Today’s theme is the importance of creating a good fit between the way we prefer to work and the organization that employs us. Our expert guest, Dr. André Martin, is an organizational psychologist who spent 20 years as a leader in major companies like Mars, Nike, Disney and Google. He tells us about his new book, “Wrong Fit, Right Fit - Why How We Work Matters More Than Ever.” André says the way our job fits our work style is so important because our identities get all tangled up with what we do, and if we are dissed in the context of work, we feel bad throughout our life. André offers tips about finding the right job, and how to create change if your current job doesn’t suit the way you like to work. He suggests that you regularly take stock of your career and the stress it causes in your whole life. He explains the value of managing up. And he describes how some smart employers are helping their talent to find the right fit. For more, see: https://www.wrongfitrightfit.com

For some people, launching a job search seems more challenging than ever. Our repeat guest, Mark Anthony Dyson, says “think about it like the weather.” Job market conditions vary a good deal, depending on many factors, including your location, profession and skill set. But there are some broad trends worth watching. Mark warns that in some countries scammers are using fake job opportunities as way to collect private info, and we might see similar frauds in the U.S. He points to the dramatic change AI is having in the hiring process, and discusses the value of understanding at least AI basics. And Mark shares classic advice, like stay prepared for whatever happens by “thinking of job search as a lifestyle,” and keep learning and seeking opportunities to upskill. For more advice from Mark see: https://thevoiceofjobseekers.com

This is the second of two episodes about how stress reduces your job performance and satisfaction, and what you can do about it. Our guest, Gayle Williams-Byers, a retired judge, now teaches judges in her role as Senior Fellow with the National Judicial College. She has developed a course on mindfulness to help judges reduce stress, allowing them to make better decisions and keep things moving smoothly in their courtrooms. Here she explains a wide variety of mindfulness techniques that might work for you. Many are simple, like taking some deep breaths, thanking other people, journaling, and taking a brief walk.

This is the first of two episodes about how stress impacts your career. When you’re stressed out, you’re not creative or good at solving problems. or making decisions. But our guest, Gayle Williams-Byers, a retired judge, says there are many was to manage stress. In her role as Senior Fellow with the National Judicial College, Judge Gayle not only teaches judges about matters of law, but she also explores ways to address some of their challenges. She says being a sitting judge is intensely stressful, and stressed-out judges don’t make their best decisions. So she has developed a course on mindfulness and how it can calm stress, help you put aside distractions and refocus, and enhance your decision-making. Here she explains mindfulness and suggests how and why you might get started, and in the next episode she provides more detail about specific mindfulness techniques.

Our guest, Joan Lynch, is head of video and other content at WorkingNation, an innovative media company that creates well-researched and inspiring stories about everything related to jobs. Today, she discusses the state of employment in rural areas, which for years have struggled with aging populations and a lack of job opportunities. She says that now the situation starting to change, as more communities get broadband access. Joan also describes work trends for sectors that face special challenges, including neurodivergent and disabled communities, veterans, and single moms. And she shares insights about which industries are likely to be hiring in 2024. Finally, we discuss how workers increasingly want jobs where they can keep on learning, and how some employers are getting that message.

For more see, see this robust website: https://workingnation.com

Today’s guest is our good friend – and WOUB colleague – Tom Hodson. His career has involved many types of expertise, and it seems like Tom never did just one job at a time. He spent years sitting as a judge, and also teaching other judges. He’s played many roles as a media expert. And he has enjoyed positions as an academic leader. In 2019, Tom and host Bev began a series of episodes where he openly described his thoughts and anxieties about the prospect of retiring. As we recorded, Bev coached him to explore the possibilities. Then when COVID hit, Tom did retire, but he wasn’t really ready. He felt isolated, and struggled with depression. Now, however, Tom has put together a portfolio of meaningful activities, and he enjoys this phase of life. In this show, Tom talks frankly about his retirement path, and offers tips about how you can prepare for an un-retirement portfolio that gives you what you need.

For more about Tom, see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-hodson-797365284/

And check out Tom’s wide-ranging podcast, Spectrum: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spectrum/id112453909

Our theme is why and how to keep pursuing greater happiness -- as well as success – at work. Our guest is merger and acquisition expert Greg Martin. He’s a managing director at Origin Merchant Partners, a top-ranking investment bank working with industrial sectors across North America.

But Greg is not just an M&A guy and an entrepreneur. He also is passionate about helping people look closely at their work habits and mindsets, so they can better create meaning and joy. Greg hosts a podcast, Lifetime at Work, that promotes reflection on what you want from your career. He talks with his guests about how our jobs dominate a huge part of our lives, and why it’s important to make all that time and energy really count. Today Greg share stories from his own journey toward a balanced life, and offers tips for you to do the same. For more, see:

https://www.lifetimeatwork.com

Today’s returning guest is our good friend, Kerry Hannon. She’s a leading expert and futurist on careers, jobs, entrepreneurship, personal finance and retirement. Kerry is the author of more than a dozen books, including her most recent, In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work. She is a dynamic and popular speaker, and her Yahoo column attracts millions of followers as part of the largest personal finance platform in the world. Here Kerry talks about major workplace trends and career opportunities. She shares advice on how and why to prepare for retirement, no matter what your age is now. And she offers tips about preparing for your next career phase. For more see: https://www.yahoo.com/author/kerry-hannon and https://kerryhannon.com

In this episode we discuss the changing world of higher education. Our guest is Dave Goldberg, an AI pioneer, engineer, executive coach and respected computer scientist. He is also an educator, and until 2010 was a professor emeritus and prolific researcher. Then he switched paths and began to call for radically changing engineering education. Now he’s known as an academic innovator and international thought leader in the movement to reboot higher ed. Dave talks about his new book, A Field Manual for a Whole New Education, and says transforming the college experience should start with unleashing students from the traditional classroom experience. He shares his vision of a more effective academic culture and describes skills that shape important changes. For more, see: https://threejoy.com

A skill set that promotes success on almost any career path is the ability to sell. Whether you’re promoting a product, an idea, or yourself, sales savvy can make a huge difference. Today’s guest, Connie Whitman, is a high energy, enthusiastic teacher, coach, podcaster and consultant about sales. Her company – Changing the Sales Game – helps businesses and individuals improve sales by refining their processes and enhancing their communication skills. In this episode, Connie shares tips from her book, ESP – Easy Sales Process. She offers advice about how to overcome buyer resistance. She says you can be a better communicator by talking with people instead of at them. She encourages you to network. And she says you may want to adapt your communication style when you speak to different audiences. For more, check out Connie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conniewhitman Or look at her communications assessment: https://whitmanassoc.com/csa/

The Fifth National Climate Assessment summarizes the best available information on the risks, impacts and responses to climate change in the U.S. Our expert guest, Geoff Dabelko, is one of the 500 distinguished authors of the massive Assessment. He is a Professor at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, and he’s an international thought leader on environmental matters. In this episode, Geoff shares an overview of the report, touching upon both conclusions and recommendations. He mentions several trends, like the convergence of climate issues with concerns related to aging. He describes the $6 billion in new federal investments intended to make communities more resilient, partly by strengthening the electric grid. And we discuss the NCA5’s implications for the job market. For info on NCA5 see: https://nca2023.globalchange.gov For more on Geoff see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffdabelko/