The Chad & Cheese Podcast

Brace yourselves: The Chad & Cheese Podcast is back, this time with retired Lieutenant General Russell L. Honoré—who proves you can train and lead half a million troops and drop some epic truth bombs on HR, AI, and America’s obsession with cheap stuff.In this spicy episode, we cover: HR Meets Boot Camp: General Honoré schools us on why leading people isn’t about asking, “You’re good, right?” and walking off like a clueless middle manager. Robots Can’t Cook Gumbo: Automation might make life easier, but it’s not making you a killer bowl of Cajun deliciousness—or fixing that flat tire you’re whining about. Recruitment Woes: From the Army’s “12 teeth rule” (yes, you read that right) to recruiting Gen Z kids glued to their phones, the General doesn’t hold back on what needs fixing. Boomers vs. Gen Z: Growing up poor meant fixing TVs with tinfoil and watching The Lone Ranger without a picture. Now? Kids need a new flat screen if the remote has dust on it. Mental Health Wake-Up Call: Spoiler alert: If your employee mentions seeing floating elephants, maybe don’t just tell them to get back to work. Sprinkled with Honoré’s signature wit, biting honesty, and a dose of “adapt-or-die” wisdom, this episode delivers laughs, snark, and some much-needed perspective on leadership in a rapidly changing world.Strap in, folks—it’s time to break things (figuratively) and rebuild smarter.Chapters:00:00 - Intro: HR’s Most Dangerous Podcast01:21 - Leadership Lessons from the Army02:25 - The Art of Listening to Troops03:20 - Managing Half a Million Troops08:33 - Automation’s Impact on Society12:05 - The Changing Economy and Workforce15:16 - Adapt or Die: Breaking What’s Not Broken17:04 - Recruiting Challenges: Then vs. Now20:36 - Addressing Mental Health in Leadership22:12 - Closing Thoughts: People Over Profits

John Graham, Shaker’s VP of Employer Brand Strategy, hit RecFest USA with a mic drop on recruitment marketing and employer branding as we careen into 2025. His talk? A mix of AI hype, DEI drama, and a reality check for those clinging to the idea of "jobs for life" like it's still 1985.Graham’s big reveal: employer branding is less about forever and more about for now, pivoting to a launchpad for career development instead of a golden handshake into retirement. He also dove into AI, calling it both the hero and potential villain of recruitment. Sure, it’s reshaping strategies faster than you can say "algorithmic bias," but Graham threw some shade on humanity, pointing out that we’re not exactly bias-free either. His advice? Play nice with AI but keep an eye on it—like a toddler with scissors.DEI got a spotlight too, but not without acknowledging the current rebrand it’s enduring thanks to political tug-of-wars and corporate-level ghosting. He tied it all up with a forecast for 2024 tech trends: automation, AI, and video storytelling are set to dominate, but the focus will still be on keeping things human-centered. (Spoiler: robots are cool, but people still like people.)And if that wasn’t enough, Graham’s closer was basically a call-to-action to stalk—er, network with—Shaker online. Updated website, LinkedIn, the works. Because nothing says "modern employer branding" like a shameless plug.

In this episode of The Chad and Cheese podcast, hosts Joel and Chad celebrate Thanksgiving with humor and insights, introducing the concept of 'jive turkeys' in the recruiting world. Discussions around their personal Thanksgiving experiences, define what a jive turkey is, and highlight notable HR Jive Turkeys of 2024.The episode also features guest insights from Emi Beredugo, Lieven Van Nieuwenhuyze, and Maureen Clough aka Mo. So, grab a turkey leg, some stuffing, a beer, and get ready for fun, insights, and JIVE TURKEYS!Who earned a Jive Turkey? You gotta listen to find out.Chapters00:00 - Thanksgiving Greetings and Context03:02 - Jive Turkey Episode Introduction07:00 - Defining Jive Turkey11:05 - Jive Turkeys of 2024: Art Zeile15:00 - Jive Turkeys of 2024: ZipRecruiter20:55 - Guest Insights: Emmy Beredugo22:25 - Introduction and Light Banter25:00 - The Importance of Continuous Learning25:59 - Critique of Corporate Diversity Efforts34:04 -Economic Implications of Mass Deportation40:56 -The Future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The boys sit down with Chloé Rada, Senior Director of Talent Attraction at ZoomInfo, a title so fancy it barely fits on a business card. With over two decades of experience (read: she’s seen it all), Chloé’s here to school us on how to build an employer brand that doesn’t scream “we’re trying too hard.”Chloé talks about her mission to snag top-tier engineering talent while rolling out international internship programs—because apparently ZoomInfo doesn’t have enough geniuses yet. She champions trial-and-error innovation, which is HR speak for “we might mess up, but hey, it’ll be memorable.”From aligning employer branding with people ops to navigating the workplace vibes during global chaos, she’s got hot takes and strategies that actually work. Oh, and she’s planning to revamp the tech stack by 2025, proving that even in HR, you gotta stay one software update ahead of the competition.Chloé also drops pro tips like leveraging employee advocacy, video storytelling, and LinkedIn (yes, LinkedIn—again) to network like a boss. If you’re ready to rethink talent attraction or just want to hear someone blend HR insights with a healthy dose of wit, this episode’s for you.

From the SmartRecruiters booth at the HR Tech conference, the guys interviewed Stefan Premdas, who transitioned from a background in biomedical engineering to HR, focusing on talent operations and recruitment at various firms before joining sweetgreen. Stefan discussed the evolving HR landscape, introducing the concept of "people experience" and how his team at sweetgreen manages the entire employee lifecycle with an emphasis on integration. He highlighted sweetgreen's approach to employee engagement and retention, leveraging automation not only to improve customer service but also to enhance recruitment efficiency and candidate experience. Stefan touched on retention strategies for recruiters, focusing on providing clear paths for future career growth, and announced upcoming initiatives like a comprehensive Employee Value Proposition exercise aimed at solidifying sweetgreen's brand identity. He also addressed the natural diversity within sweetgreen's workforce, the current state of automation in their operations, and future expansion plans. Key technology tools like their Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and video interview systems were also mentioned, underscoring the tech-driven approach at sweetgreen.

This week on The Chad and Cheese Podcast: It's a world of layoffs, aliens, and bad burgers as Chad brags about sunny Portugal while Joel freezes in the Midwest. From AI pimps hustling Instagram to job board dinosaurs facing extinction, the duo dives into an Acquisition Palooza that proves even startups can have a midlife crisis. Plus, they tackle the age-old question: How much Shake Shack can you eat at 30,000 feet? Spoiler: Not enough. Strap in for hot takes, cool beers, and the slow but inevitable collapse of humanity—now with a side of influencer drama!Takeaways The hosts share their contrasting experiences of weather and lifestyle. Current events are overwhelming, with a mix of serious and absurd news. Boxing has transformed into a scripted entertainment spectacle. The hosts reminisce about the authenticity of past boxing matches. Industry shout outs highlight the interconnectedness of recruitment platforms. Fantasy football updates reveal competitive dynamics among the hosts. Layoffs in the recruitment industry signal ongoing challenges. LinkUp's acquisition showcases the importance of real-time job data. Adzuna's acquisition aims to enhance social media recruitment capabilities. The conversation reflects on the future of recruitment advertising amidst automation. Adzuna should consider acquiring Flockety to enhance its influencer marketing capabilities. The job board industry is evolving, with a shift towards programmatic advertising and social media engagement. Companies must adapt to the changing landscape of job postings to remain competitive. JobGet's acquisition of Snagajob could revitalize the hourly worker market. Recruiter.com's acquisition of BountyJobs raises questions about the future of recruitment services. AI-driven digital employees are becoming essential in addressing the cybersecurity talent shortage. The proliferation of AI-generated influencers poses significant challenges for genuine content creators. Legislative action is needed to combat the rise of deep fake technology on social media. The recruitment industry is experiencing a wave of consolidation and strategic acquisitions. The conversation highlights the importance of adapting to technological advancements in recruitment and marketing. Chapters00:00 - Introduction and Current Events03:00 - Reflections on Boxing and Entertainment06:03 - Shout Outs and Industry News10:03 -Fantasy Football Update12:01 -Layoffs and Industry Changes15:58 -Acquisition Palooza: LinkUp and Adzuna28:32 -The Rise of Influencer-Centric Platforms29:52 -The Evolution of Job Boards and Programmatic Advertising33:16 -Adzuna's Strategic Shift and Industry Challenges34:01 -JobGet Acquires Snagajob: A New Era for Hourly Workers42:09 -Recruiter.com Acquires BountyJobs: A Strategic Move?47:04 - AI in Cybersecurity: The Future of Digital Employees52:00 -The Impact of AI-Generated Influencers on Social Media

The Shred is a weekly roundup of who’s raised funds, who’s getting acquired and who’s on the move in the world of recruitment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

From the Shaker Green Room at RecFest USA, Dean Da Costa joins Chad & Cheese to share fresh recruitment advice. He urges recruiters to challenge norms, verify AI-generated data, and focus on the human touch. Da Costa emphasizes personal branding, as candidates often research recruiters, and suggests exploring platforms beyond LinkedIn to reach diverse talent. He highlights the irreplaceable value of genuine interactions over automation and advocates for a supportive, knowledge-sharing recruiter community.

Live from the SmartRecruiters booth at the HR Tech conference in Las Vegas, the boys hosted a session with Patti Tabris, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at ResultsCX, who shared insights into leveraging employee referrals for recruitment. With 20,000 employees, ResultsCX has seen tremendous success by generating over 400,000 referrals in two years, highlighting referrals as a potent yet often underutilized recruitment strategy. Patti emphasized that continuous improvement and innovation in their referral program, named ReferCX, not only reduces hiring costs but also enhances candidate quality and company culture. The program's effectiveness is boosted by integrating marketing strategies at launch and robust backend technology to handle referral tracking and bonus calculations. The company has implemented a tiered incentive system linked to employee retention and uses a leaderboard to boost engagement without extra costs. The referral initiative extends beyond immediate hires, creating a pool of future candidates, and is integrated into the company's onboarding process through a mobile app. This program, accounting for 25-30% of hires, focuses on internal culture but plans to explore external referrals and enhance gamification. The success of ReferCX is measured through clear goals, tracking, and employee feedback, demonstrating its significant impact on both employee satisfaction and retention.

This week, the boys are joined by Lieven from House of HR to discuss various topics including layoffs in the industry, the impact of AI on startups, social media regulations for youth, and recent innovations in recruitment. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by companies in the current economic climate, as well as insights into quarterly earnings reports from major players in the recruitment space. The conversation delves into the dynamics of job platforms, particularly focusing on the power struggles between major players like Indeed and ZipRecruiter. Plenty of talking about the innovations brought by AI tools in recruitment, the challenges faced by ZipRecruiter, and the potential for mergers and acquisitions in the industry. The discussion also touches on the impact of AI on the workforce, investment trends in HR tech, and a comparison of two startups, Toothio and SocialCrowd, showcasing the evolving landscape of recruitment and staffing.Chapters00:00 - Introduction03:02 - The Impact of AI on Startups06:00 - Social Media Regulations and Youth09:03 - Innovations in Recruitment14:51 - Layoffs and Economic Challenges17:48 - Quarterly Earnings Reports and Market Trends27:35 - The Power Dynamics of Job Platforms29:08 - Innovations in Recruitment: The Rise of AI Tools30:52 - The Struggles of ZipRecruiter34:42 - The Future of Recruitment: Mergers and Acquisitions36:44 - AI in the Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges48:30 - Investment Trends in HR Tech53:08 - Startups to Watch: Toothio vs. Social Crowd