WorkTech Podcast
The WorkTech Podcast explores the critical trends shaping the future of work and HR tech. George LaRocque of WorkTech, drawing from years of advising top innovators, investors, and enterprises, guides you through market deals, issues, opportunities, and trends—all through a strategic, actionable lens.
Episodes
June 16, 2026 • 36 mins
In this high-velocity edition of Up Next @ WorkTech, George LaRocque (WorkTech) and Kate Achille (The Devon Group) reunite for a comprehensive cross-pod. Together, they break down the critical intersection of legal friction, evolving corporate staffing strategies, multi-million-dollar government tech overhauls, and sweeping shifts rewriting the rules of HR management.
The IBM Lawsuit: Age Discrimination Meets Automated Rejection
...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
May 30, 2026 • 22 mins
In this episode of the WorkTech Podcast, host George LaRocque sits down with Mahe Bayireddi, Co-Founder and CEO of Phenom, to unpack the strategy behind the company's recent acquisition of Plum. Marking Phenom's second assessment-focused deal in ten weeks following their acquisition of BeApplied, this conversation explores how behavioral science is rewriting the future of talent acquisition and talent management.
Beyond Commodity ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
May 18, 2026 • 42 mins
Welcome to a packed episode of Up Next @ WorkTech, the premier crossover podcast featuring George LaRocque (founder of WorkTech) and Kate Achille (host of The Devon Group’s Up Next at Work podcast).
In this edition, George and Kate break down the rapidly shifting intersections of AI, employer leverage, and the major technological shakeups redefining the modern workplace.
The Gen Z Dilemma: The hosts dissect a viral UCF ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
In this episode of the WorkTech Podcast, host George LaRocque sits down with Einat Steklov, co-founder and co-CEO of Kashable, to discuss their monumental $60 million Series C funding round led by the Goldman Sachs Impact Fund. At a time when middle-market funding has been scarce, this deal stands out not only for its size but for the powerful validation it provides for the financial wellness category.
The "Action" Gap in Financia...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
May 5, 2026 • 21 mins
Why Greenhouse acquired Ezra AI Labs, what it signals for voice AI in HR tech, and how the hiring interface is about to change.
In a WorkTech exclusive, George LaRocque sits down with Greenhouse CEO and founder Daniel Chait just after the announcement that Greenhouse has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Ezra AI Labs, a foundational voice AI interviewing platform built to deliver structured, naturalistic on-demand candida...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
May 3, 2026 • 43 mins
In this comprehensive April 2026 edition of the Up Next @ WorkTech crosspod, George LaRocque (founder of WorkTech) and Kate Achille (The Devon Group) reunite after a season of travel and industry events to dissect the complex, often contradictory state of the modern workplace. The conversation strikes a balance between human-centric news, including Kate’s recognition as a Top Woman in PR and Communications, and the sobering r...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
March 31, 2026 • 25 mins
In this episode of WorkTech, George LaRocque sits down with Crosschq CEO Mike “Fitz” Fitzsimmons to break down a strategically significant acquisition in the HR Tech market: Crosschq’s purchase of Traitify, the behavioral and cognitive assessment provider known for its scientifically validated, highly visual, candidate‑friendly assessment experience.
Fitzsimmons reveals why the timing is ideal, how the deal came...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
March 19, 2026 • 21 mins
In this episode, George LaRocque sits down with Clément Lhommeau, co‑CEO and co‑Founder of Blify, the Paris‑based learning startup that just raised €1.8 million/$2.08 million in pre‑seed funding. Blify embeds learning directly into Slack, Microsoft Teams, and WhatsApp, creating an AI‑powered learning layer that eliminates the need for employees to log into a traditional LMS. Clément explains how the founding team blends deep HR tec...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
March 18, 2026 • 32 mins
In this episode of Up Next @ WorkTech, George LaRocque and Kate Achille navigate a packed week of industry turbulence, from Workday’s ongoing age‑discrimination lawsuit to Senator Hassan’s public rebuke of data‑broker practices at Findem. They explore rising anxiety around AI’s impact on jobs, including Meta’s acquisition spree, rumors of major layoffs, and new research from Brookings and AIR forecasting pro...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
March 3, 2026 • 15 mins
In this episode, George LaRocque breaks down why 2026 marks a turning point for Work Tech, driven by architectural rigor, agentic AI, and a shift away from generic wrappers toward real business value. He explores the evolution of strategic workforce planning, the rise of autonomous agents as part of workforce capacity, and the escalating risks tied to agent complexity. George also outlines the four categories of high‑conviction inn...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 27, 2026 • 46 mins
A fast-moving conversation on AI‑driven promotions, frontline automation, agent security risks, reverse recruiting, and the funding wave reshaping HR Tech in 2026.
In this episode, George and Kate unpack how AI is reshaping work—from Accenture tying promotions to AI usage (“use of our key tools will be a visible input to talent discussions.”) to Burger King’s voice agent Patty tracking upsells and friendlin...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 11, 2026 • 21 mins
In this episode, George LaRocque unpacks new data from the 2025 Global WorkTech Report, revealing why investment capital continues to rise even as deal volume declines. He explains the “squeezed middle” dynamic affecting growth‑stage vendors, the surge in early‑stage AI innovation, and the strategic bets shaping the market. George also breaks down the hype and hidden risks of vibe coding and warns HR leaders about the e...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 10, 2026 • 43 mins
In this episode, George and Kate unpack a turbulent week across Work Tech, starting with Workday’s CEO transition and workforce reductions, which arrive just ahead of its earnings call . They explore the hype and hazards of vibe coding, including security breaches and enterprise‑scale limitations . The conversation shifts to DEI transparency as Fortune 500 participation in the Corporate Equality Index drops sharply, raising c...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 29, 2026 • 34 mins
2026 kicks off with a jolt as George and Kate unpack a wave of developments reshaping HR tech. They dive into the new class action lawsuit against Eightfold, exploring what it signals for AI transparency, compliance, and vendor accountability. The conversation widens to worker power, including Microsoft’s landmark agreement with Australian unions, and the heated rhetoric coming out of Davos about AI and jobs. They a...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 28, 2025 • 33 mins
Exploring venture capital paradoxes, Workday’s agent ambitions, payroll automation risks, workplace safety, and HR’s evolving role in the future of work.
George and Kate dissect the paradox of HR Tech funding, Workday’s PipeDream acquisition, payroll automation failures, workplace safety concerns, and The Economist’s claim that HR has “taken over the world.” This episode blends market intelligen...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 17, 2025 • 30 mins
Workday’s acquisition of Paradox marks a pivotal moment in HR Tech, combining enterprise scale with conversational AI to transform recruiting workflows. CEO Adam Godson joins George LaRocque to unpack the deal’s strategic rationale, market impact, and future of hiring across ecosystems and industries.
In this episode, we look at: HR Tech innovation, M&A strategy, conversational AI, frontline hiring, recruiting auto...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 12, 2025 • 26 mins
Mapping durable skills, decoding labor data, and chasing sun with unused PTO.
In this crosspod episode, George and Kate unpack a week of seismic shifts across the HR and Work Tech landscape. UKG launches a venture fund, Personio exits the U.S. with layoffs in tow, and Mercor’s $10B valuation sparks debate about the ethics and economics of AI training. They spotlight Plum’s Durable Skills Index, explore Gen Z’s p...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 28, 2025 • 36 mins
This episode of Up Next at WorkTech dives into the latest HR Tech funding rounds, bold M&A strategies, and the rise of AI governance. George LaRocque and Kate Achille explore digital twins, shadow AI, and the growing tension between innovation, compliance, and workforce equity in 2025.
From Findem’s $51M Series C to Humanly’s three-way acquisition and FairNow’s surprise exit, the conversation blends strategic...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 15, 2025 • 33 mins
In this episode of WorkTech, George LaRocque sits down with Laura Kunz, co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Spirence, the runner-up at this year’s HR Tech PitchFest. Spirence is tackling a critical gap in workplace mental health: the 75% of employees who don’t need clinical care but still want support. Laura shares how her background in behavioral health shaped the platform’s preventive approach, why Spirence i...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 14, 2025 • 32 mins
In this Breaking News episode of WorkTech, George LaRocque sits down with Prem Kumar, CEO of Humanly, alongside AJ Richichi (Sprockets) and Darrian Mikell (Qualifi) to unpack Humanly’s acquisition of three high-impact platforms: Sprockets, Qualifi, and HourWork. This move marks a major milestone in the evolution of high-volume hiring tech, consolidating capabilities across screening, scheduling, interviewing, and post-hire re...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.