Talent Attraction 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
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
March 5, 2026

The Truth About Recruitment Content Nobody Talks About With Joel Lalgee

What happens when a recruiter stops relying purely on cold calls and starts building an audience instead? In this episode of the Marketing Rules Podcast, James Whitelock sits down with Joel Lalgee, widely known as The Realest Recruiter. Joel has built one of the most recognisable personal brands in recruitment, growing a global following across TikTok, LinkedIn and YouTube while continuing to operate as an executive recruiter. Joel shares the story behind how he went from agency recruiter ...
Guest: Joel Lalgee
Dec. 8, 2025

The Developer Revolution Is Here. Are You Ready? With Rudi Bauer

In this episode, James sits down with Rudi Bauer, someone we’ve wanted on the show for a long time. They explore his journey from software developer to leading Europe’s largest developer community and dig into what developers really want today, how their values are changing, and what skills will shape the future of tech talent. It is a sharp, honest look at where the market is heading and what it means for employers and candidates alike. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RC...
Guest: Rudi Bauer
Nov. 18, 2025

Why Everyone’s Talking About South African Talent With Ross Thompson

In this episode, James is joined on the couch, in person, by Ross Thompson, founder of Infinity Staff Global, to unpack how he has successfully expanded from Australia into the UK recruitment market. They get into why he chose South Africa over the Philippines for offshore talent, how cultural fit and time zones impact performance, and why clients are turning to offshore solutions as the cost of employing in the UK and Australia continues to rise. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsore...
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
Sept. 14, 2025

AI Is Killing Your Personal Brand with Glenn Martin

This week James is joined by Glenn Martin: recruiter, talent solutions founder, podcast host, and all-around people person. With over 20 years in the recruitment game, Glenn shares his journey from Glastonbury to building personal and employer brands, the rise and fall of platforms like Twitter (now X), and how AI is reshaping content authenticity. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules ...
Guest: Glenn Martin
Aug. 11, 2025

From Chatbots to Candidate Experience with Martyn Redstone

This week James is joined by Martyn Redstone, or as many in the industry know him, Mr. AI. Martyn’s been in recruitment for nearly two decades, with over a dozen years immersed in rec tech, and long before AI became the buzzword it is today, he was already helping recruiters craft smart, responsible automation strategies. From building some of the earliest recruitment chatbots to running the first AI and automation agency in our sector, Martyn’s been right at the heart of conversational AI...
July 30, 2025

Live from RecFest 2025 with Stephen McGrath

Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing ⁠To connect with Stephen:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stmcgrath/ Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
July 30, 2025

Live from Recfest 2025 with Sean Allen

Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing ⁠To connect with Sean:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean1allen/ Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
Guest: Sean Allen
July 30, 2025

Live from RecFest 2025 with Matt Alder

Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing ⁠To connect with Matt:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattalder/ Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:...
Guest: Matt Alder
July 30, 2025

Live from RecFest 2025 with Mark Chaffey

Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing ⁠To connect with Mark:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mchaffey/ Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/...
Guest: Mark Chaffey
July 29, 2025

Live from RecFest 2025 with Jim Berrisford

Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing ⁠To connect with Jim:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/talentattractiontech-hrtech-tech2rec/ Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
July 29, 2025

Live from RecFest 2025 with Bill Boorman

Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing ⁠To connect with Bill:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billboorman/ Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/...
Guest: Bill Boorman
July 22, 2025

Why Podcasting Should be Talent Team's Secret Weapon with Nitin Sharma

This week, James is joined by Nitin Sharma, recruitment entrepreneur, podcast host and the mind behind RecTools. They dive into how podcasting is shaking up the world of talent acquisition. Nitin shares how what started as a simple content idea grew into a full-blown platform with over 70,000 subscribers. From building credibility and boosting employer brand to engaging those hard-to-reach passive candidates, podcasting is proving to be a powerful tool for TA teams. They also get into the ...
Guest: Nitin Sharma
May 11, 2025

Don't mention AI with Matt Alder

In this episode, we welcome back Matt Alder, a frequent guest and expert in the field of talent acquisition, workplace future and fellow podcaster, for his fifth appearance on the Marketing Rules podcast. Matt and James dive into a discussion on the latest trends in the TA space, with a focus on those beyond the buzzword of AI. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing...
Guest: Matt Alder
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
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. 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. 11, 2024

How recruiter enablement and recruitment marketing can work together with Sean Galligan

Recruiter enablement is a fairly new concept and definitions are ranging, but broadly it's to deliver resources and assets at the point of need for a recruiter. So how does recruitment marketing fit into this process? Talking to James this week is Sean Galligan, founder of TA Guru. Sean discusses the alignment of enablement and marketing and how it can support wide initiatives like employer branding. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
Aug. 19, 2024

Talent Acquisition and AI with Bill Boorman

What will the effect of AI be on talent acquisition and talent acquisition teams and is it the next shift in recruitment? Joining me this week is the ubiquitous Bill Boorman, founder of the Tru conferences and advisor to many rec tech companies. Bill talks me through his career in recruitment, his views on the TA space and the effect of emerging technologies on the TA market. Bill finally takes me through how he set up his charity for the homeless in Northampton. The Marketing Rul...
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://...