Future Of Work Podcast

About This Episode 
In this episode of The Future of Work® Podcast, Frank Cottle speaks with Bob Cicero, who leads Future Proofed Workplace for Real Estate at Cisco, about how AI is transforming the physical workplace. The conversation explores the rise of agentic AI, the growing role of digital workers, the move toward collaborative “we space,” and why companies must now “earn the commute” by making the office more valuable, frictionless, and human-centered. Bob brings a technology and real estate perspective to one of the biggest questions facing organizations today: how should workplaces evolve when humans, AI agents, physical space, and virtual collaboration all become part of the same operating system?

About this episode 
In this episode of The Future of Work® Podcast, Daniel Lamadrid speaks with Jen Fisher, a globally recognized workplace wellbeing expert, author of Hope Is The Strategy, founder and CEO of The Wellbeing Team, and Deloitte US’s first Chief Wellbeing Officer. Together, they explore why burnout is often a symptom of something deeper: hopelessness in the workplace. Jen shares why hope is not a vague emotion but a measurable, actionable strategy that helps people move through uncertainty, build momentum, and reconnect to meaningful work. 

The conversation covers what leaders still get wrong about wellbeing, why perks alone cannot solve burnout, how boundaries actually improve performance, and why vulnerability at work needs to be redefined. From leadership communication and trust to AI anxiety and the expectations of younger generations, this episode offers practical insight into how organizations can build cultures where people feel seen, supported, and able to thrive. It is a timely conversation about leadership, wellbeing, and what the future of work must become if it is going to sustain people rather than drain them.

In this episode of The Future of Work® Podcast, Frank Cottle speaks with Lara Vandenberg, Founder and CEO of Assemble, about the structural changes redefining how modern teams are built. Drawing from her work with chief marketing officers and enterprise leaders, Lara explains why traditional headcount models are breaking down and why companies are moving toward capability-based ecosystems that combine full-time employees, freelance specialists, AI, and operational strategy. 

The conversation explores the future of work through one of its most urgent questions: how should companies design teams when speed, uncertainty, and technology are changing faster than org charts can keep up? Together, Frank and Lara unpack the rise of fractional talent, the growing importance of internal culture, the role of AI in reducing but not eliminating jobs, and why businesses must rethink talent systems from the customer backward. For leaders navigating workforce design, marketing operations, and long-term organizational resilience, this episode offers a sharp and practical look at where work is heading next.

About This Episode 
In this episode of The Future of Work® Podcast, Daniel Lamadrid speaks with Dr. Guy Winch, internationally renowned psychologist, bestselling author, and leading voice on emotional health, about why burnout, stress, and overwork continue to intensify even as awareness around well-being has grown. Drawing from his latest book, Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life, Dr. Winch explores the paradox of modern work: companies talk more about emotional health than ever before, yet people remain overwhelmed, mentally depleted, and unable to disconnect. 

The conversation examines how burnout at work now extends far beyond office hours, especially in an era shaped by remote work, AI anxiety, blurred boundaries, hustle culture, and nonstop digital access. Dr. Winch explains the psychological patterns that keep people stuck in rumination, why overwork erodes productivity rather than improving it, and what leaders and employees can do to build healthier, more sustainable ways of working. This episode offers timely insight into the future of work by showing that emotional adaptability, psychological awareness, and intentional recovery are becoming essential human skills in a rapidly changing workplace.

About This Episode 
The future of work is no longer defined by productivity alone—it is being reformed by how organizations prioritize people, leadership, and purpose. In this Expert Compilation episode of The Future of Work® Podcast, three leading voices explore the fundamental changes transforming how we work, lead, and build sustainable organizations. 

Kurtis Lee Thomas, founder of Breathwork Detox, shares how workplace well-being is evolving from a perk into a measurable, strategic business priority—impacting performance, retention, and long-term resilience. Stephanie Chung, former Chief Growth Officer at Wheels Up, brings over 30 years of leadership experience to redefine what it takes to build high-performing teams, emphasizing trust, vulnerability, and the neuroscience of winning. Finally, Jasmine Escalera, PhD, a career expert and LinkedIn Top Voice, explores how Gen Z is shaping expectations around work, identity, and success—challenging organizations to adapt or risk losing emerging talent. 

Together, these perspectives reveal a clear truth: the organizations that will thrive in the future of work are those that prioritize human experience as much as performance.