Episodes

  • Is Interviewing Broken… or Just Exposed?

    Is Interviewing Broken… or Just Exposed?
    Apr 1 2026
    In this episode of Talentless, we’re joined by Victoria Gates and Lorna Erickson; co-founders of Expert Interviewers and hosts of the Don’t Tell Me About Yourself podcast to unpack a truth many companies don’t want to hear: Interviewing isn’t broken because of AI… it was already broken. AI is just exposing it. From gut-based hiring decisions to untrained interviewers and wildly inconsistent processes, we dig into what’s actually going wrong and what it takes to fix it. We cover: Why most interviews are just opinion collection, not evidence collection How AI is forcing companies to confront nonexplainable hiring decisions The dangerous reliance on “gut feeling” (and why it feels so good but fails so often) The difference between “can they do the job?” vs. “do they actually want the job?” Why hiring managers are often the weakest link in the process The real cost of a bad hire (spoiler: it’s way more than salary) How to identify where your interview process is breaking using data Plus:Ashley breaks down how to diagnose a broken hiring funnel using pass-through rates, and introduces one of the most underrated concepts in hiring: assessing the assessor. AI isn’t breaking hiring it’s exposing bad processes Most companies still don’t train interviewers (and it shows) Gut feeling ≠ valid hiring criteria Transparency with candidates is now non-negotiable Interviewing is a leadership skill not an assumption If your process isn’t explainable, it’s not defensible Victoria GatesHas hired 1,500+ people and specializes in helping leaders refine interviewing and better respect candidate time. Lorna EricksonSpent nearly 20 years studying what actually works in interviewing, with 5,000+ interviews analyzed and global training experience. Together, they founded Expert Interviewers to bring structure, consistency, and sanity back to hiring. Key Takeaways About Our Guests Website: https://expertinterviewers.com Podcast: Don’t Tell Me About Yourself Social: @expertinterviewers
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    50 mins
  • Are Recruiting Models Broken… or Just Misunderstood?

    Are Recruiting Models Broken… or Just Misunderstood?
    Mar 25 2026
    In this episode of Talentless, Des and Ashley are joined by Chloe Ryan, VP of Talent Solutions at WSI Talent Sync, to tackle a question most of the industry avoids: Are recruiting models actually broken… or do we just not understand them? From agency to RPO to retained search, there’s no shortage of options, but most companies still default to the same approach when hiring gets hard. Chloe brings nearly 15 years of experience across recruiting models to break down what each one actually does, where they work, and why so many organizations end up choosing the wrong solution for the wrong problem. In this episode, we cover: Why recruiting models are so misunderstood What RPO actually is (and why it gets a bad rap) The real differences between agency, staffing, embedded, and in-house recruiting When bringing in outside help makes sense and when it doesn’t Why most hiring problems aren’t solved by “more recruiters” The role of data, technology, and scalability in modern recruiting How AI might reshape recruiting models (but not replace them) Why partnership not vendors is the real unlock Big takeaway:If your recruiting process is broken, no model will fix it until you’re ready to change. Guest: Chloe Ryan, VP Talent Solutions, WSI Talent Sync
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    44 mins
  • Is the Resume Dead? AI Screening and the New Hiring Front Door

    Is the Resume Dead? AI Screening and the New Hiring Front Door
    Mar 18 2026
    The resume is not dead yet.But it is definitely on life support. In this episode of Talentless, Des and Ashley sit down with Mayur Macwan, CEO of Roundone.ai, to talk about what happens when the traditional resume stops being a useful signal and hiring teams are left drowning in volume, noise, and top-of-funnel chaos. They get into why so much human time gets burned before any real evidence exists, what AI screening can actually solve, and why the goal is not to remove recruiters from the process. It is to give them better information, faster. This conversation covers: Why the top of the funnel is broken Whether the resume still does what we need it to do Why quantity of applicants is not the same as quality How AI voice screening creates more signal than a polished resume alone Why video screening introduces bigger risk than people realize What “human in the loop” should actually mean How AI can improve recruiter productivity without replacing recruiter judgment Why candidate experience still matters, even in an AI-enabled process If you’ve ever posted a job and watched 1,000 applications roll in before you could blink, this episode is for you. Guest: Mayur Macwan, CEO, Roundone.aiLearn more: roundone.ai
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    44 mins
  • CSI: Hiring Funnel: AI Fraud, Fake Candidates, and Trust Signals

    CSI: Hiring Funnel: AI Fraud, Fake Candidates, and Trust Signals
    Mar 4 2026
    AI didn’t just change hiring. It changed lying. In this episode of Talentless, Des and Ashley sit down with Maryam Mahdaviani, Founder & CEO of Attesto, to unpack what “candidate fraud” actually looks like in 2026. We’re not talking about a little resume inflation. We’re talking: Fabricated LinkedIn + resume + GitHub ecosystems Impersonation and proxy interviews Fake candidates who pass early screens Social engineering inside interviews And the real incentives behind it all Maryam explains how Attesto operates at the top of the funnel to generate trust signals, why relying on one “fraud tell” can cost you great candidates, and what “human in the loop” really means in an AI-driven hiring process. This conversation isn’t just about speed or efficiency.It’s about trust, security, morale, and accountability. If you think this is a small problem… you might want to listen. Guest: Maryam Mahdaviani, Founder & CEO, AttestoLearn more: attesto.com
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    49 mins
  • Building the Table: Leadership, Power & The Climb

    Building the Table: Leadership, Power & The Climb
    Feb 21 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
  • 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