Why the Relationships at Work Podcast Is Evolving (And What That Means for You)

In this solo episode, host Russel Lolacher shares a personal and pivotal shift in the Relationships at Work podcast—introducing a new episode format designed to better serve leaders who want to improve workplace culture, build meaningful connections, and avoid leadership blind spots.

You’ll learn the why behind the change, how the show has evolved from a simple curiosity into a transformative leadership resource, and what to expect going forward:
✔️ Four themed episodes each week—Clarity, Relationship with Self, Relationship with Team, and Organizational Culture
✔️ Bite-sized leadership insights you can actually use
✔️ Friday solo episodes with mindset nudges to reflect and recharge

If you’ve ever asked, “What does leadership really look like day to day?”—this episode is for you.

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Transcript

Now, this episode is a little different. No guest. Just me, talking directly to you. Because I want to walk you through something new, something exciting, and honestly—something that feels like the next evolution of this show.

But before we dive into what’s changing, I want to share where all this started—and why Relationships at Work has become one of the most transformative experiences of my professional life.

When I first launched this podcast, it wasn’t about building a platform. It was about answering an honest question.

What does leadership actually do to the employee experience? 

Not what it says on the values poster. Not what the CEO repeats at town halls. What does leadership actually look like and feel like day to day—through its actions, through its silence, through its impact?

That curiosity lit the fuse. I started having conversations—with executive coaches, culture experts, DEI practitioners, and employees on the frontlines. And over time, it became more than a podcast. It became my classroom. My mirror. My learning lab.

Hosting this show has fundamentally changed how I think, how I lead, and how I listen. It’s made me more aware of the leadership blind spots in organizations that I wasn’t even looking for. And I know I’m not alone in that.

Which is why I wanted to make the show even more useful for you.

So here’s what’s new.

Moving forward, every guest conversation will be broken into four shorter episodes, released across the week. Each one will be around 10 to 15 minutes—tight, focused, and centered on a single theme.

It’s all grounded in a structure that’s already at the heart of what this podcast stands for. Four key themes that we’ve been threading through our conversations all along—but now we’re naming them clearly, so you can get exactly what you need, when you need it. 

Here’s the breakdown:

Mondays will be about Clarity

This is where we define what we’re actually talking about. Because leadership concepts can get fuzzy fast. Everyone has a different take on what “engagement” means. Or “accountability.” Or “culture.” This episode will set the stage. No assumptions. Just shared understanding.

Tuesdays will be Relationship with Self

Before we can lead others, we have to lead ourselves. This theme is about doing the self-work: managing our triggers, unpacking our habits, understanding our motivations. It’s personal work—but it’s also leadership work.

Wednesday will be Relationship with Team

Here we dig into how we show up for others—our teams, our peers, the people who count on us. From building trust to giving feedback to navigating conflict, this is where connection either thrives… or breaks down.

And Thursday will be about the larger relationships – Organizational Culture

The big picture. How do we take the lessons and insights from the individual level and embed them into how our organizations function? That’s systems, norms, policies, rituals—the stuff that builds or breaks a culture.

Now, why split it up this way?

Because it makes it easier to find what matters most to you right now. Maybe you’re struggling with self-doubt—that’s Relationship with Self.  . Or maybe you’re trying to shift how your organization handles change—that’s Culture 

By carving out these focused episodes, you get clarity and action in bite-sized chunks. It's leadership learning you can actually use—while walking the dog, during your commute, or in between meetings.

And of course, the heart of it all—these are still honest conversations with brilliant minds. That hasn’t changed. If anything, this new format gives their insights more space to breathe.

And then—there’s Friday.

We’re keeping the solo episodes, we’re just moving them from Thursday to Friday. That’s still me, showing up with a short episode – the usual 10 minutes or less. It’ll still be my observations, my reflections from what I’ve heard or read or discussed with you, and ideas that I hope challenge you, maybe shift your perspective, or spark something useful as you head into the weekend and the week ahead 

I think of these episodes as mindset nudges. They’re about cutting through the noise to ask better questions, be more intentional, and remind ourselves that leadership isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about being willing to keep learning.

I’ll be honest—this change feels personal. Because this podcast isn’t just something I make. It’s something I grow through.

I’ve learned so much from every guest, and from your feedback too. Every email, every message, every time someone shares an episode and says, “This hit me exactly where I needed it.” That’s the fuel. That’s the why. All the warm and fuzzies. 

So before I go, I want to say thank you.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for being curious. Thank you for being someone who cares enough about leadership to want to do it better.

I’m grateful for you. And I’m honoured to keep learning with you—week after week.

The first themed episodes will kick off in a week. I’d love for you to check them out and tell me what you think.

Until then… stay curious, stay connected, and keep working on those relationships at work.