Shredded: Uber, First Advantage, CareerArc, Bandana, Lumber, Lumina & More

Live from the Gem booth in Vegas at Unleash, the boys throw together one mess-of-a-show, featuring everything from Warren Buffett to StackOne raising big cash to confusing Appcast with Recruitics to bashing ZipRecuiter. Hell, Indeed makes it in, and they weren't even in the show notes. It's a sleep deprived mess, but a good time nonetheless. We promise to make up for it next week.

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what’s making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

In this episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, Terry Baker, CEO at Daxtra, dishes on how AI is shaking up recruitment like a caffeinated barista on a Monday morning. With 23 years of AI street cred, he insists AI’s only as good as the data it’s fed—garbage in, garbage out, folks—while preaching the gospel of keeping hiring human, because no one wants a robot therapist when the job hunt gets rough. The convo takes a wild turn through resume validation (think CSI: LinkedIn Edition), with Baker warning that AI-generated CVs are sneakier than a cat burglar in a yarn store. From automating soul-crushing high-volume gigs to spotting skill gaps in employees who still think “Excel” is a workout move, Baker’s got big plans—capped with a future where AI’s so slick, it might just write your performance review and roast you at the same time. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Terry Baker and Daxtra 02:53 - The Evolution of Daxtra's Technology 05:53 - Engagement and Humanization in Recruitment 09:14 - AI's Role in Recruitment and Performance Reviews 11:54 - Validation and Verification in Hiring Processes 15:08 - Navigating DEI and Meritocracy in Hiring 17:51 - The Future of AI in Recruitment 20:59 - Closing Thoughts and Future Directions

In this episode of The Chad and Cheese Podcast, the gang serves up a spicy stew of economic banter and corporate shenanigans, with a side of sports and social commentary. They dive into the job market's wild rollercoaster, where small businesses are clinging on for dear life, while cheering Wrexham’s sports glow-up like it’s the underdog story of the century. The aging workforce gets a sympathetic nod as they dodge AI overlords and corporate curveballs, and the hosts toss in some cheeky political jabs about Canada-U.S. relations—because why not? Meanwhile, the tech world’s a hot mess: companies rise and fall faster than a bad TikTok trend, return-to-office mandates have everyone grumbling, and UPS layoffs are waving red flags like an economic doomsday prophet. Gen Z and X'ers alike are sweating in this AI-driven, stagflation-looming job market, and the Deel-Rippling corporate soap opera keeps the drama juicier than a reality TV reunion. Grab your popcorn! Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Overview of Current Events 03:01 - Economic Trends and Job Market Insights 05:59 - Impact on Small Businesses and Consumer Confidence 09:03 - Wrexham's Masterclass 17:44 - Corporate Drama: Deal vs. Rippling Lawsuit 22:59 - Reflections on Past Business Failures and Lessons Learned 23:49 - The Rise and Fall of Tech Giants 27:05 - Big brands go Return to Office 30:09 - The Impact of Layoffs on Workforce Dynamics 34:39 - The Future of Remote Work 38:46 - UPS: Canary in the Coal Mine or Something Else? 46:19 - Aspen Tech and Linkup Market Data

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what’s making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

In this episode, the boys dive into the great European vacation boycott of the U.S.—turns out, Trump’s tariff tantrums and border shenanigans have Europeans swapping the Grand Canyon for grandma’s couch in Lisbon. They cackle over the diplomatic dumpster fire sparked by recent political stunts, then pivot to Spain’s Job&Talent, the staffing hotshot that’s raking in cash like it’s a piñata party. The platform’s plotting a global takeover with AI so smart it could probably match you with your dream job and your soulmate. The crew geeks out over how Job&Talent’s pampering workers with benefits while turbocharging operations with tech wizardry, making old-school staffing agencies look like they’re using carrier pigeons. They riff on the recruitment tech revolution, where AI’s turning job boards into something out of a sci-fi flick, and toss around hot takes on HR tech startups—some are destined for glory, others for the startup graveyard. It's a game of Buy or Sell, featuring Vizzy, PeopleForce and Klara. Oh, and Spain’s immigration policies? They’re basically rolling out the red carpet for immigrants, fueling the economy like a sangria-soaked rocket. Will the rest of Europe follow their lead? Gotta listen to find out. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Tourism Trends 12:39 - Job&Talent's Funding and Expansion 17:00 - AI Integration in Staffing Solutions 17:44 - Investment Insights in AI and Recruitment 20:37 - The Future of Job Boards and Recruitment Platforms 21:17 - Buy or Sell: Evaluating Startups in HR Tech - 27:47 - The Role of Immigration in Spain's Economic Growth 39:02 - Spain's Approach to Labor Migration and Economic Strategy

In this episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, hosts Joel Cheesman and Chad Sowash welcome Beth Benike, CEO of Busy Baby, a baby product company featured on Shark Tank and NPR’s How I Built This. Benike, a former Army veteran and mother, shares the story of Busy Baby, which started with a silicone placemat that suctions to surfaces and tethers toys to keep them off the ground. Now offering eight interchangeable products, the company faces a crisis due to new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, with $158,000 of inventory stuck in China and tariffs soaring to $230,000—far exceeding the anticipated $30,000 for a 20-30% rate. Manufacturing in the U.S. isn’t viable due to the lack of raw silicone material, high minimum order requirements, and costly equipment (e.g., $4.5 million for one product line). Benike highlights the ripple effect on small businesses, like trucking firms and port workers, as imports stall and shelves risk going empty, potentially disrupting holiday sales since 80% of U.S. toys come from China. She plans to pivot to selling in Europe, Canada, and Australia, despite unfamiliar markets, as tariffs make U.S. sales unsustainable. The discussion also touches on unfair tariff exemptions for large companies like Lenovo, leaving small businesses like Busy Baby struggling, and the broader economic threat to jobs and consumer spending. Benike remains determined to protect her team and find solutions, urging listeners to visit busybaby.com. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Busy Baby and Beth Benike 01:28 - The Journey of a Veteran Entrepreneur 03:24 - Manufacturing Decisions: The China Dilemma 06:02 - Tariffs and Their Impact on Small Businesses 10:01 - The Future of Retail: Empty Shelves Ahead 12:07 - The Ripple Effect of Manufacturing Challenges 17:38 - Exploring Alternatives: Europe and Beyond 21:17 - Intellectual Property and Relationships in China 25:05 - The Disparity Between Small and Large Businesses 28:05 - The Human Element: Team and Community Impact 32:11 - Conclusion: The Bigger Picture for Small Businesses

In this episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, hosts Joel Cheesman, Chad Sowash, and J.T. O'Donnell serve up a spicy mix of summer vibes, NFL draft hot takes, and enough industry tea to fill a Chipotle burrito bowl. They’re hyped about the Pro Voice Talent Agency launch, a slick new gig for white-collar pros, and cackle over Chipotle’s bold leap into Mexico—because nothing screams “¡Olé!” like guac south of the border. But hold the salsa, because the real drama unfolds with Indeed and ZipRecruiter’s legal cage match, proving job boards are scrappier than a reality TV reunion. The hosts dive into Recruit Holdings snatching up ZipRecruiter like it’s the last taco at a buffet, hinting at a job board consolidation that’s juicier than office gossip. Big Tech’s antitrust troubles get a roasting—turns out, the government’s got more shade to throw than a TikTok troll. Layoffs are hitting harder than a Monday morning hangover, with entry-level jobs for grads vanishing faster than free pizza at a college fair. The trio stresses that communication skills are the new black for jobless newbies. Things get wilder as they unpack the creator economy’s rise, where TikTok dancers and YouTube ranters are the new CEOs. AI’s flipping the job market like a pancake, but the hosts aren’t laughing about the military’s AI weapons race—yep, Skynet vibes are real, and they’re begging for some adult supervision. With snark, wit, and a side of “what the heck is happening,” this episode is a masterclass in navigating the chaotic world of work. Grab your earbuds and tune-in. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Summer Vibes 03:05 - NFL Draft Predictions and Team Dynamics 09:52 - J.T.'s Talent Agency Launch 11:58 - Chipotle's Expansion into Mexico 15:03 - Indeed vs. ZipRecruiter Legal Drama 22:06 - Google and Facebook Antitrust Challenges 25:17 - The Impact of Layoffs on the Workforce 33:06 - The Rise of the Creator Economy 40:14 - AI and the Future of Work 42:57 - The Military and AI Weapons Race

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what’s making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

In this episode of the Chad and Cheese Podcast, hosts Joel Cheesman and Chad Sowash rope in Alex Fourlis, the big cheese (sorry, Joel) at Veritone Hire, for a wild ride through the job market’s circus. Fourlis, with 25+ years of recruitment street cred, brags about Veritone slinging over a million jobs a month worldwide—like a digital paperboy on steroids. The trio dives into the chaos: hiring’s been dropping faster than a bad Tinder date for two years, automation and programmatic advertising are the cool kids Enterprises can’t stop swiping right on, and AI in recruitment is basically the robot overlord we all saw coming. LinkedIn’s flexing as the job board prom king, while Google for Jobs lurks like that quiet kid who might just steal the crown. Smaller job boards? They’re scrambling to jazz up their tech, services, and content—or risk fading into obscurity like a MySpace page. Fourlis spills the tea on how these sites have been their own worst enemies (think clunky UX and “please wait” vibes), and why smart employers need to mix up their ad game like a DJ at a wedding. Veritone’s here to play hiring fairy godmother with analytics fairy dust, and the chat—covering job ad maturity models to AI’s job-search takeover—serves up laughs and wisdom. It ends with Fourlis tossing out his LinkedIn like a mic drop, daring listeners to slide into his DMs.