Podcast
The Busyness Paradox
Hosted by Frank and Paul · EN
The world of work is a world of paradox. In this podcast, we tackle your everyday workplace or office environment topics, challenges, or activities. We also discuss trends and strategy in business. Our end goal is to help managers stamp out bad practices and help employees deal with them. Drs. Frank Butler and Paul Harvey, two management professors, co-host this podcast. We encourage your participation in our podcast by asking questions or sharing your experiences with us.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Semantically Empty: Corporate BS and the Paradox of Sounding Smart
3w ago00:55:11Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we tackle something everyone recognizes, but no one has really tested until now: corporate bullshit.Inspired by recent research and a Cornell study on the Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale, we break down what corporate BS actually is, why it works, and what it says about both the people delivering it and the people buying into it.We also put it to the test with a game of “Is It Corporate BS?” and discover that real executive communication is often indistinguishable from complete nonsense.Along the way, we explore a troubling paradox: the people most impressed by corporate jargon may be the least equipped to make good decisions, yet they are often the most satisfied and inspired at work.As always, we remain the most regularly irregular podcast on the planet, recording only when inspiration strikes.Key TakeawaysCorporate BS is not just annoying, it can signal poor decision-making“Semantically empty” language sounds impressive but lacks meaningPeople who are more receptive to corporate jargon may rate leaders more highlyThere may be a feedback loop where BS-friendly employees elevate BS-speaking leadersSometimes corporate BS is not accidental, it can be used intentionally to obscure realityIf you cannot understand something, it is not always because it is smartLinks ReferencedCornell article on corporate BS:https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/03/workers-who-love-synergizing-paradigms-might-be-bad-their-jobsOriginal research on the Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400597536_The_Corporate_Bullshit_Receptivity_Scale_Development_validation_and_associations_with_workplace_outcomesEpisode HighlightsThe definition of corporate BS and how it differs from real jargon“Semantically empty” as the phrase of the episodeThe Pepsi and Microsoft examples of BS gone wrongWeaponized corporate BS in layoffsThe “Is It Corporate BS?” gameThe realization that we may also be part of the problemCome visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
Transcribe →AI in HR: What’s the Worst That Could Happen? (Live from SMA)
Dec 2300:56:04Tap to summarizeLive from the Southern Management Association conference in Greenville, SC, Frank hosts a special episode of The Busyness Paradox with guest Dr. Julie Hancock, Director of the People Center at the University of North Texas (https://cob.unt.edu/mgmt/tpc/index.html). With Paul “replaced by AI” for the day, the conversation explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and human resources—and what happens when algorithms meet employee lives. They tackle big questions:•Should we actually worry when AI isn’t involved in hiring?•Can algorithms remove bias—or just learn new ones from us?•Does AI improve HR decisions, or simply automate bad ones faster?•What skills will the next generation need to thrive alongside AI?•How do we protect the “human” side of human resources?Along the way, they dive into:•The dangers of AI hallucinations (including fake meta-analyses and citations). •Students using ChatGPT in creative — and not-so-creative — ways.•HR’s reputation as the “Grim Reaper” and how AI could make that worse. •Whether robots will eventually achieve citizenship, feelings, or just vacuum better.•Why prompt engineering may become the next big job field. This episode blends humor, real-world HR insight, and a live audience eager to jump into the discussion. If you care about work, people, ethics, or the future of HR, this one’s for you.Come visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
Transcribe →Free Bagels Won’t Fix It: Why Gen Z Hates Work
Oct 700:38:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Busyness Paradox, Frank and Paul dive into Maya Sulkin’s viral article, Why Gen Z Hates Work, and unpack what’s really driving younger workers’ frustrations with traditional careers. From stalled job markets to the lure of influencer lifestyles, we explore how cultural shifts and economic realities collide in shaping Gen Z’s approach to work.⸻🔑 Key Topics Covered•Why Gen Z unemployment is more than double the national average•How TikTok and influencer culture make corporate jobs look meaningless•Real-life stories: job rejections, influencer “success,” and burnout•Why middle management has become a “punishment” instead of a promotion•The disconnect between corporate perks and what Gen Z actually values•What this generational shift means for the future of work⸻🤔 Why You Should ListenWhether you think Gen Z is lazy, savvy, or simply playing by new rules, this episode will challenge assumptions about work, purpose, and what younger generations actually want from their careers. Spoiler: it’s not free bagels.⸻📌 Episode Links•Original article: Why Gen Z Hates Work – The Free Press•More episodes of The Busyness Paradox: busynessparadox.comCome visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
Transcribe →Return to Office: Bagels, Spreadsheets, and the Productivity Pendulum
Sep 2601:00:29Tap to summarizeAfter a long hiatus, Frank and Paul are back behind the mics for The Busyness Paradox, and this time they’re diving into one of the most divisive workplace topics of the moment: Return to Office mandates. From federal policies to corporate culture shifts, they explore who’s calling employees back, why some companies are thriving without it, and how different setups affect productivity, mental health, and team dynamics.Along the way, they detour into:•Paul’s 18-month spreadsheet project to track Justin Wuntake desk time.•Whether free bagels count as a legitimate return-to-office perk.•Why scanning all your home appliance manuals into AI might just change your life.•Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee’s surprising success story with a fully remote workforce.•The pendulum swing between remote flexibility and in-person mandates — and where it might land next.With their usual mix of humor, practical insight, and side quests into AI, textbooks, and podcast improv competitions, this episode is part catch-up, part workplace commentary, and all Busyness Paradox.Come visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
Transcribe →Beyond the Bill: Tipping Trends and Research Revelations
Nov 15, 202301:28:23Tap to summarizeLive from the Southern Management Association conference in St. Pete Beach, FL, Frank and Paul interview Cornel University's Dr. Mike Lynn, arguably the world's foremost researcher on service tipping. We discuss the pros and cons of tipping as a form of compensation, demographic differences in tipping rates and, of course, the sudden proliferation of tipping into seemingly every facet of our lives. If you're tired of tipping at self-service cash registers, you'll enjoy this one. And if you're a management researcher, listen up! Stunningly, with the exception of Dr. Lynn, this dramatic shift in service work compensation has flown almost completely under our radar so far. Let's get cracking folks. Links to People and Publications Mentioned in This Episode:- Dr. Michael Lynn - Michael D. Johnson and Family Professor of Services Marketing, Cornell University- The moral imperative of tipping- A Traveler’s Guide to Tipping in a Changed World- Danny Meyer’s Restaurants Will End Their No-Tipping Policy- Service sweethearting: An effective way to increase tips?- Giving vs. Giving InCome visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
Transcribe →Kneeling at the Altar of Busyness
Oct 18, 202300:58:24Tap to summarizeFans of American College Football were recently treated to a baffling display of heroic determination. Needing only to touch a kneecap to a blade of grass to secure a hard fought victory, the University of Miami's gridiron team bravely stole defeat from the jaws of victory. How? With unnecessary busywork, of course. Come visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
Transcribe →Why Not Win? A Discussion with Larry Thornton and Dave Ketchen
Sep 20, 202301:24:26Tap to summarizeLarry Thornton and Dave Ketchen join us to discuss their award-winning graphic novel, "You Have to Live, Why Not Win?" and Larry's journey from racial segregation to success as an entrepreneur, author, teacher and artist. This is our most inspirational interview yet and will make you question your perceptions of yourself and others. In a good way. We promise. If you listen to one episode of the Busyness Paradox, make sure it's this one.As Frank summarized in his review of the book (in press, Academy of Management Learning & Education):Ultimately, indeed, you have to live, and with generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, becoming more prevalent in the work- place, the characteristics of communication skills, relationship skills, disposition, deportment, and demeanor introduced in this book are certain to help students differentiate themselves through their ability to relate to others, thus giving them a greater opportunity to win.Links to People, Places, and Books Mentioned in this Episode:- You Have to Live…Why Not Win? A Graphic Novel- Why Not Win? Reflections on a fifty-year journey from the segregated South to America's boardrooms - and what it can teach us all- Why Not Win Institute- Larry Thornton- Dave KetchenCome visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
Transcribe →The Paradox of Fearing Change
Jul 10, 202300:53:01Tap to summarizeWe humans have a love/hate relationship with change. Many of us are probably alive today because some cave-dwelling ancestor said “on second thought, let’s not try that new shortcut through viper country cousin Erg suggested before he mysteriously disappeared.” Yet we also fear the consequences of NOT changing with the times: obsolescence, boredom and generally getting left behind as the world moves on. And so we cling to the familiar, instinctively pushing back against the mere suggestion that there are new and better ways to do our jobs or live our lives. All while harboring a dread fear of what would almost certainly happen if we don’t embrace the very changes we are afraid of. Join us as we ponder this paradox of paralysis, where the only thing we fear more than change is the consequences of not changing. Come visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
Transcribe →Mo' Money, Mo' Busywork
May 31, 202300:48:39Tap to summarizeHave you ever gotten a pay raise and then, looking back, sort of wished you hadn't? It's become a surprisingly common phenomenon as employees have found hidden strings attached to the Covid-era generosity shown by employers. To discuss this unusual predicament, we sought out someone with a usual perspective on the workplace: meet Dr. Caleb Sanchez, a former police officer turned business psychologist. Join us as Dr. Sanchez, founder of Executive Equilibrium, shares his advice for adjusting to the shifting realities of the post-Covid workplace.Come visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
Transcribe →Artificial Work Meets Artificial Intelligence
Apr 17, 202300:55:57Tap to summarizeWith all the fanfare about artificial intelligence these past few months, listeners have asked us: "Will ChatGPT put an end to busywork?" Like all self-appointed experts, we took the question straight to ChatGPT. It tells us that "ChatGPT is designed to provide automated assistance and support...helping employees perform tasks more efficiently and effectively, reducing the amount of busywork they need to do." We’re…cautiously optimistic. Come visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you’re there!
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