In The Business of Humans

The Unlikely Duo: Turning Workplace Dynamics into Lifelong Friendships (and Business Wisdom!) Meet Lynda Harvey and Joe Gilgoff : a former employee and boss who morphed their professional relationship into an extraordinary, decades-spanning friendship. With 40+ years of combined experience building, scaling, and supporting top-tier Customer Support and Service departments, they've seen it all. But here's their secret: they know that the business of working is all about the business of working with humans. Get proven business facts and refreshingly honest career advice in a conversation built on trust, experience, and an amazing friendship.

In The Business of Humans is a business podcast hosted by Lynda Harvey + Joe Gilgoff, with 16 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Lynda Harvey + Joe Gilgoff hosts In The Business of Humans, a business show with 16 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #6

  Keen presents: Employee Experience = Customer Experience: Why Happy Teams Create Loyal Customers

  Sep 10, 20261h 9mS2

  Want to create a better customer experience? Start with the people delivering it. In this episode of In The Business of Humans , Lynda Harvey and Joe Gilgoff explore the powerful—and often overlooked—connection between employee experience and customer experience . What happens when customer support employees are underpaid, undervalued, micromanaged, or given nowhere to grow? Eventually, customers feel it. Lynda and Joe unpack why the way companies treat their people shows up directly in customer interactions—and why investing in employees isn't just a culture initiative. It's a customer experience and business strategy. The conversation gets into compensation, autonomy, career growth, employee engagement, customer support, leadership, empathy, recognition, and workplace culture —and how each can ultimately affect customer satisfaction and loyalty. Joe also challenges the stigma surrounding customer service and support roles. Rather than treating CX as a cost center or an entry-level function sitting on the sidelines, what if companies recognized frontline employees for what they really are: some of the people closest to their customers? And the responsibility doesn't stop with the support team. Lynda and Joe discuss why everyone inside a company can play a role in customer experience , and what changes when organizations build a culture that keeps employees genuinely connected to the people they serve. Along the way, the conversation expands into sports, teamwork, friendship, kindness, empathy, gratitude, and the very human dynamics that determine whether teams—and businesses—thrive. In this episode: employee experience, customer experience (CX), employee engagement, customer service and support, company culture, leadership, compensation, career development, employee autonomy, empathy at work, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and building people-first organizations. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Business of Humans 00:32 Sponsorship and Drinking Episode Idea 01:24 Keen Sponsorship and Global Talent 02:17 Discussion on Utah's Data Center 03:33 The Great Salt Lake and Water Crisis 04:14 Impact of Water Usage on the Environment 06:05 Ousting of Political Leaders in Utah 07:28 Unity and Human Connection Through Sports 11:24 The Psychology of Team Dynamics in Sports 17:40 The Link Between Employee and Customer Experience 20:22 The Interconnectedness of Team and Customer Experience 23:33 The Stigma of Customer Support Roles 37:33 Investing in Employee Experience and Customer Support 43:40 The Impact of Employee Investment 44:19 Compensation, Autonomy, and Career Growth 48:06 The Role of Kindness and Empathy 49:24 Fostering a Positive Work Environment 50:33 The Significance of Genuine Gratitude 58:23 Customer Experience and Loyalty 01:03:00 The Importance of Kindness and Empathy 01:07:17 The Role of Employee Investment in Customer Satisfaction

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  Episode #5

  Keen presents: How to Actually Get Hired; modern recruiting secrets with e.l.f. Beauty's Gina Alvino

  Aug 27, 20261h 12mS2

  Megastar guest alert! What does it actually take to get hired in today's job market? Lynda and Joe sit down with Gina Alvino, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition at e.l.f. Beauty and a LinkedIn creator with more than 110,000 followers (and one of the best humans you'd ever meet) , for an inside look at how recruiting really works—and what candidates can do to stand out. Gina has spent nearly a decade in talent acquisition, including several years working alongside Joe at Daily Harvest before joining e.l.f. Beauty, where she now leads U.S. recruiting and helps shape global hiring strategy across the company's portfolio of brands. Together, Lynda, Joe, and Gina dig into the realities of today's challenging job market: why networking and referrals matter so much, how to get a recruiter's attention, what makes a candidate memorable, and the interview mistakes that can quietly knock you out of the running. They also get into career pivots, building new skills, LinkedIn and personal branding, handling failure, answering difficult interview questions, asking better questions as a candidate, and how AI is changing both recruiting and career development. Gina shares what she listens for when interviewing candidates—and the red flags job seekers should avoid. Plus: Joe and Gina revisit their Daily Harvest days, the group gets into a little LinkedIn drama, and somehow the conversation ends with a case for talking to more people about your dreams. Whether you're actively looking for a job, considering a career change, trying to grow your professional network, preparing for an interview, building your LinkedIn presence, or simply wondering what recruiters actually want , this episode is packed with practical advice from someone who spends every day on the other side of the hiring process. In this episode: the 2026 job market, recruiting and hiring, job search strategy, networking and referrals, interview tips, career pivots, LinkedIn and personal branding, AI in recruiting, career development, and how to stand out as a candidate. Takeaways Importance of genuine networking and business relationships Challenges and changes in the job market and recruiting landscape Navigating a challenging job market requires building new skills and considering career pivots. Networking and referrals play a crucial role in the job search process, providing opportunities to stand out and make meaningful connections. Navigating failure is an essential part of career growth. Crafting positive responses in interviews is crucial for success. Personal branding and embracing AI are key aspects of professional development. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Sponsor 01:24 Networking and Business Relationships 05:07 LinkedIn Drama and Guest Introduction 21:27 Transition to Hot Topics: Job Market and Recruiting 23:04 Navigating the Challenging Job Market 24:08 Building New Skills and Pivoting 25:32 The Power of Networking and Referrals 26:42 Standing Out in the Recruiting Process 48:42 Avoiding Red Flags in Interviews 49:39 Navigating Failure and Learning 50:23 Interviewing with Confidence and Self-Assessment 51:08 Crafting Positive Responses in Interviews 52:03 Listening for Key Qualities in Candidates 53:15 Asking Thoughtful Questions in Interviews 59:55 Personal Branding and Professional Presence 01:04:08 Finding Strengths and Embracing AI 01:09:21 Dreams and Normalizing Conversation Starters

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  Episode #4

  Toxic Workplaces Part II: How to Deal With a Toxic Boss (And Become a Better Leader)

  Aug 4, 20261h 14mS2

  What makes a boss truly great—and what makes a bad one unforgettable? In this special "Toxic Workplaces Part II" episode of In The Business of Humans , Joe Gilgoff and Lynda Harvey tackle one of the biggest factors in anyone's career: leadership . From toxic bosses and first-time managers to founder-led companies and workplace culture, they explore why so many people leave managers—not companies—and what separates leaders who inspire trust from those who quietly (or loudly) destroy it. Whether you've had a terrible boss, recently stepped into management, or are trying to become the kind of leader people genuinely want to follow, this conversation is filled with practical insights, honest stories, and actionable advice. Joe and Lynda discuss how self-awareness, emotional intelligence, empathy, accountability, and intentional leadership shape healthier teams—and why many organizations continue to promote great individual contributors without teaching them how to lead people. In this episode, they explore: The biggest mistakes new managers make Why toxic bosses damage trust, morale, and company culture How to recognize unhealthy leadership before it affects your career Moving from peer to manager without losing credibility Founder leadership: when passion becomes a strength—and when it becomes a liability Why recognition and appreciation matter more than many leaders realize Emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and coaching as leadership superpowers How employees can navigate difficult managers while protecting their well-being When workplace behavior crosses the line into harassment or unlawful conduct—and what employees should do Practical strategies for leading people with empathy, accountability, and authenticity Plus, a lighter conversation on staying calm under pressure and, somehow, Italian food prices Whether you're a CEO, founder, executive, people manager, HR leader, entrepreneur, customer experience professional, or an employee trying to navigate a difficult workplace, this episode offers practical lessons that can help you build healthier relationships, stronger teams, and a better career. If you're interested in leadership, management, toxic bosses, workplace culture, emotional intelligence, company culture, employee engagement, first-time managers, career growth, communication, organizational psychology, HR, management training, customer experience (CX), or professional development , this conversation is for you. Great leaders don't create followers. They create environments where people can do the best work of their careers.

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  Episode #3

  Humanity Through Video, with Ben Nathan + Fran Bryzski (Presented by: Hark)

  Jul 16, 20261h 13mS2

  Why does video create trust in ways that emails, Slack messages, and even AI often can't? In this episode of In The Business of Humans , Lynda and Joe are honored and thrilled to be joined by ultra-accomplished film maker Ben Nathan (Owner of All of Us Films, Impact Reel and much more), and cutting-edge entrepreneur Fran Bryzski (Founder + CEO of Hark). Together, the group explores why video storytelling has become one of the most powerful communication tools in business—and why authenticity matters. Whether you're a leader managing a remote team, building a company, creating content, working in customer experience, selling to customers, or simply trying to communicate more effectively, this conversation dives into why people connect with people—not perfectly polished messages. The group discusses how video helps preserve tone, emotion, empathy, and trust in ways that written communication often struggles to achieve. They also examine the growing role of AI in communication , where technology adds value, where it falls short, and why authentic human connection is becoming even more important in an increasingly automated world. Along the way, they explore: Why video builds trust faster than email, Slack, or text The psychology behind authentic communication and human connection How leaders can use video to build stronger teams and company culture Customer experience, customer feedback, and the emotional power of seeing real people Why authenticity consistently outperforms perfection The evolving relationship between AI and human communication The challenges of remote work and digital collaboration Practical ways to become a more confident communicator on camera Why storytelling remains one of the most valuable leadership skills in business Ben and Fran left Lynda and Joe with incredible stories and lessons to savor for life; and we're confident you'll feel the same way! Takeaways Video as a powerful medium for storytelling and communication The importance of authenticity and human connection in video content Video as a Powerful Communication Tool Authenticity in Communication Chapters 00:00 The Power of Video Storytelling 28:59 The Impact of Authenticity 37:50 Introduction and Panel Guests 38:16 Fran Briskey's Background and Role at Hark 39:32 Ben's Experience with Ken Burns and Video Impact 40:55 The Emotional Impact of Video 41:38 The Role of Video in Creating Human Bonds 42:08 Fran's Multitasking and Video's Impact on Communication 43:32 The Power of Video in Customer Feedback 44:25 The Influence of Video in Business Decision-Making 45:21 The Impact of Video on Brand Loyalty and Customer Engagement 46:14 The Role of Video in Human Connection and Understanding 50:20 Authenticity in Video Content Creation 51:35 The Use of Video in Documentary Filmmaking 51:57 The Importance of Authenticity in Video Content 01:00:35 The Impact of Video on Personal Branding and Communication 01:04:38 The Frustration with AI Communication and Technology 01:06:06 The Challenge of Authenticity in Written Communication 01:07:01 The Frustration with Technology and Communication Tools 01:11:30 Conclusion and Thank You

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  Episode #2

  Code Switching at Work: Authenticity, Leadership & Belonging

  Jul 7, 20261h 10mS2

  <p><b>What does it really mean to "code switch"—and how much of yourself should you change to succeed?</b></p><p></p><p>In this episode of <b>In The Business of Humans</b>, co-hosts Lynda Harvey and Joe Gilgoff are honored to be joined by <b>two extremely accomplished and brilliant guests: Dr. Wendy Johnson and Clarence Bongalos. </b>Together, the group takes an honest look at one of the most complex topics in today's workplace: <b>code switching</b>.</p><p></p><p>Whether you're navigating leadership, managing a team, interviewing for a new role, building yo...

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