But First, Coffee

In this episode, John Baldino is joined by talent acquisition leader Josh Rock to break down the recruiting trends that will define 2026 and beyond. They challenge the obsession with AI marketing in HR tech, argue for vendor partnerships over product pitches, and make the case that putting heart back into hiring is not optional. From skills-based hiring and realistic job previews to the decline of...

John Baldino flies solo to tackle the uncomfortable truth that AI will not fix bad managers but will absolutely expose and replace them. With Oracle cutting 10 to 12 percent of its workforce, August job growth slowing to just 54,000 new positions, and companies across industries tightening budgets, the tolerance for mediocre management has evaporated. John breaks down how AI is already handling ti...

John Baldino is joined by guest co-host Robin Schooling, author of Real HR, to explore why mentorship remains one of the most powerful yet misunderstood development tools in HR. They compare formal corporate mentorship programs with informal, organic mentoring relationships and make a compelling case that the best mentoring often happens outside structured programs. The conversation covers how to...

Jackye Clayton and John Baldino tackle the difficult reality of layoffs in today's economy, sharing firsthand experiences from both sides of the table. They discuss how HR leaders and managers can conduct reductions in force with genuine empathy and grace, why traditional outplacement services often fall short for frontline workers, and what practical support actually helps displaced employees lan...

Jackye Clayton and John Baldino explore why employee voice has become dangerously undervalued in organizations obsessed with efficiency and AI-driven cost cutting. They examine the real-world fallout from mass layoffs at companies like Oracle, where the very people who built the cloud infrastructure were replaced by the technology they created. The conversation digs into how annual engagement surv...

Jackye Clayton and John Baldino tackle the upskilling and reskilling challenge head-on, revealing why most workforce development programs fail before they even start. The problem is not the training itself but the broken foundations underneath it: vague job descriptions that read like wish lists, performance evaluations driven by feelings rather than objectives, and managers who only invest in emp...

Jackye Clayton and John Baldino dive deep into corporate social responsibility (CSR) and whether organizations are truly making a difference or just going through the motions. They challenge the conventional approach of writing checks to charities and instead advocate for hands-on, community-driven involvement that creates measurable impact. The conversation explores how companies of all sizes, es...

Why do employees really leave? It is rarely just about a bad boss. This episode unpacks the real drivers behind employee retention and reveals why leadership transparency, open-door policies, and honest conversations matter more than perks or pay raises. Jackye Clayton and John Baldino share firsthand stories about keeping communication lines open with departing employees, creating psychological s...