The TalentTrack Podcast

Oliver Feakins
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The TalentTrack Podcast is a hard-hitting, highly actionable deep dive into the staffing and recruiting industry—built for operators who are in it every day. From healthcare staffing to transportation, logistics, and beyond, we break down the real dynamics shaping talent markets right now. Expect practical frameworks, real-world experiences, and strategies you can apply immediately—whether you're trying to drive hires and placements, improve recruiter performance, or scale smarter. Brought to you by the folks at TrackFive!

  1. 1d ago

    How Adex Built an AI Recruiting System from Scratch!

    What happens when a healthcare staffing CEO gets confronted by one of the toughest markets the industry has ever seen? For Ryan McGuire of ADEX Healthcare Staffing, the answer was simple: build something. After COVID, ADEX went from more than 465 travelers on assignment and 50+ internal employees to navigating a dramatically smaller, more competitive market. Margins tightened. Advertising got more expensive. Competition intensified. Ryan knew doing more of the same wasn't going to be enough. Then he started experimenting with AI. Ryan wasn't a programmer. He didn't have a technical background. He didn't hire a development team or start by purchasing another expensive enterprise AI platform. He taught himself. What started with automating simple administrative tasks quickly turned into something much bigger. Ryan spent months obsessively testing, learning, reviewing conversations, and building an AI system specifically around the realities of healthcare staffing. Today, that system is helping ADEX engage clinicians, reactivate its database, match candidates to jobs, create job-specific resumes, automate workflows, and handle recruiting conversations at a scale that would be nearly impossible for a human team alone. In just two months, Ryan says the system sent roughly 175,000 SMS messages, engaged in 70,000 conversations and identified 9,000–10,000 interested clinicians. But this episode isn't about replacing recruiters with robots. Ryan's vision is an AI-powered agency where technology dramatically increases what a great human team can accomplish. We get into what worked, what failed, how his recruiters reacted, where AI still makes mistakes, what it actually costs to build something like this, and why Ryan believes the work he's doing today could position ADEX very differently when the healthcare staffing market eventually enters its next growth cycle. This is one of the most fascinating AI stories I've heard in healthcare staffing — because Ryan didn't wait for someone to sell him the future. He started building it himself.

  2. Sep 17

    Live From TravCon! - The Modern Recruiter Playbook

    How to Recruit, Convert & Retain Travel Clinicians in 2026Travel healthcare recruiting has changed. During COVID, the market came to recruiters. Today, recruiters have to go out and win it. In this live session from TravCon, Oliver Feakins breaks down The Modern Recruiter Playbook—a tactical look at what actually works in travel healthcare recruiting today. The big idea? Recruiters need to speed up and slow down at the same time: respond to inbound clinicians faster than ever, but slow down once they connect to understand motivations, uncover flexibility, build trust, and create more opportunities instead of simply matching someone to the job they originally applied for. We dig into the entire recruiting funnel—from inbound and outbound sourcing to submissions, interviews, offers, starts, and ultimately redeployment—and explain how to identify exactly where your pipeline is breaking instead of simply telling recruiters they need more placements. You'll learn how to re-engage older candidates your competitors have stopped calling, replace "just checking in" with value-first outreach, use the S.E.N.D. framework for better recruiter texts, build a personal brand through social media, handle objections and redirect clinicians without creating pressure, and use microcommitments and pre-closes to build real commitment throughout the recruiting process. And perhaps most importantly, they explain why the best recruiters aren't thinking about one placement. They're thinking about assignments two, three, four and beyond—starting the redeployment conversation almost as soon as a clinician begins their current assignment. If you're a travel healthcare recruiter or agency leader trying to compete in a slower, more competitive market, this episode is packed with practical tactics you can put to work immediately. Stop hoping. Start guiding. Build the pipeline.

  3. Jul 13

    Healthcare Staffing Isn't Broken—But Agencies Must Change ft. Holly Bass (NATHO)

    Healthcare staffing isn't getting easier—but the agencies adapting the fastest are finding ways to win. Oliver welcomes Holly Bass, Executive Director of NATHO, for an honest conversation about what's happening behind the scenes across the staffing industry. From AI and recruiter performance to margin pressure, MSPs, redeployment, and the future of travel healthcare, this episode explores the trends every staffing leader needs to understand. Whether you're running a healthcare staffing agency or leading a recruiting team, this conversation offers practical ideas you can implement immediately.

  4. Jun 18

    Beyond the Fill: How AI, Data & Workforce Strategy Are Reshaping The Industry with Chris Sund

    Healthcare staffing is no longer just about filling jobs. As hospitals face mounting workforce challenges, tighter budgets, and increasing demands for transparency, agencies are being asked to deliver more than candidates—they're being asked to deliver insight, strategy, and technology. In this episode, Oliver Feakins sits down with Chris Sund of GQR and Uniti Med to explore the future of healthcare staffing and the evolving role agencies play in workforce management. Together, they discuss industry trends, MSP/VMS growth, changing clinician expectations, recruiter effectiveness, and the growing importance of data-driven decision making. The conversation also dives into Nebula, GQR's AI-powered recruiting platform, and how organizations are using automation, intelligent candidate engagement, and large-scale talent discovery to uncover clinicians faster than ever before. Chris shares real-world examples of how AI can reactivate dormant talent pools, accelerate recruiting efforts, and help organizations solve staffing challenges at scale—while explaining why the human recruiter remains irreplaceable in building relationships, uncovering motivations, and guiding clinicians toward the right opportunities. From workforce analytics and candidate engagement to AI recruiting and the future of travel healthcare, this episode offers a practical look at where the industry is heading and what agencies must do to stay competitive in the years ahead. Source:

  5. Jun 16

    TalentTrack 2026 Session: Industry Pulse Check: Where Healthcare Staffing Stands Now

    Where does healthcare staffing really stand in 2026? Is the market recovering, stabilizing, or simply entering a new normal? In this data-driven session from TalentTrack 2026 in Omaha, industry leaders dig into the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the next chapter of healthcare staffing. Featuring insights from the latest industry research and benchmarking data, along with candid reactions from agency executives who are living these changes every day, this panel cuts through the headlines to explore what’s actually happening on the ground. From margin compression and MSP/VMS expansion to direct business growth, M&A activity, recruiter productivity, and the rise of niche specialization, this conversation provides a practical snapshot of where the industry is—and where it may be headed next. In this episode, you'll hear discussion around: Why many leaders are calling 2026 a year of stabilization rather than recoveryThe strategies separating high-performing agencies from those still strugglingThe continued shift toward niche markets, direct business, and diversificationMargin pressure, hospital buying behavior, and the evolving MSP/VMS landscapeThe impact of AI, technology, and culture on agency performanceWhy accountability, execution, and perseverance matter more than everThe opportunities emerging from consolidation, market shifts, and changing client needs More than just a market update, this session is a reality check—and a reminder that while the old playbook may no longer work, there is still tremendous opportunity for agencies willing to adapt, stay disciplined, and focus on what they do best. If you're a healthcare staffing executive, owner, or leader looking to benchmark your business against the broader market, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

  6. Jun 16

    TalentTrack 2026 Session: AI in Action: The Future & The Now of AI in Healthcare Staffing

    AI is everywhere in healthcare staffing right now—but what's actually working, what's just hype, and where should agencies be investing their time and money? Recorded live at TalentTrack 2026 in Omaha, this panel brings together founders and innovators from some of the industry's leading AI and technology companies for a candid conversation about how artificial intelligence is already reshaping recruiting, candidate engagement, and workforce operations. Rather than focusing on far-off predictions, the discussion zeroes in on practical use cases agencies can implement today to improve speed, efficiency, and recruiter productivity without losing the human element that makes great recruiting work. The panel explores: Why AI isn't replacing recruiters—it's reshaping the roleThe best AI use cases agencies are deploying todayHow AI can automate repetitive work while amplifying human relationshipsThe truth about AI-powered candidate engagement and after-hours recruitingCommon misconceptions and mistakes agencies make when adopting AIHow to evaluate AI vendors, measure ROI, and avoid "AI for AI's sake"What the future hybrid workflow between recruiters and AI teammates really looks like From AI receptionists and automated screening to personalized outreach and intelligent candidate matching, this episode cuts through the noise and offers a practical roadmap for agency leaders looking to leverage AI without sacrificing the candidate experience. Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or already experimenting with automation, this session will help you separate the buzzwords from the business outcomes—and understand why the agencies that win the next decade won't be the ones that replace people with AI, but the ones that empower people through it.

  7. Jun 16

    TalentTrack 2026 Session: VMS+MSP Leaders Tell All: Inside The Minds of Your Vendor Partners

    For many healthcare staffing agencies, MSPs and VMS programs can feel like a black box. Why do some agencies thrive inside vendor programs while others struggle? What actually matters when supplier performance is evaluated? And what are MSP leaders really looking for in a strategic agency partner? Recorded live at TalentTrack 2026 in Omaha, this one-of-a-kind panel brings together senior leaders from some of the industry's largest MSP and VMS organizations for an honest, unfiltered conversation about the realities of today's vendor ecosystem. From supplier scorecards and conversion rates to communication, technology, and the future of workforce solutions, this session pulls back the curtain on how decisions are made—and what agencies can do to stand out. You'll hear candid perspectives on: The biggest misconceptions agencies have about MSPs and VMS programsWhat separates top-performing suppliers from the rest of the panelWhy quality and conversion rates matter more than submission volumeHow agencies can build stronger, more collaborative vendor relationshipsThe truth behind rising MSP fees and tightening marginsWhere AI, technology, and changing hospital demands are taking the vendor model nextActionable strategies for earning more opportunities and expanding within MSP programs If you've ever wondered what happens on the other side of the portal—or wished you could sit down with the people running your vendor programs and ask them anything—this is that conversation. Whether you're an owner, executive, recruiter, or account manager, this episode offers invaluable insight into how to become the kind of partner MSP and VMS leaders want to work with.

  8. Jun 16

    TalentTrack 2026 Session: Small But Mighty - What Large Agencies Can Learn From The Underdogs.

    Does bigger always mean better? At TalentTrack 2026 in Omaha, a panel of founders and executives from some of the industry's fastest-growing independent healthcare staffing firms challenged that assumption—and made a compelling case for why smaller agencies are often winning where larger competitors struggle. In this candid conversation, agency leaders share how they've built successful businesses in one of the toughest staffing markets in recent memory by staying nimble, relationship-focused, and relentlessly authentic. From turning limited resources into a competitive advantage to using technology strategically (without losing the human touch), this session is packed with practical lessons for agencies of every size. The panel dives into topics like: Why smaller agencies often deliver a better candidate experienceThe power of authenticity over transactionsBuilding a brand without a massive marketing budgetChoosing service over the race to the lowest marginHow nimble teams adapt faster to market shifts and new opportunitiesUsing technology to enhance—not replace—the recruiter relationshipWhy direct business, community building, and value-first recruiting are helping underdogs outperform Whether you lead a 5-person startup or a 500-person enterprise, this episode offers a fresh perspective on what truly drives growth in healthcare staffing today. Sometimes the biggest advantage isn't having more resources—it's having fewer layers, faster decisions, and a team that's close enough to the work to genuinely care.

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About

The TalentTrack Podcast is a hard-hitting, highly actionable deep dive into the staffing and recruiting industry—built for operators who are in it every day. From healthcare staffing to transportation, logistics, and beyond, we break down the real dynamics shaping talent markets right now. Expect practical frameworks, real-world experiences, and strategies you can apply immediately—whether you're trying to drive hires and placements, improve recruiter performance, or scale smarter. Brought to you by the folks at TrackFive!

Information

  • Creator
    Oliver Feakins
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Oliver Feakins
  • Show Website
    The TalentTrack Podcast