Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of Work

Mel Plett & Francesca Ranieri
  • 5.0 (25)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

We break down the now and next of work. You stay ahead.Its not just you - work is bonkers. Burnout is high, trust is low, and everything is changing at breakneck speed. Friend-to-friend?  We get it. We're in it. And we're here to guide you through it. We’re two leadership insiders—and real-life friends—who’ve led teams, sat in the tough seats, and know first hand how fast, complex, and personal work has become. Every week, we break down what’s happening at work and to work, taking you behind the scenes of what's happening now, and preparing you for what you'll see in 6 months. We're bringing you breaking news, workplace trends, and interviews with top experts shaping the future of work. We cover what’s changing so you don’t get left behind.Join us for smart, unfiltered (with the occasional f*bomb or two) conversations about how work is evolving and what you can do about it.Great for: • Employees rethinking their careers and trying to navigate what comes next• People leaders shaping culture and driving change while getting the work done• Orgs wanting to build smarter, more profitable, more human workplaces• Anyone craving more honest and practical conversations about the future of workTopics we cover:Future of work, leadership, workplace culture, team dynamics, change management, human-centered strategy, layoffs, burnout, performance, career growth, workplace news, workplace humor, and more.

  1. 11h ago

    The Work Friendship Advantage w/ KPMG's Sandy Torchia

    Send us Fan Mail Work friends can feel like a bonus, something nice if it happens and irrelevant if it doesn’t. We don’t buy that, and the research doesn’t either. Today we dig into what workplace friendships actually do to performance and culture, using three years of data from KPMG that points to a clear conclusion: connection at work is not incidental, it’s central. We’re joined by Sandy Torchia, KPMG’s U.S. Vice Chair of Talent and Culture, to unpack what the numbers reveal about the employee experience. We talk about why employees with close friends at work show higher engagement, why they’re more likely to build skills, and how strong relationships can even connect to things leaders care about right now like trust in leadership and adoption of new tools including AI. We also explore how different kinds of work relationships affect wellbeing and resilience, especially when work is stressful or changing fast. If you manage people, this is a practical lens for building a healthier workplace culture without resorting to forced fun or awkward bonding. If you’re an individual contributor, it’s a reality check on why “keeping it strictly professional” can quietly limit your growth and support network. Listen, share it with a teammate, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one thing that helped a real work friendship form for you? Check out KPMG's "Friends at Work Report" here: https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/friends-at-work-2026.html Follow Sandy Torchia here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandytorchia/ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedInDrop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    41 min

  2. Jun 9

    Modern Work: Monitored, Misled, and Laid Off

    Send us Fan Mail California's Warning Sign on AI Layoffs, Long-Term Unemployment & The Rise of Emotional Surveillance The headlines say the labor market is healthy. So why are so many people spending months—or even years—trying to find work? This week, we unpack the growing disconnect between what the numbers say and what people are actually experiencing. We start with the rise of long-term unemployment and why a low unemployment rate may be masking a much bigger problem beneath the surface. Then we look at California, where AI-related job disruption is becoming impossible to ignore, and ask whether it's a preview of what's coming for the rest of the country. Finally, we dive into one of the most unsettling workplace trends we've seen in a while: emotional surveillance. From sentiment analysis to facial scanning and AI-powered monitoring tools, employers now have more ways than ever to measure how workers think, feel, and behave. The question is: should they? In this episode: • Why long-term unemployment is rising • What California may be telling us about AI's impact on jobs • The growing skills mismatch in the labor market • The rise of emotional surveillance at work • Why the future of work may feel very different than the headlines suggest Because sometimes the most important story isn't the one making the news—it's the one hiding underneath it. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedInDrop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    28 min

  3. May 20

    What the Hell is Going on with Work Right Now? w/ HR Brew's Adam DeRose and People Managing People's David Rice

    Send us Fan Mail What the hell is happening at work right now? After a spring packed with HR, AI, leadership, and future-of-work conferences, we sat down with Adam DeRose (HR Brew) and David Rice (People Managing People) for an honest conversation about what they’re actually seeing inside organizations right now. And honestly? The vibes are weird. In this episode, we dig into: why work feels increasingly unstable and disconnectedthe growing trust gap between leaders and employeesAI adoption vs. actual transformationlayoffs being made on “promises that haven’t reconciled”burnout, disengagement, and survival mode at workwhy organizations keep layering new strategies onto systems that can’t support themthe tension between speed, pressure, and thoughtful leadershipwhat gives them hope (yes, there’s some hope)This isn’t a polished “AI will save us” conversation. It’s four people who spend their lives studying work, reporting on work, and redesigning work trying to make sense of a moment that feels increasingly uncertain for a lot of people. Come for the state of work. Stay for the existential crisis, plumber bots, and surprisingly deep thoughts about human greatness. Featuring: Adam DeRose, Senior Reporter at HR BrewDavid Rice, Executive Editor at People Managing PeopleNew episodes every Tuesday (sometimes Wednesday - hey, we're indie) from Your Work Friends. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedInDrop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    1h 6m

  4. May 5

    From Cigarettes to Smoke-Free: What Real Transformation Actually Takes w/ Philip Morris International's Dr. Kaleen Love

    Send us Fan Mail From cigarettes… to smoke-free. What does real organizational transformation actually take? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kaleen Love, U.S. Chief People and Culture Officer at Philip Morris International, to explore what it looks like to lead change inside one of the most complex business transformations happening in real time. As PMI works toward a smoke-free future by 2030, Kaleen shares a candid look at the human side of transformation. From power dynamics and passive resistance to burnout, culture, leadership, and AI, this conversation breaks down why change is never just about strategy. It’s about how people respond when identity, control, and the future all start shifting at once. We explore:  Why resistance at work is often a signal, not a problem  How power dynamics shape employee behavior during change  Why traditional change management breaks down at scale  The difference between managing change and leading it  How organizations can build culture that actually supports transformation  Why human judgment matters even more in an AI-enabled workplace  The role of courage, energy management, and self-awareness in modern leadership A practical, thoughtful, and refreshingly honest conversation about what it really takes to move an organization from strategy to execution. About Dr. Kaleen Love: Dr. Kaleen Love (PhD) is a pioneering social scientist, organizational strategist, and the U.S. Chief People & Culture Officer at Philip Morris International (PMI). She joined PMI in 2021 to lead organizational strategy for 80,000 employees globally and took over her current role leading the PMI U.S. People & Culture team in 2023, supporting the company's mission of a smoke-free future. Prior to her tenure at PMI, Kaleen held various roles in the public and private sectors. For the first decade of her career, she worked primarily with NGOs and government institutions, focusing on gender equality, women’s empowerment and reproductive health. Kaleen transitioned to the private sector in 2008 as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, focusing on financial services clients. She later joined Capital One, where, as chief of staff to the president of the company’s retail and direct bank, she led the communication team and founded the bank’s first centralized customer insights, research and analytics function. Kaleen holds a master’s degree and a PhD in international development from the University of Oxford. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedInDrop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    45 min

  5. Apr 15

    AI: Magic or Miss? Potential. Cheap Labor. Productivity Mirage. Brain Fry.

    Send us Fan Mail AI: Magic or Miss AI has officially become the corporate answer to everything. Need more productivity? AI. Need fewer people? AI. Need to sound innovative on an earnings call? Definitely AI. But underneath all the hype, a real question is starting to creep in: Is this actually making work better — or are we just making bigger decisions on shakier logic? In this episode, we get into the gap between the promise of AI and what’s actually happening inside organizations right now: burnout, bad strategy, fuzzy thinking, and leaders making workforce bets before the evidence is really there. We talk about where AI is genuinely useful, where it’s being wildly overapplied, and why so many companies seem more focused on not falling behind than on solving a real problem. Because this tech could be magical. It could free people up for better thinking, better work, and better outcomes. But that’s not where a lot of organizations are headed. They’re chasing efficiency. They’re cutting before redesigning. And they’re mistaking motion for strategy. So: is AI a breakthrough? Or are we using it in ways that quietly make work worse? That’s the conversation. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedInDrop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    29 min

  6. Apr 8

    More Than What You Do: How to Rebuild Identify, Purpose and Direction After Leaving a Role That Defined You w/Former NFL'er and Leadership Coach Alex Molden

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the thing that defined you ends? In this episode, we sit down with former NFL first-round draft pick Alex Molden to talk about reinvention, identity, and what it actually takes to build the next version of yourself. After spending eight years in the NFL, Alex had to face a question a lot of people are asking right now: who are you when the role, career, or identity you built your life around no longer fits? In this conversation, he opens up about the loss of identity that came after football, the moment a job interview forced him to confront it, and the framework he used to rebuild from there. We get into: Why career transitions can feel like identity collapseThe difference between what you do and who you areAlex’s framework for reinvention: alignment, assignment, adjustment, and assessmentHow to practice becoming the person you want to beWhat to do if you’re in the middle of a pivot, layoff, retirement, or major life change If you’re navigating a transition, questioning your next move, or trying to build a version of yourself that fits your life now, this one’s for you. Subscribe for more conversations on work, leadership, identity, and the future of how we live and work. About Alex Molden: Alex helps high-performers (especially athletes and leaders) master their transitions, elevate their influence, and lead with purpose. Whether on the field, in the boardroom, or at a retreat, he brings a proven playbook built from real experience, hard-won lessons, and intentional growth. ✔️ Drafted #11 overall in the 1996 NFL Draft ✔️ 8-year NFL veteran turned respected leadership consultant  ✔️ 2x Author ✔️ Creator of the "A4" framework ✔️ Trusted by athletes, teams, and corporate leaders nationwide www.alexmoldenspeaks.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedInDrop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    40 min

  7. Mar 31

    The Tech is Here. People are the Decision. Our Download from the UNLEASH America Conference.

    Send us Fan Mail We just got back from UNLEASH America with one big conclusion: The tech decision is over. The people decision is still up for grabs. In this episode, we break down what we heard from some of the biggest voices in AI, HR, leadership, and the future of work and where the conversation is getting very real, very fast. Because right now, companies are saying humans are the competitive advantage. At the exact same time, the market is rewarding cuts, automation, and cheaper labor. That contradiction is the story. We get into the three futures of work, why AI training is becoming obsolete almost as soon as it’s delivered, why psychological safety is suddenly a business survival issue, why middle managers are getting absolutely hammered, and why so many organizations are mistaking tool adoption for actual transformation. We also unpack the bigger questions underneath all of it: What work still belongs to humans? What happens when AI can generate the output? What skills actually matter now? And who is making these choices for everyone else? Inside the episode: the three possible futures of workwhy the AI and jobs conversation feels so chaoticinsights from Ethan Mollick, Amy Edmondson, Gary Bolles, and morewhy you can’t install your way through changehow culture debt is building inside organizationsthe pressure building on managers, employees, and leadersand 8 practical moves to respond right nowIf you work in HR, leadership, talent, strategy, learning, or you’re just trying to figure out what AI is actually doing to work, this episode is for you. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedInDrop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    1h 3m

  8. Mar 10

    Productive. Profitable. People Not Included? AI Displacement. Org Redesign. Universal Basic Income.

    Send us Fan Mail Productive. Profitable. People Not Included? Companies are getting more productive and profitable — while quietly employing fewer people. This week we unpack the growing gap between AI productivity, disappearing jobs, and the uncomfortable question: if the work changes, what replaces the paycheck? Companies are getting more productive. Profits are rising. So why does it feel like workers are disappearing from the equation? This week on Your Work Friends, Francesca and Mel break down two signals shaping the future of work. First: hiring is slowing while AI takes on more tasks and even entire workflows. If jobs don’t keep pace with productivity, a bigger question emerges: how do people make money? That’s why ideas like Universal Basic Income are suddenly moving from academic theory into mainstream conversation. Then we look at a new Harvard Business Review article on why AI transformations are stalling. The problem isn’t the technology — it’s that companies aren’t redesigning the work around it. Tools are being deployed everywhere, but the structure of jobs and organizations hasn’t caught up. In this episode we explore: why productivity is rising while employment stallsthe growing conversation around UBI and post-work incomewhy AI adoption isn’t the same as AI transformationthe organizational redesign most companies are avoidingBecause the real question isn’t just what AI can do. It’s what happens to work — and paychecks — if it does. #FutureOfWork #AIAtWork #WorkplaceTransformation #Automation #Leadership #UniversalBasicIncome #EconomicSignals Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management. Thanks for listening!   Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us! On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedInDrop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

    44 min
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About

We break down the now and next of work. You stay ahead.Its not just you - work is bonkers. Burnout is high, trust is low, and everything is changing at breakneck speed. Friend-to-friend?  We get it. We're in it. And we're here to guide you through it. We’re two leadership insiders—and real-life friends—who’ve led teams, sat in the tough seats, and know first hand how fast, complex, and personal work has become. Every week, we break down what’s happening at work and to work, taking you behind the scenes of what's happening now, and preparing you for what you'll see in 6 months. We're bringing you breaking news, workplace trends, and interviews with top experts shaping the future of work. We cover what’s changing so you don’t get left behind.Join us for smart, unfiltered (with the occasional f*bomb or two) conversations about how work is evolving and what you can do about it.Great for: • Employees rethinking their careers and trying to navigate what comes next• People leaders shaping culture and driving change while getting the work done• Orgs wanting to build smarter, more profitable, more human workplaces• Anyone craving more honest and practical conversations about the future of workTopics we cover:Future of work, leadership, workplace culture, team dynamics, change management, human-centered strategy, layoffs, burnout, performance, career growth, workplace news, workplace humor, and more.

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