342. Latest A.I. releases, iced coffee wars and well-being bees. PLUS! Does it only takes seven seconds to make a first impression?

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we dive into viral interview etiquette, ultra-fast AI tools for work triage, workplace beekeeping, the science of first impressions, and answer your burning workplace surgery questions. 🚀 Special Announcement: Cornerstone Launch Before we jump into the news, Al and Leanne share an exciting update about the launch of Cornerstone! Be sure to register your interest and join the waitlist via our Tally form: • Register for Cornerstone: https://tally.so/r/BzDXKY 🔥 Stories covered 1. The "Iced Coffee War of 2026": Gen Z interview etiquette or arbitrary rules? A viral TikTok from recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen sparks an international debate: is bringing an iced coffee to a job interview unprofessional, or does rejecting a candidate over a beverage highlight everything wrong with modern hiring? We break down the generational dynamics, power imbalances in hiring, and the psychological concept of "deflection of anxiety". • Source: CNBC (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/25/iced-coffee-job-interview.html) • TikTok original: @caitlinrecruiter (https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlinrecruiter/video/7686166507759455501) 2. Meet Jev: The ultra-fast "System 1" AI classifier Unlike ChatGPT or Claude, Jev isn't a conversational chatbot or code generator. Co-created by a co-inventor of ChatGPT, Jev is an API-based tool designed specifically for fast, structured decision-making, triage, and noise reduction—handling inbox management, survey filtering, and real-time meeting prompts. • Learn more & nerd out: Book a call with Al! 3. Is beekeeping the new employee wellbeing trend? Forget webinars and gym memberships—employers are installing hives and sending staff to apiaries for "experiential depth" and connection to nature. We discuss whether hands-on wellbeing actually helps, or if it risks becoming another form of "forced fun" masking deeper workload issues. • Source: HR Magazine (https://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/content/news/is-beekeeping-the-latest-employee-wellbeing-trend) 🧠 Truth or Lie: Does it really take seven seconds to make a first impression? From Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink to leadership experts, the idea of the seven-second rule is widely accepted. We examine the psychological research on speed versus accuracy—revealing how facial judgements occur in as little as 34 milliseconds, but why true accuracy actually takes about 60 seconds. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week, we answer three listener questions: • Replacing a legendary manager: How to step into a GM role and establish authority when taking over from a leader who has been there for decades. • Mission vs. Manipulation: Where is the line between inspiring employees with purpose and using company mission to guilt them into overworking? • Targeting low engagement: When one team in a survey scores drastically lower than the rest, is the manager automatically to blame? 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.