HR.Salon Podcast

HR.Salon Podcast

The salons of 17th and 18th century Europe emerged as intimate gatherings of diverse thinkers who exchanged ideas freely outside the constraints of formal institutions and hierarchies. HR.Salon carries this tradition into our modern professional context. Just as historical salons fostered movements that shaped culture and politics, we believe our conversations can meaningfully influence the evolution of workplace practices and human resources philosophy. Join host Andrew Biernat as we explore the future of work, innovative organizational practices, and HR strategies you can apply today.

Episodes

February 3, 2026 47 mins

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...
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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...
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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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 ...

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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...

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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

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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...

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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 ...

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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...

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Thanks for listening!

Let me know what you think of the show and connect on social media!

Rate the podcast on iTunes

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Thanks for listening!

Let me know what you think of the show and connect on social media!

Rate the podcast on iTunes

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Connect with me on Facebook

Mark as Played

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...

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----------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for listening!

Let me know what you think of the show and connect on social media!

Rate the podcast on iTunes

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Connect with me on Facebook

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Invisible problems are hard to shake.

It's not that they are impossible to fix.

It's that you don't acknowledge they are there.

It's one thing to try 1,000,000 diets and fail. It's another thing to not realize you need to eat better.

Mark Dulaney, The Health Millionaire, shares boatloads of insight into human behavior and the reasons why we're stuck in our health.  ...

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One horse alone can pull 8000 pounds.

Two horses pulling together can pull 24000 pounds.

If two horses are trained together as a team they can pull up to 32000 pounds.

Collaboration is the key to pulling more together. 

In this episode of ABC Lunchbreak Andrew, Ben, Brandon, and Christine talk about how you can grow your business with the magic of collaborative connections.

One of the tr...

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Have you ever been so frustrated that you wanted to break something?

Perhaps you've always wondered what would happen if you took a sledgehammer to a mirror.

Or threw a TV against a wall.

In my teenage years I had plenty of opportunities to learn how to fix damage to drywall because I couldn't control my emotions.

Now, there's a solution out there that can help reduce stress, cr...

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The secret to success as an influencer relies solely on your ability to afford plastic surgery. There's no other way to make it in this day and age.

Just kidding! 

In today's show Alex Sunshine, a marketer that focuses on working with influencers to sell and market products, shares the top takeaway that we can glean from the most successful influencers in the game: the Kardashians. 

Yes we can g...

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