HR.Salon Podcast

[This is the unabridged audio for the book The Team That Loves Mondays by Andrew Biernat.]

The Cure for the Sunday Scaries.

Imagine a team that starts the week with energy, not exhaustion.

This book is your blueprint for transforming a burned‑out culture into one that thrives—without gimmicks or empty “engagement” campaigns.

You’ll learn how to:

• Replace outdated performance management with real-time, energizing feedback that sparks ...

In this episode of HR Salon, host Andrew Biernat sits down with coach and talent development expert Will Corbett for an energizing conversation about how storytelling, connection, and curiosity transform how we lead and engage at work.

From the neuroscience behind employee engagement to why stories stick 22 times better than data, Will shows how leaders can create trust and alignment by sharing real, human stories — not just busines...

In this inspiring HR Salon conversation, host Andrew Biernat sits down with Elisha Meek, corporate leader, author, and burnout coach, to explore how to end your toxic relationship with work—without quitting your job.

Alicia shares her own three‑year battle with burnout, the moment that changed everything, and how a cupcake‑shop idea with her family became the spark that reignited her joy. Together, Andrew and Alicia unpack how passi...

In this episode of HR Salon, host Andrew Biernat sits down with Kevyn Rustici, COO of Boulter Industrial Contractors, to challenge one of HR’s oldest myths—that it’s a cost center. Kevin shares why he believes HR is actually a profit center, revealing how organizations that treat people as strategic assets, not overhead, outperform their peers.

Together, they explore:

• How people analytics can predict performance and drive profita...

In this episode of HR Salon, Andrew welcomes Laura Azzarella, President of the Buffalo Niagara HR Association and a passionate advocate for the ethical and practical use of AI in HR. With over 15 years of experience implementing HR tech, Laura brings both excitement and caution to the conversation: how do we use these tools to empower people, not replace them?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why AI can’t be trusted blindly—and how...

In this episode of HR.Salon, Andrew sits down with author and marketing agency cofounder Matt Rouse, the mind behind Will AI Take My Job and its sequel. Together, they explore the accelerating tension between human expertise and automation, uncovering what the “AI arms race” means for HR leaders, employees, and the future of meaningful work. From job applicants using AI to beat hiring algorithms to companies reshaping entire workfl...

In this episode of HR.Salon, Andrew reconnects with Melanie Russo, Workforce Innovation Partner at the Greater Rochester Chamber, for a powerful conversation about how communities can build the workforce of tomorrow. They explore what it means to truly prepare for growth in the New York Smart I-Corridor—a new semiconductor tech hub linking Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse—and why collaboration, creativity, and compassion will defin...

In this episode of HR.Salon, Andrew sits down with Alyssa Wrobel, Recruiting and Onboarding Specialist at Quality Vision International, to unpack what it really takes to hire and retain great people in 2026. From navigating layoffs and shifting candidate priorities to mastering the art of consistent employer branding, Alyssa shares practical insights from the frontlines of recruiting in a market that’s equal parts cautious and comp...

The Lunchbreak crew got down to business with a hot topic this week: FEAR.

There are so many ways that fear shows up in our lives and so many ways we can fight back against it.

Here's what Brandon Eastman, Christine Smith, Ben Albert and I cover:

1. What happens when fear gets to live "rent free"

2. How to use your posture to fight back against fear

3. Why hyper preparatio...

When Paul Angone was 22, he pursued a dream of speaking and writing despite the odds, sacrificing comfort and security in order to escape the feeling of failing at life and inspiring others to do the same; exploring the compelling central conflict of investing his attention wisely.

You will learn:
1. How Paul Angone quit his job and became a successful author and keynote speaker.
2. The importance of sacrifice and ...

What if you could transform your life with the power to rewrite your past and unlock your inner superpowers? That's what Marvin Deitz proposes in his Young Adult Fictional story tackling the challenges of high school and the dream that most adults have: the opportunity to do it over again, with what we know now.

Marvin Deitz is an author, entrepreneur, and international adjunct professor of mystery. His book channels...

From energy vampires to energy amplifiers, the Lunchbreak ABC crew dive into what keeps their motor running - and what makes it stall out. In today's episode you'll learn:

1. How physical exertion can increase your energy

2. How intermittent fasting help to create more energy, and boost weight loss

3. Why you need to study your energy levels like a scientist to unlock your true potential

Support...

When Jerry Dugan, a man striving to be his best as a husband and father, challenges his introverted son and extroverted daughter to an unscripted and unedited podcast episode, they hilariously confront him with unexpected questions that force him to confront his own vulnerability and transformation.

You will learn:
1. How a podcast that started on a lark turn challenged Jerry to step up as a dad and husband.
2. How...

In this podcast episode, MIT alum, Mark Herschberg, shares his journey of self-taught career success and how he learned to master the skills of leadership, communication, and negotiation to become a Chief Technology Officer and teach others to do the same, revealing the surprising power of the Career Success Accelerator.

Here's what Mark Herschberg and I cover:

1. Learn how to multiply your lifetime earnings ...

Struggling with chronic pain and emotional issues, Dr. Chris Belfry embarks on a journey to help others heal from the inside out, uncovering the hidden ironies of the healing process and inspiring others to be their own inner healer.

You will learn how to unlock the power of the mind-body connection to experience a healthier, wiser and more fulfilled life!

"Your help is within. And just think about it as a cu...

At age twelve, the same year his pitching lost his team the opportunity at the world series, Justin Schenk's hip shattered into five pieces.

Soon after, his other hip needed surgery. 

Over the next four years he was in and out of hospitals for surgeries spending half that time on crutches or in a wheelchair. 

Those years sucked. But they were the training ground that would ultimately turn Justin into...