At Work with The Ready
Rodney Evans and Sam Spurlin
Rodney Evans and Sam Spurlin have helped teams around the world adopt more modern ways of working and on At Work with The Ready they’re sharing the inside scoop with you, too. Whether you’re struggling with a carousel of ineffective meetings, annual strategy sessions that go nowhere, or decision-making churn that never ceases, they’ve seen it all and are here to help. In each episode, they'll break down common workplace challenges and show you the moves—both big and small—to start making real, lasting change. (Formerly “Brave New Work” with Aaron Dignan and Rodney Evans)
Episodes
Mentioned books
32 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 34min
45, Part 2. Why Pay Will Never Feel Fair At Work (And It's Not The Money)
They unpack principles for designing fairer pay systems, from dignity and equity to clarity and simplicity. They propose concrete redesigns like eliminating salary negotiation and anonymous team reward allocation. They explore ways to align pay with collective goals and give employees clearer participation and feedback.
19 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 6min
AUA: Why Is My Small Org So Hard To Run?
Small organizations can be messier than they seem, with personalities and conversations carrying outsized weight. The conversation highlights why tiny teams often need a minimum viable structure and which operating practices are commonly missing. They explore the quiet inflection point under about 50 people when “everyone knows everything” stops being true and ways to tame that transition.
29 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 48min
45, Part 1. Why Pay Will Never Feel Fair At Work (And It's Not The Money)
A deep dive into why pay so often feels unfair and emotionally loaded. They explore how compensation becomes a stand‑in for belonging, status, and identity. The conversation tackles pay transparency, team versus individual incentives, and whether equity or profit‑sharing actually align incentives. They also unpack the hedonic treadmill that keeps raises from satisfying.
14 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 7min
AUA: What Should L&D Do About AI Right Now?
They tackle how L&D should respond to AI pressure and stop defaulting to more courses. Practical moves include getting hands-on with workflow automation tools and curating focused AI sources. The conversation pushes shifting toward systems thinking, experimentation, and building team-level capabilities rather than just tool training.
26 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 52min
44. Forget ROI: The Ethical Case for Org Design
They challenge ROI as the sole yardstick and argue org design should be judged on moral grounds. They explore power imbalances, transparency, compensation gaps, and how bureaucracy harms people. They propose principles like contestable power, fair reward spreads, and auditing values. They offer practical moves to resist performative change and make work more humane.
21 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 8min
AUA: Can You Change an Org When Leadership Doesn’t See the Problem?
They tackle what to do when power centers feel fine and change feels impossible. They debate when to stop pushing and accept limits. They explore low-cost wins that do not threaten leaders. They encourage owning your sphere of control and finding joy in the work you can influence.
62 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 50min
43. Dual Transformation Is The Future...And Nobody's Prepared
Discussion of why organizations cling to dying cores instead of building new growth. Exploration of the tensions between running today’s business and incubating tomorrow’s. Practical moves for funding, operating, and protecting a separate growth engine. Examination of emotional and incentive traps that derail transformation efforts.
13 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 6min
AUA: Can Layoffs Really Reduce Bureaucracy?
They question whether layoffs billed as bureaucracy cuts are sincere or just PR for cost and AI fears. They explore how trimming layers can expose hidden work and when reducing org depth makes sense. They trace how boom-and-bust hiring created bloat and discuss avoiding extreme hiring and layoff cycles.
59 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 54min
42. The Top 3 Skills Change Agents Need in 2026
They explore three high-leverage skills for transformation in 2026. You’ll hear practical ways to build metacognitive awareness and notice your thinking. They explain continuous user-centered feedback instead of one-off checks. They dive into expert facilitation techniques to move groups through hard conversations and design better meetings.
9 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 11min
AUA: How To Design a Startup OS From Scratch?
Starting fresh with a new company may sound appealing, but it can lead to pitfalls. The hosts explore designing an organizational operating system without the burden of traditional methods. They advocate for minimalist practices that emerge from real tension. Delaying system building until common pain is felt is key, along with avoiding one-size-fits-all solutions. Establishing a regular operating rhythm and utilizing tools like Kanban boards promotes effective work flow. Lastly, embracing 'sky sensing' helps teams adapt to changing trends.
