Frequency

In this final episode of 2025, Jenni Field and Chuck Gose reflect on a year of conversations by pulling together the 10 themes that defined work, leadership and internal communication over the past 25 hours and 41 minutes of the podcast. They revisit the middle management crisis, the ongoing disconnect between hybrid work reality and mandates, and the shift from performative authenticity to honest leadership transparency. The episode also explores AI adoption anxiety, the persistent challenge of proving the value of internal communication, and why change fatigue means productivity takes far longer to recover than leaders expect. The conversation looks at purpose-driven work, communication overload, cultural intelligence in global teams, and the unresolved productivity paradox behind return-to-office decisions. They close by sharing five AI-generated predictions for 2026, challenging leaders to build trust, rethink management, and stop trying to control their way through change. Slow Productivity - Cal Newport Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff - Ness Labs The Productivity Diet - Mike Vardy

In this week’s episode of Frequency, Jenni and Chuck explore the forces shaping how we feel at work - from safety and strategy to hybrid rhythms and AI anxiety. They unpack new research showing psychological safety isn’t a “nice to have” but a strategic resource that protects against burnout and increases retention, especially when resources are tight. They also dive into why internal comms teams get stuck in delivery mode instead of strategy, and why pausing to reset purpose doesn’t need to take months, it just needs focus. Hybrid working gets a fresh lens too, with new data revealing clear workplace rhythms, the risk of overloading Thursdays, and why short commutes are becoming an engagement driver. Finally, they tackle AI anxiety head-on, debating whether it’s really about technology — or simply our human response to big change. Plus, festive traditions, doors, and milestone birthdays are in this week’s Freq out! Articles and posts mentioned in this episode:  In tough times, psychological safety is a requirement, not a luxury Plans without strategy: why internal comms keeps getting stuck in task mode The New Rhythms of Work: How Hybrid Reality Is Reshaping Employee Experience Why AI at work makes us so anxious Episode 4 of Frequency where they discuss the misconceptions of psychological safety  

In this episode of Frequency, Jenni and Chuck get stuck into a report-heavy week packed with big questions for communicators, leaders and HR. They explore the UK Government’s RESIST framework for tackling misinformation and why “strategic silence” can sometimes be the smartest move. The conversation then turns to workplace wellbeing, with new data from Reward Gateway showing a growing shift from pay to work–life balance - but the conversation discusses the serious confusion about what wellbeing at work actually means. From unlimited leave to sleep, stress and personal responsibility, they challenge where the line really sits. They also unpack striking Gallup engagement data showing that 90% of UK employees are disengaged or not actively engaged, and question what leaders are truly trying to measure. The episode wraps with a powerful model for “human work” from the team at Fauna and CultureCon based on their recent research.   The reports and articles mentioned in this episode: A new Government framework for communicators to tackle misinformation Workplace wellbeing - a business imperative  The future of work has a heartbeat ICology Mentorship Program - deadline to apply is December 15  

This special live episode of Frequency comes straight from Unily’s Unite25 Conference in Nashville - the first time Jenni Field and Chuck Gose have taken the podcast to the stage. Recorded unedited and unfiltered, they share their top takeaways from the event, from digital noise and content sprawl to employee trust, empowered talent markets and the launch of Unily’s new AI tool, Indy. They also reflect on standout keynote moments, including Dr. Mae Jemison’s call to “give people room to tell their story” and insights on charisma, warmth and competence in communication. The live audience joins them as they explore AI trust gaps, courageous leadership, shifting job fears, workplace drinking culture and the realities of post-work social pressure. With audience questions, real-time reactions and plenty of humour, this episode captures the energy of Unite25 and the big topics shaping modern internal communications and employee experience. Here are the articles discussed: The Trust Gap is the AI story Rethinking with Adam Grant podcast - Brene Brown on courageous leadership  Evaluating AI's impact on the labor market One in three UK workers have called in sick after work drinks, survey finds    

In this episode of Frequency, Jenni Field and Chuck Gose dig into new Gallup data showing the huge gap between how much purpose at work matters and how little leaders actually prioritise it — and why “just a job” might not be the negative people assume. They also unpack Kate O’Neill’s argument that feedback isn’t the issue; context is. Without shared goals, clarity and psychological safety, feedback becomes noise, not development. The conversation moves into boundaries and burnout, as they challenge the workplace obsession with “firefighting” leadership and explore what sustainable leadership really looks like. And in a more unsettling twist, they react to research suggesting AI tools could infer personality — and influence hiring — simply from a profile photo. The episode wraps with reflective freakouts: celebrating wins, questioning industry negativity, and calling for more joy in comms. Purpose at work: engagement rocket fuel that most people never get “Nobody needs feedback” – Kate O’Neil’s shared-context grenade Mita Mallick: not every fire is yours to fight Hiring by face: AI, personality and the new bias minefield