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!