The Simplifiers Podcast

Mary Baird, PHR
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Too many people are miserable at work. I'm on a mission to change that. The Simplifiers Podcast helps HR leaders, people managers, and workplace changemakers simplify the complex challenges shaping the future of work. Hosted by Mary Baird, PHR, employee experience strategist, AI for HR expert, keynote speaker, and author of Squash the Sunday Scaries, this season simplifies topics through the lens of leadership and culture strategy. Each episode delivers practical ideas to help you rebuild trust, strengthen workplace culture, lead through change, and create an employee experience that drives measurable business results. Because when employees feel supported, valued, and equipped to do their best work, customers feel the difference too. Better employee experience = better customer experience = better business results Through candid conversations with global experts, practical solo episodes, and calming guided visualizations, you'll learn how to: • Improve employee engagement and reduce burnout • Build stronger leaders and healthier workplace cultures • Turn employee listening into meaningful action • Use AI in HR simply, responsibly, and strategically • Navigate change with greater clarity and confidence • Do less, focus on what matters most, and make a greater impact No empty buzzwords. No surface-level perks. Just real-world insights and simple steps you can put into practice immediately. With 400+ episodes and listeners in more than 155 countries, The Simplifiers Podcast is here to help you gain clarity, build knowledge, look after yourself, and #dothething. New here? Follow the show and start simplifying work, leadership, and everything in between. Are you ready? Let's dive in. It's time to simplify.

  1. 13 hr ago

    How to build a leadership legacy - with Rhoda Banks

    Think about the leaders who've shaped you. Some made you feel seen, supported, and capable of more. Others left you questioning yourself long after you stopped working with them. Because every leader leaves something behind. A mark. Or a scar. Your leadership legacy isn't simply what you accomplish or the results you deliver. It's the imprint you leave on people and how they feel, perform, and lead others after you're no longer in the room. But we don't lead from a blank slate. We bring our experiences, beliefs, fears, and personal stories into every decision we make. Sometimes, that "inside stuff" shows up in ways we never intended. So, how can you become more intentional about what your leadership will be known for? My special guest today is Rhoda Banks and she's simplifying how to build a leadership legacy. She'll share how our lived experiences shape the way we lead, where the inner work begins, and how to break patterns that no longer serve us. ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/432-how-to-build-a-leadership-legacy---with-rhoda-banks

  2. 14 hr ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing Alison Wood Brooks: The Science Behind Great Conversations from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Jay sits down with Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks, author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves, to explore what makes great conversations actually work and where most of us get it wrong. Together, they unpack how to choose better topics, embrace the messiness of real dialogue, master the three stages of listening, and give compliments that genuinely connect. Alison also reveals why admitting uncertainty builds more trust than having all the answers, and shares practical conversation games you can start using right away. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Learn to own the conversations that matter most in Alison Wood Brooks' new class on MasterClass: The Conversation Advantage With Alison Wood Brooks | MasterClass PURPOSE10 for 10% at altrarunning.com/onpurpose. Free Shipping and Free 30-Day Trial. Head to https://wayfair.com right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less. JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction 01:51 Shifting Focus from Yourself In Conversation 05:31 Lowering Your Anxiety with Topic Prep 08:30 Is It Better to Be Interesting or Interested? 09:45 The Butterfly Net Metaphor 13:00 Low-Stakes Practice To Build High-Stakes Confidence 14:00 Debunking Traditional Rules of Persuasion 15:55 Building Conversational Safety Through Validation 17:06 Agenda-Free Relationships vs. Manipulative Networking 20:36 The Power of Follow-Up Questions 24:00 Embracing the Natural Messiness of Dialogue 26:11 Unrealistic Standards Set by Media and Podcasts 27:06 Alison's Top Three Small Talk Techniques 29:22 Balancing Leading vs. Following in Conversation 32:40 Does Your Mind Wander During Conversation? 33:40 The Power of Callbacks 34:00 The Attention Crisis and Screen Disruption 37:09 Strategies for Staying Present 39:00 Reciprocity and the Good-to-Great Question Shift 41:14 Intimate Openers and Stealth Topic-Switching 46:12 How to Respond to One Word Answers 47:35 Game 1: Spontaneous Depth and Sincerity 51:57 Game 2: Breaking Through Reserve 55:56 Talk Time Game: Battle of the Nice Guys 01:01:03 The Compliment Landmines to Avoid 01:04:00 This Is Damaging Your Potential Connections 01:09:48 The Best Way to Receive a Compliment 01:12:30 Talk Time Game: Admitting Uncertainty 01:21:30 Feel More Confident During Conversations 01:22:05 Dating Conversations and the First-Date Pause 01:26:20 Reviving a Dying Date Conversation 01:29:54 Deconstructing the "36 Questions to Fall in Love" 01:31:40 Defusing Heated Disagreements 01:32:22 Preparing for Difficult Conversations 01:34:00 When Distance Is Better Than Talking 01:37:45 Alison Wood Brooks on Final Five Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

  3. 18 Aug

    How to rethink your job search + career path - with Mike Peditto

    Let's talk about your career. Because for a lot of people right now, work feels shaky. Maybe you've been laid off, applied for dozens of jobs with no response, or you're quietly wondering whether your current career path still makes sense. The rules have changed. AI is reshaping jobs. Hiring technology is filtering candidates before a human ever sees them. And the traditional corporate ladder feels more and more, totally and utterly disconnected from reality. So, how do you stay grounded through the uncertainty? And how do you build a career that can evolve with you? My special guest today is Mike Peditto and he's simplifying how to rethink your job search + career path.   Here's the truth. None of us knows exactly what the job market will look like next. But we can get smarter about how we navigate it. You'll learn why mass-applying isn't working, what actually helps you get noticed in an overcrowded job market, and how to remain in demand as work continues to change. Let's simplify it. Mike's Core Four Stories (that you should have prepared before every interview): Your most successful project Your toughest project Your difficult stakeholder story Your passion project ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/431-how-to-rethink-your-job-search-career-path---with-mike-peditto

  4. 11 Aug

    What Corporate America can learn from a theatre troupe - with Stephen Riordan

    What can Corporate America learn from a theatre troupe? Quite a lot, actually. Think about it. A theatre production brings together people who may have never worked together before. There's very little onboarding. The timeline is short. The deadline is fixed. And somehow, they have to build trust, communicate clearly, solve problems fast, and become a high-performing team. Sound familiar? Today, we're exploring what leaders can learn from theatre about building strong teams, especially when working with contractors, seasonal employees, new hires, or anyone who needs to hit the ground running. My special guest today is Artistic Director of Dead Canary Theatre, Stephen Riordan and he's simplifying what Corporate America could learn from a theatre troupe. Stephen and I worked together on a social impact event tour through Visit.org, where I saw firsthand how valuable theatre skills are when plans change, timelines are tight, and everyone needs to roll up their sleeves. We're talking about building trust fast, why theatre people are incredibly adaptable and disciplined, and what Corporate America might be missing when it overlooks creative talent. Let's simplify it. ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/430-what-corporate-america-can-learn-from-a-theatre-troupe---with-stephen-riordan

  5. 4 Aug ·  Bonus

    B172: How to stop feeling like you're not enough (guided visualization)

    Time for a guided visualization exercise: how to stop feeling like you're not enough. Maybe you've felt it before. You finish one big project… Only to immediately start thinking about the next one. You reach the goal… But somehow, it still doesn't feel like enough.  Maybe you've spent years being the dependable one. The one everyone counts on. The one who quietly carries more than anyone realizes. Maybe you've even worn the label proudly... High Performer. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with ambition. There is nothing wrong with wanting to build meaningful things. To make a difference. To create. To leave the world a little better than you found it. Ambition is a beautiful thing. It helps us grow. It helps us serve others. It helps us become who we're capable of being. But somewhere along the way... Ambition quietly accepted a job it was never meant to have. Instead of simply helping you create… it began deciding whether you were worthy. Whether you'd done enough. Whether you'd become enough. And that's an impossible job. Because there will always be another goal. Another mountain to climb. Another finish line waiting just beyond the horizon. So today... I don't want to invite you to become less ambitious. I want to invite you into a new relationship with ambition. One where your work reflects your values... Instead of determining your value. One where you still create extraordinary things... But you no longer ask today's accomplishments to tell you who you are. Let's explore that together. And so… to kick off the month, today is another guided visualization episode, which we release on the first Tuesday of every month this season. So, how does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your inner wisdom and Intuition for answers. Listen and participate in this guided visualization exercise: How to stop feeling like you're not enough. You can do this, I believe in you. It's time to SIMPLIFY. Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/b172-how-to-stop-feeling-like-youre-not-enough-all-guided-visualization

  6. 28 Jul

    How to lead with courage - with Justine Froelker

    You know the conversation you need to have at work. But you don't want to rock the boat. Make someone angry. Or add one more thing to your already full plate. So, you wait. But the issue grows. Trust erodes. And that conversation gets even harder. My special guest today is author, speaker Justine Froelker and she's simplifying how to lead with courage. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What courage actually means and why it isn't about being fearless, bold, or the loudest person in the room. What it means to become a courage-centered leader. How courage-centered leaders approach conflict differently than leaders who avoid it or simply try to keep the peace. The small, practical behaviors that create greater trust, clearer communication, and less avoidance at work. Her five pathways to a courageous life and why coming back to yourself matters before you lead others. Feel it all Embody again Be fully you Love others well Do the work How to have the conversations that matter with honesty and care, without eroding trust or making others feel threatened. Because leading with courage is not about having all the answers or performing confidence. It's about being willing to address what matters before a small issue becomes a much bigger one Q: Are you wanting to lead with courage? If yes, this one is for you. It's time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/429-how-to-lead-with-courage---with-justine-froelker

  7. 21 Jul

    How to make your work tech better - with David Noe

    Think about how many systems your employees use just to get their work done. One for payroll. Another for benefits, communication, training, expenses, or scheduling. And when those systems don't work well together, simple tasks become harder than they need to be. Employees waste time searching for answers. Frustration builds. Trust breaks down. And slowly, they start to disengage and care less about the work... and your customers. My special guest today is David Noe of Payroll Partners and he's simplifying how to make your work tech better. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What "digital employee experience" actually means. The signs that your workplace technology is making work harder instead of easier. Why human connection and real support still matter in a world of digital tools and AI. How HR, IT, and operations leaders can simplify their tech stack without creating more chaos. Where to start when employees are overwhelmed by too many systems, logins, workflows or unclear processes. And how Payroll Partners uncovers what a client really needs before recommending the right solution. Because better workplace technology is not about adding another tool. It's about removing friction so people can find the answers they need, in order to do their jobs well. Q: Are you wanting to make your work tech better? If yes, this one is for you. It's time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/428-how-to-make-your-work-tech-better---with-david-noe

  8. 14 Jul

    How to better understand your team - with Scott Wood

    If you lead a team, work on a team, or are trying to build a better one, you've probably noticed this: People do not all think, communicate, or make decisions the same way. And that can either create friction… or it can become one of your team's greatest strengths. The problem is, many leaders say they want diverse teams, but then unintentionally hire, promote, or reward people who operate exactly like they do. Same communication style. Same decision-making style. Same way of solving problems. Same way of showing up at work. And over time, that can create blind spots, groupthink, and missed opportunities. My special guest today is Scott Wood and he's simplifying how to better understand your team. Scott is the author of Jungle Motives, a book and framework that uses animal personality types to help people better understand themselves and the people around them. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: The core idea behind Jungle Motives, and how animal personality types can help us better understand the people we work with. Four primary types include: Bear - balanced, event planners, intellectual, inventors Monkey - spontaneous and make everything fun Horse - Herd animal, focused on building community and connections  Jungle cat - Alpha personality, natural leader, top-of-the-food-chain, and at times, focused on control Why he believes many organizations are using talent assessments the wrong way. Where leaders go wrong when they use personality data to decide who "fits" a role. How to separate personality from capability, especially when someone has the potential to be great but needs stronger skills, training, or support. Why teams get weaker when leaders surround themselves with people who think, communicate, and operate just like them. Better to have diversity in: Personality Character Perspective And what to do after your team takes an assessment so the insights actually improve communication, trust, culture, and performance. The goal is not to put people in boxes. It's to better understand how to lead them well. That's how diverse teams build stronger culture, better ideas, and healthier growth. Q: Are you wanting to better understand your team? If yes, this one is for you. It's time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/427-how-to-better-understand-your-team---with-scott-wood

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About

Too many people are miserable at work. I'm on a mission to change that. The Simplifiers Podcast helps HR leaders, people managers, and workplace changemakers simplify the complex challenges shaping the future of work. Hosted by Mary Baird, PHR, employee experience strategist, AI for HR expert, keynote speaker, and author of Squash the Sunday Scaries, this season simplifies topics through the lens of leadership and culture strategy. Each episode delivers practical ideas to help you rebuild trust, strengthen workplace culture, lead through change, and create an employee experience that drives measurable business results. Because when employees feel supported, valued, and equipped to do their best work, customers feel the difference too. Better employee experience = better customer experience = better business results Through candid conversations with global experts, practical solo episodes, and calming guided visualizations, you'll learn how to: • Improve employee engagement and reduce burnout • Build stronger leaders and healthier workplace cultures • Turn employee listening into meaningful action • Use AI in HR simply, responsibly, and strategically • Navigate change with greater clarity and confidence • Do less, focus on what matters most, and make a greater impact No empty buzzwords. No surface-level perks. Just real-world insights and simple steps you can put into practice immediately. With 400+ episodes and listeners in more than 155 countries, The Simplifiers Podcast is here to help you gain clarity, build knowledge, look after yourself, and #dothething. New here? Follow the show and start simplifying work, leadership, and everything in between. Are you ready? Let's dive in. It's time to simplify.

Information

  • Creator
    Mary Baird, PHR
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    606
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Simplifiers Worldwide (UK) Ltd + The Simplifiers LLC (US)
  • Show Website
    The Simplifiers Podcast

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