Workplace Weirdness

In the latest episode of Workplace Weirdness™, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky and Sunny's Chief Growth Officer, Jen Lipsey, discuss the five essentials for employee engagement: feeling supported, energized, safe, connected to the organization’s mission, and recognized for what you contribute. Maya and Jen explore how managers can turn survey feedback into changes employees can actually feel, and how everyday interactions shape trust and connection at work. The conversation also covers how employees adapt when layoffs loom, how workplace surveillance affects trust, and why speaking up about your own contributions matters. Plus, Jen shares her weirdest team-building experience where she had...

Henna Pryor, keynote speaker with two TEDx talks and author of Good Awkward and the upcoming The Signal Gap (out November 10), joins host Maya Kadar Kovalsky to unpack why awkwardness at work is so hard to shake.  Henna shares how growing up as the firstborn child of immigrant parents shaped her interest in fitting in, and explains the signal gap: the distance between the message you intend to send and the one a skeptical, “verify-first” audience actually receives. Together they react to a viral clip of a CEO who says he fired his HR department, with Henna arguing that the signa...

Return-to-office is making people lonelier, AI is changing the rules of leadership, and most companies are still getting the human part of work wrong. Maya Kadar Kovalsky and workplace strategist Erica Keswin break down what actually makes workplaces feel connected, productive, and worth showing up for. Maya and Erica unpack why five days a week in the office is usually unnecessary, why some offices drain energy while others create real momentum and why intentional in-person days matter more than attendance for attendance’s sake. Erica Keswin is a bestselling author and internationally recognized speaker focused on human-centered leadership, employee engagement, an...

Welcome to Workplace Weirdness Season 3!  Maya Kadar Kovalsky kicks off the season with a special guest, VAN JONES, a political commentator, social entrepreneur, CNN host, Emmy Award-winning producer, bestselling author, and founder of Dream Machine Innovation Lab and Rapport.   Join a fascinating conversation about working across radically different environments, from the rules of working in the White House to Silicon Valley to the future of AI in the workplace. Van and Maya explore why psychological strength matters more than psychological safety and why the best managers need better tools to navigate a diverse, distributed, and divided workforce. If you manage peo...

Welcome to Workplace Weirdness: Work Drama, a new series where we break down the workplace chaos happening on screen, so hopefully you never have to experience it in real life. In this special episode, we break down the hit Korean drama See You at Work Tomorrow, and explore the chaos, pressure, and quiet emotional survival of modern work life.  Join Maya as she examines the tension between speed and quality, the burden placed on capable employees, and the dysfunction of a manager who rules through fear instead of leadership while enjoying a masterpiece of Korean television. Whether you relate to J...

Work is weird - and these are the stories that prove it. From a possum trapped in the office to a naked neighbor derailing a meeting, Maya Kadar Kovalsky pulls the all-time weirdest, most cringe-inducing, and laugh-out-loud workplace moments from the last seasons and places them into The Workplace Weirdness™ Hall of Fame. Join Maya and enjoy true workplace chaos, uncomfortable stories, and good laughs that make your worst day at the office feel completely normal.  Because every 9-to-5 has a story to tell. Stay weird! Chapters: [00:12] Welcome to the Workplace Weirdness™ Hall of Fame [01:05] An unwanted nighttime visitor in the o...

In this episode of our Workplace Weirdness™ summer series, “Out of Office,” Maya Kadar Kovalsky discusses parental leave: the double standards parents face, the pressure to appear “serious” at work while caring for a family, and why parental leave parity matters for both moms and dads.  Our notable guests discuss how parental leave intersects with identity, ambition, caregiving, and workplace culture, using candid stories to show how maternal and paternal leave policies and leadership behavior can either support families or quietly penalize them.  The episode is a reminder that employees should never have to choose between starting a family and succeeding i...

We sometimes feel that certain meetings could have been an email; yet in most cases we don’t have a choice. In this episode of our Workplace Weirdness™ summer series, “Out of Office,” Maya Kadar Kovalsky unpacks why poorly planned meetings can drain morale, hamper innovation, and signal a lack of respect for your team's time.  Our expert guests share eye-opening insights, such as how unresolved conflicts in meetings cost billions annually and how practical frameworks for empathy and inclusivity across time zones can enhance team inclusion.  Discover best practices that can redesign meetings from arbitrary routines into intentional, engaging experience...

In this episode of our Workplace Weirdness™ summer series, “Out of Office,” Maya Kadar Kovalsky explores one of the most underrated leadership skills: connecting people. Rather than focusing only on decision-making, great leaders notice who’s stuck, who’s working on similar problems, and who could benefit from knowing one another - then they make the introduction. Through guest stories and practical examples, the conversation shows how connecting works best when it’s rooted in empathy, curiosity, and service. From leadership assimilation sessions to everyday touch points that build familiarity and trust, the episode highlights how building your social capital can break do...

In this special summer-edition episode of Workplace Weirdness™, Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Alan Philips, founder and CEO of The Marketing Department, to unpack the strange, powerful forces behind brand obsession, company culture, and how to create an influential movement.  Alan shares his eccentric stories working with industry leaders and celebrities, from Mr. Beast to DJ Khalid at Reef Technology to the Golden Days of WeWork with Adam Neumann.  Maya and Alan talk about building consumer brands, offering candid lessons on ego, authenticity, and the difference between momentum and real value. From the “architecture of a movement” to the rise and...

In this episode of our Workplace Weirdness™ summer series, “Out of Office,” Maya Kadar Kovalsky shares her own bad boss story and revisits conversations with guests who have survived bosses of every variety, from the yellers, screamers, and office tyrants who throw things, to the masters of the backhanded compliment whose manipulation is far quieter, but no less damaging.  The episode is a must-watch for anyone who has ever experienced emotionally unpredictable managers, toxic work environments, and the psychological toll of bad leadership.  Chapters: [00:12] Introductions with host, Maya Kadar Kovalsky   [01:04] Toxic Leadership with Mita Mallick [4:04] Toxic Male Bosses with Randi Braun [6...

In this episode of our Workplace Weirdness™ summer series, “Out of Office,” Maya Kadar Kovalsky explores the theme of "rookie mistakes" and “rookie smarts” in the workplace, highlighting how early career blunders often lead to valuable learning experiences.  We hear stories from various guests from past episodes who share their early career journeys, with missteps such as overconfidence in a corporate setting, accidental termination emails, inappropriate gifts and more.  Maya and her experts from throughout the season, emphasize the importance of maintaining a "rookie mindset," which allows for fresh perspectives and innovation.  Episode Chapters: [00:12] Introduction to Rookie Mistakes 
[00:50] Story of Overconfidence...

In this Summer special episode of Workplace Weirdness™ Out of Office, Maya Kadar Kovalsky turns real guest stories into a practical resource for anyone thinking about a career pivot. From unexpected job changes to bold reinventions and strategic "half-steps," guests from past episodes share stories of taking risks, embracing change, and discovering that careers rarely follow a straight line. Their advice? Stay curious, stay flexible, and don't be afraid to pivot when opportunity knocks. Resources and Links: Neil Sharma, co-founder of SolarKal· SolarKal · Website - https://www.solarkal.com/ · LinkedIn - / neil-sharma-045117   Billy Samoa Saleebey, founder and CEO of Podify · Podify W...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness™, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky speaks with Amin Hasani, founder of Hasani Studio, about his journey as an industrial designer and the importance of accessibility and the impact of AI in product design. They also discuss the challenges faced by immigrants in the workplace, particularly regarding work visas, and share insights on navigating cultural differences.  The episode also features listener questions about career advice and workplace dynamics, providing valuable perspectives on the evolving nature of work. In this episode, they discuss: Amin Hasani's immigrant journey and career development Innovative accessibility solutions like the Curvd Accessibility Mug...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness™, Maya talks to former journalist turned marketing consultant, Nicole Ramirez to talk about what’s really going on in the current workforce. From parental leave bias and return-to-office whiplash to burnout that nobody wants to admit out loud.  Nicole gets into why dads still get side-eyed for taking leave, how RTO can feel like a corporate plot twist, what burnout actually looks like inside a team (hint: it’s not just being tired), and how to build a personal brand that doesn’t read like a boring white paper—or an oversharing diary. They also dig in...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Laura Close, Co-founder of AI workforce data platform, Included,  to unpack how AI is changing hiring, career strategy, and what it really means to stay ready for what’s next. They also dig into what work looks like when middle management is shrinking, promotions keep going to external hires, and employees are stuck navigating misleading job descriptions and ethical pressure from leadership. Laura shares her blunt take on the modern labor market, why the employer loyalty contract is dead, and why more workers need to think strategically about lea...

This is a special one-of-a-kind Turn the Tables episode of Workplace Weirdness. For the first time, Maya Kadar Kovalsky is in the hot seat. And stepping in as the guest host is Marketing Strategist and TOP 50 Business Thinker In The World, Dorie Clark. Maya opens up about her own weird workplace moments and lets us know the person behind the mic, how she thinks about work culture, and what shaped the voice of Workplace Weirdness. Maya also answers listeners' questions about everything from the reality behind “unlimited PTO” to the awkward rise of AI-assisted interviews. Dorie adds her unique perspective on l...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya sits down with Lucy Adams, former Head of HR at the BBC and CEO of Disruptive HR, to unpack why so much of modern HR still feels stuck in compliance, process, and risk management instead of influence, credibility, and real business impact. Lucy shares what she learned from leading HR at The BBC, one of the world’s most scrutinized institutions, why annual performance reviews have had their day, how employers are gaming salary transparency, and what employees should actually do when they are stalled on promotions, hit with surprise HR meetings, or de...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya sits down with recruiting expert, writer, and speaker Kat Kibben to unpack the strange (and often frustrating) realities of modern hiring.  Kat brings over 15 years of experience, starting at Monster.com.  They are known for helping teams write inclusive job postings and rethink how hiring actually works. A longtime voice in human-centered hiring, Kat shares why the language we use in job postings can make or break a candidate’s chances, and what companies get wrong more often than they realize. In this episode: The hidden reasons your job applications get ghosted How bias...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by Dethra Giles, a leadership strategist, Audacity Broker, and creator of the DARE Model for conflict resolution. Learn why so many leaders avoid conflict and how you can tackle workplace drama, navigate office politics, and confront uncomfortable situations head-on. From handling office saboteurs and gossip to embracing the audacity needed to lead, Dethra shares strategies that will help you navigate the toughest office dynamics. If you’ve ever felt undermined or struggled with conflict avoidance, this episode is for you! We discuss: Why conflict avoidance is costing you time, mo...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by Randi Braun, CEO of Something Major and author of Something Major: The New Playbook for Women at Work, for a candid conversation about power, parenthood, and inequity at work. From salary parity and exploitative hiring practices to emotionally manipulative managers and the motherhood penalty, this episode tackles the real situations women face every day, and what to do when your workplace fails you. We discuss: • Why working moms hold themselves to stricter professionalism • The difference between guilt and fear of other people’s opinions (FOPO) • How companies exploit free lab...

Is work actually merit-based, or do our systems just tell us they are? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion expert and thought leader Vernā Myers to unpack bias, inclusion, equity, and why conversations about difference have become so stigmatized at work. From the myth of merit-based workplaces to how difference actually fuels innovation, Vernā shares insights from decades of experience, including her time as Netflix’s first VP of Inclusion Strategy. They also tackle real listener questions about appearance-based bias, career risk, and when recommending a friend at work goes wron...

What happens when someone actually tells the truth about Human Resources, recruiting, and HR tech? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with HR industry truth-teller William Tincup for an honest, open and unfiltered conversation about feedback, broken HR systems, AI hype, onboarding failures, and why most HR tech is solving last year’s problems. William shares why he once told a founder to delete their entire product, why positive feedback is overrated, and why HR leaders don’t care how your tech works- only whether it works. We cover: Why unsolicited feedback is often useless The...

If your workplace runs on “vibes” and surprise criticism in Q4… congrats, you’ve unlocked the bad timeline.  In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Kane Calamari breaks down what real leadership, employee engagement, and HR strategy look like inside Ace Hardware, a company he says “should be failing,” and yet keeps winning. We cover retail culture, co-op business models, leadership development, succession planning, retention strategy, and how to build trust with ongoing feedback instead of annual blindsides. Kane also shares how AI tools are already changing frontline work and why human leadership still matters most when cultures collide, teams merge, and communica...

Do office holiday parties still have a place in today’s workplace? And what happens when AI is put in charge of planning your office festivities? Spoiler alert: things can get a little chaotic! We’ll dive into the dos and don’ts of office holiday parties, including the biggest mistakes employees make (hint: drinking too much and kissing colleagues are just the beginning). In this hilarious and insightful episode of Workplace Weirdness, we explore the intersection of AI, holiday parties, and the evolving workplace culture. We sit down with Jacob Morgan, a futurist, leadership expert, and author, to discuss how AI...

Still using outdated hiring methods? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, we’ve got Lou Adler, the man behind Performance-Based Hiring, here to tell you why your traditional hiring process is not working for long term success. Lou’s been helping big names like AIG, LinkedIn, and McKinsey recruit top talent for decades, but he focuses on what candidates will actually do, not just their skills and experience. Forget the old-school “ideal candidate” fantasy; Lou’s performance-based approach is changing the game. Lou’s method leads to better retention, higher performance, and lower turnover rates (which we can all agree is a win-win...

Remote work just got a lot weirder. In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, we dive into a real-life story that reveals just how far remote workers are willing to go to keep up appearances while pulling off this remote work scam. You won’t believe the lengths some employees are going to: working two full-time jobs without anyone knowing! But it’s not just about the scam. We’re also joined by David Hanrahan, SVP of People Success at SolarWinds, who shares his insights on remote work culture, hybrid teams, and how to build a strong company culture that can preven...

How can you foster a work environment that is productive through effective leadership and emotional intelligence?  Leading with authenticity, building teams that collaborate and thrive, and creating a workplace where everyone can flourish is crucial in a successful business. In this episode, we explore the power of emotional intelligence in leadership and the transformative impact of vulnerability on building strong, authentic workplace cultures.  Claude Silver, the Global Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and author of Be Yourself at Work, shares her insights on how emotional optimism, bravery, and efficiency can shape the future of leadership and team success. She dives in...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of workplace anxiety, recognition, and the impact of gratitude in leadership. Ever had the infamous Sunday scaries or struggled to manage a toxic boss? If so, this episode will resonate with you. We’ll discuss how mental health plays a crucial role in the workplace, especially when it comes to leadership and company culture. We’ll also tackle the challenges that come with workplace burnout, the overwhelming pressure to be “always on,” and how certain employees thrive in chaotic environments. Along the way, we'll explore the importance of gratitude practices to combat w...

Let’s take a deep dive into the most chaotic part of office life: bad bosses. What do you do when your boss is the definition of toxic leadership? Do you run, or do you stick it out and learn from them? In this Workplace Weirdness episode, we’ll explore how toxic bosses can make or break your career, and how understanding their behavior can help you develop better leadership skills. We’ll discuss how bad bosses affect the workplace culture, create HR nightmares, and leave employees struggling with stress, confusion, and low morale. We also share how you can take c...

Welcome to Season 2 of Workplace Weirdness! In this episode, we share funny stories about workplace crushes, dating disasters, and cringe-worthy encounters that will make you cringe (and laugh) out loud.  Have you ever had a crush on a colleague or found yourself in an unexpected workplace romance? You might relate to this episode! We share experiences on workplace crushes, dating a coworker, and the awkward moments that happen when romantic relationships mix with professional life. We’ll talk about the dos and don’ts of dating at work, how to keep things professional while managing a relationship with a coworker, and h...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky chats with Garry Ridge, former CEO of WD-40, about leadership, learning from failure, and why “dumbassery” might just be the secret ingredient to great leadership. Gary explains how embracing vulnerability, admitting you don’t have all the answers, and messing up a few times along the way can actually make you a stronger leader. Gary opens up about his time at WD-40, the iconic blue-and-yellow can that’s been fixing squeaky hinges and rusting parts for decades. He explains how building a culture of learning and being okay with failure helped t...

What does neuroscience have to do with leadership? How do you pivot from frog dissections to Fortune 500 boardrooms? And what do you do when your boss says you’re "great behind closed doors"... and not in a good way? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by the ever-dynamic Meredith Haberfeld, CEO of ThinkHuman and longtime advisor to companies like Spotify, SoulCycle, and Goldman Sachs. Meredith takes us on her wild journey from whitewater rafting guide to one of the most trusted names in executive coaching. And yes, there are weird workplace moments aplenty. Together, th...

Ever wondered what happens when you trade agency ownership for creative leadership?  In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Paul McDowall, brand architect, former agency owner & co-founder of ClarkMcDowall, to discuss his unconventional career journey from Liverpool to New York and his transition into leadership at Vault49. Paul shares insights from decades in branding, touching on the challenges of staying culturally relevant without losing brand identity. He opens up about the personal and professional growth that comes from letting go of ego, embracing new roles, and learning from failure. They also explore how to n...

Meetings often get a bad rap, but did you know they can actually be the cornerstone of a positive workplace culture? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by Hannah Dubin, founder of The Group Forward and a powerhouse facilitator with a background in camp leadership, corporate consulting, and culture design. Together, they explore what it really takes to lead humans—awkward moments, messy emotions, and all. Hannah shares how her early work in summer camps shaped her facilitation style and why she believes your meetings reflect your workplace culture more than anything else. Hannah an...

Ever wondered what it’s really like to run a gym beyond the sweaty workouts and Instagram selfies? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Matt Pack, founder of Primal Fit Miami and a fitness pro with 25 years under his belt, to get the unfiltered scoop on fitness entrepreneurship. Matt shares the wild ride of starting his own gym, from jumping off the college basketball court into exercise science, to facing the scary leap of launching a business. They talk about why building friendships with clients is key, how word-of-mouth can make or break yo...

What happens when you get fired by Elon Musk? For Billy Samoa, it wasn’t the end… It was the beginning.  In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky chats with Billy Samoa Saleebey, founder and CEO of Podify, a media company that powers podcast production and promotion. Together, they explore how even the most jaw-dropping workplace experiences can become the spark for reinvention. Billy shares the story of how his career took a sharp turn when he was let go as Tesla’s global head of training—only to find that losing a job doesn’t mean losing your...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Neil Sharma, co-founder of SolarKal, to explore his fascinating career journey. Neil's story is one of bold transitions—from crunching numbers at Bank of America to rocking out at MTV, and finally making an impact in clean tech. His path proves that pursuing diverse interests can lead to a truly fulfilling career. They dive into listener questions on making career pivots, including transitioning from finance to event planning, navigating an unexpected job offer at a startup, and managing the awkward situation of working with a former online da...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky interviews culture-building expert Ann Rhoades, President of Peopleink and Former VP for the people department of Southwest Airlines. With experiences spanning JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, and DoubleTree Hotels, Ann has cultivated values-based corporate ecosystems, emphasizing the integral symmetry between employee and customer satisfaction.  They discuss Ann's journey from finance to pioneering people-centric corporate cultures, share hilarious and insightful workplace anecdotes including a memorable encounter with a boa constrictor, and answer listener questions about tricky travel scenarios and awkward moments in the office.  From Bloody Mary mishaps to the challenges of managing fr...

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky dives into the peculiarities of office life with guest Menaka Chang, a Fractional Chief People Officer. From an ex-employee treating the office like a personal lounge to navigating bureaucratic slowdowns in startups, they discuss the nuances of building high-performance cultures. They delve into the transition challenges when startups get acquired and how to maintain a performance-driven yet people-first culture. Tune in for insights on maintaining a people-first culture while still being performance-driven! Key Takeaways The significance of blending various life and career experiences to enhance leadership and team dynamics in...