Welcome to HR Would Like a Word — a brutally honest, painfully funny podcast chronicling real stories of terrible decisions made by powerful people. These are the kinds of tales HR departments whisper about over cocktails and compliance training.
Told with dry wit and forensic-level attention to ego, each episode is a true story (yes, actually true) with names changed just enough to protect the legally exposed. Hosted by Benedict Sterling, we shine a spotlight on the moments when intelligence failed, self-awareness disappeared, and HR had to step in.
New episodes drop every Friday. Just real people, making unreal choices.
This episode shares workplace stories and anecdotes, inviting listeners to submit their own awkward or absurd experiences for potential inclusion in future episodes.
27 Jun 2025
Private Jets, Pivot Tables, and Federal Charges
This episode explores how a finance professional embezzled corporate funds for personal use, revealing the unraveling of the scheme by an intern, showcasing the consequences of fraud.
30 May 2025
The Billionaire Who Tried to Book the Pope
Richard, a car wash billionaire, seeks a private meeting with the Pope, tasking his lieutenant Victor with navigating holy lobbying and canon law to achieve the impossible.
23 May 2025
Bob Went on a Business Trip. The Car Never Came Back.
This episode explores a humorous corporate travel mishap involving Bob, who left a rental car behind after a business trip, resulting in unexpected expenses and a lesson in travel policy.
16 May 2025
She Posted the Layoff Plan in the Women’s Channel. Instant Disaster.
Meet Cynthia. Head of Strategy. Master of buzzwords. Dangerously confident with file attachments. In this episode, one click in the company’s women’s Slack channel triggers a full-scale layoff leak—complete with names, dates, and a Caribbean vacation itinerary. What follows is chaos, crying, and a crash course in how not to handle confidential information. It’s real. It’s corporate catastrophe. And it all started with: “LAYOFF PLAN CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISTRIBUTE.” “Cynthia… was the word ‘la...
9 May 2025
The Billionaire’s Wife Said One Sentence. It Changed Everything.
Fresh off abandoning his team on a French tarmac, Richard is back—and somehow even less self-aware. In this episode, a champagne-soaked dinner at Richard’s luxury hotel takes a sharp left turn when he publicly praises his CEO… then privately orders her firing minutes later. Fortunately, not everyone at the table had lost their mind. It’s real. It’s ruthless. And it’s a masterclass in how not to run a business—or a dinner party. Because when you inherit an empire called Soak & Blow, humili...
2 May 2025
Claire's First Class Meltdown
Claire was ready. Color-coded sock drawer. Laminated onboarding email. Confidence set to 100. Then Newark Airport happened. In this episode, a first day unravels at 30,000 feet—after panic, missed flights, and a full emotional meltdown in short-term parking. Fortunately, she had Marcy. And a backup outfit. It’s real. It’s a mess. And somewhere out there, people are still calling her Gate F24. “THIS AIRPORT IS DESIGNED BY THE DEVIL.” — Claire, mid-breakdown in Newark short-term parkingKnow a r...
25 Apr 2025
The Transition Heard ’Round the Office
Chad is back. Yes—that Chad. The guy who once lost a fight with a trampoline and let a YouTube boxer hit on his wife in Vegas. This time, he’s not shirtless in the suburbs or bragging at dinner. He’s behind a microphone. And he’s about to turn a deeply personal announcement into an all-staff crisis. It’s real. It’s excruciating. And somehow, Chad still thinks he nailed it. “Everyone needed to know about the bathroom thing.” — Chad, confusing dignity with logistics Know a real-life Michael Sco...
18 Apr 2025
How to Lose Your Dignity at 30,000 Feet
This is Richard. Billionaire. Car wash mogul. The kind of boss who thinks clapping counts as leadership and jet fuel is a personality trait. In this episode, Richard invites his top lieutenant on a private jet. What follows is a masterclass in power trips, precision scheduling, and a level of ego that makes Chad look downright self-aware. It’s real. It’s ridiculous. And unfortunately, it’s just the beginning. Oh—and wait until you hear what his car wash empire is called. Know a real-life Mich...
11 Apr 2025
One Last Round (and a Tow Truck)
This is Big Mike. Executive. Former college athlete. The kind of guy who thinks “team culture” means open bar and bad decisions. In this episode, one night out turns into one very public disaster—with HR, the internet, and a tow truck all involved by morning. It’s real. It’s reckless. And it left a dent you’ll need more than PR to fix. Know a real-life Michael Scott? Or just have a workplace story so awkward it deserves its own HR file? We want to hear it. Funny, absurd, or jaw-droppingly to...
5 Apr 2025
This Is Why Chad Can't Have Tools
Chad is back. CEO. Shirtless in the suburbs. The kind of guy who skips the instructions, cracks a beer, and decides he’s got this. In this episode, Chad takes on a backyard trampoline with nothing but overconfidence and a thirst for dad glory. What follows is a physics-defying disaster, one misplaced spring, and a moment so painful it echoes across the neighborhood (and his reproductive future). It’s real. It’s ridiculous. And Chad’s still trying to convince everyone it was a bonding moment. ...
5 Apr 2025
The Executive Confession of the Century
This is Rick. Executive. Bluetooth headset guy. The kind of leader who ends emails with just his initials and thinks “executive presence” is a real metric. In this episode, Rick turns a routine meeting into a courtroom drama—complete with a panicked monologue, surprise evidence, and a final twist ending: he’s the one on trial. It’s real. It’s reckless. And Rick has no idea he just fired himself. This story has everything: drama, delusion, and one very confused HR department. Know a real-life ...
5 Apr 2025
The Expired Pastry That Nearly Took Out a CFO
This is Bradly. CFO. Spreadsheet wizard. The kind of guy who can model a buyout in Excel but refuses to acknowledge expiration dates. In this episode, Bradly ignores medical advice (from his doctor wife), basic food safety, and common sense—all for a pastry. What follows is a masterclass in self-inflicted disaster, featuring expired dairy, high-altitude regret, and a bathroom he may never emotionally recover from. It’s real. It’s a mess. And unfortunately for Bradly, he has no one to blame bu...
5 Apr 2025
A CEO, a Wannabe Boxer, and a Total Lack of Self-Awareness Walk Into a Bar
This is Chad. CEO. Loafers, no socks. The kind of guy who thinks bottle service counts as leadership and attention counts as admiration. In our debut episode, Chad tells a story at a corporate dinner that he thinks makes him look cool. It doesn’t. What starts as a night out in Vegas turns into an accidental masterclass in how not to be in charge. It’s real. It’s cringey. And unfortunately for Chad, it’s just the beginning. This story is hot. Chad’s wife, according to Chad, is hotter. He made ...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
4
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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