The Alder Hour with Matt Alder

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 Z hiring shifts to the future of work in an AI-powered world.

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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, and human connection.

Here’s what’s covered in this episode:

Plus: Enrique teases his upcoming podcast with Purple Acorn and invites listeners to send in their questions and topics using https://sayhi.chat/allinrecruiting.

Follow the Purple Acorn Network on LinkedIn to stay plugged into this and all of our shows — including From the Desk, The HR Morning Show, My First Job, and From X to Z.

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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 from Onfido to founding Warden AI.

🔗 Don’t forget to follow Purple Acorn on LinkedIn for show updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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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 Wellpay.AI.

🚀 Tune in to The Alder Hour — where work meets wit. Live every Monday on MUX and available on all major podcast platforms.

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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 real-world examples of how HR leaders can move from reactive to proactive using data. We also get an exclusive look at their latest product launch: People Insight Essentials, a scalable, low-cost solution that democratizes people analytics for mid-market companies.

Whether you're a CHRO, talent leader, or just curious about the future of work, this episode is packed with insight on how to operationalize data for meaningful impact—and what the next 2–3 years might hold for the talent function.

⏱️ Catch it now—your new favorite way to end the workday.📍Powered by Purple Acorn🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts📺 Watch live and follow us on LinkedIn → ⁠purpleacornnetwork.com

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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 experience and what companies must do to fix it.
🎤 Then we’re joined by Jamie Leonard, founder of RecFest, to talk about what’s next in TA and whether events like hers are the antidote to the tech-first recruiting age.
🆙 Finally, in Trending or Ending, we debate a big one:
Are traditional résumés obsolete?
The team weighs in with bold takes and surprising stats.
Whether you’re a recruiter, founder, or future-of-work wonk, this one’s packed with insight, humor, and real talk.
⏱️ Catch it now—your new favorite way to end the workday.
📍Powered by Purple Acorn
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts
📺 Watch live and follow us on LinkedIn → purpleacornnetwork.com

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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 underrepresented professionals. Jocelyn shares a troubling real-world hiring story that highlights persistent bias in recruitment, sparking a candid conversation on the importance of training and accountability for hiring managers.

We also dive deep into the topic of burnout — especially among HR and TA professionals who often carry the emotional weight of supporting entire organizations while juggling creative side projects. The team explores how technology, always-on work culture, and content pressures contribute to fatigue, and why true rest (not just shifting focus) is critical.

Plus, don’t miss our exclusive interview with Dr. Anna Tavis PhD, Department Chair of Human Capital Management at NYU, who discusses the evolving intersection of education, AI, and the future of work. She brings sharp insight into how learning systems are changing — and why personalization, flexibility, and curiosity will define success in tomorrow’s workforce.

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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-on workshops like the pre-conference hackathon. Jocelyn shares her advice for HR practitioners on navigating large events and making the most of the content, networking, and innovation on offer.

Later in the episode, Matt welcomes Virginia Tirado, co-founder of Reku, a talent solutions firm supporting VC-backed, AI-native SaaS startups. Virginia discusses:

Reku’s mission to provide the flexible, strategic support founders need to scale

The evolution of talent acquisition and the need to think beyond hiring

The challenges and opportunities AI presents in hiring and candidate experience

Why TA leaders must proactively shape their roles to stay relevant in a shifting landscape

The episode wraps with more reflections from Jocelyn and a toast to the conversations (and cocktails) that only happen in Vegas.

🎙️ Topics covered:

How UNLEASH stands out among HR conferences

The importance of strategy in AI adoption—beyond the buzzwords

Building better onboarding with simple, scalable tech hacks

Why TA should be at the table for retention and upskilling discussions

The role of curiosity, experimentation, and self-education in navigating AI’s rise

Recorded live at UNLEASH America 2025 – Caesars Forum, Las Vegas.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to The Alder Hour for more sharp thinking at the intersection of talent, tech, and transformation.

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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!

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This week on the Alder Hour, everyone's back in action and we've got a lot on the docket, from horrible bosses to those LinkedIn action figures. Plus Keirsten Greggs, the TRAP Recruiter herself, will be with us. So join us for the Alder Hour!

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