CX Storytime, Tales from the Customer Journey

(From the Relationships at Work podcast)

Is the traditional leadership culture broken?

In this episode, we explore the fractured state of leadership from the executive level to emerging leaders. Learn why organizations reward productivity over people skills and discover how leaders at every level can take control and redefine what leadership truly means for a thriving workplace culture. Empower yourself to become ...

(From the Relationships at Work podcast)


Are you tired of surface-level solutions to deep-seated workplace issues? 

In this episode, we dive into why traditional reactions like reprimanding a bad boss or throwing pizza lunches at disengaged employees only address symptoms, not the disease. Discover how focusing on root causes—like toxic cultures, poor management practices, and systemic flaws—can lead to genui...

(From the Relationships at Work podcast)

In a world where leaders often feel pressured to have all the answers, it’s easy to fall into the trap of faking it. But what if the real power of leadership lies in admitting when you don't know? 

In this episode, we tackle the toxic advice many leaders receive—lie if you don’t know—and why embracing vulnerability is the key to building genuine trust. Discover practic...

From the Relationships at Work podcast

Before you can build the work culture you envision, do you truly understand the culture you have now?

In this episode of Relationships at Work, we explore the importance of taking a hard look at your current organizational environment before setting future goals. Using real-life examples, we discuss why leaders often fail to transform their teams and how tools like employee s...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher highlights the importance of prioritizing small gestures before big moments at work. 

Big events at work are great. It's an opportunity to bring everyone together, connect in new ways, hear from leadership, have presenters sharing new ideas. They're awesome. But without a foundation built through small gestures...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher asks us to maintain relationships even through significant change.

Change is a part of the work world, whether it's as big as a merger or reorganization of a company or as traditional as moving teams or getting a new job. Great leaders understand that relationships are integral to the employee experience so we have ...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher explores how leadership should and shouldn't respond to tragedy from their teams.

Not so long ago, Russel experienced a personal tragedy, which inspired his curiosity on how leaders and workplace cultures handle those moments.  He provides real-world examples of good and bad experiences before highlighting some of t...

In this episode from the Relationships at Work podcast, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher provides a recap of attending Workhuman LIVE in Austin and his favourite takeaways.

Russel shares the future of work leadership from Brene Brown, the lessons Baratunde Thurston learned when he discovered his mom wasn't perfect, the importance of intention and impact with considering A.I.,  how Issa Rae...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with executive coaches and consultants John Volturo and Peter Gandolfo on the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community at work and steps needed to be more inclusive.

John and Peter share their thoughts, stories and experience with...

• The challenge of the rainbow glass ceiling.
• Who is responsible for diversity and equity in an organization.
• What to look for and do to...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, communications and leadership nerd (and host) Russel Lolacher shares a story of how dismissive language can happen at work and how we can stop using it.

Russel tells the story of how leaders can dismiss employees, even when those employees are being honest and vulnerable, and what that dismissal can actually communicate to the larger organization.

Curiosity and awareness c...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with leadership development consultant Janet Livingstone on creating connection and culture with remote and hybrid teams.

Janet shares her thoughts, stories and experience with...

• The challenges created by remote and hybrid work.
• Is resistance to remote work generational?
• The connection of mental health and remote work.
• Where to start when learning to engage with remot...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with keynote speaker, consultant and analyst  Justin Robbins on addressing employee apathy in the workplace - as a leader, as an organization and as an individual.

Justin shares his thoughts, stories and experience with...

• The definition of power.
• How authority and influence play a role in power.
• Why "leading from the front" is nonsense.
• How power can prevent...

In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel chats with author and leadership coach-mentor  Dr. Stephen Barden on how we can learn to balance power to improve the workplace and the dangers of its misuse.

Stephen shares his thoughts, stories and experience with...

• The definition of power.
• How authority and influence play a role in power.
• Why "leading from the front" is nonsense.
• How power can prevent an organi...

Same style, same tone, new focus - the employee!

Relationships at Work presents Frontline Feedback - Stories from the Employee Journey.
Host and storyteller Russel Lolacher shares the real story of Compassion So Counterfeit.

In this inaugural tale, we’ll hear the story of Sally, one in which she shares a moment of an outreached hand and a possible safe space for vulnerability but it only leads to shattered confidence an...

Check out this sneak peek episode of the new podcast RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK - the Employee Experience and Workplace Culture Podcast.

Host Russel Lolacher will be discussing important employee engagement, leadership, workplace culture, communication and related topics as it relates to the employee experience. 
He'll be chatting with amazing guests and digging into the latest research. All to help you learn how best ...

Customer Experience Storytime host and storyteller Russel Lolacher shares the story of When Stress Meets Service.

In this tale, we’ll hear the story of Louis, who in a fit of stress and procrastination, forgot to solve a problem that would cost him more money than he was comfortable spending. We’ll hear about how his service provider chose to address Louis and his problem wrapped in a bundle of frayed nerves.
We’ll wrap it up ...

Customer Experience Storytime host and storyteller Russel Lolacher shares the story of Two Ears, One Mouth, Zero Service.

In this tale, we’ll hear the story of Colin and Renee. A couple doing what many couples do, go out to eat. This time however, it left them feeling like their needs didn’t matter and with a bad first impression of a new city. Then we will explore what were the emotional impacts from those actions and the actions ...

Customer Experience Storytime host and storyteller Russel Lolacher shares the story of A Service Tier Too Far.

In this tale, we’ll hear the story of Sarah. A woman trying to advance her event-driven side hustle with an online ticketing and management system, only to learn their service is not geared towards helping the customer and their ticket holders. Listen to hear how one customer experience could drive someone away to competit...

Customer Experience Storytime host and storyteller Russel Lolacher shares the story of The High Price of Canopy Coverage.

In this tale, we’ll hear the story of Jack and his search for a canopy for his pickup truck, his experience with various dealers and how one business responded when the prices differed widely, then we will explore what were the emotional impacts from those actions and the actions or s...