By HR for HR

Jocelyn King, Virgil HR

Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR, this series brings together forward-thinking HR and talent leaders for candid conversations about the realities of modern people operations. Each episode cuts through complexity and focuses on practical, usable insights across recruiting and performance management, compliance, AI, leadership, and the changing employee experience. Jocelyn’s grounded, thoughtful approach invites guests to share what’s really working in their organizations and the lessons learned along the way, giving HR professionals clear guidance they can apply immediately. Whether the topic is technology, culture, or strategy, these conversations spotlight the ideas shaping the future of work.

Episodes

  1. Erica McMannes: Tapping into the 12 Million, The Power of the Military Spouse Workforce

    6D AGO

    Erica McMannes: Tapping into the 12 Million, The Power of the Military Spouse Workforce

    Erica McMannes, Chief Experience Officer at Instant Teams, joins the podcast to share her expertise in building high-performing, fully distributed workforces. Having moved 14 times as a military spouse, Erica founded Instant Teams to create a talent marketplace that connects companies with the highly skilled but often overlooked community of over 12 million military spouses. She discusses the "ethos to remote communication" that her company established long before the pandemic, highlighting that in a remote setting, connection and camaraderie do not happen by chance—they require intentional, driven structures to replace the accidental "water cooler" moments of a physical office. The episode explores the transition toward skills-based hiring and the flaws in traditional resume-focused recruitment. Erica explains how HR professionals can shift their focus to "durable" and transferable skills, using customer experience as a prime example of where military spouses excel due to their natural empathy and adaptability. For leaders struggling with distributed teams, Erica recommends "maniacal organization"—using processes and visibility systems to track productivity without resorting to micromanagement. She encourages HR to support managers through proactive communication and expectation management, ensuring that remote work environments remain transparent and trust-based. Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠ and ⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠ for ongoing guidance and industry updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    24 min
  2. isa Elowson: Leading by Culture, Not Policy: Lessons from a Certified Mediator

    FEB 5

    isa Elowson: Leading by Culture, Not Policy: Lessons from a Certified Mediator

    Lisa Elowson brings over 30 years of HR experience and a specialized background in mediation to discuss the unavoidable reality of workplace conflict. Lisa explains that many professionals dread conflict because they are naturally "conflict adverse," but she argues that conflict doesn't have to be toxic if it is addressed early. She compares unresolved disputes to a "Titanic iceberg," where the hidden costs, such as mental disengagement (the "quit and stay" phenomenon), investigation time, and potential lawsuits, are often far greater than what is visible on the surface. Through the lens of a certified mediator, Lisa provides HR leaders with specific techniques to navigate high-stakes employee relations issues, such as "shuttle mediation" and active listening to uncover the "gold nuggets" of what is truly driving a disagreement. She stresses the importance of HR maintaining a neutral stance, clearly communicating to all parties that they have "no dog in the fight" other than reaching a fair resolution. Lisa challenges the traditional "handbook" approach to management, urging HR to lead by culture and respect rather than strictly by policy. By meeting people where they are and facilitating face-to-face "conscious conversations," HR can move past "win-lose" scenarios to restore functional working relationships. Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠ and ⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠ for ongoing guidance and industry updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    20 min
  3. John Baldino: Stop Measuring "Time to Hire" and Start Monetizing Vacancy

    JAN 8

    John Baldino: Stop Measuring "Time to Hire" and Start Monetizing Vacancy

    John Baldino, President of Humareso, joins us live from HR Tech 2025 to discuss the evolution of the industry, from the days of "Personnel" and manual payroll to today’s data-driven people analytics. John challenges HR leaders to stop obsessing over "time to hire" and start calculating the real cost of vacancy: quantifying the lost productivity when managers have to cover open roles and the financial impact of burnout on remaining teams. He also explains why geographic cost differentials should be a primary factor in modern hiring strategies, urging leaders to look beyond major tech hubs to optimize budget. The conversation pivots to a critical struggle for many practitioners: how to move from reactive to strategic, especially within an "HR Department of One." John offers a liberating, incremental approach to shaving down the 92% of time spent on transactional tasks starting with letting employees manage their own data. He wraps up with the single most effective question HR professionals can ask managers to spark transformative, strategic partnership. It is a masterclass in proving HR’s financial value while keeping the "human" in human resources. Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit www.virgilhr.com and follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn for ongoing guidance and industry updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 min
  4. Katrina Kibben: Why Job Descriptions Still Haven’t Evolved

    12/11/2025

    Katrina Kibben: Why Job Descriptions Still Haven’t Evolved

    Live from HR Tech 2025, Katrina Kibben brings their signature clarity and storytelling to a conversation about employer brand, EVP development, and the linguistic data that reveals what employees actually value. Katrina explains why every strong EVP starts with deep listening, not leadership soundbites, and how interviewing people across levels produces the most accurate, actionable picture of company culture. The conversation moves into the surprising history of job postings, what truly makes a compelling job description today, and how scope, scale, and impact matter far more than tired “years of experience” clichés. Katrina also shares lessons from their book The Bounce Back Factor, shaped by three years of running a business from a van, and how leaders can navigate uncertainty with more confidence and humanity. It’s a refreshing, insightful look at building clarity into your recruiting process and using language as a strategic asset. Find out more about Katrina Kibben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinakibben/ Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠ and ⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠ for ongoing guidance and industry updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min
  5. Christy Honeycutt: Why Your Recruiting Process Is Breaking (and How to Fix It)

    12/04/2025

    Christy Honeycutt: Why Your Recruiting Process Is Breaking (and How to Fix It)

    Recorded live at HR Tech 2025 in Las Vegas, this conversation with Christy Honeycutt dives into twenty years of hands-on talent expertise and breaks down exactly when an RPO model makes sense and when it doesn’t. Christy walks through the questions every TA leader should be prepared to answer before talking to a recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), the hidden ATS issues that quietly block candidates, and why “finding your voice” matters more than ever for HR leaders looking to influence the C-suite. She also opens up about her work as a meditation coach, how leaders can regulate themselves before showing up for their teams, and how simple, accessible wellness practices can transform employee experience. The episode rounds out with a grounded, candid look at buy-in, accountability, and how HR can shift perceptions from “soft” to “strategic” by driving real business outcomes. Find out more about Christy Honeycutt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyhoneycutt/ and via her website: https://www.christyhoneycutt.com/ Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit www.virgilhr.com and follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn for ongoing guidance and industry updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    20 min

About

Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR, this series brings together forward-thinking HR and talent leaders for candid conversations about the realities of modern people operations. Each episode cuts through complexity and focuses on practical, usable insights across recruiting and performance management, compliance, AI, leadership, and the changing employee experience. Jocelyn’s grounded, thoughtful approach invites guests to share what’s really working in their organizations and the lessons learned along the way, giving HR professionals clear guidance they can apply immediately. Whether the topic is technology, culture, or strategy, these conversations spotlight the ideas shaping the future of work.