Best Work of Fiction by NOBL Collective Podcasts (2025)

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Leadership, Learning and Letting Go in Top Gun: Maverick 33:38

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3y ago33:38

33:38

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell has been recalled to Top Gun—but this time, as a teacher. Can he overcome his maverick tendencies to turn the newest hot shot pilots into a team? Join NOBL as we discuss:- If leadership can be taught (1:04)- Special considerations for leading a team of high-performers (5:00)- When to get involved and when to let go as a lea…

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Coming Soon: Leadership, Learning, and Letting Go in Top Gun: Maverick 2:14

3y ago2:14

2:14

Coming this Sunday: an all-new episode exploring what it means to lead a high-performing team, as depicted in Top Gun: Maverick. We'll debate whether leadership can be taught, when to grip and when to let go as a leader, and more. Don't miss out—subscribe to get the latest updates!By NOBL Collective

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Bringing Your Whole Self to Work in "Severance" 31:41

3+ y ago31:41

31:41

To work at mysterious corporation Lumen, Mark Scout has undergone a “severance” procedure: when he’s at work, he only remembers what happens work, and when he’s at home, he only remembers what happens at home. But when a former coworker shows up at his home, Mark starts to questions what exactly he’s doing during his 9-5. In other words, it’s the p…

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DEI and The Suicide Squad 35:34

3+ y ago35:34

35:34

A team consisting of a half-man/half-shark, a woman who controls rats, and a man who wields polka dots as a weapon… what better opportunity to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations? The Suicide Squad provides surprisingly insightful commentary into what it means to create a working environment where everyone—supervillain or othe…

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Winning People over to Change in Morning Glory 37:22

4y ago37:22

37:22

Warring colleagues, shrinking budgets, low morale: TV producer Becky has only a few weeks to turnaround a troubled morning show before it’s cancelled. If she’s going to make it, she’ll have to quickly learn:- How to cope with sudden change - How to convince others to try doing things differently - Deciding if it’s time to walk away- The pros and co…

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Sparking Change Movements in "Snowpiercer" 44:34

4+ y ago44:34

44:34

Ever felt like getting change started in your organization would take a full-blown revolution? In Snowpiecer, Curtis leads the underclass as they fight from the back of the train to control the engine at the front. Aside from the apocalyptic frozen wasteland outside, the story has a lot in common with change movements within teams, including:- The …

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Generational Differences and Purpose at Work in Clerks 49:22

4+ y ago49:22

49:22

When they’re not harassing customers, playing hockey on company time, or debating the risks of working on the Death Star, Dante and Randall serve as clerks at the Quick Stop Grocery and video rental store. This classic portrayal of Gen X “slackers” offers a surprisingly insightful look at:- Stereotypes of Gen X in the workplace- “Selling Out” vs. “…

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Transforming a Team with "Ted Lasso" 38:26

4+ y ago38:26

38:26

When American football coach Ted Lasso is brought over to England to coach “football” football, no one—not the fans, the players, or even his boss—expect anything but a complete fiasco. But the “Lasso Way” slowly wins people over, and in fact serves as the perfect blueprint for any leader trying to transform a team. This episode’s highlights:- Lead…

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Managing First-Time Managers from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist 54:30

5y ago54:30

54:30

As a newly promoted manager at San Francisco startup SPRQPoint, Zoey must build team spirit, placate a demanding boss, and navigate office relationships—all while people break into song and dance around her, expressing their innermost thoughts and desires. Whether you’re stepping into a leadership role for the first time, stepping up into a new rol…

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Trust and Workplace Surveillance in The Circle 41:46

5y ago41:46

41:46

When Mae gets a job at Amazon/Google/Facebook stand-in The Circle, her work quickly becomes her life: constant customer feedback tracks her performance, tiny cameras follow her every movement, and her social profile keeps her engaged with other employees. As companies demand ever more from their employees, it’s a chance to discuss:- Customer-centri…

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Working in a Culture of Fear: Monsters, Inc. 59:05

5+ y ago59:05

59:05

While the monsters of Monsters, Inc. might think they’re in the business of scaring children, they’re the ones who should be scared: their workplace is a culture of cutthroat competition, toxic colleagues, cover-ups, and misplaced company values. This delightful children’s movie is really an opportunity to uncover the impact of fear on organization…

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How Not to Murder Your Coworkers: The Lighthouse 46:42

5+ y ago46:42

46:42

Quarantine making you stir crazy? Can’t take one more Zoom meeting with colleagues? Then you’ll appreciate the predicament facing the two characters in The Lighthouse: stuck on an island for four weeks, living in close quarters, with no one else to distract them from their endliess chores. We discuss:- How to start a relationships with colleagues o…

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Startup Culture in "Silicon Valley" 32:30

5+ y ago32:30

32:30

When developer Richard comes up with a new technology for file compression, he finds himself suddenly launched into the heart of startup culture in Silicon Valley. We take a look at the early stages of Pied Piper, and what it means for: - The difference between purpose, mission, vision, and values—and why they matter (3:53)- The different stages of…

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Workplace Sexism and Female Leadership in Working Girl 40:04

5+ y ago40:04

40:04

By NOBL Collective

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Brilliants Jerks and Innovation at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory 31:25

5+ y ago31:25

31:25

By NOBL Collective

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How Leaders Impact Company Culture: Visiting Santa's Workshop and More in Elf 33:24

6y ago33:24

33:24

By NOBL Collective

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Succession (Season 1) 1:06:34

6y ago1:06:34

1:06:34

For the Roy family, business is nastily, backstabbing-ly personal: when their father, the founder of Waystar Royco, is incapacitated, it sets off a battle for leadership of the media conglomerate. In other words, it’s a great case study for talking about: the unique challenges facing family businesses, what happens when (and if) a founder leaves, i…

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Offices from Hell 1:22:25

6y ago1:22:25

1:22:25

Does your workday last an eternity? Ever wondered if you’ve sold your soul just for a paycheck? In this very special Halloween episode, we look at literal offices from Hell as portrayed in The Good Place, The Devil’s Advocate, and Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell. It’s a devilishly good time as we discuss: 1) Psychic prisons, instruments of domina…

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Office Space 54:37

6y ago54:37

54:37

Did you get the memo? This 1999 cult film shows what happens when typical office drone Peter finally has enough of middling managers and useless consultants. It’d be greaaaaaat if you’d join us for a conversation about: Purpose, impact, and employee engagement, The organization as metaphor, Emotional labor in the workplace, Blue Collar vs. White Co…

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The Intern 57:16

6+ y ago57:16

57:16

70-year old Ben Whittaker is hired as “Senior Intern” at an e-commerce startup, where he meets the savvy but overworked founder Jules Ostin. Though he faces skepticism initially, Ben wins over the team, serving as a font of wisdom as Jules debates whether to replace herself as CEO. It’s an insightful look into: The founder’s journey and the importa…

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Up in the Air 58:10

6+ y ago58:10

58:10

Ryan Bingham flies around the country firing people (sorry, “transitioning” them)—until he finds his job threatened by a proposal from his new, younger, digitally savvy colleague Natalie Keener. In this episode, we do a deep dive into introducing change, examining: How to address the losses associated with change, best practices for communicating a…

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Avatar 57:01

6+ y ago57:01

57:01

Jake Sully is shipped off to the moon of Pandora, where militant human invaders and native tribes are in desperate need of some basic conflict resolution training. This bioluminescent backdrop provides unique insights into: Leadership Styles, Types of Motivation in the Workplace, Building Trust as a Leader, and Negotiation Tactics.…

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Game of Thrones (through Season 7) 43:12

6+ y ago43:12

43:12

Power struggles at your office making you feel like you’re working in Westeros? In our first episode dedicated to a TV series, we look at the different leadership styles of Cersei Lannister, Daenyers Targaryen, and Jon Snow, and how leaders attain (and maintain) power. We cover topics like: Leading in War and Peace Time, Sociopathy and Leaders, Tra…

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Devil Wears Prada 1:07:02

6+ y ago1:07:02

1:07:02

Wannabe journalist Andie will get any job she wants—if she can just survive a year as an assistant to Runway Magazine's notorious editor, Miranda Priestly. If you’ve ever had a boss who makes impossible demands—and it seems like everyone’s had at least one—this one’s for you. This episode covers: Challenges of Female Leadership, Surviving Toxic Wor…

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Men in Black 57:36

6+ y ago57:36

57:36

Don’t let the aliens fool you: Men in Black is really about recruiting and onboarding new employees. When NYC beat cop James has a run-in with an alien, he’s initiated into the secretive world of the Men in Black, a shadowy organization dedicated to protecting the universe. Birthing squid babies, erasing memories, defeating giant cockroaches—and yo…

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Fight Club 1:00:12

7y ago1:00:12

1:00:12

That’s right, we’re talking about Fight Club. In Episode 3, we compare the employee experience at the film’s nameless (and soulless) automotive recall agency with life-affirming (though violent) Fight Club/Paper Street Soap Company/Project Mayhem. We are Jack’s detached interest in: Company Purpose and Mission, Startup Culture and the Myth of the F…

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Sorry To Bother You 40:00

7y ago40:00

40:00

In Episode 2, we analyze the company cultures of RegalView and WorryFree, two dystopian employers in the recent satire “Sorry to Bother You.” “Cash” Green starts working his way up the corporate ladder, enjoying his newfound perks and status—at least until he discovers a horrible secret. It’s a bleak but funny take on:Leadership Development Employe…

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Ready Player One 46:36

7y ago46:36

46:36

Spoiler Warning: We will be discussing the movie's plot in its entirety.In our inaugural episode, we analyze Gregarious Games and Innovative Online Industries (IOI) from Ready Player One. It’s 2045, and societal collapse has driven people to escape to a virtual world called “The Oasis.” When its founder dies, the race is on to solve puzzles that wi…

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Work of Fiction Trailer 2:38

7y ago2:38

2:38

We're members of NOBL, an organizational design collective that helps leaders align company culture to strategy. Every month, we're going to take a break from helping real organizations change to discuss fictional leaders and organizations from movies and TV: What works? What doesn’t? And most importantly, we'll talk about the simple tools they (an…

Work Of Fiction By NOBL Collective Podcasts