Wired to Work with Jess Chapman

Jessica Chapman
  • 5.0 (12)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Wired to Work is a podcast about how people really work, and how we can work better, together. Hosted by workplace strategist Jess Chapman, each episode blends neuroscience, leadership, and human insight to explore what’s happening in our brains, bodies and our workplaces. Expect practical solo episodes that decode the science in real life, plus conversations with leading neuroscientists, coaches, and wellness experts who bring science-based insights into everyday work. So whether you're interested in creating a great workplace, want to learn how to work better yourself, or just interested in the brain and how we think, lead and learn, hit subscribe and come along. We're Wired to Work and we're just getting started!

  1. Why Bad Habits are So Hard to Break - The Neuroscience of Change

    2D AGO

    Why Bad Habits are So Hard to Break - The Neuroscience of Change

    Most leaders assume that if people know what to do, they’ll do it. But behaviour doesn’t change that way. Why? Because habits aren’t just a willpower problem. They’re a brain wiring problem. In this breakdown episode of Wired to Work, Jess Chapman unpacks neuroplasticity - the brain’s ability to strengthen, weaken, and reorganize connections based on what you do repeatedly. In practical terms, this episode explains why habits form so easily, why change feels harder than it should, and why knowing what to do still doesn’t always lead to better behaviour. Jess breaks down: • what “neurons that fire together, wire together” actually means • how repetition builds habits into neural pathways • why attention, timing, and emotion matter for learning • why stress makes behaviour change harder • why training without practice rarely sticks • how leaders and organizations can support change that actually lasts If you’ve ever wondered why people keep repeating the same patterns at work (including yourself!) this episode will change how you think about habits, learning, feedback, and behaviour change. Welcome to Wired to Work. ✉️ Get in touch at: contact@ethree.ca Follow us: Instagram - @ethreeconsulting LinkedIn - ethree-consulting | Neuroworks Website: https://www.ethree.ca | https://neuroworks.ca/ HR Toolkit!: https://www.ethree.ca/hr-toolkit/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Wired to Work: The Brain Framework(00:00:55) - Neuroplasticity and the brain(00:08:03) - How to Build a Connective Brain(00:12:07) - Practice Is the Only Way to Get Better(00:13:19) - How to Build a HABOR(00:16:07) - E3CA: Working in the Workplace

    17 min
  2. How Leaders Build Better Workplace Relationships

    MAR 4

    How Leaders Build Better Workplace Relationships

    Most workplace “relationship problems” aren’t personality problems. They’re pressure problems. In this episode of Wired to Work, Jess Chapman sits down with leadership coach Kate Franklin to unpack why stress turns reasonable people into version-2.0 disasters.. and why “just be more resilient” is NOT the answer. You’ll hear: •Why chronic pressure makes behaviour worse (and normalizes it) •The real reason your boss relationship shapes your work more than your job description does •How to get useful feedback (up and down the hierarchy) without setting off a threat response •Two simple tools that cut through drama fast: “turn the complaint into a request” and the 15-minute rule (let it go or talk about it) •A practical check-in habit that lowers friction in five minutes If you’ve ever thought, “Is it them… or is it me?” — this one’s for you. ✉️ Get in touch at: contact@ethree.ca Follow us: Instagram - @ethreeconsulting LinkedIn - ethree-consulting | Neuroworks Website: https://www.ethree.ca | https://neuroworks.ca/ HR Toolkit!: https://www.ethree.ca/hr-toolkit/ Chapters (00:00:00) - The culture of low-level behavior(00:00:51) - Wired to Work: How to Build Relationships(00:02:01) - Kate on The Business Coach Podcast(00:04:44) - On Community and The Role of Work(00:06:24) - Relationships in the Workplace(00:11:45) - How to Prioritize Relational Skills(00:18:16) - The Need to Engage at Work(00:19:37) - The Importance of a Remote Team Meeting(00:24:56) - What Do Leaders Need to Know to Be a Leader?(00:25:26) - How to Deal with Bad Bosses(00:30:25) - How to Give Feedback to Your Boss(00:33:35) - How to Build Trust in the Team(00:41:06) - How to Turn Your Complaint Into a Request(00:43:52) - The Role of the Leader(00:50:36) - Kate Franklin on Working Well With Your Team

    54 min
  3. Hot Flash: Embracing Menopause at Work and Beyond with Tina Pomroy

    FEB 25

    Hot Flash: Embracing Menopause at Work and Beyond with Tina Pomroy

    Menopause is having a moment. There’s more content. More conversation. More noise. And yet, we’re still getting it wrong.. especially at work. In this week's episode of Wired to Work, Jess Chapman speaks with counselor and researcher Tina Pomroy N.D., MEd, MBA, CMEC, RYT about what menopause actually looks like - biologically, psychologically, and professionally. They unpack: • What’s happening with estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and dopamine — and why it affects cognition and emotional regulation • Why menopause often gets misdiagnosed or treated symptom by symptom • The mental health risks we don’t talk about at work • Why leaders are uncomfortable addressing it • What practical workplace support can actually look like • And why menopause is an expansion, not a decline If you lead people, work with midlife professionals, or are navigating this shift yourself, this conversation will change how you think about performance, flexibility, and support at work. Chapters (00:00:00) - What to Talk About When You're Going Through Perimenopause(00:01:21) - Tina Pomeroy on Perimenopause and Mental Health(00:06:04) - What Women Need to Know About Menopause(00:11:04) - What Is Perimenopause and Menopause?(00:15:15) - How to Survive Perimenopause(00:19:51) - How to manage menopause symptoms in the US(00:22:46) - How to Talk About Menopause in the Workplace(00:28:38) - What Kind of Led Me To Think About Menopause?(00:33:47) - How Menopause Affects Your Brain(00:39:23) - Hormone regulation in menopause and ADHD(00:42:33) - How to Deal with Depression in the Year 2(00:47:11) - How to Ask People How Are You Really?(00:50:38) - E3CA: Working in the World of Work

    51 min
  4. 29 | Why Work No Longer Works and How to Redesign It | Jules Maitland, PhD

    FEB 18

    29 | Why Work No Longer Works and How to Redesign It | Jules Maitland, PhD

    Burnout, disengagement, leadership fatigue — we’ve been trying to solve these problems by fixing individuals. But what if the real issue is how work is designed? In the first episode of the newly rebranded Wired to Work, workplace strategist Jess Chapman speaks with systems designer and founder of All In Agency Jules Maitland, PhD about why traditional workplace models no longer fit the world we live in. They explore: • Why resilience training doesn’t fix burnout • Why employee engagement often fails • Why leaders struggle to admit they don’t have all the answers • What systems thinking means in practical terms • How to redesign work without a “big bang” transformation • The rise of adaptive, self-managing (“teal”) organizations If you’re a leader, founder, or manager wondering how to improve culture, reduce burnout, or lead change that actually sticks — this episode is for you. Welcome to Wired to Work. ✉️ Get in touch at: contact@ethree.ca Follow us: Instagram - @ethreeconsulting LinkedIn - ethree-consulting | Neuroworks Website: https://www.ethree.ca | https://neuroworks.ca/ HR Toolkit!: https://www.ethree.ca/hr-toolkit/ Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Be a Leader Who Knows the Answer(00:00:28) - Wired to Work: How to Make Work Better for Everyone(00:02:28) - How to Win at Work with a Computer(00:04:44) - How Systems Thinking fits into Human Centered Design(00:11:53) - The Role of Relationships in Organizations(00:15:26) - Back to the Floor(00:16:56) - The Need to Evolve Our Practices(00:20:37) - The Need for Human Centered Design(00:23:43) - Leadership in a Changing World(00:26:42) - On Feedback and Commander Control(00:32:39) - What Do You Do If You Don't Have the Power to Change(00:37:40) - What is a Teal Organization?(00:44:07) - On the Need for More Leadership(00:45:26) - Wired for Work: Unlocking Your People

    47 min

  5. 2025-11-03

    28 | Top 5 Takeaways: A Season Two Retrospective!

    As Season 2 wraps up, Jess looks back on the moments that stuck — the insights, laughs, and leadership lessons that made this season one to remember. From kindness at work to navigating change, clarity in relationships, and what it really means to connect with people, these are her Top Five Takeaways to make the tough people stuff easier. ️ Featuring highlights from conversations with Chelsea Colwell-Posh, Tom Hickey, Jeff McAloon, Anna Cook, Pierre Battah, and Susan Englehutt. ️ Watch the full episode now — packed with real-world advice on hiring, leadership, and the people side of growth. YouTube: https://youtu.be/IhRn3i4pD3U?si=rIN5V1FkBPFc5gmr Chapters (00:00:00) - Unlock Your People: A Season Finale(00:01:05) - Chelsea on the Need for More Kindness in Work(00:04:33) - Employers' ability to manage uncertainty(00:07:37) - How To Win a Brother's Love(00:11:59) - In the Elevator With Pierre Batter(00:12:43) - How to Drive Change in the Organization(00:16:34) - Susan Engelhut on the Relationship in Sales(00:19:05) - Just Ask Jess: Season 2

    22 min

  6. 2025-10-27

    27 | Pivots, People & Plot Twists: An Atlantic Canada Panel on Leading Through Change with Steph Hovey & Mike Randall

    What really happens when your business starts to grow — and your people have to grow with it? In this roundtable episode of Unlocking Your People, Jess is joined by Atlantic Canada entrepreneurs Mike Randall (Portfolio) and Stephanie Hovey (Allied Therapy) for a candid chat about leading through change, managing emotion at work, and finding the right cultural fit when hiring. From the hidden costs of moving too fast to why the “people part” matters as much as the business plan, this panel gets real about what it takes to build healthy, thriving teams. ✉️ Get in touch at: contact@ethree.ca   Follow us:   Instagram - @ethreeconsulting LinkedIn - ethree-consulting Website: https://www.ethree.ca   Chapters (00:00:00) - Unlock Your People(00:01:05) - A Chat With Mike Randall and Steph Huffy(00:02:57) - Stephanie on Change Management(00:08:39) - What's the biggest mistake leaders make in planning for change?(00:11:02) - How to Prepare for Change?(00:15:51) - What support does a team need for change?(00:17:27) - On Change and How to Deal with It(00:23:58) - The 3 Step Process on Change Communication(00:27:18) - The Simple Things a Leader Can Do to Make People Feel Seen and(00:32:23) - How to Hire the Right Talent(00:37:08) - Does Psychometrics for Fit Matter?(00:41:21) - Interviewing the Right Person for the Job(00:47:45) - The Need for Talent Development in 2030(00:51:17) - What is harassment prevention legislation in New Brunswick?(00:55:17) - E3CA: HR Self-Serving Toolkit

    57 min

  7. 2025-10-20

    26 | Good Fences, Better Businesses: A Conversation on Legal Foundations with Anna Cook

    Contracts, corporations, and co-founders — oh my! In this episode, Jess sits down with Anna Cook, Partner at Cox & Palmer, for a practical, plain-language look at the legal side of running a business. From when to incorporate, to why every partnership needs a “business prenup,” Anna breaks down what small business owners really need to know — including how to avoid common legal pitfalls as you grow. Plus, Jess tackles a viral workplace scandal in the Just Ask Jess segment: when the CEO and HR lead make headlines for all the wrong reasons, what can small organizations learn about managing relationships at work? ✉️ Get in touch at: contact@ethree.ca Follow us: Instagram - @ethreeconsulting LinkedIn - ethree-consulting Website: https://www.ethree.ca HR Toolkit!: https://www.ethree.ca/hr-toolkit/   Chapters (00:00:00) - Unlock Your People: Small Business Owners(00:00:48) - Meet Anna Cook(00:02:12) - Why Law School Is For Real(00:03:42) - Do You Incorporate or Not?(00:06:56) - Other Things to Consider When Starting a Business With Family(00:13:08) - What are some of the things that you regularly see organizations doing that(00:18:22) - Small Business Owners: Stock Options and Remuneration(00:22:55) - Should You Give Stock Options to Family or Friends?(00:26:48) - Incorporation: The Cast of Characters(00:29:22) - Do Shareowners Have a Right to Vote?(00:33:12) - Confirmations and Documents for Business Owners(00:39:18) - Have You Got a Vision to Sell Your Company?(00:40:09) - Ontario vs Nova Scotia & Quebec: What's the Difference?(00:45:16) - Covid HR: Remote Work and the Law(00:48:54) - Commercial Law(00:50:28) - The Coldplay Kiss Cam(00:54:42) - Are Personal Relationships Bad for the Workplace?(00:56:27) - Questions for Work

    57 min

  8. 2025-10-15

    25.5 | Feedback Without the Fight

    Giving feedback doesn’t have to spark defensiveness — if you know how to do it right. Jess walks through her NICER framework: Notice the behavior, validate intent, and explain consequences in a way that matters. It’s a simple, powerful way to turn tough conversations into growth conversations — minus the friction. Chapters (00:00:03) - How to Coach a Terrible Co-worker(00:04:34) - How to Give Feedback to a Boss

    7 min
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Wired to Work is a podcast about how people really work, and how we can work better, together. Hosted by workplace strategist Jess Chapman, each episode blends neuroscience, leadership, and human insight to explore what’s happening in our brains, bodies and our workplaces. Expect practical solo episodes that decode the science in real life, plus conversations with leading neuroscientists, coaches, and wellness experts who bring science-based insights into everyday work. So whether you're interested in creating a great workplace, want to learn how to work better yourself, or just interested in the brain and how we think, lead and learn, hit subscribe and come along. We're Wired to Work and we're just getting started!

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