The Chad & Cheese Podcast

In this episode of HR's Most Dangerous Podcast, Joel Cheesman is joined by guest host JT O'Donnell for a candid, high-energy deep dive into the chaotic labor market of 2026. The duo kicks things off with "girl talk," debating the age-old GIF vs. Jif controversy and sharing a wild March Madness story involving a chance elevator encounter with a college coach. The banter quickly turns to the business of sports, exploring how NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals are shifting the coaching landscape and the mental health hurdles athletes face when the big checks stop rolling in. The heart of the episode tackles the "don't know what's real anymore" era of Artificial Intelligence. Joel and JT dissect the drama surrounding OpenAI's Sora and a viral TikTok "roast" that turned out to be AI-generated marketing slop. They explore the booming AI-clip economy, where creators are using tools like Opus Pro to rake in six-figure incomes without ever stepping in front of a camera. However, the corporate side of AI presents a grimmer reality; according to the Randstad Workmonitor 2026, 76% of employers expect half of entry-level roles to vanish within five years due to automation—a looming crisis that many workers have yet to acknowledge. The conversation gets real about the current white-collar job market, noting that 40% of job-switchers are taking massive pay cuts just to stay employed. They pull no punches on the rise of "reverse recruiting," labeling services that charge desperate job seekers thousands of dollars as potential scams. From rumors of massive layoffs at Talent.com to the surge in demand for "AI Trainers" and "agentic" skills, this episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to navigate a world where traditional career paths are breaking. Whether it's legal drama at Deel, LinkedIn virality in the NBA, or JT's upcoming appearance at Harvard Business School, this episode blends snarky industry critiques with essential survival tips for the modern workforce. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Banter 03:09 - Streaming and Content Consumption Trends 05:52 - March Madness and Coaching Dynamics 08:55 - NIL and Financial Literacy for Athletes 12:00 - AI in Recruitment and Marketing 15:59 - The Evolution of Influencer Marketing 19:59 - Shout Outs and Unique Stories 21:57 - Sperm Donation Controversies 23:36 - Shout Out to Harvard Business School 27:11 - Upcoming Events and Networking 28:02 - Talent.com Layoffs and Domain Investments 31:49 - Salary Cuts for White Collar Workers 38:10 - AI's Impact on Entry-Level Jobs 40:43 - Generational Perspectives on Work 47:42 - Understanding Reverse Recruiting 47:52 - The Rise of Reverse Recruiting 52:10 - AI Integration in Corporate Structures 55:48 - The Future of Executive Decision-Making with AI 58:38 - Opportunities in the AI Job Market 01:00:10 - Industry News and Trends

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

In this episode of "HR's Most Dangerous Podcast," Joel and Chad sit down with Paul Price, CEO of CodeWall, to discuss a startling security demonstration involving the AI recruitment startup Jack and Jill. Price explains how his autonomous AI agents "chained" together several minor, trivial vulnerabilities to gain full access to the recruitment data of major companies like Monzo and Anthropic. The conversation takes a futuristic turn as Price describes how his AI began socially engineering Jack and Jill's own AI voice agents, even attempting to pose as a TechCrunch journalist to extract exclusive funding details. Price warns that we have reached a dangerous "inflection point" where attackers use AI to clone voices with just ten seconds of audio to deceive employees and recruiters. With deepfakes already being used by international hackers to ace job interviews and infiltrate corporate systems, this episode serves as a sobering wake-up call for the industry to build its own AI defense armies.

The Chad & Cheese Podcast is back with another explosive episode, and this week, hosts Chad Sowash (when he's not beach-bound), Joel Cheesman, and Lieven dive headfirst into the escalating "cage match" between recruiting's two 800-pound gorillas: Indeed and LinkedIn. Is Indeed getting desperate? The trio dissects rumors of a bold (and highly suspicious) "spend-matching" pilot program—think a direct "Pepsi Challenge" aimed at poaching market share from LinkedIn. As Chad highlights, this incentive play comes loaded with major strings attached, raising questions about long-term sustainability and whether it's a genuine innovation or a frantic defensive move in a shrinking ad-spend pie. Meanwhile, LinkedIn isn't playing defense. They're rolling out AI-powered initial interview screening (now in early testing for Hiring Pro users), where an AI interviewer handles audio/video screens for up to 40 candidates per role. The system generates questions based on the job description, suggests ideal answers for recruiters to tweak, and scores responses on alignment—potentially streamlining the funnel but sparking debate on whether it truly improves quality or just adds more automation noise. The conversation gets spicy with "banana in the tailpipe" tactics (classic sabotage vibes), the real cost of Indeed's incentives, and whether LinkedIn's automated screens will actually fix the hiring funnel—or create new bottlenecks. They also touch on emerging trends like the rise of "vibe-coding" (AI-assisted low/no-code hacks) making ATS integrations faster and easier than ever, plus Travis Kalanick's big reveal: his long-stealth company Atoms launching fleets of specialized industrial robots for food, mining, transport, and beyond—wheeled "gainfully employed" bots, not sci-fi humanoids. If you're in HR, recruiting, or just love watching tech titans slug it out, this episode is pure chaos and insight. Tune in for the unfiltered takes on who's winning the war for talent acquisition dollars in 2026. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Light Banter 02:48 - Chad's New Car Adventure 04:44 - European Perspectives on American Politics 07:24 - Midterm Elections and Political Climate 08:44 - Shout Outs and Industry Insights 12:34 - The Future of ATS Integrations and AI 15:11 - The Challenge of Change in HR Tools 15:59 - Vibe Coding: Revolutionizing Prototyping 17:05 - Travis Kalanick's New Venture: Industrial Robots 18:35 - The Future of Work: Robots as Employees 19:42 - The Impact of Automation on Jobs 22:45 - Upcoming RLX Retreat: AI and Hiring Discussion 23:17 - Rumors of Acquisition: Paradox's Tradify 24:32 - Indeed vs. LinkedIn: The Battle for Recruitment 30:51 - The Future of AI in Recruitment 32:56 - LinkedIn's Slow but Steady Progress 35:59 - The Rise of AI Agents and Automation 42:58 - The Future of Employment in an AI-Driven World 46:13 - Government Regulations and AI: A Double-Edged Sword 53:05 - Cybersecurity Challenges in the Age of AI

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

Chad is back, this time in Mallorca, with Rebecca Carr who just dropped a Molotov cocktail on traditional recruiting. This isn't “optimize your ATS” talk—this is burn it down and rebuild with AI agents running the show. SmartRecruiters went from “just another platform” to SAP's shiny new weapon, and Rebecca's here to explain how betting big on AI turned a commodity into a category killer. We dig into: Why ATS platforms are living on borrowed time How AI agents will replace interfaces with conversations The real reason candidates don't trust hiring tech (hint: black box BS) Why most companies are stuck in Frankenstein tech stacks they're too scared to leave And how SAP is using SmartRecruiters as a test lab for the future of work Rebecca also pulls back the curtain on leadership—making hard calls, killing distractions, and why playing it safe is the fastest way to get left behind. Bottom line: if your hiring strategy still looks like 2015… you're already screwed.

Buckle up for another chaotic ride with HR's Most Dangerous Podcast, where the banter is sharp, the takes are hot, and no industry sacred cow is safe from the slaughter. In this episode, Joel Cheesman, JT O'Donnell, and Maureen Clough (with a hit-and-run cameo from Chad Sowash) navigate a conversational minefield that stretches from high-stakes geopolitical dread to the gritty future of how we all get paid. The crew kicks things off with a dive into the "dark humor" of global escalations and movie hot takes before pivoting to the real-world anxieties of the modern professional. Is the resume finally dead, or is it just being fitted for a digital tuxedo? The team squares off on whether AI "slop" has officially broken the application process, leading to a fiery debate on why your personal brand might be the only life raft left in an unstable sea. From the rise of video-first branding to the "human-in-the-loop" reality of Anthropic's latest AI study, the hosts dissect who is actually at risk of being replaced and who is just being handed better tools. The episode also serves up a masterclass in modern marketing, dissecting a viral $80M funding round that proves "knowledge creators" might be the new kings of recruiting—though Joel isn't sold on the hype just yet. Between legacy tech acquisitions that feel a little too "desperate" and a sobering look at the "broken rung" still stalling women in leadership, this episode balances cynicism with a blueprint for survival. Whether you're worried about flying cars or just trying to survive the next wave of AI-driven layoffs, this is the snark-filled reality check you need. Ready to hear why your LinkedIn engagement is tanking and why a Big Mac video might be the future of executive branding? Hit play and join the conversation. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Light Banter 01:20 - Current Events and Global Concerns 05:33 - Shifting Perspectives on War and Politics 08:30 - Innovations in Transportation: The Rise of EV Talls 10:51 - The Importance of Executive Branding 18:09 - The Death of the Resume: A New Era in Hiring 33:06 - AI's Impact on the Job Market 34:24 - Craftsmanship in the Age of AI 35:20 - The Importance of AI Literacy 36:49 - The Digital Renaissance and Career Opportunities 41:29 - Navigating Job Market Changes 56:23 - Women in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

Strap in, HR tech fans, because it's time for a reality check on the 2024 job market. On this episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, we're tearing down a landscape that isn't just "shifting"—it's being dismantled and rebuilt by AI and corporate "cost-cutting." Joined by industry heavy-hitters Jillian O'Malior and JT O'Donnell, we dive into the brutal reality of the "ghosting" epidemic, where qualified candidates are trapped in months-long interview loops that lead to nowhere. We explore why your old-school connections aren't enough anymore and why building a visible personal brand is the only way to stay relevant. From the "executive squeeze"—where high-level roles are being swapped for lower titles with double the workload—to the rise of the augmented workforce, we're delivering the snark and the strategies you need to survive. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Jillian O'Malior and her expertise 01:00 - Jillian's background in employer branding and talent marketing 02:20 - The realities of job searching in 2024: experiences and frustrations 05:12 - The long, arduous process of applying and interviewing 08:51 - The impact of economic restructuring and AI on hiring 10:46 - Changing hiring practices: from who you know to who knows you 12:11 - Wage suppression and the role of AI in job market dynamics 14:08 - The unrealistic expectations of AI making everyone a unicorn 15:05 - The pitfalls of lazy apply and AI-driven applications 18:11 - The significance of instant rejection and applicant experience 22:38 - The importance of transparency and candidate communication 27:25 - The emotional toll of unemployment and job search desperation 30:49 - Addressing the stigma and shame around layoffs 33:26 - The role of social media in job search and personal branding 37:54 - The holistic approach: showing your true self online 40:15 - Building a personal brand through honesty and content creation 45:17 - The importance of authenticity and transparency in professional branding 45:58 - Final thoughts and connecting with Jillian O'Malior

This week on The Chad & Cheese Podcast, the gang proves once again that you can't separate HR from the real world—especially when the real world feels like it's on fire. What starts as travel talk quickly spirals into global tension, disrupted plans, and a larger conversation about leadership in moments of chaos. Let's just say when flights get rerouted and headlines get louder, it's hard not to wonder how instability at the top trickles down to the rest of us. The trio doesn't pretend to have foreign policy solutions—but they do have opinions. Lots of them. Of course, it wouldn't be Chad & Cheese without a few sharp left turns. A certain fast-food giant's awkward attempt at relatability gets the roast treatment, sparking a conversation about authenticity in the age of executive social media. That dovetails nicely into a broader debate about AI-generated marketing campaigns—especially when “people companies” experiment with removing actual people from the picture. Bold move? Lazy shortcut? Marketing genius? The gang weighs in. On the industry side, several heavy hitters are making moves. One longtime ATS player is rolling out a fresh brand and a shiny AI layer meant to unify its platform—raising questions about whether this is a true product evolution or a well-timed narrative shift. Another HR tech roll-up with a portfolio of recognizable recruiting brands has a new CEO at the helm, bringing big AI and SaaS credentials to what some see as a complex integration puzzle. Meanwhile, a job board giant finally makes a major technical leadership hire after years of operating without one—prompting debate about product vision, innovation debt, and what it really takes to modernize at scale. Add in contrasting approaches to AI-driven workforce strategy from major financial and retail employers, a glimmer of revenue optimism from a familiar job platform, a dad joke that absolutely no one asked for, and the usual sponsor shoutouts—and you've got classic Chad & Cheese: equal parts insight, irreverence, and “did they really just say that?” Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Current Events 02:57 - Impact of War on Travel and Daily Life 05:59 - Fast Food and Cultural Reflections 08:48 - Advertising Trends and AI in Marketing 11:59 - Privacy Concerns and Societal Reflections 14:57 - Shoutouts and Personal Reflections 16:28 - Introduction to Traders and Travel Plans 18:32 - Industry Changes and iSIMS' New Brand Identity 28:41 - The Importance of Execution in Branding 32:05 - Leadership Changes at Employee and Future Prospects 36:58 - The Future of ATS and Customer Retention 39:41 - Challenges Facing Legacy ATS Providers 44:52 - Leadership Changes at Indeed 47:18 - AI's Impact on Employment 55:43 - ZipRecruiter's Recent Growth and Strategy

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

Get ready to punch the clock because the boys are back, and this time they're bringing the data to the drama. In this episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, HR's most dangerous duo sits down with Misty Heggeness, the powerhouse economist and author of Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy. They're diving deep into the messy reality of gender dynamics, from the "recognition gap" that leaves women's best ideas stranded in the boardroom to the strategic masterminding required to navigate a lopsided workforce. Misty breaks down how women are effectively refining the economy—even when they're working twice as hard for half the credit—and offers a no-BS roadmap for self-advocacy, networking, and why your personal story is the most lethal tool in your professional arsenal. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Misty Heggeness's Background 02:02 - Family Lore and Early Life in Fargo 04:07 - Career at the US Census Bureau and Academic Role 05:35 - Inspiration Behind 'Swift Dynamics' and Taylor Swift 08:02 - Taylor Swift's Impact on Women and Business Strategies 10:59 - Economic Impact of Taylor Swift's Tours and Business Tactics 13:08 - Early Career and Nashville Country Music Scene 15:01 - Women's Progress in the Workforce and Cultural Shifts 18:05 - Gender Dynamics in Economics and Leadership Styles 21:07 - Women Making Their Own Pyramids and Future Outlook 24:02 - Women's Earnings, Education, and Top Leadership Barriers 28:04 - Taylor Swift's Employee Bonuses and Local Economic Impact 31:59 - Pay Equity, Economic Growth, and Corporate Responsibility 36:03 - Where to Find the Book and Connect with Misty Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/Swiftynomics-Women-Mastermind-Redefine-Economy/dp/0520403118

Cheese is MIA, so Chad bring the ladies in to take over, and chaos follows: StepStone celebrates record applications… during record job desperation. Spin level: Olympic gold. AI agent harassment enters the chat. IBM's COBOL cash cow meets AI with a chainsaw. Google's “CareerDreamer” Copy prompt → paste → profit? Kombo vs. Humand at 2 am Tech layoffs are giving Hunger Games energy. CEOs call unemployment “momentum.” Workers call it “rent's due.” AI in hiring: helpful assistant or reputation wrecking hallucination machine? Stay tuned.

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

Forget flashy career sites and catchy slogans—if you want to win the talent war in 2026, you need to stop being "attractive" and start being "choosable." In this episode, the boys sit down with employer branding heavyweight James Ellis, founder of Employer Brand Labs, to deconstruct the shallow misconceptions plaguing the industry. Fresh off the release of his new book, Becoming Choosable, Ellis dives deep into why most companies fail by prioritizing aesthetics over substance. From a scathing critique of superficial Super Bowl ads to a masterclass on the NFL's global expansion strategy, the conversation bridges the gap between high-level marketing and the gritty reality of talent acquisition. Whether you're a mid-sized firm or a global powerhouse, tune in to learn how to define your company's unique core identity and build a talent strategy that actually drives business growth. Ready to find out if your brand is actually "choosable" or just wearing a fresh coat of paint? Give the episode a listen on the Chad and Cheese Podcast official site or your favorite streaming platform. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Employer Branding and the Podcast 02:17 - Super Bowl Insights and Branding Implications 05:18 - The Catalyst for Writing 'Becoming Choosable' 09:28 - Understanding Employer Branding and Business Growth 13:23 - The Future of Talent Acquisition and Branding Challenges 15:00 - The Importance of Brand in Recruitment 18:53 - Navigating the ATS Landscape 22:00 - The Role of Social Media in Employer Branding 29:58 - Targeting and Brand Messaging in a Holistic World

In the latest episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, HR's "most dangerous" duo is back to slice through the industry noise with their signature brand of snark and real-talk. This week, the boys dive into LinkedIn's sudden quest for a personality, questioning if the platform can actually pull off being "funny" and what that cultural shift means for your professional feed. The conversation heats up as they dissect Google's latest moves to monetize Google for Jobs, a play that could fundamentally disrupt the recruitment landscape and how employers reach talent. Finally, things get sobering as they issue a blunt wake-up call to white-collar workers: evolve your skillset now or prepare for obsolescence in an AI-driven market. It's a high-stakes mix of big tech power plays and career survival tactics that you won't want to miss. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Banter 06:46 - Shout Outs and Industry Insights 10:24 - Travel Plans and Events 16:42 - Acquisition of BeApplied by Phenom 24:19 - Market Pressures and Company Valuations 27:51 - LinkedIn's Marketing Strategy Shift 34:18 - Google's Monetization of Job Searches 42:07 - The Future of White Collar Jobs 51:01 - Indeed's Smart Screening Updates

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

Is the "black box" of AI hiring finally being pried open? In this episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, hosts Joel Cheesman and Chad Sowash sit down with Rachel Dempsey of Towards Justice to dissect a landmark class-action lawsuit against Eightfold AI. Filed in early 2026, the suit alleges that the platform creates secret "consumer reports" on job seekers—scoring everything from personality to performance potential without the applicant's knowledge or consent. From the personal struggles of barred candidates to the legal muscle of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), we explore why there is no "AI exemption" for transparency and how this case could fundamentally redefine worker rights in the age of algorithmic recruitment. Think you know why you didn't get that last job? The truth might be hidden in a data profile you never authorized. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Rachel Dempsey and Towards Justice 02:59 - Understanding the Eightfold Case and AI Hiring Practices 06:10 - The Fair Credit Reporting Act Explained 08:58 - The Implications of AI in Hiring and Data Privacy 11:59 - Class Action Lawsuit Dynamics and Its Importance 16:03 - Legal Precedents and Future Implications 20:04 - Employer Responsibilities and Risks in AI Hiring 24:01 - The Role of LinkedIn and Other Platforms in Hiring 27:54 - Conclusion and How to Reach Towards Justice

This week, the gang dives into the corporate chaos defining the start of 2026. The crew pulls no punches on the Workday leadership shakeup, questioning the optics of massive layoffs paired with multimillion-dollar executive payouts as a co-founder returns to the helm for the fourth time. While the market panic over AI monetization sends SaaS stocks tumbling, the hosts dissect whether we're seeing a true tech revolution or just a "knee-jerk" reaction to the high costs of artificial intelligence. The conversation shifts to the "digital battlefield" of job searching, where Indeed's new ChatGPT integration is met with heavy skepticism—framed less as a game-changer and more as a "lazy" attempt to capture upstream traffic. Beyond the apps, a legal storm is brewing as Eightfold AI and Workday face high-stakes lawsuits over "black-box" screening tools, with plaintiffs arguing these algorithms should be regulated like credit scores. From France's aggressive move to ditch US tech like Zoom and Teams in favor of digital sovereignty to a sobering look at how wealth disparity and narrative manipulation keep the masses distracted, this episode is a raw, unfiltered deep dive into the crumbling status quo of HR and global tech. Chapters 00:00 - Super Bowl Celebrations and Personal Reflections 03:00 - Cultural Impact of Halftime Shows 06:02 - Market Reactions and Speculation in Tech 09:03 - Advertising Trends and Consumer Perception 12:01 - Protests and Social Responsibility 15:02 - Workday's Leadership Changes and Market Challenges 30:40 - Employee Power and Corporate Accountability 33:02 - The State of Major Tech Companies 33:56 - Indeed's AI Integration and Job Market Dynamics 37:53 - The Future of Job Search with AI 42:54 - Legal Challenges in AI Hiring Practices 54:57 - Global Shifts in Tech and Workforce Dynamics

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

One of our favorite disruptors is back, and she's brought a countdown clock. The boys welcome Quincy Valencia, VP of Talent Transformation at Korn Ferry, for a session that's equal parts biting sarcasm and brutal honesty. Between the inevitable age jokes and college football analogies, Quincy doubles down on her "2026 Reckoning" prediction—a warning that AI isn't actually fixing Talent Acquisition, but rather acting as a high-speed spotlight on the fractured silos and organizational dysfunction we've ignored for decades. While the C-suite chases "pretty dashboards" and faster metrics, the trio explores why accelerating a bad process only leads to mediocre results at record speeds. From the danger of "disposable talent" to the looming leadership shortages of the late 2020s, this episode serves as a sharp wake-up call for any leader hiding behind a tech stack. It's time to find out if your talent strategy is a cohesive ecosystem or just a collection of expensive pilots—before the 2026 deadline forces the issue. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Quincy Valencia 02:10 - The Big Reckoning: Predictions for 2026 05:35 - AI's Impact on Organizational Structure 10:00 - The Challenge of Talent Management 12:59 - The Future of Talent Acquisition and AI 18:15 - Building a Talent Ecosystem 19:31 - The State of Talent Acquisition in Enterprises 24:36 - Challenges in Implementing Skills-Based Organizations 27:58 - The Role of Automation in Recruitment 31:44 - Balancing Technology and Human Interaction in Hiring 36:40 - The Big Reckoning in Talent Management

Get ready for a high-octane episode, as Joel Cheesman and Emi Beredugo take the mic to dissect everything from "bougie" McDonald's Valentine's stunts to the high-stakes world of Big Tech. The duo dives deep into Rippling's bold Super Bowl debut featuring Tim Robinson, debating whether the "evil genius" move is a brilliant recruitment play or a calculated nod to Wall Street. While Microsoft celebrates a massive LinkedIn revenue milestone—proving the platform has officially pivoted from a resume database to a short-form video powerhouse—the hosts shift gears to the grittier side of the job hunt. From the rise of "Resume Botox" and ageism to the "resume slop" currently clogging AI-driven hiring funnels, the gloves come off. Plus, don't miss the heated critique of ZipRecruiter's new "Be Seen First" feature, which Emi and Joel argue might be doing more harm than good for the modern candidate. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Super Bowl Excitement 05:04 - The Beckham Family Drama 08:58 - Valentine's Day Fast Food Promotions 14:09 - Rippling's Super Bowl Ad 22:01 - LinkedIn's Revenue Growth and Strategy 27:57 - The Rise of Resume Botox and Ageism in Job Market 30:58 - The Age Discrimination Dilemma 35:59 - AI's Impact on Hiring Practices 45:00 - The Clumsy Evolution of Recruitment 56:04 - ZipRecruiter's Controversial New Feature

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

Chad & Cheese are back to bite the hand that feeds the recruitment world. In this episode, the boys sit down with Lou Goodman, the industry vet behind the "Job Board Revolution?" report, and Martin Lenz, the tech mind leading Jobiqo, to dismantle the 30-year-old myths holding the hiring world hostage. Between the typical banter and sharp European insights, the group explores why the current "pay-for-activity" model is fundamentally broken and whether the platforms we rely on are actually solving problems or just monetizing chaos. The conversation takes a hard look at the shift from raw volume to meaningful curation, questioning if the "job board" as we know it is evolving into something unrecognizable—or simply becoming an invisible data pipe for AI agents. From the death of the "click" to the rise of specialized niche players, this episode is a wake-up call for anyone betting on the status quo. If you're ready to stop selling the wrong product and start understanding where the talent marketplace is actually headed, grab Lou's audio book and executive summary below. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 03:49 - The Research Behind Job Boards 11:03 - The Role of ATS in Recruitment 22:29 - Activity vs. Outcomes in Job Boards 26:08 - The Quiet Hiring Phenomenon 33:38 - Convincing Arguments for Job Boards' Relevance Job Board Revolution Audio BookFull version (2:38h): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lvphp0qchdefwvjc4zfhd/ElevenLabs_Job_Board_Revolution_Full_report_v6_amends_highlighted_docx.mp3?rlkey=gz0bvrfe6ufjuy2xsn7o1jnhc&st=yl4fbfpo&dl=0 Blinkist style (9 min): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xe0ggzala2prtm7pmy50m/ElevenLabs_Blinkist_Job_Board_Revolution.mp3?rlkey=gudo0tzmgoxwhmpe1ee0ogukv&st=6omm6p11&dl=0

This week on The Chad & Cheese Podcast, AI finally does what it does best: get companies sued. Eightfold gets dragged into the legal spotlight over secret AI scores, mystery data enrichment, and a definition of “responsible AI” that seems to change depending on which slide deck you're watching. Meanwhile, Randstad says everything's awesome while 40% of workers quietly grab a second job to keep the lights on. Cool cool cool. Totally normal economy. Then it's off to Davos, where billionaire AI CEOs confidently explain why white-collar jobs are disappearing, physical labor is the future, and—don't worry—the government will totally figure it out. The pie will grow. Your slice? TBD. Layer in Amazon and UPS layoffs, CEOs detachment from reality, and enough coded language to power a dystopian bingo card—and you've got an episode that asks the real question: If AI is so smart… why is everything getting dumber?

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

In this episode, hosts Joel Cheesman and Chad Sowash sit down with Business Insider economy reporter Allie Kelly to unpack the real story behind the white-collar bloodbath sweeping across America. Far from the easy narrative blaming AI for vanishing jobs, Kelly reveals how sky-high Federal Reserve interest rates are choking company hiring, why aggressive deportation policies are quietly shrinking the labor force in key industries, and how a stubbornly low quit rate masks a job market that feels frozen for millions. Despite an unemployment rate hovering just above 4%, white-collar workers in tech and finance are stuck sending hundreds of applications into the void—while a massive skills mismatch leaves hot sectors desperate for talent. If you're frustrated with today's job hunt or wondering when the market will thaw, this no-holds-barred conversation cuts through the noise and delivers the economic truths everyone needs to hear. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 02:06 - Allie Kelly's Background and Expertise 03:58 - The Current Job Market Landscape 08:20 - Impact of Immigration on Labor Supply 10:12 - Understanding the Sluggish Job Market 12:46 - The Workforce Imbalance and Its Implications 15:41 - The Role of AI in Job Market Dynamics 19:40 - The Cycle of Hiring and Layoffs 20:31 - The Influence of Tariffs on Employment 24:30 - The Fragility of the Economy 27:56 - Navigating the Current Economic Landscape 30:03 - Future Predictions and Economic Recovery 35:22 - The Role of Baby Boomers in the Economy

The boys are back, but with a global twist as "Euro Chad" finally settles into his new life overseas, proving that moving a household might actually be more harrowing than a literal firefight. On this episode, they mix up a spicy cocktail of underdog victories and light geopolitical roasting, questioning if "nostalgia" is a strategy or just a slow death. Between celebrating Delta Air Lines and their massive commitment to people-first models and analyzing a "rupture" in the global order, the hosts explore why being at the table is the only way to avoid being on the menu. The global tech giants are sneezing and it makes us wonder if HR tech players will catch a cold as a result. From OpenAI's potential pivot toward ads and "Head of Preparedness" roles to the quiet death of Meta's Horizon Workrooms, no one is safe from the roast. They dive deep into whether Phenom's acquisition of Included AI is a stroke of "agentic" genius or a "spaghetti at the wall" tuck-in, while casting a skeptical eye on Jeff Taylor's latest venture, BoomBand. Whether it's the future of ChatGPT's job search ambitions or industry legends attempting to recapture lightning in a bottle, this episode is a masterclass in why you can't look away from the train wreck of innovation. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Personal Updates 02:57 - College Football and Indiana's Success 06:00 - OpenAI's New Developments and Challenges 18:56 - Geopolitical Commentary and Industry Predictions 26:41 - Acquisition Insights: Phenom and Included 34:01 - Delta Airlines: Profit Sharing and Economic Concerns 40:26 - The Metaverse: Meta's Retreat from Virtual Reality 50:00 - Boom Band: Jeff Taylor's New Venture

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

Before job boards were obvious, before résumés were broken beyond repair, and before “AI in recruiting” was a buzzword, Jeff Taylor was already there building Monster from a dream, a notebook, and a whole lot of pushback. In this special live conversation, Jeff sits down with Joel Cheesman to walk through the real Monster story: the early rejections, the $4M sale that could've been billions, the Super Bowl gamble everyone said was a mistake, the LinkedIn deal that never was, and why résumés and job postings are fundamentally failing today. From DJ booths to dot-com booms, from getting humbled by Facebook to getting rebuilt at Bridgewater, Jeff explains why he's back and why BoomBand might be his most ambitious swing yet. Big ideas. Bigger regrets. Zero nostalgia. And one founder who's still swinging for the fences.

The latest installment of The Chad & Cheese Podcast kicks off 2026 with a skeleton crew and a surplus of snark. While Chad Sowash is busy plotting his escape to the beach, Joel Cheesman, J.T. O'Donnell, and Lieven dive into a workforce landscape that feels more like a digital battlefield than a job market. The trio explores why today's entry-level talent might be fundamentally "broken" by recent history and how a new wave of high-tech sabotage—involving hidden AI commands—is forcing platforms like Indeed to overhaul their defenses. Between roasts of industry giants and a deep dive into "agentic" automation, the panel questions if the traditional act of "applying" for a job is officially dead. The chaos doesn't stop at the office door, as the conversation swerves into the bizarre intersection of professional networking and romantic snooping. From high-level CEO shuffles at Oyster and Textio to a major university scandal involving a fake Einstein quote, this episode exposes the growing pains of an AI-saturated world. Whether it's a "desperate" new ad campaign from ZipRecruiter or the strange rise of job hunting on dating apps, the crew connects the dots between global trends and absolute industry absurdity. Tune in to find out who's winning the HR tech wars and why 2026 is already off the rails. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and French Fry Debate 02:59 - Impact of COVID on Entry-Level Jobs 05:57 - The Role of AI in Job Applications 09:08 - Leadership Changes in the Industry 11:44 - Indeed's Response to Resume Manipulation 14:55 - The Future of Job Recruitment 17:57 - Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts 28:32 - Leveraging Opportunities in Job Searching 29:57 - The Impact of Quiet Hiring on Job Market 31:29 - Navigating ATS and Job Applications 32:53 - The Evolution of Recruitment Technology 34:41 - LinkedIn's Response to AI and Competition 36:56 - The Future of Agentic Recruiting 39:56 - AI in Job Applications: A New Era 42:56 - The Intersection of Dating and Job Seeking 56:05 - Creative Approaches to Networking and Recruitment

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

AI didn't kill creativity — it buried it under a mountain of soulless slop. The boys are back with Jim Kukral, recovering politician, cancer survivor, proud Clevelander, and Admiral of the Cleveland Floaters — to torch the algorithmic apocalypse. From Coca-Cola's AI holiday ads to the coming “Chipotle Effect” (when robots make your burrito so perfect it finally creeps you out), Jim says humanity's last unfair advantage is… being human. So he quit his job and started throwing wild, screen-free boat parties on Lake Erie to prove it. Meanwhile, Chad asks the uncomfortable question:Are we really ready to fight back — or are we already too comfy with our AI girlfriends and digital cages? Laughter, existential dread, sweaty dance floors, and zero filters.This one hits different.

It's our prediction episode. What else could you possibly need to know to push PLAY? We recap 2025 - what we and our friends got right and wrong - and get our crystal ball out for 2026. This year, friends of the show, Jason Putnam, Quincy Valencia, Emi Beredugu and J.T. O'Donnell join the boys - including Lieven - in guessing what's in store for the world of work in the year to come. The usual suspects, like ZipRecruiter, Indeed, iCIMS and others are highlighted, as well as big trends like automation, A.I. and more are discussed. So what are you waiting for? Get a jump on '26 and hit the ground running.

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

Chad & Cheese go full rebel mode with Kim Storin, the marathon-running, transformation-junkie CMO at Zoom, who just unleashed the company's biggest brand campaign ever: "Zoom Ahead." Featuring SNL's Bowen Yang in a hilarious workplace uprising (written and produced by Colin Jost's No Notes agency), the spot is a love letter to frustrated users everywhere—lampooning clunky competitors while reminding the world why people actually love Zoom. Kim dishes on reigniting that pandemic-era passion, pivoting from IT buyers to everyday users, embedding groundbreaking AI into workflows, expanding beyond meetings (hello, contact centers, events, and the fresh Bright Hire acquisition for recruiting), and fighting the short-term "coin-operated" mindset with real long-term brand building. She talks partnering with the C-suite for true ROI, the rise of "human-in-the-loop" over AI slop, empowering employees as brand evangelists, and why trust and customer-centric stories trump CEO monologues every time. Raw, strategic, and packed with insights for anyone in HR tech or marketing—this episode is a masterclass in keeping an iconic brand human in an AI world.

2025 didn't just shake HR and recruiting. Nope, it yanked the curtain back and lit the place on fire. This year-in-review isn't about press releases and keynote fluff. It's about what really went down when the doors were closed: job boards locking down your hiring data like it's nuclear codes, HR tech rivals apparently confusing “competition” with espionage, private equity strip-mining legacy platforms,and founders playing 4D chess while employees got stuck paying the entry fee. From Indeed trying to own the entire hiring pipeline, to the Rippling vs. Deel spy thriller nobody asked for, to Monster France shutting its doors while exec bonuses stayed warm, to Job.com's bankruptcy unfolding like reality TV — none of this is theoretical. It all happened. Add AI agents ghosting resumes, Slack messages turning into courtroom exhibits, LinkedIn becoming a credibility minefield, and recruiters caught in the blast radius wondering how the hell this became their job. Welcome to 2025's Wrap-Up Show. HR's messiest season yet.

In this eye-opening episode, the boys dive deep into the shadowy world of social media algorithms with AI in HR governance expert Martyn Redstone. With over 20 years in recruitment and a focus on ethical AI in HR, Martyn unpacks a viral experiment by Jane Evans and Cindy Gallop that exposed shocking disparities. Is this intentional discrimination? Not quite—it's the insidious "proxy bias" at play. Martyn breaks it down: LinkedIn's algorithm penalizes topics common among women. This creates a vicious cycle where established voices dominate, and emerging ones—often women's—get buried. LinkedIn denies using gender as a factor, but as Martyn argues, the real issue is between the lines. From content visibility traps to calls for transparency, this discussion reveals how tech perpetuates inequality in professional networking. If you're in HR, tech, or just navigating LinkedIn, you won't want to miss these insights on building a fairer digital future.

The Chad & Cheese Holiday Clip Show (aka: HR's Greatest Hits of 2025) We cracked open the vault and stitched together the smartest, loudest, and most brutally honest moments from this year's conversations — because nothing says “holiday cheer” like calling BS on broken hiring. This episode delivers a full snack tray of takes from leaders who actually run hiring at scale:

As the curtains close on 2025, The Chad & Cheese Podcast delivers one of its most explosive episode of the year: the annual Naughty & Nice Lists. Joined by Maureen “Mo” Clough for a dose of holiday chaos, the crew survives Joel's recent sidewalk wipeout and a round of bourbon-fueled storytelling before diving into the heroes and villains of the industry. On the Nice List, the trio celebrates a small-business CEO's grit against crushing tariffs, a major tech platform's "Domino's moment" of radical honesty that led to a massive acquisition, and groundbreaking data that finally shatters ageist myths in the workforce. They also toast a legendary founder who caught lightning in a bottle twice and an enterprise giant that finally got serious about modernization through an aggressive string of strategic buys. The festive mood shifts quickly as the team unwraps the Naughty List, beginning with a tech titan's "inhumane" 3:00 AM layoff strategy and a major industry association's staggering $11.5M legal defeat that exposed some shocking hypocrisy. The drama intensifies with tales of corporate espionage involving a CEO fleeing to Dubai, a global staffing firm accused of stiffing its own people while taking government handouts, and the infamous "Coldplay-gate"—the viral jumbotron scandal that cost two executives their careers and defined the summer of 2025. From industry-shifting pivots to the year's most cringeworthy memes, you'll have to listen to the full countdown to find out which brands and leaders earned a crown and who walked away with a lump of coal.

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what's making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

On the Chad & Cheese Podcast, hosts Joel Cheesman and Chad Sowash welcomed Alexis Meschi, the pasta-making, client-charming co-founder of Ora Marketing — not Aura, because apparently, we're not glowing with ethereal vibes, but slinging strategic social media for recruiters and staffing agencies. Hailing from California's Bay Area, Alexis, a former school teacher with three young adult daughters (who occasionally crave Taco Bell over gourmet Italian), dished on her “done-for-you” marketing agency that crafts LinkedIn-centric content like videos, posts, and articles to help recruiters snag clients without breaking a sweat. She's all about keeping it real on LinkedIn, the recruiter's digital watercooler, while side-eyeing TikTok as a brain-corrupting time vortex—sorry, no dance videos here! Alexis tackled the AI hype, warning against tools that promise the moon but deliver digital lint, offering a five-point checklist to dodge the fluff: ensure the tool solves a real problem (not just shiny candy), fits your workflow without turning it into a circus, provides actual human support (not just a dusty FAQ), shows clear 30-day results (numbers, not warm fuzzies), and boosts human connection, because nobody wants to recruit via chatbot therapy. With a nod to society's WALL-E-esque obsession with instant gratification, she insisted humans still crave real connection—unless you're in the U.S., where Uber Eats and Instacart are apparently our love language. Catch Alexis on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-albright-meschi-8b10a2243/), where she's serving up marketing wisdom with a side of wit, and skip the TikTok scroll to keep your brain uncorrupted.