Tap'd Talks HR

Hosted by Tap'd Solutions

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117

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Aug 2026

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About the show

At Tap’d, we help you make sense of the Future of Work, making technology understandable and easy to adopt. Our HR experience and consultancy = Your performance.

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60 recent

August 17, 202646 min

Super Skills: The human skills we need in the Age of AI

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.

July 20, 202636 min

Future-Ready Talent: Rethinking Talent Management in an AI World

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.

June 22, 202638 min

Digital Wellbeing at Work

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.

May 18, 202636 min

Why AI is a huge opportunity for HR

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.

April 20, 202637 min

PODCAST: Forget Normal, I want M.A.G.I.C

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.

March 23, 202628 min

How to handle real workplace situations with clarity and confidence

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.

February 23, 202629 min

The Squeezed Middle

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.

January 19, 202633 min

Accessible Communication at Work

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.

December 21, 202524 min

Tap’d Talks HR Christmas Compilation 2025

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.

December 8, 202534 min

The science behind Sustainable Performance - A special reverse interview!

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.