The Future Is Human
In a world racing toward automation, what makes us irreplaceable? The Future is Human explores how people and technology can grow together without losing what makes work meaningful: creativity, connection, and vulnerability. Hosted by Naomi Trickey and Ella McCann Tomlin from Mews, this podcast brings authentic, insight-driven conversations with leaders, innovators, and employees who are reimagining workplace culture. From candid stories of scaling organizations without sacrificing humanity to bold perspectives on diversity, AI, and leadership, each episode dives into what it really takes to build human-centered companies at scale. Whether you’re a People & Culture leader, a tech innovator, or simply curious about the future of work, you’ll hear fresh perspectives that challenge binary narratives and offer actionable insights to create workplaces where humans—and businesses—thrive. Because the future of work isn’t humans vs. technology. The future is human.
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What we gain and what we grieve when AI enters the workplace ft. Debora Gallo
June 9, 2026 • 43 MIN
AI is changing a lot more than the way we work - at an essential level, it’s changing the way we see ourselves. In this episode of The Future Is Human by Mews, host Ella McCann-Tomlin sits down with Debora Gallo, VP of Talent Development at Mews, to talk about what it really feels like to lead people through the AI era; a moment that is reshaping expertise, identity, connection and confidence at work. From her own experience of reinvention across Argentina, Australia and the Netherlands to the emotional shock of feeling “heard” by a machine, Debora offers candid and deeply human insights about agency, grief, optimism, leadership and the courage it takes to keep people at the centre when the pressure to move fast is everywhere.
“From AI anxiety to AI agency: how design leaders can navigate the shift" ft. Melanie Yencken
May 26, 2026 • 49 MIN
With AI occupying every nook and cranny of the workplace, designers are having to change the very way they think about their jobs. Because today, anyone can build anything. But not everyone knows what should be built. In this episode of The Future Is Human by Mews, host Naomi Trickey sits down with Melanie Yencken, Senior Director of Product Design for Growth and Premium at LinkedIn, to explore what AI is really changing about design, leadership and human creativity. From the invisible craft behind great products to why speed can be dangerous without judgment, Melanie’s insights prove that empathy, taste and emotional intelligence are becoming the most valuable currency for designers as execution gets automated.
Why are neurodivergent women the last to get diagnosed? ft. Noemi Varhelyi
May 12, 2026 • 38 MIN
What does inclusion in the workplace REALLY look like? For Noemi Varhelyi, it means giving people the space to truly be themselves instead of just accommodating differences. In this eye-opening episode of The Future is Human podcast, host Ella McCann-Tomlin sits down with Noemi, Customer Support Analyst at Mews and neurodiversity advocate, to explore how organizations can build genuinely inclusive cultures. Tune in for her candid and revealing insights on why ADHD and autism remain chronically underdiagnosed in women, why simple gestures like asking instead of assuming can be game-changers, and why the human touch - critical thinking, psychological safety, and authentic connection - must never be automated away. As the world gets more AI-driven, we ironically, can’t afford to get less human.
Should you build your leadership playbook from your worst experiences? ft. Pat Phelan
April 28, 2026 • 43 MIN
Can intentional leadership be the missing piece that boosts employee performance? In this episode of The Future Is Human podcast, host Naomi Trickey sits down with Pat Phelan, Chief Revenue Officer at GoCardless for an eye-opening conversation about what’s REALLY required from leaders today. Tune in for his tried and tested strategies on building high-performing teams across global regions, keeping empathy and purpose at the center of both customer and employee experiences and being the guardian of your employees’ careers. In today’s day and age, it can be a real struggle to balance growth with values, but ironically, it’s a non-negotiable to do so. Tune in to find out how you, as a leader, can make it a reality.
Is fundraising about the pitch deck or the person? ft. Hemant Godhwani
April 14, 2026 • 40 MIN
What does human leadership look like in a world shaped by pressure, performance, and increasingly powerful technology? In this episode of The Future Is Human, host Ella McCann-Tomlin sits down with Hemant Godhwani, VP of Corporate Finance, Corporate Development, Investor Relations, and Treasury at Mews, to discuss why relationships remain irreplaceable in high-stakes fundraising, how to build authenticity while selling, and why structure matters as startups scale.
Does mindset matter more than skill when hiring? ft James Stanier
March 31, 2026 • 48 MIN
What do fun, curiosity and human connection have to do with scaling technology teams successfully? As James Stanier, CTO, Veterinary at Nordhealth reveals in this episode of The Future is Human podcast - everything. Tune in as he and host, Naomi Trickey, explore why hiring for mindset matters more than experience, how to maintain trust and collaboration across remote teams and the critical strategies for keeping your organization human-centered as AI transforms the workplace. It turns out - if the question is how to lead teams that don't just build great products, but grow great people, the answer lies in making fun part of the workplace again.
What happens when our safe spaces aren't safe for everyone? ft. Samir Habbad-Khaira
March 17, 2026 • 40 MIN
What if the communities built to keep us safe don't always get it right? And what if the workplaces committed to inclusion don't always go far enough? In this episode of Humans of Mews, host Ella McCann-Tomlin talks with Samir Habbad-Khaira, Customer Onboarding Manager at Mews, about what it means to exist at the intersection of multiple marginalised identities: queer, North African, Muslim-raised and a person of colour. They explore racism within LGBTQ+ spaces, the emotional toll of being both a community member and an activist and why doubling down on inclusion work even when times get tough isn't just an ethical choice - it's how you retain your best people.
Are human-first teams possible in the age of AI? ft. Brandon Sammut
March 3, 2026 • 42 MIN
Building deeply human teams in an increasingly automated world may sound like an oxymoron - but it isn’t. In fact, it should be #1 on your priority list. In this episode of The Future is Human, host Naomi Trickey welcomes Brandon Sammut, Chief People and AI Transformation Officer at Zapier, to explore why maintaining human connection is your competitive advantage, how to design AI adoption that enhances rather than replaces human creativity and the leadership behaviors that scale culture across 900+ distributed team members. From Zapier's three-pillar impact model (efficiency, quality, employee experience) to practical approaches for remote-first cultures that thrive, this episode unpacks it all.
Does becoming a mother reset your career? ft. Ally Mitchell
February 17, 2026 • 50 MIN
Becoming a parent changes everything - even the way you work. In this episode of The Future is Human podcast, host, Ella McCann-Tomlin, welcomes Ally Mitchell, Chief of Staff at Mews, to explore how pregnancy, birth, maternity leave and pregnancy loss intersect with career ambition, mental health and organisational culture. Drawing on her 15+ years in people operations, Ally shares raw, vulnerable insights into the isolation of being locked out of your work life while on maternity leave, managing anxiety and perfectionism and what leaders and organisations must do to genuinely support working parents.
How do we scale without losing our humanity? ft. Meri Williams
February 3, 2026 • 52 MIN
Scaling teams in the age of AI may seem like a race in efficiency, but the truth is - teams can’t make it without empathy. In the launch episode of The Future Is Human podcast, host Naomi Trickey sits down with Meri Williams, seasoned CTO and chair of LeadDev, to explore what makes teams truly successful. Listen in for their thoughts on why vulnerability and psychological safety are non-negotiable in intense work environments, how neurodivergence and lived experience reshape leadership and the critical strategies for building diverse teams that outperform homogeneous ones. The takeaway is simple: succeeding in tech is less about the shiny tools at your disposal and WAY more about making care, curiosity and critical thinking (deeply human traits) your competitive advantage.
The Future Is Human Trailer
February 2, 2026 • < 1 MIN
In a world racing toward automation, what makes us irreplaceable? The Future is Human explores how people and technology can grow together without losing what makes work meaningful: creativity, connection, and vulnerability. Hosted by Naomi Trickey and Ella McCann Tomlin from Mews, this podcast brings authentic, insight-driven conversations with leaders, innovators, and employees who are reimagining workplace culture. From candid stories of scaling organizations without sacrificing humanity to bold perspectives on diversity, AI, and leadership, each episode dives into what it really takes to build human-centered companies at scale. Whether you’re a People & Culture leader, a tech innovator, or simply curious about the future of work, you’ll hear fresh perspectives that challenge binary narratives and offer actionable insights to create workplaces where humans—and businesses—thrive. Because the future of work isn’t humans vs. technology. The future is human.
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