcast. Cait’s innovative BURNBOLD™ framework is helping organisations turn burnout into resilience and culture change.

🎯 Enjoying the show?

Subscribe, leave a review, or share with a colleague! Connect with us on LinkedIn—we'd love your feedback.

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Thanks for tuning into Truth, Lies & Work—see you next week!

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💡 Key Takeaways from Amit Kalley

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🔥 Stories Covered This Week:

🔥 Hot Take: “Being Busy Isn’t a Personality” – with Cass Briscoe

💬 Workplace Surgery: This Week’s Dilemmas

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💡 Key Takeaways from James Hawkins

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🔥 Stories Covered This Week:

🔥 Hot Take: HR Burnout Is Real, with Emma Djemil

💬 Workplace Surgery: This Week’s Dilemmas

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💡 Key Takeaways from John Tarnoff

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🔥 Stories Covered This Week:

🔥 Hot Take: DOGE, Layoffs & Workplace Trauma

Workplace Surgery: This Week’s Dilemmas

🎧 Coming Up Thursday…

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🎙 Meet Our Guest: Cait Donovan

📌 What's Covered in This Episode?

💡 Key Takeaways From Cait Donovan

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General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🎙 What's in this Episode?

🔥 Hot Take: Why Tech Won’t Fix Your Workplace, with John Chan

💡 Workplace Surgery: Solving Your Toughest Problems

🔗 Additional Resources

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

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