Inclusion Episodes

June 24, 2026

Is "Culture Fit" Killing Diversity in Hiring with Theo Smith

In this episode of the Marketing Rules Podcast, James is joined by Theo Smith, one of the leading voices on neurodiversity, inclusion and workplace design. Theo has spent more than 17 years working across recruitment, talent acquisition, recruitment marketing and HR technology. Today, he helps organisations understand how hiring processes, workplace systems and company cultures can unintentionally exclude talented people. They discuss: Why recruitment processes often lose great candida...
Guest: Theo Smith
May 11, 2026

The Recruitment Industry’s Most Overlooked Performance Hack with Michelle Flynn

Most people in recruitment think burnout is just part of the job. Long hours. Constant pressure. Always “on”. But what if the real problem isn’t workload… it’s how we’re operating? In this episode of the Marketing Rules Podcast, I’m joined by recruitment leader turned performance coach Michelle Flynn to talk about sleep, stress, burnout, breathwork and why so many recruiters are running at 100mph with no recovery. This is one of those episodes that will probably make you stop and ret...
April 20, 2026

Why ‘Head Of’ Means Nothing Anymore with Daen Fox

This episode flips one of the biggest assumptions in recruitment on its head. We spend so much time defining people by job titles, CVs and neat career paths. But what if that is exactly what is limiting performance, creativity and growth? In this conversation, I sit down with Daen Fox to unpack why labels in recruitment are becoming less relevant, and what actually drives high performance in today’s market. We get into the reality of modern recruitment. Why generic processes are creatin...
Guest: Daen Fox
Jan. 21, 2026

Why Football Clubs Attract Talent Better Than Most Businesses with Zoe Shackleton

In this episode James is joined by Zoe Shackleton, Head of HR and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Huddersfield Town Football Club. Zoe sits on the other side of the table to most of TMRP listeners, she’s the end client recruiters are trying to win over. They talk candidly about talent attraction in football, what genuinely inclusive hiring looks like in practice, and how strong culture and smart use of technology drive retention in high-pressure environments. #MarketingRules #Th...
Nov. 4, 2025

Why True Innovation Starts with People, Not Products With Benn Klewpatinond

Every now and then, you meet someone who doesn’t just imagine the future — they build it. In this episode, James talks to Benn Klewpatinond. A designer, engineer, and inventor whose creations blur the line between technology and humanity. From rethinking the rowing machine with his Float Rower invention to shaping inclusive, purpose-driven products through his company INOND, Benn’s work is all about empathy, innovation, and impact. Bennhow the mind of a modern inventor works: where ideas come ...
Oct. 5, 2025

Why Candidate Interviews Are Unfair With Steve Lewis

Joining James this week Steve Lewis, Managing Director at HireGuide. Steve has spent his career at the heart of recruitment technology, from being one of the first employees at TotalJobs, to leading search staffing and RPO at LinkedIn and now driving innovation in interview intelligence. Steve is now on a mission to transform how interviews are run, helping companies make better, fairer, and more structured hiring decisions. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
Guest: Steve Lewis
Aug. 25, 2025

Why Olympic Bronze Means More Than Gold with Chris Skelley MBE

In this episode, James sits down with Paralympic judo champion Chris Skelley MBE. From battling childhood bullying and being misdiagnosed by doctors, to finding strength through sport, Chris shares his powerful journey of resilience, mental health struggles, and ultimate triumph on the world stage. We dive into the highs of winning gold in Tokyo, the emotional fight for bronze in Paris, and why that medal means more than any other. Now retired, Chris reflects on sacrifice, identity, and...
Guest: Chris Skelley
May 26, 2025

Don’t mention the lads mags with Gail Porter

In this episode, James speaks with Gail Porter, TV presenter, model, author and campaigner about her rise in the '90s media scene, her battles with alopecia and mental health and how she’s now using her story to advocate for others. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Gail: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-porter-49076a57/ Learn more about Ja...
Guest: Gail Porter
April 28, 2025

Has Talent Acquisition become weaker as a function with Katrina Collier

Talent Acquisition teams have faced many challenges over the last few years, from the lack of strategic support, funding and understanding from leadership. Joining me this week is Katrina Collier, author and trainer, who is dedicated to making recruitment better and delivering an excellent job seeker experience. Katrina discusses how leadership often views TA as an admin function, which can leave them under-valued and overworked. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
April 14, 2025

A tech founder's journey into using AI with Mark Chaffey

A lot of tech businesses in talent acquisition and recruitment are now prefaced with the term AI. So as a founder of one of these businesses, when should start this AI journey? Joining me this week is Mark Chaffey, CEO at Hackajob. Mark discusses how and when he decided to make AI core to his product, how it would affect his customer bases and if it was the right move for his company. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ...
Guest: mark
March 24, 2025

The real reason you need a referral program with Sam Davies

Employee Referral programs don't work, so why should we bother them? Joining me this week to discuss this is Sam Davies, CEO at Realinks Sam talks to James about setting up Realinks as a non-techie, why technology can overcome the perceived issues with employee referral programmes and how employee advocacy can support referral programs. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMar...
March 4, 2025

How to foster innovation with Chantal-Lawren Welch

Fostering the current and next generation of innovators is a goal for most industries. Its even more critical in the advanced engineering industry where the pressure to innovate is ever-present. Joining me this week is Chantal-Lawren Welch, Marketing Manager at Silverstone Park.Chantal discusses the role of Silverstone Park in the advanced engineering industry, how The Park attracts new businesses and the work The Park does to foster the next generation of innovators. The Marketing Rules P...
Guest: ch
Jan. 20, 2025

How to unbias the interview process with Michael Blakley

Interview bias takes many forms, from affinity bias to accent bias and with most biases we can be totally unaware that we are making them and the results will affect the candidate, the interviewer and the employer. Talking to James this week is Michael Blakley, founder of Equitas. Michael discusses how to be conscious of biases during the interview process and the part that technology now plays in creating an anti-bias interview. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ...
Dec. 16, 2024

A storytelling mindset with Neil Mullarkey

The traditional view of a leader is serious, stoic and humourless, but are humour, laughter and storytelling the new leadership traits?Joining me this week is Neil Mullarkey, Comedian, author and business coach Neil discusses how to be a better leader through storytelling, laughter, fun and mindset? The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Neil: https://www.link...
Dec. 2, 2024

Building a Talent Acquisition Community and Movember with Edan Haddock

We talked many times on the podcast about how communities have become more and more important for brand building, but what if that's not the aim and it is simply to create a community of like-minded professionals? Joining me this week is Edan Haddock, Head of Talent at Movember. Edan talks me through how he started 'Rubberband', his Facebook community for TA professionals and his new role at Movember. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.co...
Guest: Edan Haddock
Nov. 4, 2024

Understanding your strengths with Zoe Clayton-White

Doing any kind of assessment or test can be daunting, but identifying your professional strengths and weaknesses can be even worse. Taking James through his strengths and weaknesses is Zoe Clayton-White development coach and senior talent developer at Very Group. Zoe takes James through his own Clifton Strengths evaluator to help him discover his own unique talent DNA. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoic...
Aug. 12, 2024

Live from RecFest UK 2024 - Part 2

This is Part 2 of my episodes recorded live from Recfest UK 2024. I had the chance to speak with some great guests from the world of talent acquisition and Talent Tech. I hope you enjoy...again The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
Aug. 5, 2024

Live from RecFest UK 2024 - Part 1

This is Part 1 of 2 episodes recorded live from Recfest UK 2024. I had the chance to speak with some great guests from the world of talent acquisition and Talent Tech. I hope you enjoy. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...
April 22, 2024

How to make your workforce more diverse with Dan Cohen

The key to building and maintaining a diverse workplace is rich, consistent and accurate data, but how do you even start measuring this data? Joining me this week is Dan Cohen Co-founder at MixxylDan talks me through his background that led him to co-found mixxyl, why its important to use AI to understand diversity in the workplace and why businesses still aren't taking diversity seriously. #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/...
Guest: Dan Cohen
Dec. 13, 2023

Live from TATech Europe

This is a special episode, recorded live from TATech Europe on 5th December 2023 in London. #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing Support for this podcast comes from TATech and Shazamme ⁠⁠https://tatech.org/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shazamme.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠
Oct. 30, 2023

How can DE&I be your point of difference with Jo Major?

Does DE&I mean different things to different people and can your approach to DE&I be used commercially? Joining me this week is Jo Major, Founder of Diversity in Recruitment. Jo Talks to me about what recruiters really think DE&I is. How to use DE&I to build your brand and how to use DE&I for business development. #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing Support for this podcast comes from CandidateHub and Shazamme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://candidatehub.io/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...
Sept. 12, 2023

High performing teams with Steve Sallis

Every business wants their teams to perform as best as possible, with everyone pushing in the same direction and team leaders who are respected and followed. Joining James this week is Steve Sallis, author and executive mindset coach. They discuss how businesses can build high-performing teams, what methodology to use, and what are the qualities needed in a team leader. #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing Support for this podcast comes from CandidateHub and Shazamme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠htt...
April 5, 2023

Disability over adversity with Samantha Renke

The Marketing Rules Podcast is pleased to welcome Samantha Renke, actor, author, presenter and activist.Samantha takes us through how she got started in acting, how she become a voice in the disabled community and the process of writing her new book. #MarketingRules Support for this podcast comes from Shazamme ⁠https://www.shazamme.com/ ⁠ To connect with Samantha: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantharenke/ Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠ ⁠https://w...
March 13, 2023

Inclusive recruitment with Emma Freivogel

Being an inclusive recruiter is easy to say but much harder to prove. It's my pleasure this week to welcome Emma Freivogel founder and MD at Radical Recruit. Emma has made it her mission to get disadvantaged jobseekers back into work. Emma talks us through the ethos of Radical Recruit, some of her successes and the future of Radical Recruit. #MarketingRules Support for this podcast comes from Liquid Palladium and Shazamme https://liquidpalladium.com/ https://www.shazamme.com/ To connect wi...