The BARF
Breaking news, Acquisitions, Research, and Funding is The BARF. A look back into last week’s most talked about news in the world of work, what’s happened, what does it mean, and why should you care. Analysis that you can understand without a Ph.D. Proudly brought to you by WRKdefined with hosts William Tincup and Ryan Leary.
Episodes
September 15, 2025 • 47 mins
AI isn’t just automating hiring—it’s reshaping how job interviews even happen. In this episode of BARF, Ryan Leary and William Tincup break down why AI is pushing companies back toward in-person interviews, how payroll remains the backbone of a $400 billion HR tech boom, and why cities are offering cash to lure remote workers.
In this episode we talk about the intersection of AI, recruitment, and workplace culture. From banned AI ...
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August 13, 2025 • 46 mins
Gun violence, layoffs, and the shifting balance of workplace power—this episode covers it all. We break down the rise in corporate safety concerns, the hard truths behind layoff trends, and how AI is being used (and misused) in the conversation. We also explore the quirks of business travel, the slow grind toward gender equality, and why “quiet cracking” might be the new quiet quitting. Plus: acquisitions, funding news, and what’s ...
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August 5, 2025 • 53 mins
The workplace is shifting—fast. In this episode, Ryan Leary and William Tincup unpack Florida’s new take on non-compete clauses, the rapid invasion of AI into traditional jobs, and the rise of TikTok as an unlikely champion for trade careers. They tackle salary transparency, onboarding failure points, generational etiquette wars, and why Meta’s recruiting like it’s 1999. Real talk. Real stories. No fluff.
In this episode we talk a...
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July 14, 2025 • 65 mins
The world of work is weird right now—and we’re here for it. From SHRM’s bounce-back energy to teenagers being boxed out of the job market, everything's shifting. Companies are experimenting (Amazon’s making office workers volunteer?), while cybersecurity threats are literally coming from North Korea.
In this episode, we talk about the collision of AI, hiring, and ethics, the controversy at Cheesecake Factory, and the real reason...
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June 29, 2025 • 56 mins
In this episode, we talk about AI replacing intellectual labor, the collapse of employee wellness efforts, and why fast food chains are under fire for child labor violations. Tincup and Leary break down the contradictions in workplace AI messaging and call out the fatigue creeping in during summer months. The conversation hits everything from HR tech funding spikes to gender bias, dragging the hiring process, and the quiet evolutio...
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June 16, 2025 • 52 mins
Workplace discrimination is rising. Gen Z’s ghosting leadership. And AI? It’s rewriting the rules before HR finishes onboarding. In this week’s BARF (Best Analysis, Real Facts), Ryan Leary, William Tincup, and Jay Arnold tear into the headlines shaping your workforce.
In this episode we talk about workplace discrimination, AI in HR, Gen Z's shift away from leadership, the mental health toll of layoffs, the evolution of job platfo...
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May 26, 2025 • 79 mins
42% of Gen Z are saying "hell no" to the desk job and going blue collar—and AI’s not just reading resumes anymore, it's writing your onboarding manual. From Starbucks' uniform protests to Klarna gig-ing complex work, this episode packs punchy insight into where work is actually going. Spoiler alert: It ain’t where your high school guidance counselor said it would.
In this episode we break down the shifting job landscape—blue colla...
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May 19, 2025 • 41 mins
If you’ve ever asked yourself “What the hell is going on?”—welcome home. Ryan and William get into it all: family madness, breach drama, why skilled trades are back in style, and how tech bros still don’t know how to structure teams. Also, let’s talk about those layoffs that look sus when profits are up—yeah, we went there.
In this episode we bounce from kitchen chaos to critical thinking gaps in schools, dive into AI’s real impac...
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May 11, 2025 • 48 mins
Only 24% of employees trust leadership to "do the right thing." From ServiceNow’s $2.85B AI bet to Amazon’s new high-performer pay scale, this episode is stacked with trend shifts, red flags, and real-world takeaways. We unpack what’s actually going on in HR tech—from the keynote stage to the backchannel Slack DMs - and why it might be time to replace your vibe checks with real strategy.
In this episode, we talk about industry eve...
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Only 32% of companies tie CEO pay to real results.
State‑led paid leave is splintering across 50 policies.
Deepfakes aren’t sci‑fi anymore—they’re boardroom threats.
This week’s episode zeroes in on DEI showdowns roiling hiring panels, the patchwork of state‑run paid family leave, and the fight to link CEO compensation to performance metrics.
We unpack a landmark background‑check lawsuit, an ethics scandal that felled a c...
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April 28, 2025 • 58 mins
From legal curveballs in remote work to Hollywood-level pay transparency, this episode cuts through workplace headlines with a scalpel. Deepfakes are sneaking into job interviews, Gen Z is bailing on degrees, and AI is now assigning tasks like it owns the place. There's a rising storm of employment fear—and companies are trying to plug the leaks with healthcare perks, new tech, and smarter acquisitions. If you're not paying attenti...
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April 21, 2025 • 59 mins
Only 24% of companies measure quality of hire. AI is replacing managers. People are quietly breaking.
Quality of hire might be the most talked-about hiring metric—and the least understood. This week’s episode hits hard on the disconnect between hiring goals and actual outcomes, how “speed to performance” is becoming a north star metric, and why HR still struggles to train talent instead of replace it. We cover the shocking rise in...
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April 14, 2025 • 42 mins
Everyone’s talking about AI, but few are actually using it in ways that matter. Most companies are still buried in outdated systems, clunky workflows, and talent strategies from 2015. Certifications are gaining ground while college degrees lose luster. Meanwhile, employers are struggling with lawsuits over daily pay platforms, and return-to-office mandates are failing to deliver on even the basics—like whether you’ll have a chair, ...
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April 6, 2025 • 38 mins
Garage sales and salary transparency might seem worlds apart, but they both reveal how work is evolving. From teaching youth to sell, to the rise of financial wellness perks and reverse discrimination lawsuits, this episode breaks down what matters in today’s workplace and why.
In this episode we look at podcast, workplace benefits, fundraising, youth organizations, corporate news, generational differences, discrimination lawsuit,...
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April 1, 2025 • 48 mins
Corporate culture, legal drama, and workforce tech collide in this jam-packed ride through today's talent acquisition landscape.
Why are companies still treating talent acquisition like a bill instead of a strategy? We cover everything from privacy paranoia and corporate espionage to the generational benefit gap and shifting employee power. You’ll laugh, learn, and maybe even clutch your pearls—because things get spicy.
In this e...
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March 16, 2025 • 62 mins
The workplace is shifting fast—Deloitte is linking office attendance to performance reviews, Gen Z is scrolling their phones mid-interview, and AI is creeping further into HR. Meanwhile, Microsoft is retiring Skype, Walmart is hiring gig workers for deliveries, and the EEOC is tackling anti-Semitism in universities. From legal showdowns at Taco Bell to Sergey Brin’s hot take on productivity, this episode is packed with insights on ...
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March 3, 2025 • 45 mins
The evolving landscape of HR and recruitment is undergoing a massive transformation with AI at the forefront. From tackling the gender pay gap to leveraging AI tools for freelancers, this episode dives into how technology is reshaping talent acquisition and employee training.
In this episode, we look at AI tools, HR technology, gender pay gap, training innovations, task masking, DEI programs, freelance market, workforce management...
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February 24, 2025 • 84 mins
Amazon is ditching layers of management, AI is cutting IT jobs, and government buyouts are on the rise. Meanwhile, HR tech is consolidating, employee retention is shifting, and the EEOC’s latest gender identity rulings could have major legal consequences. Oh, and let’s not forget—71% of meetings are a waste of time. We’re diving deep into the trends shaking up the workplace and breaking down what they mean for companies and employe...
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February 17, 2025 • 70 mins
The Super Bowl isn’t just about football—it’s a reflection of generational shifts, corporate strategies, and even workplace politics. In this episode, we dive into the evolving work ethic across different age groups, Workday’s latest AI-driven skills intelligence, and why ICE raids have HR leaders rethinking compliance. Target is in the hot seat over DEI, and the NFL is facing serious discrimination allegations.
In this episode, w...
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February 7, 2025 • 69 mins
Employee engagement is anything but one-size-fits-all. Burnout is rising, workplace discrimination cases keep making headlines, and companies are doubling down on corporate accountability (or avoiding it altogether). Meanwhile, job mobility is skyrocketing as workers chase better pay, and remote work continues to reshape employee expectations. Add in the rising skepticism around MBAs and a wave of strategic layoffs, and it’s clear:...
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