{"podcast":{"title":"Workplace Weirdness™","slug":"workplace-weirdness-7112271","podcast_index_feed_id":7112271,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/workplaceweirdness","website_url":"https://workplace-weirdness.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/927fc1d4-a836-11ef-97b6-13c1bdc2cf1b/image/dadefc22beddd39f23c3affe533b553b.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Green Banana Consulting LLC","episode_count":43,"summary":"Welcome to Workplace Weirdness™, The Non-HR HR Podcast™ that takes a deep dive into the delightful oddities of office life. Ever wondered why the break room smells like a science experiment or why your boss insists on using 'synergy' in every meeting? We've got you covered! Join Maya and her revolving door of guest hosts as they unravel the mysteries of cubicle culture and decode the cryptic behaviors of your coworkers. From bizarre email sign-offs to the enigma of office fridge politics, no topic is too weird for us to tackle. Each week, we'll talk about hot HR topics, answer listener questions and dissect an awkward workplace theme, all while keeping things light, fun, and packed with HR humor. Tune in, because in the world of work, the only thing you can count on is the unexpected! So, grab your coffee, put your feet up on that ergonomic footrest, and let's get weird at work together. Trust us, it’ll be a productivity boost like no other!","last_synced_at":"2026-07-31T20:19:32.322722+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/workplace-weirdness-7112271"},"episode":{"title":"The Truth About AI and Career Survival in the Zero Body Fat Era | Workplace Weirdness S2 E16","slug":"the-truth-about-ai-and-career-survival-in-the-zero-body-fat-era-workplace-weirdness-s2-e16","published_at":"2026-04-15T11:31:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/workplace-weirdness-7112271/the-truth-about-ai-and-career-survival-in-the-zero-body-fat-era-workplace-weirdness-s2-e16","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/workplace-weirdness-7112271","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/PDY2745715167.mp3?updated=1776253227","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/PDY2745715167.mp3?updated=1776253227","summary":"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 leaving rather than waiting around for a company to suddenly do right by them. The conversation also explores how senior leaders can position themselves in an AI-driven job market, what to do when your role turns out to be completely different from what was promised, and how to handle workplace situations that cross an ethical line. This episode is a brutally honest look at promotions, workplace power, AI, and career survival when the rules of work are changing fast. In this episode: [00:00:10] Introduction to Workplace Weirdness: Host Maya Kawalski introduces the show's focus on office drama and \"weird\" situations. [00:00:45] Guest Introduction: Maya introduces Laura Close, an entrepreneur, executive advisor, and co-founder of the AI platform Included. [00:01:25] The Origin of Included: Laura explains how she used AI to solve \"precision data questions\" and eliminate reporting bottlenecks for HR leaders. [00:02:15] The \"Zero Body Fat\" Era: Laura describes the current labor market as a lean, athletic, and agile era where candidates must be self-reliant. [00:02:40] Extended Job Search Timelines: Laura notes that senior leader searches have shifted from 4 month…","meta_description":"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…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1672,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/workplace-weirdness-7112271/episodes/the-truth-about-ai-and-career-survival-in-the-zero-body-fat-era-workplace-weirdness-s2-e16/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/workplace-weirdness-7112271/the-truth-about-ai-and-career-survival-in-the-zero-body-fat-era-workplace-weirdness-s2-e16.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}