I'm Only Human Podcast

Even today, women within the American workforce make substantially less than their male counterparts. This week, we discuss the glory that is Wonder Woman as a lens through which to explore the status of woman within the modern workforce. We also examine the Equal Pay Act, along with some of its provisions, requirements, and (at least according to some) its loopholes.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Avengers Initiative is supposed to be designed to protect mankind from extraordinary threats. However, it seems that the Avengers are better at creating and then saving us from the threats of their own creation. Like a mod boss and a protection racket, it seems that wherever the Avengers go trouble follows. Though their intentions are pure and their abilities undeniable, they continue to squabble and work in opposition to one another. Often they work in secret, encountering problems they could easily avoid. They chaff at oversight and fail to recognize that they could likely solve half of their challenges fairly easily if they just work together more effectively. In other words, they are just like most workplaces. This episode, we look at the unique challenges and special tactics that must be employed when managing exceptionally bright, capable, and creative workers.

Board Games used to mean long nights of Monopoly that usually end with half of the players storming off in anger and disgust. However, we are now in what is considered commonly known as a "golden age" of gaming, with thousands of complex titles being published every year. And while board games are mostly about having a good time with family and friends, many of the most popular titles can help you develop skills which you can use every day in order to further your personal development and professional advancement.

During this episode we look to Doctor Strange in order to explore ways to approach a change in your career. Our first lesson is do not text and drive! OK, now that is out of the way, we can get down to the topic at hand. Whether career changes are forced or chosen, they can be an excellent opportunity to choose a path that fits your skills, interests, and passions. But often, indecision and fear make it hard for even the brightest of us to make an informed and reasoned decision. We have a few insights, that might make it easier for you to choose a path that fits and fulfills. And bonus, you won't have to die a thousand deaths at the hand of a vengeful chaos God in order to begin your true calling.

During this week's episode of I'm Only Human, we look back at The Office. However, rather than focusing upon Micheal's "that's what she said" jokes, or Angela's homophobia, or that fact that Creed may be a serial killer (really, all the signs kinda' suggests that his is the Scranton Strangler) we focus upon sweet and romantic Jim and his unnatural a distracting obsession with demeaning, harassing, and shaming Dwight. Through Jim's hilarious (and likely felonious) hijinks we look at the very really and destructive problem of workplace bullying and how you can take steps to reduce either its impact or its prevalence.

This week we talk about some of the behavioral science that impacts the ways that we pre-judge circumstances and others. Using the Netflix original series, Amanda Knox as our stepping of point we use the massive failures in the Knox instigation to help you avoid similar mistakes when you are assessing applicants, drawing conclusions about workplace conflicts, conducting internal investigations, and more. By being aware of the ways that our minds work, we can all avoid making unfounded assumptions that can have significant and occasionally adverse impacts.

This week we look to the scientist at the Department of Energy from Hawkins, Indiana in order to help us understand a few of things you shouldn't do if you want to keep a safe workplace. Sure, they summoned a blood thirsty kill machine from the ether (and don't get us wrong that's bad) but their greater sins were far more mundane. Were their exit's properly marked? Did they have complete Material Safety Data Sheets? Did they provide flotation devices for all workers working within three feet of a sensory deprivation tank? Did they properly disclose the risk caused by neck breaking telekinetic pre-teens? Clearly, they weren't aware of the duties imposed upon them by the Occupational Safety Hazard Act and it's many regulations. But you won't be caught flat footed after listening to this episode. Note: Here, there be spoilers. (Also, demogorgons. But mostly, spoilers.)

While Westworld is admittedly a remarkable spectacle and a marvel of science, the Delos Board must be run my absolute idiots. They have given unfettered and exclusive access to every form of their intellectual property to a man that keeps a robot in his office just to play him classical tunes on a 1860's piano. He spends large parts of his day in a leaky meat freezer talking to a glitchy gunslinger. He has recreated a copy of his ancestral home (complete with abusive father) in the far reaches of the park. He has... well, let's just say he has a hard time letting go of people. He is a certifiably madman (come on, he's played by Anthony Hopkins, for cripe's sake). And they have given him the literal keys to everything, with no way to protect their most valuable assets. This week we look at the errors of Delos in order to help you understand how you can better protect and preserve your trade secrets.

During this episode we look at the failed leadership style of Amanda Waller, "leader" of the Suicide Squad, in order to explore ways that you can effectively motivate your employees. While fear, mutual contempt, and the avoidance of death may seem like great motivators, they are less effective in getting the people under your command to turn in their best performances than you might expect. While most employees are not psychotic kill machines (most, mind you) a surprising number of employers use similar motivating tools in order to provoke productivity. However, an overwhelming body of research shows that employees motivated by fear are sloppy in their work, unlikely to meet deadlines, and eager to embrace distractions. We'll walk through why Waller's leadership is not only immoral but also unlikely to work and discuss some of the tactics she could have employed in order to create a more cohesive and effective team.  

Ned Stark got just about everything wrong. In his wake, Robb Stark got even more wrong. If "The North Remembers" then... well, maybe a Stark regency isn't something they should embrace. Ever. When it comes to succession planning, the Starks have just about all of it wrong. While they clearly excel when it comes to preserving the family's cultural norms, they have done little to nothing in order to protect productivity, create opportunity, and evolve their methods. This week we look at the Stark family's failures in order to offer you advice on how you can ensure that your family business can grow and endure over the years and through the generations.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... Someone knocked on your door asking if you have heard about the glory that is Mace Windu.  In the Star Wars universe, one thing pre-dominates above all others, the Force. However, the order of religious knights that practice the Force can be a sanctimonious bunch of ineffective windbags. Moreover, they really have a ridiculous prejudice against another religious sect, the Sith. While the Sith seem- well they seem like real jerks- the Jedi's prejudice seems a bit ridiculous.  During this episode, we examine the extremes of the Jedi faith in order explore the parameters of prohibited religious discrimination and ways that you can create a workplace that balances your values and your faith with the values and faith of those that view the world and the world beyond ours differently than you.

During these week's episode we spend a little time talking about Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves, and Humans as we critique the Fellowship of the Ring. When you consider that this is the group tasked with saving all of Middle Earth from complete domination, it is a bit surprising that this is the team they came up with. Half of the members hate each other and at least one member is not on board with the mission at all. We explore this slightly dysfunctional to help you learn how best to build and maintain a group that can get the job done. 

One of the great challenges of professional life is striking a "balance" between professional and personal life. Many employers now know that finding a way to strike this balance is essential to recruiting, retaining, and developing the best workers. This week, we look at the flock of idiots better known and the "Friends" in order to look at some mistakes that people often make when trying to get the most out of both work and life. PS- Be not mistaken, we love the show Friends, but if we ever met Ross, Rachael, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, or Joey in real life, we would avoid them at all costs.

There is a very good reason that most Superheroes are either trust fund babies or have  ridiculous side gigs, being a Superhero is a hard way to make a living. But if we imagine for a moment that the Avengers, Justice League, and Suicide Squad have payrolls; how exactly are their members paid? Do they clock in? Are they independent contractors? Do they get travel expenses? How about paid lunches? Time off? Are they paid overtime? Do they have pagers? These are important questions people; but worry not, we think we have your answers?

In the world of animated families, the Simpsons reign supreme. However; the Belchers of Bob's Burgers are strong up and comers. This hard scrapple clan spend their days running the eponymous burger restaurant for which the show is named. In spite of Bob's delicious and brilliantly name specials, the restaurant struggles, day in and day out. However, one way that they save on expenses is in free juvenile labor, as the Belcher children spend most of their days working for their father. Doing menial tasks. For no wages. In less than ideal working conditions... Yeah, it's a lot more like a Burmese Nike soccerball factory, than most sitcoms.

The recent Ghostbusters features a female cast, and to that we say, "You go girls!" However, one of the film's running gags features a hunky secretary named Kevin played by Chris Hemsworth and Kristin Wiig's character, Erin's inability to stop objectifying him. We get the joke and appreciate the point the film-makers were trying to make, but it got us wondering, is Erin guilty of actionable sexual harassment? Is Kevin one EEOC charge away from owning a boat load of proton packs? This week we examine the elements of a sexual harassment claim and offer some tips on how employer's can protect themselves from being held liable for their employee's bad actions. Oh yeah, and we also talk about how sexist the original Ghostbusters movie was.

John Hughes made movies that shaped the adolescence of most American 40 years olds. He brought awkward outsiders onto center stage and allowed them to shine. But he also perpetuated many mis-leading conception about how love is formed and grows. He was captivated by the fantasy of two unlikely people finding love in spite of all of their differences, a notion that science tells us rarely ends in long term romantic bliss.  In the same way, often employers seek out the most attractive candidate, without paying due regard to how that candidate will fit within their workplace. This episode, we talk about what that is a mistake, and how you take steps to hire employees that will be productive, happy, and loyal.

There is no doubt that the human drama that personifies The Walking Dead, makes for good television. However, if you looks closely at the character at the show's center, Rick Grimes, you see a deeply flawed man and a horribly inept leader. Inconsistent, authoritarian, unable to learn from his past mistakes, Rick is not role model. During this episode we break down Rick's leadership failures and point you to example of corporate leadership that works.

During this episode of I'm Only Human, Ami and Patrick make a case for why you should not take advice for crisis management from the ten dollar founding father.   While the hip hop musical Hamilton is deserving of the attention it has been getting, it's namesake and subject matter is not the best model for dealing with crisis within the workplace. Making unnecessary enemies, keeping your team members in the dark, dismissing your critics without considering the basis of their critique are all tactics that lead Alexander Hamilton to the deadly "Conversation at Weehawken". During this episode, we draw lessons about crisis management from Hamilton's many mistakes.

During this, the inaugural episode of I'm Only Human, Ami and Patrick deconstruct the role that Dumbledore plays in protecting and supporting Harry Potter.   We hate to point it out, but the supposedly fatherly figure of Dumbledore from Harry Potter may not be the cuddly patriarch we imagined him to be. Endangering the lives of his students, lying to his supporters, manipulating those in his employ, and acting with absolute and selfish impunity are not exactly the marks of a great leader and certainly not a great mentor. However, there are lots of lessons that we can learn from Dumbledore's failures as a mentor about how you can support, develop, and teach young members of your workforce through an effective mentorship program.