The Alder Hour with Matt Alder

The Alder Hour with Matt Alder

The Alder Hour is a podcast that explores the future of HR and Talent Acquisition through honest conversations with people driving change. Broadcast LIVE, we cover the bold ideas and real-world innovations shaping how companies attract, hire, and retain talent. While we don’t shy away from tough or awkward topics—like layoffs, AI ethics, and DEI backlash—our focus is on sharing practical insights, fresh perspectives, and inspiring stories that help talent leaders navigate change and build stronger, more human-centric hiring practices. Each week, host Matt Alder (of Recruiting Future) clocks in with unfiltered insights, smart headlines, and sharp banter from the frontlines of talent, tech, and the ever-shifting world of work. Broadcasting from the UK as part of the Purple Acorn Network, Matt brings a global perspective to local workplace dilemmas — and he’s never at the mic alone. You’ll hear from: Rhona Pierce, our go-to trendwatcher and pop culture pulse-checker, Jocelyn King, HR operations pro and master of The Situation Room, Regular appearances from guest co-hosts like John Baldino and Robin Schooling, And bold conversations with industry leaders — from TA innovators to employer branding experts and wellness coaches. No topic is too awkward: layoffs, AI ethics, DEI backlash, resume fibbing, hiring influencers, office politics, and yes — whether body cameras belong on retail staff. So pour a drink (alcoholic or not), punch that mental clock, and spend 60 minutes with The Alder Hour — part news, part group chat, all future of work. Find out more at https://www.purpleacornnetwork.com Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purple-acorn-network

Episodes

September 22, 2025 60 mins
On this week’s Alder Hour, Matt and Rhona dive into two of the biggest stories shaping the future of work: the controversial new U.S. immigration fee hikes — including a proposed $100,000 price tag for tech visas and $1M for permanent residency — and the key takeaways from HR Tech Las Vegas 2025, where AI, agentic HR, and culture dominated the conversation. Jocelyn steps into the Situation Room with a jaw-dropping story of someone ...
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AI is transforming HR faster than ever, but not always in ways leaders expect. In this episode, Matt Alder and Rhona Barnett-Pierce dig into the hottest stories shaping the future of work, from the rise of “Shadow AI” inside companies to the internal turmoil brewing at Meta’s much-hyped AI dream team. Trent Cotton takes the mic for Talk Nerdy with iCIMS with guest Tim Sackett, SCP, exploring how HR leaders can balance strategy, te...
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AI is rewriting the future of work, and few people understand that shift better than Rebecca Carr, a leading voice in HR tech and innovation. On this episode of The Alder Hour, Rebecca joins Matt to unpack OpenAI’s surprising move into the hiring space and share how it could completely reshape talent acquisition strategies and technology roadmaps. Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn also bring their signature energy to Points & Pints, tackli...
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It’s Labor Day in the U.S., and while the rest of the team has the day off, Matt Alder brings listeners a special bonus episode. This week, he revisits a recent Recruiting Future conversation with Brandon Samut, Chief People Officer at Zapier, about how the company is weaving AI into every corner of its operations. Brandon shares the story of Zapier’s “Code Red” call to action in 2023, the creation of AI use guidelines, and the co...
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Matt Alder, Rhona Pierce, and Jocelyn King bring their sharp takes and playful banter to the biggest stories shaping HR and the future of work. From Workday’s acquisition of Paradox and the fallout of “the day ChatGPT went cold,” to lessons learned from employee expense fraud, the team dives deep into what these shifts mean for people leaders everywhere. Special guest Jessica Miller-Merrell, founder of Workology and author of Digi...
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Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn take on the latest headlines shaping the world of work — and they're not pulling any punches. They kick things off with Points & Pints, unpacking everything from what’s haunting HR pros about past change efforts, to the viral story of faking sick leave when they aren't granted vacation. Then it’s off to The Situation Room for a deeper dive into the week’s most urgent workplace trends. Special guest Sharon...
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Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn take on the latest headlines shaping the world of work — and they're not pulling any punches. They kick things off with Points & Pints, unpacking everything from what’s haunting HR pros about past change efforts, to the viral story of faking sick leave when they aren't granted vacation. Then it’s off to The Situation Room for a deeper dive into the week’s most urgent workplace trends. Special guest Sharon...
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This week, Matt, Rhona, and Mervyn are joined by writer, speaker, and HR truth-teller Laurie Ruettimann for a bold and brilliant conversation about the state of work today. From burnout and toxic cultures to practical ways people can take back their careers, Laurie shares why she believes work is broken—and how we can fix it. You’ll hear: Why HR needs more empathy and fewer buzzwords Real talk from Laurie on the messy side ...
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This week on The Alder Hour, Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn break down the latest in work culture and talent strategy, including Salesforce's bold AI claims and the hidden cost of forcing RTO (Return to Office). Then, recruiting veteran Brian Fink joins the show to tackle some big questions: Is psychological safety a business imperative? Is sourcing officially dead? And how can recruiters stay relevant as AI transforms hiring? Plus, a n...
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The Alder Hour returns for Episode 30 with Jocelyn and guest host Serge Boudreau at the helm—guiding us through another fast-paced, happy-hour-style breakdown of the latest headlines reshaping the world of work. This week’s Points & Pints dives into two hot topics: Why a financial wellness benefit is outpacing the 401(k) Hyper-personalization and its role in shaping next-gen employee experiences Plus, The Situation Room tackl...
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Hosts Jocelyn King and Rhona Barnett-Pierce are broadcasting LIVE from the San Diego Conference Center at SHRM25, talking about all things conferences - from inappropriate behavior in the Situation Room or oversized swag on Trending or Ending, we've got a great episode for you. We are also joined by guest Michael Dickerson, CEO of Dickerson Consulting Group, to dive into all things Mental Health. This episode is presented by Virgi...
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What do pro tennis, international staffing, and "violent execution" have in common? Walter Sabrin. On this episode of The Alder Hour, Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn welcome Walter to the show for a no-holds-barred conversation about scaling a global workforce, building culture through 91 acquisitions, and mastering LinkedIn before most people even had a profile. Plus, the crew dives into the latest headlines—from fake candidates and Gen ...
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With Matt Alder out this week, guest host John Baldino joins Rhona for a special takeover they’ve officially dubbed The Baldino Hour. Together, they bring energy, opinions, and sharp takes on what’s next in HR and talent. Special guest Enrique Ruiz, Founder of STRM, joins the conversation to explore how HR teams can lead through uncertainty and innovation — and why the best workforce strategies today are all about clarity, agility...
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What do leaders keep getting wrong about hiring? Matt Alder, Rhona, and Jocelyn break it down — and explore what’s working, what’s not, and what’s changing fast. Warden AI co-founder Jeffrey Pole joins to talk about building tech that doesn’t just hire faster but hires fairer — from real-time bias audits to launching public trust reports. He shares how startup grit, regulatory momentum, and emotional readiness all shaped his path f...
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In Episode 25 of The Alder Hour, Matt Alder, Rhona, and Jocelyn break down the biggest stories shaping the future of work. From the Workday lawsuit to the rise of “ghostworking”—employees faking productivity—this episode is packed with hot takes, humor, and a splash of Points & Pints. Plus, we spotlight a construction company rethinking parental leave without leaning on temp hires. We are also joined by Cynthia Abbott Kerr, CEO of...
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This episode takes us back to UNLEASH 2025 and our conversation with John Federman, CEO of HireRoad, to explore how data is reshaping the HR landscape. John dives into the role of People Insight, High Road’s powerful people analytics tool, and how it equips organizations to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their workforce. From identifying high-performing recruiters to diagnosing turnover at the team level, John shares ...
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This week on The Alder Hour, we dive into the tension between automation and authenticity in today’s hiring landscape.🧠 Points & Pints brings two spicy takes:• Why Moderna Merged Its Tech and HR Departments - after partnering with OpenAI• Why your résumé might never reach human hands—and what that means for your job hunt🚨 In The Situation Room, we unpack the risks of bias in AI hiring tools—how they’re shaping candidate experienc...
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In this episode of The Alder Hour, we're back in our home studios after a high-energy live week at the Unleash conference. Matt, Rhona, and Jocelyn reunite to reflect on their experiences from the event — from insightful sessions on AI, talent strategy, and DEI, to the buzz of live interviews and networking. Rhona explores the significance of free headshots at conferences as tools of empowerment and visibility, especially for under...
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We’re celebrating our 21st episode live from UNLEASH America 2025 in Las Vegas! Recorded at Caesars Forum on the eve of the main conference, this special edition captures the energy, insight, and a bit of chaos that makes UNLEASH one of the most exciting events in the HR and work tech calendar. Host Matt Alder kicks things off with Jocelyn King, diving into key themes emerging from the event—from strategic AI to the value of hands...
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April 28, 2025 59 mins
It's show number 20 for the Alder Hour! This week, we're talking workplace assessments, invoicing for your interview process, and more! Plus Benjamin Visser clocks in to chat all things startups. So end your workday the best way, with the Alder Hour! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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