HR Stories Podcast - A Lesson in Every Story!
Welcome to the HR Stories Podcast — making work better one story at a time.
Every workplace has stories. Some are about organizations that got it wrong. Others are about leaders who got it right. And sometimes, the most important lessons come from the everyday decisions that shape how people experience work.
Your storytellers, John Thalheimer MS and Chuck Simikian SPHR, SHRM-SCP, use real workplace stories as the teaching tool.
LISTEN to what happened.
LEARN from the decisions, successes, mistakes, and warning signs.
ACT on practical ideas that can make your workplace better.
Each episode starts with a story — a court case, a leadership challenge, an HR misstep, an employee experience, or an organization trying something different. John and Chuck then break down what happened, why it matters, and most importantly, what we can learn from it.
Sometimes that means understanding an employment law or avoiding an expensive mistake. Sometimes it means becoming a better leader, building trust, improving communication, or creating a workplace where people can do their best work.
That balance is what HR Stories is all about: practical HR, thoughtful leadership, and real-world lessons you can use.
John and Chuck have spent their careers helping HR professionals, business owners, and leaders navigate the people side of business through consulting, training, coaching, and thousands of live learning experiences.
Their goal with HR Stories is simple:
Tell good stories. Find the lesson. Make work better.
John is the Founding Director of True Star Leadership™, which focuses on helping managers and leaders learn performance management principles. Chuck is the Founding Partner of Alliance HR Partners, which provides HR consulting and training to businesses nationwide. Together, they have over 40 years of experience navigating the challenges of HR and recently published their book, The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklist Edition. Go to https://ultimateguidetohr.com/ for more information, download a free sample, and watch their webinar on the Secret Power Behind Successful Businesses.
HR Stories Podcast - A Lesson in Every Story!
Latest Episodes
Ep172: Perfectly Documented Terrible Decisions
Bad documentation can create a bigger mess than no documentation at all. Chuck Simikian and John Thalheimer break down why the real goal is not paperwork for paperwork's sake, but creating a record that protects decisions, clarifies expectation...
Ep171: Doing Discipline Right
When employees mess up in the workplace, accountability and consistency is crucial to maintaining employee trust. But what is the right move when things go wrong? In today's episode, Chuck and John go through the ins and outs of discipline in t...
Ep170: Engagement and Management - how to get your team back
Managers are carrying too much, employees are feeling less connected, and AI is about to expose every weak workplace system that already exists. Chuck from HR Stories and leadership expert John Thalheimer break down Gallup’s 2025 State of the G...
Ep169: What Makes Work Better - Part 2
Today's episode covers the critical role of government agencies like the EEOC and Department of Labor, which are tightening enforcement, reshaping compliance, and redefining what a fair and equitable workplace looks like.Why shou...
Ep168: What Makes Work Better - Part 1
Workplaces are changing. Benefits are shrinking, employees are being sent back to in-office work, and AI is fundamentally changing the hiring process for applicants and recruiters alike. In today's episode, Chuck and John dive into what informa...
