Start the New Year Strong With These HR Communities and Podcasts
Let’s face it: January hits HR teams in a very specific way.
While many employees are easing back into routines, HR is already knee-deep in new policies, culture goals, talent planning, recruitment strategies, and more. On top of that, with everyone back from the holidays, you’ve got the return of “Do you have a minute?” conversations.
It’s a lot. And it’s easy to feel like you’re navigating it all on your own.
The good news? You don’t have to work alone. The world of HR is packed with communities, workplace learning tools, podcasts, and groups to keep you informed, supported, and connected to professionals facing the same challenges you’ve been juggling. These spaces are incredibly active, highly practical, and forward-facing. This makes them ideal for staying on top of HR trends, industry best practices, and the evolving world of people management
This blog highlights some of the strongest HR communities and podcasts to join before 2026 arrives.
HR Communities to Watch Out For
These are active, people-first hubs for HR networking, peer support, and community learning. Human resource professionals can swap templates, discuss tricky situations anonymously, and share real-world scenarios and case studies.
1. HR Exchange Network
Best for: Free resources, industry trends, connection
The HR Exchange Network is a global space for Human Resource professionals to access news, exchange ideas, attend virtual summits led by recognized thought leaders, and more. You can access everything from practical advice to industry insights, plus connection with over 270,000 members.
Best of all? Membership is free and gives you unlimited access to their work.
2. r/humanresources (Reddit)
Best for: Honest, unfiltered conversations
Have a specific or offbeat question? Want to share a win or or explore a decision you’re unsure about? This subreddit is the space to be.
As a platform, r/humanresources stands out as one of the most active HR advice forums online (approx. 1.6K weekly posts and conversations) of over 102,000 people, all of whom are navigating the world of human resources, which can often feel lonely or overly complex. Conversations range from employee relationships, challenges with compliance, dealing with leadership dynamics, and exploring tricky situations. The anonymity encourages unusually honest conversations, and it serves as a great way to see the full spectrum of issues HR pros across all industries are dealing with in real time.
3. The People People Group
Best for: HR mentorship opportunities, in-person and virtual events, hiring support
The People People Group is a highly active Slack-based community designed for HR, People Ops, and Talent professionals looking for practical advice and real-time connections. Members get access to topic-specific channels, curated resources, and a supportive network of like-minded individuals who readily answer questions, troubleshoot challenges, share wins, and talk openly about challenges.
The group offers both free and paid membership tiers ($29/month or $312/year), with premium members gaining access to structured mentorship, job boards, exclusive events, and more intensive peer-learning opportunities. Most notably, the free membership gives you access to the community and peers for networking and discussion.
4. Hacking HR
Best for: Future-focused HR insights, global networking, continuous learning
Hacking HR is one of the largest and most active HR communities for professionals who want to stay ahead of emerging workplace trends. What started as a grassroots movement has grown into a global network offering virtual conferences, live sessions, community discussions, and a rich library of on-demand content. The community brings together HR leaders, researchers, technologists, and practitioners who are rethinking how organizations approach people, culture, and the future of work.
Members can join the platform for free, gaining access to online events, curated learning tracks, and conversations on topics like AI in HR, leadership, culture transformation, and skills-based talent models. It’s a great fit if you're looking to stay on the cutting edge and connect with a broad, international community that embraces innovation over tradition.
5. Resources for Humans by Lattice
Best for: HR professionals wanting to adopt new strategies, access webinars, and host discussions
Resources for Humans is a human resource community created by Lattice. With over 23,000 people in their Slack channel, they aim to share ideas and discuss best practices. Members are encouraged to ask questions, guide one another through specific scenarios and challenges, and simply have a place to go for additional support when needed. Plus, the group has region-specific channels to help connect you to professionals close to you.
Best HR Podcasts to Check Out in 2026
1. HR Happy Hour
Steve Boese and Trish Steed have been hosting HR Happy Hour since 2009, sharing their knowledge of HR. A long-time favorite, HR Happy Hour covers everything from tech to leadership to the workforce trends we should be on the lookout for. Their start-of-year predictions and strategy episodes are particularly strong and can help HR leaders set a clear direction for 2025.
Here are some interesting episodes to start with:
Using People Analytics to Create Culture and Make Work More Human
Strategies for Reducing Employee Burnout and Supporting Mental Well-being
2. Transform Your Workplace
The Transform Your Workplace Podcast features short, thoughtful episodes that break down leadership challenges, communication skills, workplace culture trends, and employee engagement strategies for the modern workplace. Host Brandon Laws talks with industry leaders, HR experts, and more every week, making it the kind of podcast you can queue up on a walk and take away something actionable.
Check out the following episodes to get a taste of what it has to offer:
Catching People Doing Things Right with Martha Lawrence
Be Yourself at Work with Claude Silver
3. I Hate It Here with Hebba Youssef
Despite the name, I Hate It Here is not wholly a space for negative talk and complaining; although, those things aren’t disallowed. Rather, I Hate It Here publishes two episodes a week (Monday & Friday) on a variety of insights, advice, insights and lessons from Youssef and a variety of other experts with the intention of providing a safe space for jaded, burnt out HR professionals who, “need a little inspiration to tackle the newest dumpster fire of the week”.
While many other podcasts do offer more positive-slanted spaces, I Hate It Here brings the day-to-day challenges many human resource professionals face and and reminds HR professionals that they aren’t navigating those challenges alone.
Here are some episodes to start off with:
S8 E10: The Trust Paradox: Hard to Earn, Easy to Destroy, Impossible to Fake with Minda Harts
9: S7 E9: From Colleagues to Confidants: The Underrated Power of Work BFFs with Chris Hagood
4. People + Strategy Podcast
Created by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the People + Strategy Podcast holds smart, data-driven conversations on hybrid work, retention, HR analytics, and operational strategy. This is a great fit for HR pros who want a blend of research-backed insights, real stories, and practical takeaways.
Some episodes to check out first are:
The Power of Feedback: Building Trust and Leadership
The Art of Stability: Leadership Strategies for Uncertain Times
5. Good Morning, HR
Hosted by Mike Coffey, Good Morning, HR features thought leaders who explore strategies, psychology, legal requirements, and more when it comes to human resources. Coffey’s goal is to mentor the community and guide up-and-coming HR leaders, with episodes featuring topics from how to personalize employee engagement to helping your employees navigate the complexities of health insurance.
Coffey is also a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Fort Worth, the Texas Association of Business, the Fort Worth Chamber, and Texas SHRM, bringing a wide network and real-world perspective to his dialogues.
Here are some episodes to start off with:
Episode 223: Should We Hire for Character and Fit? with Mike Lyons
Episode 218: Recruiting and Retaining Blue-Collar Skilled Workers with Ryan Englin
Final Thoughts
If the past few years have shown HR anything, it’s that we thrive when we stay connected, curious, and willing to learn from each other. These communities and podcasts give you fresh ideas, real-world examples, and a genuine sense of belonging. That’s exactly what you need to navigate 2026 with confidence and momentum.
So pick one space to join, one episode to listen to, and let that be your starting point.
Here’s to a year of connection, growth, and a little more ease in the work you do every day.
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Look for a community that matches your goals: a Slack group for quick feedback, a global network for broader insights, or a local chapter for in-person connection.
Consider how active the space is, whether it offers mentorship or events, and whether the tone feels supportive.
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Podcasts let you learn passively, like during a commute, a walk, or downtime between meetings. They’re also conversational, which means hosts and guests often share stories, examples, and insights that don’t always make it into formal articles. This helps solidify new ideas and highlights how many of these stories come from real workplaces and real people.
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HR communities are great for perspective and conversation, but they can’t replace structured development, especially when it comes to culture, communication, or inclusion.
If your team needs hands-on guidance, facilitated sessions, or tailored training, outside support can accelerate progress and reduce stress. By investing in training services, you get expert guidance and first-voice experiences.
If you’re looking to start your workplace learning journey, start exploring our in-person and virtual training options today.
