Episodes

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 candidates before...

This week on The Marketing Rules Podcast James is joined by Andy Dunn, Managing Director of TEAM, the UK’s largest network of independently owned recruitment businesses. They dive into something that almost everybody talks about, but very few people genuinely understand: networking and community building. They discuss what separates networks that create real opportunities from those that simply look good on paper, why giving value first matters, and how to stay visible without becoming just anot...

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 rethink how you...

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 creating average...

In this episode of The Marketing Rules Live, the ThinkinCircles team explores how AI is reshaping recruitment marketing from a marketer’s perspective. We discuss the rise of AI-generated written content, the risks of overusing automated imagery, and the growing challenge of protecting brand consistency as consultants publish more frequently than ever. This session covers: How AI has increased content volume but not necessarily quality The risk of brand dilution when consultants rely too heavily ...

Most recruitment founders say they want to sell their agency one day. But the reality is very different. In this episode of The Marketing Rules Podcast , James Whitelock sits down with Matt Fox, founder of Exodus Advisory, to talk about what actually happens when recruitment businesses try to exit and why so few ever make it to a successful sale. After more than 25 years in recruitment, building and eventually exiting his own agency, Matt now works with recruitment founders to grow, optimise and...

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 to co...

James is joined by Dave Jenkins, CEO and Founder of Wave, who has spent 25 years building recruitment websites and watching them evolve from simple brochure sites to powerful marketing and tech platforms. We get into the future of the recruitment website, the impact of AI, candidate experience, and why your site should be your hardest-working asset, not just something that sits online looking pretty. #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing ⁠To connect with Dave:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com...

This week, James was joined by Manan Shah, co-founder and CEO of Recruiterflow. They get into what recruitment data really matters, why most agencies obsess over the wrong metrics, and how velocity, productivity, and AI are reshaping how recruitment businesses scale. If you care about building a faster, smarter, more resilient recruitment operation, this one’s for you. #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing ⁠To connect with Manan:⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mananshah212/ Learn more a...

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 #TheVoiceOfRecr...

In this episode, James is joined by Thomas Vose, co-founder of HireAra, to unpack what it really takes to build a recruitment tech business from scratch and successfully exit it. They discuss the challenges of bootstrapping, angel investment, avoiding the VC trap, and what life is really like after being acquired. If you’re building, scaling, or thinking about selling a rec tech business, this one is packed with real lessons from the front line. #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing ⁠T...

The Marketing Rules Podcast cuts through the noise to bring you real conversations with the people shaping recruitment, talent, and RecTech. Each episode gives you practical strategies, sharper thinking, and the stories behind the ideas that move our industry forward.

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 RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

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 sponsored by RChi...

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 fr...

In this episode, James is joined by Howard Flint, a strategist with over 25 years of experience helping HR and recruitment technology businesses scale and realise their full potential. They explore what it really means to grow from startup to scale-up, the challenges these companies face as they professionalise, and why understanding the problem you truly solve is the foundation for success. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

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 #TheVoiceO...

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 his mis...

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. Jam...

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/stephenodonn/ Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarket...

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://www.themarketingrul...