Shows
Is This Still A Good Time?Sean Page, Desirée Aguirre, Beth Wolfe, Stephanie Kara Jordan: LIVE from RecFest 2025 Day 2Recorded live on Day 2 at RecFest 2025, this episode keeps the energy rolling with another round of rapid-fire conversations from the Purple Acorn livestream — mixing laughter, lessons, and the real-life chaos of recruiting. Mike Peditto sits down with four new voices to explore everything from AI tools and hiring horror stories to burnout, resilience, and why community is the recruiter’s true secret weapon.
Sean Page (TA Manager, Propel)
Shares how a startup mindset shapes his approach to “quality of hire,” why the best AI partners understand the hiring ecosystem, and a cautionary tale about a hiring manager’...
2025-11-1147 min
The All In Recruiting PodcastMike Peditto: Yes, You're Being JudgedRecruiting leader and creator Mike Peditto joins Enrique Ruiz to talk about his new book, Yes, You’re Being Judged, and the very real mechanics of today’s hiring market. Known online as “The Realistic Recruiter,” Mike breaks down how he live-documented a job search across TikTok and Instagram, why TA teams should read a book written for candidates, and what actually happens in the rooms where hiring decisions are made. He shares how speaking at HR Tech, DisruptHR, RecFest, and LinkedIn’s events is shaping his work with companies, and why authenticity across platforms matters just as much as your re...
2025-11-0455 min
Is This Still A Good Time?#8 - Desiree Goldey, Ashley King, Daniela Herrera, and Tejal Rives: LIVE from RecFest 2025 Day 1Recorded live on Day 1 at RecFest 2025, brings four rapid-fire conversations that mix heat-wave humor with real talk on burnout, community, AI, and the wildest recruiter stories. Mike Peditto opens each chat with his signature question, as the Nashville sun turns up the temperature and the energy stays high.
Desiree Goldey (host, “Talentless”)Why in-person events reset careers, how last year pushed her to launch a podcast and rethink her path, and a reality check on the current market where resilience matters. She caps it with a classic recruiter horror story about a candidate arriving drunk to an i...
2025-11-0454 min
Is This Still A Good Time?#7 - Erin Riska - The Worldschooling Recruiter’s StoryIn this episode of Is This Still a Good Time?, Mike Peditto sits down with Erin Riska, a longtime talent acquisition leader and full-time digital nomad who’s spent the last five years traveling the world with her husband and kids. From her current home base in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Erin shares how she built a career that supports her lifestyle — balancing independent recruiting work with Roam Base, the worldschooling hub she created for families learning and living abroad.
Mike and Erin dig into what it really means to build a meaningful recruiting career outside of big tech...
2025-10-2848 min
Is This Still A Good Time?Heidi Barnett: AI That Helps Recruiters, Not Replaces ThemLive from HR Tech, Mike Peditto sits down with Heidi Barnett, President of Talent Acquisition at iSolved, for a fast-paced, insightful conversation about how technology is reshaping recruiting—without losing the human touch. Heidi shares an inside look at Indeed Talent Scout, a new collaboration between iSolved and Indeed that’s bringing AI-driven matching and real-time job ad optimization directly into recruiters’ ATS systems. The goal? To help talent teams work smarter, not harder, and focus on what matters most—building real human connections.
Together, they unpack what it’s like leading large TA teams in an unpreceden...
2025-10-1422 min
Is This Still A Good Time?Farah Sharghi: The Psychology of RecruitingFormer software engineer turned recruiter Farah Sharghi has built hiring strategies at some of the biggest names in tech — Google, TikTok, Uber, Lyft, and The New York Times. In this lively conversation with host Mike Peditto, she breaks down what most people get wrong about internal recruiting, how to manage “difficult” hiring managers, and why the psychology of influence is a recruiter’s most important skill.
Farah also shares candid stories from inside high-pressure environments — including a complete process overhaul at The New York Times that left her entire department fuming before it turned into a massive success — and her unfi...
2025-10-0744 min
Transferable SkillsRecruiter into Job Search Influencer | Mike Peditto [52]Mike Peditto is a former recruiter who has transitioned into a well respected and influential job search influencer. Mike shares his journey from working at Kaplan Test Prep, moving into recruiting, and eventually becoming a full-time content creator. He discusses his experience with job seeking, the importance of creating relatable content, and the challenges and strategies in today's job market. Mike also sheds light on the often misunderstood ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and the nuances of the hiring process.▬▬▬▬▬ Resources ▬▬▬▬▬Mike Peditto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpeditto/https://mikepeditto.com/Mike’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJX996...
2025-10-061h 19
The Purple Acorn HR Morning ShowFrom Immigration Shocks to AI Fails: HR's Wake-up Call - Presented by KekaThe HR Morning Show brings together hosts Joel Lalgee, Mike Peditto, and Serge Boudreau for a fast-moving look at the stories and strategies shaping the HR landscape. The team kicks things off with the latest headlines, including new U.S. immigration fees that could transform tech hiring and a candid discussion on why HR still lags behind other functions in AI knowledge.
Special guest Madeline Laurano, Founder and Chief Analyst at Aptitude Research, shares her expertise on talent acquisition technology—highlighting which data points actually drive better hiring, how to balance quantitative and qualitative insights, and why AI...
2025-09-241h 31
Is This Still A Good Time?Bonnie Dilber: AI, Job Seekers, and the Future of HiringZapier’s Senior Recruiting Manager, Bonnie Dilber, sits down with Mike to talk about the rise (and overload) of AI recruiting tools, what’s hype versus what’s useful, and how recruiters can adapt without losing the candidate experience. They unpack the daily pressures of managing hundreds of applications, why recruiters often feel misunderstood, and the importance of building supportive communities to cope with burnout and negativity online.
Bonnie Dilber leads recruiting at Zapier and has become one of the most recognizable voices in the talent space through her newsletter and massive LinkedIn following. Named a LinkedIn Top Vo...
2025-09-2338 min
Is This Still A Good Time?Amy Miller: Recruiting in the WildRecruiter, speaker, and LinkedIn Top Voice Amy Miller joins Mike to dig into the realities of building trust with hiring managers, battling egos on both sides of the table, and surviving the chaos of big-tech recruiting. From counter-offer debates to the Workday lawsuit, Amy shares hard-won lessons, candid stories, and her signature one-liners about keeping your sanity in an industry that seems determined to test it daily.
Amy Miller is a veteran tech recruiter with experience at Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. Known for her popular blog Recruiting in Yoga Pants and her active LinkedIn presence, she’s bu...
2025-09-2339 min
The Purple Acorn HR Morning ShowWorkday Buys Paradox, AI in Hiring, and More - Presented by ERINHosts Brian Fink, Danielle Farage, and Mike Peditto cover the latest shifts shaping the world of work and dig into how leaders can build trust, inclusion, and scalable culture in today’s fast-changing landscape.
The hosts kick things off with breaking headlines, including Workday’s acquisition of Paradox, a major move redefining the candidate experience, and Meta’s new feature allowing candidates to use AI in coding interviews—a signal of how quickly AI is changing the hiring process.
Our guests bring powerful perspectives from across the HR and business spectrum:
Nahed Khairallah, global H...
2025-08-261h 35
TalentlessSeason One Launch Party - with Mike PedittoTalentless Launch: Real Talk. No Filters. With Mike PedittoGet ready for an unfiltered, unapologetic deep dive into the world of recruiting, HR, and everything in between.Join us for the official launch of the Talentless Podcast, hosted by Ashley King and Desiree Goldey, two powerhouse voices in the talent space who are here to say what others won’t. This live event, hosted by talent whisperer and LinkedIn legend Mike Peditto, is more than a podcast kickoff—it’s a behind-the-scenes look at why Talentless was created, what it’s challenging, and how it’s rewritin...
2025-06-0322 minTalentlessSeason One Launch Party - with Mike PedittoTalentless Launch: Real Talk. No Filters. With Mike PedittoGet ready for an unfiltered, unapologetic deep dive into the world of recruiting, HR, and everything in between.Join us for the official launch of the Talentless Podcast, hosted by Ashley King and Desiree Goldey, two powerhouse voices in the talent space who are here to say what others won’t. This live event, hosted by talent whisperer and LinkedIn legend Mike Peditto, is more than a podcast kickoff—it’s a behind-the-scenes look at why Talentless was created, what it’s challenging, and how it’s rewritin...
2025-06-0322 min
Workfluencer: Personal Branding, Authority & Content StrategyBuilding HR's Most Subscribed Newsletter: Authentic Content Strategy with Hebba YoussefWhat happens when your newsletter becomes the unofficial therapy session for HR professionals everywhere?
In this episode, Rhona sits down with Hebba Youssef, Chief People Officer at Workweek and the creator of I Hate It Here, one of the most read and reshared newsletters in the People space. Known for her honest tone and spicy memes, Hebba has built a brand that balances leadership credibility with creative chaos.
We unpack what it really looks like to speak truthfully in public while still leading a team, how she balances her executive role with her creator identity...
2025-06-0242 min
Workfluencer: Personal Branding, Authority & Content StrategyHow to Get Hiring Managers to Create Video Content - with Meghan Cantrell
When candidates ghost your hiring process before the first interview, it’s easy to blame the job market. But what if the real problem is trust?In this episode of Workfluencer, we’re joined by Meghan Cantrell, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition at OxBlue, who shares how she tackled candidate ghosting head-on by turning hiring managers into video creators. With no production budget and no marketing team, Meghan used short, authentic hiring manager videos to boost skills assessment completions by 40%, speed up interviews, and land high-converting hires—including a million-dollar rookie.If you're in rec...
2025-05-2739 min
Workfluencer: Personal Branding, Authority & Content StrategyHow to Create Content That Gets Attention – with Mike Peditto
Mike Peditto didn’t plan to go full-time as a content creator—at least not yet. But after building a massive audience with his no-BS job search videos, the timing came sooner than expected.Now with over 100 million views and a growing community across TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram, Mike creates content that job seekers love—and some internet trolls love to hate. In this episode, he shares what it really takes to create content that grabs attention, builds trust, and gets results.We explore the leap from TA to full-time creator, the chaos behind...
2025-05-1952 min
HR Like a Boss by WilloryReimagining Talent Acquisition | HR Like a Boss with Mike PedittoIn this episode of HR Like a Boss, host John Bernatovicz welcomes talent acquisition thought leader Mike Peditto for a candid conversation on the future of hiring. From navigating job loss to becoming a strong advocate for human-centered recruiting, Mike shares how empathy, authenticity, and transparency are transforming the way companies approach talent acquisition. They dive into the role of social media in job searching, why treating candidates like employees matters, and how innovative practices like work trials can reshape the hiring experience—for the better.ABOUT MIKE PEDITTOMike has over a decade of hi...
2025-04-1731 min
Open To WorkStop Spamming. Start Connecting! Mike Peditto on Authentic NetworkingStop Spamming. Start Connecting! Mike Peditto on Authentic NetworkingIn this week's episode, Matthew is joined by Mike Peditto, content creator, Talent Acquisition Director and job search advisor offering sound advice to those seeking to find the right job. The pair discuss the key topic of networking, focusing on what makes the process authentic and what you can do to improve your network.Sign up for our free weekly job search tips in our newsletter - https://opentoworktoolkit.substack.com/ Be sure to check out HireGuide's exclusive glossary of interview questions by job type - https://www.hireguide...
2025-03-2440 min
The Alder Hour with Matt AlderThe Alder Hour LIVE From Transform - ep 14This week on the Alder Hour, we're LIVE from Transform! Here to take you home and bring a bit of magic in part two of our conversation with Mike Peditto, we're here to cover all things conference! 🪄
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2025-03-1838 minThe Alder Hour with Matt AlderThe Alder Hour with Matt Alder Ep #13This week on the Alder Hour, Rhona is guest-hosting and ready to get this show on the road! Jocelyn tackles what to do when a job wants you back, and Rhona asks if micro-retirement is part of the macro-picture. Plus we have Mike Peditto bringing a little magic our way
So clock out and tune in for the Alder Hour!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2025-03-1054 min
I Can't Hustle Any Harder Than ThisFrom FIRED to 🔥: Failing My Way to Internet Fame w/ Mike PedittoMike Peditto lost his job after only six weeks. Instead of throwing himself back into the job hunt the way we all do (sitting at a laptop for hours on end), Mike started sharing his progress—as a seasoned recruiter himself—on TikTok. Mike's relatable content and smart tips quickly helped him amass a large following on the platform, along with success on Instagram and LinkedIn. Y ou can find him on both platforms at @realisticrecruiting and on YouTube as @RealisticRecruiting , as well. Join him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in...
2025-02-1436 min
Offer AcceptedRehumanizing Recruiting with Mike Peditto, Director of Talent @ TealHow can recruiters make hiring feel seamless and human—especially when resources are stretched thin?Mike Peditto, Director of Talent at Teal, discusses rehumanizing recruiting by putting candidates first—even in a resource-strapped hiring landscape. In this conversation with Shannon, Mike explains why providing interview questions upfront is a game-changer for candidate experience, creating trust, transparency, and a smoother hiring process. He also shares practical ways to balance efficiency with empathy, showing how even small adjustments can elevate your hiring strategy and foster team morale.Key Takeaways: Empower candidates throug...
2024-12-0333 min
To the Point Podcast – BoostpointThe Power of Being Real in Recruiting with Mike PedittoIn this episode of To The Point podcast, we sit down with the amazing Mike Peditto — known as @realisticrecruiter to his 300,000 followers — as he shares his philosophy on the power of being real in recruiting. From his journey to social media success to his commitment to fair hiring, Mike explains how authenticity has helped him build trust with job seekers and attract TOP talent. Through his genuine, straight-to-camera videos, Mike has cracked the code on connecting with people in a meaningful way. Tune in if you’re looking to make a real connection with candidates!
2024-11-1325 minTo the Point Podcast – BoostpointThe Power of Being Real in Recruiting with Mike PedittoIn this episode of To The Point podcast, we sit down with the amazing Mike Peditto — known as @realisticrecruiter to his 300,000 followers — as he shares his philosophy on the power of being real in recruiting. From his journey to social media success to his commitment to fair hiring, Mike explains how authenticity has helped him build trust with job seekers and attract TOP talent. Through his genuine, straight-to-camera videos, Mike has cracked the code on connecting with people in a meaningful way. Tune in if you’re looking to make a real connection with candidates!
2024-11-1325 min
Jaded HR: Your Relief From the Common Human Resources PodcastsMust Listen to HR Podcasts: Corporate Pizza Party - Discussing Salary NegotiationSend us a textEver wondered how LinkedIn influencers turn likes into livelihoods, or why resumes are still a thing in the digital age? We've got you covered in this episode with the entertaining trio from the Corporate Pizza Party Podcast—Mike, Farrah, and Dan. Together, we tackle the quirks and questions of corporate and social media life with humor and honesty. Mike shares the origin story of their podcast, revealing how leveraging internet fame can lead to insightful and hilarious discussions about the absurdities of the corporate world. Warren might be battling a cold, but that wo...
2024-10-3159 min
Workfluencer: Personal Branding, Authority & Content Strategy#23: Creating Recruiting Content at Conferences & Events with Mike Peditto
Are you planning on creating content at the next conference you attend? There's more to conference content than just posting selfies. Mike Peditto shares his real experience creating content at RecFest USA and the practical lessons learned along the way.You'll learn:
How to plan your content strategy before the event
Essential equipment for quality content creation
Balancing being present vs. capturing content
Tips for getting quality audio at busy events
Best practices for editing and reviewing event footage
Understanding and creating for your target audience
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
2024-10-2237 min
Recruiting is No JokeEpisode 75: Changing the Candidate Experience with Mike PedittoAre we truly seeing the full picture when it comes to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and their role in hiring? Can algorithms really replace the nuance of human judgment? As AI continues to evolve, is it possible that we’re overlooking the essential human element in the hiring process?In this episode of "Recruiting is No Joke," we’re delighted to feature Mike Peditto, Director of Talent at Teal and known as "The Realistic Recruiter." Join us as we unravel the intricacies of recruitment, from the impact of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to the evolving role of AI i...
2024-08-0745 min
Becoming a Hiring Machine090: Deconstructing Common Misconceptions in the Hiring Process ft. Mike PedittoIn this conversation, Sam is joined by Mike Peditto, Director of Talent at Teal, The Realistic Recruiter on Instagram and TikTok, and host of the Corporate Pizza Party Podcast. Together, they chat through common misconceptions in the hiring process.There are a lot of misleading statistics floating around out there — so in this episode, we get down to brass tacks on resumes, the role of cover letters, the balance between skills and attitude in hiring, the different approaches to job searching, and the importance of sending personalized rejection emails. They also touch on the benefits of using social me...
2024-05-0250 min
We Just Work HereMike Peditto: Realistic RecruitingWondering about how to beat the ATS? Land an interview for a role with 500 applicants? Network your way into a new job? Mike is a Top Recruiting Voice on LinkedIn, so who better to have on the podcast to bust a few recruiting myths? Mike and Kelly demystify the job search and toss in some hot takes along the way.
2023-10-2126 min
Careers In ReviewRecruiting with Empathy ft Mike PedittoShow Notes: Careers in Review Podcast with Mike PedittoIntroductionIn this episode of the Careers in Review podcast, host Ariana Rosen interviews Mike, a recruiter with over a decade of experience in the industry. Mike is also a content creator who brings a human and vulnerable feel to the job search process. He shares his insights and tips on how to navigate the job market and career space like a pro.OverviewIn this interview, Mike talks about his passion for recruiting and talent, and how he started creating content...
2023-06-1235 min
Salad: The Advertising PodcastE19 // Interview with Mike Peditto, Freelance Account Director, on His Time Advertising for the NFL, Theranos, and MoreThis week, Trent and Cole sat down for an incredible interview with Mike Peditto. Mike is currently a freelance account director and adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount University who most recently worked on accounts such as the NFL, Starbucks, The Grammys, Jimmy Dean and even Theranos across agencies such as 72andSunny and TBWA/Chiat/Day. In our chat, we get into what made him fall in love with advertising, a behind-the-scenes look at the NFL's 100-Year Game commercial, what it was like advertising for the now defunct company Theranos (wild), and his advice for young advertisers.
2019-05-301h 24
UNPLANNED UNSEENEpisode 38 - The Cutting Room Floor 3Woody finds the comedy gold that didn't make previous episodes and puts them all together in one hodgepodge of hilarity. Justin and Jerome, Brett Goodnack, Mindy McHale, Jordan Bailley, Kyle Longsdorf, Brad McNary, Mike Peditto, Annie Harder, Ryan McElroy. THIS EPISODE IN A NUTSHELL: Schroeder and Waits, musical genius - Pub trivia is for the hardcore mental athletes - Celebrity assholes - Potty humor and the inevitable snarf.
2015-12-0200 min
UNPLANNED UNSEENEpisode 34 - Bonkers And The Tiny TherapistWoody welcomes the comedy stylings of Ryan McElroy, Mike Peditto, and Annie Harder. The Sky Lounge was full of monkeys, meerkats, and a little Brit-pop aspirations. THIS EPISODE IN A NUTSHELL: Sometimes you need a little help from you tiny friends - The band must play through that divorce - Hobbit sex is the best sex - Black Crash forever.
2015-11-0400 minUNPLANNED UNSEENEpisode 24 - The Cutting Room Floor 2Woody & Tessa went back to the archives to look for great bits that didn't make the final cut due to time restraints. They found two great scenes. One from Mike Peditto and Brad McNary, and another from Eric Schaeffer and Alex Stypula. THIS EPISODE IN A NUTSHELL: Politics, you win by getting any tattoo necessary - Transitioning, it's not just by gender anymore.
2015-08-2600 minUNPLANNED UNSEENEpisode 10 -Bits From The Cutting Room FloorSince some of our recordings are over 2 hours long, some bits got passed over just because of time restraints. Well we went back to these bits, pulled them and compiled them in this weeks episode. THIS EPISODE IN A NUTSHELL: Brian Gray & Greg Gillotti are all about the monkeys - Kyle Longsdorf & Brett Goodnack are all about the goats - Mike Cerce & Derek Wright are all about the lobsters - Brian Gray & Greg Gillotti are all about the cow - Brad McNary & Mike Peditto are all about the man.
2015-05-2000 minUNPLANNED UNSEENEpisode 9 - Who is Kathy NajamiWoody & Tessa welcome Brad McNary & Mike Peditto of HOTEL NOWHERE fame. They bring some very special funny that warms the heart until you cry. Sounds weird? You'd be right. THIS EPISODE IN A NUTSHELL: Derek Jeter has a gift basket for you - Whoopy vs. Bette, a sister act knock down - A father can always tell. UNPLANNEDCOMEDY.COM
2015-05-1300 min