Wired to Work with Jess Chapman

Jessica Chapman

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. Jul 10 ·  Video

    Jess's Top 5 Takeaways | Season 3 Retrospective!

    In this special season finale, Jess Chapman looks back at the five conversations that challenged her thinking the most - and the ideas that every leader, HR professional, and workplace designer should be paying attention to. From the hidden burnout crisis facing HR professionals to what healthcare can teach us about designing better systems, this episode explores the themes that kept resurfacing all season: cognitive load, psychological safety, technology, boundaries, climate anxiety, menopause, and why the future of work has to be designed around humans, not just processes. Jess revisits powerful conversations with: • Dr. Jo Burrell on the growing burnout crisis in HR • Dr. Paul Zak on measuring whether people are actually thriving at work • Ange Crockwell on why boundaries are an act of leadership—not selfishness • Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo on climate grief and its impact on today’s workforce • Tina Pomroy on reframing menopause as an evolution rather than a decline If there’s one thread running through every conversation this season, it’s this: Work isn’t broken because people aren’t trying hard enough. It’s broken because we’ve spent too long designing systems without fully considering the humans inside them. Whether you’ve listened to every episode or you’re just discovering Wired to Work, this is the perfect place to catch up on the biggest ideas from the season, and to start thinking differently about what work could become. 🎧 Join the Wired to Work Substack: https://substack.com/@wiredtowork 🌐 Episode archive: https://wiredtowork.buzzsprout.com

    Jess's Top 5 Takeaways | Season 3 Retrospective!
  2. Jun 17

    Why Feedback Conversations Go So Wrong | Jess Chapman

    Most people aren’t afraid of feedback. They’re afraid of the awkwardness, defensiveness, tension, and fallout that often comes with it. In Part 2 of Jess Chapman’s feedback series, she shares the N.I.C.E.R. framework — a practical, brain-friendly approach for having difficult conversations without triggering defensiveness or damaging relationships. You’ll learn: • Why most feedback conversations fail • How to reduce threat responses and defensiveness • The five-step N.I.C.E.R. framework • How to address behaviour without attacking the person • What to do when someone doesn’t change after receiving feedback If you’ve ever put off a difficult conversation, this episode is for you. Want to go deeper? Join Jess live on June 24 at 12 PM EST for Fearless Feedback, a practical webinar on how to give feedback that actually lands. The webinar is free for Substack subscribers and will include real-world examples, tools, and opportunities to practice these skills. Sign up through the Wired to Work Substack for access. #leadership #feedback #communication #management #emotionalintelligence #leadershipdevelopment #workplaceculture #wiredtowork Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Get a Bad Person to Change Their Behavior(00:00:50) - How to Make Feedback More Annoying(00:06:29) - "I hear your intention" in the following conversation(00:07:27) - How to Manage Time in a Meeting(00:10:28) - Lesson 6 on Validating Intent and Talking to People(00:16:07) - E3CA: Working In The World of Work

    Why Feedback Conversations Go So Wrong | Jess Chapman
  3. Jun 11

    Stop Flubbing Your Feedback | Jess Chapman

    Feedback is one of the most important tools a leader has. It’s also one of the most avoided. In this replay episode of Wired to Work, Jess Chapman explores why feedback conversations feel so difficult, what neuroscience tells us about our reactions to feedback, and how leaders can create conversations that help people grow instead of triggering defensiveness. You’ll learn: • why feedback activates the brain’s threat response • the hidden reason leaders avoid giving feedback • how to normalize feedback so it becomes part of everyday work • why mindset matters more than scripts • the difference between being direct and being harsh • how curiosity creates better outcomes than correction Jess also introduces the principles behind NeuroWorks’ NICER framework for feedback conversations and explains why the best feedback conversations feel more like exploration than evaluation. This episode is a perfect companion to Jess’s upcoming Fearless Feedback workshop on June 24. ️ Fearless Feedback is free for Patreon and Substack subscribers. Join the Wired to Work community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wiredtowork Website & Podcast Hub: https://www.wiredtowork.castos.com Wired to Work with Jess Chapman. Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts! https://lnkd.in/ezzK9CVZ #Leadership #Feedback #Neuroscience #Management #Communication #WorkplaceCulture #WiredToWork Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Have a Feedback Conversation(00:00:38) - Wired to Work: Feedback Episode 3(00:01:34) - The Need for More Feedback(00:03:57) - Why We Find Feedback So Difficult(00:07:16) - The New Normalization of Feedback(00:09:49) - As we normalize feedback conversations,(00:14:29) - How to Have a Good Feedback Conversation with Someone(00:20:04) - E3CA: Working in the World of Work

    Stop Flubbing Your Feedback | Jess Chapman
  4. Jun 5

    Why Menopause Gets Misunderstood At Work | Tina Pomroy

    Menopause is having a moment. There’s more conversation, more awareness, and more information than ever before. But when it comes to the workplace, many leaders still don’t understand what menopause actually looks like—or how it can affect performance, wellbeing, and day-to-day work. In this episode of Wired to Work, Jess Chapman speaks with counselor and researcher Tina Pomroy about the biological, psychological, and professional realities of menopause and perimenopause. They discuss: • what’s happening with estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and dopamine during menopause • why symptoms are often misunderstood or treated in isolation • how menopause can affect cognition, memory, focus, and emotional regulation • the mental health risks that often go unrecognized • why many leaders feel uncomfortable discussing menopause at work • practical ways organizations can better support employees • why menopause should be viewed as a transition—not a decline Whether you’re experiencing menopause yourself, supporting someone who is, or leading a team that includes midlife professionals, this conversation offers practical insights and a more informed way to think about performance, flexibility, and workplace support. Join the Wired to Work community on Patreon for bonus content, exclusive clips, and deeper conversations: https://www.patreon.com/WiredtoWork Wired to Work with Jess Chapman. Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts! https://www.wiredtowork.castos.com 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

    Why Menopause Gets Misunderstood At Work | Tina Pomroy
  5. May 28

    Gen Z Is Changing Work Forever | Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo

    Gen Z is entering the workforce with completely different expectations about stress, mental health, flexibility, and what a meaningful life should actually look like. And many workplaces aren’t ready for that shift. In this episode of Wired to Work, Jess Chapman sits down with Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo, Provost and Vice-President Academic at Acadia University, for a fascinating conversation about how universities are preparing students for an uncertain future.. and how younger generations may fundamentally reshape the way we think about work itself. Listen to the full episode of Wired to Work: https://wiredtowork.castos.com/ Join the Wired to Work Patreon community for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes conversations, bonus clips, and leadership insights: https://www.patreon.com/wiredtowork #futureofwork #leadership #workplaceculture #burnout #mentalhealth #genz #emotionalintelligence #highereducation #workplacepsychology #wiredtowork Chapters (00:00:00) - The uncertain future of our students(00:00:35) - Wired to Work: Ashley Consolo(00:01:31) - The Provost and Vice President Academic(00:02:33) - Unexpected challenges facing higher education in Canada(00:09:21) - The role of universities in a changing world(00:10:27) - Preparation for the future(00:12:56) - Mental health issues on university campuses(00:18:49) - The future of work on a student's degree(00:21:50) - On Comfort in the Workplace(00:26:21) - Mental health issues in the workplace(00:28:58) - Indigenous mental health and climate(00:32:31) - The challenge of resilience in an era of uncertainty(00:36:36) - What is one thing leaders in organizations knew or considered about grief in(00:42:47) - Climate mental health interface(00:45:11) - On the Future of Work and Stress(00:50:58) - Wired for Work: The Future of Work

    Gen Z Is Changing Work Forever | Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo

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!