Work, Words & Wankernomics

In the first episode of 2026, Jenni Field and Chuck Gose are back with a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what the world of work really needs to leave behind.

They start by sharing the leadership, culture and communication habits that should have stayed in 2025 – from performative “authenticity” and meaningless values to treating AI as either a miracle cure or an existential threat.

The conversation then turns to employee happiness. Drawing on recent research, Jenni challenges the idea that leaders are responsible for happiness at work, arguing instead that feeling respected, supported and energised is the baseline of credible leadership – not a perk.

Jenni and Chuck also unpack:

• Why trends are often marketing fluff (and why predictions are more useful)
  
• Whether internal communication is facing an identity crisis
  
• When buzzwords help – and when they create unnecessary chaos
  
• Why open-plan offices don’t work, and what the office should be for now
  
  

Articles mentioned in this episode:

• New Data Shows The Surprising Payoff Of Employee Happiness
• What are the trends shaping internal comms and the workplace in 2026?
  
• Are buzzwords bad?
• The open office is a lie