Shows
HR SnacksEpisode 52: Supporting Financial Wellness Through Emergency FundsIf you've seen the job market numbers for July and the dramatic downward revisions made for May and June, then you know the data's finally matching up to what many are sharing and experiencing right now in the job market. It's not easy for folks navigating restructures and layoffs and many are having to dip into retirement savings to stay afloat between jobs. But adjacent to longer-term income shocks that could require 6-12 months of income replacement are unexpected expense shocks that can have huge impacts on financial wellbeing for large portions of the workforce. My guest...
2025-08-1806 minHR SnacksEpisode 51: Evolving Payroll with Data, Compliance, Automation, and InsightsI still clearly remember getting my first paycheck as a high schooler working over the summer at the local movie theater. The amount was shockingly low, there was some sort of loop hole where we were getting paid below minimum wage, but getting that handwritten check from the manager was exciting and a milestone moment for me nonetheless. Flash forward 5 years and I'm actually running payroll for the commercial real estate firm I'm working at as part of my property manager duties. It wasn't a huge group, but two dozen people began relying on me to make...
2025-08-1806 minHR SnacksEpisode 50: New Tech Investments -vs- Linear ROI EquationsI feel for anyone involved in sourcing and making new tech buying decisions these days. There's a lot to consider and there's much more that needs to be taken into account with bringing in new AI tools that doesn't line up cleanly with how businesses compute ROI. That's why it's great to have smart folks like Kyle Forrest and the team at Deloitte to conduct ongoing research and surface insights on this mismatch happening in the marketplace and how tech companies can take a different approach to show buyers the true ROI potential and expansive opportunities of AI-powered solutions...
2025-08-1807 minHR SnacksEpisode 49: Is the Future of Work a More Fluid Workforce?Most prognosticators waxing about the future of work have been humbled since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Remote work environments were going to be the universal norm for office workers. Hiring and retaining talent were the top priorities for the foreseeable future with a historically tight labor market and baby boomers leaving the workforce. Now many are speculating what the role will be for human workers with continued advancements in AI, automation, and robotics. Change has been the consistent thread over the past 5 years. When we're all feeling comfortable about the direction things are going (labor...
2025-08-1806 minHR SnacksEpisode 48: Compliance as a Competitive AdvantageIn the hospitality, restaurant, and retail world, employees power the guest experience. You don't have to look hard to find a trove of case studies and examples of great companies, like Costco or Hilton, that have a dedicated focus on providing a positive employee experience and high customer satisfaction and engagement. When we think of employee experience and factors that impact employee engagement, the focus is often turned to comp and benefits, manager relations, career development, and wellbeing (physical, mental, financial). But employee experience is more like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs than a linear spectrum and the...
2025-08-1806 minHR SnacksEpisode 47: Fractional HR Work and Frontline Industry ChallengesTo say things haven't been easy for HR professionals over the past 5 years is a colossal understatement. The pandemic, the rapid adjustment to WFH, the Great Resignation, all of the "Quiet" iterations (that I'm glad have gone away), RTO pushes, AI-fueled workforce realignments, and a broadening skills gap have led to widespread burnout and many HR pros making the move from full-time roles to fractional and consulting work. While being your own boss can seem idyllic if you're battling burnout and frustration in a full-time HR position, it may not be the best fit for everyone. My...
2025-08-1806 minHR SnacksEpisode 46: HR Tech Buyer ConsiderationsThe more things change, the more they remain the same. Perhaps not universally true, but this idiom certainly applies to the HR tech industry and the buyers in the market. There are some key principles and considerations that are just as relevant today in the AI era as they were when on-premise HRMS dominated the market.My guest on this episode, Steve Goldberg, has seen it all over the decades and gives a breakdown of some core considerations that stand the test of time when selecting a technology vendor. Steve also provides a little perspective on the...
2025-08-1406 minHR SnacksEpisode 45: Addressing Bias in AIRight now AI tools and agents are being developed that will take a significant amount of work off the plates of HR and TA departments. As more HR-related tasks, analysis, and decisions are parsed to AI, it's critical that examine and question the potential biases that exist in these systems.My guest, Torin Ellis, has been a prominent thought leader, consultant, and practitioner in the HR space since Nirvana was topping the Billboard charts. In this episode of #HRSnacks we discuss what bias looks like in AI and automation, how companies can address it, and why HR...
2025-08-1406 minHR SnacksEpisode 44: AI for AI's SakeWe're in the midst of the AI gold rush. New AI startups are coming to market at a breakneck pace and legacy SaaS platforms are making strategic acquisitions and tasking product teams with embedding AI in their products. But as we're chasing this shiny new object of AI, are companies losing sight of a critical element of product development—creating solutions that solve customers' problems, pain points, and challenges? At the moment it feels like many companies are working this backwards trying to find problems that new AI technologies can solve.That's why I asked Lance Haun, HR...
2025-08-1406 minHR SnacksEpisode 43: Expected Labor Compliance Shifts for 2025Well, we've experienced week 1 of this new administration and have already seen a flood of executive orders that'll reshape corporate labor laws and regulations. Though it's directionally clear where the Trump administration is focusing reform efforts, the downstream impacts to HR compliance are still TBD. That's why I was excited to have Ryan Parker join me to discuss what shifts employers and HR teams can expect this year and how they can best navigate this evolving compliance landscape. Ryan brings direct experience to the table having worked in federal litigation for over a decade and served in the DOJ...
2025-08-1406 minHR SnacksEpisode 42: New Administration — Time to Button up OnboardingThe onboarding experience is a defining moment for new hires. Excitement and enthusiasm to begin a new job can be dampened by tedious and scattered onboarding processes. Making sure onboarding is done compliantly is also critical for employers, especially as the new administration looks to tighten up employee verification standards.Join me and my guest, a self-proclaimed I-9 nerd, Chapelle Ryon, as we discuss the critical trends across employee onboarding in 2025 and what shifts in compliance policy to expect with the new administration. This episode is definitely H-O-T T-O G-O 🔥
2025-08-1306 minHR SnacksEpisode 41: EOR is coming in HotThe Employer of Record (EOR) category is one of the fastest growing segments in HR tech over the past few years. There's been a mountain of investment $$ poured into the space and a handful of hyper-growth unicorns emerge with massive potential exits on the horizon. So why have EOR providers picked up so much steam lately? Well there's no better person to ask that than Nicole Sahin , the founder of Globalization Partners and the person credited with establishing the EOR category.Join us on this HRSnacks episode as Nicole breaks down the EOR model, how it's fundamentally...
2025-08-1306 minHR SnacksEpisode 40: Agentic AI in HR TechIf you've been to an HR conference this year, there's a good chance you heard speakers and exhibitors talking about agentic AI. It's the next buzzword du jour for an industry that seems to be cycling through these at an increasing rate. But behind the buzz and hype are really practical and exciting applications for AI in the workplace that'll continue to shape the division of labor/tasks between people and AI.Come join me on this episode as my guest, Matthew Shannon, rhapsodizes about this next wave of genAI and how it's being applied in the...
2025-08-1306 minHR SnacksEpisode 39: Building Influence and Trust in HREarly in my career I was required to read Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People". I didn't discover any shocking revelations—most of the concepts in the book are pretty straightforward, albeit dated. But it did help me realize the importance of building solid relationships in the workplace and how that relational equity can impact my career and accomplishments. The role of HR is heavily weighted towards complex labor law compliance and back office functions like payroll, but HR is also expected to drive many strategic initiatives that impact productivity, engagement, and employer reputation. Th...
2025-08-1306 minHR SnacksEpisode 39: Implementation is the Key to HR Tech AdoptionWhen looking at the success or failure of product adoption and utilization across the HR tech and Work tech space, it's easy to point to the software and technology as the root cause. Organizations often times purchase expansive HCM systems (sold to them with the promise of all-in-one functionality) and delay the activation of certain modules because it's "too much to take on at once". Narrator: Those modules never did get turned on.While slick UI and intuitive UX design certainly help product utilization, the biggest factor for success when launching a new system is...
2025-08-1306 minHR SnacksEpisode 37: HR's Biggest Compliance ChallengesCompliance is a huge and rather nebulous bucket that encapsulates the adherence to the laws, regulations, policies, and procedures that govern the physical workplace, the treatment of employees, and employee practices. And just like a good 7-layer dip, there are different layers of labor laws and regulations spread across federal, state, and local levels. Oh, and did I mention each state has it's own unique set of labor laws? For instance, California has 21 state labor laws while Montana has 7. Wait...did I mention that these labor laws also get updated and changed regularly to the tune of 150 mandatory changes...
2025-08-1205 minHR SnacksEpisode 36: HR's Morale ConcernsHR professionals are over tasked, under tremendous pressure to drive tech-enabled efficiencies, and are on the front lines of a paradigm shift in organizational structure and the way we work...which consequently has led to burnout and over a third of professionals considering a career change out of HR.My friend, Kyle Lagunas, along with other HR leaders and analysts have surfaced these concerns over the past year—Kyle had a New York Times article written on this very topic—and now recent research conducted by iSolved validates these concerns and the morale dilemma facing HR. In this...
2025-08-1206 minHR SnacksEpisode 35: Fresh Work Insights Research from Aspect 43It's critical for business leaders, HR leaders, and HR tech solution providers to keep abreast of how life is impacting work, work is impacting life, and how tech is impacting both. That's why I was so excited to have Sarah White on this episode of HR Snacks discuss some of the key findings and insights from Aspect43's latest Insights at Work Research report. We discuss the unique research approach that provides a more holistic overview across business leaders, HR leaders/practitioners, and employees. We also dive into the top organizational concern that might come as a surprise to...
2025-08-1205 minHR SnacksEpisode 34: How to Navigate HR FadsThe nature of being in the people profession exposes HR to practically every workplace fad whether it's employee well-being, AI and automation adoption, skills mapping, work redesign...the list goes on and on. Navigating these fads is quite taxing and overwhelming for HR teams but fear not—my guest Mark Stelzner dives into the best practices of evaluating HR fads and the common pitfalls to avoid when implementing them. Enjoy the guilt-free indulgence of this HR Snack that packs a lot of great insights on how to navigate all the fads and noise in the HR space.
2025-08-1106 minHR SnacksEpisode 33: How to Differentiate in HR TechIt's hard for companies to truly stand out in B2B tech markets and this is especially true for HR Tech. Categories across the industry are saturated with companies making the same market claims, touting the same product promises, and flaunting the same features and technology. There are ways to stand out in noisy markets and it starts with a simple two-word phrase "saying no". JESS VON BANK from Mercer joins me in part 2 of our previous conversation (Ep. 31) to discuss how companies can differentiate and what AI applications and categories that have her excited at the...
2025-08-1105 minHR SnacksEpisode 32: The Hidden Job MarketProfessional communities have always been great channels to network, learn, and share ideas with peers in your profession or niche industry. But they can also serve as key talent pools for recruiters and organizations to source from efficiently. Learn how these communities are fueling the hidden job market from Summer Delaney, MBA, the founder, and CEO at CollabWORK, and how candidates can better position themselves and begin building their personal brand within these groups on this episode of HR Snacks.
2025-08-1105 minHR SnacksEpisode 31: Making Sense of the Current HR Tech MarketThe HR Tech is experiencing rapid innovation while at the same time dealing with a soft market and stagnated growth. Continued consolidation and startup exits across the industry are clearing the way for more established, integrated platforms. Is it even feasible for HR professionals to keep up with this rapid innovation within their tech stacks? JESS VON BANK from Mercer joins me in this episode to talk about the advancements happening in HR Tech and why HR teams and organizations must adapt alongside the technology.
2025-08-1106 minHR SnacksEpisode 30: Buyer Insights—Talent AcquisitionRecruiters and talent acquisition teams are walking a tightrope between reductions in team headcount and budget and TA tech (AI) that has not lived up to the promises of efficiency and productivity. In this episode, I chat with Aaron Kraljev, a seasoned talent acquisition leader who led teams at Wells Fargo and Coinbase, about the current challenges in TA and how he evaluates and purchases new tech solutions. Grab a notepad for this one if you're on the vendor side because Aaron provides some invaluable insights.
2025-08-0906 minHR SnacksEpisode 29: Work RedesignReorgs, restructures, and going lean have been bandwagon trends this year. Most of these are positioned as necessary work redesigns but are these reductions in headcount a necessary first step in the process or simply an appealing short-term gain on the P&L sheet? Dan Riley, Co-founder at RADICL and Future of Work thought leader, joins me to discuss best practices around work redesign and how organizations can set themselves up for success.
2025-08-0811 minHR SnacksEpisode 28: Contingent Labor RisingCompanies are evolving work design and labor models to keep pace with rapidly changing labor dynamics. As organizations restructure to become lean and account for shifting skills needs, contingent and fluid labor models are becoming more widely adopted. David Weiss has spent decades in the contingent labor industry and joins me on this episode to discuss external talent adoption and trends in the market. Be sure to put on appropriate swimwear as we get ready to dive into the deep end of the external talent pool on this one!
2025-08-0805 minHR SnacksEpisode 27: Learning Market TrendsMy guest, Dani Johnson, the co-founder and principal analyst at RedThread Research, discusses the trends happening across learning and talent development, how AI is being implemented in those systems, and what she's most excited about in L&D. Whether you're a cat person, dog person, or you don't really care for animals, you'll enjoy this insight-packed episode of HR Snacks!
2025-08-0805 minHR SnacksEpisode 40: Agentic AI in HR TechIf you've been to an HR conference this year, there's a good chance you heard speakers and exhibitors talking about agentic AI. It's the next buzzword du jour for an industry that seems to be cycling through these at an increasing rate. But behind the buzz and hype are really practical and exciting applications for AI in the workplace that'll continue to shape the division of labor/tasks between people and AI.Come join me on this episode as my guest, Matthew Shannon, rhapsodizes about this next wave of genAI and how it's being applied in the...
2025-05-2106 minHR SnacksHR Tech Buyer ConsiderationsThe more things change, the more they remain the same. Perhaps not universally true, but this idiom certainly applies to the HR tech industry and the buyers in the market. There are some key principles and considerations that are just as relevant today in the AI era as they were when on-premise HRMS dominated the market.My guest on this episode, Steve Goldberg, has seen it all over the decades and gives a breakdown of some core considerations that stand the test of time when selecting a technology vendor. Steve also provides a little perspective on the...
2025-05-1606 minHR SnacksCompliance as a Competitive AdvantageIn the hospitality, restaurant, and retail world, employees power the guest experience. You don't have to look hard to find a trove of case studies and examples of great companies, like Costco or Hilton, that have a dedicated focus on providing a positive employee experience and high customer satisfaction and engagement. When we think of employee experience and factors that impact employee engagement, the focus is often turned to comp and benefits, manager relations, career development, and wellbeing (physical, mental, financial). But employee experience is more like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs than a linear spectrum and the...
2025-05-1606 min
Punk Rock HR294: Why HR Posters Matter with Joel StupkaEver pondered the hidden complexities behind AI and HR compliance?On this episode of the Punk Rock HR Podcast, Laurie sits down with Joel Stupka, the Enterprise Partnerships Director at PosterElite and podcast host of HR Snacks. Using his expertise, they explore the unsung hero of HR compliance—the labor law poster. They also touch on the serious financial penalties businesses face for non-compliance. Joel shares how PosterElite’s innovative digital solutions transform how companies maintain compliance across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring they stay ahead of the ever-changing legal landscape.Laur...
2025-04-0736 min
How We InterviewJoel StupkaIn this episode of the How We Interview podcast, Aaron talks with Joel Stupka who is a solutions focused HR pro and the creator and host of the HR Snacks podcast.
Aaron and Joel discuss some current events in the HR technology space and tackle the pros and cons of different hiring models. They even tackle what they each are streaming on TV this summer.
Super fun episode, you can follow and connect with Joel here.
This episode of How We Interview is brought to you by Reimbi: The Best Way to Reimburse Jo...
2024-07-2443 min
Talent Acquisition In The TrenchesJoel Stupka: Exploring the Complexities of HR Tech"AI is going to be integrated into everything we do at work, but we still have to keep our humanity. This is something we need to really hold on to and value going forward."- Joel StupkaJoel, the Director of Business Development at @The Starr Conspiracy, is not only a seasoned professional in the HR Tech industry but also the host of the HR Snacks Podcast. He has successfully partnered with renowned companies like Paychex, UKG, Greenhouse, and iCIMS to navigate and accelerate their marketing objectives, ensuring success in their unique objectives.to propel their...
2023-12-0747 min
Long Strange TripLong Strange Trip - Episode 4 - The Stupka’s - A Hectic, Long, but Ending Ever Grateful Long TripThis week, our Long Strange Trip Podcast takes us on a very busy trip with Joel and Kat Stupka from Forth Worth, Texas.
They share with us, in roughly 20 minutes, how they constructed a new home while living with parents, managed working at home with 2 children, became a surrogate to a lovely couple from California, lost a job, got sued and lots of other life changing stuff that all took place during the pandemic. Wow!
And the best part about their Long Strange Trip, is that it helped them to grow clo...
2022-04-1826 min