Shows
Workplace WeirdnessSpotify, SoulCycle & the Science of Strong Cultures with Meredith HaberfeldWhat does neuroscience have to do with leadership? How do you pivot from frog dissections to Fortune 500 boardrooms? And what do you do when your boss says you’re "great behind closed doors"... and not in a good way? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by the ever-dynamic Meredith Haberfeld, CEO of ThinkHuman and longtime advisor to companies like Spotify, SoulCycle, and Goldman Sachs. Meredith takes us on her wild journey from whitewater rafting guide to one of the most trusted names in executive coaching. And yes, there are weird workplace moments aplenty. Together, th...2025-07-2342 min
Workplace WeirdnessSpotify, SoulCycle & the Science of Strong Cultures with Meredith HaberfeldWhat does neuroscience have to do with leadership? How do you pivot from frog dissections to Fortune 500 boardrooms? And what do you do when your boss says you’re "great behind closed doors"... and not in a good way?
In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by the ever-dynamic Meredith Haberfeld, CEO of ThinkHuman and longtime advisor to companies like Spotify, SoulCycle, and Goldman Sachs. Meredith takes us on her wild journey from whitewater rafting guide to one of the most trusted names in executive coaching. And yes, there are weird workplace mo...2025-07-2342 min
Workplace WeirdnessUnbossed and Unbothered: Ex-Chief Creative Gets RealEver wondered what happens when you trade agency ownership for creative leadership?
In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Paul McDowall, brand architect, former agency owner & co-founder of ClarkMcDowall, to discuss his unconventional career journey from Liverpool to New York and his transition into leadership at Vault49.
Paul shares insights from decades in branding, touching on the challenges of staying culturally relevant without losing brand identity. He opens up about the personal and professional growth that comes from letting go of ego, embracing new roles, and learning from failure.2025-07-0942 min
Workplace WeirdnessUnbossed and Unbothered: Ex-Chief Creative Gets RealEver wondered what happens when you trade agency ownership for creative leadership? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Paul McDowall, brand architect, former agency owner & co-founder of ClarkMcDowall, to discuss his unconventional career journey from Liverpool to New York and his transition into leadership at Vault49. Paul shares insights from decades in branding, touching on the challenges of staying culturally relevant without losing brand identity. He opens up about the personal and professional growth that comes from letting go of ego, embracing new roles, and learning from failure. They also explore how to n...2025-07-0942 min
Workplace WeirdnessArt of Great Meetings, AI Anxiety and Antisocial Animals at WorkMeetings often get a bad rap, but did you know they can actually be the cornerstone of a positive workplace culture? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by Hannah Dubin, founder of The Group Forward and a powerhouse facilitator with a background in camp leadership, corporate consulting, and culture design. Together, they explore what it really takes to lead humans—awkward moments, messy emotions, and all. Hannah shares how her early work in summer camps shaped her facilitation style and why she believes your meetings reflect your workplace culture more than anything else. Hannah an...2025-06-2544 min
Workplace WeirdnessArt of Great Meetings, AI Anxiety and Antisocial Animals at WorkMeetings often get a bad rap, but did you know they can actually be the cornerstone of a positive workplace culture? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by Hannah Dubin, founder of The Group Forward and a powerhouse facilitator with a background in camp leadership, corporate consulting, and culture design. Together, they explore what it really takes to lead humans—awkward moments, messy emotions, and all.
Hannah shares how her early work in summer camps shaped her facilitation style and why she believes your meetings reflect your workplace culture more than an...2025-06-2544 min
Workplace WeirdnessPushups, Poaching, & Professional PivotsEver wondered what it’s really like to run a gym beyond the sweaty workouts and Instagram selfies? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Matt Pack, founder of Primal Fit Miami and a fitness pro with 25 years under his belt, to get the unfiltered scoop on fitness entrepreneurship. Matt shares the wild ride of starting his own gym, from jumping off the college basketball court into exercise science, to facing the scary leap of launching a business. They talk about why building friendships with clients is key, how word-of-mouth can make or break yo...2025-06-1145 min
Workplace WeirdnessPushups, Poaching, & Professional PivotsEver wondered what it’s really like to run a gym beyond the sweaty workouts and Instagram selfies? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Matt Pack, founder of Primal Fit Miami and a fitness pro with 25 years under his belt, to get the unfiltered scoop on fitness entrepreneurship.
Matt shares the wild ride of starting his own gym, from jumping off the college basketball court into exercise science, to facing the scary leap of launching a business. They talk about why building friendships with clients is key, how word-of-mouth can ma...2025-06-1145 min
Workplace WeirdnessTesla Termination & Time Zone EtiquetteWhat happens when you get fired by Elon Musk? For Billy Samoa, it wasn’t the end… It was the beginning. In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky chats with Billy Samoa Saleebey, founder and CEO of Podify, a media company that powers podcast production and promotion. Together, they explore how even the most jaw-dropping workplace experiences can become the spark for reinvention. Billy shares the story of how his career took a sharp turn when he was let go as Tesla’s global head of training—only to find that losing a job doesn’t mean losing your...2025-05-2846 min
Workplace WeirdnessTesla Termination & Time Zone EtiquetteWhat happens when you get fired by Elon Musk? For Billy Samoa, it wasn’t the end… It was the beginning.
In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky chats with Billy Samoa Saleebey, founder and CEO of Podify, a media company that powers podcast production and promotion. Together, they explore how even the most jaw-dropping workplace experiences can become the spark for reinvention. Billy shares the story of how his career took a sharp turn when he was let go as Tesla’s global head of training—only to find that losing a job doesn’t m...2025-05-2845 min
Workplace WeirdnessBreakup Bosses, Big Pivots and the Bro CodeIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Neil Sharma, co-founder of SolarKal, to explore his fascinating career journey. Neil's story is one of bold transitions—from crunching numbers at Bank of America to rocking out at MTV, and finally making an impact in clean tech. His path proves that pursuing diverse interests can lead to a truly fulfilling career.
They dive into listener questions on making career pivots, including transitioning from finance to event planning, navigating an unexpected job offer at a startup, and managing the awkward situation of working with a...2025-05-1447 min
Workplace WeirdnessBreakup Bosses, Big Pivots and the Bro CodeIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Neil Sharma, co-founder of SolarKal, to explore his fascinating career journey. Neil's story is one of bold transitions—from crunching numbers at Bank of America to rocking out at MTV, and finally making an impact in clean tech. His path proves that pursuing diverse interests can lead to a truly fulfilling career. They dive into listener questions on making career pivots, including transitioning from finance to event planning, navigating an unexpected job offer at a startup, and managing the awkward situation of working with a former online da...2025-05-1447 min
Workplace WeirdnessSouthwest Layoffs, JetBlue Origins, and Pregnant Work TravelIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky interviews culture-building expert Ann Rhoades, President of Peopleink and Former VP for the people department of Southwest Airlines. With experiences spanning JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, and DoubleTree Hotels, Ann has cultivated values-based corporate ecosystems, emphasizing the integral symmetry between employee and customer satisfaction. They discuss Ann's journey from finance to pioneering people-centric corporate cultures, share hilarious and insightful workplace anecdotes including a memorable encounter with a boa constrictor, and answer listener questions about tricky travel scenarios and awkward moments in the office. From Bloody Mary mishaps to the challenges of managing fr...2025-04-3041 min
Workplace WeirdnessSouthwest Layoffs, JetBlue Origins, and Pregnant Work TravelIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky interviews culture-building expert Ann Rhoades, President of Peopleink and Former VP for the people department of Southwest Airlines. With experiences spanning JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, and DoubleTree Hotels, Ann has cultivated values-based corporate ecosystems, emphasizing the integral symmetry between employee and customer satisfaction.
They discuss Ann's journey from finance to pioneering people-centric corporate cultures, share hilarious and insightful workplace anecdotes including a memorable encounter with a boa constrictor, and answer listener questions about tricky travel scenarios and awkward moments in the office.
From Bloody Mary mishaps to...2025-04-3041 min
Workplace WeirdnessGhost Posts, Start-up Takeover Glitches and Desk-PerchersIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky dives into the peculiarities of office life with guest Menaka Chang, a Fractional Chief People Officer. From an ex-employee treating the office like a personal lounge to navigating bureaucratic slowdowns in startups, they discuss the nuances of building high-performance cultures. They delve into the transition challenges when startups get acquired and how to maintain a performance-driven yet people-first culture. Tune in for insights on maintaining a people-first culture while still being performance-driven! Key Takeaways The significance of blending various life and career experiences to enhance leadership and team dynamics in...2025-04-1642 min
Workplace WeirdnessGhost Posts, Start-up Takeover Glitches and Desk-PerchersIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky dives into the peculiarities of office life with guest Menaka Chang, a Fractional Chief People Officer. From an ex-employee treating the office like a personal lounge to navigating bureaucratic slowdowns in startups, they discuss the nuances of building high-performance cultures. They delve into the transition challenges when startups get acquired and how to maintain a performance-driven yet people-first culture. Tune in for insights on maintaining a people-first culture while still being performance-driven!Key Takeaways
The significance of blending various life and career experiences...2025-04-1642 min
Workplace WeirdnessMeta Layoff Shame, Fake Recruiters and Dodgy HandoffsIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Adam Alpert, serial entrepreneur and founder of Pangea—a global talent marketplace shaking up the way companies hire contract and fractional workers. Adam’s career reads like a startup thriller, packed with wild twists, from pandemic-era "hacker houses" to the awkward nightmare of firing a co-founder while still sharing the same roof. His stories blur the lines between work and life in ways that are equal parts hilarious and brutally honest. They dive into the drama behind Meta’s recent layoffs—what really happened, and what it says abo...2025-04-0245 min
Workplace WeirdnessMeta Layoff Shame, Fake Recruiters and Dodgy HandoffsIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Adam Alpert, serial entrepreneur and founder of Pangea—a global talent marketplace shaking up the way companies hire contract and fractional workers. Adam’s career reads like a startup thriller, packed with wild twists, from pandemic-era "hacker houses" to the awkward nightmare of firing a co-founder while still sharing the same roof. His stories blur the lines between work and life in ways that are equal parts hilarious and brutally honest.They dive into the drama behind Meta’s recent layoffs—what rea...2025-04-0245 min
Workplace WeirdnessNavigating Creepy Boss Dads and Coasting Co-WorkersSome workplace problems have clear solutions, while others leave you wondering, Is this really happening? Imagine working for a small, family-owned business where the boss makes wildly inappropriate comments and hovers over female employees—while his wife, who runs HR, conveniently looks the other way. Do you speak up? Walk away? Just try to survive the workday? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky teams up with executive coach and HR expert Peter Vincent to unravel office chaos—from toxic family businesses and resignations gone wrong to holiday disasters that will make you cringe. With 30+ years of expe...2025-03-1942 min
Workplace WeirdnessNavigating Creepy Boss Dads and Coasting Co-WorkersSome workplace problems have clear solutions, while others leave you wondering, Is this really happening? Imagine working for a small, family-owned business where the boss makes wildly inappropriate comments and hovers over female employees—while his wife, who runs HR, conveniently looks the other way. Do you speak up? Walk away? Just try to survive the workday?In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky teams up with executive coach and HR expert Peter Vincent to unravel office chaos—from toxic family businesses and resignations gone wrong to holiday disasters that will make...2025-03-1942 min
Workplace WeirdnessSteering Honesty as a Policy + Awkward Flattery No-NosIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Karen Borchert, founder and CEO of Alpaca, an edtech company dedicated to supporting educators. They dive into the often-overlooked challenges teachers face—especially when it comes to engagement and recognition. Karen shares how Alpaca started with simple care packages and evolved into offering pulse surveys to help schools better understand and support their teachers. But it’s not all serious—Karen lightens the conversation with a hilarious office story involving an unexpected possum visitor. Maya and Karen also tackle some tough listener questions. One employee shares their frustratio...2025-03-0541 min
Workplace WeirdnessSteering Honesty as a Policy + Awkward Flattery No-NosIn this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Karen Borchert, founder and CEO of Alpaca, an edtech company dedicated to supporting educators. They dive into the often-overlooked challenges teachers face—especially when it comes to engagement and recognition. Karen shares how Alpaca started with simple care packages and evolved into offering pulse surveys to help schools better understand and support their teachers. But it’s not all serious—Karen lightens the conversation with a hilarious office story involving an unexpected possum visitor. Maya and Karen also...2025-03-0541 min
Workplace WeirdnessBack-stabbing Boss and Post-COVID WellnessEver wondered how to handle a boss who indulges in office gossip? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Maya Cadena, founder and CEO of Vetted Pet Health, a primary pet care service. Maya opens up about the unique challenges women face in business—especially when it comes to networking and securing investment. She shares her own struggles with bias, particularly in male-dominated spaces, and emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself in these environments. The episode doesn’t shy away from tackling other workplace challenges, including navigating COVID-19 policies and maintaining health and safety...2025-02-1943 min
Workplace WeirdnessBack-stabbing Boss and Post-COVID WellnessEver wondered how to handle a boss who indulges in office gossip? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Maya Cadena, founder and CEO of Vetted Pet Health, a primary pet care service. Maya opens up about the unique challenges women face in business—especially when it comes to networking and securing investment. She shares her own struggles with bias, particularly in male-dominated spaces, and emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself in these environments. The episode doesn’t shy away from tackling other...2025-02-1943 min
Workplace WeirdnessTreating Trauma with AI Plus AWOL CoworkerCan AI help heal trauma—and what does that mean for the workplace? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky welcomes Omer Golan, serial entrepreneur and founder of MyWhatIf, a nonprofit using AI to transform trauma care. Omer’s remarkable journey—from surviving a life-altering event to building cutting-edge solutions for mental health—is as inspiring as it is thought-provoking. And yes, you’ll also hear the unforgettable story about a mobster landlord dropping a quarter-million dollars in cash on his office couch. Maya and Omer also dive into workplace realities, including burnout, vulnerability in leadership, and finding sta...2025-02-0543 min
Workplace WeirdnessTreating Trauma with AI Plus AWOL CoworkerCan AI help heal trauma—and what does that mean for the workplace? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky welcomes Omer Golan, serial entrepreneur and founder of MyWhatIf, a nonprofit using AI to transform trauma care. Omer’s remarkable journey—from surviving a life-altering event to building cutting-edge solutions for mental health—is as inspiring as it is thought-provoking. And yes, you’ll also hear the unforgettable story about a mobster landlord dropping a quarter-million dollars in cash on his office couch.Maya and Omer also dive i...2025-02-0543 min
Workplace WeirdnessSurviving Small-Town Imposter Syndrome and Meditation BiasWhat if the key to a thriving workplace was something as simple as play? Could fostering creativity, community, and cognitive development unlock innovation and connection among employees? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by Yolonda Deon, founder of Mindful Play Learning, to discuss the power of "play" in the workplace. Yolonda, a certified birth and postpartum doula, shares her unique journey and insights on mindful play, highlighting how it fosters a positive work culture. They explore the three C's of play—community, creativity, and cognitive development—and how these elements improve engagement and productivity. Tune...2025-01-2246 min
Workplace WeirdnessSurviving Small-Town Imposter Syndrome and Meditation BiasWhat if the key to a thriving workplace was something as simple as play? Could fostering creativity, community, and cognitive development unlock innovation and connection among employees?In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by Yolonda Deon, founder of Mindful Play Learning, to discuss the power of "play" in the workplace. Yolonda, a certified birth and postpartum doula, shares her unique journey and insights on mindful play, highlighting how it fosters a positive work culture. They explore the three C's of play—community, creativity, and cognitive development—and how thes...2025-01-2246 min
Workplace WeirdnessCracking Gen Z Recognition, Jealous Bosses, And Stinky OfficesWhat makes a workplace truly exceptional? Is it the recognition employees receive—or how meaningful that recognition really is? How can leaders inspire trust, foster strong team dynamics, and bridge the generational gap? And when those awkward moments inevitably pop up—how do you handle them with finesse and empathy? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by the ever-inspiring David Homan—a CEO, composer, and superconnector. David's impact advisory firm orchestrates connections between startups, funds, and nonprofits, building relationships that scale and drive growth across industries. Together, Maya and David explore the importance of recogn...2025-01-0850 min
Workplace WeirdnessCracking Gen Z Recognition, Jealous Bosses, And Stinky OfficesWhat makes a workplace truly exceptional? Is it the recognition employees receive—or how meaningful that recognition really is? How can leaders inspire trust, foster strong team dynamics, and bridge the generational gap? And when those awkward moments inevitably pop up—how do you handle them with finesse and empathy?In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by the ever-inspiring David Homan—a CEO, composer, and superconnector. David's impact advisory firm orchestrates connections between startups, funds, and nonprofits, building relationships that scale and drive growth across industries. Together, Maya and David explore the im...2025-01-0850 min
Workplace WeirdnessHandling Election-Year Politics and Other Office Power PlaysWhat truly makes or breaks a thriving workplace? From whispered favoritism to tense political discussions during election seasons, the workplace is often a microcosm of life's most complex dynamics. These challenges don’t just shape daily interactions; they ripple through employee morale, mental health, and even career trajectories. Add in the need for authenticity, self-advocacy, and mentorship—especially for underrepresented groups like the Latinx community—and the stakes are even higher. In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with John Staines, managing partner of DHR Global Human Resources, to discuss peculiar office dynamics. John shares his ex...2024-12-2540 min
Workplace WeirdnessHandling Election-Year Politics and Other Office Power PlaysWhat truly makes or breaks a thriving workplace? From whispered favoritism to tense political discussions during election seasons, the workplace is often a microcosm of life's most complex dynamics. These challenges don’t just shape daily interactions; they ripple through employee morale, mental health, and even career trajectories. Add in the need for authenticity, self-advocacy, and mentorship—especially for underrepresented groups like the Latinx community—and the stakes are even higher.In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with John Staines, managing partner of DHR Global Human Resources, to discuss peculiar office dynami...2024-12-2540 min
Workplace WeirdnessNavigating Micromanagement and Awkward Moments at WorkAre you tired of feeling like you’re stuck in a bizarre workplace circus? Ever wonder how those cringe-worthy micromanagement moments or awkward encounters can actually be transformed into stepping stones for growth? Welcome to the very first episode of Workplace Weirdness! Join host Maya Kadar Kovalsky as she kicks off this exciting journey into the quirks and challenges of the modern workplace. In this debut episode, Maya chats with the incredible Kavita Vora, Chief People Officer of BrainPOP, as they delve into the complexities of workplace dynamics, sharing personal anecdotes and addressing listener questions. They discuss challenges like micromanagement, em...2024-12-1141 min
Workplace WeirdnessNavigating Micromanagement and Awkward Moments at WorkAre you tired of feeling like you’re stuck in a bizarre workplace circus? Ever wonder how those cringe-worthy micromanagement moments or awkward encounters can actually be transformed into stepping stones for growth?Welcome to the very first episode of Workplace Weirdness! Join host Maya Kadar Kovalsky as she kicks off this exciting journey into the quirks and challenges of the modern workplace. In this debut episode, Maya chats with the incredible Kavita Vora, Chief People Officer of BrainPOP, as they delve into the complexities of workplace dynamics, sharing personal anecdotes and addressing listener qu...2024-12-1141 min
Workplace WeirdnessWorkplace Weirdness - TrailerWelcome to "Workplace Weirdness," the podcast that takes a deep dive into the delightful oddities of office life. Ever wondered why the break room smells like a science experiment or why your boss insists on using 'synergy' in every meeting? We've got you covered!Join Maya and her revolving door of guest hosts as they unravel the mysteries of cubicle culture and decode the cryptic behaviors of your coworkers. From bizarre email sign-offs to the enigma of office fridge politics, no topic is too weird for us to tackle.Each week, we'll talk about hot...2024-11-2101 min