Can you even remember a time before podcasts? No matter what you’re into, there are now podcasts for everyone. That goes for HR specialists too! But what should you look for in good HR podcasts?
Insights into the latest developments in the sector is a good start. But HR is fast becoming synonymous with health and wellbeing. People are looking to HR departments to design and deliver employee wellbeing programs that will increase staff productivity and retention while improving relationships between staff and management.
So among our list of the best HR podcasts, we’ve included a few of the best health and wellbeing podcasts too. Because that seems to be where the world of HR is heading!
1. State of Work Podcast by Edays
State of Work is the perfect listen for HR and People professionals seeking to elevate the employee experience in a changing world of work. Taking the latest content such as webinars, interviews with industry titans, and events, we regularly keep you up to date with expert tried-and-tested strategies and tangible tactics to implement into your organisation.
2. The CIPD Podcast
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) tends to lead the way when it comes to delivering the very latest in HR thought and theory (they just released the results of their 19th annual health and wellbeing at work survey, and as ever it’s an essential read). So it makes sense that the CIPD Podcast is one of the best in the business.
They’ve recorded nearly 150 podcasts on a staggering number of topics. Recent subjects include Training Line Managers, Evidence-Based Practice, The Future of Flexible Working, and the idea that robots might steal our jobs. They release a new podcast each month. Some are a breezy 10 minutes, but most seem to hover around the 20-minute mark.
Find them on Soundcloud or iTunes.
3. HR Happy Hour
This is apparently the longest-running and most-downloaded HR podcast. It’s hosted by Steve Boese, Co-Chair of the HR Technology Conference, and Trish McFarlane, CEO of H3 HR Advisors.
Despite the name of the podcast, each episode lasts around half an hour. You’ll find nearly 400 podcasts in their archive. A few recent highlights include using technology to elevate the employee experience, the future of employee communication, and the chatbot revolution. Most HR podcasts appear to talk about robots sooner or later.
Find them on Blog Talk Radio.
4. The Monster Hiring Podcast
As a leading recruitment specialist, Monster has a thing or two to say about bringing out the best in people. Their podcast promises expert advice on how to hire, manage, lead and motivate your people while keeping yourself motivated at the same time.
The focus here is on quality instead of quantity. There are fewer than 20 podcasts in their archives, and they don’t seem to record them anymore. But you’ll still find succinct yet detailed guides to things like social media recruiting, dealing with difficult people at work, the importance of soft skills, and the power of caring for employees.
Find them on Soundcloud or iTunes.
5. HR Break Room
A heart-warming HR podcast with a friendly logo that’ll make you want to put the kettle on immediately. The idea is that these are “interesting break room conversations”, the sort of things you might discuss with your friends in HR over a cup of coffee.
They’ve recorded nearly 60 podcasts to date at a rate of around two episodes a month. Each time they invite a fresh HR expert to share their thoughts on their specialist subjects, or to talk generally about the latest hot button issue. They generally last around half an hour. Notable recent subjects include a chat about what HR can do to foster emotional positivity at work, and how diverse skill sets can bring depth to your organisation.
Find them on Paycom.
6. The Tim Ferriss Show
This might well be the most popular business podcast in the world. It was the most downloaded business podcast on iTunes for three consecutive years, and it was the first business-focused podcast to pass the 100,000,000 download mark. Guests of note include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Foxx, Maria Popova, Rick Rubin, and Neil Gaiman.
Tim’s recorded nearly 400 podcasts to date. Each episode he essentially asks an incredibly successful person just what it was that made them so incredibly successful. From his honest, heartfelt and often incredibly raw chats, he extracts the tactics, tools, and routines you can use to make your life and your work that little bit better.
Find them on Tim’s blog.
7. That HR Podcast
Think of this as your audio accompaniment to your copy of People Management magazine. It’s run by the same people, and the aim is to make each episode as varied, enthralling and edifying as a perusal of your favourite magazine. Each 40-minute episode offers a good mix of interviews, HR news, and commentary. Also listen out for the dispatches from their in-house agony uncle, Tim Pointer.
Find them on iTunes and Soundcloud.
8. HR Works
It describes itself as “the podcast for human resources!” The aim is to provide “clear, relevant, actionable information on topics that matter to human resources professionals.”
There are nearly 100 episodes in the archive, each ranging from 20 minutes to nearly 40 minutes. They cover a lot of ground, but they lately seem focused on health and wellbeing in the workplace. Recent discussions include workplace bullying, the power of joy in the workplace, stress resilience, mentoring, and even suicide prevention.
Find them on iTunes and Soundcloud.
9. Invisibilia
This one’s all about the “invisible forces that control human behaviour”. Think about ideas, beliefs, assumptions, and emotions. The podcast is a fusion of narrative storytelling with “science that will make you see your own life differently.”
They seem to produce two episodes a month, and they’re hardly bitesize! Each one hovers around the 60 minutes mark. Expect deep dives into ideas like empathy, boundaries, patterns, emotions, and the power of the human voice. Not all of it will be directly relevant to your HR job. But it’s all delicious food for thought.
Find them on NPR.
10. The Party in My Plants Podcast
This one isn’t really a HR podcast, but it’s one of the best health and wellbeing podcasts. Your host, Talia Pollock, is living her best life, and her aim is to make “healthy living not suck!”
There’s a new episode each week, and the focus is always on eating, moving, and thinking healthfully. “You’ll laugh and feel confident with a new, easy hack for a healthier life each time your speakers stream my show,” she promises. And this is all true. But you’ll also get plenty of ideas for your wellbeing in the workplace policy…
Find them on Talia’s blog.
What Are Your Favourite HR Podcasts?
There are so many great podcasts out there that even a top 100 list would barely scratch the surface.
So we’d be interested to hear about your favourite HR podcasts! Which podcasts give you joy, energy, and inspiration while making you feel excited about your work?
Make sure to check our State of Work podcast!
Katrina is edays' own People Director with significant UK and international experience in delivering people strategy and value-adding HR solutions across a range of organisations and sectors (including Arriva, Boots, Rolls Royce, the utility and charity sectors). Katrina has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and is CIPD qualified.