RecTalk Podcast - Explore Recruitment Insights

Welcome to another live episode of RecTalk, filmed at RecFest UK in the RecTalk Podcast Lounge.

Nitin Sharma is joined by Sean Kennedy for a fascinating — and deliberately provocative — conversation with one of the best-known voices in the recruitment and talent acquisition community, Hung Lee.

Hung has plenty to say about where TA is heading in the age of AI, and he doesn't shy away from challenging some of the industry's biggest assumptions.

From why Hung thinks skills-based hiring is “anti-human” and why organisations may need to stop documenting everything, to the risks of using AI to simply squeeze more productivity out of employees, this conversation gets into what happens when technology starts changing not just how we work, but how organisations themselves are structured.

One of the standout ideas is Hung's “keep what you kill” approach to AI adoption: if technology makes someone more productive, why should all of that productivity automatically belong to the company? Could giving employees back some of the time they save be a better way to encourage AI adoption, improve autonomy and reduce burnout?

The conversation also explores the future of Talent Acquisition. Hung argues that TA isn't simply going away — instead, its scope and professional identity could change dramatically as businesses begin working with AI agents, gig platforms and other forms of non-human capacity.

And there's a bigger human message running throughout the episode: in an increasingly AI-driven world, recruiters and talent professionals need to understand where human value really sits — and actively protect the relationships, judgement, creativity and community intelligence that machines can't simply reproduce.

Hung also explains what Recruitment Brainfood has become and why he sees himself as an ecosystem support person, helping connect and inform the wider recruitment and job-search ecosystem.

Filmed live at RecFest UK, this is a wide-ranging conversation about AI, recruitment, productivity, leadership, employee autonomy, the future of TA and why keeping work human may become more important than ever.

GUEST — Hung Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunglee/

HOSTS

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/

SPONSORED BY

NOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.

https://nova.dweet.com/

Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.

https://www.zyverno.app/

Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.

https://www.screenloop.com/

Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#RecTalk #RecFest #RecFestUK #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentAI #AI #HRTech #FutureOfWork #RecruitmentTechnology #TalentTech #RecruitmentLeadership #HungLee #NitinSharma #SeanKennedy

Welcome to a special RecTalk episode filmed live at RecFest UK, hosted by Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy.

This time, Nitin and Sean are joined by Jen Hulme and Thomas Woodhams for a wide-ranging conversation about some of the biggest issues facing talent acquisition right now: inclusive hiring, neurodiversity, AI adoption, candidate experience, workplace redesign and why the “human touch” still matters in an increasingly automated recruitment world.

Thomas shares insights from his RecFest talk on inclusive hiring and explains why organisations can genuinely believe they are inclusive while still creating unnecessary barriers throughout the recruitment process. The conversation explores how job descriptions, interview formats, assumptions around eye contact and communication styles, and even onboarding can unintentionally exclude talented candidates.

Jen brings a talent acquisition perspective to the AI conversation, discussing the shift from simply talking about “AI” to understanding what organisations actually need it to solve. Rather than adopting technology because it is the latest shiny tool, the discussion focuses on identifying the underlying recruitment problem first — and then working out whether AI is the right solution.

The conversation also looks at the changing role of humans in recruitment. With AI increasingly embedded into recruitment workflows, what should humans actually be doing? How do we use technology to supercharge expertise rather than replace it? And how will AI change the skills organisations need as roles and workplaces themselves evolve?

They also discuss:

• Why inclusive hiring needs to start with the job advert, not just the interview

• Neurodiversity, hidden disabilities and removing unnecessary recruitment barriers

• Why treating everyone “the same” doesn't necessarily create a fair hiring process

• The evolution from “human in the loop” to the “human touch”

• Why AI has become too broad a term in recruitment

• Avoiding AI for AI's sake and starting with the actual business problem

• How AI could improve candidate communication and engagement

• Workplace and role redesign in an AI-enabled world

GUESTS

Jen Hulme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-hulme/

Thomas Woodhams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-woodhams/

HOSTS

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/

SPONSORED BY

NOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.

https://nova.dweet.com/

Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.

https://www.zyverno.app/

Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.

https://www.screenloop.com/

Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#RecTalk #RecFest #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentTech #HRTech #AIRecruitment #ArtificialIntelligence #InclusiveHiring #Neurodiversity #CandidateExperience #FutureOfWork #RecruitmentTechnology #HR #TA #RecTech

What happens when technology gets it wrong?

Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma sits down with recruitment leaders, technology experts and founders to discuss AI, automation, recruitment technology, business growth and why human judgement still matters more than ever.

Featuring:

🎙️ Kan Mallawathantri (Avensys Tech)

🎙️ Samantha Moore (Medical Technology Talent et al.)

🎙️ Chris & Alan (Pitch to Placements & Boots to Billing Podcast)

Topics discussed include:

✅ A real-life recruitment technology disaster story that almost derailed a placement

✅ Why recruiters need to understand their tech stack instead of blindly trusting it

✅ The risks of AI, integrations and automation when processes aren't fully understood

✅ CRM, telephony and data sync challenges explained in plain English

✅ Why technology should support recruiters, not replace common sense

✅ Former athletes transitioning into recruitment and business careers

✅ Building confidence, resilience and sales skills after professional sport

✅ Why relationships still outperform scripts and sales tactics

One of the strongest themes throughout this episode is that technology can accelerate success, but it can also amplify mistakes. The recruiters and business owners winning in 2026 are the ones who understand both the opportunities and the limitations of the tools they're using.

🔗 Connect with the guests

Kan Mallawathantri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kan-avensystech/

Samantha Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaleighmoore/

Chris Fahey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fahey-agpayroll/

Alan McFadden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-mcfadden/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.

#Recruitment #RecruitmentTechnology #AIRecruitment #Automation #CRM #RecruitmentBusiness #Sales #BusinessGrowth #Technology #RecruitmentPodcast #TEAMConference #RecTalk #StaffingIndustry #Entrepreneurship #FutureOfWork

Are recruitment businesses overcomplicating things?

Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma sits down with website, marketing and finance specialists to discuss the biggest mistakes recruitment business owners are making when it comes to technology, websites, wealth creation and long-term growth.

Featuring:

🎙️ Gordon & Nicole (Shazamme)

🎙️ Christian Mather (One Day Wealth)

🎙️ Poonam Mawani (Azuki Accounts)

Topics discussed include:

✅ Why many recruiters are buying technology they don't actually need

✅ The website foundations every recruitment business should have in place

✅ How AI search is changing recruitment marketing and SEO

✅ Why trust signals, reviews and case studies matter more than ever

✅ The importance of niche positioning and specialist landing pages

✅ Financial literacy for recruitment business owners

✅ Why profitable agencies still make costly money mistakes

✅ Building personal wealth beyond your recruitment business

One of the strongest themes throughout this conversation is simple: stop chasing shiny objects and focus on fundamentals. Whether that's your website, your tech stack, your finances or your business strategy, the basics still matter.

🔗 Connect with the guests

Gordon Webb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonwebb1/

Nicole Clarke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleclarke/

Christian Mather: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianmather/

Poonam Mawani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/poonammawaniazuki/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.

#Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #RecruitmentMarketing #RecruitmentWebsite #AIRecruitment #SEO #BusinessGrowth #FinancialLiteracy #RecruitmentAgency #TEAMConference #Entrepreneurship #RecruitmentPodcast #RecTalk #AgencyOwner #WealthBuilding

Recorded on the eve of RecFest, Nitin Sharma is joined by Sean Kennedy and Sunjay Vyas for a very unofficial, very unfiltered preview of what’s about to happen.

The conversation kicks off with what makes RecFest different from your typical recruitment or HR event: the combination of learning, networking, socialising and simply having a bloody good time. With so many recruitment and talent acquisition teams working remotely, events like RecFest have become an opportunity to reconnect with people you might not have seen for months — or since the previous RecFest.

The guys also get into one of the most anticipated RecFest traditions: the merch review. From clothing and jerseys to stationery, hydration and snacks, the competition is getting serious. Expect strong opinions, questionable judging criteria and some early predictions about who could take home the coveted merch crown.

But beneath the laughs, there are some more serious conversations too.

Sean talks about how people can misunderstand what he actually does — seeing him as “the funny video guy” rather than someone using content to generate genuine commercial results. That leads into a wider discussion about positioning, finding your ICP and not worrying too much about what people outside your target audience think of you.

Sunjay also opens up about taking the leap into entrepreneurship, going all-in on his podcast outsourcing business with his wife, Anisha. They discuss leaving employment behind, building a financial runway, dealing with uncertainty and the mindset required to back yourself when there’s no guaranteed salary waiting at the end of the month.

There’s also a brilliant conversation about mentorship, helping other people succeed and the importance of bringing people up with you. For Nitin, success isn’t just about what you build yourself — it’s about helping the people around you build something too.

And, naturally, there are plenty of tangents along the way: Kenya, cigars, phone shops, WhatsApp calls, questionable career choices, the agency people attempting to infiltrate RecFest and a few things that the editors will probably have to remove.

Most importantly, this is a conversation between three people who genuinely enjoy spending time together. The chemistry, friendship and sense of community are what make this episode feel less like a formal podcast and more like three mates getting together before one of the biggest events in the recruitment calendar.

Who is this episode for:

• Talent acquisition and recruitment professionals heading to RecFest 2026
• Recruitment technology and HR tech professionals
• Recruitment marketers and content creators
• Anyone considering leaving employment to start their own business
• Recruiters and TA leaders interested in networking and personal branding
• Anyone who enjoys the less corporate, more human side of recruitment

🔗 Connect with the hosts

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/

Sunjay Vyas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunjayvyas/

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

SourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/

CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#RecTalk #RecFest2026 #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentMarketing #RecruitmentTech #HRTech #EmployerBranding #PersonalBranding #Podcasting #RecruitmentCommunity #RecTech

It’s time for the merch review.

Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma is joined by Sunjay and Jahisha to review the good, the bad and the questionable supplier merch from across the event.

From branded bottles and notebooks to chocolate, biltong, cupcakes, sunglasses, seeds, hats and stress cubes, nothing is safe.

In this episode:

✅ Who had the best merch at TEAM Conference

✅ Which suppliers clearly made an effort

✅ Why cheap pens and boring leaflets are not enough anymore

✅ The merch that was actually useful

✅ The merch that completely missed the brief

✅ Why story, quality and functionality matter

✅ The official RecTalk merch winners

This one is fun, brutally honest and hopefully useful for any supplier planning their next event stand.

🔗 Connect with the guests

Jahisha Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahisha-thomas/

Sunjay Vyas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunjayvyas/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.

#Recruitment #TEAMConference #RecruitmentMarketing #EventMarketing #MerchReview #RecruitmentSuppliers #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #ConferenceMarketing #RecruitmentEvents

Has recruitment quietly become a data business?

Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma speaks with recruitment technology founders, candidate attraction specialists and offshore staffing experts about the changing recruitment landscape, the future of job boards, CRM strategy and why the best recruitment businesses are becoming increasingly data-driven.

Featuring:

🎙️ Floriant & Bernard (daidalo)

🎙️ Amy & Michelle (Candidate Source)

🎙️ Ross & Chris (Infinity Staff Global)

Topics discussed include:

✅ Why recruitment agencies are sitting on untapped goldmines inside their CRM systems

✅ The role of AI in candidate attraction and job board technology

✅ Why quality is becoming more important than quantity in recruitment marketing

✅ How recruiters should evaluate advertising ROI beyond simple placements

✅ The future of LinkedIn, Indeed and traditional job boards

✅ Offshore staffing and building high-performing remote teams

✅ Why relationship-building still matters in a digital-first world

✅ The importance of integrating remote employees into company culture

One theme comes up repeatedly throughout this episode: the agencies winning in 2026 are the ones adapting fastest. They're leveraging data better, using technology smarter and building scalable operating models without losing the human element that makes recruitment successful.

Learn more about TEAM: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/

🔗 Connect with the guests

Floriant Sturm: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floriantsturm/

Bernard Antonissen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernard-antonissen/

Amy Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cslamy/

Michelle Davies: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleadavies/

Ross Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/

Chris Beechey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-beechey/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.

#Recruitment #RecruitmentTechnology #CRM #DataDrivenRecruitment #AIRecruitment #JobBoards #LinkedInRecruitment #Indeed #RecruitmentBusiness #OffshoreStaffing #RemoteTeams #TEAMConference #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #StaffingIndustry

What if the difference between a good year and a great year came down to just five actions a day?

Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma sits down with leadership coach, speaker and host of The Human Loop Podcast, Ben Stocken to discuss performance, mindset, resilience and how business owners can avoid becoming the biggest obstacle to their own success.

Drawing on lessons from elite sport, endurance challenges and years of leadership coaching, Ben shares practical advice that every recruiter, founder and business owner can apply immediately.

Topics include:

✅ How to reconnect with your "why" when motivation fades

✅ Why successful leaders spend time outside their comfort zone

✅ The difference between change and experimentation in business

✅ The 5 daily actions that genuinely move a business forward

✅ Why most entrepreneurs overestimate what they can achieve in a year

✅ The power of prioritisation and focus

✅ Stoicism, self-awareness and leadership resilience

✅ Why business owners often become the bottleneck in their own growth

One of the most thought-provoking conversations from TEAM Conference 2026, this episode is packed with practical leadership advice that can help you finish the year stronger than you started it.

Learn more about TEAM: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/

🔗 Connect with the guest

Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.

#Leadership #BusinessGrowth #RecruitmentBusiness #TEAMConference #Entrepreneurship #Mindset #LeadershipDevelopment #Recruitment #FounderJourney #BusinessOwner #PersonalDevelopment #Stoicism #HighPerformance #RecTalk #TeamNetwork

What separates recruitment businesses that are thriving from those that are struggling?

Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma speaks with recruitment leaders, business owners and industry experts about building sustainable agencies, creating strong communities, navigating tough market conditions and why relationships still matter more than ever.

This episode features conversations with:

🎙️ Laura Davies (Marshall Harmony)

🎙️ Debbie Bosworth (Ideal Edge)

🎙️ Pauline Emmott-Royston (Neom Recruitment)

🎙️ Kirsty Craig (KCA People)

Topics discussed include:

✅ Why recruitment should be a people business, not a sales business

✅ Building a successful agency through relationships and community

✅ Lessons from growing a recruitment business from a kitchen table startup

✅ ADHD, burnout and mental health in recruitment

✅ Understanding stress, performance and resilience in business owners

✅ Why TEAM remains one of the recruitment industry's most valuable communities

✅ The power of collaboration over competition

✅ How independent recruiters can survive and thrive in challenging markets

From business growth and leadership to wellbeing and personal development, this episode captures the conversations that matter most to recruitment professionals right now.

Learn more about TEAM: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/

🔗 Connect with the guests

Laura Davies: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauradaviestoprecruiter/

Debbie Bosworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-bosworth-0163aa287/

Pauline Emmott-Royston: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauline-emmott-royston-45261836/

Kirsty Craig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstycraig/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.

#Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #AgencyRecruitment #TEAMConference #ADHD #Burnout #MentalHealth #RecruitmentOwner #RecruitmentLeadership #BusinessGrowth #Recruiters #RecTalk #StaffingIndustry #Hiring #Entrepreneurship

What can UK recruiters learn from the US market? And what separates recruitment businesses that continue to grow during difficult economic conditions?

Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma speaks with recruitment business owners, international recruiters and long-standing TEAM members about growth, resilience, relationship building and the future of recruitment.

Featuring conversations with:

🎙️ Jonny Cutter (Loup)

🎙️ Kat Kingshott (Touchstone Talent)

🎙️ Stephen Kennedy (Talent Partners Limited)

🎙️ Stuart Moore (Plus One Recruitment)

Topics discussed include:

✅ Why UK recruiters have a competitive advantage in the US market

✅ The biggest opportunities for recruiters looking internationally

✅ Lessons learned from 20+ years in recruitment

✅ How to survive market downturns and economic uncertainty

✅ Why relationship-driven recruiters continue to outperform competitors

✅ Using AI to remove admin while keeping the human touch

✅ Building long-term client partnerships instead of transactional business

✅ The value of communities like TEAM for independent recruiters

One recurring theme runs throughout this episode: recruitment is still a people business. The technology may evolve, markets may change, but trust, relationships and reputation remain the foundations of long-term success.

Learn more about TEAM: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/

🔗 Connect with the guests

Jonny Cutter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-cutter-05919a24/

Kat Kingshott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katkingshott/

Stephen Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talentpartners/

Stuart Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartmoorerecruiter/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.

#Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #TEAMConference #Recruiters #StaffingIndustry #AgencyRecruitment #BusinessGrowth #RecruitmentAgency #TalentAcquisition #Hiring #RecruitmentPodcast #RecTalk #AIInRecruitment #Leadership #Entrepreneurship