PODCAST · business
Fireside Chats: Behind The Build
by MustardHub
Explore what truly creates workplace happiness, builds a better culture, and drives greater engagement for the entire workforce — from the suits in the C-suite to team members on the frontlines. Get real-world insights and practical strategies to recognize, retain, elevate, and empower teams. From engaging interviews with thought leaders in our Voices web series to step-by-step how-tos, MustardHub helps you operationalize great culture and design the workplace of tomorrow... today. MustardHub Voices: Behind The Build addresses these hot topics and more with business leaders, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, consultants, coaches, researchers, and other brilliant minds committed to building, engaging, and elevating culture-driven, high-performing teams.
Episodes
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Randy Mely on the One Question to Ask Before You Send Any People Analytics Request
In this episode of Leading Indicators, Curtis Forbes sits down with Randy Mely, an independent people analytics consultant and ICF-credentialed coach based in London, for a conversation about why most analytics teams perform exactly as designed and still leave the manager's real question...
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David Forry on Why AI Adoption Rates Measure Activity, Not Outcomes
In this episode of Leading Indicators, Curtis Forbes sits down with David Forry, Senior Vice President and Principal Analyst at Brandon Hall Group, for a conversation about the question that should follow every AI adoption number: what does that actually tell us? David reads roughly 3,000 award...
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Randy Fisher on the One Question That Surfaces Every Hidden Problem in a Stalled Project
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Randy Fisher, executive coach and career strategist, for a conversation about the thing most change initiatives are missing before they ever get to strategy: an honest conversation with the people who have to…
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Michaela Murray on Why Most So-Called People Problems Are Really Leadership and Infrastructure Problems
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Michaela Murray, founder of Progress Amplified, for a conversation about the layer of company-building that gets ignored until something breaks: people infrastructure. Michaela works as an embedded fractional HR...
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Cody Buyer on Why Franchising Still Runs on Trust, and Why the Companies That Forget That Do Not Last
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Cody Buyer of Vendasta for a conversation about the part of franchise growth that technology can support but never replace: trust. Cody works at the intersection of local marketing, franchise systems, and...
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DeDe Halfhill on Why Emotional Fluency Is Not a Soft Skill. It Is a Precision Tool.
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with DeDe Halfhill, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Georgetown-certified executive coach, and leadership advisor whose story is featured in Brené Brown's Dare to Lead and on 60 Minutes, for a conversation about the…
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Kevin Plunkett: Why Your Compensation Strategy Is Only as Good as the Data Underneath It
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Kevin Plunkett, Vice President of Partnerships at Salary.com, for a conversation about the infrastructure underneath compensation that most organizations have never thought carefully enough about. Kevin came to...
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Jeff Mullins on Why the Companies That Can Move Fast Never Have the Capital and the Ones With Capital Can Barely Move
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Jeff Mullins, Chief Marketing Officer at PHENYX, to talk about what actually separates the companies that execute from the ones that chase silver bullets and wonder why nothing sticks. Jeff has spent more than…
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Stephen Candelmo on Why the Franchise Disclosure Document Has Been Killing Deals for Decades
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Stephen Candelmo, corporate attorney, serial entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Paralex, to explore what happens when someone who has spent three decades and more than three billion dollars in transactional…
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Dean Carter Culture Is a Signal. Now We Can Finally Read It.
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Dean Carter, four-time Chief Human Resources Officer turned CEO, to explore a question the HR world has been chasing for decades: what if culture could actually be measured? Dean brings a rare vantage point to…
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David Guttman on Why Servant Leadership Beats Genius Every Time
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with David Guttman, a 35-year serial entrepreneur who has bought and sold 15 businesses across fintech, edtech, crypto, health tech, and dozens of other industries, to talk about what it actually takes to lead with...
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Stela Lupushor on AI, Work, and What History Tells Us
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Stella Lupushor, founder of reframe.work and co-author of Humanizing Human Capital and Humans at Work, to explore what it actually means to keep work human as AI reshapes every layer of how organizations operate....
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Steve Glynn on Building Communities That Drive Innovation
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Steve Glynn, founder of Experience Milwaukee and self-described Chief Milwaukee Officer, to explore the power of community, connection, and local ecosystems in shaping the future of work. Drawing from his journey...
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Paul O'Brien: Why You're Solving the Wrong Problem
In this episode of Mustard Hub Voices Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with entrepreneur, author, ecosystem strategist, and Startup Economist Paul O'Brien for a wide-ranging conversation on startups, workforce development, public policy, and the future of work. Drawing on decades of...
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Sean Dazet on Global Hiring, Remote Work, and Modern Teams
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Sean Dazet, Head of Partnerships at Oyster, to explore the future of distributed work, global hiring, and what it really takes to build high-performing remote teams. Drawing from his experience scaling…
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The Future of Compensation, AI, and Workforce Strategy with Sarah Kalogerakis
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Sarah Kalogerakis, co-founder of Greatpoint HR, to explore how compensation strategy is being reshaped by real-time data, AI, and the changing expectations of today’s workforce. Drawing on more than two decades…
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Kelli Send: Why Financial Wellness Is a Workplace Issue
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Kelli Send, Co-Founder and SVP of Financial Planning Services at Francis LLC, to explore why financial wellness has become one of the most overlooked drivers of employee engagement, retention, and workplace...
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Steve Boese on AI, HR Technology, and the Future of Work
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Steve Boese to break down the future of HR technology, AI in the workplace, and what’s really driving employee experience today. As a co-founder of H3HR Advisors and host of leading HR podcasts, Steve shares...
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ACA Compliance Made Simple with Todd Hurst: Reducing Risk and Supporting Your Workforce
Most companies think of ACA compliance as a back-office obligation but in reality, it’s a high-stakes, people-impacting system that touches everything from cost control to employee trust. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Todd Hurst, Head of ACA...
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Fixing Hiring Systems with Jeff Shapiro: Scaling Without Losing Empathy
Most companies think they have a hiring problem—but what they actually have is a systems problem. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Jeffrey Shapiro, a people and talent executive known for building scalable, human-centered hiring systems, to…
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Spencer Linsley on Communication, Empathy, and the Future of Benefits
Most companies invest heavily in benefits, but employees still don’t understand or use them. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Spencer Linsley, Head of Partnerships at Bright Benefits, to explore why the gap between benefits strategy and employee...
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What Leaders Miss About Culture, Feedback, and Trust with Trish Steed
Most leaders think they know what’s happening inside their organization, but the reality is often very different. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Trish Steed, HR executive, advisor, and co-host of the HR Happy Hour network, to explore how...
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Bill Mastin on How AI Is Reshaping Hiring, Retention, and HR
Hiring isn’t just evolving. It’s being redefined. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Bill Mastin, CEO of Cadient, to unpack how AI is transforming hiring, retention, and workforce strategy. With 20+ years at the intersection of technology and HR,...
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Jerry Akers on Peace, Profit, and Posterity in Franchising
Franchising changed Jerry Akers’ life, and now he’s on a mission to remove unnecessary pain from the industry. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Jerry Akers — multi-unit franchise operator, author, IFA board member, and founder of Z-Dynamics — to...
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Kurt Schmidt on Growth, Trust, and Getting Out of Your Own Way as a Leader
Scaling a service business isn’t about leadership, trust, and clarity. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Kurt Schmidt, founder of Schmidt Consulting Group, to explore why so many agencies struggle to scale and what actually helps them move…
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Kyle Lagunas: AI Literacy — Not Tools — Is HR's Real Advantage
AI isn’t HR’s biggest challenge — confusion is. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Kyle Lagunas, founder and principal analyst at Kyle & Co., to unpack what’s really happening inside HR, talent, and people technology today. Drawing from his…
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Satish Kumar on Why Performance, Learning, and Pay Must Finally Work Together
Performance management only works when it’s connected to how people grow and how they’re rewarded. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Satish Kumar, Head of PerformSpark at Trainery, to explore why traditional performance reviews are broken and…
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Why Leadership Growth Starts with Self-Awareness with Mary Stieber Reinout
Most people problems at work are really leadership problems. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Mary Stieber Reinout, ICF-certified executive coach and founder of Threshold Coaching & Consulting, to explore what truly drives leadership…
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Paul Ebert on Building People-First Franchise Brands That Actually Scale
Franchising only works when people come first. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Paul Ebert, Group President at Home Franchise Concepts, to explore what it really takes to scale franchise brands without losing culture, trust, or humanity. Paul...
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Ryan Dalton on What Leaders Get Wrong About Employee Motivation
Skills matter, but motivation is what determines whether people actually thrive. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Ryan Dalton, co-founder of TalentMotives, to explore how intrinsic motivation shapes performance, engagement, and workplace…
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Why Losing HR Data Is a Bigger Risk Than You Think with Gabe Bell
When companies switch HR systems, critical data often gets left behind — and the consequences can be serious. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Gabe Bell, VP of Channel Sales at ResNav Solutions, to unpack why historical HR and payroll data…
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Dr. Dennis Hill on Why Speed Is Destroying Trust at Work
In a world racing toward AI adoption, trust is quietly falling behind. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Dr. Dennis Hill — lifelong educator, technologist, author, and founder of Sagacity — for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, learning,...
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Anish Satpute on Rethinking Employee Engagement in an AI-Driven Workplace
Employee engagement is broken, and traditional surveys aren’t helping. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Anish Satpute, founder of Reventa, to explore how AI is reshaping the way organizations understand their people. Drawing from his global...
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JT Thiessen on What Makes Franchising Work
Franchising isn’t about systems alone. It’s about people. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with JT Thiessen, a 33-year veteran of the franchise industry who has helped grow and develop 18 different brands. JT shares how an early college project...
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Peter Dalton on How AI Can Fix a Broken Hiring Process
Hiring is broken for both candidates and employers. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Peter Dalton, Co-Founder and CRO of Veton, an AI-powered hiring platform that automates resume screening and early interviews while giving every candidate a…
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Dr. David Rosmarin on Using Anxiety to Improve Performance at Work
Anxiety doesn’t have to be a liability at work. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Dr. David Rosmarin — Harvard Medical School psychologist, author of Thriving with Anxiety, and founder of the Center for Anxiety — to unpack how leaders can rethink...
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How Founders Build HR Tech That Recruiters Actually Use with Steven Lu
In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes speaks with Steven Lu, co-founder and CEO of Pin, about building recruiting technology by staying close to users. Steven traces his journey from writing code as a teenager to founding Interstellar (later acquired by Greenhouse) and launching his...
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Rediscovering Humanity at Work in an AI-Driven World with Dr. Anna Tavis
In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes welcomes Dr. Anna Tavis — NYU professor, author, and global HR thought leader — for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of work. Dr. Tavis shares how her background in linguistics, philosophy, and global business shaped her view of HR as...
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Zach Chertok on What Employee Experience Really Means
Employee experience isn’t an HR problem — it’s a business one. In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes is joined by Zach Chertok, Senior Research Manager for Employee Experience at IDC and faculty member at Columbia University. Zach brings a rare perspective shaped by engineering…
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Marc Villella on Building a Compliance Company by Solving Real Problems
Some of the best companies aren’t planned — they’re built out of necessity. In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes talks with Marc Villella, founder and CTO of GryphonHR, about how a career in technology unexpectedly led him into the world of compliance and entrepreneurship. Marc…
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How Joshua Siler Built a Recruiting Platform
In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Joshua Siler, founder and CEO of HiringThing, to explore how frustration turned into a 15-year SaaS journey. Joshua shares how his background in marketing automation led him to build an internal hiring tool simply to escape...
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HR Entrepreneurs Are Rarer Than You Think with John Baldino
Why don’t more HR leaders become entrepreneurs, and what happens when they do? In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with John Baldino, founder and president of Humanreso, to unpack the business side of HR leadership. With over 30 years in HR, John shares how shifting…
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Why the Best HR Conversations Aren't Overproduced with Robin Schooling
What makes a conversation actually matter? Why do so many leaders overcomplicate it? In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes is joined by HR veteran, author, and podcast pioneer Robin Schooling. With more than 25 years in HR, Robin shares what she’s learned about community, curiosity,...
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Ian Redlin: Resilient Teams Through Economic Disruption
What does it take to build — and rebuild — a company when markets, technology, and customer needs keep changing? In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Ian Redlin, CEO of Octolan Technology, to talk about leadership through disruption, reinvention…
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Robert Ashjian: AI, Speed, and Fair Access to Opportunity
Curtis sits down with Offerday AI founder Robert Ashjian to explore how his nonlinear career—from landscaping entrepreneur to biochemist, military service, and operational excellence leader—shaped his mission to reinvent hiring. Robert shares how overwhelming applicant volume, slow processes, and...
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Navigating Change with Courage with Mark Stelzner
In this episode, Curtis sits down with Mark Stelzner, the founder and managing principal of IA, to explore what truly drives meaningful organizational transformation. With three decades advising C-suite leaders, Mark shares how his “no-codependency” approach empowers organizations to build...
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Brandon Amoroso on Solving Recruiting's Biggest Breakdowns
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis sits down with Brandon Amoroso—co-founder and CEO of SCALIS—to explore how broken hiring systems inspired him to build a fully integrated, AI-powered recruiting platform. After scaling and exiting a 50-person agency, Brandon saw the...
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Palm Desert to Peru: Daniel Altenburg on Building Remote-First Teams
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis sits down with Daniel Altenburg, co-founder of ZipDev, a remote staffing company connecting U.S. and Canadian businesses with top talent across Latin America. Daniel shares his winding path from hospitality in Palm Desert to…
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Trust, Teams, and Tax Credit Innovation with Biz Williams
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, host Curtis Forbes sits down with Biz Williams, CRO at HRLogics and founder of Ryze Credits, to explore how a designer-turned-sales-leader built one of the fastest-growing compliance and tax-credit startups in the HR tech space. Biz shares…
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Summer Rogers: Seeing the Forest and the Trees in Product and Leadership
In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, host Curtis Forbes talks with Summer Rogers, founder of The Product Canopy and former VP of Product at Cornerstone OnDemand. Summer shares how two decades in HR tech and B2B SaaS led her to build a consulting practice focused on helping…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Explore what truly creates workplace happiness, builds a better culture, and drives greater engagement for the entire workforce — from the suits in the C-suite to team members on the frontlines. Get real-world insights and practical strategies to recognize, retain, elevate, and empower teams. From engaging interviews with thought leaders in our Voices web series to step-by-step how-tos, MustardHub helps you operationalize great culture and design the workplace of tomorrow... today. MustardHub Voices: Behind The Build addresses these hot topics and more with business leaders, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, consultants, coaches, researchers, and other brilliant minds committed to building, engaging, and elevating culture-driven, high-performing teams.
HOSTED BY
MustardHub
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Fireside Chats: Behind The Build have?
Fireside Chats: Behind The Build currently has 88 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Fireside Chats: Behind The Build about?
Explore what truly creates workplace happiness, builds a better culture, and drives greater engagement for the entire workforce — from the suits in the C-suite to team members on the frontlines. Get real-world insights and practical strategies to recognize, retain, elevate, and empower teams. From...
How often does Fireside Chats: Behind The Build release new episodes?
Fireside Chats: Behind The Build has 88 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Fireside Chats: Behind The Build?
You can listen to Fireside Chats: Behind The Build on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Fireside Chats: Behind The Build?
Fireside Chats: Behind The Build is created and hosted by MustardHub.
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