The Chad & Cheese Podcast

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? 🎙️ Equal parts HR reckoning, tech side-eye, and group therapy.You’re gonna want a drink for this one.

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.