Explore every episode of the podcast True HR: Beyond the Office

Mission-driven organizations must create meaningful impact while still making disciplined business decisions. In this episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, Shannon Clark Johnston speaks with Damian Finio, Chief Financial Officer at TerraCycle, about the realities of balancing purpose, performance, and long-term financial health.

After more than 30 years in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries, Damian moved into a sustainability-focused organization where environmental impact is central to the business. At TerraCycle, he oversees finance as well as pricing, HR, IT, and the commercial recycling segment.

Reinvention can be exciting, but walking away from a path you spent years building takes courage. In this episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, Shannon Clark Johnston speaks with Gaby Jordan, CEO of Source Elements Group and founder of Human Better EDU, about her journey from commercial litigation to business and leadership coaching.

Gaby has trained leaders, teams, and students for more than 25 years, working with companies, universities, and institutions including MIT, Stanford, NYU, and Columbia. She shares lessons on accountability, communication, conflict, team performance, and what it takes to build a second act with purpose.

First impressions increasingly happen through a screen. Whether you are interviewing, leading a client meeting, delivering a presentation, or building a professional brand, the way you appear and communicate on camera affects how others perceive your confidence and credibility.

In this episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, Shannon Clark Johnston speaks with Kelly-Anne Lauzon, a stylist with more than 35 years of experience in fashion, skincare, and personal branding. Kelly-Anne shares practical ways to improve your virtual presence without expensive equipment or a complete makeover.

Clutter is not only about misplaced belongings. It can create mental noise, decision fatigue, stress, and a constant sense that something is unfinished. In this episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, Shannon Clark Johnston speaks with Audrey Tesora, founder of Right Touch Organizing Services, about the connection between our physical spaces, productivity, emotional well-being, and peace of mind.

After a 25-year career as a C-suite executive assistant in a global law firm, Audrey became a professional organizer and senior transition specialist. She now helps clients navigate accumulated clutter, major life transitions, and the emotional challenges that often come with letting go.

Most of us have experienced a gut feeling, a quiet pull toward something, or a strong sense that it is time to walk away. The harder question is whether we trust it. In this episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, Shannon Clark Johnston speaks with Lorna Garrity, an ultramarathon runner, author, speaker, and life coach, about how intuition can become a grounded and practical tool for better decisions.

Through her company, Break Free and Love Life, Lorna helps women reconnect with their internal compass when they feel stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about what comes next. She shares how movement, nature, reflection, and practice can help people distinguish intuition from fear and build greater clarity and confidence.

Healthcare is built on trust, but communication breakdowns, burnout, and unhealthy workplace cultures can undermine both employee well-being and patient safety. In this episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, Shannon Clark Johnston speaks with Dr. Karen Rigamonti, a physician, executive coach, and consultant whose personal experience with a preventable medical error shaped her commitment to safer, more compassionate workplaces.

Karen explains how leaders can recognize cultural toxicity, build psychological safety, move beyond fear-based leadership, and create environments where people feel trusted, supported, and able to perform at their best. They also discuss why compassion is not merely a soft skill, but a practical leadership advantage that can improve engagement, retention, communication, and business results.

What if one word could transform your life and career?

In this episode, Shannon sits down with Rich Keller, TEDx speaker, brand strategist, and creator of the ONE Word methodology. Rich shares how discovering his ONE Word, "Catalyst," helped shape his purpose and how others can use the same process to gain clarity, build confidence, strengthen their personal brand, and make better career decisions.

If you're feeling stuck, navigating a career transition, or looking for a clearer sense of direction, this conversation offers a simple but powerful framework to help you stand out and lead with purpose.

Struggling to eat healthy when life gets hectic? In this episode, Certified Health Coach Ellen DiVietro shares real-world tips to make healthy eating simple and stress-free, even on your busiest days. With 25 years in the food industry and a personal journey through health challenges and food allergies, Ellen offers practical advice for meal planning, dining out, cooking for one, and making small changes that actually stick. Tune in for guilt-free, realistic strategies to help you eat better without the overwhelm.

What if simply seeing yourself through a different lens could change how you show up in the world? In this episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, we explore the surprising power of brand photography with guest Carley Storm, founder of Carley Storm Branding Co. and the Headshot + Brand Bar. Carley shares how her journey from healthcare to photography taught her the art of reinvention and how she now helps others do the same through the camera.

We dig into the link between self-image and confidence, what makes brand photography different (and more powerful) than traditional portraits, and why the right photo can be a game-changer for your personal or professional brand.

When traditional tools for mental health - medication, therapy, and lifestyle tweaks - aren’t enough, what’s next?

In this episode, Dr. Candace Holmes, chiropractor, author, and certified Neurofeedback Therapy Practitioner, explains how neurofeedback uses brain training to improve focus, reduce anxiety, and restore balance.

Dr. Holmes shares the personal story that led her to this field and why neurofeedback may be one of the most overlooked breakthroughs in mental wellness.

Transitioning to assisted living is more than just packing boxes, it’s a journey of emotion, memory, and dignity. In this episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, we’re joined by Audrey Tesora, founder of Right Touch Organizing Services, who brings 25 years of experience and a deeply human approach to helping seniors and families through this emotional and transformational change.

What can a high-stakes kitchen teach us about leadership? A lot, according to MasterChef USA winner and TEDx speaker Jennifer Behm Lazzarini. In this episode, Jennifer shares how she’s turned her love of cooking into Yes, Chef, a leadership experience that transforms the chaos of the kitchen into lessons on teamwork, trust, and communication. She’s fun, fearless, and refreshingly real.

Feeling overwhelmed by the college admissions maze? You’re not alone. In this episode, educational consultant Alice Fuscaldo breaks down post-COVID changes, the surprising role of social media in college decision-making, and how parents can actually help without adding pressure.Whether you are a rising junior or a parent trying to navigate the complex college obstacle course, this episode is packed with practical tips and fresh perspectives to make the whole process a little less stressful.

Many of us work out so our bodies stay strong, and we maintain our physical fitness. But what about your mental fitness? In this episode, guest Nikki Gangemi helps us break down the importance of mental fitness and explain why it’s crucial to exercise our “mind muscles” even when things are going well.

Tired of dreading Mondays? You’re not alone—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Executive coach Kevin Cameron joins us to share practical mindset shifts and simple routines that can help you start your week with more energy, clarity, and purpose. Whether you're leading a team or just trying to lead yourself out of the Sunday Scaries, this episode offers a fresh, motivating take on how to make Mondays something you actually look forward to.

In the second half of this special two-part series of True HR: Beyond the Office, host Shannon Clark Johnston is back in the hot seat with Nikki Gangemi asking the questions. This time, they're talking about how planning and goal-setting can be powerful tools—not just for productivity, but for recovery, healing, and managing overwhelm. Shannon also shares the unexpected ways confidence grows through travel, self-exploration, and saying “yes” to the unknown.

In this special flip-the-script episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, we’re turning the mic on the host, Shannon Clark Johnston. This time, Shannon sits in the guest seat as she’s interviewed by former guest and transformation coach Nikki Gangemi.

Shannon—speaker, coach, and founder of True HR—opens up about her path from corporate executive to heart-centered leadership guide. But this isn’t just a career story. It’s a conversation about navigating the messy, often unpredictable intersection of work and life.

From self-doubt and reinvention to deeply personal obstacles that shook everything she thought she knew, Shannon shares how confidence, connection, and resilience became more than just professional pillars—they became survival skills.

This is part one of a two part series.

Navigating healthcare choices can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, Benefits Consultant Lindsay Humphries breaks down high-deductible plans, cash pay programs, and the key factors to consider when choosing the best option for you and your family.

In this episode of True HR: Beyond the Office, we dive into the world of concierge healthcare—a personalized, patient-centered alternative to traditional medicine. Many are unfamiliar with how it works, who it benefits, and why it’s gaining traction.

Joining us is Dr. Sarah Musleh, an esteemed endocrinologist and co-founder of Anzara Health, a female-owned concierge endocrinology practice. She shares her journey from the traditional healthcare model to concierge medicine, giving us an inside look at what it is—and what it isn’t. Could this be the future of healthcare? Let’s find out!

Learn about Hakalau Healing, an ancient Hawaiian technique for staying calm and focused in difficult conversations. Nikki Gangemi shares practical steps for setting intentions, asking better questions, and practicing focused awareness to navigate conflict with clarity and confidence.

What if your wardrobe could boost your confidence, reshape how others see you, and reconnect you with who you truly are? Personal stylist and Image Consultant Katie Kabel reveals how personal styling goes beyond fashion. With experience from red carpets to life’s toughest transitions, Katie shares how working with a stylist can transform your mindset and why personal style isn’t just for celebrities.

What is Brainspotting? Licensed professional counselor Hannah Haimann unveils the transformative power of this innovative therapy, which goes beyond traditional talk therapy to target and heal deep-rooted emotional and mental health challenges. Discover how Brainspotting unlocks potential for profound healing and growth.

This season, we’re diving deeper into the topics that matter most—confidence, resilience, mental fitness, and navigating life’s challenges with purpose and clarity. From the stress of college admissions to the transformative power of personal styling, we’re bringing you the conversations that inspire action and change.🎧 Tune in for topics like:✔️ Mastering difficult conversations with calm and focus✔️ Transforming Monday blues into a fresh start✔️ Brainspotting for deeper mental health breakthroughs✔️ Empowering women to speak with confidence✔️ And much more!

Workplace Wellness is a common term, but what does it really mean?  On this episode my guest, Workplace Wellness Trainer and Coach Katina Smith, shares her expertise on wellness from the employer and employee [perspective in today’s ever-changing workplace landscape.

Physical and emotional exhaustion. Cynicism and detachment. Feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment. These are all warning signs of burnout. What causes burnout, and it there anything we can do to prevent it? What if we know we’re burnt out? Can we recover and move forward? On this episode, our guest, professional coach Sharon List, discusses the signs and symptoms of burnout and shares her personal experience that moved her from burnout to reinvention.

Talent acquisition has been an exhausting and sometimes, thankless role for HR professionals since the onset of COVID-19. And it still doesn’t seem to have settled into any predictable pattern. Salary increase budgets for US employers are rising to levels we haven’t seen in at least five years. And everywhere you turn, people are talking about how challenging it is to find good people.

On this episode, our guest and talent expert, Kevin Cameron, CEO of Talent Connect, shares his insights on the wild ride we have been on when it comes to recruitment over the past few years, and where he sees the job market heading in the months to come.

Living a life without stress, isn’t realistic. The key is learning how to manage anxiety that can sometimes overwhelm us and keep us from being present in our lives.  On this episode, guest and mindfulness expert, Nikki Ganjemmi, shares easy and practical methods you can apply to become more mindful at work and in your personal life.

Human Resources and Finance - perhaps the most underutilized relationship within a company’s leadership team. Often at odds pursuing their respective agendas, if they can work together effectively, these two functions have the capacity to become a powerful force for organizational change. On episode 5 of the True HR podcast, our guest and finance veteran, Damian Finio, explains how to leverage the shared interests between these two groups to transform the HR and Finance relationship into a true partnership.

Remember the expression, it’s not about WHAT you know, but WHO you know?  On episode 4 of the True HR Podcast, that’s exactly what we discuss. Our guest, networking expert Adam Connors, answers all your questions about the importance of personal and professional networking. On this episode, Adam defines networking and discusses the “art and science” behind it. We also examine some common networking misconceptions, why many people shy away from building their networks, and how you can quickly and easily improve your networking skills.

In this episode of True HR, we discuss and debunk common myths around job search. Should you lower your salary demands to get a job more quickly? What happens if there’s a recession? Should you take on consulting work while searching for a new role?  Our guest and job search expert, Heather Dolan, has spent years helping others find their next role and on this episode, she shares her knowledge with you. Join us as we dispel the common myths around job search and show you that your job search, doesn’t have to be a dumpster fire.

In today’s competitive job market, offering high-quality, cost-effective benefits can be a differentiator for companies looking to attract and retain the best talent. How do you effectively assess your current state of benefits? What are some common areas of potential cost savings? And what should you be mindful of when implementing the changes, once you have decided on a path forward? I’ll tackle all these questions and more on this episode, with the help of my friend and colleague, Zack Pace, Senior Vice President of Benefits Consulting at CBIZ, Inc.

For any growing organization, there are many decisions to make when starting out. Given the fierce competition for talent these days, the pressure is on to keep employees engaged and productive, while at the same time, keeping focus on the company’s business objectives.

So, when is the right time for a growing company to hire HR staff? Should you hire someone full time or just outsource? Do you really even need HR? If you are a potential candidate for a role in HR at a startup company, what questions should you ask? How can you ensure expectations are aligned when you accept this type of role? In this episode, we will cover all these questions and more.