Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

Be yourself. That’s the advice we give graduates, job seekers, and leaders. But what if it’s wrong?

In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with organizational psychologist and author Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic to interrogate one of the most popular ideas in modern career advice: authenticity at work.

Tomas is the Chief Talent Scientist at ManpowerGroup, a professor of business psychology, and the author of Don't Be Yourself. His research explores personality, leadership, workplace performance, and the science of success. In this conversation, he challenges the notion that “just be yourself” is the key to career growth—especially in a rapidly changing job market shaped by AI, shifting power dynamics, and rising inequality.

Together, Jessi and Tomas unpack how authenticity functions as both a personal value and a professional strategy—and why it can be a privilege reserved for those already in the “in-group.” They also examine what young professionals, underemployed graduates, and leaders navigating AI disruption need to understand about perception, communication skills, and the future of work.

Jessi and Tomas discuss:

• Why authenticity at work is often misunderstood—and how perception matters more than self-expression

• The hidden privilege behind “bring your whole self to work”

• In-group vs. out-group dynamics in workplace culture

• AI and the future of work: entry-level jobs, automation, and the changing career ladder

• Why curiosity—not authenticity—may be a critical skill for 2026

• Balancing personal values with organizational expectations

• The psychology of influence, impression management, and professional success

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by workplace politics, confused about how much of yourself to reveal at work, or anxious about how AI is reshaping career paths, this episode is for you.

We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!  

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube 

Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple 

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify

Rest is essential. It’s like food or water; without it, we die. As today’s guest points out though, it’s also a sacred practice.

In today’s rerun conversation, originally held live on Hello Monday’s Office Hours, Octavia Raheem joins Jessi Hempel to talk about, and to practice, rest. Octavia Raheem is a rest coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and author. Her latest book is called Rest is Sacred: Reclaiming Our Brilliance Through the Practice of Stillness.

She and Jessi discuss:

How rest sparks creativity and connection

Rethinking productivity through rest

How to build micro-rest practices into your days

The power of rest for self-reflection, personal growth, and clarity

Then, Octavia leads us in a transformative guided rest practice that combines mindfulness, relaxation, and breathing techniques.

Follow Octavia Raheem and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.

AI didn’t decide to reshape work. People did. And that distinction matters more than we like to admit. Dr. Rumman Chowdhury says the real story isn’t about machines replacing humans. It’s about the choices people in power are making—and the agency the rest of us still have. In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel and Rumman unpack what responsible AI really means, why fear is the wrong default reaction, and how workers, leaders, and everyday users can shape a better technological future.

Rumman Chowdhury is a leading expert in responsible artificial intelligence and algorithmic accountability. She previously led responsible AI efforts at Accenture, served on Twitter’s product team before it became X, and advised governments in the U.S. and U.K. She is the co-founder of Humane Intelligence, an organization focused on independent AI auditing and public participation in technology oversight.

Rumman and Jessi discuss:


Why AI isn’t “happening to us”—and how leadership decisions shape its impact


What responsible AI looks like inside real companies and products


The rise and fall of trust in Big Tech and Silicon Valley


Algorithmic bias, content moderation, and the limits of internal oversight


The root of why we fear AI


The difference between techno-optimism and techno-solutionism


How individuals can reclaim agency by understanding and engaging with AI

If you want to hear more from Dr. Rumman Chowdhury listen to her recent Ted Talk here. 

Follow Dr. Rumman Chowdhury on LinkedIn

Follow Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube 

Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple 

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify

Every day is filled with negotiations. Here’s how to start winning them. Any conversation that has a want or a need is a negotiation. It's critical to approach even the low stakes negotiations with the same tools that will win high stakes conversations. But what if the key to better outcomes isn’t pushing harder, but listening better?

In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Jonathan Smith, negotiation instructor and co-author of Fight Less, Win More, to break down why negotiation is really about empathy, trust, and disciplined listening. Drawing on The Black Swan Group’s negotiation framework—made famous by Never Split the Difference—Jonathan shares practical tools for navigating conflict, building influence, and getting what you need without damaging relationships.

Jonathan is a business strategist and negotiation expert who has spent years teaching leaders, managers, and teams how to communicate in moments that matter most. His work focuses on tactical empathy, emotional intelligence, and the everyday negotiations that shape our careers and lives.

Jonathan and Jessi discuss:


Why every difficult conversation is a negotiation


Tactical empathy and how to help people feel truly heard


The “core four” negotiation skills: labels, mirrors, dynamic silence, and summaries


How low-stakes practice builds confidence for high-stakes conversations


Managing tone, emotion, and self-regulation 


Why listening is a discipline—and how it improves trust and influence


Using AI as a preparation tool without losing human connection

If you want to go deeper on these tools listen to our episode from September, 2025 with The Black Swan Group's founder and CEO, Chris Voss. 

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/chrisvoss-hm-youtube 

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/chrisvoss-hm-apple 

Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/chrisvoss-hm-spotify

We will be launching the Hello Monday Book Club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!

Want an easy framework for winning any pitch? We’re pitching all the time—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. But most of us are doing it wrong. We lead with logic, credentials, and data, when what people actually need first is connection.

In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Danny Fontaine to unpack what makes a truly great pitch—and how to persuade with emotion, not just information. Drawing on decades of experience in experiential sales and storytelling, Danny shares a framework for captivating any audience by helping them feel seen, understood, and invested before you ever make your case.

Danny Fontaine leads an experiential selling team at IBM and has closed millions of dollars in deals across industries. He is the author of Pitch: How to Captivate and Convince Any Audience on the Planet and hosts a UK-based podcast called “Pitch Masters” on modern selling, persuasion, and communication at work.

Danny and Jessi discuss:


Why pitching is really about connection, not performance


How emotional storytelling builds trust and influence


The “backfire effect” and why logic alone doesn’t persuade


How to determine which opportunities are worth pitching—and which aren’t


Why the audience, not the seller, should be the hero of every pitch


Introverts, ambiverts, and why confidence isn’t what makes a great salesperson


How AI can help you prepare without losing authenticity

We will be launching the Hello Monday Book Club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!