Looking for new ways to level up your HR knowledge whilst listening to real-life anecdotal stories and scenarios? We have compiled a list of our favourite HR podcasts and included some episode recommendations for you to get started with!
Punk Rock HR 🤘
About the podcast: Hosted by HR Leader turned Entrepreneur and Author Laurie Ruettimann, Punk Rock HR is a bold podcast contrasting traditional HR discussions. Laurie brings wit and insight to topics about the modern workplace, leadership, culture and personal resilience with a 'punk rock' attitude that goes against the status quo. Guests on the podcast range from renowned thought leaders, authors and entrepreneurs to HR professionals who shape how we work as individuals.
🎙️Episode spotlight: The Power of HR with Joey Price
In this episode, CEO of Jumpstart HR, Joey Price, talks with Laurie about his book, ‘The Power of HR: How to Make an Organisational Impact as a People Professional’. They discuss finding the perfect balance between disengaged employees and those who are comfortable but not challenged, where staff “love the challenge, love the culture and love the tools that they have at work”. The conversation also explores why HR engagement is more critical than ever and discusses the growing impact of AI on businesses and HR professionals.
The Future of HR 🔮
About the podcast: Hosted by HR Executive and Strategist JP Elliott, The Future of HR brings insightful conversations that explore the evolving world of HR. JP highlights career journeys, leadership lessons and workplace dynamics with today’s most influential HR and thought leaders. You can take advice from these leaders to help you level up your HR knowledge.
🎙️Episode spotlight: Unlocking the power of employee experience with Assil Omar
In this episode Assil Omar, VP of People Experience at AbbVie, emphasises that HR leaders should put employee experience at the heart of HR systems. Doing this directly impacts how people perform and feel at work and whether or not they stay in an organisation. She also encourages HR leaders to continuously learn about individuals' drive behind doing their best work and how the company changes and grows to deliver real impact.
Recommended reading 📖: Elevating the employee experience: A guide for HR
Honest HR 😇
About the podcast: The Honest HR podcast is a biweekly podcast that’s great for HR professionals at all stages of their career. Through relatable stories, HR professionals can hear insights, trends and actionable advice to take back into their role. It's practical, timely and earns you SHRM recertification credit. An added bonus!
🎙️Episode spotlight: Today's shifting priorities for a HR Department of one
Monique Akanbi, Membership Initiatives Director at SRHM, is joined by Senior Partner at HR Soul Consulting, Jennifer Currence. They explore how solo HR professionals focus on improving the organisation as a whole, not just enforcing rules and managing new hires. Even without a big team, HR professionals can make a big impact by building strong relationships and leading change. Jennifer’s top tip from this episode is to “help the leadership understand the importance of training their managers”.
People Managing People 🤝
About the podcast: The People Managing People podcast addresses real-life challenges faced in people management, from conflict to culture-building. Discussions focus on strategic thinking, especially around AI and analytics, all while bringing it back to human-centric HR strategies.
🎙️Episode spotlight: From values to behaviours: How to build a culture of candour
This episode features Valentina Gissin, Chief People Officer at Curana Health, highlighting that values should be turned into real behaviours, not just words on a company website. A culture of candour is an environment where employees feel safe speaking openly and honestly about their work, sharing feedback and discussing their challenges. They discuss how the goal is to create a culture where candour helps individuals improve and the company culture is strengthened.
Truth, Lies & Work ✅
About the podcast: Truth, Lies & Work is hosted by Business Psychologist, Leanne Elliott, and multiple business owners and leaders, Al Elliott. Their lively and engaging chats focus on behavioural science-backed ways to elevate company culture and empower people to be their best.
🎙️Episode spotlight: The 'Ta-Da!' philosophy: Why fun could save your workplace, with Joel Zeff
In this episode, Leanne and Al speak with guest Joel Zeff about his ‘Ta-Da’! Philosophy. Joel believes leaders should recognise all achievements with a “Ta Da!”, that creates energy and momentum for teams. He explains how this fun approach builds collaboration, creativity and stronger connections among coworkers. By making space for joy, workplaces become more motivated and productive with boosted employee morale.
Recommended reading 📖: How to boost employee morale in the workplace
The HR People Pod 🧑💼
About the podcast: The HR People Pod is produced by CIPD. It features fortnightly insights from HR leaders exploring topics that shape work and people development, enabling HR professionals to learn and improve constantly.
🎙️Episode spotlight: Enabling high performance working: A growth mindset with Matthew Syed
In this episode, Author Matthew Syed and CIPD Director David D’Souza explore how a growth mindset is essential for supporting high-performance cultures. Matthew suggests that fixed mindsets and a lack of psychological safety can affect organisational learning and innovation. On the other hand, embracing a growth mindset empowers people to treat challenges and failures as opportunities to adapt and improve.
WorkLife 🔍
About the podcast: Worklife is hosted by Organisational Psychologist Adam Grant, in collaboration with TED. Throughout the series, Adam aims to change the way you view your job for the positive. In his own words, he ‘takes you inside some truly unusual places where they’ve figured out how to make work not suck’. If you’re looking for the best HR podcasts for professionals, this one is definitely up there.
🎙️Episode spotlight: How you can do more for others with Rutger Bregman
Rutger Bregman, author of the brand new book Moral Ambition, joins Adam to discuss what it means to be a good person, how to stop people from wasting their talents and the lessons you can take from his new book. They also discuss the importance of community, the role of moral ambition, how to take actionable advice and build your own ‘moral ambition circle’.
HR Besties 🤩
About the podcast: HR Besties is hosted by three HR professionals, Leigh Alena Henderson, Ashley Herd and Jamie Jackson. The creators behind three of social media’s most popular HR accounts come together to inspire with a light-hearted approach, sharing relatable HR insights to make workplace discussions engaging and shake off the stereotypes of HR. Each episode is formatted like a ‘staff meeting you actually want to attend’ alongside a full agenda with ‘happy hour’ check-ins.
🎙️Episode spotlight: Gen Z work culture clashes
In this episode, the HR Besties explore the clash between Gen Z work culture and traditional workplace expectations, from the viral ‘Gen Z stare’ to cringe corporate speak and broader cultural divides. They discuss why it’s essential for leaders to create opportunities to teach team members the skills needed to thrive within an organisation and explain why Gen Z want feedback.
Recommended reading 📖: Gen Z vs Millennials report
A bit of optimism 😄
About the podcast: Simon Sinek's A bit of optimism shares positive stories that invite inspirational people to discuss what drives them both in and out of work. There are many takeaways that we can apply to our own roles and routines. With themes ranging from humble mastery to empathy, resilience and reframing failure, it’s perfect for anyone seeking a thoughtful spark in their week.
🎙️Episode spotlight: Your unhappy brain needs some assistance with Mo Gawdat
In this episode, Simon is joined by Entrepreneur and Author Mo Gawdat. He shares actionable advice for all of us, such as doing a weekly “stress stock‑take,” going on silent retreats and personifying nagging thoughts suggesting calling them ‘Becky’ - sorry to any Becky’s out there!
HR Coffee Time ☕
About the podcast: HR Coffee Time, hosted by Career and Executive Coach Fay Wallis, is designed to support HR professionals in building fulfilling careers without burning out. The show alternates between solo episodes and guest interviews featuring HR and People leaders, offering actionable advice and career development guidance.
🎙️Episode spotlight: How to prove HR's true value: Lessons from a Chief People Officer with Leah Carnegie
In this episode, Fay is joined by Leah Carnegie, who shares her path from VP of People to Chief People Officer. They discuss the pivotal moment she secured a seat at the top table and examine the importance of coaching skills and delivering feedback.
Prepare to be inspired
You now have plenty of listening material to keep you occupied over the coming months, whether you try one podcast and stay loyal to that, or give each of them a go to get as broad a breadth of insights and guidance as possible.
Stay in touch with us for further tips, inspiration and new resources to help you and your organisation thrive.
