The Employee Success Podcast

Hosted by UofL Employee Success Center

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Latest episode

Apr 2026

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EN-US

About the show

In this podcast, we’ll talk about being your best at work—whether it's growing as a leader, finding that ever elusive balance, or building a world class team—and we will learn together from the stories of people who are bringing their talents to work every day. Our goal is for you to take away from each episode tips for transforming your work life, some ah-ha moments, and hopefully the confidence that you can do it! You can be your very best each day at work and make a difference in the lives of those around you. Brought to you by the Employee Success Center at the University of Louisville.

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60 recent

April 27, 202644 min

Early Career Growth: Building Confidence and Connection (with Mallory Newby)

In this episode of The Employee Success Podcast, we sit down with a familiar guest, Mallory Newby, Career Development Specialist in the Employee Success Center, to talk about what it really takes to grow early in your career. Drawing on her experience working with students, staff, and faculty across UofL, Mallory shares practical insight on building confidence, forming meaningful connections, and navigating the often uncertain transition into the workplace.The conversation goes beyond resumes and job searches, focusing instead on developing the self: understanding your strengths, learning how to advocate for yourself, and showing up with intention in professional spaces. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to reset your path, this episode offers grounded, actionable ways to build momentum and create a more connected, confident version of your career! Check out Mallory's Career Navigation Guide here. Send a CARDGram to a professional peer who has helped you along your career journey!Tap into all of the additional great offerings by the Employee Success Center here.

March 27, 202655 min

Prioritizing Self-care and Creating a Campus Culture of Well-being (with Adam A. Smith)

In this episode of The Employee Success Podcast, Brian sits down virtually with Adam A. Smith, an author, educator, speaker, consultant and change-agent who has dedicated his almost three-decade career to ensuring college access and success for all Americans. They discuss the importance of creating a campus culture that prioritizes the well-being of the entire community.Smith recently released his first book, Multiracial Roots, Black Fruit: An inspirational journey of love, faith, and becoming. He and his wife Linda operate an educational consulting firm, Smith Education Associates, LLC and Adam is a multinational speaker represented by SpeakOut, the nation’s largest nonprofit speaker’s agency.Check out Adam's book here. Send a CARDGram.Check out the incredible opportunities provided by The Employee Success Center. Learn more about UofL's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Get Healthy Now (GHN).

February 23, 202638 min

Cultivating Joy at Work (with Rebecca Barrett)

In this episode, we sit down with UofL School of Nursing Program Manager and Mindset Coach Rebecca Barrett to explore what it truly means to cultivate joy at work—not as a fleeting feeling, but as a powerful, practical skill.Brian and Rebecca dive into how to intentionally tap into your mind and emotions in the workplace so you can navigate both challenging seasons and moments of success with clarity and resilience. Rebecca shares actionable insights on emotional awareness, mindset shifts, and the science behind sustainable joy at work. Listen in to learn about how to respond rather than react, reframe obstacles, and harness positive experiences to build momentum and engagement.Learn more about the School of Nursing here.Send a CARDGram! Check out all the incredible opportunities offered by the Employee Success Center here.

February 9, 202626 min

The Cardinal Spotlight: Dr. Sarah Anne Strickley

In this episode of the Employee Success Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Sarah Anne Strickley—writer, professor, faculty editor of Miracle Monocle, and Director of Undergraduate Studies in English. Dr. Strickley shares how her own creative practice informs the way she teaches and mentors students, from helping them generate bold new work to introducing them to the worlds of editing and publishing. We talk craft, collaboration, and what it means to build literary communities inside and beyond the classroom—and she gives us a sneak peek at a new book on the horizon! -- Sarah Anne Strickley is the author of the short story collection, Incendiary Devices; the novella, Sister; the short story collection, Fall Together; and a collection of essays, Ode to Collapse, forthcoming in October 2026. She’s a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing fellowship, an Ohio Arts grant, a Glenn Schaeffer Award from the International Institute of Modern Letters, the Copper Nickel Editors’ Prize for Prose and other honors. Her stories and essays have appeared in Oxford American, A Public Space, Witness, Harvard Review, Gulf Coast, The Southeast Review, The Normal School, Ninth Letter, Hotel Amerika, Copper Nickel, storySouth and elsewhere. She’s a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and earned her PhD from the University of Cincinnati. She’s the Director of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Louisville and serves as faculty editor of Miracle Monocle, UofL’s award-winning literary journal. --Visit the new Miracle Monocle site here. Keep up with Dr. Strickley on her website and that of Finishing Line Press. Learn more about UofL's English program here.Check out the Employee Success Center website!

January 26, 20261 hr 3 min

When Values Clash: Understanding Moral Injury at Work (with Meg Hancock)

What happens when the work you are asked to do conflicts with the values you hold most deeply? In this episode, we explore moral injury at work and examine how it shows up across the higher education workplace and beyond.Our guest, Dr. Meg Hancock, draws from her recent study, Changing Industry: A Qualitative Study on Moral Injury within Former Sport Employees, which uses college athletics as a powerful case example. Through conversations about NIL, the transfer portal, and increasing commercialization, the discussion opens up to a broader look at how organizational change, value misalignment, and institutional pressures can leave employees feeling disillusioned or morally compromised in many professional settings.Together, we unpack what moral injury looks like, why it is different from burnout, and what leaders and employees across industries can learn from these experiences. Dr. Hancock joins us to share her research, insights, and practical takeaways for navigating values-based conflict at work.Learn more about The Pipeline Project here.Send a CARDGram: https://tinyurl.com/CARDGramsCheck out the Employee Success Center website here.

January 12, 202641 min

Who Has Your Back at Work? Meet UofL’s HR Business Partners (with Nandi Thomas & Luke Button)

In this episode of The Employee Success Podcast, Brian is joined by Luke Button and Nandi Thomas as they pull back the curtain on the humans behind Human Resources. From demystifying the role of an HR Business Partner at the University of Louisville to exploring how HR strengthens connection, they spotlight how their work helps build culture and community across our campuses. Listen to learn how HRBPs can shape everyday experiences, support employees, and strengthen our Cardinal community.Visit the UofL Human Resources website here: https://louisville.edu/hrSend a CARDGram: https://my.louisville.edu/employee-success-center/recognition/send-cardgram Check out all the incredible opportunities offered by the Employee Success Center here: https://louisville.edu/employeesuccess--Nandi Thomas is an experienced Human Resources professional with a career in the field since 2018. She currently serves as an HR Business Partner, where she provides strategic support and guidance to leaders and employees on organizational development, employee relations, performance management, and workforce planning. She currently supports all of HSC Campus and some of Belknap Campus including Kent School, School of Music, Law School, Arts and Sciences, Speed School and EVPRI. Outside of work, Nandi is committed to continuous growth and leadership development, reflecting her belief that HR is not only about policies and processes, but also about building environments where people thrive.Luke Button is an HR Business Partner for Operational and the majority of UofL Provost Based Units. He is a Human Resources professional with a focus in Human Resource Strategy consultation, People Analytics, Employee Relations, Compensation, and Total Rewards Administration. Luke consults with our Executive-level leaders in developing a People-Centered organization and developing empathetic and successful leaders and teams and creates data-driven solutions to enhance the employee experience and implement effective HR Strategy.

December 11, 202548 min

From the Archives: Tom Owen's 50 Years at UofL

In this episode, our host, Brian Buford, is joined by Dr. Tom Owen, longtime University of Louisville professor and archivist. Since 1975, Dr. Owen has been preserving and sharing the stories that shape both Louisville and UofL. A public historian, former Metro Council president, and historical tour guide, Dr. Owen brings a lifetime of knowledge about the university’s past and its place in our thriving community. From walking tours to published histories, Dr. Owen helps us see how UofL’s history is deeply connected to the city and its people—listen to learn more! Visit the UofL Libraries website here: https://library.louisville.edu/homeVisit the Employee Success Center website here: https://louisville.edu/employeesuccess

October 31, 202526 min

The Cardinal Spotlight: Mani Vangalur

In this episode of The Cardinal Spotlight, we sit down with Mani Vangalur—Director of Technology Solutions at the University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering, a UofL alum, and an avid ultramarathon runner. Mani is deeply involved in the culture of UofL, participating in various presidential commissions including the Commission on Climate, Culture and Well-being, Staff Senate, the Cardinal Leadership Institute, and other groups that support our quality of life and development as a university and community space. Mani shares what motivates him and how his passion for equity, innovation, and endurance feed into both his work and his running. Tune in to hear Mani illuminate some of what teaches us about purpose, resilience, and community at the University of Louisville and beyond.Check out the Speed School’s website here: https://engineering.louisville.edu/Learn more about the Employee Success Center at our website: https://louisville.edu/employeesuccess

October 17, 202549 min

A Conversation with Dr. Gerry Bradley

Welcome to Season 5 of The Employee Success Podcast! We’re kicking things off with a very special guest—Dr. Gerry Bradley, the 20th President of the University of Louisville—recorded just after his inauguration events. In this exclusive conversation, President Bradley reflects on his time in the role, shares what the inauguration means to him, and outlines his vision for the future of UofL. From championing student success to investing in the growth and development of our faculty and staff, President Bradley speaks candidly about his hopes for a thriving, inclusive, and forward-thinking university community. Stay connected with UofL employee development and learning opportunities by checking out the Employee Success Center website: louisville.edu/employeesuccess Learn more about President Bradley here: https://louisville.edu/president/meet-president

July 25, 20251 hr 1 min

Supporting Late Career Employees (with Dr. Gerard Rabalais)

In this episode of the Employee Success Podcast, we sit down with Gerard Rabalais, VP for HSC Professional and Educational Development at the University of Louisville, to explore how institutions can better support the development of staff and faculty—especially those approaching the later stages of their careers.Dr. Rabalais shares practical insights on how to engage and retain late-career employees, foster purpose, and help them navigate transitions with intention and dignity.Be sure to check out our earlier collaboration with Dr. Rabalais and Staci Saner on the Employee Success Center Podcast and Faculty Feed, where we dive deeper into the evolving definition of career success in higher education and engaging employees: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/uoflemployeesuccesscenter/episodes/Talking-about-Engaging-Employees-with-Faculty-Feed-Podcast-e25f8jo/a-a9vji2uListen and learn more about Faculty Feed here: https://louisville.edu/hsc/faculty-development/faculty-feed-the-podcastTake advantage of all the career development opportunities the Employee Success Center has to offer by visiting our website: www.louisville.edu/employeesuccess