The Human Capitalist

By Trent Cotton & Purple Acorn Network

What is a Human Capitalist? Well, it's the new version of Human Resources. It's time to get rid of the outdated and reactive HR and replace it with Human Capitalism.

I'm Trent Cotton and I'm ready to... more

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How many episodes does The Human Capitalist have?

The podcast currently has 48 episodes available.

The Human Capitalist episodes:

January 14, 2026AI Is Exposing the Biggest Lie About Workforce Productivity
AI is exposing the productivity problem leaders have ignored for years.
Most organizations optimized for activity — not outcomes — and HR now owns the reset.
As AI automates more work, it’s exposing a hard truth inside organizations:
Much of what we’ve rewarded for years was never real productivity.
Slide decks no one reads.
Meetings that solve nothing.
Reports created for optics, not outcomes.
In this video, I break down how AI is revealing the BS economy at work — and why this moment is a critical reset for leaders, HR, and the C-suite.
With over 20 years in HR leadership, I’m not here to hype tools or trends.
I’m here to help leaders understand AI’s real impact on workforce strategy — and how to redesign work around outcomes, not activity.

In this video, you’ll learn:
Why AI is automating “busy work” — and why that’s a good thing

What productivity studies are really showing (and what they’re not)

Why speed without substance doesn’t drive results

The leadership blind spot AI can’t fix for you

How HR can lead the shift from visibility → value

A practical 4-step action plan to redesign roles, workflows, and priorities
AI can move faster than humans ever could but it can’t decide what actually matters.
That responsibility still belongs to leaders.
This is a call to stop scaling broken systems with smarter tools and start rebuilding work for impact, meaning, and growth.
_________________________________
🎯 Who this video is for:
HR leaders & executives

C-suite decision-makers

People leaders navigating AI transformation

Organizations serious about real productivity (not performative work)
⏱️ Chapter Timestamps
0:00 Why “Busy” Was Never the Same as Productive
0:45 Why I’m Calling This Out (20+ Years in HR Leadership)
1:45 AI and the Rise of the “BS Economy”
3:05 Why Faster Work Isn’t Better Work
4:10 The Productivity Stat No One Is Talking About
5:00 The Wake-Up Call AI Is Forcing on Leaders
6:15 HR’s Moment to Lead (Not Follow)
6:40 Audit the Busy Loop
7:10 Rebuilding Roles Around Impact
7:50 Why Managers Are the Bottleneck
8:20 Designing for Deep Work
8:55 Final Thought: Redesign. Don’t Repeat.

💬 Let’s discuss: Where do you see busy work hiding in your organization and what would you eliminate first?

🔔 Subscribe for more on:
AI & workforce transformation
People strategy for the future of work
Leadership decisions that actually move the needle
Redesign. Don’t repeat.

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9min
January 12, 2026 White collar jobs out? Trade jobs in?
Two veteran recruiters break down why relationship-driven recruiting, skills-based hiring, and boomerang talent are about to matter more than ever in an AI-driven world.
In this episode of The Human Capitalist podcast, I sit down with Top Source Talent founder and Talking TA host, Denise Chaffin, to talk about what’s next for AI in HR, the rise of skilled trades, and how smart companies are quietly winning the talent war by rethinking how, and where, they recruit.
We get into:
-Why “skills-based hiring” isn’t new to great recruiters—and what’s actually blocking it at the executive level.
-How AI is exposing weak middle-management and transactional recruiting, and freeing HR to own productivity, not just process.
-Why the godfather of AI is telling people to “train to be a plumber” and what that means for white-collar vs. skilled trades careers.
About my guest:
Denise Chaffin is the President and founder of Top Source Talent, a Phoenix-based minority, woman-owned talent acquisition firm specializing in hard-to-fill technical and professional roles across industries like semiconductor, medical device, cybersecurity, and government.
With more than three decades in recruiting, she leads a distributed team of senior sourcers and recruiters supporting U.S. and global clients with recruitment-as-a-service, executive search, and contingent workforce solutions. Denise is also the host of the Talking TA podcast, where she interviews TA and HR leaders about modern recruiting, AI, and talent strategies that help organizations build and retain high-performing teams.
Connect with Denise:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisechaffin/
Podcast: https://topsourcetalentllc.com/podcast/
Skip ahead:
00:00 – Why white-collar workers are moving to the trades
02:00 – AI in HR and the push toward skills-based hiring
07:30 – Degrees, flexibility, and leadership’s role in hiring
11:30 – How AI, risk, and instability are reshaping career paths
15:00 – Trades, certifications, and real-world career stories
20:00 – How skilled trades quietly power high tech
24:00 – Rethinking recruiting: beyond job boards and back to relationships
29:00 – Boomerang recruiting: bringing alumni talent back

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45min
January 07, 2026 The ‘AI Made Us Do It’ Excuse Is Ending with the AI Jobs Clarity Bill
Almost every time layoffs are announced, we hear the same explanation: “AI-related restructuring.”
The problem? There’s been no reliable way to verify it — until now.
In this video, I break down the AI-Related Job Impacts Clarity Act, a new bill in Congress that could require companies to publicly report how AI is impacting their workforce.
We cover:
Why this bill exists
What companies may soon be required to report
Why HR leaders are about to face new accountability
What the C-suite should be doing right now to prepare
This new bill is about transparency, data, and leadership responsibility in the age of AI.
If you’re a CHRO, executive, or senior leader navigating AI-driven change, this is required viewing.
⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro: The question everyone’s asking about AI and jobs
0:48 – What is the AI-Related Jobs Impact Clarity Act?
2:03 – Why workforce reporting is broken
3:10 – How the new Bill changes everything
4:22 – What companies will have to report
6:15 – Why this matters for HR leaders
7:42 – The C-suite wake-up call: accountability and transparency
9:10 – What to do now to prepare
10:52 – The bigger picture: clarity, not punishment
12:06 – Final thoughts and leadership takeaway
12:50 – Outro and call to action
📅 Reference:
Read the AI-Related Jobs Impact Clarity Act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/example-link
🔔 Subscribe for more breakdowns on the future of work, AI strategy, and human capital insights — no fluff, just strategy.
#AI #FutureOfWork #HRStrategy #CHRO #WorkforceTrends #AIBill #Transparency #Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence

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9min
December 28, 2025 Is AI Really Changing Jobs or Just Cutting Pay?
In this episode of the Human Capitalist, host Trent Cotton sits down with Cynthia Abbott Kerr, founder of WellPay, to break down the biggest headlines shaking up the consulting and HR worlds.
We start by dissecting the recent news that McKinsey is freezing entry-level salaries and potentially abandoning their famous “pyramid” hiring model due to AI. Is artificial intelligence really the culprit, or is it just a convenient excuse for a cooling market?
Cynthia also weighs in on the “AI Doom Loop” in recruiting, why trust between candidates and employers is at an all-time low, and why she believes 2026 will see a return to “pension-style” retention strategies.
About Cynthia Abott Kerr:
Cynthia Abbott Kerr is the Founder and CEO of Wellpay.ai, a firm using AI to advance fair and equitable compensation across industries. With deep expertise in HR, total rewards, and AI technology, Cynthia has built innovative compensation systems for major organizations and is dedicated to fostering workplace transparency and trust. Recognized as a Saks Women to Watch honoree and Second Harvest Food Bank volunteer, she is known for strategic vision and driving impactful change in compensation and culture. Wellpay.ai partners globally to design transparent and competitive rewards programs, enhancing employee satisfaction and inclusion.
Links Mentioned:
Article 1: https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/consulting-firms-use-ai-to-squeeze-entry-level-hires-6781876/
Article 2: https://fortune.com/2025/11/18/hiring-job-seekers-recruiters-talent-acquisition-ai-doom-loop-application-technology/
Episode with Rachel Bourne: https://youtu.be/Qs1aA8_0sd0
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:22 - Is McKinsey using AI as an excuse for salary freezes?
03:34 - Why companies are ditching expensive consultants
06:09 - The “AI Doom Loop” in Talent Acquisition
08:55 - Why managers don’t know how to interview anymore
15:57 - 2026 Predictions: Tariffs, Rate Cuts, and Retention
21:37 - The return of the “Pension Mindset”
28:36 - How to build a comp strategy in 4 weeks

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33min
December 07, 2025 The 4-Question AI Compass Every Board Needs
For board members, the biggest risk isn't moving too fast with "artificial intelligence"; it's failing to ask the right questions before it's too late. This video emphasizes that AI is not a passing trend, highlighting the importance of strategic thinking and "ai leadership" for executives in 2025. It's crucial for "c suite leadership development" to understand this shift, as "ai for business" will redefine the "future of work" and require a new approach to "leadership" in the modern era.

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7min
December 01, 2025 AI's Impact on Jobs: 1.1M Layoffs & Your Career Strategy
I'm thrilled to have talent strategy expert Rachel Bourne on the show.
I've been tracking some alarming headlines about layoffs in 2025, and I knew Rachel was the perfect person to help me unpack what's really happening. We dive deep into the data (because we both geek out on this stuff!) and what it means for YOUR career.
🔍 **What We Cover:**
**The Workforce Reality:**
- 1.1 Million layoffs in 2025 - approaching COVID-era levels
- Why companies are hiding behind "AI layoffs" instead of admitting they're just catching up on automation
- The ghost jobs debate (spoiler: I'm skeptical)
- Long-term unemployment hitting 25% - a historical recession indicator
**The Game-Changer:**
Rachel introduces her **Checkerboard Career Strategy** that honestly left me speechless when she first explained it in Paris. This framework focuses on:
- Building your "back row" of ultimate career goals
- Acquiring skills over chasing titles
- Making strategic lateral moves to keep options open
- Creating your own development program
**Connect with Rachel:**
- Podcast: The Shift Show with Rachel Bourne
- Website: TheShiftShow.net
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-bourne/
**Timestamps:**
0:00 - Introduction & Format Change
2:30 - Breaking Down the 1.1 Million Layoffs
9:00 - Why Economic Data is Like "Driving with No Windshield"
14:30 - The Ghost Jobs Debate
17:00 - Job Hugging & The Low Hire/Low Fire Era
22:30 - AI Investment: Where's the Steak vs. The Sizzle?
25:00 - Long-Term Unemployment Warning Signs
27:00 - Can Companies Grow Without Hiring?
36:00 - The Paris Conversation That Left Me Speechless
40:00 - Unpacking the Checkerboard Career Strategy
45:00 - 5 Steps to Build Your Career Checkerboard
52:00 - Why Relationships Matter: My Banking Story
55:00 - Where to Find Rachel's New Executive Search Series
#FutureOfWork #CareerStrategy #AI #JobMarket #HumanCapitalist #TalentStrategy #Layoffs2025 #SkillsBasedHiring

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58min
November 25, 2025 Open AI vs LinkedIn? Who will will win the recruiting war?
I've been in the human capital space for over 20 years, and I'm ready to discuss how OpenAI could shake up the world of recruiting. This video explores the potential for an "openai jobs platform" to disrupt LinkedIn, focusing on real skills and better job matching. It's a look at the future of work, specifically how AI could impact "jobs" and "talent acquisition" as we know it.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - History Repeats: LinkedIn's Original Play
1:15 - LinkedIn in the Crosshairs
2:30 - The Big Shift: How Sourcing Changes Forever
4:00 - Evaluation Gets an Upgrade
5:15 - Development Gets a Makeover
6:30 - What This Means for HR
8:15 - Final Question: Would LinkedIn Still Make the Cut?
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9min
November 22, 2025 Why Are So Many People Losing Jobs in 2025?
AI was supposed to be the hero of the future of work. Instead? 2025 is shaping up to be a workforce disaster.
Over **1.1 million** U.S. jobs have been cut this year alone, and yet, companies are doubling down on automation. But here’s the catch: **42% of firms have already abandoned most of their AI projects** due to poor results and lack of internal capability.
So what happens when you’ve cut your talent and your tech fails?
In this video, Trent Cotton—author, talent exec, and Human Capitalist—breaks down:
- Why massive layoffs in 2025 mirror the Great Recession and COVID crash
- The false promise of AI-first orgs and why most investments flop
- How corporate America is headed for a crash-landing without a workforce strategy
- What CHROs and execs must do *now* to avoid long-term damage
🔍 Packed with data, charts, and straight talk—this is a must-watch for forward-thinking HR and C-suite leaders navigating the intersection of people + tech.
👥 Share this with someone who still believes AI can replace strategy.
#FutureOfWork #AIinHR #Layoffs2025 #CHRO #WorkforceStrategy #HumanCapitalist
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10min
November 22, 2025 The FUTURE of Work Is Here AI Insights from Accenture's CEO
Here's what I've learned after 20+ years in HR: AI isn't just a tech play anymore. I's a complete workforce revolution, and most boards are still underestimating what's coming.
I just watched Accenture's CEO lay out how the world's most powerful companies are thinking about AI, and let me tell you—it's not what most people think. It's not about scaling models. It's about scaling PEOPLE, changing how work gets done, and making hard choices about talent.
In this episode, I'm breaking down her most powerful insights and what they mean for you if you're a CHRO, CEO, or anyone shaping the future of work.
Here's what I cover:
1. Why 75% of leaders say AI is moving faster than they can prepare their workforce
2. The critical difference between using AI personally versus running enterprise AI
3. The three pathways I tell every leader about: upskill, rotate, or transition out
4. How to "rewire" work (not just automate it) with AI at the center
5. My executive framework for leading through AI transformation
My Key Takeaways:
✅ AI is no longer a shiny innovation project—it's core business infrastructure
✅ The bottleneck isn't technology, it's TALENT strategy (and that's what I help fix)
✅ Some employees will grow, some will shift, and some roles will disappear—we have to be honest about this
✅ The best CHROs I work with are building rapid reskilling pipelines RIGHT NOW
✅ Fear thrives in silence—I always say transparent communication is critical
Watch the full Accenture CEO interview here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HabAoy3nv4
About The Human Capitalist:
I'm Trent Cotton, and I've spent 20+ years in HR working with and consulting enterprise-level executive teams on high-impact talent strategies. This channel is for executives, disruptors, and bold HR professionals ready to challenge the status quo and rethink the future of work.
If you're clinging to old-school HR playbooks, this probably isn't for you. But if you're ready to lead through transformation—you're in the right place.
💬 Drop a comment below:
What's the hardest part of the AI workforce shift for you?
📌 Subscribe if you want more straight-talk insights on the future of work, AI transformation, and modern HR strategy.

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14min
November 22, 2025 3 BIG Mistakes HR is Making with AI Adoption
We are all chasing AI adoption in HR like it's a golden ticket, but let's be honest, we're failing. It isn't a tech problem; it's a people problem. HR's hesitation to adopt AI is a leadership failure, with many teams stuck in the past relying on outdated methods.
But what if I told you the problem isn't AI, but the people behind AI adoption in HR? I'm Trent Cotton, a 20-year HR veteran and self-proclaimed Human Capitalist, and I've seen every trend imaginable. Nothing has fractured HR like AI, and after speaking with dozens of experts, it's clear: AI adoption isn't about technology; it's about three hidden human roadblocks we need to fix.
In this video, I'm going to expose the three human problems breaking every AI rollout in HR.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: The 3 Human Problems
00:56 - Problem 1: The Skill Gap
04:02 - Problem 2: The Trust Gap
08:14 - Problem 3: The Fear Factor
10:18 - Conclusion: Building an AI-Ready HR Organization
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on more recruitment tips and strategies!
Join the mailing list here: https://bit.ly/3UrBhGP
#AIinHR #HRTechnology #HRTransformation #AIAdoption #HumanCapital #PeopleAnalytics #FutureofWork #HRStrategy #Leadership #HRPros

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14min

FAQs about The Human Capitalist:

How many episodes does The Human Capitalist have?

The podcast currently has 48 episodes available.