The Alder Hour with Matt Alder

In the final episode of 2025, Matt and Rhona sit down to gaze into the crystal ball and map out what lies ahead for Talent Acquisition and Human Resources in 2026. This isn't just about buzzwords; it is a deep dive into how the tools we use and the content we create will fundamentally shift the industry landscape. From the practical application of AI software to the existential questions surroundi...

Join hosts Matt and Rhona as they tackle the critical shifts impacting the end-of-year HR landscape. The duo breaks down a major new Executive Order that limits state power over workplace AI, potentially ending the compliance patchwork for talent leaders. They also examine alarming new data showing CHRO turnover has hit a five-year high, as executives increasingly face burnout from stalling "workf...

Matt and Joycelyn dig into the biggest HR and TA stories of the week before welcoming Natalie Egan, the serial entrepreneur behind PeopleLinx, Translator, and now Znario. Natalie shares the lessons she’s learned building mission-driven technology companies, her vision for Znario, and how the platform helps teams navigate moments at work where the “right” answer isn’t always obvious. She opens up a...

Today on The Alder Hour, Matt and Rhona break down the latest headlines shaping the world of talent acquisition and HR, starting with the growing trend of tech companies pulling back on public DEI reporting and what that means for transparency in 2025. They also dig into new McKinsey insights on the future of work, exploring why AI may not take your job—but will almost certainly transform it. Then...

On this episode of The Alder Hour, Matt and Rhona break down two of the most talked-about stories in talent and tech: the controversy around AI being used in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and a new report showing that while 70 percent of hiring managers trust AI to make faster and better decisions, only 8 percent of job seekers agree. The hosts dig into what this growing trust gap means for recruiting...

Today on The Alder Hour, Matt and Rhona wind down your workday with a spirited mix of headlines, humor, and sharp takes on what’s shaping talent acquisition right now. In Points & Pints, they dig into two big stories redefining how organizations think about their TA tech stack — including why more than half of companies still rate their tools as only “average” and how ghost job listings continue t...

In this episode of The Alder Hour, hosts Matt Alder and Rhona Barnett-Pierce dive into the intersection of technology, talent, and transformation. Their featured guest, Dr. Ali Raza, joins to share how his decade as a Professor of AI and Computing at RIT Dubai inspired the launch of byteSpark.ai — a platform designed to fix what’s broken in traditional recruitment. Together, they unpack the contro...

On this episode of The Alder Hour, Matt Alder and Rhona sit down with Sofia Whelan, a global HR transformation expert who’s spent over a decade helping some of the world’s largest organizations navigate the intersection of people, technology, and change. After 13 years in human capital consulting at Deloitte and leading digital HR strategy at JPMorgan Chase, Sofia founded HorizonHuman, where she n...

What happens when HR, AI, and real-world leadership collide? In this episode of The Alder Hour, hosts Matt and Rhona sit down with Jamie Starner, a people and talent leader who’s mastered the art of connection, adaptability, and progress over perfection. From guiding HR and TA in complex, high-volume industries to fostering teams that thrive on trust and learning, Jamie shares insights that every...

In this episode of The Alder Hour, hosts Matt Alder and Rhona sit down with James Ellis, one of the most recognizable voices in employer branding. Together, they unpack why so many organizations still treat employer brand like “bovine makeup” — a surface-level fix instead of a strategic business tool. James shares his perspective on how true employer branding isn’t about looking good — it’s about...

On this episode of The Alder Hour, Matt Alder and Rhona dive deep into the evolving world of work — from AI “workslop” and who’s accountable for it, to the rise of TikTok as the next big hiring channel. Then, Matt sits down with Hadeel Al-tashi, Senior Manager at SHRM Labs, to explore how SHRM’s WorkplaceTech Accelerator is fueling HR innovation. They discuss how startups are shaping the future of...

In this episode, Matt and Mervyn dig into why so many workplace transformation efforts fall flat — even when the tech is great and the strategy seems sound. Drawing from real-world lessons at Accenture, our guest reveals the missing link: adoption. From confusing deployment with true behavior change to underestimating the role of managers, we unpack what it really takes to make transformation stic...

On this week’s Alder Hour, Matt and Rhona dive into two of the biggest stories shaping the future of work: the controversial new U.S. immigration fee hikes — including a proposed $100,000 price tag for tech visas and $1M for permanent residency — and the key takeaways from HR Tech Las Vegas 2025, where AI, agentic HR, and culture dominated the conversation. Jocelyn steps into the Situation Room wi...

AI is transforming HR faster than ever, but not always in ways leaders expect. In this episode, Matt Alder and Rhona Barnett-Pierce dig into the hottest stories shaping the future of work, from the rise of “Shadow AI” inside companies to the internal turmoil brewing at Meta’s much-hyped AI dream team. Trent Cotton takes the mic for Talk Nerdy with iCIMS with guest Tim Sackett, SCP, exploring how H...

AI is rewriting the future of work, and few people understand that shift better than Rebecca Carr, a leading voice in HR tech and innovation. On this episode of The Alder Hour, Rebecca joins Matt to unpack OpenAI’s surprising move into the hiring space and share how it could completely reshape talent acquisition strategies and technology roadmaps. Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn also bring their signatur...

It’s Labor Day in the U.S., and while the rest of the team has the day off, Matt Alder brings listeners a special bonus episode. This week, he revisits a recent Recruiting Future conversation with Brandon Samut, Chief People Officer at Zapier, about how the company is weaving AI into every corner of its operations. Brandon shares the story of Zapier’s “Code Red” call to action in 2023, the creatio...

Matt Alder, Rhona Pierce, and Jocelyn King bring their sharp takes and playful banter to the biggest stories shaping HR and the future of work. From Workday’s acquisition of Paradox and the fallout of “the day ChatGPT went cold,” to lessons learned from employee expense fraud, the team dives deep into what these shifts mean for people leaders everywhere. Special guest Jessica Miller-Merrell, found...

Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn take on the latest headlines shaping the world of work — and they're not pulling any punches. They kick things off with Points & Pints, unpacking everything from what’s haunting HR pros about past change efforts, to the viral story of faking sick leave when they aren't granted vacation. Then it’s off to The Situation Room for a deeper dive into the week’s most urgent workp...

Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn take on the latest headlines shaping the world of work — and they're not pulling any punches. They kick things off with Points & Pints, unpacking everything from what’s haunting HR pros about past change efforts, to the viral story of faking sick leave when they aren't granted vacation. Then it’s off to The Situation Room for a deeper dive into the week’s most urgent workp...

This week, Matt, Rhona, and Mervyn are joined by writer, speaker, and HR truth-teller Laurie Ruettimann for a bold and brilliant conversation about the state of work today. From burnout and toxic cultures to practical ways people can take back their careers, Laurie shares why she believes work is broken—and how we can fix it. You’ll hear: Why HR needs more empathy and fewer buzzwords Real talk fro...

This week on The Alder Hour, Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn break down the latest in work culture and talent strategy, including Salesforce's bold AI claims and the hidden cost of forcing RTO (Return to Office). Then, recruiting veteran Brian Fink joins the show to tackle some big questions: Is psychological safety a business imperative? Is sourcing officially dead? And how can recruiters stay relevant...

The Alder Hour returns for Episode 30 with Jocelyn and guest host Serge Boudreau at the helm—guiding us through another fast-paced, happy-hour-style breakdown of the latest headlines reshaping the world of work. This week’s Points & Pints dives into two hot topics: Why a financial wellness benefit is outpacing the 401(k) Hyper-personalization and its role in shaping next-gen employee experiences P...

Hosts Jocelyn King and Rhona Barnett-Pierce are broadcasting LIVE from the San Diego Conference Center at SHRM25, talking about all things conferences - from inappropriate behavior in the Situation Room or oversized swag on Trending or Ending, we've got a great episode for you. We are also joined by guest Michael Dickerson, CEO of Dickerson Consulting Group, to dive into all things Mental Health....

What do pro tennis, international staffing, and "violent execution" have in common? Walter Sabrin. On this episode of The Alder Hour, Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn welcome Walter to the show for a no-holds-barred conversation about scaling a global workforce, building culture through 91 acquisitions, and mastering LinkedIn before most people even had a profile. Plus, the crew dives into the latest head...

With Matt Alder out this week, guest host John Baldino joins Rhona for a special takeover they’ve officially dubbed The Baldino Hour. Together, they bring energy, opinions, and sharp takes on what’s next in HR and talent. Special guest Enrique Ruiz, Founder of STRM, joins the conversation to explore how HR teams can lead through uncertainty and innovation — and why the best workforce strategies to...