WIRTW #633: the “what I’m listening to” edition

I'm weird. I travel to my office for work every day possible. Not my "home office," but my actual office, inside my law firm, in a building with our name on it. Working in an office, as opposed to working remotely from my home, offers many benefits. I get to collaborate with and better know my co-workers. It fosters a sense of community and belonging within my business. It gets me out of my house (and t-shirts). And it provides a daily commute that enables me to listen to podcasts.

"Which podcasts," you ask? Here's my current Top 5 list (excluding any I've previously recommended to you).

1/ Films To Be Buried With — Hosted by Brett Goldstein (aka Ted Lasso's Roy Kent), each episode features a celebrity guest telling the story of their life through a history of movies (first movie they remember seeing, sexiest movie, best movie, etc.). It's always a compelling and entertaining listen, even when the guest is some British comedian I've never heard of. 

2/ Slow Burn — Each season of this podcast, produced by Slate, tackles, in long form, a political issue from our recent history. Past seasons examined Watergate, Bill Clinton's impeachment, Rodney King and the L.A. Riots, and David Duke. The current 7th season, which examines Roe v. Wade and the history of abortion legislation and politics, is an important listen in this specific time in our history.

3/ The Bittersweet Life — Ever wonder what it's like to live as an expat in a foreign country. This podcast, hosted by one current expat living in Rome and another who's since moved back to the States, makes a pretty compelling case to pitch it all and move to Europe.

4/ Ghost Church — Religion has always fascinated me. Not because I'm particularly religious (I'm not), but because I want to understand what draws others in. In this limited series, comedian Jamie Loftus (check out her other excellent show, My Year in Mensa) explores, investigates, and interrogates American spiritualism, a century-old tradition of communing with the dead that takes place in camps full of mediums. It's also quite funny without mocking this faith in the least.

5/ Things Fell Apart — I don't think I'm breaking any news by telling you that our country is in the midst of a significant culture war. This BBC podcast examines various pressure points that are currently ripping our country apart (e.g., abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, sex education) by talking to people on both sides of the front lines.

Here's what I read this past week that I think you should be reading, too.

Roe v. Wade's Demise Is a Turning Point for Corporate America — via Harvard Business Review

Why Abortion Care Workers Are Unionizing After Roe v. Wade Was Overturned — via More Perfect Union

Coping with the Mental Health Effects of Anti-LGBTQ+ Discrimination — via Consequence

State of the Pandemic: Moving On, Even If Variants Won't Let Us — via Dan Schwartz's Connecticut Employment Law Blog

Hourly workers say they're jumping ship in search of flexibility, advancement — via HR Dive

Toxic work cultures are driving The Great Resignation. Here's how to tell if a company culture is toxic before accepting a job. — via Business Insider

Short-staffed hotels are hiring robots — and labor unions are pushing back — via New York Post

Robots are Racist and Sexist: AI Isn't Ready for Recruiting — via Evil HR Lady, Suzanne Lucas

My manager posted a "wall of shame" of people who didn't volunteer to work more — via Ask a Manager

Steps to Take Before Installing Video Surveillance at Work — via EntertainHR

Employers Beware – SEC Renews Enforcement Initiative Against Agreements (This Time a Non-Compete) That Interfere With Whistleblowers' Unfettered Access to the SEC — via Workforce Bulletin