Chewing the Fat Top 3 of 2024

As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to reflect on impactful conversations from “Chewing the Fat” a WorkForge podcast, and take a look at your most listened to sessions in 2024.  

Each of this year’s top three conversations featured a common theme: baby boomers retiring is a major concern for food manufacturers.  There’s a strong need to transfer and document years of knowledge, upskill and cross-train your current workforce, attract and retain younger generations and onboard employees better and faster.   

Check out this year’s top 3 most listened to episodes: 

1. "What Happens When Baby Boomers Retire" 

In the inaugural episode, we explored the retirement of the baby boomer generation, a significant shift for food manufacturing as seasoned professionals are reaching retirement age at a rate of over 11,000 per day!   

Katie Allen, CMO at WorkForge, and Tuesday Strong, Founder of Strong Performance Management, LLC, discuss strategies for: 

• Capturing retiring workers' knowledge 

• Improving training and onboarding 

• Attracting and retaining Millennial and Gen Z employees 

Key Takeaway: Employers must act now to preserve knowledge and adapt workforce strategies for the next generation. 

2. "A Recipe for DEI Success"

Host Katie Allen and guest Dr. Ronald Williams of Coppin State University delve into the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in food manufacturing, focusing on: 

• Strategies for smooth transitions in hiring and training 

• Integrating DEI into leadership programs to foster inclusivity 

• Enhancing retention and growth through equitable opportunities such as ensuring training is in many languages. 

Key Takeaway: DEI success starts with leadership commitment and a culture of inclusivity. 

3. "Upskilling: A Win-Win for the Organization and the Employee" 

This episode highlights upskilling as the solution to labor shortages, increasing production demands, and workforce generational shifts. Special guest David Adams, a workforce development expert and Forbes contributor, joined WorkForge CEO Nathan Walts to discuss: 

• Why upskilling is crucial 

• Challenges in identifying key skills 

• Practical approaches to workforce development 

• The role of AI in learning and upskilling 

• How upskilling benefits both companies and employees 

Key Takeaway: Upskilling addresses skills gaps and boosts engagement, benefiting both the employee and the employer.   

What’s Next for Chewing the Fat With WorkForge? 

Thank you to our listeners for tuning in and making our first year a success. Your feedback shapes the conversations we bring to the table. Expect more engaging topics, expert guests, and actionable insights in the new year. 

Have an idea for an episode or want to share which was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!  Don’t forget to subscribe to Chewing the Fat With WorkForge on your favorite podcast platform!