Retention Episodes

Most businesses think marketing drives growth. Shawn Busse argues that it starts much earlier, with your culture. In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with the founder and CEO of Kinesis and author of Marketing From the Inside Out to discuss why brand and culture are inseparable, how a strong employer brand attracts better talent, and why mission, vision, and values should shape every hiring decision. If you're struggling to recruit great people or differentiate your business, this episode is yo...

Rob Levin argues that small and midsize business owners need to act now: get hands-on with AI, intentionally improve culture, and carve out time to think strategically. He points to a growing economy with inflation pressure, a setup he describes as "profitless prosperity", and says the owners who win will be the ones who adapt faster. Key Takeaways AI is no longer optional. Owners should take a course, experiment, and build with AI personally. Block 2 hours this week to learn one AI workflow...

Scott Mesh explains how strong leadership starts with listening, solving the right problem, and building a culture where A players feel valued. He shares why appreciation, peer recognition, and treating remote or offshore teammates like full team members are essential for retention. He also introduces Opportunity Focus: a practical way to reframe problems as opportunities, surface blind spots, and improve through deliberate feedback. Key Takeaways Effectiveness comes before efficiency. If yo...

Rob Levin breaks down key findings from SmarterX's 2026 State of AI for Business report and translates them into a practical roadmap for founders and SMB leaders. The big message: AI is no longer optional, and the companies that start building skills, workflows, and a culture of experimentation now will outpace those that wait. Key takeaways Most employees believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates, but only 20% are worried about their own role, a sign that awareness is lagging behi...

Declining employee engagement is a warning signal for every small and mid-size business. Gallup's 2026 State of the Global Workplace report shows engagement dropping across the board, but Rob Levin unpacks three critical takeaways that separate thriving companies from those fighting burnout. Discover why manager stress signals a crisis, why every seat counts more than you think, and concrete, cost-effective moves to strengthen culture, reduce turnover, and position your team to leverage AI compe...

In this episode, Rob Levin (Founder of Work Better Now and author of The New Talent Playbook) distills the biggest concepts from the book into one clear framework, and introduces a key reframe: this isn't a temporary "talent crisis," it's a permanent talent shift. Rob breaks down what the top ~15% of companies do differently to attract and retain great people, why culture and core values are the foundation, how to fix retention and hiring for today's reality, why global/remote expands your optio...

In this episode, Rob talks with Joe Romano, founder of Romano & Associates, a tax planning and preparation firm with 19 full-time employees and more than 1,500 clients. Joe shares how his team stays sane during tax season, the deliberate choices he's made to reduce burnout, and why offshore talent has become essential to both client satisfaction and employee wellbeing. He also breaks down the ROI of administrative support, the importance of professional development in a rapidly changing tax land...

In this episode, Rob sits down with David Goldstein, founder of TeamBonding, North America's leading team building company built around the "power of play." David shares how team building has evolved, why culture and connection matter more than ever, and how consistent, intentional experiences can strengthen collaboration, engagement, and retention. He also breaks down how companies can integrate remote team members, avoid common pitfalls, and design team building around meaningful outcomes—not ...

In this episode, Rob sits down with LeiLani Quiray, Founder and CEO of be the change HR, to explore what it really means to build workplaces that are both high-performing and deeply human. With over 20 years of HR experience, LeiLani shares how shifting HR from a compliance function to a growth driver can transform a business from the inside out. She also reveals how her company's social mission—donating 1% of topline revenue to nonprofits supporting survivors of human trafficking—has created a ...

In this special LinkedIn Live edition of The New Talent Playbook Podcast, marketing expert John Jantsch sits down with Rob Levin, co-founder of WorkBetterNow and author of The New Talent Playbook. Together, they explore why so many small and mid-sized businesses are quietly facing a talent crisis, and what leaders can do to build their dream teams in today's rapidly changing world. Rob shares the inspiration behind his new book, lessons learned from two decades of entrepreneurship, and why "t...

In this episode, Matt Tritt, Founder and President of Greenlight Consulting & Management, shares his journey from burnout to building a purpose-driven owner’s rep firm in the high-stakes world of NYC real estate. He talks with Rob about shifting from winging it to leading with intention, the role of core values in hiring and client outcomes, and how connection drives both culture and performance. About Matt Tritt Matthew Tritt is the Founder and President of Greenlight Consulting & Managem...

Episode Summary In this episode, Shawn Busse, Founder and CEO of Kinesis, shares why aligning culture, brand, and strategy isn’t just a feel-good exercise — it’s a growth strategy. He explains how values-driven leadership can reduce costly turnover, build trust with clients, and create exponential impact across a business. 💡 Plus: Why most businesses get "values" wrong — and how to fix it. Key Takeaway When culture and marketing are aligned from the inside out, businesses experience ...

In this episode, Rob chats with Peter Morandi, CEO of Eastman Cooke, a company renowned for building award-winning construction projects through innovation and leadership. Peter shares how he’s transformed the traditionally manual construction industry by integrating remote professionals into nearly every department, from estimating to project management. He dives into the systems, culture, and mindset that allowed Eastman Cooke to double its annual estimates, improve client satisfaction, and re...

In this episode, Rob sits down with Michael Deutsch, Managing Partner of The Deutsch Group and owner of Sapphire Talent. They explore the often-overlooked art (and science) of hiring. Michael shares his insights on why most small and mid-sized...

In this episode, Rob Levin is joined by Chason Hecht, CEO and founder of Retensa, a global leader in employee retention strategies. With decades of data and experience behind him, Chason dives into what really drives retention—and spoiler alert—it...