HR Interviews Playlist

Improving the candidate experience has been a perpetual goal in recruiting. Despite the best intentions, the improvement process's effectiveness still ebbs and flows with the changes in supply and demand in the labor market. However, are things finally about to change? Ever since the exponential acceleration in the development of AI, I've been excited about the possibility of technology delivering...

In this lively episode, Chad Sowash and Joel Cheesman sit down with Quincy Valencia, SVP of Innovation at Harri, at the HR Tech conference. Known for her no-nonsense approach, Quincy offers her candid insights on the overhyped AI trend, emphasizing that companies should focus on the outcomes AI can deliver rather than getting lost in technical jargon. She highlights how AI has evolved since ChatGP...

In the last few weeks, many established software vendors have launched AI-augmented products, helping us move past the hype and get a much more hands-on view of what AI means for Talent Acquisition. There are still a massive amount of unknowns, but it is evident that AI is a chief catalyst in what is now an unstoppable transformation of TA and the broader talent function. AI and automation fundame...

Live from the Shaker Recruitment Marketing Green Room at RecFest in Nashville! In the podcast, Chad Sowash and Joel Cheesman, dive into the evolving world of recruitment with Joel Lalgee, founder and lead recruiter at The Realist Recruiter. Lalgee, who transitioned from an agency recruiter to building his personal brand online during COVID, shares insights on the recruitment landscape. He emphasiz...

In this episode of Talent Chasing, Brian Johnson and Chad Sowash dissect their interview with John Harris, owner of AthLife, and explore the complexities of athlete transitions into the real world, the implications of the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) landscape, and the importance of unions in both sports and corporate environments. They discuss the challenges faced by collegiate athletes, the need...

In this episode of the Chad and Cheese podcast, Chad and Cheese chat with Maria Colacurcio, CEO at Syndio, Alim Dhanji, CHRO, TD SYNNEX, and Ana White, EVP and Chief People Officer at Lumen to discuss the critical issues surrounding workplace equity, the importance of data-driven approaches, and the impact of recent legal changes on DEI initiatives. The conversation highlights the need for transpa...

In this episode, Zeke Hernandez, a professor at the Wharton School, discusses the complexities of immigration in the U.S., addressing both legal and illegal immigration, the economic contributions of immigrants, and the need for reform in immigration policies. The conversation also hits head-on the challenges faced by high-skilled immigrants and the implications of America's outdated immigration s...

Soft Skills, Hard Skills, Attributes, Traits, Competencies—these words sometimes get used interchangeably when we talk about assessment and team building. As the momentum around skills-based hiring increases, it is important to know what we really mean when we talk about skills generically and how exactly we are measuring someone's ability to do a particular role. My guest this week is Rich Divine...

John Harris, the owner of AthLife, shares his journey of helping former professional athletes transition back into the real world. He explains how AthLife has assisted over a thousand athletes in pursuing education and finding new careers. The conversation also touches on the shift in college athletics with the introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights for student-athletes. The conver...

When we last spoke to Rebecca Carr, she was the interim CEO at SmartRecuiters, a popular ATS. Fortunately, the "interim" title has been removed and now she's just CEO. Of course, that comes with a whole new set of challenges, and we were more than happy to visit with her at the HR Technology conference to check-in on how it all went down, what's the current state of the business and what the futur...

Buckle up, folks! This episode of HR’s Most Dangerous Podcast comes straight from the green room at Recfest USA in Nashville, sponsored by Shaker Recruitment Marketing. Chad and Joel sit down with the one and only Rachel Morgan, VP of Client Services at Shaker, to talk about the glamorous world of recruitment marketing—mimosas in hand, of course. Rachel takes us on a wild ride from her days of wre...

Skills-based organizations and skills-based hiring have been some of the hottest topics of the year. While it is hard to find anyone who disagrees that this way of thinking about talent strategies has enormous benefits, there is still much debate about some of the practicalities around strategy and implementation. I spoke to two genuine HR thought leaders in my fourth and final set of interviews r...

Technology is evolving quickly, and advances in AI are likely to change Talent Acquisition forever. If you are a regular listener to this podcast, you will know that I firmly believe there is an opportunity here to make recruiting better for everyone, with the potential for AI to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and experience exponentially. I call this Recruiting Nirvana. However, other less f...

In this episode, Brian Johnson and Chad Sowash discuss the inspiring story of James Mims, the creator of Mims Bands, a unique product that combines baseball cards with wristbands. They explore the entrepreneurial spirit, the importance of perseverance, and the role of founders in startups, emphasizing the significance of character and vision in achieving success. The conversation highlights Mims'...

In this episode of The Chad and Cheese podcast, recorded live from The Shaker Green Room at Recfest USA, Chad and Joel sit down with Nicole Stephens, Recruitment Marketing Manager at Floor & Decor. Nicole who shares her approach to employer branding and recruitment marketing, focusing on making work environments better and more enjoyable. She emphasizes the importance of doing more with less, offe...

In this episode of the Chad and Cheese podcast, Euan Cameron, CEO at Willo, returns for a Firing Squad reunion. The conversation covers the journey of Willo since their first appearance on the podcast in August 2021, including their fundraising efforts and product evolution. Euan shares that Willo recently raised $2 million in funding, bringing their total funding to over $3 million. He also discu...

Last week, I attended The HR Technology Conference in Las Vegas. The event was full of energy and optimism for the future as hundreds of vendors showcased new AI products and AI integrations. Everyone was playing up the new heights of efficiency and effectiveness AI can take us as an industry. However, there was much debate about the level of genuine innovation on offer and a sense that rather tha...

Round up is the monthly show on The Recruiting Future Podcast channel that highlights episodes you may have missed and gives you my take on some of the key learnings from the guests. Episodes mentioned in this Round Up: Ep 639: Inclusive Interviews Inspired By NASA Ep 640: What Is The Value Of TA? Ep 641: How Is TA Evolving? Ep 642: Augmenting Talent Acquisition Ep 643: Career Activism Follow this...

In this episode of *Talent Chasing*, hosted by Brian Johnson and Chad Sowash, the focus is on entrepreneur James Mims and his journey in founding Mims Bands, a wristband company that has become an iconic part of Major League Baseball (MLB) history. James shares how, as a senior at the University of Southern California, he came up with the idea for personalized wristbands for athletes, starting wit...

Allison King, VP of People Operations at Sound Physicians, shares her experience and insights on job searching and personal branding on LinkedIn. She emphasizes the importance of creating a strong LinkedIn profile and being active on the platform to build a professional network and showcase your skills and interests. Allison also discusses her approach to job applications, including reaching out t...

With labor markets still undergoing unprecedented shifts and volatility, employers are increasingly strengthening their focus on retention and internal mobility. However, the shrinking life span of skills, changing attitudes to work, and the rise of AI are complicating factors here. So, how can employers ensure they support their employees' future development and drive internal mobility at a time...

*Film Room* is a podcast series under the *Talent Chasing* show, hosted by Brian Johnson, a former Major League Baseball player, and Chad Sowash, a recruitment industry veteran. In this episode, the hosts break down key moments from their interview with Angela Taylor, a former WNBA executive and two-time national champion at Stanford University. The discussion revolves around Angela’s experience h...

In this conversation, Joel and Chad interview Stacey Gordon, founder and principal consultant at Rework Work, about unconscious inclusion, skills-based hiring, and the politicization of DEI. Stacey emphasizes the importance of actively working towards unconscious inclusion. She discusses the need for dialogue and open conversations to bridge the gap between different perspectives. Stacey also addr...

Most conversations about AI in talent acquisition focus on efficiencies and automating repetitive tasks. However, we are missing the point if we don't start talking about how AI could help reshape recruiting entirely, making it more efficient but also more effective. Why stop at recruiting? AI could revolutionize work and the whole way we think about careers. The current limitations of our thinkin...

Angela Taylor, former VP and GM of the Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream, discusses her journey from being a walk-on at Stanford to her successful career in the WNBA and women's sports. She highlights the importance of sports in her life and the challenges she faced as a woman in the industry. Taylor also discusses the growth of women's sports, the progress made in the WNBA, and the need for co...