The BARF

The BARF

The Week That Was

Breaking news, Acquisitions, Research, and Funding is The BARF. A look back into last week’s most talked about news in the world of work, what’s happened, what it means, and why you should care. Analysis that you can understand without a Ph.D. If you have any news we need to cover, please give us a heads-up. 

Burnout, compliance pressure, and the communication breakdown reshaping modern work
The BARFDecember 19, 202500:37:16

Burnout, compliance pressure, and the communication breakdown reshaping modern work

Work feels louder, faster, and less predictable than it did even a few years ago. AI is accelerating change, job security feels fragile, and the way people communicate is shifting in real time. Leaders are expected to adapt instantly while still holding culture, trust, and performance together. In t...

The BARF: Emotional Labor, AI, and the Cracks in Work Nobody Wants to Own
The BARFDecember 12, 202500:48:29

The BARF: Emotional Labor, AI, and the Cracks in Work Nobody Wants to Own

Modern work is asking more from people than it ever has, and almost none of it is being acknowledged. Beyond skills and output, workers are expected to absorb stress, regulate emotions, manage uncertainty, and stay productive through constant change. This emotional labor has become a silent requirem...

BARF: Bezos, BrightHire, and Why Surveillance Keeps Creeping Into Work
The BARFDecember 08, 202500:38:33

BARF: Bezos, BrightHire, and Why Surveillance Keeps Creeping Into Work

This episode digs into the strange collision of leadership, ambition, and surveillance tech shaping the workplace. Bezos jumps back into the trenches with a new AI startup, Ring slides deeper into facial recognition without real consent, and Zoom buys BrightHire to tighten its grip on the hiring pro...

Middle Managers Are Being Automated Out of the Org Chart
The BARFOctober 22, 202500:51:11

Middle Managers Are Being Automated Out of the Org Chart

This episode comes from the giving tree…. Rival just dropped a new 30/60/90 Day Onboarding Template built for teams that need new hires contributing fast—not spending their first month figuring out who to talk to or what success looks like. Get your template here. AI is no longer a future concept. I...

AI Is Changing Job Interviews: In-Person Comeback, $400B HR Tech Boom, and Remote Work Incentives
The BARFSeptember 15, 202500:47:50

AI Is Changing Job Interviews: In-Person Comeback, $400B HR Tech Boom, and Remote Work Incentives

AI isn’t just automating hiring—it’s reshaping how job interviews even happen. In this episode of BARF, Ryan Leary and William Tincup break down why AI is pushing companies back toward in-person interviews, how payroll remains the backbone of a $400 billion HR tech boom, and why cities are offering ...

The EXCUSE Economy - AI, Layoffs and Gun Violence
The BARFAugust 13, 202500:46:53

The EXCUSE Economy - AI, Layoffs and Gun Violence

Gun violence, layoffs, and the shifting balance of workplace power—this episode covers it all. We break down the rise in corporate safety concerns, the hard truths behind layoff trends, and how AI is being used (and misused) in the conversation. We also explore the quirks of business travel, the slo...

This Is the New Normal: AI, Layoffs, and Workplace Shifts
The BARFAugust 05, 202500:51:31

This Is the New Normal: AI, Layoffs, and Workplace Shifts

The workplace is shifting—fast. In this episode, Ryan Leary and William Tincup unpack Florida’s new take on non-compete clauses, the rapid invasion of AI into traditional jobs, and the rise of TikTok as an unlikely champion for trade careers. They tackle salary transparency, onboarding failure point...

AI Bias, Cyber Threats, and Teen Unemployment: What HR’s Ignoring in Plain Sight
The BARFJuly 14, 202501:06:23

AI Bias, Cyber Threats, and Teen Unemployment: What HR’s Ignoring in Plain Sight

The world of work is weird right now—and we’re here for it. From SHRM’s bounce-back energy to teenagers being boxed out of the job market, everything's shifting. Companies are experimenting (Amazon’s making office workers volunteer?), while cybersecurity threats are literally coming from North Korea...

AI, Child Labor, and the Collapse of Workplace Wellness: What HR Isn’t Ready to Admit
The BARFJune 29, 202500:57:32

AI, Child Labor, and the Collapse of Workplace Wellness: What HR Isn’t Ready to Admit

In this episode, we talk about AI replacing intellectual labor, the collapse of employee wellness efforts, and why fast food chains are under fire for child labor violations. Tincup and Leary break down the contradictions in workplace AI messaging and call out the fatigue creeping in during summer m...

BARF: AI Surge, Gen Z Opt-Out, and the Leadership Meltdown in HR
The BARFJune 16, 202500:52:43

BARF: AI Surge, Gen Z Opt-Out, and the Leadership Meltdown in HR

Workplace discrimination is rising. Gen Z’s ghosting leadership. And AI? It’s rewriting the rules before HR finishes onboarding. In this week’s BARF (Best Analysis, Real Facts), Ryan Leary, William Tincup, and Jay Arnold tear into the headlines shaping your workforce. In this episode we talk about w...