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Artwork for Work Better

Work Better

Steelcase
Mental Health
Employee Well-Being
Workplace Design
Artificial Intelligence
Productivity
Employee Engagement
Workplace Culture
Creativity
Work-Life Balance
Leadership
Hybrid Work
Sustainability
Workplace Well-Being
Psychological Safety
Humor
Meetings
Emotional Intelligence
Loneliness
Resilience
Workplace Wellbeing

The Work Better Podcast by Steelcase brings you the latest trends and research shaping the ways people work, today and in the future. Each episode invites leading thinkers in the world of work to share their insights on what’s driving change and ideas for how to make it better. Learn how to improve employee engagement, wellbeing, and productivity by creating workplaces that work better. Stay-up-to... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes86Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for Work Better

Latest Episodes

Design can unintentionally create friction – or even harm – when it’s built from a narrow set of lived experiences. In this conversation, Omari Souza shares striking examples of how everyday artifacts fail people in ways most of us never see, from au... more

YouTube

“If you know, you know” culture isn’t just a meme; it’s a hidden system that determines who gets access, opportunity and advancement. Dr. Ella Washington breaks down the unspoken rules shaping today’s workplaces and how leaders can make expectations ... more

YouTube

It takes about 60 hours to make a friend, and work is one of the few places where that time naturally accumulates. In this episode, Dr. Tracy Brower reveals why those hours matter more than ever, sharing research on how connection reshapes the brain,... more

YouTube

Most organizations still haven’t cracked hybrid work — not in a way that truly supports performance, development, or culture. As Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh put it, “the issue is not whether the office is good or bad,” but that companies haven’t ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ella Washington
Organizational psychologist and author of Unspoken
Author, Unspoken; Organizational Psychology expert
Episode: The Hidden Rules No One Tells You at Work (S8:E11)
Dr. Tracy Brower
Sociologist, workplace expert, VP of Workplace Insights at Steelcase
Steelcase
Episode: Building Critical Connection at Work with Tracy Brower (S8:E10)
Peter Cappelli
Professor of management and director of the Center for Human Resources at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Episode: In Praise of the Office with Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh (S8:E8)
Ranya Nehmeh
Senior HR strategist, author, and executive advisor
Episode: In Praise of the Office with Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh (S8:E8)
Laura Jana
Pediatrician and author, expert on early childhood development
Pediatrician and Author
Episode: The Preschool Skills Business Leaders Need (S8:E6)
Mario Chiasson
Internationally recognized researcher and thought leader in learning innovation, system transformation and future ready skills
Université de Moncton
Episode: Rewiring Learning for an AI-Enabled World (S8:E5)
Zach MacCurio
Researcher and author of The Power of Mattering, The Power of Mattering, How Leaders Can Help Create a Culture of Significance
Author/Researcher
Episode: Rerun: Sparking Joy at Work with Ingrid Fetell Lee
Ethan Kross
Author and researcher, exploring the significance of emotions in the workplace.
Episode: How to Control Your Emotions at Work (S8:E4)
Khalil Smith
Workplace culture expert and consultant
Episode: Creating High Performance Culture with Khalil Smith (S8:E3)

Host

Chris Congdon
Host of Work Better discussions on workplace trends, culture, and design; frequently engages with researchers, practitioners, and Steelcase insights.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 85 ratings
  • Work Better hosted by Chris Congdon is a standout podcast for business enthusiasts. Chris' insightful interviews and deep understanding of the topic make each episode educational and engaging. She has a knack for making the topic easily digestible and turning it into actionable advice that listeners can apply to their situations. I highly recommend it - this is time well spent!

    Podchaser
    5
    Aly_Zenrabbit
    2 years ago
  • Insightful, Informative, and Interesting

    Really enjoy this podcast, genuine insight and conversations. A must listen for those in this sphere.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    app318
    United States3 years ago
  • Enjoyed this!

    Found the series to be intriguing and also informative. Steelcase has always been a leader in their field and this is no different. Impressive lineup of speakers. Enjoyed it very much.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Caddisbug1994
    United States4 years ago
  • crappy approach and meaningless

    people hate open office plans for a reason. every time i listen to this podcast i feel like it just brushes off the criticism rather than make sense of it. Following this, we never actually reach any real insight on how to improve office designs. Was hoping for some real in depth investigation but this ends up being a steel case advertisement series and a PR campaign for open offices.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jtomko91
    United States7 years ago
  • Thinly-veiled advertainment

    Open office series purports to be deeply insightful and has some good interviews, but most conclude just as the line of questioning gets meaningful. Latter episodes are full-on steelcase advertisements. Missed opportunity to provide real insight.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jeffreyahaines
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critics feel episodes lean into sponsorship messaging and Open Office debates without deep investigation.
Audience values practical frameworks and real-world applicability for improving employee experience.
Guests and topics are consistently relevant to modern work challenges, with strong emphasis on human-centered design and connection.
The show's mix of academic and practitioner guest voices is seen as a strength for credible, diverse perspectives.
Content that bridges design, psychology, and leadership is viewed as unique and useful for decision-makers.
Positive notes on breadth of topics from AI in work to mattering and emotional well-being.
The host's facilitation style is supportive and insightful, helping translate research into actionable takeaways.
Listeners appreciate evidence-based, research-informed discussions on workplace culture and leadership.
Overall perceived as high-quality for managers seeking to improve teams and spaces.
Some listeners seek deeper critical analysis beyond corporate perspectives and case studies.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Hidden Rules No One Tells You at Work (S8:E11)
Q: What practical guidance would you offer to leaders wanting to bring unspoken rules to light and change them?
Acknowledge the rules exist, name specific behaviors and competencies needed for advancement, engage with employees to gather insights, and implement regular check-ins and clear, measurable criteria for promotions to reduce gatekeeping.
The Hidden Rules No One Tells You at Work (S8:E11)
Q: How has remote or hybrid work changed unspoken rules, and what should leaders do about proximity bias?
Proximity bias persists in any setup, but remote/hybrid work makes it harder to see; leaders should establish explicit expectations for visibility and progression that apply to all employees, regardless of location, and create fair pathways to advancement.
The Hidden Rules No One Tells You at Work (S8:E11)
Q: What is the biggest truth leaders need to hear about unspoken workplace rules?
Leaders must understand that informal norms exist beneath formal policies and actively seek to understand their employees' lived experiences; they should diagnose and name unspoken rules rather than assume everyone navigates the culture in the same way.
Building Critical Connection at Work with Tracy Brower (S8:E10)
Q: What practical steps can leaders take to foster connection?
Embed relational practices into work processes—mentoring, cross-functional collaboration, near-task social check-ins, and designing physical spaces that enable gathering and visibility of our colleagues.
The Preschool Skills Business Leaders Need (S8:E6)
Q: Which of the skills become especially important in the age of AI, and are some more critical than others?
In a rapidly changing, globally connected world, the human skills that AI struggles with—asking good questions, learning from failure, collaboration, and creative problem solving—become increasingly valuable. While hard skills remain essential, the non-cognitive skills provide resilience and adaptability that AI cannot replace.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Work Better

What is Work Better about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful look at how people interact at work, how spaces and routines shape performance, well-being, and culture. Across episodes, guests span sociologists, HR researchers, educators, psychologists, and leadership experts who unpack topics like social connection, mattering, emotional regulation, hybrid and remote work, curiosity, and the role of design in enabling collaboration. Discussions often pair research findings with practical leadership and organizational-development frameworks, plus a consistent focus on human-centered workplaces and the balance between productivity and people's needs. Notably, several conversations emphasize intentional spaces and rituals that foster belonging, trust, and meaningful work, with occasional invol... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Work Better?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Work Better:

1. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
2. New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
3. Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce
4. Crime Junkie
5. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

How many episodes of Work Better are there?

Work Better launched 10 years ago and published 86 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Work Better?

Recent guests on Work Better include:

1. Ella Washington
2. Dr. Tracy Brower
3. Peter Cappelli
4. Ranya Nehmeh
5. Laura Jana
6. Mario Chiasson
7. Zach MacCurio
8. Ethan Kross

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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