The Jim Stroud Podcast

Nearly 1 in 5 job ads are fake. Posted to hoard résumés, impress investors, or fill phantom pipelines. One tech worker is now pushing a federal “Truth in Job Ads Act” to outlaw ghost jobs. God bless him. | To keep up with what's happening now and next in the world of work, subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" at https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corporate America gutted middle management. Now one boss juggles 15–30 people, too swamped to mentor, coach, or even talk. Flattened orgs look lean on Wall Street—but inside, chaos rules. | To keep up with what's happening now and next in the world of work, subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" at https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When one coder makes millions and the rest feel worthless, HR can't hold the locker room together. | To keep up with what's happening now and next in the world of work, subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" at https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI recruiters ran 67,000 interviews—and outperformed humans. The scariest interviewer may be the one who never blinks. | To keep up with what's happening now and next in the world of work, subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" at https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ANZ just tied bonuses to office time. Less than 50% in-office? Say goodbye to your raise. Flexibility replaced with blackmail. | To keep up with what's happening now and next in the world of work, subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" at https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Gen Z, WFH feels less like progress and more like isolation. The price of flexibility might be belonging. | To keep up with what's happening now and next in the world of work, subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" at https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we sit down with Steven Puri to explore how to reach a flow state and unlock your best work. Steven shares insights on using apps, music, and intentional practices to block out distractions, sharpen focus, and stay fully engaged in the task at hand. Whether you're looking to boost productivity or bring more intentionality to your workday, this conversation offers practical strategies you can apply right away. ... Connect with Steven Puri via email - Steven@thesukha.co Download the app: https://www.thesukha.co ... To keep up with what's happening now and next in the world of work, subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" at https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Let's fire the cheapest, hungriest employees we've got and hope AI magically trains itself.” — every exec who didn't listen to AWS CEO Matt Garman. Subscribe to The Recruiting Life newsletter: https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A billion-dollar brand polished to a shine—while inside, an exec allegedly leers, bullies, and breaks his team. Apple's orchard has rot. Subscribe to The Recruiting Life Newsletter: https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MIT just dropped a bomb: 95% of generative AI projects are failing. The revolution isn't canceled—but the hype might be. Subscribe to The Recruiting Life newsletter: https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Startups used to measure success in headcount. Now the hottest ones are run by teams you can count on one hand. The zero-workforce era is here. Subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" newsletter: https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Martell, HR Director at LifeSpeak, to explore a side of AI adoption that too often goes unspoken: the emotional reality employees face when machines enter their workflow. Together, we peel back the layers of AI in the workplace. We start with the human experience behind the headlines. While companies frame AI as a technical upgrade, Amanda shares how employees wrestle with identity loss, quiet anxiety, and the mental health ripple effects leaders often overlook. We dive into the systemic cracks AI reveals in workplace culture. From eroding trust in decision-making to the hidden risks behind the “AI frees people for higher-value work” narrative, Amanda challenges the blind spots leaders can't afford to ignore. We close with a hopeful yet provocative vision: What would it look like if companies treated AI emotional readiness as seriously as healthcare? Could in-house “AI counselors” become the norm? And, ultimately—will AI make workplaces more human or less? This is not just a conversation about technology. It's about well-being, trust, and the future of work. If you lead people, shape culture, or simply wonder how AI will affect your role, this episode will leave you with new questions—and bold possibilities. ... Contact Amanda Martell via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-martell-b9a8654a/ Visit LifeSpeak: https://www.lifespeak.com/ Subscribe to The Recruiting Life newsletter: https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We gave machines our spelling, our memory, our maps. Now we're giving them our thinking. In my latest 3-minute monologue — “When Machines Make Us Dumber” — I dig into what happens when convenience turns into decay. Because every answer outsourced to AI might just be one more skill we forget how to use.

⏳ Productivity is up. Burnout is worse. We've got AI dashboards, automated everything— and still, the days feel shorter. The work, heavier. In my latest 3-minute monologue — “The AI Productivity Illusion” — I break down the trap we've built: When output looks great on paper… but humans are quietly breaking underneath.

When TikTokers start slurring robots, you know the AI backlash has arrived. In this episode, we unpack why ‘Clanker' is more than a meme—and what it says about the rising war between humans and automation. | This episode brought to you by: Recruit CRM https://recruitcrm.io?fpr=jim15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Staying late? Always on? You're not productive—you're getting played. In this episode, we expose how ‘hustle culture' is a corporate scam and how AI could save your time (if we don't screw it up).” | This episode brought to you by: Recruit CRM https://recruitcrm.io?fpr=jim15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI's coming for coders, analysts, and your cushy desk job—but it still can't fix a busted pipe at 2 AM. In this episode, we break down how blue-collar workers are quietly taking back the economy while white-collar professionals get optimized into irrelevance. | This episode brought to you by: Recruit CRM https://recruitcrm.io?fpr=jim15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the age of executive hit-and-run—where vision lasts 18 months, layoffs get rebranded as “strategy,” and the only thing permanent is the damage.

ChatGPT said:

No bang. No warning. Just the silent exit of an entire generation. This episode unpacks the global aging crisis and what it means when the talent shortage isn't a phase—it's permanent. ... Subscribe to The Recruiting Life newsletter at JimStroud.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The workforce isn't just changing — it's mutating. Full-time, gig, contractor, hybrid — the categories you think you know are melting into each other. And if you're still running talent strategy like it's 2019, you're already bleeding ground. Bob Lucas, Chief Revenue Officer at MBO Partners by Beeline, steps into the studio to talk about the new street rules for HR leaders and recruiters: * How “job security” became the workplace's biggest ghost story. * Why the smartest companies are wiring independent talent straight into their core teams. * The thin ice between agility and a six-figure misclassification fine. * How AI and tech are rewriting workforce management — and why that scares some leaders more than they'll admit. * The hidden cost of ignoring contingent talent in your strategy. This isn't theory. It's the new operating manual for anyone who hires, builds, or protects a workforce. Miss it, and you're playing catch-up with competitors who've already figured it out. Connect with Bob Lucas on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasbob/ For more info on MBO Partners, visit their website http://www.mbopartners.com ... To keep up with what's happening now and next in the world of work, subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" newsletter at https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They're not just remote—they're everywhere. A new wave of employees is juggling multiple full-time jobs in secret, and HR? You're playing catch-up. This episode exposes the game, the grift, and what happens when trust turns transactional. ... Subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" newsletter at JimStroud.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remote work was sold as freedom—what we got was digital shackles we can't see. If you're drowning in pings, pretending burnout is balance, this episode pulls the mask off the “flexibility” lie. ... Subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" at JimStroud.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A whistleblower says top performers were let go—not for failing, but for being white. If you think DEI can't backfire, this episode is your wake-up call. It's not spin. It's a warning. ... Subscribe to The Recruiting Life newsletter at JimStroud.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You clock in. You smile. You nod at the machine that now does your job—faster, smarter, quieter. It doesn't complain. It doesn't sleep. And it for sure doesn't need therapy. But maybe you do. This week's episode digs into the invisible elephant in every workplace: AI isn't just changing how we work—it's changing who we think we are. From silent breakdowns behind glowing screens to corporate therapists channeling Deanna Troi, this one's for the humans trying to stay human in a machine-made world. Tune in. Before your job decides it doesn't need you to. ... This episode is brought to you by: PromptMonitor - Monitor and improve your visibility in AI/LLMs. This is the future of job search – opportunities come looking for you. https://www.promptmonitor.io?via=jimstroud Read The Recruiting Life newsletter to learn what's happening now and next in the world of work. ⁠https://jimstroud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The headlines say the job market's steady. But behind the scenes? Something's not adding up. This episode peels back the calm—just enough to make you wonder what's really going on. Subscribe to "The Recruiting Life" newsletter at JimStroud.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A twenty-dollar gadget became a career killer. Wells Fargo fired over a dozen employees for something smaller, sneakier than fraud: faking mouse movement to simulate productivity. Not stealing money—stealing time. The invisible war between surveillance and breathing room just claimed its first casualties. Jim Stroud dissects how a simple USB device exposed the trust bankruptcy poisoning modern workplaces. When keystroke loggers meet mouse jigglers, when screen recorders battle software rebellion, the real question isn't about productivity—it's about survival. … This episode is brought to you by: PromptMonitor - Monitor and improve your visibility in AI/LLMs. This is the future of job search – opportunities come looking for you. https://www.promptmonitor.io?via=jimstroud Read The Recruiting Life newsletter to learn what's happening now and next in the world of work. https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com Job Search Summit – Free virtual event of innovative job-hunting strategies. Happening on August 1, 2025 at 11 am CST. Register now. https://betterthing.net/jobsearchsummit Send questions, comments and criticisms to Jim Stroud: Via LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimstroud/ ⁠ Via X: https://x.com/jimstroud⁠https://x.com/jimstroud⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They're cloning you at work. Right now. Your digital twin already clocked in—monitoring, measuring, making decisions on your behalf. Not science fiction. Current reality. But here's the twist: What if this violation could become your greatest financial asset? Jim Stroud reveals how companies harvest your biometric data, keyboard patterns, and Slack messages to build digital replicas. The technology that once mirrored machines now mirrors minds. … This episode is brought to you by: PromptMonitor - Monitor and improve your visibility in AI/LLMs. This is the future of job search – opportunities come looking for you. https://www.promptmonitor.io?via=jimstroud Read The Recruiting Life newsletter to learn what's happening now and next in the world of work. https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com Send questions, comments and criticisms to Jim Stroud: Via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimstroud/ Via X: https://x.com/jimstroud⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IBM quietly erased hundreds of HR professionals in early 2025. No viral outrage. Just algorithmic mathematics and the cold whisper of replacement. The chessboard fractured. AI handles 94% of their conversations now—11.5 million human exchanges reduced to digital echoes. This isn't evolution. It's a coup in the cubicles, spreading like infected code through corporate America's bloodstream. Jim Stroud dissects the psychological battlefield where efficiency devours humanity. When fear creeps into 30% of employees who taste their own obsolescence approaching—the real threat isn't AI taking jobs. It's companies choosing cold calculation over warm pulse. … This episode is brought to you by: ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit – Explore the future of recruiting at the premier event for talent acquisition leaders. https://www.ererecruitingconference.com PromptMonitor - Monitor and improve your visibility in AI/LLMs. This is the future of job search – opportunities come looking for you. https://www.promptmonitor.io?via=jimstroud Read The Recruiting Life newsletter to learn what's happening now and next in the world of work. https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com Send questions, comments and criticisms to Jim Stroud: Via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimstroud/ Via X: https://x.com/jimstroudhttps://x.com/jimstroud Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by "The Recruiting Life" newsletter. https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com Today's guest: My guest is Bill Banham, founder and Editor at HR Gazette Magazine, host of the popular HRchat Podcast (which is then most downloaded HR and careers podcast in Canada, 7 in the US and number 10 globally) and organizer of various HR-related summits and meetups in Canada, the US and the UK including DisruptHR. With nearly 15 years experience in HR tech and HR media, he's also Associate Editorial Director at HRreview and has interviewed 100s of HR leaders, recruiters and tech enthusiasts over the years. Connect with Bill Banham via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-banham-a932a0b/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey recruiters, your recruiting days are over, thanks to AI. At least, according to my guest - Stanislaw Wasowicz, VP Growth and Partnerships for Scotty Technologies. Be warned. This interview will induce fear and dread to the technophobic in the recruitment industry. Listener discretion is advised. | Visit Scotty AI and request a free demo today. https://www.scottytechnologies.com/ | This episode brought to you by "The Recruiting Life" newsletter. https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At many organizations, the most common fear among executives is an employee lawsuit. The number of employee filings each year continues to be high with no sign of slowing down. Win or lose, defending a lawsuit by a disgruntled former employee with an attorney is costly, time-consuming, and affects all aspects of an otherwise thriving business. In today's podcast, Jim Stroud interviews Matthew Grabell, author of "The Employee Lawyer's Playbook" for a very interesting conversation that will raise the eyebrows of employers and employees alike. Tune in now. About my guest: MATTHEW R. GRABELL, ESQ. - Employee Relations Solutions (“ERS”) was founded after Mr. Grabell enjoyed a successful career as an employment attorney representing employees who felt victimized in the workplace by unlawful discrimination, harassment or retaliation. He was struck by how frequently his adversaries lost their cases (or were forced into costly settlements) due to a company's lack of knowledge of the many legal land mines that could have easily been avoided. In 2007, he decided to switch teams in order to provide corporations with the legal weapons necessary to limit exposure altogether, while keeping costs of outside law firms down should a lawsuit be filed. ERS opens the plaintiff's play book to corporations who want to know how to protect themselves from issues BEFORE they become legal liabilities. Mr. Grabell advises corporations on a 24-hour “on-call” basis and trains managers and executives on the most common areas of liability in employment law. Mr. Grabell graduated from New York University Stern School of Business and Seton Hall Law School. Buy "The Employee Lawyer's Playbook" here: https://amzn.to/3ZMtkxn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Jim Stroud Podcast is brought to you by "The Recruiting Life" newsletter: https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com In this episode, Jim Stroud chats with Shelly MacConnell – Chief Strategy Officer at Win about the rise of side hustles in order to receive fertility treatment coverage, as well as: Why working for fertility benefits rather than a paycheck has grown in popularity How the increase in side hustles shows that there is still a lack of accessibility to fertility care as many women cannot receive benefits at their primary jobs How the movement of people working for fertility support can be beneficial for businesses  What people should know before taking on a side job to receive fertility benefits and what should they ensure is included in the benefits package And more ABOUT MY GUEST Connect with Shelly MacConnell, Chief Strategy Officer at WIN via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-macconnell-81a90425/ About WIN: WIN is the nation's leading family-building and family-support benefit management company, providing clinical, claims, financial, and administrative services. WIN is committed to improving outcomes and patient experiences through integrated women's healthcare services. Our comprehensive program encompasses fertility medical and pharmacy, egg freezing, surrogacy, and adoption services, reproductive genetic testing, behavioral health support, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+-affirming programs, parenting support, and perimenopause/menopause care coordination. WIN gives patients access to the nation's largest network of highly credentialed reproductive endocrinologists, dedicated support and advocacy via Nurse Care Advocates, and a superior digital experience that makes care support and navigation conveniently available via the WINApp. For over 25 years, WIN is proud to have helped more than 450,000 families—driving superior outcomes while reducing the total cost of care for health plans, employers, and consumers. For more information about WIN, visit https://www.winfertility.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Stroud interviews Jean Eddy, President and CEO of American Student Assistance, about future-proofing the careers of today's college students. Pretty much, why go to college today if AI will be doing the job tomorrow? Other discussion points... The education system needs to redefine what "career success" means for today's learners Students must achieve early access to diverse career paths. Top skills students need to obtain in high school for the jobs of tomorrow Advice for parents who may be concerned about their children pursuing non-traditional educational paths or careers The broader societal impact of reshaping education and career readiness And more... This episode is brought to you by "The Recruiting Life" newsletter: https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com About today's guest: Jean Eddy, President & CEO, American Student Assistance (ASA) Jean Eddy is the President & CEO of American Student Assistance. In 2016, Jean evaluated the organization's purpose to align ASA's strengths with high student impact areas. During Jean's tenure, ASA has pivoted from a 65-year history of helping students with college financing and repayment options to a new focus of helping students discover potential career paths earlier in their education journey. She shifted ASA's focus to help kids–as early as middle school to–know themselves, know their options, and make informed choices about their education and career goals. Jean served on the Board of ASA for 20 years and spent her career in higher education holding numerous senior level positions. Jean is a prior member of the College Board, NASFAA, EASFAA, NACAC & AICAD. Jean served as a trustee for the Providence Foundation & The RI Public Expenditure Council & as president for the RI Assoc. of Student Financial Aid Admin, & Governor Baker's Commission on Digital Innovation & Lifelong Learning. Buy "Crisis Proofing Today's Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow's World," here: https://www.asa.org/jean-eddys-book/ Visit American Student Assistance here: https://www.asa.org/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In my interview with Scott Morris, CEO of AI Propulsion, we discuss unsuccessful return to the office policies and the evolution of the job description. The consensus? Traditional job descriptions are passe; what brings the most benefit are outcome-oriented job descriptions. Scott addresses issues related to a paradigm switch that would massively impact any recruiting organization. | This episode is brought to you by "The Recruiting Life" newsletter. Subscribe now at: https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com About my guest: Scott Morris, Co-Founder and CEO PropulsionAI www.getpropulsion.ai Scott Morris is a seasoned HR and People Operations leader with over two decades of experience in the field. His experience spans the complete range of HR disciplines. He has led People Ops in organizations ranging in size from 250 to 15,000 employees, giving him a unique perspective on the world of work. About the company: PropulsionAI is a talent management platform that emphasizes organizational fit. The company is poised to launch its maiden product, SPARC (an Intelligent Job Description Creator). Driven by Al and guided by a digital human, SPARC is a conversational Al tool that helps users quickly scope roles and then writes a complete job description, job posting, and social media posts for you. PropulsionAl's approach moves beyond traditional task oriented job descriptions, focusing on outcomes, competencies, and skills to enable alignment based on individual abilities. It empowers hiring managers directly without risk (no need for HR or compliance knowledge, ensures unbiased job postings, and fosters diverse hiring).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices