If It Ain't Broke, Break It with General Honoré
- If It Ain't Broke, Break It with General Honoré Evergreen Podcasts 26:16
Brace yourselves: The Chad & Cheese Podcast is back, this time with retired Lieutenant General Russell L. Honoré—who proves you can train and lead half a million troops and drop some epic truth bombs on HR, AI, and America’s obsession with cheap stuff.
In this spicy episode, we cover:
- HR Meets Boot Camp: General Honoré schools us on why leading people isn’t about asking, “You’re good, right?” and walking off like a clueless middle manager.
- Robots Can’t Cook Gumbo: Automation might make life easier, but it’s not making you a killer bowl of Cajun deliciousness—or fixing that flat tire you’re whining about.
- Recruitment Woes: From the Army’s “12 teeth rule” (yes, you read that right) to recruiting Gen Z kids glued to their phones, the General doesn’t hold back on what needs fixing.
- Boomers vs. Gen Z: Growing up poor meant fixing TVs with tinfoil and watching The Lone Ranger without a picture. Now? Kids need a new flat screen if the remote has dust on it.
- Mental Health Wake-Up Call: Spoiler alert: If your employee mentions seeing floating elephants, maybe don’t just tell them to get back to work.
Sprinkled with Honoré’s signature wit, biting honesty, and a dose of “adapt-or-die” Wisdom, this episode delivers laughs, snark, and some much-needed perspective on leadership in a rapidly changing world.
Strap in, folks—it’s time to break things (figuratively) and rebuild smarter.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: HR’s Most Dangerous Podcast
01:21 – Leadership Lessons from the Army
02:25 – The Art of Listening to Troops
03:20 – Managing Half a Million Troops
08:33 – Automation’s Impact on Society
12:05 – The Changing Economy and Workforce
15:16 – Adapt or Die: Breaking What’s Not Broken
17:04 – Recruiting Challenges: Then vs. Now
20:36 – Addressing Mental Health in Leadership
22:12 – Closing Thoughts: People Over Profits
