Rephonic
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

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes87Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Work Better

Latest Episodes

Researcher Leidy Klotz shares a simple but powerful idea: just noticing our surroundings (and choosing where we put ourselves) can boost how we feel and work. He explains how our spaces quietly shape three core needs: agency, competence and connectio... more

YouTube

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Leidy Klotz
Engineer, professor at University of Virginia; author of In a Good Place
University of Virginia
Episode: The Power of Subtraction at Work with Leidy Klotz (S9:E2)
Omari Souza
Designer, educator, and author of Design Against Racism
Independent designer and author
Episode: Why the Best Design Starts with Empathy (S9:E1)
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

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 86 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 Power of Subtraction at Work with Leidy Klotz (S9:E2)
Q: What is a good place, and how does it enable people to do their best work?
A good place supports people's ability to act with autonomy, feel capable, and connect with others, while a bad place undermines these basic needs.
The Power of Subtraction at Work with Leidy Klotz (S9:E2)
Q: Can you talk about why space actually impacts our emotions?
Space influences our sense of agency, competence, and connection, which in turn affects how we feel about our work and our ability to perform.
Why the Best Design Starts with Empathy (S9:E1)
Q: How do you coach designers to design with, not for, communities?
Use frameworks like positionality and intersectionality to identify who is affected, involve stakeholders directly, and find non-traditional research methods to gain authentic insights from out-group communities.
Why the Best Design Starts with Empathy (S9:E1)
Q: What are some everyday examples where design can do harm and how do you measure that harm?
Examples include bathroom design and automatic faucets that fail for people with darker skin tones or different bodies; measuring harm requires frameworks beyond traditional usability, focusing on dignity, accessibility, and the lived experiences of out-group members.
Why the Best Design Starts with Empathy (S9:E1)
Q: Can you talk through what restorative design is and why you were drawn to it for your book?
Restorative design expands the idea of justice from repairing harm to actively engaging with and restoring dignity to people who are affected by design artifacts, using influences from restorative justice and cultural scholars like Zora Neale Hurston.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Work Better?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Work Better. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Work Better and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Work Better get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Work Better, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Work Better?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Work Better, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Work Better have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Work Better has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Work Better are there?

Work Better launched 10 years ago and published 87 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Work Better?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Work Better?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Work Better from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Work Better?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Work Better. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Work Better?

Recent guests on Work Better include:

1. Leidy Klotz
2. Omari Souza
3. Ella Washington
4. Dr. Tracy Brower
5. Peter Cappelli
6. Ranya Nehmeh
7. Laura Jana
8. Mario Chiasson

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days