Relationships at Work - the leadership podcast helping you build workplace connection, improve culture, and avoid blind spots.

This is part 4 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

Culture is shaped by what leaders do—not what’s written on the walls. In this culture-focused conversation, Charlotte Otter joins Russel Lolacher to explore how reputation exposes the health of workplace culture. From soc...

This is part 3 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

Reputation isn’t built behind closed doors—it’s forged in everyday moments with your team. In this episode, Charlotte Otter shares how leaders gain or lose trust through their behavior, and how a bad reputation can create...

This is part 2 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

Before you manage your reputation—know yourself. In this episode, Russel Lolacher and Charlotte Otter explore how self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and personal responsibility form the foundation of a strong leaders...

This is part 1 of a 4-part series on reputation management with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders. Each episode explores a different theme—clarity, self-awareness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

What is reputation in the workplace—and how should leaders define and manage it?
In this clarity-focused episode, Russel Lolacher speaks with Charlotte Otter, reputation strategist and author of We Need New...

Unseen. Unheard. Unappreciated.

It’s the feeling behind the sighs, the silence, and the sudden sick days. And according to research, it’s one of the top reasons employees leave.

In this replay episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher explores the all-too-common experience of feeling undervalued at work—and the leadership blind spots that let it happen. Backed by Gallup and Workhuman data, he shares the nine warning sign...

Conflict doesn’t always show up as yelling matches or angry emails. Sometimes it’s silence in a meeting, a passive-aggressive Slack message, or the word “fine” said through gritted teeth. 

In this replay episode of Relationships at Work, we’re digging into the real roots of workplace conflict—and how to better recognize, prevent, and resolve it.

I’m joined by Carol Bowser, a workplace conflict expert, mediator, speaker, and former em...

In this solo episode, host Russel Lolacher shares a personal and pivotal shift in the Relationships at Work podcast—introducing a new episode format designed to better serve leaders who want to improve workplace culture, build meaningful connections, and avoid leadership blind spots.

You’ll learn the why behind the change, how the show has evolved from a simple curiosity into a transformative leadership resource, and what to expect ...

Leadership can be isolating—even when you're constantly surrounded by people. 

In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher speaks with licensed psychologist, executive coach, and TEDx speaker Dr. Adam Dorsay, author of Super Psyched: Unleash the Power of the Four Types of Connection and Live the Life You Love.

They explore why loneliness in leadership is so common, how disconnection silently affects workplace ...

Leadership can be incredibly lonely—especially when the people above you aren’t actually leading. 

In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, Russel Lolacher explores the hidden loneliness of good leaders and what to do when you're surrounded by hierarchy, but not support.

You'll hear:

• Why great leaders often feel disconnected in toxic or stagnant systems
• The toll of misaligned leadership expectations on mental health
• ...

Becoming a leader for the first time can feel like being dropped into the deep end—especially in a remote or hybrid world. 

In this episode of Relationships at Work, principle of The Collective Good LLC Britt Hogue joins Russel Lolacher to explore what new leaders often get wrong, and how intentional leadership can build trust and team connection, even when everyone’s not in the same room.

They discuss:

• How remote work exposes laz...

It’s easy to label. It’s harder to understand.

“Our culture is toxic.”
 “That leader is horrible.”
 “This system is broken.”

But are they? Or are we missing the nuance and context that give us the real story? 

In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher challenges the rise of black-and-white thinking in leadership and workplace culture. He explores how embracing nuance and context isn't just helpful—it&...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher welcomes Fabrice Desmarescaux — McKinsey partner, leadership advisor, and author of The Art of Retreats — to explore how ancient wisdom can help solve very modern leadership challenges.

Fabrice draws from a range of traditions, from Eastern philosophies like Taoism and Buddhism to Western teachings and monastic practices, to show how leaders can reconnect with purpose, p...

At Workhuman LIVE, experts and thought leaders shared practical insights on the future of work—uncovering hidden potential, redefining psychological safety, and building resilient teams equipped for change. 

In this episode of Relationships at Work, I break down the biggest takeaways across leadership, DEI, artificial intelligence, and resiliency. Learn how brave spaces challenge comfort, why AI demands clean data, and how true resi...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, we’re diving into the almost-forgotten power of handwritten communication with Amy Weinland Daughters, award-winning author of Dear Dana and passionate advocate for intentional connection.

Amy shares how a simple handwritten note can redefine relationships in the workplace, cutting through the noise of digital communication to create moments that are tangible, memorable, and deeply personal....

We’ve all heard it before—promises of change, assurances of action, and commitments to improvement from leaders. But too often, words are mistaken for progress. 

In this episode of Relationships at Work, we’re diving into the dangerous gap between talking and doing in leadership. When leaders say, "We’re working on it," but nothing changes, trust erodes, and relationships suffer. We explore real-world scenarios like resolv...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, I sit down with Amri B. Johnson, executive advisor, organizational consultant, and founder of Inclusion Wins, to explore what it truly means to systemize inclusion. We break down his Emergent Inclusion System—an approach that goes beyond checkboxes and surface-level DEI initiatives to create lasting, impactful change in the workplace.

Amri shares how organizations can operationalize inclusio...

When we show up to work, we bring expectations—with how we’ll be treated, how we’ll grow, and how we’ll be led. But what happens when the person responsible for our development… isn’t really a leader at all? In this solo episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher unpacks the frustration that comes when leadership expectations crash into the reality of untrained, unresponsive supervisors. He offers tangible advice for ho...

What does it mean to be a neuro-fit leader? 

In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher is joined by trauma-sensitive, polyvagal-informed leadership and neuro coach Mallory Meyer to unpack the real power of nervous system regulation in leadership. Together, they explore why leaders can’t think their way to better leadership — they have to feel it. Mallory shares how neuro-fitness supports emotional agility, impro...

After 250 episodes of exploring leadership, workplace culture, and the human side of work, certain truths just won’t stay quiet. 

In this solo episode, host Russel Lolacher reflects on the six most consistent, hard-earned lessons that keep showing up — no matter the industry, the title, or the team. From the emotional impact of leadership to the systems that silently shape it, these are the truths every leader needs to face if they ...