Work is Weird Now

Finance has long carried the stereotype of being the “team of no.” Donald Ewing flips that narrative, arguing that today’s finance leaders are connectors—translating risk, strategy, and numbers into business action.

Key takeaways:

Can finance save the world?

It sounds like a ridiculous question—until you hear Victoria Gillespie answer it. A seasoned finance leader working at the intersection of sustainability and investment, Victoria joins Work is Weird Now as part of our Finance Forum 2025 series.

Ahead of her October session in London, Victoria unpacks why finance might be the only function that touches everything needed to make sustainability real: from fair tax and ethical procurement to transparent reporting and measurable impact.

In this episode, she explains:

Is the future of finance human?

Finance has long been misunderstood as number-crunching and compliance—but the truth is, it’s about people. In this episode of Work is Weird Now, multi award-winning finance and technology leader Becky Glover joins us to explore how automation is reshaping the profession and why the future of finance depends on storytelling, curiosity, and building high-performing teams.

We cover:

In this wrap-up episode, the hosts reflect on the key themes and insights from Season 3, discussing pivotal episodes that explored allyship, curiosity, creativity, caregiving, belonging, and the ethics of AI in the workplace.

Alice and Dan emphasise the importance of genuine connections and conversations in fostering a positive work environment and highlight the evolving nature of work culture.

Key takeaways:

82% of new managers step into leadership roles without any formal training. And yet, research shows your line manager has more influence on your mental health than your doctor, therapist—or even your partner.

In this episode of Work is Weird Now, we sit down with Naomi Regan—certified leadership coach, people & culture strategist, and co-founder of CAPE People Development—to explore one of the hardest and most overlooked transitions at work: moving from expert to leader.

🔑 What we cover:

More than half of workers are already using AI in their jobs — but often in secret. So, is this “cheating”… or just how we work now?

In this episode, Work is Weird Now sits down with Dr. Tanya Kant (University of Sussex) and Greg Bortzkiewicz (Magenta Associates) to explore the ethics, emotions, and realities of AI in the workplace, drawing on their research report CheatGPT.

We dive into:

Leadership still tends to reward charisma, hierarchy, and those who “look good on paper.” But what if that’s not where real change comes from?

In this episode, Neil McLean CEO of the Social Enterprise Academy and Head of Partnerships at the Dragonfly Trust shares what he’s learned from two decades supporting leaders who are often overlooked: teachers, young people, and grassroots entrepreneurs.

We explore:

We’ve been told for years that you’re either creative or technical. But what if the most valuable people — and the most transformative work — sit right in the middle?

In this episode, we speak with Alex Szukalski, a senior leader in construction and author of What’s a Creative Doing in Construction?, about how creativity shows up in the most unexpected places — and why today’s technical fields need imaginative thinkers more than ever.

💡 Creativity in construction isn’t soft — it’s strategic.

🎯Being creative and technical isn’t a contradiction — it’s a superpower.

🧠 You can...

What does it really mean to belong at work? In this episode, Tamu Thomas explores the role of belonging in shaping healthy, high-performing workplaces. She explains how true belonging isn’t about fitting in—it’s about feeling seen, heard, and supported without having to conform.

Tamu shares the risks of ignoring belonging, including burnout and disengagement, and explains how a disconnect between stated culture and lived experience can impact mental health and performance. The conversation also explores how leaders can better understand emotional needs, and why reflection, listening, and a biology-informed approach to leadership are essential for me...

Who Cares for the Caregivers at Work? with Charlie Beswick – carer, campaigner, and founder of Our Altered Life

1 in 7 UK employees is a carer — many without even realising it.

Some are looking after children with disabilities. Others are supporting partners with long COVID. Some are sandwiched between aging parents and teenage kids, juggling care on both sides. Some are doing all of the above.

In this powerful episode, we ask a vital question: who’s supporting them?

Charlie Beswick joins us to explore the invisible load carers carry, the stigma and silenc...

This week, we welcome back Simon Lamb - founder of Purposeful Change and expert in the human side of organisational transformation to tackle a question that’s more relevant than ever: When is work… therapy?

As the boundaries between coaching, therapy, leadership development, and personal growth blur, many leaders find themselves navigating conversations that go far beyond KPIs. Together, we explore:

Is Curiosity Today’s Work Superpower?

What happens when you hit your career peak before 30? Or when the strategies that once worked in your job suddenly fall flat? What if you’re the one always asking questions and getting side-eyed for it?

In our latest Work Is Weird Now episode, we sit down with Emma Davies and Ruta Sudmantaite, co-hosts of the acclaimed Blame It On Marketing podcast.

With 12 seasons of podcasting and deep experience as fractional CMOs, Emma and Ruta have navigated uncertainty, burnout, and reinvention in marketing - a field made for...

In this episode, Alice Phillips and Dan Emery sit down with technologist and leadership thinker Sunil Malhotra to explore the unlikely but essential intersection of yoga and artificial intelligence. The conversation dives into how ancient wisdom can help individuals and organizations navigate the rapidly evolving, often overwhelming world of work shaped by AI.

Sunil shares why work has always been weird, how yoga offers a form of inner technology to cultivate resilience and clarity, and why we need to rethink not just how we work, but how we educate and lead. From questioning the traditional obsession with...

Pride Month can feel like a corporate checkbox.

But this week on Work is Weird Now, we’re cutting through the noise to ask a bigger question:

👉 How do we make allyship at work real—not just performative—for Pride and beyond?

Our guest is Tony Marroney, an operations director, proud gay man, and heels-wearing executive who’s spent over 25 years helping workplaces become more inclusive, sometimes while working in environments that didn’t feel safe to be fully out.

This conversation is personal, practical, and powerful. We talk about:

In this reflective episode, the Alice and Dan look back on the most powerful conversations of Season Two.

From neurodiversity and inclusion to the realities of fatherhood and the underrepresentation of women in AI, this episode explores the complex dynamics shaping today’s workplace.

The discussion also highlights the importance of mindset shifts and cognitive flexibility in a world of constant change.

Wrapping up with a teaser for Season Three, the hosts promise new formats and global perspectives to continue challenging the status quo of work and leadership.

Key takeaways:

In this special edition, we turn our attention to the evolving relationship between education and the workforce. Hosts Alice Phillips and Dan Emery meet Deputy Head Teacher Sarah Thomas to unpack what it really means to prepare young people for the future of work in today’s rapidly shifting landscape.

From the pressures faced by teachers and the lingering effects of the pandemic to the rising need for work experience, community engagement, and a renewed focus on resilience and mindset, this episode explores how secondary education in the UK is adapting—and what still needs to change.

Guest: Mark Heywood – podcaster, writer, former investment banking MD, and co-founder of Don’t Quit

This week on Work Is Weird Now, we speak with Mark Heywood about the realities of leaving corporate life and reinventing your career on your own terms.

From his early days in tech at RBS to a screenwriting course in LA and launching his own business, Mark’s story is anything but linear. In this deeply honest conversation, he shares how he engineered his transition out of banking, the mindset shifts that made it possible, and why failure is a necess...

What happens when humans are no longer the smartest species in the room?

In this episode, Dan and Alice talk with David Brown — founder of Future Hand Media and producer of With AI FM — about how AI is reshaping (or wrecking?) the future of work.

Key moments:

What happens when workplace research meets urban design? In this episode, Dan Emery and Alice Phillips speak with Kasia Maynard, Head of Research and Editorial at WorkTech Academy, about the shifting dynamics of work, cities, and community in a post-pandemic world.

Kasia unpacks how the pandemic accelerated—but didn’t invent—many of the trends we see today: hybrid work, the rise of in-person collaboration, and a growing need for spaces that foster real human connection. She explores why the future of work is less about choosing between home or office, and more about designing environments—urban, digital...

In this episode of Work’s Weird Now, we sit down with Holly Hobbs, founder and CEO of Apprentivia, who shares her inspiring journey from facing over 30 job rejections to leading a youth employment movement. Holly dismantles the myths around apprenticeships, offers powerful insights into what Gen Z really wants from the workplace, and unpacks how employers can better connect with young talent in a post-AI world.

We dive into mentorship, mindset, self-belief, and the role of TikTok in shaping today’s early career paths. Whether you're an employer, educator, or Gen Z job seeker, this episode offe...

Guest: Slavina Racheva, Managing Consultant & AI Enablement Lead, Credera UK

What does it mean to be human in an AI-powered economy?

In this episode, Slavina Rachava unpacks the complex intersections between artificial intelligence, gender, and the future of work. We explore why women are more vulnerable to automation, how bias is embedded in the design and deployment of AI, and the urgent need for inclusive leadership and ethical education in tech.

From disparities in tool adoption to the question of who AI is really being built for, this is a conversation about power...

In this episode of ⁠Work is Weird Now⁠ hosts ⁠Alice Phillips⁠ and ⁠Dan Emery⁠ engage with ⁠Ellen Donnelly⁠, founder of ⁠The Ask⁠ and creator of ⁠Monday Mornings⁠.

They explore the evolving landscape of work, the rise of mass entrepreneurialism, and the blending of personal and professional lives.

Ellen shares her journey from a conventional career path to embracing flexibility and entrepreneurship, discussing the traits that contribute to successful entrepreneurship and the importance of trust in institutions.

This conversation explores the evolving landscape of work, focusing on the role of coaching in career transitions, the impact of age and ex...

Today’s guest is Simon Lamb, founder and CEO of Purposeful Change, a consultancy that supercharges company culture and helps leaders, teams and organisations thrive in times of change.

Simon has worked with some of the world’s most valuable brands – Microsoft, Nike and HSBC to name a few – and through his work, has touched the lives of more than half a million people in more than 50 countries.

Learn more about Simon and his work here: ⁠Purposeful Change Supercharge Your Business Culture

In this episode of Work is Weird Now, business incubator consultant Richard Hubbard shares his career journey, reflecting on his experiences from the non-profit sector to the construction industry. He discusses the challenges of leadership, adaptability in midlife, and the importance of personal growth.

Richard emphasises the role of pride and status in his career, revealing how his early experiences shaped his approach to leadership and change. We reflect on his career journey, discussing the evolution of his aspirations, the challenges faced in C-suite roles, and the importance of organisational culture.

He shares insights on...

All of our guests so far on the Work is Weird Now podcast have touched on the physical workplace, so it made sense that we opened up the conversation around the role the office will play in the future of work.

To explore the topic, we invited workplace strategy expert, Leeson Medhurst to explore the evolving dynamics of workplace design and strategy, emphasising the importance of hybrid work policies, employee well-being, and the role of technology in shaping modern office environments.

Connect with Leeson here: ⁠Leeson Medhurst | LinkedIn

This episode takes an unexpected yet fascinating turn as we meet Aimee O’Keefe, founder of Committed Nutrition. Aimee’s impressive career includes roles as:

Performance Nutritionist for England’s Red Roses (women's national rugby team), Williams F1 racing and creator of Manchester United Women's nutrition department, and founder of Female Football Nutrition, dedicated to unlocking nutrition from grassroots sports.

Why is this relevant to Work is Weird Now? Because Aimee’s journey spans multiple worlds — from starting her career in the NHS to building successful businesses.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ The ra...

In this episode of Work Is Weird Now, hosts Alice and Dan sit down with Founder at Marvel FMCG Rich Howell to explore a bold shift in workplace culture: the four-day work week.

As the leader of a UK based recruitment company, Rich shares how his ADHD diagnosis and recent ADHD burnout shaped his decision to prioritise employee well-being - challenging outdated work models and embracing a more flexible future.

Together, they break down the history of the five-day work week, the challenges of transitioning to a shorter schedule, and the unexpected benefits, from increased...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alastair Moore, a leading figure in AI and machine learning, entrepreneur, investor, and educator, to explore how AI is reshaping industries, jobs, and society.

From the rapid evolution of AI capabilities to its impact on white-collar jobs by 2030, Alastair shares insights on both the utopian and dystopian possibilities of AI-driven work. He discusses the need for education reform, ethical considerations, and how humans can best collaborate with machines to maximise productivity and innovation.

Key takeaways: - AI is advancing fast and will transform traditional job roles...

This week on Work is Weird Now, hosts Dan Emery and Alice Phillips are joined by⁠ Tobi Crosbie⁠, CEO and founder of Making Moves, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, parenting and purpose.

Over the course of a decade – Tobi has led his business through significant evolution. In this episode, he reflects on:

This episode is for:

From corporate marketing director to founder of The Womenhood, Jess Rad is unapologetically outspoken on the unspoken. In this conversation, she opens up about the realities of menopause, neurodiversity, and how we can all be better allies in the workplace.

In this episode we explore: 🔹 The impact of menopause on women’s careers 🔹 The importance of neurodiversity in building truly inclusive workplaces 🔹 Why curiosity and open dialogue are essential to allyship 🔹 How employers can better support women over 40 and neurodivergent individuals

Jess also shares details of NeuroCurios - her first in-person community event in five years, designe...

This week on Work is Weird Now, hosts Dan Emery and Alice Phillips are joined by⁠ Tobi Crosbie⁠, CEO and founder of Making Moves, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, parenting and purpose.

Over the course of a decade – Tobi has led his business through significant evolution. In this episode, he reflects on:

This episode is for:

Christian Hunt⁠ says it loud: “Employees aren’t robots. So why design systems like they are?”

This one’s for anyone who’s ever sat through a soul-sucking induction session or tried to enforce a compliance policy that no one reads.

We’re talking behavioural science, hiring myths, AI risks, and the very weird future of work.

We’re diving into:

👉 Why 100% compliance isn’t realistic

👉 How induction training shapes culture

👉 The weird beauty of boredom and creativity

👉 What AI means for trust, ethics, and risk

👉 And why treating...

What if the thing holding you back... isn’t real?

In this powerful conversation, business strategist and mindset coach Nicola Charlotte breaks down how invisible scripts shape our careers - and how to rewrite them.

In this episode we cover:

This episode of Work’s Weird Now is for anyone who:

→ Feels stuck, even though everything “looks” right

→ Is navi...

What an episode this week - from AI in the recruitment process, hot off the press 2025 salary trends, to exploring whether it’s a straightforward transition to step back into the corporate world after freelancing or consulting, this episode covers it all. Thanks to Charlie and Charlotte from 3Search for your insights.

You can find 3Search and connect with Charlie and Charlotte by following the links below:

⁠3Search⁠⁠Charlie Rawstron | LinkedIn⁠

⁠Charlotte Titmuss | LinkedIn