What The Hell Just Happened?! - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

What The Hell Just Happened?!

Paul Edwards

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/14d. Total Eps: 114

You don’t know what you don’t know. And, when it comes to HR and employment laws, most employers are SHOCKED by what they learn from talking to CEDR CEO and Founder Paul Edwards for just ten minutes. But Paul’s a busy man. And, though he would love nothing more than to talk one-on-one with each and every business owner and manager interested in learning about HR compliance, team management strategies, and how to protect their businesses, there’s only so much Paul to go around. So, we’ve got the next best thing for you - Introducing ”What the Hell Just Happened?” In this new podcast, Paul sits down with a different HR expert from his Solution Center team each week to discuss the burning HR questions facing you now, and to offer expert insights on important HR considerations you didn’t know you didn’t know.

Read moreCollapse

Site

RSS

Apple

Data updated on 26/09/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

https://hubs.ly/Q02RgPNW0
16 shares
https://hubs.ly/Q02RgPRS0
15 shares
https://www.cedrsolutions.com/podcast/
14 shares

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cedr-solutions
16 shares

https://www.instagram.com/cedr_solutions
16 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 42%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

Your Team Expects Raises You Can’t Sustain... What the Hell Happens Now?

Season 9 · Episode 2

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 29:45

Your employee did a great job. Their performance didn't suddenly get worse, but that does not always mean the business can afford another large raise. After several years of bigger increases, employees may come to expect the same pace even when operating costs rise, the economy changes, or the business simply does not have as much room in the budget. So how do you reset those expectations without making a good employee feel punished?

In this episode of What The Hell Just Happened!?, Paul Edwards and CeCe Delgado talk through one of the most uncomfortable compensation conversations for a practice owner: resetting raise expectations without making a strong employee feel punished or undervalued. They break down the difference between cost-of-living, merit, and “difference-maker” raises, and why a few years of larger increases can quickly become the new normal in an employee's mind.

They also dig into why tying annual reviews too closely to raises can create expectations, how pay bands and measurable goals give compensation decisions more structure, and why the health of the business matters when deciding what raises are actually sustainable. Paul and CeCe discuss how constructive financial transparency can give employees more context about costs, business performance, and economic pressures so a smaller raise does not automatically feel like a judgment on their work. They also cover total compensation statements and other benefits that can help employees see the full value of working for your practice.

In this episode:

Your team has come to expect 6% or 7% raises, but the business can't sustain that pace. How do you explain that strong individual performance and the financial performance of the business both affect what is available for raises?
Annual reviews have quietly become “raise day.” How can you separate performance conversations from automatic pay expectations?
You want compensation decisions to feel fair instead of arbitrary. How can pay bands, goals, and data give you a more consistent framework?
You can't put a large permanent increase into base pay this year. What else can you communicate or consider so employees still understand the value of their total compensation?

Related resources:

Pay Transparency: How It Can Help You: https://www.cedrsolutions.com/podcast/pay-transparency-how-it-can-help-you/
How to Set the Pay Range for Any Position: https://www.cedrsolutions.com/blog/employee-pay-rate/
How Should I Handle an Off-Cycle Raise Request?: https://www.cedrsolutions.com/blog/how-to-respond-to-employee-raise-request/
5 Ways to Help Your Team Manage Inflation Without Breaking the Bank: https://www.cedrsolutions.com/blog/help-your-team-manage-inflation/

Take the next step:

CEDR HR Solutions: https://www.cedrsolutions.com/
Join CEDR’s HR Basecamp™: https://hubs.ly/Q04wxxSV0
Schedule a call to learn more about how CEDR can help your practice: https://hubs.ly/Q04wxyyZ0

Read moreCollapse

When Feedback Makes an Employee Cry... And You... What the Hell Happens Now?

Season 9 · Episode 1

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 31:31

Giving corrective feedback is one thing. Knowing what to do when the employee reacts badly is another. What happens when they say the write-up is unfair, start crying, get angry, walk out, ask who complained, or refuse to sign?

In this episode of What The Hell Just Happened!?, Paul Edwards and CeCe Delgado talk through the part of Progressive Corrective Coaching that managers are rarely prepared for: the reaction after the feedback. They break down how to keep the conversation productive without becoming defensive, backing away from the issue, or matching the employee’s emotion.

They also explain how CEDR’s FIRR Method© gives the conversation structure, why documentation changes the discussion when an employee says “this is the first I’m hearing about it,” when it makes sense to give someone space to cool off, and what an employee’s signature on corrective documentation actually means.

In this episode:

Your employee starts crying, and suddenly you’re wondering if you went too far. Do you back off or keep the conversation moving?
They swear this is the first time they’ve heard about the problem, and now you’re questioning whether you handled it correctly in the first place.
Your employee gets angry and walks out. Are you supposed to follow them, let them cool off, document it, or start thinking about termination?
They refuse to sign the write-up, and now you’re sitting there wondering whether the whole conversation even counts.

Learn more:

AI in HR: The Risks Most Employers Miss

Season 9 · Episode 5

Monday, April 20, 2026 • Duration 23:21

AI is already showing up in the workplace, but many employers aren’t thinking through the risks. In this episode, Paul and Jennie break down how AI is being used in HR, where it can create compliance issues, and what employers need to watch for. From policy drafting to employee communication, using AI the wrong way can lead to costly mistakes. If you’re using AI at work, or considering it, this episode will help you do it more responsibly.

Read moreCollapse

Why Nothing Gets Done...Even When Everyone's Working Hard (The 3-Step System)

Season 9 · Episode 4

Thursday, April 2, 2026 • Duration 27:09

Your team is busy. You’re busy. Everyone’s working hard.

So why does it still feel like nothing’s getting done?

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?, Paul Edwards and CeCe unpack one of the most frustrating realities in growing businesses. The harder everyone works, the more stuck things seem to become.

It’s easy to blame burnout. Or staffing. Or motivation.

But the real issue is simpler and harder to see.

The work is a mess.

Not because your team isn’t capable, but because no one has stepped back to actually look at how the work is structured. Who owns what. What’s piling up. What’s getting dropped. And where leaders are quietly becoming the biggest bottleneck in the business.

Paul shares the exact moment this clicked for him, standing in front of a wall covered in tasks and realizing two things at once. He was doing too much of the wrong work, and the team had more capacity than anyone thought.

From there, the conversation dives into the key shifts that make all the difference:

Why your most reliable people are often the most overloaded
How being “good at something” can actually hold your business back
The hidden cost of jumping between tasks all day
And why starting more work is usually the reason nothing gets finished

This isn’t about working harder. It’s about finally seeing what’s actually happening inside your business and fixing it.

Because once you see it, you can’t unsee it. And that’s when things start to move.

Have an HR situation you want Paul to unpack on the show? Record a voice memo and send it to podcast@WTHJustHappened.com. Learn more at WTHJustHappened.com.

The Hidden Risk of Taking Advice Without Context

Season 9 · Episode 3

Monday, March 16, 2026 • Duration 32:42

Most HR problems don’t start with bad intentions — they start with bad advice.

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?, Paul Edwards and CeCe, CEDR’s COO and HR expert, unpack one of the biggest mistakes employers make when dealing with HR issues: going on the internet or an A/I tool and asking a question that requires much more context and nuance to answer, than you would ever imagine. What may sound like a simple problem to you, can quickly become risky when you consider the many variables, including laws, that must be taken into account by an expert before they can give you a correct answer.

They discuss how experienced HR professionals approach problem-solving differently, relying on curiosity, investigation, and thorough documentation before taking action. Along the way, they highlight how balancing legal compliance with thoughtful leadership helps businesses resolve issues while protecting both their people and their organization.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why HR advice should never be given without context
How investigations and documentation can shape the outcome of a workplace issue
Why employment rules can vary significantly depending on the state
What experienced HR leaders do before making difficult people decisions
How asking better questions leads to smarter and safer HR outcomes

If you own a business, manage a team, or handle HR responsibilities alongside everything else you do, this episode will help you approach internal investigations with confidence and a more informed strategic mindset before you act.

Have an HR situation you want Paul to unpack on the show? Record a voice memo and send it to podcast@WTHJustHappened.com. Learn more at WTHJustHappened.com.

CEDR HR Solutions is here to help when your HR issues leave you thinking, “What the hell just happened?!”

Learn more here:

The “No Reason” Breakup: You Just Created a Lawsuit

Season 9 · Episode 2

Monday, February 16, 2026 • Duration 20:37

Termination Without a Reason: Why Lawyers Love It, and How Smart Employers Protect Themselves

Many business owners believe “at-will employment” means that when firing someone, not giving a reason is more protective than giving one. In this episode, Paul Edwards and Jennie (Director of Compliance at CEDR HR Solutions and former employment attorney) dismantle that myth and explain why “no reason given” can be one of the fastest ways to invite legal trouble.

They break down real-world termination mistakes, why vague or abrupt firings often push employees straight to a lawyer, and how even legitimate issues (like tardiness or performance) can start to look like discrimination when you don’t communicate clearly. You’ll also hear why coaching and documentation matter, and how to keep termination conversations respectful, brief, and defensible. You’ll learn:

Why your at-will status alone isn’t a legal shield
How “no reason” can support create discrimination claims after the fact
What lawyers looking to sure hate to find in the employee's record
How to run a clear, respectful, defensible termination meeting

Have an HR situation you want Paul to unpack on the show? Record a voice memo and send it to podcast@WTHJustHappened.com. Learn more at WTHJustHappened.com.

CEDR HR Solutions is here to help when your HR issues leave you thinking, “What the hell just happened?!”

Learn more here: CEDR HR Solutions

Or give them a call (866) 414-6056

Read moreCollapse

You Can't Unsee HR Things, and two other WTH Moments

Season 9 · Episode 1

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 • Duration 27:28

Employees don’t usually quit “out of nowhere”, but for managers, it can feel that way. In this episode, Paul Edwards sits down with CeCe, COO of CEDR HR Solutions, to unpack why surprise staff shortages happen and what leaders often miss before employees walk out the door. Unexpected turnover can leave business owners scrambling, frustrated, and short-staffed. Paul and CeCe break down the early warning signs managers overlook, the HR blind spots that lead to sudden departures, and how better communication and leadership habits can prevent staffing crises before they start. You’ll learn:

Why “surprise” employee exits are rarely sudden
Common management missteps that drive quiet disengagement
How to spot early warning signs before turnover hits
Practical steps leaders can take to reduce unexpected staffing gaps
What to do when an employee leaves without explanation

Whether you’re a small business owner or a people manager handling HR issues daily, this conversation offers clear, actionable insights to help you protect your team and your business from surprise turnover.

CEDR HR Solutions is here to help when your HR issues leave you thinking, “What the hell just happened?!”

Learn more here: CEDR HR Solutions

Or give them a call (866) 414-6056

Read moreCollapse

We Knead a Break: Making Pizza, Not Policies

Episode 107

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 • Duration 59:24

Paul Edwards gets cheesy with this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! With a totally new topic - Pizza. He does still answer a listener HR question at the end, however, this episode is a break from the typical HR content we typically share and gets into something more fun - how to make the perfectly imperfect pizza. Join Paul Edwards and Eileen Lyons as they share their culinary wisdom around all things pizza and take a mental break from all you’ve been holding onto this Tuesday.

Recipe for Paul’s Not-Perfect Dough:

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour 700gr.
Semolena Flour 71 grms
Instant Yeast 3gr.
Water 501
Oil 23.5
Sugar 7.7gr.
Salt 19 gr.

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients except for salt.

12 total minutes mixing. Let dough mix for about 6 minutes at medium speed in a stand mixer. Then let it rest for about two minutes before adding salt for the remaining 6 minutes.

Turn dough out on a lightly floured counter. Form a large ball and then cover and let it double in size.

Punch down and split into four balls. Place covered in the fridge for 48 hours to proof.

You can use them or wrap in saran wrap and freeze.

Recipe for Paul’s Pizza Sauce:

Ingredients:

Quarter of a medium onion, minced
Seeded tomato sauce: Paul recommends a puréed style like Mutti, as removing seeds helps prevent heartburn
Olive oil: About 3-4 tablespoons
Finely minced garlic: 2-3 cloves
Dried oregano
Dry red pepper flakes: A pinch to taste (don't overpower the dough)

Building a Better Business Through Core Values

Episode 106

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 • Duration 01:10:12

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, Paul Edwards and Grace Godlasky discuss how core values can improve your business and your workplace culture. Join them as they discuss the importance of understanding and having core values. This week, episode 104 of What the Hell Just Happened?! is about how core values for your business can unify a growing team and help solidify your business reputation and your name in the community.

Better workplaces make better lives.

Important Links for this Episode:

Blog from CEDR on core values and workplace culture.

Our podcast sponsor, CEDR HR Solutions, knows there’s a better, easier way to HR. With our industry-leading approach, we support over 3,000 small and medium businesses across the country through custom handbooks, one-on-one HR coaching, and education. From HIPAA training to our expansive software, backstageHR, our affordable and tailored approach enables you to address any issue with ease.

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, CEDR CEO and Founder Paul Edwards is joined by Grace Godlasky to share the three prongs of a successful business, and actionable steps you can take to grow your company with a solid foundation through things like core values and a mission.

Paul Edwards and Grace Godlasky also discuss:

The reason for core values and why it’s important to have them and make sure your team understands them.
What happens to the patient experience when your team does not follow your core values or when you do not have them, and how that impacts your business.
A few of CEDR’s core values and what they mean to us
How core values can be applied to run your business in your absence or in the wake of a busy season.

If you are a business owner or an office manager looking to simplify your HR process and you are not already subscribed to our HR Insider Newsletter, you need to click here to start receiving the most current, updated information for your office.

The Hidden Challenge of Success: Navigating HR and Compliance in a Growing Med Spa

Episode 105

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 • Duration 27:57

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, Paul Edwards and CeCe Wilson discuss how rapid growth can both be exciting, but also lead to compliance concerns. Join them as they discuss the importance of having a handbook and knowing the laws around being a business owner. This week, episode 105 of What the Hell Just Happened?! is about how Med Spas experience rapid growth and the negative impacts of that success.

Better workplaces make better lives.

Important Links for this Episode:

Blog from CEDR on rapid growth and compliance concerns

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, CEDR CEO and Founder Paul Edwards is joined by CeCe Wilson to share the legal risks around rapid growth and success, and actionable steps you can take to correct your mistakes and move forward with confidence.

Paul Edwards and CeCe Wilson also discuss:

Mara, a Med Spa owner who rapidly grew her Med Spa and is now struggling with compliance issues now that she’s expanding.
The importance of a good handbook, and hiring/onboarding processes, and as much foundational structures as possible to grow successfully and compliantly.
The importance of hiring on CEDR HR Solutions to help you get started on the right foot with people in your corner who can help you scale successfully and legally.
What core values encourage in leadership roles at your practice.

If you are a business owner or an office manager looking to simplify your HR process and you are not already subscribed to our HR Insider Newsletter, you need to click to start receiving the most current, updated information for your office.

What The Hell Just Happened?! - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

What The Hell Just Happened?! - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other32

LinkedIn1

Instagram1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other32

LinkedIn1

Instagram1