The Chad & Cheese Podcast

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.

Lieven, a European HR tech leader known for his insights on automation and regulations, joins J.T. O'Donnell, a career coach who specializes in leadership strategies. Together, they dive into pressing topics like the rise of humanoid robots in blue-collar jobs and the potential for video AI to transform executive presence in 2026. The discussion includes predictions on anti-ghosting laws and the future of recruitment technology, with a focus on authenticity and candidate experience in an increasingly automated landscape.

Hyundai is gearing up to employ Boston Dynamics’ robots in factories by 2028 to enhance worker safety. In a surprising twist, ChatGPT autonomously applied for an academic job, showcasing its evolving capabilities. Meanwhile, Accenture is strengthening its AI prowess with the acquisition of Faculty. It's also noted that 19 states will see minimum wage hikes by 2026. Lastly, ZipRecruiter's clever campaign features a fictional band to promote its smart matching technology, while U.S. workers are increasingly prioritizing job stability and upskilling.

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.