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Dan Smolen is hitting the pause button on The Dan Smolen Podcast.

When the podcast returns in Fall 2022, it will provide a more impactful interactive experience for career professionals.

From the episode:

“Given the success that the podcast has enjoyed during the past four years, I recognize that there is so much more for me to do, to further these discussions and make learning from them truly actionable. 

I will strive to give career professionals—talent and hiring managers—the insight that they need to make sound decisions about their career development and workplace.”

Further:

“The remote workplace technology that we now use to connect to one another—and to the world—has been in place for ten years or longer. But it took the Covid pandemic to allow us to unleash its full potential. And as we adapted to it, and applied its numerous benefits, millions of us began to question what it means to work: for sure, what our work entails, but also when, where, and how we do the work that we do.”

The Dan Smolen Podcast debuted in 2018. During that time, Dan has dropped 159 episodes focused on future of work and workplace topics.

Hitting the pause button is necessary to return this fall with a new podcast experience that talent and hiring managers alike can use to navigate the future of work and workplace.

EPISODE DATE: June 10, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:22 — 7.7MB)

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Dan Smolen recalls how starting a first job of many benefitted his professional career and informed a profound journey in the future of work:

As the last of the graduation ceremonies conclude, America’s latest crop of entry-level workers is stressed out about connecting with work and career.

I remember the experience well. And what I recall most was how I wanted my first assignment out of college to align me perfectly with my career goals of reaching the senior advertising agency management ranks.

It was a fool’s errand.

The Spring of 1983, my graduation season, ushered in one of the-worst job markets since the 1930s.

Unemployment was terribly high. Like me, my peers struggled to connect to entry-level work. With each passing week of no returned phone calls, I fell into a depression.

In this episode, Dan discusses:

• The chance meeting, at a Washington Post advertisers event, that got him to starting a first job of many.
• How that first job taught him how to succeed in a corporate setting.
• Turning a messy, analog magazine circulation file into a money making resource.
• Leveraging first job skill, experience, and accomplishments to find a great ad agency position in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Starting a first job of many provides young careerists the time and space they need to learn how to work, and make work part of a day doing other things.

EPISODE DATE: June 3, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:12 — 7.6MB)

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Dan Smolen asks: should careers require a college degree?

As the graduating class of 2022 enters the workplace, many of its members will carry forward substantial student loan debt.

And the son of one friend of mine amassed $250,000 in debt to earn his Bachelor’s degree.

That is a nightmare scenario.

So how did we get to a nightmarish place where the college degree no longer ensures the American Dream?

Truth be told, we got here, because of the Vietnam War.

In this episode, Dan:

• Recalls how American men got draft deferments when they earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
• Describes how a bachelor’s degree became a “must have” for everyone doing career professional work.
• Laments how, in 2022, a college degree has been rendered a economic albatross.

In the future of work, should careers require a college degree? Time will tell if the answer to that question remains “yes.”

EPISODE DATE: May 27, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:22 — 34.3MB)

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Dan Smolen discusses inciting a workplace revolution with guest Vinny Tafuro.

Vinny is the Founder of the Institute for Economic Evolution. He is also the author of two books, including Unlocking the Labor Cage.

For those who study the future of work, this much is clear: we are in the midst of a workplace revolution. And career professionals are inciting it.

After the past 40 years, during which shareholder value reigned supreme, stakeholder value is at last resonating in boardrooms. And people who work are taking their seats at the stakeholder table.

In a wide ranging discussion, Vinny:

• Describes the value proposition for the Institute for Economic Evolution. Starts at 4:30
• Explains the origins of the over 150 year-old 8-hour workday. Starts at 7:22
• Offers insight into how metric-driven managers can become thoughtful and intentional workplace leaders. Starts at 12:06
• Discusses the importance of benefit corporations (B-Corps) in inciting a workplace revolution. Starts at 24:46
• Lays out his future of work vision. Starts at 32:05

What is more, Vinny offers this key driver for inciting a workplace revolution:

“We’re proving what really good leaders have always known: if you treat people well, you build up your organization holistically and create a culture that doesn’t become toxic.”

About our guest:

Vinny Tafuro is a visionary thinker, writer, entrepreneur, communications theorist, and economist. Vinny earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Tampa and is pursuing a Masters of Science in Foresight from the University of Houston. He lives and works in Tampa, Florida.

EPISODE DATE: May 20, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:53 — 25.6MB)

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Dan Smolen explores mastering time for future work with guest Kris Ward.

Kris is the host of the Win the Hour, Win the Day Podcast. She counsels entrepreneurs on how to manage their time resources so that they become successful in work, but also in life.

Time mastery is critical for success in the future of work.

And to that end, Kris and Dan cover a lot of ground around time mastery including:

• The unique value proposition for Win the Hour, Win the Day. Starts at 4:13
• How the notion of working a lot of hours is believed to be good. Starts at 6:43
• A deep dive into her “Super Tool Kit” and what makes it effective. Starts at 11:07
• Why entrepreneurs and career professionals get jammed up with “time sucks.” Starts at 12:01
• Infrastruture in the future of work frame. Starts at 14:00
• The ways quality of work and life improves with time mastery. Starts at 16:50
• The powerful outcome of giving up tasks. Starts at 18:32
• In a future of work frame, getting away from the notion that the amount of time expensed in work is everything. Starts at 24:15

Mastering time for future work allows entrepreneurs and career professionals to thrive in work and life.

About our guest:

Kris Ward is a leading authority on scaling business and maximizing the resource of time. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ryerson University. Kris lives and works in the province of Ontario, Canada.

EPISODE DATE: May 13, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:32 — 33.5MB)

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Dan Smolen meets up with Randye Spina, to discuss fostering benefit for future work.

Randye is the founder of Marketing on a Mission, LLC. And she is a self-described “business as a force for good champion.”

Her consultancy enables B-Corps and other entities to drive positive, purpose-driven brand attributes.

Now, more than ever, career professionals want to work for companies that stand for noble purpose.

Interestingly, as Randye points out, the first driver for benefit corporations is to empower their hired talent.

In a wide ranging interview, Randye:

• Defines the value proposition for Marketing on a Mission. Starts at 4:12
• Describes the allure of becoming a benefit corporation or B-Corp. Starts at 8:00
• Explains why companies and organizations should consider becoming a B-Corp. Starts at 11:42
• Offers insight as to why career professionals are positively predisposed to B-Corps. Starts at 15:30
• Considers how B-Corps create leverage with departing talent. Starts at 25:40

Almost always, when fostering benefit for future work, companies can attract and retain the best people.

About our guest:

Randye Spina received a Bachelor of Business Arts from Pace University and an MBA from the University of Dallas. She lives and works in Southern Connecticut.

EPISODE DATE: May 6, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:10 — 45.1MB)

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Dan Smolen asks the question: are bosses crushing worker dignity?

Answering this question, and many others, is Dr. Betty Johnson. She is the founder of Bridging the Difference LLC; it helps company leaders embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to ensure worker dignity.

As the Covid pandemic ebbs, and more of their talent work remotely, managers are using Zoom sessions in ways that they may believe are effective, but actually rid their people of dignity.

Requiring people to be “on camera” throughout long, heavily attended Zoom sessions, whether or not they participate in discussion, can have a toxic effect.

And people of color and women–especially older women–are often the-most negatively affected by such “on camera” requirements.

Dr. Johnson wants to change that.

In a wide ranging discussion, Dr. Johnson:

• Provides the unique value proposition for her company, Bridging the Difference LLC. Starts at 4:53
• Describes the misuses of Zoom sessions by managers to gather their people. Starts at 6:07
• Illustrates surface acting and its psychological impact on talent. Starts at 9:51
• Explains the positive affects of “being listened to.” Starts at 16:13
• Digs into how bosses crush worker dignity and unintentionally create “drama triangles.” Starts at 20:35
• Offers strategies for making Zoom sessions better. Starts at 27:08
• Defines Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and provides ways to positively frame it for management to embrace. Starts at 40:35

Are bosses crushing worker dignity? Some are. But with intentional leadership from their management, people can find positive meaning in the work that they do.

About our guest:

Dr. Betty Johnson is a keen observer of people in the workplace. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Ph.D. in Leadership from Antioch University. Dr. Johnson lives and works in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:05 — 33.1MB)

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Dan Smolen establishes a Dominatrix’s Guide to Future Work with executive coach Dana Pharant.

Dana is a former dominatrix who now uses her skill to help entrepreneurs and career professionals. They learn to overcome past traumas to live and work joyfully.

What is more, Dana’s clients apply skill to escape from ingrained behaviors that bottle up their emotions. And when they do that, they can achieve “10X” success.

In a provocative and wide-ranging discussion, Dana:

• Lays out the unique value proposition she provides her clients. Starts at 4:17
• Defines what a dominatrix does. Starts at 7:01
• Explains how “surrendering” can help many, including controlling-type people. Starts at 11:43
• Describes “sexual energy” and how it empowers career professionals. Starts at 14:56
• Supports the notion that managers need to embrace vulnerability. Starts at 20:11
• Provides a “10X” client success story. Starts at 26:11
• Guides listeners to greater future of work success. Starts at 33:03

As part of a Dominatrix’s Guide to Future Work, Dana believes we all must learn to embrace vulnerability in the workplace:

“The first thing is being vulnerable. And saying right out: this is awkward. I’ve lost my skills in how to relate to people. Just say it! Say what it is!”

About our guest: Dana Pharant grew up in a cult and survived years of every kind of abuse imaginable. After years as a dominatrix, she applied her skill into a useful and healing resource for entrepreneurs and career professionals seeking success. Dana lives and works in Barrie, Ontario (Canada).

EPISODE DATE: April 22, 2022

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

– Website

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:34 — 26.2MB)

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Dan Smolen explores how to make work from anywhere work with guest John Lee.

He is the co-founder of Work From Anywhere, a resource that helps people across-the-globe to overcome international barriers-to-entry. When that happens, career professionals may live and work in the place of their dreams.

John and his family are experienced digital nomads. And recently, they seized the opportunity to relocate from Ireland to Portugal. Their new community offers lower taxes, great schools, and wonderful quality-of-life.

In a wide ranging discussion, John:

• Describes the value proposition for his brand, Work From Anywhere. Starts at 4:22
• Explains what happens when people get to live and work where they please. Starts at 5:27
• Summarizes key learning in his research with companies and career professionals. Starts at 10:13
• Identifies some of the easing barriers-to-entry. Starts at 12:37
• Discusses surprising diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) insight from Work From Anywhere’s White Paper. Starts at 18:25
• Addresses the negative impact of location bias. Starts at 20:24
• Provides examples of cool destinations for living and working. Starts at 22:08

Our best days lie ahead when we make work from anywhere work.

About our guest:

John Lee received bachelors and masters degrees in accounting from University College of Dublin. He lives and works in Cascais, Portugal.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:37 — 38.2MB)

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Dan Smolen digs into the WHY of building workplace leadership culture with guest Bret Packard.

Over a 30-year corporate career, Bret “crushed it” at managing large global teams tasked with scaling profits and market dominance. And, he was rewarded well for his hard work.

But Bret discovered early on that he wasn’t the leader of people that he wanted or needed to be.

Inspired by the corporate manager to whom he reported, Bret embarked on a journey to connect well with the people on his teams. And when he emerged as an effective leader, his people enjoyed better engagement and more success in their work and careers.

Bret also benefitted from a career-long commitment to journaling. Often, he refers to the 30 years of insight that fills the pages of the 89 journals that he kept. Bret draws on the wisdom in those journals to empower The Packard Network‘s followers to become effective leaders.

In a wide ranging discussion, Bret:

• Describes The Packard Network and its value to people in the workplace. Starts at 4:45
• Provides a summary of his 30-year corporate career and his journey to becoming a good and effective leader. Starts at 7:16
• Explains why building a workplace leadership culture is important now and to the future of work. Starts at 13:03
• Provides insight on why leaders must adopt new skill to empower Generation Z workforce members. Starts at 18:41
• Answers the question: are we hiring the right people to be leaders that the workplace needs? Starts at 28:11

Bret reflects on his own leadership journey, saying:

“I was a master at managing. So, things like strategy, plans, processes–that was me. But the part that I didn’t have down pat was connecting with people through vision, culture, ecosystem, and the way [that you communicate] with people.”

Building workplace leadership culture helps people to own their professional success. It truly is mission critical in the future of work.

About our guest:

Bret Packard earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

EPISODE DATE: April 8, 2022

Social media:

– LinkedIn

– Facebook

– Instagram

– Twitter

– YouTube Channel