Talentless

Data. Data. Dada. However you say it, one thing is clear: not all data is created equal. In this episode of Talentless, Ashley King and Desiree Goldey break down what data actually matters in talent acquisition and why most TA teams are stuck reporting numbers that don’t move the business forward. This is a practical, no-fluff conversation about data literacy, business impact, and why knowing how to interpret data is the real leadership unlock for recruiters. We cover: Why data literacy is the real glass ceiling in TA The difference between symptoms and root causes in recruiting data Why attrition and retention matter more than time-to-fill How pass-through ratios expose alignment (or misalignment) with hiring managers Why volume-based recruiting metrics are misleading How to monetize recruiting activity so executives actually listen Using qualitative + quantitative data together to drive better hiring outcomes If you’ve ever felt like TA is stuck at the “reporting numbers” stage instead of influencing decisions, this episode is for you.  Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe for more recruiter real talk, minus the corporate nonsense

What if the problem with talent acquisition isn’t recruiters… it’s how we set them up? In this episode of Talentless, Ashley King and Desiree Goldey dig into recruiter enablement and why it’s quickly becoming the difference between TA teams that survive and those that actually move the business forward. We unpack what recruiter enablement really means (spoiler: it’s not just more tools), why measuring ROI in recruiting is long overdue, and how TA leaders can build smarter partnerships with the business instead of operating like an internal agency no one fully understands. We also get into: Why most recruiting tools never prove their value What recruiter performance should be measured on How data can help or hurt, depending on how it’s used The role of psychological safety in unlocking high-potential talent Why education and strategic scaffolding matter more than hustle culture This is one of those episodes that might make you rethink how your TA org is built and why recruiters burn out when enablement is missing. If you care about outcomes, not just activity, this one’s for you.  Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next

We took Talentless on the road and dropped ourselves right into the middle of RecFest. Sun out, mics on, chaos fully embraced.In this episode, we sat down with two of our all-time favorite humans in recruiting, Brooke Freeburg and Krissy Callari from ZRG, and let the conversation do what it does best… wander in the smartest, funniest way possible. We talked about the realities of recruiting right now, what actually makes this industry fun again, and why relationships still matter more than whatever new tool launched this week. There were laughs, hot takes, and a few “did we really just say that?” moments that make live conversations so damn good. It was candid. It was chaotic. It was very RecFest.

"HR Conferences” is our love letter and side-eye to the events that are supposed to move this industry forward. Desiree and Ashley break down what conferences should be about – community, real education, and true innovation – and why too many of them have turned into overpriced vendor parades with celebrity keynotes no one asked for. We talk about safety (especially for women), inclusion, accessibility, and what it actually looks like to come home with something you can use at your desk on Monday, not just a hangover and a swag bag. Catch the full episode below and hear how Desiree and Ashley are challenging HR conferences to do better for the people who keep this industry running.

Jim Miller is a global People Operations leader with over 20 years of experience scaling recruiting and people teams across tech giants and hyper-growth startups including Google, FullStory, and now Ashby, where he serves as VP of People & Talent. From leading 200+ recruiters worldwide to advising on product, process, and people tech, Jim has built his career around one central truth: productivity in recruiting isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing smarter. In this episode, Jim joins Talentless to break down what productivity really looks like for recruiters in 2025, the data, the burnout, and the brutal myths we keep telling ourselves about “hustle.” Tune in as we unpack: Why recruiter productivity has become a broken metric How tech and tooling (like Ashby) can elevate, not replace human judgment What real efficiency looks like when hiring at scale The future of People Ops leadership in an AI-driven world Smart, funny, and deeply experienced, Jim brings clarity to a conversation most of us are too busy to have.

Katrina Kibben is a leadership speaker, LinkedIn Top Voice, and founder of Three Ears Media known for transforming how companies attract talent and build healthy team cultures. With over 15 years at global brands like Monster.com and Randstad, Katrina brings real talk on leadership, belonging, and what it means to show up as yourself at work. In this episode, Katrina joins Talentless to talk about leading with authenticity, navigating change, and why hiring should always start with empathy. Tune in for a smart, human conversation with one of the boldest voices in the talent industry.

“Clockout with Julia Arpag” is a story about building something meaningful at work and at home. Julia shares how she turned her love for connecting people into a business rooted in purpose, faith, and high-performance recruiting. As founder of Aligned Recruitment, she’s proof that you can lead with heart, hire with intention, and still build world-class teams. Catch the full episode below and hear how Julia redefined what a career in recruiting can look like.

“Clockout with Tejal Rives” is a conversation about finding power where the system told you not to. Tejal opens up about navigating the job search and promotion process as a woman of color and how that experience pushed her to change how hiring works—starting with transparency and empathy. From helping others decode what recruiters really look for to talking openly about DEI and neurodiversity, her story is as honest as it is empowering. Catch the full episode below and hear how Tejal redefined what a career in recruiting can look like.

“Clockout with Erin Riska” dives into the unconventional path of a recruiter who refuses to play by the old HR rulebook. Erin shares how curiosity, flexibility, and a healthy dose of irreverence shaped her work as a fractional talent strategist and writer. From building better candidate experiences to designing people-first recruiting systems, her story is equal parts grit and wanderlust. Catch the full episode below and hear how Erin redefined what a career in recruiting can look like.

Joel Lalgee is a podcast host, executive recruiter, and content strategist who’s become a true friend of the Talentless Podcast. In this episode of Clockout, Joel shares his journey, lessons learned, and why content is one of the most powerful tools in the talent industry.  Tune in to hear Joel’s story and get inspired by one of the legends in recruiting content.

Clockout with Talentless and learn about the career journey of everyone's favorite almost dentist- Shannon Ogborn!

Same job title, totally different reality. In this episode of Talentless, we break down the messy truth about role nuances: the invisible details that can make or break a recruiter’s sanity. We’re talking job titles that don’t match the work, hiring managers who oversell the role, and candidates who find themselves in a job that feels nothing like the posting. We’ll swap stories, spill some tea, and explain why understanding the fine print of a role isn’t just nice to have, it’s survival in this industry. If you’ve ever looked at a job description and thought, “Wait… what exactly is this role?”—this one’s for you.  Tune in, laugh a little, and maybe rethink the next requisition that lands on your desk.

Recruiting isn’t one-size-fits-all—and nowhere is that clearer than when you move across industries. In this episode of Talentless, we dig into the nuances that shape how hiring actually works in different sectors. From the fast-paced world of tech to the highly credentialed healthcare field, from hospitality’s frontline brand-builders to the high-stakes demands of tech hiring, we break down what makes each industry unique—and why recruiters need to adjust their approach to succeed. Expect straight talk, sharp insights, and a few laughs along the way as we unpack how recruiters can recognize the rules of the game in each space and use that knowledge to deliver better hires, stronger relationships, and long-term wins. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and join the conversation about what it really takes to recruit across industries.

Recruiters aren’t just sourcing resumes — they’re managing expectations, coaching through bias, and sometimes dragging hiring managers across the finish line. In this episode of Talentless, we dig into the real work behind “managing the manager.” From setting clear timelines and pushing back on unrealistic requests to aligning on what “good” actually looks like, we discuss the soft skills and strategic grit it takes to run a hiring process that works. Whether you’ve had to teach someone how to interview (again) or you’re battling hiring freeze whiplash, this one’s for you. Because being a recruiter means you’re not just filling jobs — you’re managing people who think they know how to.

Recruiters aren’t just sourcing resumes — they’re managing expectations, coaching through bias, and sometimes dragging hiring managers across the finish line. In this episode of Talentless, we dig into the real work behind “managing the manager.” From setting clear timelines and pushing back on unrealistic requests to aligning on what “good” actually looks like, we discuss the soft skills and strategic grit it takes to run a hiring process that works. Whether you’ve had to teach someone how to interview (again) or you’re battling hiring freeze whiplash, this one’s for you. Because being a recruiter means you’re not just filling jobs — you’re managing people who think they know how to.

In this episode of Talentless, we’re diving headfirst into one of the most overlooked—but most important—parts of the hiring process: the candidate experience. And we brought in one of the most trusted voices in the game to help us do it. Bonnie Dilber joins us to break down why candidate experience isn't just a buzzword, but a core pillar of effective, equitable recruiting. We talk about what a good process actually looks like, what recruiters and hiring managers often get wrong, and how even small shifts can have a big impact. If you’re ready to ditch the ghosting, sharpen your follow-through, and create a journey that candidates remember for all the right reasons, this one’s for you.

They share the same house but don’t always see eye to eye. In this episode, we’re unpacking the long-standing (and sometimes strained) relationship between HR and Talent Acquisition. Our guest, Daniela Herrera, joins us to explore how these two critical functions can move from friction to flow. From legacy hierarchies to modern collaboration, we’ll break down what works, what doesn't, and what it takes to build trust and partnership between teams that need each other more than ever. Whether you're HR, TA, or stuck somewhere in between, this episode will leave you with a clearer picture of where we’ve been, where we are, and how to build better together.

What are the real lessons no one warns you about when you start recruiting? In this episode of Talentless, we’re talking about the rookie mistakes, unspoken rules, and jaw-dropping moments that shape every recruiter’s first two years. Whether you’re just starting out or reflecting on your own early missteps, we’ve got stories and insights that’ll hit close to home. We’re breaking down the things we wish we knew back then and sharing the takes that still sting (in a good way). Tune in and save yourself a little trial by fire.

Would you know if the recruiter sliding into your DMs was actually running a scam? This week on Talentless, we’re cracking open the recruiting ecosystem, from the elite talent whisperers changing lives to the shady scammers collecting resumes like Pokémon cards. There are good recruiters. There are lazy ones. And then there are straight-up predators. We’re naming the types, sharing receipts, and giving you the tools to know who you’re really dealing with. Hosts Desiree and Ashley unpack the red flags and green lights, sharing personal stories, real-world examples, and the messy middle ground we’ve all seen too often. We’ll walk through the recruiting spectrum, the strategic matchmakers, the ghosters and spammers, and the phishing frauds pretending to offer you your dream job for a fee.

In this episode of Talentless, Ashley King and Desiree Goldey take on the recruiting unicorns of the talent world those hyper-specific, nearly mythical roles we lovingly (and sometimes begrudgingly) call purple squirrels. From wild job descriptions to impossible expectations, they unpack what makes these roles so hard to fill and why companies keep writing them. This episode dives into the tension between business needs and hiring realities, and the creative (and sometimes chaotic) ways recruiters rise to the challenge. If you’ve ever chased a needle in a haystack or been expected to be one this one hits close to home. This episode is part vent session, part strategy huddle, and 100% recruiter realness.