The Rational Workforce

Women now have the overwhelming majority of salaried jobs in the workplace while the ranks of unemployed men continue to climb. Corporate policies have been pushing this outcome for years, but where's the workplace nirvana they promised was waiting on the other side? Why is employee engagement, employee satisfaction, and employee mental health all sinking to new lows? Today's episode takes a look at the phenomenon, what contributed to the state of affairs, and why efforts to "bring men back" might fall flat. You asked for it, HR. You've got it. Now what?

A recent batch of economic and survey data has just rolled out and... well... it ain't pretty. The gap between the flowery "we care about people" words on their websites and in their mission statements stand in stark contrast to their behaviors. Today's episode takes a peek behind the curtain on national employment numbers, ghost recruiting, phantom job postings, and the long-term impact of employers' short-term thinking.

Your company didn't downsize because of AI. They downsized because of a bad quarter, a bloated org chart, or a board breathing down their neck... and AI made a convenient press release. Don't take my word for it. Sam Altman said it. The National Bureau of Economic Research said it. Even the companies doing it are starting to admit it. But here's the part that gets overlooked: we were already primed to believe the worst about AI long before the layoffs started. Sixty years of Hollywood told us AI was coming for us. HAL 9000. Skynet. The Entity. The story was written before the technology even existed. So when the headlines hit, we didn't question them. We confirmed them. In this episode of The Rational Workforce, I'm breaking down how pop culture installed our fear of AI, why this tech disruption is playing out differently than every one that came before it, and why the companies using AI as a scapegoat are making a catastrophic mistake they won't be able to walk back. The technology isn't the villain. The people exploiting it are.

Don't look now, but people have stopped looking to the workplace for meaning, value, and a sense of belonging. Not because they stopped needing those things. Employers just made it clear they couldn't be trusted with the responsibility The resurgence in church attendance. The rising number of LLC registrations. The number of content creators documenting how they're using AI to level the playing field and go their own way. They're all happening right now, and my gut tells me they're all connected. The workforce is done outsourcing its sense of meaning to a company that will tell them they're part of a family on Monday, then restructure them out on Tuesday without a second thought. I know faith and the workplace have historically been a third-rail combination - and I'm certainly not here to convert anyone - but I think one is quietly reshaping the other right now, and pretending otherwise is willful ignorance.

Every week, another wave of layoffs. Another breathless press release about AI transformation. Another batch of executives patting themselves on the back for being bold and visionary while their workers clean out their desks. Here's the part nobody's saying out loud: for most companies, the AI revolution isn't delivering. The ROI isn't there. The efficiency gains aren't there. And the humans who were supposed to be "augmented" by all this technology? They're just... gone. So why won't they stop? In this episode, we get into the mechanics of the AI hype machine — why companies keep doubling down even when the numbers don't add up, why layoffs are becoming the new corporate flex, and what's actually going on underneath all the buzzwords and boardroom bravado. But we also talk about what you can do about it. Because disruption creates motion, and motion creates opportunity — if you know where to look. This one's worth your time... but you might want to pour yourself a drink first.

Let's face it - some people are just addicted to getting offended by everything, whether it impacts them or not. BUT... I think they're increasingly in the minority. Everywhere you look - politics, entertainment, pop culture - there are signs that Outrage, Inc. may be on the way out. This episode takes a look at some of the early indicators that, despite the odds, joy, hope, and levelheadedness just might be staging a comeback. Smart workplaces (and the HR pros who support them) will see the tide turning and react accordingly. Those who don't... well... from Bud Light to Target, we've seen how misreading cultural cues can hurt a business. No one is talking about abandoning principles, but a more rational approach just might win the day. 00:01 - Intro 02:24 - Jennifer Sey and the consequences of speaking up @ work 03:51 - Joy is staging a comeback 04:21 - Signs of rationality in politics 06:57 - Sports figures aren't taking the outrage bait 09:26 - Entertainment is trending away from the woke 13:34 - Using -ists and -isms as sword and shield 14:43 - A fork in the road: outrage fatigue @ work 21:06 - Closing

Let's face it - some people are just addicted to getting offended by everything, whether it impacts them or not. BUT... I think they're increasingly in the minority. Everywhere you look - politics, entertainment, pop culture - there are signs that Outrage, Inc. may be on the way out. This episode takes a look at some of the early indicators that, despite the odds, joy, hope, and levelheadedness just might be staging a comeback. Smart workplaces (and the HR pros who support them) will see the tide turning and react accordingly. Those who don't... well... from Bud Light to Target, we've seen how misreading cultural cues can hurt a business. No one is talking about abandoning principles, but a more rational approach just might win the day.

Tired of AI ghosting your job applications and being treated like garbage during your job search? In 2026, workers are fighting back! Some major class-action lawsuits against HR tech vendors, exposing hidden biases and secret scoring that reject qualified candidates (especially over 40) without a fair shot. Discover how these cases could level the playing field, why employers are scrambling, and real options like going independent to reclaim your career power. 00:01 - Introduction 01:51 - Corporate America & The Courts 02:35 - Workday Class Action Suit 04:01 - Worktech AI Systems 101 04:41 - Workday Class Action Suit (Continued) 05:58 - Eightfold.ai Class Action Suit 08:16 - What This Means for Job Seekers 08:59 - The Employer/Tech Provider Blame Game 10:00 - What This Means for HR & Employers 11:36 - How AI (and HR) Stacks the Decks Against Workers 15:02 - How YOU Can Fight Back 18:18 - Wrapping Up

2025 is now in the rear-view mirror, and not a moment too soon. It has been a rough year for the workforce, but I think 2026 will mark a turning point. There are plenty of changes still looming on the horizon, but employers and HR may have overplayed their hand on multiple fronts. This is the year when I think workers have an amazing opportunity to step up, speak up, and show up in a way that will put them back into the drivers' seat. 0:01 - Intro 1:43 - Prediction 1: AI Hangover 5:45 - Prediction 2: Outrage Fatigue 13:33 - Prediction 3: HR's Year of Reckoning 20:01 - Prediction 4: Humanity + Authenticity WIns 24:29 - Prediction 5: The Rise of the "Disruption Natives" 29:29 - Outro

What happens when you mix EPCOT, a college grad, a Gen X dad, and a whole lot of unsolicited opinions about work, life, and figuring things out? You get this video. We took a father-daughter day trip to EPCOT (because where else do you have deep conversations about burnout, ambition, and impostor syndrome?), and decided to flip the script on our usual content. This one’s a little different from the usual Rational Workforce videos. Less “expert analysis,” more “real talk on a park bench.” ➡️ She’s 22. Newly employed. Optimistic. Sharp. Slightly skeptical. ➡️ I’m… not 22. Slightly more jaded. Still hopeful. Definitely opinionated. We wandered through World Showcase and asked each other one question per country — no scripts, no rehearsals, just two generations trying to understand each other (and the world of work) a little better. If you’ve ever had a tough conversation with your kid (or your parent) about what work really means — or if you’ve ever wished someone had those conversations with you — this one’s for you. Leave a comment with your favorite question, a hot take, or something you wish your boss/mentor/parent/kid would understand.

Why are brands torching their identities in the name of progress? In this episode of The Rational Workforce, we unpack the Sydney Sweeney/AEO campaign, Cracker Barrel’s botched rebrand, and the rise of outrage marketing. Who benefits? Who pays? And what does it say about the state of DEI, branding, and the workforce caught in the middle?

We all feel it: The sting of being overlooked. The rush to defend ourselves. The quiet resentment after a meeting or message that just didn’t sit right. But here’s the hard truth: Not every reaction points to injustice. Sometimes it’s not them... it’s your ego. Today's episode presents a practical framework to help you decode what you’re feeling at work and why. It’s not therapy and it’s not fluff. It’s discernment for leaders, job seekers, and anyone who’s ever left a meeting replaying every word. If you want to lead with clarity, grow with humility, or just stop sabotaging your own progress, start here. 0:00 - Intro 0:33 - The Ego & Your Mojo: A Personal Story 2:20 - Fighting FOMO: The Power of Stepping Away 4:15 - My Background & My Journey as a Tech Exec 5:00 - Tips for Navigating Stages of Your Carer 7:15 - Tips for Job Seekers 9:16 - Parting Advice

In a legal settlement that feels like it has been a long time coming, actress Gina Carano and Disney seem to have settled their differences. In today's episode, we give you a quick recap of the news and the events that got us here, and discuss how this could have broader implications for workers everywhere.

How did layoffs become the new executive flex? In this episode of The Rational Workforce, we unpack a disturbing new trend: corporate leaders turning mass layoffs into bragging rights. What used to be a last resort is now a flex... and workers are paying the price. From the Wall Street Journal’s coverage of C-suite callousness to a look back at some amazing examples of REAL leadership, this is a brutally honest exploration of what happens when corporate loyalty becomes a one-way street. We’ll break down: - Why some CEOs treat layoffs like trophies - The staggering cost of employee disengagement - What today’s workforce actually wants from employers - How independents and small businesses can seize this moment If you’re tired of the corporate doublespeak, tired of leadership without humanity, and ready to build or support something better, this one’s for you. 🔗 WSJ article: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/layoff-business-strategy-reduce-staff-11796d66?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1 🔗 Marc's day job: https://kickmotor.com/ 🔗 Merch for the weary worker: https://therationalworkforce-shop.fourthwall.com/

Stephen Colbert isn’t losing his show because of politics. He’s losing it because declining viewership and $40M in losses don’t lie. (But sure, let’s blame Trump.) In this episode, we torch elite bubble logic, examine who actually pays the price when shows fail, and remind the overpaid and underperforming: welcome to the real world. Viewer discretion advised (especially if your safe space has WiFi).

The Coldplay Kiss Cam moment has been clipped, memed, stitched, dunked-on, and dissected to death, so I’m not here to recap it. I am here to ask a more uncomfortable question: Why did it go this viral, this fast, and with this much venom? Here’s the hard truth: Most workers don’t exactly see the C-suite as sympathetic figures, so when a CEO and CHRO get caught (literally) in an ethics breach, it doesn’t just go viral… it turns into bloodsport. But there’s a second layer no one wants to talk about: HR has spent the past decade marketing itself as the ethical backbone of the workplace. The culture police. The guardians of values. So when HR is caught out - when they cross lines they punish others for - it feels especially gross. And yes, even other HR folks are piling on… ignoring the hypocrisy of that move. This isn’t just workplace gossip. It’s a mirror. Let’s take a hard look at what it reflects back.

1300 State Department layoffs = media meltdown. 9,000 Microsoft + 10,000 Intel cuts = crickets. Why does the media weep for bureaucrats while ignoring tens of thousands of private sector workers getting the axe? Why are layoffs only tragic when it fits a narrative? In this episode of The Rational Workforce, we break down: - The media’s double standard on layoffs - The shady history of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center - Why millions of Americans aren’t buying the outrage - And why this "welcome to the real world" moment was long overdue No spin. No gaslighting. Just hard numbers and honest talk. If you’re tired of the corporate-political echo chamber, you’re in the right place.

Intel’s cutting 10,000 jobs. Microsoft just axed 9,000 more. The Wall Street Journal says work-life balance is “overrated,” and companies everywhere are hiring for burnout hours like it’s 2019. In this episode of The Rational Workforce, I break down why your boss is suddenly allergic to “mental health days,” how the job market turned into a ghost town, and why it pays (literally) to stay sharp — even if it means grinding harder than you want. We’ll cover the brutal truth of at-will employment, the scams hiding inside unlimited PTO, and how to build a career (and life) that doesn’t revolve around your boss’s bottom line. If you’re hunting for a job, worried about getting laid off, or just feeling stuck in the grind, this one’s for you.

Celebrities get PR teams. Regular workers get pink slips. In this episode of The Rational Workforce, we explore why the same off-the-clock behavior leads to drastically different outcomes depending on who you are — and who’s watching. We unpack the real-life stories of: • A tech exec allegedly caught keying a Tesla • A state worker who damaged six cars and kept his job • Hollywood stars who posted controversial content — and either got fired, protected, or quietly coached It’s not just about the posts. It’s about politics, identity, public pressure, and the brand math behind every HR decision. If you’ve ever wondered whether workplace fairness is real or just a vibe, this episode’s for you. For more insights into the (often) confusing world of work, hit my playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsFzRBE4sP62aonQ8AlFhymgGHC3lty8B&si=khPxE-nVtjlig2L9