Passing the Mic: Why I’m Stepping Back from the Redefining Work Podcast

Why I'm retiring the current format of the Redefining Work podcast after six years to make space for what's next.

Photo by Matt Botsford on Unsplash

Six years ago, I hit “record” on something that would alter the course of my career.

I didn’t know it then, but that single action would change my life.

The year was 2019. Podcasts were everywhere, but something was missing: a space dedicated to the builders of our workplaces—HR and people leaders. These were the architects of how we work, how we thrive, and how we connect. Yet their stories were often left untold.

I was writing a year-long series in Fast Company dedicated to exploring modern HR and people practices titled 21st Century HR. I thought it would be fun to create an accompanying podcast that allowed me to expand on the stories I was writing and provide more depth and context for readers.

So, I created what started as 21st Century HR, later renamed to Redefining HR when my book was released, and broadened to Redefining Work when I began expanding outside of HR. It started as a simple idea. An ambition with no ultimate goal. An experiment.

From the moment I had the idea for the podcast to the time the website was built and the RSS feeds were syndicated to Apple Podcasts was about 24 hours. I didn’t really know what I was doing - but I was going to learn by doing it.

Actually, that’s not entirely true.

Technically, this was my second podcast. My first, Best Part of My Job, explored different careers and allowed me to interview people I admired including Guy Raz and Jeff Cohen (better known as “Chunk” from the Goonies). I learned what it felt like to be bitten by a shark, produce a hit record, and lead soldiers under fire in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a voyeuristic view into different career experiences that ran roughly 20 episodes.

Fast forward to today.

Over 170 Redefining Work episodes. A parade of inspiring guests. A global community I couldn’t have dreamed of. The journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Fulfillment? Absolutely. But now, it’s time to hit pause.

Why? That’s a fair question.

When I began this podcast, every conversation was a spark. It lit up my mind, fueled my creativity, and pushed me to think bigger. I taught myself how to cut and edit audio and video. I learned how to be my own producer. I spent countless hours needing out on equipment, lighting, cameras, and studio design. It was a non-stop learning fest that was full over growth.

But over the last two seasons, that spark dimmed.

Episodic podcasts became a grind.

The weekly production turned into a chore - formatting blogs, scheduling social media posts, writing multiple newsletters, editing video clips. There is a ton of work behind the scenes that most listeners don’t see - and it takes a toll over time.

Here’s what I’ve learned about myself when it comes to creative work: it has to ignite me. When it doesn’t, you owe it to yourself—and your audience—to step back and ask, What’s next?

So that’s what I’m doing.

This isn’t the end. It’s more of a pivot to something as of yet unknown.

I’m pressing pause on Redefining Work, not to stop creating, but to create differently.

I want to explore new spaces and creative outlets—film, interactive media, short-form storytelling, and different audio formats. At the same time, I’ll be returning to a corporate role in my professional life at some point in the new year. I don’t know where yet - but I know I’ll be dedicating all of my energy to that company and team.

So, what does this next chapter look like? Honestly, I don’t know. And that’s the exciting part.

So, to my Redefining Work podcast listeners - this isn’t goodbye - it’s until next time.

To the guests who shared their stories: thank you. You trusted me with your journeys, and that’s a gift I’ll never take for granted. To the listeners who tuned in—whether every week or just once—your support made this possible. And to my friends at LinkedIn’s podcast network, thank you for amplifying these conversations.

To Mary Ellen Slayter, Devon McGrath, Michael Thibodeaux, and the entire Rep Cap team - thank you for your production partnership these past three years. I couldn’t have made the pivot to video without you.

The world of HR storytelling is thriving. It’s in good hands, and I’m proud to have played a small role in shaping this space.

Redefining Work may be on pause, but this story isn’t over.

Onward. ✌🏼