Breaking HR

We’re as surprised as anyone—Bonnie Thompson is officially our first returning guest on the Breaking HR Podcast with Nathan and Jesse! Either we didn’t scare her off the first time, or she’s just that passionate about today’s topic: habits and micro habits.In this episode, we dive into how small, consistent actions can lead to big results—whether in leadership, workplace culture, or just finally drinking enough water in a day. Bonnie shares her insights on building habits that actually stick (instead of falling apart by midweek) and why micro habits might be the secret to long-term change.Bonnie is also the author of Left—a must-read that you can grab here.Tune in for an insightful, practical, and—somehow—still fun conversation.

In Season 2, Episode 8 of the Breaking HR podcast, hosts Nathan and Jesse speak with Dani Strang, founder of Maggie (https://www.joinmaggie.org/), a budding experiential unlearning community and practice. Dani explains how Maggie teaches women (cis, trans, and non-binary) to reconnect with their authentic expression, bringing unique ideas and perspectives back into critical conversations. Each month, Maggie selects a magazine anchored in exceptional journalism to spark discussions, offering a safer space for women to rediscover and evolve their relationship with full self-expression. Dani’s vision with Maggie fosters a culture of unlearning societal expectations, allowing women to re-enter conversations with confidence and depth

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Breaking HR podcast, we dive into the often-overlooked strengths of introverted leadership with special guest Amanda Knight, a seasoned leadership expert and coach. Amanda shares her insights on how introverted leaders can leverage their natural tendencies to create powerful, effective teams. She discusses the unique challenges introverts face in leadership roles and offers practical strategies for embracing these traits to enhance decision-making, foster deep connections, and drive meaningful change within organizations. Tune in to discover how introverted leadership can be a game-changer in today’s fast-paced business environment. Guest Information: Learn more about Amanda Knight and her work at The Free Spirited Introvert.

Join us in this episode of Breaking HR as we welcome Serena Pawluk, the visionary force behind ChillHR (https://chillhr.com/), a game-changing platform designed specifically for HR professionals. Serena shares her journey to entrepreneurship, unveiling the motivations that led to the creation of ChillHR and its mission to redefine conventional HR practices. Discover the hurdles Serena overcame in establishing ChillHR and the transformative impact it's having on HR professionals. Whether you're a seasoned HR expert seeking new tools or a business owner looking for more info in the HR realm, this episode offers invaluable insights into the future of HR innovation and the empowering potential of ChillHR.

In Season 2, Episode 5 of the Breaking HR podcast, co-hosts Nathan and Jesse are joined by Terri Davis, the founder of Profound Talent. Together, they explore the concept of trying things differently to yield new results in talent management and organizational culture. Terri advocates for a fresh approach, challenging conventional wisdom and encouraging experimentation in HR practices. With lively discussions and practical examples, the trio delves into innovative recruitment strategies and novel approaches to employee development. Terri's insights inspire Nathan, Jesse, and listeners alike to embrace change and think creatively in their pursuit of transformative outcomes in HR.

Join hosts Nathan and Jesse in Season 2, Episode 4 of Breaking HR as they uncover secrets to success with guests Tracy Werkman and Judy Ko, who are actively engaged in the CPHR Alberta Mentorship Program. This episode offers a concise yet insightful look into the duo's experiences, providing listeners with practical insights into the transformative power of mentorship. Tune in for a dynamic conversation on navigating professional growth within the CPHR Alberta Mentorship Program

In this episode of the Breaking HR Podcast, listeners gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of engaging employees across multiple provinces and business units from Briana Darbyshire's wisdom and expertise. Jump in and enjoy the discussion as Briana and co-hosts Nathan and Jesse, explore this crucial aspect of leading and working with people. Whether you're an HR professional or a business leader, this episode provides practical takeaways to enhance your approach to employee engagement in a multifaceted workplace. Enjoy the show!

In this impactful episode of *Breaking HR*, we welcome Shwetha Murthy, an HR expert with a deep passion for combating burnout. Shwetha shares her journey and strategies for addressing this prevalent issue in the workplace.   Hosts Nathan and Jesse explore Shwetha's background, uncovering her insights on HR and her commitment to tackling burnout. Shwetha's seeks understanding and mitigating the effects of burnout on both individuals and organizations.   The episode highlights Shwetha's quest for actively addressing burnout. She discusses her unique approaches and tailored solutions to foster a healthier work environment while enhancing productivity.   Throughout the episode, Shwetha provides practical advice on recognizing, addressing, and preventing burnout. Her passion shines through as she emphasizes the importancenof employee well-being and creating a culture that prioritizes mental health.   Join us for this episode of *Breaking HR* to gain Shwetha Murthy's insights on combating burnout and discover how HR professionals can lead the charge in creating more supportive and sustainable workplaces.

In this riveting episode of Breaking HR, we welcome Brianna Madron, a trailblazing HR professional who's making waves by disrupting the traditional HR landscape. Brianna's story unfolds as she shares her journey from conventional HR roles to her unique position, where she navigates the intricacies of franchise and corporate responsibility. Nathan & Jesse explore how Brianna's innovative approach to HR has been influenced by her involvement in volunteer organizations. Brianna's dual role in HR and volunteerism provides her with a distinctive perspective on the world of business and the HR role in it.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of Breaking HR, the podcast that challenges conventional human resources practices and explores innovative approaches to working with people. In this episode, we have the privilege of hosting Bonnie Thompson, who shares her perspective on authentic leadership and fostering a nurturing environment for your team to thrive. Join us as Bonnie delves into the importance of building trust within your team, emphasizing the role of transparent communication and active listening. Discover the transformative power of genuine connections and learn how to foster an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity and individual strengths. Don't forget to send us any show ideas, feedback, or a hello to [email protected] .

In this episode, we have a veryan incredibly special joining Nathan and Jesse – Kurt Spady, who is a Professor of Business at Olds College and Tik Tok pundit. With years of experience in the field of business and education, Kurt has a wealth of knowledge to share with us about human resources, social media, and the key role it plays in the success of any organization. Join the conversation as the hosts and Kurt dive into a range of topics in HR, social media, and academia with Kurt.  And now this: https://kurtsgreatduckrace.ca/ Don’t forget to send us any show ideas, feedback, or a hello to [email protected] .

Kerrie Alanen, of Resolute Leadership and Consulting, joins Nathan and Jesse in this episode of Breaking HR. Kerrie has a robust HR consulting practice in psychological safety in the workplace, leadership coaching and development, Strategic HR Consulting, and Positive Intelligence. This episode offers helpful information for CEO’s, entrepreneurs, and employees at all levels on what psychological safety is and should be weaved into a company culture. Links: Resolute Leadership and Consulting Canadian National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace  Positive Intelligence 

In this episode of Breaking HR, Nathan and Jesse are joined by Crystal, a seasoned insurance professional who leads a successful and tightly knit team. Crystal shares her insights on building and leading a high-performing team in today’s ever-changing work world. Whether you're an HR professional looking to build a strong team or a manager seeking insights into effective team management, this episode offers valuable advice and best practices from an experienced leader. *Bonus fashion tip from our co-hosts in this episode’s session of ‘Shoutouts’.

In this episode of the podcast, our Nathan and Jesse sit down with Darren, an expert in the field of adult care facilities, to discuss the challenges of adult care facilities and measuring performance of the team within. Darren explains that traditional key performance indicators (KPIs), such as occupancy rates, time efficiency, and revenue per patient, do not always apply to adult care facilities. This is because the focus in these facilities is not solely on financial performance and Henry Ford type efficiency, but also on the quality of life and care for the residents.

In this episode, we discuss with Megan, the wins and challenges of virtual job interviews from the job seeker perspective. The shift to remote work has resulted in a rise in virtual interviews, but they come with their own set of follies.  We explore the ways that technology can fail during the interview, leading to awkward silences and technical difficulties. Additionally, virtual interviews can lack the personal connection and body language cues that are important in traditional in-person interviews.  Finally, we discuss how to overcome these challenges and make the most out of a virtual job interview. Whether you're a job seeker or an employer, this episode offers valuable insights and tips for navigating the virtual interview landscape. Follow Megan on social @meglovesweed

We interviewed Chris, a very enthusiastic HR professional with an incredible amount of experience and wisdom.  In fact, we had so much enjoyable content, that this episode is longer than our previous two because I didn't know what to cut and what to keep, so we kept all of it!  Fun Fact: the episode image was created using a DALL-E AI image creation tool, just for fun.  This is a "Broken Ping Pong Table" according to.....computers! 

Today we talk to Julie who is a very experienced HR Professional in all aspects.  Julie has worked in the industry several years with many distinct roles.  She has lots of wisdom, experience, and stories to share.  Julie's secret weapon is Empathy!  It was a fantastic conversation that we hope you like!   Please email us at [email protected] with your insight, questions, or comments!   Nathan & Jesse

Today we have our friend, Peter Vogelaar join us to chat about his challenges of running a small business.  Owners of small businesses wear every hat in the company, from Hiring Manager, HR Professional, Payroll, Procurement and on it goes.  Hear what Peter does to make his life as a business owner easier and more productive!  email the show: [email protected]  leave us a voice message: https://anchor.fm/breakinghr/message 

Hello HR Professionals!  We're extremely excited to be putting a podcast out there to the world.  We will be releasing regular episodes starting next week.   Join is as we explore the world of managing People, Culture, and everything that goes with running a business in Canada.  We aim to give you great tips and information from other HR and Business Professionals to help you with getting the most out of your team.   We look forwards to having you join us and if you have any recommendations on guests or topics you would like us to discuss please send us an email at [email protected] Thanks!  BHR Team!