Manufacturing jobs are back on American soil. The factories are running. The roles are open. But the workers? They're missing. In this solo episode, Tim Sackett unpacks the growing gap between opportunity and desire in today’s labor market. Why did generations of proud factory families embrace these jobs - and why do today’s young workers turn away? From cultural shifts and education gaps to lifestyle choices and societal stigma, Tim explores the uncomfortable reasons behind this silent rejectio...
May 06, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 126
AI agents aren’t coming for recruiting. They’re already here - and they don’t care how many reqs you filled last quarter. In this episode, Tim Sackett sits down with Jason Roberts, SVP of Tech & Analytics at Cielo, to break down what AI is actually doing inside RPOs and staffing firms - and why the old recruiting playbook is about to get torched. From sourcing automation that 5x’s recruiter output to building a fully operational AI agent of yourself, Jason pulls back the curtain on the tools...
May 01, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 9
The future of recruiting isn’t coming. It’s already here. And if you’re still relying on your legacy tech stack and spreadsheets, you’re already behind. Enter Steven Jiang, CEO and Co-founder of HireEZ, who just dropped one of the most important AI launches in the recruiting space - EZ Agent, their agentic AI companion built to fundamentally reshape the recruiter’s role. Forget everything you know about “copilots” and “gen AI assistants.” EZ Agent is not just another AI tool bolted onto your ATS...
Apr 10, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 124
AI isn't coming - it's here. And it's changing recruiting faster than most realize. In this crossover episode between RecTech Media and HR Famous, Chris Russell and Tim Sackett dive into the latest from Phenom’s conference in Philadelphia. 2600 attendees. 25+ new AI agents rolled out. And a vision for HR tech that feels more like science fiction than reality. But what happens when AI isn’t just automating tasks - it’s making decisions? And if recruiters aren’t the ones screening candidates, cura...
Mar 31, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 123
AI is showing up in every headline. But in the workplace? Most people still aren’t sure what to do with it. Enter Cam Sackett - a social media manager from Away, and Tim Sackett’s middle son. He joins HR Famous for a candid conversation on how Gen Z views AI at work, why creative teams are skeptical, and what’s missing from most company rollouts. Cam shares how AI tools are marketed with bold promises but little instruction, and why “figure it out” isn’t a strategy. He explains the tension betwe...
Mar 24, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 122
The workforce is shifting. Expectations are changing. And if companies aren’t paying attention, they’re already behind. Enter Danielle Farage, a leading voice bridging the gap between Gen Z and the workplace. She joins Tim Sackett to expose the disconnect - why leadership still doesn’t understand what younger workers want, why traditional career paths are losing their appeal, and what companies need to do before they lose top talent for good. The real question? If Gen Z isn’t playing by the old ...
Mar 17, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 121
Hiring is broken - but not for the reasons you think. Recruiters flood hiring managers with candidates, yet decision-makers hesitate to pull the trigger. The process drags, top talent walks, and organizations pay the price. Tim Sackett isn’t here to sugarcoat it. In this unfiltered solo session, he lays out why the hiring machine is failing and what needs to change. From hiring managers’ paradoxical indecision to the myth of "more candidates = better hires," he breaks down how talent acquisition...
Mar 03, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 120
AI is infiltrating HR in ways no one’s talking about - yet. The shift isn’t coming. It’s already here. And if you’re not paying attention, you’re already behind. Enter Madeline Laurano, a leading analyst who’s been tracking AI’s silent takeover of HR technology. She joins Tim Sackett to break down what’s really happening beneath the surface - how AI agents are replacing traditional workflows, why the old way of hiring is crumbling, and what the biggest players like Workday and LinkedIn are doing...
Feb 24, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 119
Marcus Stewart, Professor and Department Chair at Bentley University, has been studying workforce dynamics for years - and now, he’s watching the DEI movement take a nosedive while Gen Z struggles to find its footing in the workplace. In this episode, Marcus joins me to break down two of the biggest workplace shifts happening right now: the quiet rollback of DEI initiatives and why so many companies are unimpressed with their Gen Z hires. Is DEI truly dying, or is it just evolving? And when it c...
Feb 17, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 118
Jon Stross, Co-founder and CEO of Greenhouse, has been making headlines - but not for the reasons you'd expect. In this episode, Jon joins Tim Sackett to tackle the growing problem of 'ghost jobs,' those elusive listings that leave candidates feeling duped and disheartened. But are companies really out to deceive, or is there more beneath the surface? Jon guides us through the murky waters of hiring practices, from misunderstood job postings to the real reasons candidates get left in the dark. W...
Feb 10, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 117
On episode 116 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Madeline Laurano, Jessica Lee, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss their favorite Super Bowl commercials, Chat GPT, and how you can utilize AI to be a better leader. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! :30 - JLee had Chat GPT write an intro for this episode! It didn’t do a good job the first time, so she had it do a second pass to make it funnier. 2:00 - The crew di...
Mar 08, 2023•36 min
On episode 115 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Madeline Laurano, Jessica Lee and Tim Sackett come together to discuss Ted Lasso, the everchanging recruiter experience, and Tim’s experience with the Michigan State shooting. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 1:45 - Ted Lasso season 3 is on the horizon! The crew gives their prediction for the new season coming in March. 4:00 - Madeline and Tim did a roundtable recentl...
Feb 28, 2023•44 min
On episode 114 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Jessica Lee and Tim Sackett come together to discuss their favorite (and least favorite) Oscar-nominated movies, the difficulty of finding childcare, and how to handle annoying entry-level job tasks. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 1:00 - Madeline isn’t here because of last-minute child needs. Tim’s an empty nester and he says his kids’ still interrupt his life! 2:45...
Feb 20, 2023•37 min
On episode 113 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Jessica Lee and Tim Sackett come together to discuss Chat GPT and Tim’s utopian view if remote employees are more or less engaged and how we should be doing holiday parties. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 2:00 - Tim said he needs to add stretching to his New Year’s resolution list. 3:15 - Tim is extremely fascinated by Chat GPT (which may or may not take over this p...
Feb 02, 2023•36 min
On episode 112 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Jessica Lee, Madeline Laurano, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss what they’re hoping to learn in 2023, the extra burden placed on women in Executive level roles, and unrealistic hopes for pay increases. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 1:00 - JLee asks the crew what is one thing that they want to learn in 2023. JLee has only ridden a bike a few times, and she w...
Jan 25, 2023•35 min
On episode 111 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Jessica Lee, Madeline Laurano, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss 2022 and give their thoughts about this year in HR and talent. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 1:00 - Tim asks the crew what their favorite TV show, movie, or book from 2022 was. Madeline is a big Euphoria fan, JLee loved Ted Lasso, and Tim couldn’t choose one (House of Dragon, Peaky Blinders. 20...
Jan 18, 2023•39 min
On episode 109 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Tim Sackett and Kris Dunn come together to discuss the rise of tech layoffs, Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, and how to be a recession-proof recruiter. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 1:30 - Tim shares that it feels like the world is on fire with tech layoffs everywhere around us. KD says Marriott is still hiring strong. KD is finding that the “recession” is impa...
Dec 13, 2022•35 min
On episode 108 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Jessica Lee, Madeline Laurano, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss problematic executives, all the functions HR serves, and Tim’s campus recruiting experience! Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 1:00 - JLee asks the crew what famous movies they haven’t seen that they should see. JLee has never seen The Shining or Princess Bride. 4:20 - JLee mentions the news of a s...
Nov 04, 2022•39 min
On episode 107 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Jessica Lee, Madeline Laurano, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss all things 2022 HR Tech! 1:30 - Tim has recently been on the conference circuit, and he loves the in-person energy! 2:00 - JLee was recently speaking at an event, and she was asked for pictures after her talk. She asks the crew what to do in that situation. 7:30 - Tim and Madeline went back to HR Tech and felt the big energy at the conference. Madeli...
Oct 27, 2022•41 min
On episode 106 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Madeline Laurano and Tim Sackett with special friend Kyle Lagunas come together to discuss Global TA day, the first people to be laid off in a recession, and why recruiters won’t be laid off as quickly as we think. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 1:00 - Welcome to the pod, Kyle Lagunas! JLee is a busy gal and is out this week. 3:30 - Tim asks if they go to the grocer...
Oct 23, 2022•39 min
On episode 105 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Madeline Laurano, Jessica Lee, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss work spouses, length of service awards, and the best new candle to buy as a gift! Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 2:00 - Tim’s headed on a summer vacation to the Cayman Islands. Although it’ll be hot, he’ll be by the ocean! 5:00 - JLee loves these candles, and Tim sent a cheeky one to the crew. 7...
Oct 12, 2022•37 min
On episode 104 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Madeline Laurano, Jessica Lee, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss catalogs, the follow-up to The Great Recession, and Tesla’s latest drama. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 2:15 - Does anyone still get catalogs? Tim and Madeline still get tons sent to their houses. 4:30 - Tim thinks that a mailer would work well as a recruitment tactic, even better than email or...
Aug 23, 2022•41 min
On episode 103 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Madeline Laurano, Jessica Lee, and Tim Sackett come together to summer vacation, whether hiring is slowing down or not, and the type of LinkedIn posts that go viral. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 2:00 - It’s officially summer! Madeline asks the crew about their OOO response messages. All 3 of them are not users of an OOO message because they’re all workaholics! 4:3...
Aug 05, 2022•34 min
On episode 102 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Madeline Laurano, Jessica Lee, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss hiring reality TV stars, ghosting of new hires, and if ghosting in the dating world is seeping into the work world. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 1:30 - JLee asks the crew what they’ve been watching recently. Madeline tried watching Ozark again because she wasn’t into it the first time. 3:15 - ...
Jul 22, 2022•39 min
On episode 101 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Madeline Laurano, Jessica Lee, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss paper straws, female breadwinners, and how people react when a husband cooks more for his family than his wife. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! :30- Starting off hot with Tim taking a stance against paper straws. He hates them and the crew agrees. 2:00 - Tim did some research to back up his anti-...
Jun 16, 2022•37 min
On episode 100 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Kris Dunn, Jessica Lee, and Tim Sackett come together for their 100th episode! They discuss what they remember, what they struggled with and what they loved in doing 100 episodes of HR Famous together! Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 2:45 - KD couldn’t stay away! He’s back for the extra special 100th episode. 5:00 - Many of the HR Famous episodes are about the differ...
May 31, 2022•43 min
On episode 99 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Madeline Laurano, Jessica Lee, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss our new co-host, mailing lists, and periods in the workplace! Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 2:00 - We have a new co-host! We’re excited to welcome Madeline Laurano to the HR Famous family. 4:15 - Madeline is an analyst on TA and HR tech. She’s been in the game for 20 years and started her firm, ...
May 20, 2022•42 min
On episode 98 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Tim Sackett, Jessica Lee and Kris Dunn come together to discussl coffee rules of the office, KD’s new job, and changes to the podcast! Listen below (click this link if you don’t see the player) and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (Apple Podcasts) and follow (Spotify)! SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: 1:30 - KD still isn’t playing Wordle. Quite late to the party still… 3:30 - Dawn Burke sent the crew her husband’s coffee routine. T...
Mar 30, 2022•40 min
On episode 97 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Kris Dunn, Jessica Lee, and Tim Sackett come together to discuss Station Eleven, standing desk etiquette, and the phenomenon of life coaching. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! 1:45 - Any Station Eleven fans? Tim feels some kinship because it takes place around his home, the Great Lakes. 5:30 - JLee remembers KD’s commitment to do 100 pull ups a day. He says he doesn’t do them everyday ...
Feb 24, 2022•40 min
On episode 96 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Tim Sackett, Jessica Lee and Kris Dunn come together to discuss a reported uptick in Glassdoor reviews mentioning inflation and the power dynamics (or lack thereof) of making someone use your Calendly scheduler. Listen below (click this link if you don’t see the player) and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (Apple Podcasts) and follow (Spotify)! SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: 3:00 - JLee’s dry January quickly devolved into drinkin...
Feb 09, 2022•43 min
