The Purple Acorn HR Morning Show

In Episode 108 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Ron Fish and Mike Peditto explore what it takes to make AI work in hiring and across HR, beyond simply buying the technology. A new iCIMS study, the 2026 Talent Transformation Yearbook, surveyed 500 HR and talent leaders and found that organizations put only about half of their purchased AI capabilities into production. Companies that invest in training, clean data, management support, and clear processes report stronger results, including faster hiring and better retention. But candidate trust remains a challenge: only 32% of job seekers who believed AI evaluated their applications said employers clearly disclosed its use. Are companies preparing their people and processes, or buying new technology and hoping for the best? We’ll also look at how AI is moving beyond recruiting into talent management, workforce planning, and performance management. As AI agents work alongside contractors and full-time employees, who oversees them, what are they allowed to do, and when should their access be removed? Meanwhile, AI-generated applications are flooding the hiring process, making it harder to find genuinely qualified candidates, and employers are reporting significant applicant fraud. Plus, Nintendo has opened applications for its 2027 Summer Internship Program, which raises the question of whether companies are doing enough to invest in young talent before they enter the workforce. We’ll also preview upcoming events, including ERE in San Diego (Nov 9 to 11), TA Week in San Diego (Feb 1 to 4), and Transform in Las Vegas (April 12 to 14). Mike Peditto sits down with Peter Phelan of ValuesCulture for a lighter look at the role of humor in HR. Peter shares why laughter can build trust and strengthen culture, how a company’s values show up in everyday moments, and how HR can take its work seriously without taking itself too seriously. Trent Cotton welcomes Tracey Lovejoy of Catalyst Constellations for Talk Nerdy with iCIMS to discuss the “Transformation at Speed” report, including what surprised executives most, the three patterns that quietly derail transformation, and why AI has become a mirror for how organizations really work. We’ll wrap up with a look at the guest conversations and the questions HR leaders should be asking right now. The HR Morning Show is presented by CalendarPA.com, with thanks to Talent Tech PR. Join us every Tuesday, follow Purple Acorn on LinkedIn, and find The HR Morning Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 107 of The Purple Acorn HR Morning Show, hosts Serge Boudreau, Danielle Farage, and Mike Peditto explore how organizations can embrace new technology while keeping people at the center of hiring, leadership, and workplace transformation. AI is making its way into the first round of job interviews. With Dayforce acquiring Ribbon AI to expand automated voice and video interviewing, employers may soon be able to screen candidates around the clock. That could help recruiters move faster and focus on relationships—but can automated interviews deliver a fair, thoughtful candidate experience? And how do employers balance efficiency with the human judgment needed to find the right people? We’ll also look at how companies are investing in the next generation of talent. Nintendo’s 2027 summer internship program offers students hands-on experience across areas ranging from marketing and business intelligence to user experience and data analytics. As young professionals look for ways to get their careers started, are employers doing enough to provide meaningful experience, mentorship, and pathways into the workforce? Danielle Farage welcomes Ashley King of TalentED: Recruiter University to discuss recruiter enablement, performance, and education for talent acquisition managers. As recruiting continues to evolve, helping recruiters develop their skills and perform at their best is becoming increasingly important. Serge Boudreau sits down with Theresa Mazzaro, RN, CHCR, RACR, of Fairfax Radiology Centers to explore her experience in healthcare recruitment, her background as a nurse and Air Force C-130 flight nurse, and the perspectives she brings to the people side of healthcare. Mike Peditto talks with Eric Knauf of BelongHQ about the human infrastructure behind successful organizational transformation. Companies invest heavily in AI, new systems, and restructuring, but those changes depend on more than technology. Psychological safety, inclusion, support, connection, and purpose all influence whether teams share information, raise concerns, and work together effectively when things change. Serge also welcomes Tamara O’Neil to discuss leading through personal and professional disruption, the O’Neil CARE Model©, and how compassion, accountability, and organizational resilience can help people maintain high standards while navigating challenges and creating meaningful change. Plus, Serge brings us his weather report before we wrap up with the latest conversations and questions shaping the world of HR and recruiting. The HR Morning Show is presented by CalendarPA.com. Join us every Tuesday, follow Purple Acorn on LinkedIn, and find The Purple Acorn HR Morning Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 106 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Serge Boudreau and Adam Posner explore the changing relationship between employers and employees as AI, remote work, and new recruiting technologies reshape the workplace. As companies look for new ways to work smarter, important questions are emerging about privacy, trust, and what it means to put people first. Remote work may have changed more than where we do our jobs. We’ll discuss reporting that connects the flexibility of working from home with broader workforce access and changing family trends, along with a surprising argument that remote collaboration tools helped pave the way for workplace AI. As employers reconsider return-to-office policies, are they also considering who might be left out? We’ll also tackle a growing concern: companies selling employee emails, Slack messages, and other workplace communications to AI developers for model training. What does that mean for employee privacy, transparency, and consent? If workers’ everyday conversations help build profitable AI systems, should employees have a say in how their data is used? Adam Posner talks with Ron Fish of TadX Solutions about some of the biggest challenges facing talent acquisition, including candidate fraud, using generative AI to speed up sourcing and resume review, and whether AI-generated job descriptions are truly making hiring more accessible and inclusive. Serge Boudreau welcomes Jillian O’Malior of New World Labs to discuss employer brand in the age of intelligence. As candidates increasingly turn to AI to research potential employers, companies need to know what these tools are saying about them and whether it reflects reality. In a competitive job market, a strong employer brand needs to be more than polished messaging, it needs to be backed by the actual employee experience. Adam also speaks with Kara Mignanelli of Talent Acquisition Week about her journey in the people business, the importance of listening before building, and how clarity, community, and action can bring people together. The conversation also looks ahead to Talent Acquisition Week, with a special discount code for attendees. And we’ll explore how the recruiter’s role is evolving. As AI takes over more recruiting tasks, talent professionals are increasingly expected to become strategic advisors who help organizations plan their workforce, understand changing skills, and prepare for the future, not just fill open positions. Plus, Serge brings us his weather report before we wrap up with more discussion on the headlines and the questions HR leaders should be asking right now. The HR Morning Show is presented by CalendarPA.com. Join us every Tuesday, follow Purple Acorn on LinkedIn, and find The HR Morning Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 105 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Danielle Farage, Serge Boudreau, and Mike Peditto explore how AI is reshaping HR, recruiting, the future of work, and what these changes mean for the people behind the processes. A new McKinsey report suggests that roughly two-thirds of today’s HR activities could be automated or largely handled by AI agents by 2030. But the bigger question isn’t simply what technology can take over. It’s how HR teams will redesign their work, preserve human judgment, and prepare people for roles that may look very different in just a few years. If AI takes over entry-level tasks, how will the next generation of HR leaders develop the experience they need? We’ll also look at the rise of AI agents as virtual employees, with new platforms allowing businesses to automate tasks and coordinate work in ways that once required a team of people. As employers rethink hiring and job responsibilities, where should human oversight remain essential, and what skills will employees need to stay relevant? Danielle Farage welcomes Victoria Gates and Lorna Erickson of Expert Interviewers to discuss the launch of the *New Hiring Manager Playbook* and the role hiring managers play in building stronger hiring practices. Serge Boudreau talks with Meaghan Ziemba of Z-ink Solutions about the world of manufacturing, an industry that may not always get the spotlight but plays a vital role in the workforce. Mike Peditto sits down with Chris Sund of Uniti Med, GQR Healthcare, and Nebula to discuss how company culture helped fuel 10x growth at Uniti Med, what HR can do about the healthcare workforce shortage, how to use AI in recruiting without losing the human touch, and the lessons behind his guide to becoming your best self at work and in life. We’ll also check in with Serge for his weather report before wrapping up with the latest headlines, conversations with people shaping the HR landscape, and questions worth debating across the industry. The HR Morning Show is presented by CalendarPA.com. Join us every Tuesday, follow Purple Acorn on LinkedIn, and find The HR Morning Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 104 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Serge Boudreau and Ron Fish take a closer look at what makes people want to stay, grow, and build a career at work. What actually makes a company a great place to work? A new Forbes ranking of the world’s best employers points to something that goes beyond perks and benefits: opportunities to grow, recognition, strong culture, and a sense of purpose. The bigger question for HR is whether employees would describe their workplace the same way their leaders do. The conversation also looks at how professionals are finding new ways to turn their skills and expertise into income. As coaches, consultants, recruiters, creators, and other professionals embrace paid appointments and flexible work, employers may need to rethink what flexibility, side work, and retaining highly skilled talent look like. Serge sits down with Ravi Tandra to talk about why he started ProvenBase, their Nashville and RecFest experience, and a real customer story that illustrates how the technology is helping solve a specific problem and change the way that work gets done. Ron also talks with Matt Senter, an indie developer with a long history in tech startups, about Weatherling, a cozy Mac app that brings rain, snow, and a little social competition to your desktop. Later, Daniel Space joins the show to talk about the evolving role of the HR Business Partner, the importance of understanding the business and its models, and how HR can continue to grow into an even more essential part of an organization. And the show closes with a look at the growing skilled trades talent gap. From construction to aviation, employers are facing serious shortages—and increasingly looking to reach younger workers earlier, challenge perceptions about trade careers, and build talent pipelines before they desperately need them. Join us for another conversation about the people behind the workplace headlines, the careers they’re building, and what HR can do to create places where people actually want to stay. The HR Morning Show is presented by CalendarPA.com. Follow Purple Acorn on LinkedIn and find The HR Morning Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices