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AI isn't just changing jobs. It's changing the rules of work.

Every week brings another headline about layoffs, automation, and the future of work—but what's actually happening beneath the hype?

This week, we sit down with Gary Bolles, global fellow at Singularity University, author of The Next Rules of Work, and one of the world's leading thinkers on the future of work, to separate signal from noise.

Together, we explore:

• Why AI isn't the biggest disruption—it's the pace of change.
• Why young professionals may face the greatest challenges (and opportunities).
• What parents, educators, and leaders need to rethink.
• Why the "career ladder" is dead—and what replaces it.
• How organizations can become more human-centered instead of more automated.
• The skills, mindset, and agency we'll all need to navigate what's next.

This isn't a conversation about fearing AI. It's a conversation about building careers, organizations, and communities that are resilient no matter how technology evolves.

If you've been wondering what work looks like over the next decade—and what you should do about it—this episode is for you.

Learn more about Gary here: https://www.gbolles.com/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

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• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
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• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

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Work friends can feel like a bonus, something nice if it happens and irrelevant if it doesn’t. We don’t buy that, and the research doesn’t either. Today we dig into what workplace friendships actually do to performance and culture, using three years of data from KPMG that points to a clear conclusion: connection at work is not incidental, it’s central.

We’re joined by Sandy Torchia, KPMG’s U.S. Vice Chair of Talent and Culture, to unpack what the numbers reveal about the employee experience. We talk about why employees with close friends at work show higher engagement, why they’re more likely to build skills, and how strong relationships can even connect to things leaders care about right now like trust in leadership and adoption of new tools including AI. We also explore how different kinds of work relationships affect wellbeing and resilience, especially when work is stressful or changing fast.

If you manage people, this is a practical lens for building a healthier workplace culture without resorting to forced fun or awkward bonding. If you’re an individual contributor, it’s a reality check on why “keeping it strictly professional” can quietly limit your growth and support network. Listen, share it with a teammate, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one thing that helped a real work friendship form for you?

Check out KPMG's "Friends at Work Report" here: https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/friends-at-work-2026.html

Follow Sandy Torchia here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandytorchia/

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

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California's Warning Sign on AI Layoffs, Long-Term Unemployment & The Rise of Emotional Surveillance

The headlines say the labor market is healthy.

So why are so many people spending months—or even years—trying to find work?

This week, we unpack the growing disconnect between what the numbers say and what people are actually experiencing.

We start with the rise of long-term unemployment and why a low unemployment rate may be masking a much bigger problem beneath the surface. Then we look at California, where AI-related job disruption is becoming impossible to ignore, and ask whether it's a preview of what's coming for the rest of the country.

Finally, we dive into one of the most unsettling workplace trends we've seen in a while: emotional surveillance. From sentiment analysis to facial scanning and AI-powered monitoring tools, employers now have more ways than ever to measure how workers think, feel, and behave. The question is: should they?

In this episode:
• Why long-term unemployment is rising
• What California may be telling us about AI's impact on jobs
• The growing skills mismatch in the labor market
• The rise of emotional surveillance at work
• Why the future of work may feel very different than the headlines suggest

Because sometimes the most important story isn't the one making the news—it's the one hiding underneath it.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com