Mannered Podcast

Artificial Intelligence is changing how we work, communicate, and make decisions, but what it can’t do on its own is decide how we should behave. In this episode of Mannered, host Sean Rhoads sits down with Lori Kirkland, Co-Founder of DeepHumanX, to explore the surprisingly human topic of AI manners and digital etiquette.
With a background in neuroscience and anthropology, Lori helps leaders and organizations build AI-ready cultures where people and technology work together with intention, empathy, and purpose. In this conversation, she breaks down why AI doesn’t actually have morals of its own and why that makes human input, leadership, and manners more important than ever.
Sean and Lori dig into how AI can genuinely help better serve humanity from improving work experiences to accelerating positive change, but only when it’s guided by thoughtful leadership and values-driven design. They explore what digital manners look like in the workplace, the difference between efficiency and empathy, and why the way we interact with AI often reveals more about us than it does about the technology.
The future of work isn’t just about smarter tools; it’s about better humans. 
 

Middle School Manners Through a Gen Alpha Lens
Middle school gets blamed for a lot. Awkward behavior. Big emotions. Questionable manners. But what if we’ve been misunderstanding it all along?
In this episode of Mannered, I sit down with my middle-school-aged daughter for an honest, funny, and surprisingly insightful conversation about what manners look like at thirteen. We explore why today’s kids get flack for eye contact, phone use, and casual language, and where they’re actually showing more empathy, awareness, and respect than previous generations.
From group chat etiquette and lunchroom politics to boundaries, inclusivity, and emotional intelligence, this episode asks a bigger question: are kids losing their manners, or are they simply practicing them differently?
If you’ve ever wondered what adults forget about being in middle school, how early traits shape who we become, or how to better understand the next generation without judgment, this conversation is for you.

’Tis the season for good times and good manners. In this holiday special, Sean shares the ultimate guide to gift-giving etiquette, from meaningful presents to workplace dos and don’ts to avoiding those cringe-level awkward moments. If you want to give better, stress less, and elevate your holiday game, this episode is your cheat code.

In this episode of Mannered, host Sean Rhoads teams up with his brother-in-law and die-hard Broncos fan Ryan Clark to explore the chaotic, hilarious, and occasionally heart-warming world of sports fan etiquette.
Ryan has spent 25 years in Section 334 riding the emotional rollercoaster of Denver Broncos football and surviving some of the most hostile stadiums in America, from Arrowhead to the Big Easy to Raider Nation in Las Vegas. With an engineer's brain and a superfan’s heart, Ryan breaks down the unwritten rules of fandom, the difference between passion and obnoxiousness, and the stadium behaviors that make you cheer… or cringe.
From trash-talking with class to respecting rival fans, from beer spilling disasters to road-game diplomacy, this episode tackles the manners (and the madness) that make game day what it is.
Whether you’re a die-hard, casual fan, or someone dragged to games for the snacks, you’ll laugh, nod along, and rethink how you cheer.

In this episode of Mannered, host Sean Rhoads sits down with comedian, actor, producer, and ad-industry creative Andy Juett to explore the hilarious, and sometimes hazardous, world where comedy meets manners. From boardrooms to comedy stages, Andy has mastered the art of laughs and business, and today he shares how he balances big laughs with good business.
Sean and Andy dig into the psychology of humor, why awkward moments make the best material, and how comedians and marketers walk the tightrope between bold and “too far.” Andy opens up about reading a room, breaking tension, avoiding accidental offense, and why the funniest people are often the most observant of human nature.

In this episode of Mannered, host Sean Rhoads grabs a basket and heads down the most unpredictable aisle of them all, the grocery store. Joining him is John Rotherham, whose family has owned grocery stores for generations and who now runs Nature’s Herbs and Wellness. Together, they unpack the dos, don’ts, and downright disasters of shopping etiquette from cart corrals and checkout-line crimes to produce fumbles and those who try the five fingered discounts.
John Rotherham is an expert on creating incredible customer experiences with Nature's Herbs and Wellness.

In the debut episode of Mannered, host Sean Rhoads sits down with Seth Rankin, a Performance Coaching, Consulting Specialist, and hospitality veteran who spent nearly two decades with OpenTable. Together, they dive fork-first into the wild world of dining etiquette, tipping trends, and those unforgettable “oops” moments that happen when good manners go sideways.
From how much to tip (and when not to) to the art of sending food back without sending the wrong message, Seth shares insider stories from the hospitality front lines and lessons that apply far beyond the dinner table.
It’s funny, insightful, and just awkward enough to make you feel right at home.