The HR Life Podcast

Tony Benjamin•thehrlifepodcast.transistor.fm

The HR Life Podcast is a show about the work-life experience of those of us in Human Resources and business leadership. This long-form podcast is a conversation, casual, and not always the corporate line. Hosts and guests touch on everything from serious or even controversial topics to the absurdity of modern American business practices. Your hosts are Tony Benjamin, owner and founder of The Grange Strategic HR Consulting, and Steven J. Smith, Author of The Hiring Tree: Laws of Applicant Attraction and all-around important guy. Guests include the best minds in the HR world. Join the show weekly.

Last refreshed: July 26th, 2025 at 3:12 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Bonus Ep Viva La Kiss Cam (With Bonus Track)

In this episode the guys tackle breaking news with the Red Seat empty. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special treat. Weird Al, you're welcome to cover the song. Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at https://thehiringtreebook.com/ Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at https://www.thegrangellc.com/ Lyrics: He used to be C E O A brand new CHRO, he was living the dream But in the evening, he held her close Wandering from the life he chose Deciding to roll the dice Th...

Jul 25, 2025•46 min•Ep. 6

EP 6 - Handbooks, Cops, and Taking Minutes With Priscilla Wadman

We'd love your reactions, comments, and ideas for future episodes. Contact us at thehrlifepodcast@gmail.com. In this Episode we talk to Priscilla Wadman about her story and how she got into HR, her view of the state of the art, and what it means to really support employees. Priscilla gives a fantastic roadmap to building an HR career. With a distinguished career in human resources, Priscilla Wadman is driven by a commitment to operational excellence, employee advocacy, and organizational integri...

Jul 22, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 6

EP 5 - The Empty Red Seat and Origin Stories

The podcast now has its own email so you can tell us how much you LOVE the podcast. Contact us at thehrlifepodcast@gmail.com. In this episode the guys leave the "Red Seat" empty, recapping the first four episodes and introducing themselves to listeners. Steve shares an incredibly inspirational story of the death of his son and the amazing HR professional that helped him through it. Tony shares the moment his life changed forever when he decided to take debate in high school and the truly unique ...

Jul 15, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 5

EP 4 From Dolphins and Dogs to DEI With Katey Connell - The HR Life Podcast

Katey Connell is a force for transformation—on stage, in the workplace, and through her podcast, Become Alive. A dynamic Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at an advertising agency, Katey is known for doing things differently. She pioneered culture-first screening interviews to protect and elevate company culture, helping hire not just for skills, but for core-values. As a former SeaWorld Dolphin and Whale Trainer turned motivational speaker, certified life coach, group fitness instructor, and bl...

Jul 08, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 4

EP 3 - None of These Guys are Playing in the NBA Finals with Jeremie Brecheisen - The HR Life Podcast

Steve and Tony talk to Jeremie about data and Human Resources, the current state of Human Resources, the Business Partner model of Corporate HR, global views of HR, and when engagement trumps talent. Jeremie Brecheisen is the managing partner of the Gallup EMEA division. Over the past two years, Jeremie has led the Gallup CHRO Roundtable, which hosts 1,000+ large-company CHROs. He has conducted over 800 one-on-one interviews with these executives, hosted over 500 roundtables and facilitated over...

Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 3

EP 2 - The Mega Big Deal Star Wars People and Tony With Beca Mark - The HR Life Podcast

An interview with Beca Mark, Owner and CEO of MegaStar HR joins the podcast. In this episode we we discuss the current state of HR, eliminating the conflict with CFO's and finance, The Role of Human Resources, the difference between cutesy and effective, how to install culture, and the move to outside HR consulting agencies. Learn more about MegaStar HR at https://www.megastarhr.com/ . Steve Smith's Information: https://thehiringtreebook.com/ Tony Benjamin's Information: https://www.thegrangellc...

Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 2

Ep 1 - Strategic is a Dirty Word? - With Karisa Stahle - The HR Life Podcast

In this, our inaugural episode, we talk to Karisa Stahle, VP of Human Resources at Verde, and Chair of Utah's annual Work Elevated Conference, sponsored by Utah SHRM and GBS Benefits. She is a results driven HR executive with 4+ years facilities industry experience and 15 years experience in HR. She's also on the Board of Directors for Utah SHRM. She talks to Tony and Steve about The current state of Human Resources, the role of SHRM, the use of the word "strategic", and a lot of other topics....

Jun 17, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 1

Ep 0.5 An Introduction - Are we recording?

A quick introduction to your hosts, Tony Benjamin and Steven Smith. The first full episode drops on June 17, 2025.

Jun 10, 2025•2 min•Ep. 1

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