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
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.
77 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.
70 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.
82 snips
Jan 12, 2026 • 54min
41. Why Your AI Strategy Stalled and How To Get Moving with Greg Shove
Join Greg Shove, a seven-time founder and CEO of Section, as he dives into the world of AI adoption in businesses. He reveals why AI implementation is lagging, highlighting employee fears of layoffs and the hoarding of productivity gains. Greg argues that many leaders mistakenly treat AI as just another software tool instead of a transformative force. He also discusses the necessity for a robust AI strategy, the rise of super companies with small teams, and the importance of creating new roles in the evolving work landscape.
35 snips
Jan 5, 2026 • 8min
AUA: How Do You Measure the ROI of Org Design?
Leaders often fixate on immediate ROI in organizational design, but this can hinder meaningful discussions. The hosts delve into how true ROI emerges over longer periods, emphasizing the importance of aligning metrics with leaders' existing priorities. They highlight the significance of leading indicators—like decision speed and meeting effectiveness—over just short-term financial reports. Transformations are more about cultivating effective practices and reducing errors than just bottom-line savings.
34 snips
Dec 29, 2025 • 24min
40. Our 2026 Predictions: Expect the Unexpected
As 2025 wraps up, the discussion pivots to how AI will reshape the workforce in 2026. A slowdown in the AI hype cycle is expected, leading to real white-collar job displacement. Companies will increasingly form internal design teams to adapt to constant change. Interestingly, employees might prefer collaborating with AI over challenging human colleagues. A divide is predicted between traditional organizations and agile, AI-native micro teams, highlighting a premium on human-crafted offerings.
