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In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony is joined by Jo Living, entrepreneur, former investment banker and founder of Aces High, to explore what the game of poker can teach us about leadership, decision-making and human behaviour in the workplace. Poker might conjure up images of bluffing, bravado and high-stakes gambling. But Jo argues that behind the cards lies a fascinating combination of strategy, emotional intelligence, risk assessment, negotiation and self-awareness. Drawing on her experience in investment banking, entrepreneurship and competitive poker, Jo explains how the behaviours we demonstrate around a poker table can reveal a great deal about how we operate at work. From knowing when to assert ourselves and when to listen, to managing our emotional responses under pressure, the parallels are surprisingly powerful.

In the episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Andi Roberts steps into the host’s chair to speak with Fiona Ryland, former Government Chief People Officer and author of the paper: The New HRBP, about the future of the HR Business Partner role. Organisations have spent years redesigning HR operating models with the aim of freeing HR Business Partners from operational work and enabling them to become more strategic. But for many HRBPs, that simply hasn’t happened. Fiona explains why HR Business Partners often become the “shock absorbers” of the HR operating model - stepping in when shared services don’t deliver what managers need, when line managers lack the confidence to handle people issues themselves, or when the boundaries between different parts of HR remain unclear. The conversation explores what needs to change, including greater role clarity, stronger line manager capability, better-functioning HR operating models and investment in the skills HR Business Partners need to operate strategically.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony speaks with Rahim Hirji, AI and human capability expert and author of Super Skills: The 7 Human Skills of the Age of AI, about why AI feels so fundamentally different from previous waves of technological change. Rahim explores how quickly AI has moved from experimentation into everyday work, and why organisations need to stop thinking about it simply as another technology project. Instead, he argues that the bigger challenge is deciding how humans and AI should work together - and ensuring we don’t gradually surrender judgement, agency and human capability along the way. The conversation explores Rahim’s concept of “drift versus design”: the risk that organisations and individuals simply follow the defaults created by algorithms rather than consciously deciding what good work should look like. They also discuss synthetic seniority, where AI can allow people to operate beyond their experience without necessarily having the depth of judgement that experience brings.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony speaks with Tania Lennon, specialist in talent management in an AI-enhanced world and former leader of the IMD Strategic Talent Lab, about her new book, Future-Ready Talent. Tania explains why talent has become one of the biggest concerns for business and HR leaders, and why traditional approaches to talent management are no longer sufficient in a rapidly changing world. The conversation explores why organisations need to move beyond matching people to today’s roles and instead focus on their ability to keep learning, adapt and create value in the future. Tania introduces three capabilities that define future-ready talent: reach, range and readiness. Anthony and Tania also discuss how AI is changing what organisations value, how talent should be assessed and how data can uncover potential that traditional methods may overlook.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony speaks with Petra Velzeboer, author, psychotherapist and culture consultant, about digital wellbeing and the impact our digital habits are having on work, attention, connection and performance. Petra explores why being constantly connected can leave us feeling more distracted, overwhelmed and isolated, and how workplace technology, meeting culture, notifications and digital overload can affect both individual wellbeing and team effectiveness. The conversation covers practical ways to create healthier digital habits, including micro-pauses, movement, reflection, honest feedback loops, and team-level conversations about how work gets done, not just what needs doing. Petra also discusses the role of AI, the importance of experimentation, and why digital wellbeing is not about rejecting technology, but making sure it supports our intentions rather than controls our attention.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony is joined by Erica Farmer, an AI and Future Skills Specialist and author of AI for People Professionals, to explore how AI is reshaping the workplace, and why HR and people professionals need to lead the conversation. Erica shares why AI is no longer a future trend but a present-day capability that is fundamentally changing how organisations operate, how people work, and what modern people functions need to look like. Together, Anthony and Erica discuss the opportunities AI creates for HR, L&D and leadership teams - from automating repetitive admin and onboarding friction to enabling more strategic, people-focused work.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony speaks with Claire Brumby, speaker, author, leadership trainer and coach, about modern leadership and why the old “normal” no longer fits the world of work. Drawing on her entrepreneurial journey and her new book, Forget Normal, I Want M.A.G.I.C, Claire shares why leadership today must move beyond hierarchy, command-and-control and outdated ideas of who gets access to leadership development. Together, we explore the role of self-leadership as the foundation of modern leadership, the importance of emotional intelligence and intuition, and why organisations need to invest more deeply in the human side of work if they want resilient cultures and sustainable performance. Claire also introduces her M.A.G.I.C framework - Mindset, Awakening, Gumption, Intuition and Charisma - and explains how these five elements can help leaders adapt, build trust and lead more effectively in a fast-changing world. This is a thoughtful, energetic conversation for leaders, managers and HR professionals who want to rethink leadership for the future, and start with themselves.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony Ryland speaks with Anne-Maartje Oud, behavioural expert and founder of The Behaviour Company, about her new book "What to do if..." a practical guide to handling everyday workplace situations with more confidence and skill. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Anne-Maartje explains why so many people at work are looking for immediate, practical answers to tricky moments, from giving feedback and handling emotion to working with diverse teams and navigating difficult conversations. Together, they explore why soft skills have become essential workplace skills, why managers and leaders are often promoted without enough preparation for the people side of their role, and how context is always key when deciding how to respond. They also discuss some of the most common workplace questions people struggle with, including what to do if someone starts crying, how to think about non-verbal communication, and how to create conversations that feel effective and comfortable for both sides.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony welcomes back Gary Cookson, founder of Epic HR and author of Making Hybrid Working Work, to discuss his latest book: The Squeezed Middle. They explore why the middle manager role has become more complex than ever, together with the “invisible work” managers do that never appears in job descriptions, and the skills modern managers need to thrive today from sense-making to emotional intelligence.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony is joined by Lisa Riemers, communications specialist, accessibility advocate and author, to explore accessible communication and why it matters far more than many organisations realise. Together, they unpack what accessible communication really means in today’s digital and hybrid workplaces, not just for people with disabilities, but for everyone trying to get information, make decisions and do their jobs well.

Welcome to our Tap’d Talks HR 2025 Christmas Compilation, our annual episode where we look back at the standout insights from the year and share highlights from some of the great conversations with our guests. 2025 has been shaped by major political and economic change, and as the year closes it’s a chance to reflect on what matters most for our workplaces, and for our own growth going into 2026. If any of the clips sparks your interest, you can find the full episodes in the Tap’d Talks HR back catalogue.

In this special edition of Tap’d Talks HR, the tables are turned. Guest host Andi Roberts interviews Anthony about our recently released research and white paper: The Journey to Sustainable Performance. Anthony breaks down the 12-component sustainable performance framework - built from academic research, organisational psychology and commercial insights. Together, Andi and Anthony explore the real-world link between wellbeing, psychological safety, team culture, leadership behaviours, and long-term high performance. From overcoming burnout and overwhelm, to establishing cultures of learning, feedback, accountability and innovation, this episode reveals why short-term performance bursts aren’t enough, and how organisations can build the right conditions for people and performance to thrive over the long term.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony steps out of his comfort zone to explore a topic that quietly affects huge numbers of people at work: menopause and perimenopause. Anthony is joined by Sam Mancey, consultant, business coach and specialist menopause coach, to unpack what menopause really looks like in the workplace and why you can’t afford to ignore it. Sam explains how seemingly “out of nowhere” anxiety, brain fog, confidence crashes and broken sleep can derail even the most capable, senior women - often right at the peak of their careers. Whether you’re in HR, a line manager, or a senior leader, this episode will help you understand menopause in a more human, practical way, and give you ideas to better support the people around you.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony sits down with Jacob Hill, an ex-prisoner and Founder of Offploy, a specialist HR consultancy, to unpack how organisations can confidently and fairly employ people with convictions. Jacob reframes common assumptions with eye-opening context (e.g. one in four UK adults of working age has a criminal record, many for minor offences), shares his own rehabilitation story, and explains why fair-chance hiring boosts retention, social value, and talent pipelines. You’ll hear practical steps for HR and leaders: how to update policy and language, design risk-based assessments, prepare hiring managers for disclosures, and build a culture that welcomes socially excluded talent, without lowering standards. Whether you’re starting out or ready to deepen your approach, this conversation shows how doing the right thing can also be the smart thing for your organisation.

In this episode of Tap’d Talks HR, Anthony speaks with Dr. Natalie Isaia, Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Empresa Psychology, about a hidden but powerful challenge in the HR profession: moral injury. They explore what moral injury is, why HR professionals are particularly vulnerable, and how it differs from burnout. Natalie shares practical tools, from naming emotions to practicing “moral repair” and self-compassion, that can help HR leaders protect their own wellbeing while supporting their organisations. If you’ve ever felt torn between business needs and people-first values, this conversation will give you language, insights, and strategies to better navigate those conflicts.