A Word With Yourself
Welcome to A Word With Yourself, a Canadian/Irish podcast where we dive into the biggest topics shaping today’s workplaces. Hosted by Lesley Fennelly and Jennifer Mitchell from Wren Insight Group, we explore the real issues behind productivity, culture, and leadership as well as the odd pop culture topic. From toxic managers to hybrid work and everything in between, we offer fresh insights and practical advice to help you create a thriving workplace. Whether you're a leader or an employee, this podcast is your guide to understanding and improving how we work today.
Timestamps
0.00 - 4.20: Intro and catch up
4:20 onward: Artificial Intelligence (AI) conversation
- Update frequency
- every 8 days
- Average duration
- 42 minutes
- Episodes
- 19
- Years Active
- 2025
Ghosting in the Workplace: The Rise of Swipe Culture in Recruiting
Spooky season is here—and what better time to talk about ghosting? 👻
This week on A Word With Yourself, Jennifer Mitchell and Lesley Fennelly dive into ghosting in the workplace. From candidates and c…
Return to Office (Again), Quiet Cracking, and Why Capitalism Is Tired
We’re back from summer break—and unfortunately, so are return-to-office mandates.
In this episode, we talk about Ontario’s decision to drag public servants back to the office five days a week, the rea…
CEO Scandals, The Streisand Effect, Office Romances, and Why Good PR Matters
A CEO and HR exec caught on a kiss cam—what could go wrong? We break down the viral scandal, the Streisand Effect in action, and why some company statements make things worse. Plus, we get into offic…
How to Say No: A Leadership Skill That Sets You Apart (and a Diet Coke Tangent)
Why is saying no so hard? And why does it matter for your career? In this episode of A Word With Yourself, we explore the power of setting boundaries at work, why saying no is a leadership skill that…
Notions, Undervalued Mid-Performers, Lazy Geniuses, and the Myth of Ambition
In this episode of A Word with Yourself, Lesley and Jennie explore why the most consistent and efficient people at work are often the least recognized. We talk about the mid performer—the dependable …
AI Took My Entry-Level Job, Return-to-Office Is Back, and the Hidden Cost of Efficiency
In this episode of A Word With Yourself, we unpack the shrinking world of entry-level jobs thanks to AI—and why that might be a bigger problem than it seems. We talk about the value of "grunt work," …
Eurovision, Messaging Etiquette, Camera Culture, and the Art of Small Talk
From Slack and Teams etiquette to camera culture, we unpack the unspoken rules of modern work. This episode covers how to communicate clearly without creating extra work for others, why vague message…
Toronto with One T: What Irish Professionals Should Know Before They Arrive
In this episode of A Word With Yourself, we unpack the “one-size-fits-most” hybrid work model, how Irish professionals can adapt to Canada’s work culture, and why being modest might be your biggest j…
Canada’s Election and the Myth of Promoting the Best Performer
In this episode, we unpack the results of Canada’s recent federal election—why the Conservatives lost despite gaining seats, how strategic voting shaped the outcome, and the continued failure to refo…
When AI Thinks You're a Middle-Aged Man: Tech Blind Spots, Recruiting Gaps, and "New" Future Skills
AI is changing everything — but not without reflecting the same old biases we've spent decades trying to fix. In this episode, we unpack what happened when AI generated images of us (and why we all s…
The Corporate Psychopath and Managing Up
Ever worked for someone who seemed charming to leadership but left a trail of misery behind them? In this episode of A Word With Yourself, we dig into the unsettling reality of the corporate psychopa…
Better Decisions at Work: A Practical Approach to Dealing with Bias
In this episode, we wrap up our series on cognitive biases and logical fallacies with a practical guide to spotting and sidestepping them at work. From the halo effect and groupthink to recency bias …
The Halo Effect, Overconfidence, Recency Bias — and Poor Subway Etiquette
In this episode of A Word With Yourself, we unpack the halo effect, groupthink, recency bias, overconfidence—and why people still can’t figure out how to behave on the subway. From mistaking charisma…
Cognitive Biases—Salary Negotiations and First Impressions, Plus Getting Social Media Right
In this episode, we continue our discussion on cognitive biases and fallacies that influence our decision-making—often without us realizing it. Building on our previous conversation, we explore three…
Cognitive Bias and the Workplace: How Your Brain Tricks You Every Day (Ft. Dating Apps and Desire Paths)
From confirmation bias shaping hiring decisions to the bandwagon effect influencing workplace groupthink, this episode of A Word with Yourself is part 1 of our deep dive into biases and logical falla…
Workplace Red Flags Continued: Idea Stealing, Bossy Co-Workers & Poor Delegation
Ever had your idea ignored—only for your boss to use it as their own? Or worked in a place where everything is urgent or an emergency? In this episode of A Word with Yourself, we’re diving into more …
Workplace Red Flags: Loud Desk Calls, Gender Bias, and Main Character Energy
In this episode of A Word with Yourself, we uncover the top workplace red flags you might be missing—from loud desk calls to subtle gender biases in company materials. Discover how these seemingly sm…
Leadership and Pop Culture: Lively, Baldoni, and Red Flags in Job Descriptions
In this episode, we unpack everything from political theatrics at the White House to the latest twists in celebrity lawsuits—and how media narratives shape public opinion. We also dive into misleadin…
Breaking Down Amazon's Return-to-Office Mandate
We take a deep dive into the communication from Amazon’s CEO announcing the company’s return-to-office mandate. Our discussion covers the strategic framing of the message, potential employee reaction…