Drive Thru HR
DriveThru HR serves up quick and insightful conversations on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in Human Resources. With a focus on real-world HR issues, each episode delivers practical advice and expert perspectives to help professionals navigate the evolving workplace landscape. Fast, focused and forward-thinking. Since 2010.
Episodes
March 24, 2026 • 28 mins
In this episode of Drive Thru HR, Michael VanDervort and Robin Schooling chat with Steven Sokoler, founder of Journey to discuss the critical importance of mental health in the workplace.
We explore the evolution of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) from reactive to proactive approaches, emphasizing the need for early intervention and support.
Steven shares insights on how Journey utilizes data and technology to enhance emplo...
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March 24, 2026 • 29 mins
What does ethnography have to do with your AI rollout? More
than you'd think.
Tracey Lovejoy, founder of Catalyst Constellations and a
leadership development consultant with roots in anthropology, joins Michael VanDervort on Drive Thru HR for a wide-ranging conversation on change, the rare people who actually drive it, and why your biggest AI implementation risk isn't the technology but rather the humans you forgot to bring alo...
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March 17, 2026 • 7 mins
Conference season is upon us, and Drive Thru HR has one message before you go: remember that YOU are the smartest person in the room.
In this Snackable HR episode, Robin unpacks the predictable agenda topics, the overhyped thought leaders, and why your real-world experience outweighs any keynote. Go forth and learn, connect and have fun - just don't check your judgment at the door.
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February 14, 2026 • 31 mins
Summary
In this episode of Drive, host Michael VanDervort welcomes Justin Lassard-Wajcer, a neuroscientist and CEO of Nurau, an AI-driven platform/app that enhances workplace decision-making for frontline managers. Justin shares his journey from neuroscience to applying cognitive science in real-world work environments, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between theory and practice. He discusses how Nurau aims to impro...
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January 30, 2026 • 26 mins
In this episode of Drive Thru HR, we speak with Patrick Farran, executive advisor and co-founder/CEO of Ad Lucem Group, about purpose-driven
leadership and his new book "The Intentional Executive."
Patrick, Michael and Robin discuss how effective leaders stay grounded in purpose by ensuring their values show up in their toughest decisions, budgets, and calendars (not just on company walls!!) and Patrick shares real-world examples...
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January 30, 2026 • 31 mins
Episode Summary:
In this episode of DriveThruHR, hosts Michael VanDervort and Robin Schooling welcome back Jon Hyman, an employment and labor law practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience. The conversation kicks off with a light-hearted introduction, in which Jon shares insights into his law practice, particularly his work with small- and mid-sized businesses and his niche representation of craft breweries.
As the discuss...
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December 12, 2025 • 33 mins
In this episode of DriveThruHR, hosts Robin Schooling and Michael VanDervort speak with Deb Muller, founder and CEO of HR Acuity, about the evolving landscape of employee relations as we approach 2026.
The conversation covers key trends in employee relations, the impact of AI on HR functions, the importance of trust and risk management, and the mental health challenges faced by employee relations teams.
Deb emphasizes the need f...
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November 26, 2025 • 9 mins
In this “Snackable HR” episode, Robin unpacks the real reason your team is running on empty before December even starts - and it's not the tryptophan.
She examines how eleven months of "do more with less," unmet promises, and relentless pushing has left people exhausted, disengaged, and quietly checking out. This is a call to stop blaming something “mysterious”
and instead to start seeing people as humans who need more than a lon...
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November 11, 2025 • 31 mins
Does AI free up HR to focus on strategy?
Host Michael VanDervort welcomes Jessie Roberts, Head of People Business Partners at Nextdoor, for a conversation about the intersection of HR and technology.
Together, they examine how artificial intelligence is transforming the HR landscape, questioning whether it truly frees HR professionals to focus on strategic work or merely replaces one set of administrative tasks with another.
Th...
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September 15, 2025 • 29 mins
On this episode of Drive Thru HR, Robin Schooling talks with Kristen Kavanaugh, co-author of Courage Over Fear and co-founder of The Agency Initiative.
Kristen shares her journey from the Marine Corps to HR leadership at Tesla, and how those experiences shaped her commitment to authenticity, agency, and growth. The conversation explores the book’s core ideas: courage as small but powerful 5% shifts, the “Agency Loop” framework...
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August 1, 2025 • 28 mins
In this host-only episode of Drive Thru HR, Robin Schooling and Michael VanDervort dig into the latest 2025 U.S. jobs report that reveals virtually zero net job growth and the ripple effects of economic uncertainty on talent strategy. They unpack the simmering Starbucks union impasse and the optics of leadership’s return-to-office workaround as a lens on culture and credibility.
And then the conversation pivots to a forward-look...
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July 14, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode of Drive Thru HR, hosts Michael VanDervort and Robin Schooling welcome Clay Martin, the owner of Isla Talent, who specializes in recruiting from Puerto Rico.
Clay shares his unique journey from the Peace Corps to establishing a recruiting firm that addresses labor shortages in the U.S. by connecting employers with skilled workers from Puerto Rico.
The conversation delves into the challenges of traditional visa ...
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July 13, 2025 • 35 mins
In this conversation, Michael VanDervort and John Hyman discuss various topics related to labor relations, the current crisis within the NLRB, and the implications of political actions on workplace rights. They examine the challenges faced by unions, the significance of employee rights, and the necessity of thoughtful responses to workplace threats. The discussion also touches on the political landscape in the U.S.
Takeaways
...
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May 24, 2025 • 31 mins
In this episode of DriveThruHR, Michael VanDervort and Robin Schooling engage with Caitlin MacGregor, CEO and co-founder of Plum, to discuss the importance of durable skills in the hiring process and organizational culture.
Caitlin explains how durable skills, such as innovation and communication, are more predictive of job success than traditional skills. The conversation also covers the need for organizations to align their cul...
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May 16, 2025 • 29 mins
In this episode of DriveThruHR, Michael VanDervort and Robin Schooling engage with Rebecca Trotsky, Chief People Officer at HR Acuity, discussing the evolution of employee relations, the importance of talent development, and the role of technology in HR.
They explore the significance of communities like empowER in improving HR practices, the necessity of continuous learning, how HR tech has changed employee relations, and the ada...
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May 13, 2025 • 36 mins
In this episode of DriveThruHR, Michael turns the mic on his longtime co-host, Robin Schooling, about her brand-new book, Real HR: What It Is, What It Can Be, and How to Get There. What unfolds is part interview, part therapy session, and part HR real-talk manifesto.
Robin shares the behind-the-scenes journey of writing a book that doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of the HR trenches. From the lonely moments to the WTF ones, Real HR...
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May 13, 2025 • 30 mins
Labor Relatedly: The First 100 Days—What Just Happened?Jon Hyman and Michael VanDervort are back with another episode of Labor Relatedly, and this time, they’re tackling the whirlwind of labor and employment changes in the first 100 days of the Trump administration. DEI? Shifting priorities. EEOC? New leadership, new direction. NLRB?
Buckle up. Jon and Michael break down what’s happening, what’s coming next, and what it all means...
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March 14, 2025 • 27 mins
Phil Wilson joins Robin for a conversation on leadership, culture, and what it really takes to create high-performing teams. We’re talking about The Leader Shift Playbook, the hard lessons he learned running LRI Consulting, and why the right mindset shifts can make or break a workplace. Connect with Phil on LinkedIn or check out The Leader Shift Playbook at yourleadershift.com.
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March 10, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode of Drive Thru HR, hosts Robin Schooling and Michael VanDervort welcome Mark Fogel, who describes himself as the last HR Jedi. We explore the challenges and opportunities for late career professionals in HR and discuss the importance of continuous learning,
networking, and adapting to the changing workplace landscape. Mark shares insights on how to navigate ageism, the gig economy, and the need for agility in organ...
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February 1, 2025 • 30 mins
Today, February 1st, marks the anniversary of our very first show with an air date of February 1, 2010 and we take a few moments to mark the occasion.
Michael and Robin also discuss the first 12 days of the Trump Administration (part deaux) including the assault on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as the massive changes afoot at the NLRB and the EEOC - and we're not even in week 2 yet! So what's in store for HR over the ne...
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