If you’re like most HR and People Operations leaders today, you’re looking for HR podcasts to quickly absorb new information to make sure you can bring the right tools and strategies to your organization.

In a world where trends fast and furious, and new information comes from every corner, we have to find ways to stay on top of things.

With this list of informative and thought-provoking podcasts, you can take full advantage during your morning routines, lunch breaks, or even while brushing your teeth.

We know that you are looking to be the most successful HR and People Ops professional you can possibly be. And that is why we have compiled a list of the best HR podcasts — including recommendations from influential thought leaders in the industry — to make sure that we are feeding your ambition with the right HR information.

No matter what stage of career you’re in, there’s a little something for everyone on this list. And if we missed anything, let us know! We’re always chatting away on LinkedIn.

Well, we start with C. But you get the point …

CIPD

Recommended by Carly Anadio, Senior Manager Business Development at Everbridge.

Host: CIPD

About: Often referred as the “professional body for HR and people development.” This podcast offers the voice of a worldwide community of members who are committed to championing better work and working lives. Since the series for this podcast began, hundreds of people have taken a turn in the podcast hot seat and CIPD has charted the ebb and flow of an HR profession that’s fast-evolving into an innovative powerhouse.

Favorite episode: “Handling harassment: are you getting it right?“: With scrutiny high and both employees and consumers demanding more transparent business practices, it is essential that HR teams have appropriate policies, processes, and practices in place. Julie Dennis, ACAS, talks about how you can best handle harassment claims and the future of non-disclosure agreements.

Digital HR Leaders

Host: David Green

About: This podcast has an accompanying video series for those who prefer a visual component to their learning. Green speaks with senior HR leaders who are leading the charge toward a more data-driven and digital HR landscape.

Most episodes are around 45 minutes long, allowing Green and guests to delve into a fair amount of detail on the subject at hand. Past topics include collaboration on hybrid teams, employee experience during rapid growth, and strategic workplace planning-as well as case studies on employers like MetLife, H&R Block, Spotify, and more.

Favorite episode: Digital HR Leaders – The New CHRO-CEO Partnership: Leading With Insight and Humanity

In this episode of Digital HR Leaders host David Green sits down with Katarina Berg, the CHRO at On and former CHRO at Spotify, to talk about how HR leaders can step into more strategic partnership with their CEOs and shape business outcomes in today’s fast-moving world. You’ll hear real talk on topics like approaching your first 100 days in a new HR leadership role, why putting the human side back into HR matters especially in the age of technology and AI, and how people analytics can evolve from reporting numbers to influencing big decisions.

One major insight from the conversation is how Katarina frames the CHRO-CEO relationship not just as a reporting line but as a deliberate partnership that must be chosen and built with intention. She emphasizes that strategic HR isn’t about simply managing HR functions but about helping shape culture, drive performance, and support decision-making with data and human understanding — and that when HR shows up with both commercial insight and genuine humanity, it can elevate how organizations navigate transformation and growth.

Drive Thru HR

Host: Mike Van Dervort and Robin Schooling

About: ​Drive Thru HR is a long-standing podcast that’s been delivering quick and insightful conversations on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in Human Resources since its inception on February 1, 2010. Hosted by Mike Van Dervort and Robin Schooling, the show focuses on real-world HR issues, providing practical advice and expert perspectives to help professionals navigate the evolving workplace landscape.

Over the years, Drive Thru HR features discussions on a wide array of topics from technology and recruiting to talent management, leadership, and organizational culture. The podcast celebrated its 25th anniversary last year (2025), and you can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the WRKdefined Podcast Network.

Favorite episode: Employee Relations in 2026: Risks, Reality, The Road Ahead
If you’re looking for a sharp perspective on where the workplace is headed, I highly recommend listening to this episode with Deb Muller. It’s a sophisticated look at the “Employee Relations 2026” landscape, and it moves well beyond the typical buzzwords.

What I found particularly insightful was her take on the integration of AI within HR. Rather than just focusing on efficiency, she emphasizes the critical need for governance and ethical oversight to ensure these tools don’t compromise organizational integrity.

A few other points that really resonated:

• Trust as a Risk Mitigator: She argues that building organizational trust isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a core strategic move to reduce corporate risk.
• HR Wellness: There’s a very necessary discussion on the mental health of HR professionals. We often talk about employee burnout, but she highlights how the people managing those relations need support systems of their own.
• Scalability for Small Business: She makes the case that even smaller firms can adopt these high-level strategies by focusing on data-driven feedback and transparent communication.

It’s a great listen if you want to understand the shifting dynamics of operational success over the next couple of years.

Getting Personal

Host: Lauren Schneider (yes, that’s me!)

About: Getting Personal with Compt is a show that features individuals dedicated to building a better human experience at work.

Most episodes are 40 minutes long. A wide range of workplace-related topics covered includes handling grief in the workplace, the impact of lifestyle benefits, and strategies for recruitment and hiring.

Favorite episode: In this episode, Patrick Riecke and I talk about how his fitness watch alerted him to an irregular heart rhythm (AFib), leading him to be shocked in his own ER (he works in healthcare) and to realize the dangers of burnout.

HR Break Room

Hosts: Caleb Masters and Chelsea Justice, Paycom

About: A podcast from your friends working in Human Resources, dedicated to bringing you interesting break room conversations with experts on the hot topics of HR and HR Technology industries, one cup of coffee at a time. This podcast is designed to inspire you to harness the power of HR technology to empower your people and organization.

Favorite episode: “Challenge the Status Quo: Empowering Women in the Workforce“: This episode explores how leadership development programs can create more diverse and inclusive workplace cultures, with a focus on supporting today’s female top performers.

Featuring Margaret Spence, global business strategist and founder of the Employee to CEO Project, the discussion highlights the benefits of having women in leadership and how HR can play a key role in fostering this change.

HR Confessions

Hosts: Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer

About: ​HR Confessions takes a candid and humorous storytelling approach to exploring the dynamics of the modern workplace through the eyes of two seasoned HR founders. The podcast is hosted on Apple Podcasts and SkillCycle, a company which Taylor co-founded.

The podcast covers various topics, including the implications of artificial intelligence in HR, navigating workplace incidents in the age of social media, and transforming toxic work cultures.

Favorite episode: “From Perks to Purpose: How One HR Leader Tripled Employee Retention“: We love this episode because it’s aligned with everything we preach about offering perks at work. Here, Taylor and Rohrer discuss the concept of “HR debt” — the accumulation of redundant tools, unnecessary platforms, and superficial perks that don’t do anything for the employee experience. They share the story of Daniela, a VP of HR who turned around a toxic sales culture with high turnover and six-month tenures by ditching ineffective perks and focusing on career pathing and learning programs to drive meaningful growth.

HR unCONFIDENTIAL

Hosts: Turiya Gray & Gina Flaig

About: HR unConfidential is a candid, conversational podcast hosted by seasoned HR leaders who bring 40+ years of combined experience in HR and HR leadership to the conversation. In each episode, they pull back the curtain on what really happens inside organizations and share real stories, honest perspectives, and practical insights that matter to today’s people leaders.

This 20–30 minute podcast covers discussions across all areas of HR, including employee relations, talent and leadership development, HR technology, job search and career navigation, workplace culture, and the evolving role of HR in business strategy. Designed for HR professionals and anyone navigating the modern workplace, HR unConfidential delivers smart, unfiltered conversations grounded in deep experience and real-world context.

Favorite episode: “Befriending AI” Turiya and Gina bring on an expert guest Allyson Carter who is doing real work with AI in her organization and isn’t just talking theory. They talk about both the exciting parts of AI and the things that make people nervous like job impact, ethics, where HR fits, and how teams should even start getting ready for it. It changed how I think about AI not as something scary but as something you can actually get comfortable with if we lean into it thoughtfully.

Plus Carter shares practical resources you can actually use — like newsletters and courses — so it doesn’t feel like you’re just listening to a conversation you can’t apply. By the end you feel like you get AI a bit more and understand how it connects to the future of work, culture, and how HR can lead this shift instead of reacting to it. And you might be inspired too, with Carter saying, “With change comes opportunity to grow.”

HRchat Podcast

Host: Bill Banham, HR Gazette

About: A series of interviews with high-profile HR pros and business leaders who help make a difference to the day-to-day lives of Human Resource executives. This 15-25 minute podcast will open your eyes on discussions related to all areas of HR, including Talent Management, HR Tech, Learning and Development, Company Culture, Employment Law, and Business Strategy.

Favorite episode: “Mental Health, Women in Leadership, and Global HR Collective with Matt Burns“:  This episode emphasizes the importance of prioritizing mental health in the workplace, along with advancing women’s roles in leadership positions. Matt Burns, founder of Global HR Collective and member of the Forbes Human Resources Council, advocates for HR professionals to develop advocacy programs, support mental health initiatives, and create opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

HR Happy Hour

Recommended by Stacey Jaffe Wachtfogel, Head of People at Gotham Greens

Hosts: Steve Boese and Trish Steed 

About: HR Happy Hour is the longest running and top downloaded HR podcast. It focuses in teaching HR professionals about the most important news and trends on human resources, management, leadership, and workforce technology.

Favorite episode: “Harnessing AI for Enhanced Productivity”
You should really listen to this one if you’ve been wondering whether AI is actually helpful at work or just another thing people are overhyping. The episode gets super practical and talks about how teams are actually using AI to save time: like drafting job descriptions, summarizing meetings, and spotting trends in employee feedback without spreadsheet-overwhelm.

What I liked most is that it doesn’t pretend AI is magic. They talk honestly about where it works well, where you need guardrails, and why it’s best used to take busywork off your plate so you can focus on the stuff that really matters. If you’re even a little curious about using AI to work smarter (especially in HR), this one’s worth a listen.

HR Leaders Podcast

Recommended by Neil Williams, Vice President, People & Culture at HealthAxis Group

Host: Christopher Rainey 

About: This podcast shows in-depth discussions with senior HR executives and thought leaders who share their journey, experience, insights and lessons learned. Each episode of the podcast explores a new topic and features successful HR leaders from the world’s leading brands. What does the future of work look like? Why is it changing? What are leading organizations doing about it?

Favorite episode: “The Evolution of Leadership Development and Learning“: Join Susie McNamara, VP Global Leadership Development and Learning at Fortive, to discuss the evolution of leadership and development and learning. Listen to learn about the “Employee Happiness Index” and a way to get benchmark insights from the world’s most engaged workplaces.

HR Party of One

Host: BerniePortal 

About: HR Party of One is a weekly YouTube series as well as an HR podcast. Each episode is under 15 minutes long, delivering the perfect snack-sized HR content. With topics ranging from emerging trends to evergreen HR FAQs, HR Party of One is a great go-to for early and mid-career HR professionals who only have a few minutes to spare. Loaded with practical advice for tackling HR initiatives like succession planning, payroll audits, and skills-based hiring, HR Party of One is a valuable resource for HR practitioners who have their sights set on leadership positions. 

Favorite episode: “Each Generation is Unique. Distinguish Instead of Divide“

This episode of HR Party of One offers a sophisticated framework for leading a historic workforce comprised of four distinct generations. It moves beyond tired stereotypes by advocating for “actionable empathy” to address the specific anxieties unique to each age group.

You’ll learn how to bridge the entry-level experience gap for Gen Z and provide the purpose-driven cohesion that Millennials prioritize to avoid burnout. The discussion also provides strategic solutions for Gen X’s career stagnation and offers ways to combat “digital ageism” facing Baby Boomers. Rather than dismissing these tensions, the guide encourages leaders to implement structured mentorship and specialized training to bridge cultural divides. Ultimately, the goal is to “distinguish instead of divide,” ensuring every employee feels empowered to contribute their specific expertise. It is an essential listen for any manager looking to foster a truly collaborative and high-performing professional environment.

The HR Social Hour Half Hour Podcast

*Concluded, wrapping after 316 shows!

Recommended by Amanda Brunson, Global HR Business Partner at Sabre Corporation.

Host: Jon Thurmond and Wendy Dailey 

About: Interviews with fellow HR practitioners about connecting, giving back, and building your network. This podcast also has an active chat on Twitter to engage with their listeners on a daily basis, Join them each week for the podcast and the fourth Sunday of each month.

Favorite episode: “Special Episode- Jon & Wendy talk to Amy Spurling of Compt“: Shameless plug for a podcast our CEO was featured on. Here’s their review of the episode: “We talk about why Amy started Compt to help HR professionals manage perks for remote employees, why personalizing perks is beneficial, and how COVID-19 has changed many employers’ perception of remote work. We also discuss Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and starting your day with chocolate cake!”

HR Works

Recommended by Danny Rose, Head of U.S. HR Strategy & Talent Management at BioNTech SE..

Host: James Davis 

About: HR WOrks is a podcast focused on providing clear, relevant, actionable information on topics that matter to HR professionals through engaging and insightful interviews with experts and thought leaders.

Favorite episode: “10 Minutes of Recognition Makes All the Difference“: The term “recognition” gets used a lot, and for good reason. Organizations spend so much money, time, and training getting the right people on board. All of that vanishes when that employee walks out the door.

In many cases, retaining employees is achievable with the right set of tools aimed at employee engagement, all under 10 minutes. Join Gregg Lederman, keynote speaker and bestselling author, to learn more.

IdeaCast by HBR

Hosts: Porter Braswell, Harvard Business Review

About: A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management. This podcast features lively interviews with industry professionals, scientists, and journalists, covering one general topic or issue per episode. It’s categorized as a People Management and Marketing podcast, but it allows HR professionals to uncover so much more.

Favorite episode: “Race at Work: Lessons in Diversity and Culture from Mastercard“: This episode is about the role race plays in our careers and lives. In this episode, Porter Braswell, the host, speaks with Donna Johnson, former chief diversity officer at Mastercard, about leading the charge on changing company culture and how diversity can drive real business results.  

I Hate It Here

Host: Hebba Youssef

About: ​”I Hate It Here” is a candid podcast hosted by Hebba Youssef, Chief People Officer at Workweek. What sets Youssef apart is how genuine, charismatic, and funny she is. She’s one of the top HR thought leaders to follow in 2025, and her show provides a platform for HR professionals to discuss the challenges and intricacies of the human resources field, and how they deal with them firsthand.

Most episodes are just under an hour long, and they cover topics like the impact of remote work on professional relationships and the evolving dynamics of office interactions. She and her guests offer practical advice, personal anecdotes, and plenty of laughs to keep the conversation light.

Favorite episode: S7 E4: “Unwrapping the Secrets to Better Workplace Connections” with Ross Langley: Youssef and guest Ross Langley from Snappy delve into the importance of connection, gifting, recognition, and appreciation in fostering successful organizations. They address the growing issue of workplace loneliness and discuss innovative, personalized strategies to enhance employee connections.

Nine-to-Thrive HR

Host: Human Capital Institute

About: Looking for fresh content to solve your human capital issues but don’t have a full hour? Listen to this podcast to gain access to leading HR professionals from Fortune 1000 companies, as well thought-leaders, authors, and academics to cover everything from talent acquisition and analytics to engagement, retention, and development.

Favorite episode: “Engaging the Millennial Sales Force at a Distance“: the challenge of engaging Millennial employees gets even harder when they’re salespeople living and working in the field. This podcast explores ways to use technology to build culture and connect remote Millennial sellers to the organization.

People Managing People Podcast

Host: David Rice

About: People Managing People is tailored for people managers and culture creators who want to build workforces that stand the test of time. Each episode features conversations with innovators and thought leaders, exploring topics like technology integration, performance management, workplace culture, and employee experience.

This podcast is particularly valuable for people leaders, managers, and HR professionals committed to building the workplace of the future and developing the talent necessary for organizational success.

Favorite episode: “Why Good Leaders Matter More Than Ever: The Real Cost of ‘Unbossing’“: In this episode, Rice connects with Jordana Cole, founder and principal consultant at Ignited, to discuss the evolving roles of leaders and the potential pitfalls of gutting middle management. She points out that middle managers, especially those at upper-middle levels like directors and senior managers, are critical for bridging strategy and execution, and offers high-level strategies for how to support, develop, and utilize these often-maligned and overlooked roles.

Punk Rock HR

Host: Laurie Ruettimann

About: On this weekly podcast, Ruettimann tells stories that help leaders transform the workplace. Through interviews with HR leaders, Ruettimann reveals the mindsets and best practices that illustrate “how to create workplace cultures that support, empower, and engage workers in a meaningful way.” With a long history of telling stories about work, Ruettiman uncovers the strategies, trends, and practices that are transforming work culture.

Most episodes are under 30 minutes and feature an interview with one HR leader around a specific theme. More inspirational than tactical, Punk Rock HR offers a look inside the world of HR at organizations across industries.

Favorite episode: “The Reality of Work Tech in 2026 with Mary Ellen Slayter and Steve Smith”

This episode is a favorite listen because it bridges the gap between high-level macroeconomics and the daily realities of HR operations, moving beyond “people problems” to discuss “business problems.”

As the guests explain, we are currently moving out of an era of “cheap capital” and into a phase where organizations are under immense pressure to prove capital efficiency and long-term sustainability. For an HR professional, understanding this shift is crucial because it explains why the job market feels “unforgiving” and why many organizations are pivoting from rapid growth to consolidation and operational discipline.

Recruiting Future

Host: Matt Alder

About: Geared toward talent acquisition leaders, the Recruiting Future podcast shines a spotlight on practitioners who are effectively combating the challenges of the fast-changing world of talent acquisition. With insights from thought leaders on trending topics and case studies on employers of choice, this podcast offers a range of ideas and inspiration for leaders in all industries.

Recruiting Future publishes new episodes twice per week and most episodes are less than 30 minutes, so this show is an easy way to stop on top of HR’s biggest trends. The podcast also offers a monthly round-up episode, which summarizes the key takeaways from that month’s episodes in just 10 minutes.

Favorite episode: “The Power of Difference”: Named after the book by writer, broadcaster, and consultant Simon Fanshawe, this episode explores the root of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives and urges leaders to rethink their approach to DE&I in the workplace. Moving away from mere representation and into a place of celebrating (and reaping the benefits of) our differences benefits employees, work culture, and the bottom line.  

TalentCulture #WorkTrends

Host: Meghan M. Biro and Kevin Grossman

About: #WorkTrends is an HR podcast and Twitter chat sponsored by talentculture. On the show, Biro tackles trending HR topics, such as employee engagement, the role of AI, and managing organizational culture. Many episodes feature conversations with leading experts, tech vendors and HR practitioners.

While each episode is a digestible 20 minutes or fewer, the podcast’s website offers an added bonus: an accompanying blog post for each episode with a high-level outline and pull quotes. The companion Twitter chat takes place from 1:30-2:00 pm Eastern and revolves around a monthly theme, which is listed on the podcast’s website.

Favorite episode: How to Avoid Compliance Mistakes in Our Remote World
In this episode of the #WorkTrends podcast, host Meghan M. Biro and guest Jaime Lizotte address the growing complexity of maintaining legal compliance within a distributed workforce. Jaime emphasizes that shifting to remote work does not exempt an employer from strict labor laws, particularly regarding wage and hour regulations. A major focus of the discussion is the risk of misclassifying employees as exempt simply because they work autonomously from home. The experts warn that “off-the-clock” work, such as answering late-night emails, can lead to significant legal liabilities if not properly tracked and compensated. Furthermore, they highlight the “multi-state trap,” where companies inadvertently violate local labor laws when employees move to new jurisdictions.

To mitigate these risks, the episode advocates for implementing transparent digital timekeeping systems and clear communication regarding working hours. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes that proactive documentation, and regular audits are essential for protecting both the company and the remote employee.

The Hennessey Report

Recommended by Emma Plouffe, VP of People & Culture at Vicarious Surgical

Host: Dave Hennessey of Keystone Partners

About: The Hennessy Report discusses critical issues impacting business success and emerging trends impacting HR and the overall business. Key topics addressed during the series so far include leadership transparency, DEI, and talent acquisition. Interviews include Lisa Kelly-Croswell, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Boston Medical Center, Paul Davies, Head of People Operations at GE, Katie Burke, Chief People Officer at HubSpot, Dave Almeda, Chief People Officer at Kronos, Inc. and many more.

Favorite episode: The HR leader who recommended this podcast to us, Emma Plouffe, said her favorite episode was episode 44 with Emma Woodthorpe, CHRO of Mercury Systems. She continued, “I love this podcast because the CPO’s & CHRO’s are authentic and share actionable tips for current and aspiring People Leaders. Emma’s episode is one that resonated with me above all the rest. I love the quote she shared “You can please all the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, you will never please all of the people all of the time.”

Transform Your Workplace

Host: Brandon Laws

About: The Transform Your Workplace podcast features interviews with HR experts and entrepreneurs on the big ideas that can transform an organization, from culture and technology to social purpose and career development. While this podcast is geared toward HR leaders, everyone on the HR team can learn a lot from every episode.

Most episodes are under 40 minutes and occasional bonus episodes are under 15 minutes. Past topics include managing burnout, quiet quitting, social purpose, and many more of today’s most pressing HR trends.

Favorite episode: “Employee Engagement: Eliminating Quiet Quitting”: In this episode, Laws talks with Joe Galvin, Chief Research Officer of Vistage about the epidemic of low employee engagement, the rise of ‘quiet quitting’ and what leaders can do to address the challenges of the hybrid/remote workplace without sacrificing their expectations or productivity.

Vantage Circle HR Influencers

Host: Vantage Circle

About: The Vantage Circle HR Podcast interviews HR thought leaders who discuss engagement, compensation, benefits, and everything related to HR. They also cover best practices and trends in HR innovation.

Favorite Episode: “Focusing on Moments That Matter to Your Employees.” Episode guest Tim Ringo, an award-winning author and keynote speaker, talks about the moments that matter in HR. Especially when it comes to the employee experience, moments that matter is often regarded throughout the employee lifecycle.

From onboarding surveys and performance reviews to exit interviews, nowadays, many HR leaders are looking at these significant moments as a tool to help them better understand employees.

Workology

Host: Jessica Miller-Merrel

About: Workology is a podcast for the disruptive workplace and HR leader who’s tired of the status quo. The host, Jessica, sits down with guests weekly to discuss trends, tools and case studies for the workplace business leader in 25-minute, bite-sized episodes.

Favorite episode: “How to Use LinkedIn to Build a Personal Brand”: In this episode, guest Sandra Long shares an interesting point: most people spend more time planning vacations than working on their personal brand (largely because so few people take their personal brand seriously). She discusses how LinkedIn users should make their online presence reflect who they are in real life. And she gives actionable tips for figuring out what makes you unique and what you want to express to others.

More HR resources to bookmark

Here are a few more comprehensive resources that can help expand your learnings:

• Top HR Influencers
• Top HR Conferences
• Top HR Books

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Editor’s Note: Originally published in 2019, this post has been recently updated for clarity and relevance for our readers. As of 2026, all links and content are up to date.