In this episode, Russell sits down with Lisa-Maree Blumenfeld, founder of Retain, LLC, to explore the critical role of HR in helping businesses scale effectively. Lisa-Maree is a seasoned HR leader with experience across startups and Fortune 500 companies. Her passion for supporting early to mid-stage startups led her to create Retain, a firm dedicated to helping founders build strong HR foundations while providing managers and executives with dynamic training, Enneagram coaching, and executive coaching.

In this episode of I Need To F**ing Talk To You*, Ken and Russell sit down with Eric Charran, visionary technology executive and author of Have You Ever Had a Boss That…: Succeeding in a Dysfunctional Workplace.

In this episode of I Need to F**ing Talk to You*, Ken and Russell sit down with Tiffany Petite, CEO and Co-founder of Virtuous Circle Counselling. With over 15 years of experience as a registered clinical social worker, Tiffany is on a mission to redefine how mental health services are delivered. She shares her journey of co-founding Virtuous Circle Counselling and how her evidence-based, client-centered approach is breaking down barriers to mental health care.

In this special F-ng New Year Edition of I Need to F***ing Talk to You, Ken and Russell take a moment to remember and celebrate the lives of four figures from the world of show business who passed away in 2024. From comedy legends to music pioneers and media visionaries, they reflect on the impact these individuals had on their respective industries and on popular culture.

In this special Christmas edition of I Need To F***ing Talk To You, Ken and Russell take a break from their usual workplace conversation tips to recommend some must-read books that will make the perfect addition to your holiday stocking. Whether you're looking to level up your communication skills, sharpen your strategy, or dive into some thought-provoking ideas, these books are sure to inspire you in the year ahead.

Rob Lion shares how he botched a performance feedback conversation with his team member: AND, on a better note, how called out a “constant complainer” on his team. Rob is the Co-Founder of Black River Performance Management and a professor of human resource development at Idaho State University where his teaching and research focus on organizational psychology and behaviour. Rob is an experienced business owner himself in the food and beverage, personal fitness, and business development industries and has over a decade of work in economic development. In those roles, he says, he saw too many people leaving pieces of their soul in the workplace. And that’s what drives him to nurture better leaders. 

In this episode, Russell sits down with Cher McArthur, the founder of Humming Bee, to discuss the complexities and challenges of human resources. With over 20 years of HR and leadership experience across various industries, Cher and her team at Humming Bee specialize in helping leaders navigate potential minefields such as performance management, conflict resolution, training and development programs, and work distribution.

Katelyn tells us about the difficult conversation she had with a colleague who touched her inappropriately in the workplace … and why she chose not to escalate to HR. She also tells us how she almost lost her company during the pandemic but instead grew her business 5X over the next three years through the power of social media connection. Most importantly, she tells us why it’s important to be friendly at the Tim Horton’s drive thru. 

Join Cheryl Crumb as she shares wisdom form her career as a trainer, a coach and a guide who works with clients to bring the voice of the customer into their organizations. Machines tend to be predictable and don’t get mad at you, but human beings are unpredictable and emotional.  Producing a cohesive team dedicated to creating an Extraordinary Customer Experience requires rigorous processes, an empowered workforce and enlightened leadership.  This magical combination doesn’t happen by accident… it’s both a top down and bottom up approach.

In this episode, Ken and Russell sit down with Heather Andrews, the dynamic founder of Get You Visible and the Empire Authors Academy. After a successful career in healthcare, Heather made a bold move to pursue her passion for storytelling and founded Get You Visible, a publishing company dedicated to helping individuals share their unique stories with the world. Heather's belief that everyone has a story worth telling is at the heart of her work, and she has empowered countless authors to bring their narratives to life.