Episodes

  • 093: Grief at Work – The Leadership Blind Spot

    093: Grief at Work – The Leadership Blind Spot
    9 Nov 2026
    AboutGrief doesn't stay at home when employees walk through the workplace doors. Yet many leaders and organizations aren't prepared to navigate its impact.In Episode 093, I'm joined by Kim Vesey to explore how grief affects employees, workplace culture, and leadership. We'll discuss how HR professionals and business leaders can better support people through life's hardest moments and why compassion, understanding, and flexibility matter more than ever.Kim Vesey is a retired nurse with more than 40 years of experience in hospice and grief care. She retired in 2023 as Executive Director of Ohio's Hospice of Dayton and founded My Hope Path in 2019. She is also the author of seven children's books addressing loss and a sought-after speaker on grief and end-of-life topics.Having experienced significant personal loss herself, Kim brings a unique perspective that blends professional expertise with deep personal understanding.Because leadership isn't just about showing up when things go well. It's about knowing how to lead when life happens. To learn more: TEDX Dayton talk, “First Breath, Final Breath” https://youtu.be/hWnZKAX_v3s?is=T5nXtBOCcj_EqSh2 https://myhopepath.com/ (purchase of books, comfort items, request Kim to speak, and find grief resources).
    Show more Show less
    46 min
  • 092: Stop Managing Tasks, Start Leading Your People

    092: Stop Managing Tasks, Start Leading Your People
    30 Oct 2026
    About What’s the difference between managing tasks and actually leading people? And why are so many managers promoted into leadership roles without ever being taught how to lead? In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, David Noe sits down with Dwight Braswell, leadership trainer, speaker, and founder of Complete Leadership Academy, to explore what it takes to turn managers into leaders who inspire accountability, ownership, and results. Dwight believes leadership isn’t about having a title or simply getting work done. It’s about what you say and do in the everyday moments that shape your team’s experience. From navigating difficult conversations and holding people accountable without micromanaging to building trust, improving one-on-ones, and turning meetings into meaningful momentum, Dwight shares practical ways leaders can move beyond managing tasks and start igniting their people. With experience supporting organizations including McDonald’s, Ace Hardware, Zillow, Thumbtack, and the U.S. Army National Guard, Dwight brings an actionable, real-world approach to leadership development.Because leadership isn’t just what you believe. It’s what you say and do every day.Tune in for a candid conversation about raising the standard, building stronger teams, and becoming the kind of leader people actually want to follow. To find more information, visit https://completeleadershipacademy.com/
    Show more Show less
    44 min
  • Top Shelf Take: AI Is Changing the Workforce. Is HR Ready for What Comes Next?

    Top Shelf Take: AI Is Changing the Workforce. Is HR Ready for What Comes Next?
    28 Oct 2026
    AI is changing how we work, the skills we need, and the future of jobs. So why isn’t HR always part of the conversation? In this Top Shelf Take, David Noe explores why HR needs a seat at the table early in AI strategy, how organizations can prepare employees for evolving skill requirements, and why adopting new technology isn’t the same as transforming the way we work. The takeaway? AI isn’t just a technology conversation. It’s a people conversation. HR has an opportunity to help leaders navigate change, develop future-ready talent, and ensure technology improves the way people work rather than leaving them behind.
    Show more Show less
    6 min
  • 091: HR Can't Fix What Leaders Won't Own

    091: HR Can't Fix What Leaders Won't Own
    19 Oct 2026
    About HR can’t fix every people problem—especially when leaders aren’t willing to own their part.In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, David Noe sits down with Greg Modd, founder of Penultimate People Consulting, to talk about leadership accountability, workforce strategy, and the role relationships play in building strong organizations.Greg shares his perspective on Extreme Ownership, leadership alignment, workplace culture, and turning complex people challenges into clear, executable decisions. They also discuss why accountability has to start with leadership and what happens when HR is asked to solve problems that really belong at the leadership table.With experience spanning military service, government, consulting, and executive HR leadership, Greg brings a unique perspective on what it takes to lead people effectively and create cultures where people actually want to perform.A candid conversation about leadership, accountability, culture, and why HR can’t fix what leaders won’t own.
    Show more Show less
    44 min
  • Top Shelf Take: You Can't Fix a Traffic Jam by Flying Over It

    Top Shelf Take: You Can't Fix a Traffic Jam by Flying Over It
    16 Oct 2026
    New technology can help us move faster, but does it actually solve the problem? In this Top Shelf Take, David Noe explores a leadership lesson inspired by the buzz around flying cars: sometimes we're so focused on finding a better way around a problem that we forget to ask why the problem exists in the first place. From investing in new HR technology to introducing AI and addressing employee burnout, David challenges leaders to look beyond quick fixes, question broken processes, and focus on solving root causes. Because true innovation isn't just about doing things faster—it's about doing the right things better. One topic. One perspective. One takeaway: Before you invest in a better way to work around a problem, make sure you're not ignoring a better way to solve it!
    Show more Show less
    5 min
  • 090: Ready for Change. Now What?

    090: Ready for Change. Now What?
    12 Oct 2026
    About Ready for Change. Now What?What happens when you know you’re ready for something different—but you’re not quite sure what that “something” is?Maybe you’ve outgrown your role. Maybe your career has taken an unexpected turn. Maybe you’re an athlete transitioning into life beyond sports. Or maybe you simply know there’s more you could be doing but can’t quite articulate what that looks like.That’s where Alex Bowden comes in.In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, Alex joins David Noe to talk about “Ready for Change. Now What?” and why career decisions should start with something deeper than a job title.Alex believes people are more than their résumés, degrees, and job titles. Her work focuses on helping people understand their strengths, values, experiences, and the environments where they thrive—and then using that understanding to figure out what comes next.As a former professional dancer who transitioned into HR, talent, and entrepreneurship, Alex understands firsthand how closely our work can become tied to our identity. When you’ve spent years defining yourself by what you do, figuring out who you are beyond that role can be challenging.Through CareerCatalyst, Alex helps individuals uncover and articulate the value they bring, while her work with PEOPLEfirst helps organizations recognize talent they may otherwise overlook.We’ll talk about career transitions, identity, strengths, overlooked talent, athletes preparing for life beyond sports, and why employers need to look beyond traditional résumés and familiar career paths when identifying potential.Because sometimes the biggest career question isn’t:“What job do I want?”It’s:“Who am I, what do I bring to the table, and where could that take me?”Join us October 12 for a conversation about change, career identity, and figuring out what’s next.Ready for change? Now what?Let’s talk about it. To learn more about Alex and her work, visit www.choosecareercatalyst.com
    Show more Show less
    52 min
  • Top Shelf Take: It’s OK to Not Be OK

    Top Shelf Take: It’s OK to Not Be OK
    9 Oct 2026
    About It’s OK to not be OK. In recognition of World Mental Health Day, David Noe shares a reminder that we all face challenges, asking for help is a sign of strength, and sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply listen. Because people matter—and that includes you.
    Show more Show less
    6 min
  • 089: You Can’t Outwork Burnout

    089: You Can’t Outwork Burnout
    5 Oct 2026
    AboutWhat if the same drive that helped you succeed is also the thing driving you toward burnout?For high performers, leaders, and corporate professionals, burnout doesn’t always look like falling apart. Sometimes it looks like showing up, getting the work done, answering one more email, taking on one more responsibility—and quietly running on empty.In this episode of SpeakEasy HR, David Noe sits down with Ivy Watts, mental health speaker, author, and somatic coach, for an honest conversation about burnout prevention, workplace stress, and the connection between our mental health and nervous system.Ivy draws from her own experience with anxiety, depression, overwhelming stress, burnout, and self-doubt to share practical tools that can help professionals recognize what their bodies are telling them, regulate their nervous system, build resilience, and create healthier ways to manage stress.They talk about why “just push through it” isn’t always the answer, how movement and emotional awareness can support mental wellness, and why taking care of yourself isn’t a weakness—it’s part of performing at your best.If you’re constantly running at full speed, this conversation is your reminder that you can’t outwork burnout. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause, reset, and take care of the person doing the work.
    Show more Show less
    45 min