A Word With Yourself

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Welcome to A Word With Yourself, a Canadian/Irish podcast where we dive into the biggest topics shaping today’s workplaces. Hosted by Lesley Fennelly and Jennifer Mitchell from Wren Insight Group, we explore the real issues behind productivity, culture, and leadership as well as the odd pop culture topic. From toxic managers to hybrid work and everything in between, we offer fresh insights and practical advice to help you create a thriving workplace. Whether you're a leader or an employee, this podcast is your guide to understanding and improving how we work today. Timestamps 0.00 - 4.20: Intro and catch up 4:20 onward: Artificial Intelligence (AI) conversation

  1. Do Degrees Still Matter? Rethinking What Makes a Great Hire

    11/16/2025

    Do Degrees Still Matter? Rethinking What Makes a Great Hire

    In this episode, we dig into the role of degrees in modern hiring—and whether they’re still relevant in a skills-based world. Lesley and Jennifer explore how requiring a degree for roles that don’t need them can limit talent, reinforce privilege, and quietly exclude great candidates. They also reflect on personal experiences from both sides of the hiring table, and what equity in recruitment really looks like.

    21 min
  2. Return of the Office: The Sequel No One Needed

    11/02/2025

    Return of the Office: The Sequel No One Needed

    In this episode, we look at the pros and cons of remote, hybrid, and full-time office work — and the economics that keep standardization so appealing to management. We discuss how control, proximity bias, and outdated ideas about productivity continue to shape corporate decision-making, and why a one-size-fits-all model is the easiest way out, but rarely the right one. Time Stamps: 00.00 – 06:00: Catch up, Halloween, and the Blue Jays 06:00 – end: More return to office mandates, what model is the best?

    29 min
  3. Elevate Tech Conference, Repetitive Strain Injury, and the AI Bubble

    10/17/2025

    Elevate Tech Conference, Repetitive Strain Injury, and the AI Bubble

    After a packed week at Elevate Conference, Lesley and Jennie unpack everything from the rise of Canada-first tech talk to the overuse of “AI” as a buzzword. Plus, an unexpected repetitive strain injury, an emergency room detour, and a cultural deep dive into high-fives.

    30 min
  4. I ChatGPT-ed It: ChatGPT, Google and the Future of Marketing

    10/07/2025

    I ChatGPT-ed It: ChatGPT, Google and the Future of Marketing

    In this episode of A Word With Yourself, we explore how Large Language Models (LLMs) are reshaping the way people find information, make decisions, and engage with brands. As more of us turn to tools like ChatGPT for product research and recommendations, the traditional rules of SEO are being rewritten. We discuss what this shift means for marketing teams — from why credibility and context now outweigh keywords, to how businesses can build visibility in a world where discovery happens through conversation, not search rankings. Along the way, we touch on brand names that became verbs, and what it really takes to stay relevant when technology changes how consumers think. Timestamps 0.00 - 8.19: Intro and catch up 8.20 - 23.02: The rise of LLMs as search engines 23.03 - 32.09: Brand names becoming verbs 32.10 - end: The cost of streaming services and close

    39 min
  5. Unfortunately, I Do Love… Doomscrolling, Fidgeting, and Expensive Lattes

    09/17/2025

    Unfortunately, I Do Love… Doomscrolling, Fidgeting, and Expensive Lattes

    In this episode of A Word With Yourself, we talk about the little rituals that get us through the day — even when they’re not exactly helpful. From the comfort of take-out coffee cups to scrolling ourselves into a hole, we unpack why certain habits feel productive even when they’re not. Plus: why fidgeting helps some of us think, and the endless appeal of a new notebook.

    35 min
  6. Ghosting in the Workplace: The Rise of Swipe Culture in Recruiting

    09/06/2025

    Ghosting in the Workplace: The Rise of Swipe Culture in Recruiting

    Spooky season is here—and what better time to talk about ghosting? 👻 This week on A Word With Yourself, Jennifer Mitchell and Lesley Fennelly dive into ghosting in the workplace. From candidates and companies vanishing mid-process, to the dreaded Slack “hi,” to cold outreach that won’t quit, we explore why silence stings and how it shapes trust at work. We share a wild “never came back from lunch” story, debate when mutual ghosting might actually be the least-bad option, and unpack why sales tactics that ignore “no” only erode relationships. Plus: why every professional should have an “FU fund” for when walking away is the smartest move.

    30 min
  7. Return to Office (Again), Quiet Cracking, and Why Capitalism Is Tired

    08/25/2025

    Return to Office (Again), Quiet Cracking, and Why Capitalism Is Tired

    We’re back from summer break—and unfortunately, so are return-to-office mandates. In this episode, we talk about Ontario’s decision to drag public servants back to the office five days a week, the real reasons behind it (spoiler: it’s not productivity), and the ripple effects for equity, burnout, and retention. We unpack why “quiet cracking” is just burnout in a rebrand, how performative presenteeism is still alive and well, and why so many corporate decisions feel anti-worker by design. Also: why companies think hardship = productivity, what commutes really cost people, and a mini tea rant (literally). Timestamps 0.00 - 4.58: Post Summer Catch Up 4:58 - 19.41: Return-to-Work Mandates 19.41 - End: Quiet Cracking

    40 min
  8. CEO Scandals, The Streisand Effect, Office Romances, and Why Good PR Matters

    08/01/2025

    CEO Scandals, The Streisand Effect, Office Romances, and Why Good PR Matters

    A CEO and HR exec caught on a kiss cam—what could go wrong? We break down the viral scandal, the Streisand Effect in action, and why some company statements make things worse. Plus, we get into office romances, PR missteps, and the importance of knowing when not to speak. Oh, and Tipperary won the hurling.

    40 min
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About

Welcome to A Word With Yourself, a Canadian/Irish podcast where we dive into the biggest topics shaping today’s workplaces. Hosted by Lesley Fennelly and Jennifer Mitchell from Wren Insight Group, we explore the real issues behind productivity, culture, and leadership as well as the odd pop culture topic. From toxic managers to hybrid work and everything in between, we offer fresh insights and practical advice to help you create a thriving workplace. Whether you're a leader or an employee, this podcast is your guide to understanding and improving how we work today. Timestamps 0.00 - 4.20: Intro and catch up 4:20 onward: Artificial Intelligence (AI) conversation

Information

  • Creator
    Wren Insight Group
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Wren Insight Group 2025
  • Show Website
    A Word With Yourself