Episodes

  • Building the Table: Leadership, Power & The Climb

    Building the Table: Leadership, Power & The Climb
    Feb 18 2026
    Leadership conversations love to talk about intention.This one talks about impact. In this episode of Talentless, Desiree Goldey and Ashley King sit down with Felicia Smith, founder of The Climb, to unpack what leadership development actually looks like when diversity moves beyond buzzwords and into real behavior, decision-making, and power structures. We get into: The moment representation stops being a “pipeline problem” Why mentorship without systems falls short How bias hides behind words like fit and readiness What leaders consistently miss when evaluating talent Why building better tables matters more than asking for a seat This conversation blends real leadership strategy with the deeper psychology behind access, opportunity, and advancement — and challenges leaders to move from performative support to meaningful action. Learn more about The Climb: the-climb.org Connect with Felicia Smith on LinkedIn
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    51 mins
  • Data Over Drama: Building Strong Partnerships

    Data Over Drama: Building Strong Partnerships
    Feb 3 2026
    Ben Abear, Scaled Analytics & Innovation Manager at Adobe In this episode of Talentless, Desiree Goldey and Ashley King sit down with Ben Abear to talk about why modern hiring breaks when decisions are driven by feelings instead of facts. Ben shares how data builds trust, strengthens partnerships with the business, and helps recruiters move from order takers to true strategic partners even on small or under-resourced teams. We dig into what hiring metrics actually matter, how qualitative insight adds critical context, and where AI can support (but not replace) good decision-making. What you’ll hear: Why data is essential in today’s hiring landscape How trust with the business is built through clarity The role of qualitative data in better hiring decisions How small teams can still leverage data effectively
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    47 mins
  • Military Hiring Debunked

    Military Hiring Debunked
    Jan 27 2026
    Hiring veterans isn’t hard.Hiring veterans without understanding them is where everything falls apart. In this episode of Talentless, Desiree Goldey and Ashley King are joined by Lee Cage Jr. (SPHR, HRIP, CSM) to break down the myths, mistakes, and missed opportunities in military hiring. Lee brings a rare mix of experience across enterprise transformation, HR technology, and 17+ years of service in the Army National Guard, making this conversation equal parts practical, strategic, and overdue. We get into: The biggest misconceptions companies have about military talent Why “they don’t have corporate experience” is usually lazy hiring How to translate military roles into skills without oversimplifying them What real veteran support looks like after hiring (onboarding + retention) Where recruiters get stuck: sourcing, evaluation, and hiring manager bias What TA leaders should do right now to build military hiring programs that actually work If your company says “we love hiring veterans” but can’t explain what that actually means… this episode is your mirror. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Submit your #dumdum talent stories for a shoutout
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    42 mins
  • AI in Talent: Why It Matters (and When It Doesn’t)

    AI in Talent: Why It Matters (and When It Doesn’t)
    Jan 20 2026
    AI is everywhere in recruiting right now. And depending on who you ask, it’s either the future of TA… or a compliance nightmare wrapped in a shiny demo. In this episode of Talentless, Ashley King and Desiree Goldey cut through the hype and talk about what AI actually does well in talent, what it does dangerously wrong, and why the biggest risk isn’t the tech. It’s the humans using it without guardrails. We get into: Why AI isn’t the villain, but people using it without limits absolutely are The difference between automation vs. AI (and why most teams confuse the two) Where AI can genuinely help recruiters: admin work, sourcing, templates, strategy prep Why AI should never be the final decision-maker in hiring Candidate experience: where “efficient” starts to feel cold and gross How AI interviews and avatars can create new bias (dialect, culture, speech patterns, “presence”) The compliance reality: it doesn’t have to “decide” to still influence outcomes The underrated concern: environmental impact (your prompt isn’t free, babes) A practical takeaway for TA leaders: create prompt libraries so recruiters show up as partners, not order-takers Bottom line: AI can give TA time back. But only if the process and the people using it are ready. And right now? The class is… not ready. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Submit your “Dum Dum” recruiting story for a shoutout (anonymous is cool too)
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    43 mins
  • The Data That Matters

    The Data That Matters
    Dec 30 2025
    Data. Data. Dada. However you say it, one thing is clear: not all data is created equal. In this episode of Talentless, Ashley King and Desiree Goldey break down what data actually matters in talent acquisition and why most TA teams are stuck reporting numbers that don’t move the business forward. This is a practical, no-fluff conversation about data literacy, business impact, and why knowing how to interpret data is the real leadership unlock for recruiters. We cover: Why data literacy is the real glass ceiling in TA The difference between symptoms and root causes in recruiting data Why attrition and retention matter more than time-to-fill How pass-through ratios expose alignment (or misalignment) with hiring managers Why volume-based recruiting metrics are misleading How to monetize recruiting activity so executives actually listen Using qualitative + quantitative data together to drive better hiring outcomes If you’ve ever felt like TA is stuck at the “reporting numbers” stage instead of influencing decisions, this episode is for you. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe for more recruiter real talk, minus the corporate nonsense
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    31 mins
  • Recruiter Enablement Is the Future of TA

    Recruiter Enablement Is the Future of TA
    Dec 16 2025
    What if the problem with talent acquisition isn’t recruiters… it’s how we set them up? In this episode of Talentless, Ashley King and Desiree Goldey dig into recruiter enablement and why it’s quickly becoming the difference between TA teams that survive and those that actually move the business forward. We unpack what recruiter enablement really means (spoiler: it’s not just more tools), why measuring ROI in recruiting is long overdue, and how TA leaders can build smarter partnerships with the business instead of operating like an internal agency no one fully understands. We also get into: Why most recruiting tools never prove their value What recruiter performance should be measured on How data can help or hurt, depending on how it’s used The role of psychological safety in unlocking high-potential talent Why education and strategic scaffolding matter more than hustle culture This is one of those episodes that might make you rethink how your TA org is built and why recruiters burn out when enablement is missing. If you care about outcomes, not just activity, this one’s for you. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next
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    35 mins
  • Recfest Shakers Video

    Recfest Shakers Video
    Dec 10 2025
    We took Talentless on the road and dropped ourselves right into the middle of RecFest. Sun out, mics on, chaos fully embraced.In this episode, we sat down with two of our all-time favorite humans in recruiting, Brooke Freeburg and Krissy Callari from ZRG, and let the conversation do what it does best… wander in the smartest, funniest way possible. We talked about the realities of recruiting right now, what actually makes this industry fun again, and why relationships still matter more than whatever new tool launched this week. There were laughs, hot takes, and a few “did we really just say that?” moments that make live conversations so damn good. It was candid. It was chaotic. It was very RecFest.
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    45 mins
  • HR Conferences: A Deep Dive

    HR Conferences: A Deep Dive
    Dec 2 2025
    "HR Conferences” is our love letter and side-eye to the events that are supposed to move this industry forward. Desiree and Ashley break down what conferences should be about – community, real education, and true innovation – and why too many of them have turned into overpriced vendor parades with celebrity keynotes no one asked for. We talk about safety (especially for women), inclusion, accessibility, and what it actually looks like to come home with something you can use at your desk on Monday, not just a hangover and a swag bag. Catch the full episode below and hear how Desiree and Ashley are challenging HR conferences to do better for the people who keep this industry running.
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    40 mins