In this week’s episode of Punk Rock HR, Robin Schooling joins Laurie Ruettimann for an honest conversation about what’s broken in HR and what it’ll take to fix it. Robin’s new book, Real HR: What It Is, What It Can Be, and How to Get There, is part memoir, part manifesto, and thoroughly grounded in lived experience.
Robin opens up about a health scare that finally pushed her to finish the book after ten years. The episode explores big truths about the profession: why HR can’t be everything to everyone, how emotional labor is often misassigned, and what it means to build fair systems when you’re under-resourced and running out of patience.
Laurie and Robin trade stories, frustrations, and hard-earned lessons. They talk tech, power, authenticity, and why HR needs less theory and more guts.
If you care about the future of HR and want it to be less corporate fluff and more real talk, this one’s worth a listen.
In this episode, you will hear:
- Robin Schooling’s book, “Real HR: What It Is, What It Can Be, and How to Get There”
- Insights into Robin’s personal and professional journey, including a health scare that inspired her to complete her book
- Debunking common HR myths, such as HR’s role in emotional labor and solely protecting the company
- Emphasizing the importance of fair and equitable systems in HR practices
- Exploring the integration of technology in HR, including early adoption of tools like SMS-based chatbots
- Resourcefulness in HR, especially in budget-constrained environments
- Advocating for authentic, innovative, and impactful HR practices that challenge traditional boundaries
Resources from this Episode
Robin Schooling website: robinschooling.com
Connect with Robin on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robinschooling
Find Robin on Threads: www.threads.com/@robinschooling
Get “Real HR: What It Is, What It Can Be, and How to Get There”: realhrbook.com
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