In this episode of DriveThruHR, Michael turns the mic on his longtime co-host, Robin Schooling, about her brand-new book, Real HR: What It Is, What It Can Be, and How to Get There. What unfolds is part interview, part therapy session, and part HR real-talk manifesto.

Robin shares the behind-the-scenes journey of writing a book that doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of the HR trenches. From the lonely moments to the WTF ones, Real HR is about cutting through the corporate noise and saying the quiet parts out loud. Michael and Robin talk about why empathy matters (like, actually matters), how storytelling makes us better HR humans, and why HR pros must stop waiting for permission to lead with their values.

Oh, and they also talk about burnout. (Because, duh, it’s HR.)

TL;DL (Too Long; Didn’t Listen) Takeaways:

• Real HR is messy, human, and long overdue.
• Writing a book is like doing HR: it’s hard, personal, and not for the faint of heart.
• Storytelling isn’t fluff—it’s how people learn and connect.
• Tech is a tool, not a substitute for empathy.
• Burnout is rampant; community and reflection are survival gear.
• Robin’s not done writing. Stay tuned.
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Grab your coffee, your sense of humor, and maybe a stress ball—this one’s for anyone who’s ever been “voluntold” to fix the unfixable