Drive Thru HR

In this episode of Drive Thru HR, Michael VanDervort and Robin Schooling chat with Steven Sokoler, founder of Journey to discuss the critical importance of mental health in the workplace. We explore the evolution of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) from reactive to proactive approaches, emphasizi...

What does ethnography have to do with your AI rollout? More than you'd think. Tracey Lovejoy, founder of Catalyst Constellations and a leadership development consultant with roots in anthropology, joins Michael VanDervort on Drive Thru HR for a wide-ranging conversation on change, the rare people wh...

Conference season is upon us, and Drive Thru HR has one message before you go: remember that YOU are the smartest person in the room. In this Snackable HR episode, Robin unpacks the predictable agenda topics, the overhyped thought leaders, and why your real-world experience outweighs any keynote. Go...

Summary In this episode of Drive, host Michael VanDervort welcomes Justin Lassard-Wajcer, a neuroscientist and CEO of Nurau, an AI-driven platform/app that enhances workplace decision-making for frontline managers. Justin shares his journey from neuroscience to applying cognitive science in real-wor...

In this episode of Drive Thru HR, we speak with Patrick Farran, executive advisor and co-founder/CEO of Ad Lucem Group, about purpose-driven leadership and his new book "The Intentional Executive." Patrick, Michael and Robin discuss how effective leaders stay grounded in purpose by ensuring their va...

Episode Summary: In this episode of DriveThruHR, hosts Michael VanDervort and Robin Schooling welcome back Jon Hyman, an employment and labor law practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience. The conversation kicks off with a light-hearted introduction, in which Jon shares insights into his law p...

In this episode of DriveThruHR, hosts Robin Schooling and Michael VanDervort speak with Deb Muller, founder and CEO of HR Acuity, about the evolving landscape of employee relations as we approach 2026. The conversation covers key trends in employee relations, the impact of AI on HR functions, the im...

In this “Snackable HR” episode, Robin unpacks the real reason your team is running on empty before December even starts - and it's not the tryptophan. She examines how eleven months of "do more with less," unmet promises, and relentless pushing has left people exhausted, disengaged, and quietly chec...

Does AI free up HR to focus on strategy? Host Michael VanDervort welcomes Jessie Roberts, Head of People Business Partners at Nextdoor, for a conversation about the intersection of HR and technology. Together, they examine how artificial intelligence is transforming the HR landscape, questioning whe...

On this episode of Drive Thru HR, Robin Schooling talks with Kristen Kavanaugh, co-author of Courage Over Fear and co-founder of The Agency Initiative. Kristen shares her journey from the Marine Corps to HR leadership at Tesla, and how those experiences shaped her commitment to authenticity, agency,...