For today's essential Heretics 101 feature, we talk to David Heinemeier Hansson (aka DHH), creator of Ruby on Rails and co-owner & CTO of 37signals. He critiques DEI implementation and workplace wokeness, advocates political neutrality at work, and outlines his organizational philosophy emphasizing minimal management, creative constraints, and HR as leadership firewall.

*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.co

For coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/

HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.

Support HR Heretics Sponsors:

Planful empowers teams just like yours to unlock the secrets of successful workforce planning. Use data-driven insights to develop accurate forecasts, close hiring gaps, and adjust talent acquisition plans collaboratively based on costs today and into the future. ✍️ Go to https://planful.com/heretics to see how you can transform your HR strategy.

Metaview is the AI platform built for recruiting. Our suite of AI agents work across your hiring process to save time, boost decision quality, and elevate the candidate experience.

Learn why team builders at 3,000+ cutting-edge companies like Brex, Deel, and Quora can’t live without Metaview.

It only takes minutes to get up and running. Check it out!

KEEP UP WITH DHH, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

DHH: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-heinemeier-hansson-374b18221/

Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/

Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

—

LINKS:

Ruby on Rails: https://rubyonrails.org/

37signals: https://37signals.com/

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(02:34) "I Want My Code to Sing": Why Programming Is Poetry

(04:35) How We Built a Company That Runs Itself

(07:34) Sponsors: Planful | Metaview

(08:34) The 40-Hour Work Week That Silicon Valley Hates

(11:05) The Remote Work Wars: Why Both Sides Are Wrong

(15:14) "No Politics at Work": The Two Weeks That Changed Everything

(17:00) How Wokeness Held Corporate America Hostage

(22:16) The Hardest Two Weeks of My Professional Life

(25:28) The DEI Deception: Why Equity Isn't Equality

(27:40) Why HR People Don't Suck (And Founders Need Them)

(31:00) Final Thoughts: People Go Crazy When Work Is Everything

(33:35) Wrap

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

40 Hours, No Meetings, No Politics: Building a Company That Actually Works with David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH)

“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies

40 Hours, No Meetings, No Politics: Building a Company That Actually Works with David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH)