Best of the HR Happy Hour Media Network 2024

Wow, I can’t believe it’s the end of 2024! 

This year was a kind of whirlwind in many respects, and while it was fantastic to get out on the road meeting with our clients, attending many industry events, and even finding a little bit of downtime, 2024 was a busy, productive, exciting, and at times exhausting year.

For us at H3 HR Advisors, 2024 marked a busy year of work and collaboration with our fantastic partners, a ton of business travel, speaking in-person at many events, and of course producing a year’s worth of shows across the HR Happy Hour Media Network.

As we wind down 2024, we thought it would be a good idea to look back on the year, review the 200+ episodes that ran on our network of shows in 2024, and share a few of the HR Happy Hour Media Network episodes from 2024 that were memorable, insightful, important and relevant. With everything going on in 2024, you may have missed some of these the first time around, but the content of most, if not all of these shows is pretty evergreen, and remains as relevant as we head into 2025 as when they were originally recorded.

Here are some of our favorites from the HR Happy Hour Media Network in 2024 – and as a reminder you can listen to any of these shows using the links below, or on your favorite podcast app – just search for “HR Happy Hour Network.” And a searchable archive of all the HR Happy Hour Media Network properties can be found at www.hrhappyhour.net.

At Work in America

Workplace Movie Hall of Fame: Up in the Air – July 2024

On this fun episode of At Work in America, Trish and Steve present the latest episode of the Workplace Movie Hall of Fame series. This week, they explore the workplace issues and themes within the movie, Up in the Air including: achieving work/life balance, corporate layoffs and the impact on employees and HR professionals,  work travel policies, workplace culture and training, and more.

Supporting Working Parents: The Impact of Childcare Benefits – July 2024

On this episode Steve and Trish met with Jessica Harrah from KinderCare Learning Companies to talk about the latest data from their Parent Confidence Index survey, covering how access to child care directly impacts employees.

Advancing Women’s Rights in the Workplace – December 2024

In this important episode, Trish and Steve discussed women’s rights, particularly around menopause and employment discrimination with guests, Jack Tuckner and Catherine Crider.

Unlocking Potential: Navigating Autism in the Workplace – February 2024

On this episode we met with Keith Wargo, CEO of Autism Speaks to explore how to foster neurodiversity in the workplace. In the episode, we look at the dynamic landscape of autism in the workplace, shedding light on Autism Speaks’ mission and the myriad employment opportunities for individuals on the spectrum.

The Menopause Revolution in the Workplace – February 2024

On this episode, we met with Joanna Strober of Midi Health to talk about a new revolution in the workplace – menopause care! We chat about the transformative impact of menopause on the workplace, exploring expert insights on hormone imbalance and its implications for both employees and employers.

Creating Stronger Communities through Faith-based Leadership – August 2024

On this episode, Steve and Trish met with Dave Schunk from Volunteers of America Colorado about faith-based leadership in the modern workplace.

Innovating Mental Health Care through Human Connection – August 2024

On this episode, Steve and Trish met with Rett Kearbey and Austin Baker from Sholder to talk about modern mental health care for today’s workplace including founding a mental health startup to provide affordable support through compassionate care and mental health barriers and non-clinical solutions.

The ROI of Kindness in the Workplace – November 2024

In this episode, Trish and Steve sat down with Tara May, CEO of Aspiritech, a nonprofit with 95% autistic employees, to discuss neurodiversity and the ROI of kindness.

HR Happy Hour Show

A 15 Year Celebration of the HR Happy Hour Show – June 2024

Steve and Trish take a look back at the last 15 years of the HR Happy Hour Show. Hear the story of how the show began, and the many ways it has evolved through the years. From its humble beginnings as a call-in talk show to becoming a staple podcast in the HR community, we reflect on the pivotal changes and innovations that have shaped the show’s growth.

HR Legends on the Evolution of Work and Technology – July 2024

On this episode, Steve and Trish brought the HR Tech Legends to the show to talk about the evolution of work and technology over the last 15 years. We discussed disruptive technology in HR,  including cloud adoption and generational shifts, HR innovation and evolution over 15 years, Generative AI, and the challenges and opportunities it presents and more.

15 Years of Conversations: Celebrating with the HR Happy Hour Show OG’s – July 2024

On this episode, Steve and Trish sat down with four of the original guests of the HR Happy Hour Show! They reflected on their experiences on the show, sharing memories and insights on its impact on their careers and personal lives.

Vulnerability, Leadership, and Trust in the Workplace – April 2024

Trish and Steve spoke with Pat Wadors of UKG about the importance of vulnerability and trust in the workplace. Some of the topics we discussed included building trust in organizations through vulnerability and accountability and neurodiversity, accommodations, and psychological safety in the workplace.

Strategies for Reducing Employee Burnout and Supporting Mental Wellbeing – February 2024

On this episode, we spoke with Dr. Belinda Carrasco from Koa Health about how work-related stress leads to burnout and how to prevent it. We discussed how to foster a positive work environment by training leaders who are able to demonstrate empathy, compassion, and practical communication skills.

HR Happy Hour “Live”

H3 Live at the Paychex Booth at HR Tech – October 2024

In this special H3 “Live” Steve visited with the Paychex team in their booth at the HR Technology Conference to celebrate their Top HR product of the year award.

H3 Live – Oracle CloudWorld 2024 Event Report – September 2024

Join Trish & Steve as they talk about innovative HR technology from Oracle CloudWorld 2024 in Las Vegas! They chat about business transformation, podcast interviews with Oracle customers, new announcements from the conference, and more.

H3 Live at the Paycom Booth at HR Tech – October 2024

In a special H3 “Live” Steve visited with the Paycom team in their booth at the HR Technology Conference to celebrate their Top HR product of the year award.

The Play by Play

Unpacking the Insights: A Deep Dive into Qualtrics X4 – May 2024

This week on The Play by Play podcast, Jack McFarlane and Nick Schlemmer talk about key insights from Qualtrics X4: The Experience Management Summit in Salt Lake City, UT.

Beyond the Classroom: Real World Experience and Football Predictions – September 2024

On this episode of The Play by Play podcast, Jack McFarlane and Nick Schlemmer met up to talk about life outside of the classroom walls.

Inclusion Crusade

Thriving at Work: Nurturing Wellness, Mental Health, and More – February 2024

On this episode host Sarah Morgan is joined by Charlie Pleasant to discuss how to use emotional intelligence to nurture a culture of wellness and strong mental health.

The Workplace Minute

At Least Seven Major Companies Have Backed Away from DEI Initiatives – October 2024

In this episode Steve discusses how several major companies including Ford, John Deere, and Tractor Supply have eliminated or significantly altered previous DEI programs and initiatives in the face of increased online pressure.

How Employers Can Help Support Suicide Prevention – September 2024

In this episode Steve discusses how September is Suicide Prevention Month, and the role that employers can play in helping with suicide prevention and overall employee wellbeing.

Employer Sponsored Healthcare Costs Expected to Surge in 2025 – August 2024

In this episode Steve shares new research from Aon which estimates a 9% rise in employee healthcare costs in 2025 – driven at least in part by the surge in popularity and high cost of GLP-1 weight loss medications.

That Was Quick: HR Tech Company Reverses Course on its AI Employee Idea – July 2024

In this episode Steve updates an earlier Workplace Minute and shares how HR tech company Lattice reversed course on its plans to manage AI assistants like human employees due to online backlash.

When a Return to Office Mandate Feels Like a Layoff in Disguise – July 2024

In this episode Steve discusses how some corporate return to office mandates seem more likely to be layoffs in disguise instead of genuine attempts to improve organizational results.

HR Means Business

Engaging and Retaining the Gen Z Workforce – September 2024

In this podcast host Mervyn Dinnen talks with Danielle Farage, leading Gen Z and Future of Work writer, researcher and influencer. During the conversation they talk about changing generational attitudes to work and employment, importance of skill development and career personalization, and how to really engage and retain the emerging workforce.

Battling Burnout: HR Strategies for Employee Well-Being – July 2024

In this episode Mervyn Dinnen talks to Colin Minto, an experienced HR and TA leader, about his own experience of burnout and how he has been able to use this to advise, help and support HR & TA professionals to address their own and their teams’ wellbeing, and to be aware of the signs of burnout.

It’s been our great honor to be able to continue to produce all the shows on the HR Happy Hour Media Network! And look for some exciting announcements for 2025 as well!

And we thank all of our listeners, guests, and of course our partners at Paychex  for all their support!

Happy Holidays from all of us at the HR Happy Hour Media Network!