Great Mondays Radio

Josh Levine
  • 5.0 (17)
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There is only one sustainable competitive advantage in business today—company culture—and I’m on a mission to help organizations harness its power. Josh Levine, here, the host of Great Mondays Radio. I’m an author, consultant, and educator with over fifteen years of experience helping hyper-growth technology companies become more effective, aligned, and profitable. My book, Great Mondays: How To Design A Company Culture Employees Love, was listed as one of BookAuthority’s best culture books of all time. Great Mondays Radio is my way of elevating the people and stories behind tech’s best company cultures so that more leaders can apply this powerful business tool to improve employee lives and their bottom line. If you're an experienced people leader or HR professional, apply to be a guest on the show at https://radio.greatmondays.com/podcast-guest

  1. What Happens When AI Hits the Org Chart?

    22H AGO

    What Happens When AI Hits the Org Chart?

    AI is supposed to reduce work. But what if it just gives us more of it? In this episode, Josh looks at what actually happens when AI hits the org chart—inside real companies, not predictions. Drawing on recent layoffs, historical patterns like ATMs and spreadsheets, and firsthand stories from teams already deep into AI adoption, he explores why automation rarely shrinks work the way we expect. Instead, it often expands it—more output, more tasks, more complexity. AI may make individual jobs easier, but without rethinking how work is organized, companies risk doing more of the same work… just faster and at a larger scale. About The Job Market Sh*t Show The Job Market Sh*t Show: How AI Broke Hiring and What Might Be Next is an investigation into how hiring actually works now, how AI and automation have upended the process, and why the old rules no longer apply. It blends reporting, analysis, and firsthand stories from inside a labor market that’s increasingly algorithmic, opaque, and indifferent to the people moving through it—while asking what, if anything, might replace a system that no longer seems to work for humans on either side of the process.

    10 min
  2. Great Employer Brands Repel More People Than They Attract. James Ellis explains the paradox. Plus, why LinkedIn can keep raising prices.

    3D AGO

    Great Employer Brands Repel More People Than They Attract. James Ellis explains the paradox. Plus, why LinkedIn can keep raising prices.

    In a hiring market flooded with AI-generated resumes, one-click applications, and career pages that all sound the same, standing out no longer comes down to looking polished. It comes down to being specific. But what if the strongest employer brands are not the ones that attract the most people, but the ones that make the wrong people walk away? On this episode of Great Mondays Radio, host Josh Levine talks with employer brand expert James Ellis about why great employer brands repel more people than they attract. James argues that employer brand is not about glossy messaging, culture clichés, or generating a mountain of applicants. It is about clarity. The goal is not more candidates. It is better-fit candidates. Together, they explore why differentiation matters more than ever, how companies can use honest tradeoffs to build credibility, and why the most effective employer brands tell a fuller story about what it is actually like to work there. They also dig into the broken dynamics of today’s hiring market, from AI-fueled application overload to the pricing power of platforms like LinkedIn, where every recruiter is chasing the same small pool of active job seekers. James makes the case for a different strategy: build a brand that speaks to the much larger group of people who are not looking yet, but could be drawn in by something real. The takeaway is clear: in a market obsessed with volume, the real advantage belongs to companies that know exactly who they are for. About Our Guest: James Ellis is an employer brand strategist and the Chief Brander at Employer Brand Labs, where he helps mid-sized businesses define and communicate what makes them distinct as employers. He specializes in helping organizations move beyond generic recruiting language to build brands that attract aligned talent and support business growth. Learn more at employerbrandlabs.com. About Great Mondays: → Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply here. → Running our show takes a lot of coffee. Support us for just $3/month. → Watch Great Mondays Radio episodes on YouTube. → Want to learn more about Josh's work at Great Mondays? Visit greatmondays.com.

    41 min
  3. Is AI Really Taking Jobs?

    MAR 12

    Is AI Really Taking Jobs?

    AI gets blamed for a lot right now—layoffs, hiring freezes, disappearing entry-level roles. But what if it’s not the whole story? In this episode, Josh looks at the strange “low hire, low fire” job market where companies aren’t hiring much, but they aren’t laying people off en masse either. Drawing on labor data, conversations with business leaders, and a few high-profile layoffs framed as “AI transformations,” he explores why uncertainty—from tariffs to geopolitics to post-pandemic overhiring—has companies hedging instead of committing to new headcount. AI may be part of the picture, but it’s also becoming a convenient narrative for decisions that might have happened anyway. About The Job Market Sh*t Show The Job Market Sh*t Show: How AI Broke Hiring and What Might Be Next is an investigation into how hiring actually works now, how AI and automation have upended the process, and why the old rules no longer apply. It blends reporting, analysis, and firsthand stories from inside a labor market that’s increasingly algorithmic, opaque, and indifferent to the people moving through it—while asking what, if anything, might replace a system that no longer seems to work for humans on either side of the process.

    11 min
  4. You’re Not Undervalued—You’re Under-Asking: Exec Advisor Karen Laos on Confidence, Conditioning, and the Cost of Silence

    MAR 9

    You’re Not Undervalued—You’re Under-Asking: Exec Advisor Karen Laos on Confidence, Conditioning, and the Cost of Silence

    In a culture that celebrates confidence, many professionals still hesitate at the most critical moment in their careers: the moment they need to ask. Ask for the opportunity. Ask for the promotion. Ask for the price they’re worth. But what if the real barrier isn’t capability or ambition, but the quiet conditioning that teaches us not to rock the boat? On this episode of Great Mondays Radio, host Josh Levine talks with executive advisor and communications expert Karen Laos about the hidden cost of staying silent. Karen works with leaders, particularly women, to strengthen the skill many of us were never taught: how to ask directly, clearly, and without apology. Together they unpack the cultural beliefs, internal conflicts, and fear of rejection that often hold professionals back from advocating for themselves. They explore why clarity about what you want is the first step toward getting it, the subtle but powerful difference between passive and direct language, and how simple questions can transform a negotiation into a collaborative conversation. Karen also shares practical strategies for building the “asking muscle,” starting in low-stakes situations and carrying that confidence into higher-stakes moments like pricing, promotions, and leadership decisions. The message is simple but powerful: opportunities rarely arrive unprompted. The leaders who move forward are often the ones willing to ask. About Our Guest: Karen Laos is an executive advisor, communication strategist, and speaker who helps leaders strengthen their confidence, presence, and ability to advocate for themselves. Drawing on a background in HR and years of advising executives and leadership teams, Karen specializes in helping professionals communicate their value and ask for what they want with clarity and conviction. Learn more at karenlaos.com. About Great Mondays: → Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply here. → Running our show takes a lot of coffee. Support us for just $3/month. → Watch Great Mondays Radio episodes on YouTube. → Want to learn more about Josh's work at Great Mondays? Visit greatmondays.com.

    28 min
  5. The Job Market Sh*t Show: Is It Who You Know?

    MAR 5

    The Job Market Sh*t Show: Is It Who You Know?

    Applying to hundreds of jobs feels like progress—but it might just be noise. In this episode, Josh looks at the two strategies job seekers are using right now: scale and signal. Some people are flooding the system with applications, hoping one slips through. Others are doing the opposite—only applying when they can get a human introduction inside the company. Through conversations with job seekers who’ve tried both approaches, Josh explores why referrals seem to matter more than ever, why charm alone isn’t enough in this market, and what happens when the only way to stand out is to prove you’re not a bot. About The Job Market Sh*t Show The Job Market Sh*t Show: How AI Broke Hiring and What Might Be Next is an investigation into how hiring actually works now, how AI and automation have upended the process, and why the old rules no longer apply. It blends reporting, analysis, and firsthand stories from inside a labor market that’s increasingly algorithmic, opaque, and indifferent to the people moving through it—while asking what, if anything, might replace a system that no longer seems to work for humans on either side of the process.

    16 min
  6. The Career Mistake AI Can’t Fix — Leaders Who Don’t Know What They Stand For: Voice as the New Differentiator

    MAR 2

    The Career Mistake AI Can’t Fix — Leaders Who Don’t Know What They Stand For: Voice as the New Differentiator

    In a world where anyone can publish, post, or prompt their way to polished prose, standing out no longer comes down to volume. It comes down to voice. But what if the real career risk isn’t being replaced by AI—it’s becoming indistinguishable from everyone else? On this episode of Great Mondays Radio, host Josh Levine talks with nonfiction ghostwriter and thought leadership strategist Jamie Dykstra about the one thing AI can’t manufacture: conviction. Jamie helps executives and founders uncover their authentic voice—the durable throughline that carries across roles, industries, and seasons of a career. Together, they explore why authenticity is more than a buzzword, how defining one specific audience sharpens your positioning, and why leaders who don’t know what they stand for risk blending into the noise. They also dive into the evolving role of AI in writing and leadership, where it’s a powerful tool, and where it falls short. The takeaway is clear: technology can amplify your message, but it cannot supply your clarity. In a marketplace saturated with content, voice is the differentiator—and clarity is the work. About Our Guest: Jamie Dykstra is a nonfiction ghostwriter and thought leadership consultant specializing in business, leadership, and personal development books. With a background in corporate finance and operations, she brings both strategic rigor and storytelling craft to her work. Jamie helps leaders clarify their message, articulate their expertise, and share ideas that resonate. Learn more at jamiedykstra.com. About Great Mondays: → Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply here. → Running our show takes a lot of coffee. Support us for just $3/month. → Watch Great Mondays Radio episodes on YouTube. → Want to learn more about Josh's work at Great Mondays? Visit greatmondays.com.

    32 min
  7. The Job Market Sh*t Show: What is Grammarly's AI Ad Trying to Tell Us?

    FEB 26

    The Job Market Sh*t Show: What is Grammarly's AI Ad Trying to Tell Us?

    AI used to promise better work. Now it’s starting to promise no work at all. In this episode, Josh unpacks a deceptively cheerful Grammarly ad that suggests AI can handle your tasks so you can “get back to what matters.” Cute on the surface. Slightly terrifying underneath. He connects the dots to a viral essay arguing that AI is already replacing large chunks of knowledge work—from coding to law—and asks what happens when the tools don’t just assist us, but quietly outperform us. If AI can do the job, are we being freed… or phased out? And if the future belongs to those who know how to orchestrate machines, what does that mean for everyone else? About The Job Market Sh*t Show The Job Market Sh*t Show: How AI Broke Hiring and What Might Be Next is an investigation into how hiring actually works now, how AI and automation have upended the process, and why the old rules no longer apply. It blends reporting, analysis, and firsthand stories from inside a labor market that’s increasingly algorithmic, opaque, and indifferent to the people moving through it—while asking what, if anything, might replace a system that no longer seems to work for humans on either side of the process.

    11 min
  8. You’re Over-Investing in Software and Under-Investing in Humans. A CIO’s Case for the Most Underrated Leaders in Your Company.

    FEB 23

    You’re Over-Investing in Software and Under-Investing in Humans. A CIO’s Case for the Most Underrated Leaders in Your Company.

    We are pouring money into AI, automation, and digital tools. But what if the real bottleneck isn’t your tech stack. What if it’s your human stack. On this episode of Great Mondays Radio, Josh Levine sits down with award-winning author, fractional CIO, and founder of Digital Wisdom Collective, Barbara Whitman, to explore why most transformation efforts fail for one simple reason: we upgrade the software and forget to upgrade the people. Drawing on 25 years of rescuing broken transformation projects, Barbara makes the case for investing in “human infrastructure” — the trusted middle leaders who turn strategy into execution. Together, they unpack how empowering just a small cohort of these quiet operators can reduce reliance on consultants, strengthen collaboration, and build the collective intelligence organizations need to thrive in an AI-driven world. If you are leading change and wondering why adoption lags or strategy stalls, this conversation offers a practical, human-centered path forward. About Our Guest: Barbara Whitman is an award-winning author, fractional CIO, and founder of Digital Wisdom Collective. For more than two decades, she has helped organizations repair stalled transformation efforts by strengthening leadership from the middle out and building the human capabilities required to sustain change. About Great Mondays: → Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply here. → Running our show takes a lot of coffee. Support us for just $3/month. → Watch Great Mondays Radio episodes on YouTube. → Want to learn more about Josh's work at Great Mondays? Visit greatmondays.com.

    31 min
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5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

There is only one sustainable competitive advantage in business today—company culture—and I’m on a mission to help organizations harness its power. Josh Levine, here, the host of Great Mondays Radio. I’m an author, consultant, and educator with over fifteen years of experience helping hyper-growth technology companies become more effective, aligned, and profitable. My book, Great Mondays: How To Design A Company Culture Employees Love, was listed as one of BookAuthority’s best culture books of all time. Great Mondays Radio is my way of elevating the people and stories behind tech’s best company cultures so that more leaders can apply this powerful business tool to improve employee lives and their bottom line. If you're an experienced people leader or HR professional, apply to be a guest on the show at https://radio.greatmondays.com/podcast-guest

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Levine
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    158
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Josh Levine
  • Show Website
    Great Mondays Radio

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