Be Our Guest
Thank you so much for considering an invitation to be on an episode of the WSS podcast.
Be Our Guest on the Work Shouldn’t Suck Podcast
A values-centered show about designing workplaces that actually work—for people and results.
Hosted by Tim Cynova, Work Shouldn’t Suck brings practical, hopeful conversations with leaders, makers, and mischief-friendly doers across nonprofits, B Corps, arts & culture, education, tech-for-good, and public interest orgs.
Thinking about joining us? Below you’ll find what the show’s about, who listens, the kinds of topics that land, and exactly what to expect from “yes” through release day.
Quick Facts
Format: Conversational interview (40–55 minutes)
Release cadence: Weekly/bi-weekly
Tech: “Double-ender” recording (each mic records locally while continuously uploading in the background for the cleanest audio)
Scheduling: Flexible; we’ll send a booking link after you accept
Prep: Light—see framing questions below
Editing: We remove filler words/long pauses, level audio, and add music/credits
Shareables: You’ll get clips, quote graphics, and links for your channels
Links: We’re happy to include resource links in the show notes (bio, org, tools, articles, events)
Who Listens (Audience & Reach)
Our listeners are practitioners and leaders who care about values, outcomes, and practical tools:
Roles: CHRO/People & Culture, COOs, Executive Directors, team leads, program designers, founders, and curious individual contributors
Sectors: Nonprofits, arts & culture, higher ed, civic tech, social enterprise/B Corps, philanthropy, mission-driven startups
Geography: Primarily U.S., with listeners in Canada, U.K., and beyond
By the numbers (update as needed):
Newsletter: [X,XXX] subscribers (average open [XX%])
Social reach (LinkedIn + Instagram): [XX,XXX]
Listener locations: [~XX% U.S., ~XX% Canada/U.K./EU, ~XX% elsewhere]
What resonates most: candid, concrete stories; values-aligned decisions under pressure; “here’s the template we used”; lessons you’d actually repeat.
The Angle (What This Show Is Really About)
We explore how people design humane, high-performing workplaces—where policy, practice, language, and offerings line up with values. We’re curious about trade-offs, experiments, and the moves behind the mission.
Episode energy: practical, reflective, occasionally playful; zero “thought-leadership bingo.”
Recent & Recurring Topics
Hiring as improv; building equitable, modern hiring loops
“Snapback” prevention: keeping inclusive practices after the crisis fades
Culture change in construction, climate-justice HR, and public-facing organizations
Rethinking handbooks, compensation transparency, and remote-first ops
Onboarding that actually teaches how work gets done (not just where the files live)
Co-creating policies with staff; aligning boards and leadership on risk
Grief and loss at work—beyond bereavement—to projects, routines, and people
What leaders wish they’d done 6 months earlier
Framing Questions We Might Explore
We’ll tailor these to you, but a typical conversation draws from:
What’s a workplace challenge you’ve actually solved (or learned from trying)?
The non-obvious choice: a moment you chose values over velocity—what happened next?
Where policy, practice, and language misaligned—and how you realigned them.
Hiring, onboarding, and growth: what you stopped doing that made the biggest impact.
A tool/ritual you’d share with listeners (doc, template, checklist).
How you navigate risk, compliance, and inclusion without losing momentum.
The change you’re experimenting with this quarter—and how you’ll know if it worked.
Want to steer the convo? Tell us the one story you must get on tape.
What We’ll Need From You
Short bio (100–150 words) — third person, current title/roles
Headshot — 1,200px+ square preferred (JPG or PNG)
Resource links — org/site, key projects, articles, tools, upcoming events
Pronunciation notes — your name/orgs if helpful
Any “no-go” areas — if there are topics you’d prefer to skip
You can drop these via our intake form after scheduling, or email them to us.
Tech Details (Simple + Solid)
We use a double-ender setup: your audio is recorded locally on your computer (highest quality) while also uploading continuously in the background. If Wi-Fi blips, your file is safe.
What you need:
A computer with Chrome/Edge and a stable internet connection
A decent mic (USB mics like ATR2100/Blue Yeti are great; AirPods work in a pinch)
Wired headphones (best) or earbuds to prevent echo
A quiet room (soft surfaces help)
We handle the rest: session link, backup tracks, and file capture.
What to Expect (Step-by-Step)
Invitation & Scheduling
You’ll get a booking link with a few time options. Once confirmed, you’ll receive a calendar invite with the recording link and this page.Light Prep (Optional)
Skim the framing questions above; flag anything you’re excited to cover. Share your bio/headshot/links when you can.Recording Day (60 minutes total)
5–10 min mic check & warmup
40–50 min conversation (we guide the flow—no need to memorize anything)
We’ll remind you to speak naturally; we edit out filler words, long pauses, and stumbles.
Post-Production
We clean audio, remove “ums,” level volume, add music, write show notes, and pull 1–3 quotable clips/graphics.Approval (Optional)
If you want a quick listen for factual accuracy or sensitive items, tell us up front—we’ll accommodate a light factual check window.Release & Promotion
On release day, we’ll send you: episode link, show notes, audiograms/reels, quote graphics, and suggested copy for your channels.
Guest Guidelines (to Make You Sound Great)
Use headphones; keep your mic 4–6 inches from your mouth, slightly off-axis.
Mute notifications and close noisy apps.
Feel free to pause and restart a sentence anytime—we’ll edit seamlessly.
Stories > slogans. Concrete examples and numbers travel farther than generalities.
Bring one practical takeaway (a framework, rubric, or link) our audience can use tomorrow. We’ll add it to the show notes.
After You Say “Yes”
We’ll send scheduling + intake.
You’ll get a short reminder before the session with your link and a 30-second mic check tutorial.
We record, we edit, we ship you promo assets.
You shine; our listeners learn.
Ready to Join Us?
Button: Yes, I’m in—let’s schedule
Button (secondary): Have a quick question?
Example Show Notes (What We Publish)
Title: [Your Name] on [specific, concrete angle]
Summary: 2–3 lines on the problem, the move you made, and the result
Resources: your links, tools/templates, any books/articles mentioned
Pull-quotes: 1–2 short lines
Credits: Guest bio, host bio, production credits