Episodes

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...

Most companies treat AI as an efficiency play, bolt it onto existing workflows and hope for faster output. Rob Levin went deeper. After recognizing AI's potential in early 2023 and spending two years experimenting, he made a pivotal decision: transform WorkBetterNow into an AI-first company. This isn't about doing the same work faster; it's about redesigning workflows from the ground up where AI does the heavy lifting and humans design and oversee the process. Episode Highlight "Any workflow th...

Most business owners are leaving $100,000+ on the table every year doing administrative work that costs $25/hour while their time is worth $200–$1,000+/hour. Rob Levin breaks down why an assistant is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity—and delivers a step-by-step playbook for hiring one, whether full-time, part-time, onshore, nearshore, or offshore. You'll learn to calculate your true hourly rate, identify what to delegate in three days, and avoid the costly mistakes most owners make (like hirin...

Every headline screams that AI will transform your business overnight. Most SMB leaders find themselves caught between two extremes: either diving recklessly into every new tool, or staying frozen on the sidelines. Ryan Paugh, publisher of Senior Executive and co-founder of Community.co, cuts through the noise with a pragmatic framework that works for small and mid-size businesses. Rather than chasing unicorn-level AI deployment or ignoring the shift entirely, Paugh reveals what the most success...

Culture isn't a recruitment tactic, it's your competitive advantage. In this solo episode, Rob Levin reveals seven concrete practices that transformed WorkBetterNow into a fast-growing company. You'll walk away with immediately actionable systems: peer-driven recognition that reinforces values and clarity frameworks that eliminate "mutual mystification" (that silent killer of remote teams). Rob draws from hard-won lessons; his first venture failed partly because he deprioritized culture despite ...

Innovation isn't the exclusive domain of tech startups, it's the competitive edge every small and mid-size business must build into their DNA. But most owners centralize innovation within themselves, missing their biggest advantage: the ability to move faster than corporations. JL Heather reveals why innovation is fundamentally a cultural challenge, not a structural one. You'll learn concrete steps to build psychological safety, shift from assigning work to assigning problems, and avoid sabotage...

Traditional annual reviews fail because they focus on output alone, leaving companies wondering why growth stalls. Rob Levin interviews leadership coach Mike Goldman on a practical alternative: the Talent Density framework—treating people growth as profit growth's true driver. Learn to evaluate performance beyond theater, separate real results from "busy," and implement a quarterly leadership cadence that builds resilience without bottlenecking HR. About the Guest Mike Goldman is a leaders...

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 Levin sits down with Andrew Schenkel, founder of Double Play Marketing and Sales, to explore what it really takes to scale a marketing agency through intentional team design, systems, and leadership. Andrew shares how his approach to talent has evolved since launching the business in 2020, why EOS and DISC became foundational tools, and how nearshore talent and AI are shaping the future of his company. This conversation is a practical look at how great talent decisions drive...

In this episode, Rob sits down with Jonathan B. Smith, Expert EOS Implementer® and negotiation strategist with The Black Swan Group, to explore how Tactical Empathy® can transform leadership, communication, and team health. Jonathan breaks down why self-awareness is a leader's greatest advantage, how every conversation is a negotiation, and why great systems (like EOS) reduce emotional fires so teams can focus on meaningful work. About the Guest Jonathan B. Smith has led more than 1,500 EO...

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 powerful conversation, mindset transformation coach Curtis McCullom breaks down the hidden patterns that quietly limit a leader's success—no matter how accomplished they are on paper. Curtis explains why subconscious beliefs formed early in life can sabotage performance, stall growth, and affect how leaders show up at home and at work. He also walks through his LGET Mindset™ framework (Learn, Grow, Expand, Transform) and shares how tools like NLP, Mental Emotional Release®, and Hypnot...

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 episode, Rob Levin sits down with Alex Kunz, CEO of OP2 Labs, a company providing innovative collagen-based nutrition and a five-time Inc. 5000 fastest-growing business. A former U.S. Navy SEAL turned multi-industry leader, Alex shares what he's learned about building high-performing, self-sustaining teams—and why the best companies can function without their founders. He opens up about the importance of adaptability, how to hire for culture before skill, and how to make offshore team...

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 of The New Talent Playbook Podcast, Rob Levin sits down with Ron Karr, speaker, advisor, and creator of the Velocity Mindset®. Ron has spent over three decades helping leaders and sales teams eliminate friction, gain buy-in, and achieve results faster. Rob and Ron unpack how clarity of direction and how leaders can build alignment, accountability, and trust to accelerate growth without burning out their teams. About the Guest Ron Karr has worked with leaders, sales executiv...

What happens when you build a successful business—but still feel something’s missing? In this episode, mindfulness expert and award-winning servant leader Rob Dube shares how mastering your inner game of leadership transforms how you lead, hire, and live. From redefining hustle culture to building a people-first company that thrives without burnout, Rob offers simple, practical ways to lead with more clarity, peace, and purpose. About the Guest Rob Dube is a mindfulness expert, speaker, an...

Rob speaks with David Schnurman, CEO of Lawline, about building a culture by design, evolving from visionary founder to strategy-focused CEO, and why AI is the next transformational lever in CLE and operations. David shares how structure (Scaling Up), personality tools, and an internal academy accelerate execution, plus practical ways to “AI‑enable” teams, automate low‑value work, and create award-winning client education. About the guest David Schnurman is the CEO of Lawline, the leading ...

What does it take to build a standout team in a creative, fast-paced industry like fashion? In this episode, Rob sits down with Drew Pizzo, who has led Collection 18 for over 30 years, to explore how a commitment to unique ability, clear values, and ongoing development has helped him build one of the most admired cultures in his space. From rigorous hiring to daily team rhythms and executive coaching, Drew shares the behind-the-scenes strategies that keep his team engaged, aligned, and competiti...

In a world moving from change to chaos, Lisa Bodell makes the case for subtraction: kill needless rules, cut administrivia, and restore focus to meaningful work. She shares a simple, leader-led process to remove friction, the cultural and retention gains from clarity, and how to use AI as a coach to identify what to stop, simplify, and stress-test. The takeaway: mandate simplification, model it, and reset leadership norms so teams spend time where it counts. About the guest Lisa Bodell is ...

If you think team performance is too fuzzy to measure, this episode will challenge that mindset. Eddie Geller, a seasoned entrepreneur and performance strategist, talks with Rob Levin about how data, not just gut instinct, can help leaders unlock the full potential of their teams. Eddie shares how SKOR helps companies go beyond culture surveys and engagement scores by identifying what drives (or blocks) team performance. From embracing AI to generational shifts in the workplace, this is a for...

In this episode, Rob sits down with Kurt Wilkin—entrepreneur, advisor, and author of Who's Your Mike?—to unpack what it really takes to scale a business with the right team. Kurt shares why so many CEOs stall their own growth by holding onto the wrong people for too long, what “hiring better” actually looks like, and how to level up your leadership by embracing self-awareness. It’s a candid, BS-free conversation from someone who’s helped hundreds of founders build companies that grow—and last. ...

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...