Talking TA

Denise Chaffin
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Welcome to Talking TA, your go-to podcast for talent acquisition insights. Hosted by Denise Chaffin, join us for conversations with HR and recruitment experts. Uncover trends, best practices, and strategies to elevate your recruitment game. Expect insider discussions, exploration of talent acquisition techniques, and insights into pressing HR issues. Stay ahead with Talking TA—your key to building and retaining a top-tier team.

  1. The Future Belongs to Human-First Leaders | Daniel Burrus | Ep 85

    5D AGO

    The Future Belongs to Human-First Leaders | Daniel Burrus | Ep 85

    Futurist, innovation expert, and bestselling author Daniel Burrus joins Talking TA to discuss AI, leadership, and the future of work. The future of recruiting is becoming more human, not less. Daniel explains why organizations are approaching AI the wrong way, and why the leaders who succeed will use AI to amplify human capability instead of replacing it. The episode explores trust in the AI era, hard trends vs. soft trends, workforce transformation, generational hiring shifts, and how talent acquisition leaders are evolving back into strategic advisors and problem solvers. Daniel also shares practical frameworks for anticipating disruption before it happens and staying relevant in a rapidly changing business environment. After listening, you’ll be talking about why AI alone is not the competitive advantage. The organizations that elevate trust, human judgment, strategic thinking, and anticipatory leadership will be the ones that stay relevant as the future of work continues to evolve. Time Stamps: (00:00) The Future Belongs to Anticipatory Leaders (02:32) Meet Futurist Daniel Burrus (04:22) Why AI Should Magnify Humans, Not Replace Them (06:46) The Real Future of AI and Human Expertise (09:31) Why Trust Becomes a Competitive Advantage (15:01) The Danger of Letting AI Do Everything (18:09) Hard Trends vs. Soft Trends Explained (20:08) How to Predict Disruption Before It Happens (30:07) Transforming the Employee Experience (33:36) The Future of Talent Acquisition Is Changing Again (35:51) Your Biggest Problem Might Be the Wrong Problem (38:56) Generational Recruiting and Workforce Shifts (44:27) Managing AI Employees and AI Agents (52:25) Become More Relevant or Be Disrupted Check out today’s guest, Daniel Burrus Website: https://www.burrus.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielburrus/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/danburrus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burrusdaniel TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielburrusfuturist Resources Mentioned AI Strategy Report: https://www.aistrategyreport.com/ 25 Tech Trends Report: https://www.25techtrendsreport.com/ Check out Talking TA: Website: https://talkingta.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talking-ta/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingTAPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtapodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkingtapodcast

    54 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Why the Best Employees Are More Than a Resume | Stephane Rivard

    In this episode of Talking TA, host Denise Chaffin sits down with Stephane Rivard to explore how AI-driven hiring, soft skills assessments, and automation are reshaping talent acquisition, recruiting performance, and workforce strategy. The conversation dives into why traditional resumes and credentials are becoming less reliable indicators of performance, how “credential inflation” is changing hiring practices, and why companies are increasingly prioritizing communication, adaptability, critical thinking, and relational skills over static technical experience. Stephane explains how AI-powered screening tools are helping organizations identify top candidates more effectively by evaluating real-world responses instead of relying solely on resumes or interviews. Denise and Stephane also unpack the growing challenges facing recruiters today, including fake AI-generated resumes, mass one-click applications, and the operational burden created by enormous applicant volumes. They discuss how automated screening systems can reduce bias, improve retention, lower absenteeism, and help recruiters evolve from resume screeners into strategic talent advisors. The episode also explores the future of work, AI’s impact on education and career development, the rise of vocational and trade careers, and why human-centered skills may become the most durable advantage in an AI-driven economy. If you work in talent acquisition, recruiting operations, HR leadership, workforce strategy, or people operations, this episode offers a practical and forward-looking perspective on the future of hiring. Key Episode Segments: • Credential Inflation & Skills-Based Hiring Why resumes and degrees are becoming weaker indicators of real performance, and how companies are shifting toward skills-first hiring. • The Rise of Fake AI Candidates How AI-generated resumes and one-click apply systems are creating major recruiting challenges for employers and sourcing teams. • Why Soft Skills Matter More Than Ever The growing importance of communication, adaptability, rapport building, and critical thinking in modern hiring. • Recruiters Becoming Talent Strategists How automation is shifting recruiters away from manual screening and toward more strategic workforce decision-making. • The Future of Work & Human Skills Why human-centered skills may become the most future-proof advantage in an AI-driven workforce.

    43 min

  3. MAY 8

    Recruiting Is Broken, AI Is Just Exposing It | Matt Alder

    What if the real problem in recruiting isn’t AI taking jobs, but the fact that many of those jobs shouldn’t exist in the first place? In this episode of Talking TA, Denise Chaffin sits down with Matt Alder, CEO of Recruiting Future, to challenge the foundation of modern hiring. With over two decades in talent acquisition, Matt breaks down why recruiting processes have barely evolved, despite waves of technological innovation. They explore how AI is exposing deep inefficiencies, from resumes and interviews to biased decision-making and outdated job structures. Instead of fixing hiring, organizations are layering automation onto a system designed for a completely different era. This conversation dives into what needs to change, what roles may disappear, and where human value actually matters in a world of automation. From skills-based hiring to experience design and the growing gap between AI capability and human mindset, this episode pushes leaders to rethink everything they believe about talent acquisition. Key Episode Segments: • Hiring Is Built on Constraints, Not Strategy Modern recruiting processes were designed around human limitations, not optimal decision-making. • AI Is Exposing, Not Solving, the Problem Automation is amplifying inefficiencies, not fixing them. • Resumes and Interviews Are Fundamentally Flawed Long-standing hiring tools persist despite evidence they don’t predict success. • Human Bias Is a Bigger Risk Than AI Bias Organizations scrutinize AI, while ignoring deeply embedded human decision flaws. • The Future Role of Recruiters Is Experience Design Value shifts from processing candidates to designing better hiring systems and interactions.

    53 min

  4. APR 21

    You Don’t Have a Brand Problem, You Have an Alignment Problem | Ken Pasternack

    What does “brand” actually mean inside an organization, and why are most companies getting it wrong? In this episode of Talking TA, Denise Chaffin sits down with Ken Pasternack, EVP and Chief Strategy Officer at Two by Four, to break down the real connection between brand, culture, and talent acquisition. This isn’t about logos or messaging. It’s about the alignment between what companies promise and what people actually experience. Ken introduces a powerful lens: brand lives at the intersection of promise and perception. When those are misaligned, organizations lose trust, talent, and performance. From there, the conversation goes deeper into how values must translate into behaviors, why “employee experience” starts long before hiring, and how companies can rebuild authentic relationships in an increasingly automated world. They also tackle the tension between AI and human judgment, exploring where automation helps and where it must never replace human decision-making. The discussion challenges leaders to rethink talent acquisition, not as a transactional process, but as a relationship-driven system rooted in clarity, communication, and shared purpose. If you’re navigating AI, culture shifts, or employer branding, this episode gives you a grounded framework for building organizations that actually deliver on what they promise. Key Episode Segments: • Brand = Promise + Perception When those don’t match, trust breaks and performance follows. • Values Without Behavior Are Useless If you can’t define how a value shows up in action, it doesn’t exist. • Relationships Beat Transactions Organizations that define relationships as metrics miss the human impact. • AI Should Enhance, Not Replace, Judgment The future belongs to those who combine automation with human discernment. • Culture Alignment Can’t Be Automated Hiring, firing, and culture fit must remain human-led decisions.

    56 min

  5. APR 10

    Most AI in Recruiting Is Noise, Here’s What Actually Works | Trent Cotton & Lisa Fiondella

    Most AI in recruiting is noise. The problem is knowing what actually works. In this episode of Talking TA, host Denise Chaffin sits down with Trent Cotton, Head of Talent Acquisition Insights and Analyst Relations, and Lisa Fiondella, SVP of AI, Data, and Platform at iCIMS, to explore how AI, automation, and agentic systems are reshaping talent acquisition, recruiting performance, and HR strategy. AI is often positioned as a silver bullet in hiring, but the reality is far more nuanced. This conversation breaks down the difference between automation, generative AI, and agentic AI, and where each actually adds value inside the recruiting process. From reducing friction in candidate experience to embedding intelligence directly into ATS workflows, the discussion focuses on what works in practice, not just in theory. The episode also explores the evolving role of recruiters as AI removes low-value tasks and shifts the function toward higher-impact, relationship-driven work. Topics include responsible AI, governance, hiring manager bottlenecks, candidate experience breakdowns, and how leading organizations are thinking about risk, compliance, and ROI when implementing AI in hiring. If you work in talent acquisition, HR leadership, recruiting strategy, or people operations, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how to use AI and automation to improve outcomes without losing the human element in hiring. Key Episode Segments AI vs Automation vs Agentic AIA clear breakdown of the three types of AI shaping recruiting today, and why most leaders misunderstand how each should be used. What’s Real vs Noise in AI for Hiring Cuts through the hype to define where AI actually creates value in talent acquisition and where it falls short. Where Automation Works (And Where It Doesn’t) Explores how to identify low-value tasks for automation while protecting the human moments that matter most in hiring. The ATS Is Evolving Into a System of Action A look at how modern ATS platforms are embedding AI directly into workflows, expanding beyond systems of record. Will AI Replace Recruiters? The Real Answer Why AI won’t eliminate recruiters, but will force a shift toward higher-value, relationship-driven work.

    54 min

  6. FEB 20

    The Future Belongs to Leaders With Generational Intelligence | Ellen Raim

    What happens when hiring shortcuts collide with a generation that refuses to stay quiet? In this powerful conversation, Denise sits down with Ellen Raim, early career advisor and founder of People Matter, LLC, to unpack the growing trust gap in today’s workforce. With Gen Z projected to represent 30% of the workforce by 2030 and 50% when combined with younger millennials, the cultural shift isn’t coming. It’s already here. Ellen shares firsthand insights from working with early career professionals navigating a frustrating hiring landscape filled with ghosting, vague feedback, endless interview loops, and “entry level” jobs requiring years of experience. They discuss: Why trust is eroding in hiring processesHow AI screening may be filtering out strong talentThe real cost of cutting internships and rotational programsThe generational friction around communication, work-life boundaries, and transparencyThe concept of “Generational Intelligence” and why it may determine which companies win long termThis episode isn’t about blaming Gen Z. It’s about rethinking systems. If leaders continue optimizing for speed and cost while ignoring trust, loyalty, and culture, the long-term talent pipeline will suffer. But companies that invest in transparency, feedback loops, and early career development will build something far more powerful than efficiency. They’ll build trust. Key Episode Segments: 1. Ghosting Destroys Trust When candidates hear nothing after applying or interviewing, it erodes confidence in both the company and the profession. 2. Entry Level Isn’t Really Entry Level Many so-called entry-level roles now require 1–3 years of experience, leaving true graduates locked out. 3. Feedback Is a Generational Expectation Gen Z grew up with constant feedback. Silence feels like rejection, not independence. 4. Generational Intelligence Is a Competitive Advantage Companies that learn to bridge generational friction will outperform those that dismiss it. 5. Hiring Is a Long Game Speed and cost matter, but ignoring trust, culture, and development today creates talent gaps tomorrow.

    56 min

  7. FEB 5

    Growth and Comfort Don’t Coexist, and That’s the Point, with Minette Norman

    In this episode of Talking TA, Denise Chaffin sits down with leadership expert and author Minette Norman, founder of Minette Norman Consulting to unpack what it truly means to lead with humanity in today’s workplace. Drawing from her 30-year career in Silicon Valley and her books The Psychological Safety Playbook and The Boldly Inclusive Leader, Minette shares real-world stories that expose the hidden costs of fear-based leadership, emotional reactivity, and exclusion. The conversation explores why leaders don’t need to have all the answers, how listening is one of the most underdeveloped leadership skills, and why normalizing mistakes is essential for innovation and trust. Minette also dives into inclusive leadership, dismantling in-groups, and the neuroscience behind workplace exclusion. This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about control or perfection, but about creating environments where people feel safe to speak up, contribute, and do their best work. Key Episode Segments: • Psychological safety is shaped by leader behavior Leaders set the emotional tone, how they respond under pressure determines whether people speak up or shut down. • Listening is a leadership skill, not a personality trait True listening requires presence, curiosity, and resisting the urge to prepare your response while others are speaking. • Admitting “I don’t know” builds credibility, not weakness Leaders gain trust when they elevate others’ expertise instead of pretending to have all the answers. • Failure must be discussed to drive improvement Teams that openly talk about mistakes learn faster and perform better than teams that hide them. • Inclusion is intentional, not accidental Leaders must actively dismantle in-groups, share power, and ensure all voices are heard.

    1h 2m

  8. JAN 22

    Workplace Happiness Isn’t Soft, It’s Profitable, with Valerie Alexander

    Workplace happiness is often dismissed as a “nice to have,” but this conversation makes it clear, it’s one of the most powerful business levers leaders can pull. Denise Chaffin sits down with Valerie Alexander, CEO of Speak Happiness, to unpack the real economic impact of unhappy workforces, from turnover and absenteeism to product defects, safety issues, and lost productivity. Valerie breaks down decades of research showing that happy employees deliver better outcomes across nearly every measurable metric. The discussion goes deeper into leadership behavior, layoffs, boardroom decision-making, and why so many organizations continue to repeat costly mistakes. They explore how culture is shaped at the top, why accidental managers cause long-term damage, and what leaders can do immediately to rebuild trust after layoffs. The episode also tackles inclusion, gender dynamics in leadership, and why systems reward the wrong behaviors. Valerie offers clear, practical frameworks leaders can use to improve workplace happiness through accomplishment, autonomy, and acknowledgment, without gimmicks or corporate buzzwords. This is a must-watch conversation for leaders who want sustainable performance, not short-term optics. Key Episode Segments: • Happiness Directly Impacts the Bottom Line Organizations with happy workforces see lower turnover, fewer errors, and stronger financial performance. • Layoffs Rarely Solve the Problem Leaders Think They Do Short-term financial optics often create long-term damage to productivity, trust, and retention. • Culture Is Set at the Top, Not from the Middle Sustainable culture change only happens when leadership models the behavior they expect. • Inclusion Drives Better Decisions, Not Just Representation Diverse leadership teams outperform because they reduce risk and expand perspective. • Three Things Create Workplace Happiness Accomplishment, autonomy, and acknowledgment consistently predict engagement and

    1h 13m
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About

Welcome to Talking TA, your go-to podcast for talent acquisition insights. Hosted by Denise Chaffin, join us for conversations with HR and recruitment experts. Uncover trends, best practices, and strategies to elevate your recruitment game. Expect insider discussions, exploration of talent acquisition techniques, and insights into pressing HR issues. Stay ahead with Talking TA—your key to building and retaining a top-tier team.

Information

  • Creator
    Denise Chaffin
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Denise Chaffin
  • Show Website
    Talking TA

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