The Chad & Cheese Podcast-logo

The Chad & Cheese Podcast

Business & Economics Podcasts

Everything people and workforce—recruiting, marketing, technology, talent management, and workforce economics—delivered with biting sarcasm and unapologetic snark. Industry misfits Chad Sowash and Joel Cheesman bring their no-holds-barred opinions to dissect news, trends, and the occasional dumpster fire. If you’re a hiring company, staffing firm, or vendor looking for insights (and a thick skin), these two won’t just tell you what’s happening—they’ll tell you why you’re probably doing it wrong. Buckle up, buttercup.

Location:

United States

Description:

Everything people and workforce—recruiting, marketing, technology, talent management, and workforce economics—delivered with biting sarcasm and unapologetic snark. Industry misfits Chad Sowash and Joel Cheesman bring their no-holds-barred opinions to dissect news, trends, and the occasional dumpster fire. If you’re a hiring company, staffing firm, or vendor looking for insights (and a thick skin), these two won’t just tell you what’s happening—they’ll tell you why you’re probably doing it wrong. Buckle up, buttercup.

Twitter:

@Chad_Sowash

Language:

English

Contact:

8123711517


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Shredded: InstaLILY, Welcome Tech, Darwin AI, Recruitics, Change State, Laborup, Hubert, & More

9/4/2025
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.

Duration:00:07:29

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

AI in Hiring: Trust, Safety, and Why Compliance Freaks Out

9/2/2025
What happens when you mix SmartRecruiters, a global AI pivot, and a comms pro who loves to “shake shit up”? You get Allyn Bailey dropping truth bombs on everything from why legacy ATS platforms should be left in a museum next to floppy disks, to how scheduling interviews is apparently the Mount Everest of HR tech problems. Joel and Chad dig into: Why “feature bloat” is killing platforms faster than a buffet kills willpower The rise of AI agents that make every TA leader feel “special” (just like their mom told them) How SmartRecruiters is “releasing the Kraken” on AI adoption—while trying not to terrify every compliance officer on Earth Why Kenya and Eastern Europe are quietly kicking everyone else’s ass on AI innovation And yes… the most celebrated use case for AI in recruiting is still… scheduling. It’s part therapy session, part roast, part masterclass in how to burn down old TA processes without getting fired. Strap in. Season 3 of The AI Sessions is here.

Duration:00:29:11

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Workday Buys Paradox | HR Tech’s Biggest AI Move Yet?

8/29/2025
Strap on your helmets and tighten those chinstraps, Chad Sowash and Joel Cheesman are celebrating their 1,500th episode with more swagger than a Cracker Barrel parking lot brawl. Expect: -Trump cosplaying as a mob boss at Intel and Cracker Barrel-Kelce + Swift rumors getting the “wink-wink” treatment-Fantasy football team names that would make your grandma blush-Workday dragging Paradox into the modern era-Employ Inc.’s CEO carousel—because why settle for one clown when you can have the whole circus?-Dayforce’s $12.3B private equity soap opera-Meta’s AI drama (aka “Zuck being Zuck”) It’s business, it’s football, it’s chaos—and it’s all drenched in the unfiltered sarcasm you love. 1500 episodes later, the boys are still slinging takes hotter than a Browns fan’s rage. Chapters: 00:00Celebrating 1500 Episodes 01:24Reflections on Current Events 05:53The Future of Restaurants 06:31AI in Business: The Human Factor 09:38Travis Kelsey and Celebrity Culture 11:14Fantasy Football Team Names 18:08Workday Acquires Paradox: A Game Changer 22:18The Rise and Fall of Jobbing 26:05Workday's Strategic Moves in AI 30:18The Future of Recruitment Tech 32:41Leadership Changes in Employee Tech 40:24Dayforce's Private Equity Acquisition 45:25Meta's AI Controversies and Hiring Pause Grab your popcorn and a sense of humor—this episode’s a wild ride! Subscribe and checkout the eye candy at YouTube.com/@chadcheese and visit www.chadcheese.com today.

Duration:00:51:53

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Shredded: Dayforce, Pintarnya, Folks, Glow Talents, ZipRecruiter, Workday, Paradox & More

8/28/2025
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.

Duration:00:06:07

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

How Marriott Tackles AI, Complexity, and Fake Candidates

8/27/2025
Marriott’s Tyler Weeks joins Chad & Cheese to unpack what it’s like running HR for a million humans (and possibly a few Roombas). Expect: Ritz-Carlton ghosting Joel harder than his prom date. Why Marriott’s HR is basically 9,000 mom-and-pop shops in a trench coat. The shocking discovery that AI doesn’t make great recruiters greater—it just stops the bad ones from lighting themselves on fire. CFO ROI math so sketchy it belongs in a late-night infomercial. And the big AI fix for fake résumés and deepfakes? Drag ‘em into the lobby for an old-fashioned, in-person interview. This is hospitality meets HR Tech chaos—and Tyler’s got the room service order. 🍸 Listen :)

Duration:00:21:49

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Upwork’s €20M Bupty Bet, Denmark’s Deepfake Crackdown, and Europe’s 4-Day Work Week

8/25/2025
Forget the Eiffel Tower, kids—we’re climbing the recruitment rollercoaster instead. Upwork’s shopping spree in Holland (Bupty? Buptie? Bupkis?), Denmark’s going full Face/Off to keep Nic Cage off Viggo’s jawline, and the UK is suddenly allergic to Fridays. Joel’s out dropping Coal at college, so Chad is joined by Belgium’s royal pain Lieven and Scotland’s deep-fried-pizza poet Stephen McGrath. Loud Americans, entitled tourists, and the four-day work week—this one’s got more punch than a Glasgow nightclub at 2 a.m. 👉 Press play. Europe’s never been so dangerously entertaining. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 04:15 Shout Outs and Celebrations 11:11 Upwork's Strategic Acquisitions 22:52 The Future of Staffing and Technology 38:29 Denmark's Deepfake Legislation 44:24 The Four-Day Work Week Discussion

Duration:00:53:08

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Upwork & Indeed Target Randstad

8/22/2025
🎧 This week on The Chad & Cheese Podcast: AI hiring lawsuits pile up faster than unread LinkedIn DMs Upwork tries on staffing’s Blockbuster costume Deel debuts creepy digital clones (no, not the cool Star Wars kind) And Joel cries in Bloomington while Chad rants about Tim Apple It’s HR tech, corporate drama, and just enough bad jokes to make you question humanity. Chapters 00:00 - Intro: Chad and Cheese, the HR comedy duo you didn’t know you needed. 02:23 - College Drop-Off Diaries: Tears, tuition, and existential dread. 05:23 - AI in Hiring: When algorithms discriminate worse than your uncle at Thanksgiving. 17:15 - AI Recruitment: Is it saving HR or just ghosting candidates with flair? 23:14 - AI Hiring Outlook: Crystal balls and code, what’s next? 24:30 - AI Marketplaces: New risks, same old corporate facepalm. 26:20 - AI Governance: Trying to tame the tech beast in talent acquisition. 29:30 - Upwork’s Lifted: Enterprise staffing with a side of swagger. 36:17 - Deel and SiriusXM/iCIMS: AI innovations meet legal oopsies. 43:33 - Government Funds Shipbuilding: Because who doesn’t want to sail into 1850? 49:41 - Humans + AI: Recruitment’s new rom-com, minus the happy ending. Grab your popcorn and a sense of humor—this episode’s a wild ride! Subscribe and checkout the eye candy at YouTube.com/@chadcheese and visit www.chadcheese.com today.

Duration:00:55:47

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Shredded: Visage, Rolebot, Workday, Upwork, Professional.me, Deel, & More

8/21/2025
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.

Duration:00:05:57

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Domino’s HR Tech Transformation with Matt King

8/19/2025
Domino’s isn’t just delivering pizza in 30 minutes or less anymore—they’re trying to deliver candidates, too. In this episode, we sit down with Matt King, Director of HR Tech at Domino’s, to talk AI, ATS drama, and why franchisees always have “better ideas” than corporate. From killing off Kenexa (RIP, nobody misses you) to jumping into bed with SmartRecruiters, Domino’s is betting big on speed, automation, and a sprinkle of chatbot charm. Matt spills on: Why hiring at Domino’s must be as fast as ordering a pepperoni with extra cheese. How chatbots went from clunky decision trees to almost-human assistants (minus the dad jokes). What happens when franchisees get in a room with vendors. The eternal struggle between human touch and “just let the damn bot send the background check reminder.” And yes—we even asked about the Noid. Because if Domino’s doesn’t bring him back as a recruiting chatbot, what are we even doing here? It’s tech, pizza, and questionable morals—just another day on The Chad & Cheese Podcast: AI Sessions.

Duration:00:25:31

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

It's the End of Entry Level Jobs as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) : Silicon Valley Gets Hard

8/15/2025
Hold onto your headphones, folks, because the Chad and Cheese Podcast is serving up a hilarious, hot-mess buffet of insights that’ll leave you laughing and maybe a little worried about your career! This episode, your hosts sling snarky banter like baristas tossing espresso shots, breezing through early chit-chat about travel woes, Coldplay’s drama-fest, LinkedIn’s questionable career tips, sports shout-outs, Walmart’s employee discount PR stunt, free swag, and fantasy football. But the real meat hits after the 15-minute mark, where they dive into the chaos facing recent grads—think degrees collecting dust while the job market laughs. The future of work gets a roasting, with the creator economy shining as the cool kid at the career fair, while AI and economic shenanigans threaten to swipe jobs faster than you can say “pivot.” Teaching’s future? It’s AI’s new playground. Silicon Valley’s traded ping-pong tables for “purpose,” but don’t get too cozy—tech employment’s a rollercoaster, and global competition’s got everyone sweating. Job boards like ZipRecruiter are wheezing in the dust, outrun by AI, and in a plot twist nobody saw coming, the hosts ponder if newspaper job ads might stage a retro comeback. It’s a wild, witty ride through the workforce’s new reality—adapt or get left behind, and maybe grab a newspaper just in case. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Banter 00:29 - Travel and Cultural Observations 02:26 - Coldplay Drama and LinkedIn Insights 04:12 - Shout Outs and Celebrating Progress in Sports 09:20 - Walmart's Employee Discount Initiative 11:00 - Free Stuff and Promotions 12:10 - Travel Plans and Upcoming Events 13:14 - Fantasy Football and Sports Culture 14:26 - Challenges for Recent Graduates 18:30 - The Future of Work and the Creator Economy 21:04 - The Impact of AI and Economic Factors on Employment 22:53 - The Future of Teaching and AI 24:49 - Silicon Valley's Shift: From Perks to Purpose 27:16 - The Changing Landscape of Tech Employment 30:21 - Global Competition and the Tech Industry 32:03 - The Decline of Job Boards and the Rise of AI 39:34 - Reviving Newspaper Job Ads: A Retro Solution? 48:27 - Closing Thoughts and Dad Jokes

Duration:00:51:05

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Shredded: ZipRecruiter, DHI Group, AgileATS, Kelly Services, Darwinbox, Upwork, Bubty & More

8/14/2025
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.

Duration:00:05:44

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Why Working in HR Sucks Right Now with Sarah Needleman

8/12/2025
In this episode, the boys chat with Sarah Needleman, Business Insider’s Leadership and Workplace Correspondent, formerly of the Wall Street Journal for 23 years. Her article, “If You Think Your Job Is Hard Right Now, Try Working in HR,” dives into HR’s brutal post-2020 landscape: mass layoffs (like Microsoft’s 9,000 cuts) burden HR with soul-crushing terminations, as Evan Loveless shared, facing tears and dashed hopes. AI automation shrinks HR teams, incivility spikes with employee backlash, and return-to-office mandates spark resentment over commutes and fairness. ICE raids and immigration fears—amped by Trump’s “big beautiful bill”—disrupt workplaces, with HR crafting response plans. Political uncertainty, like tariffs pausing hires, and H-1B visa exits to Canada/Europe strain talent pools. Interest in HR jobs is waning on Indeed, hinting at future shortages. Yet, many HR pros see this as a “calling” to shine via support and outplacement.

Duration:00:28:25

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

SAP says BUY BUY BUY

8/8/2025
In this episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, hosts Chad Sowash and Joel Cheesman—HR tech's dynamic duo of snark and smarts—serve up a buffet of industry drama with their trademark banter that'll have you chuckling harder than a recruiter dodging ghosting complaints. They start by painting a gloomy economic picture, complete with workforce imbalances that feel like a bad Tinder match, plus a heartfelt nod to breastfeeding support at work (because who doesn't love a good "pumping up the team" pun?). Things get real with layoff laments, treating employees like yesterday's LinkedIn spam. Shout-outs go personal with fantasy football eulogies (RIP to those dream teams) and event plugs, alongside travel tips for jet-setting talent hunters—pro tip: pack extra patience for airport security feels. The meaty bits? SAP snapping up SmartRecruiters like it's Black Friday shopping for ATS upgrades, pondering if AI recruiting will finally make hiring less of a dumpster fire, and how it'll mesh (or clash) with SuccessFactors. Earnings chit-chat skewers Indeed and LinkedIn's numbers, roasting Indeed's Branded Boost as a "blast from the past" that's more regression than revolution. Wrapping up, they dissect the Workday lawsuit's AI bias bombshell—because nothing says "fun" like robots playing favorites—and the eerie rise of virtual hotel check-ins, where your front desk clerk might be outsourcing from halfway around the world. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Mood Setting 02:27 - Economic Concerns and Workforce Imbalances 05:23 - Breastfeeding Support in the Workplace 08:15 - Employee Treatment and Layoffs 11:13 - Fantasy Football and Personal Tributes 14:00 - Upcoming Events and Travel Info 16:59 - SmartRecruiters Acquisition by SAP 18:26 - Future of ATS and AI in Recruitment 24:16 - The Future of Success Factors and Smart Recruiters 28:51 - Earnings Season Insights: Indeed and LinkedIn 36:23 - Indeed's New Branded Boost: A Step Backward? 42:03 - Legal Implications of AI in Hiring: The Workday Case 46:33 - The Rise of Virtual Check-Ins in Hospitality

Duration:00:53:18

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Shredded: Sparrow, Wingspan, Bullhorn, TargetRecruit, Tako, Workday, Recruit Holdings & More

8/7/2025
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.

Duration:00:06:07

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Bias: AI vs. Human - Mobley v. Workday is Just the Beginning

8/5/2025
In this episode, the boys chat with Jeff Pole, the big brain behind Warden AI, for a no-holds-barred chat about AI bias in talent acquisition. They sliced and diced a juicy report comparing AI’s quirks to good ol’ human prejudice, serving up some spicy legal takes on what happens when robots play HR. The trio threw shade at sloppy AI systems, stressing that vendors and employers better team up like superheroes to keep things fair and square—or risk a legal smackdown. They also peeked into the crystal ball for AI’s hiring glow-up, while side-eyeing the political circus messing with AI rules and preaching the gospel of audits that go beyond just checking boxes for sex and race. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to AI in Talent Acquisition 02:34 - Understanding AI Bias in Recruitment 05:29 - Comparing AI and Human Bias 08:28 - Legal Implications of AI in Hiring 11:24 - Vendor Responsibility and Compliance - Mobley v. Workday 14:17 - The Future of AI in Talent Acquisition 17:09 - Political Influences on AI Regulations 20:19 - Diversity and Inclusion in AI Audits 23:13 - Predictions for AI and Bias in the Workplace

Duration:00:31:12

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

BOLD Pulls Monster's Plug

8/1/2025
On this week’s show: 🔌 Bold yanks the plug on Monster’s Euro-zone job boards faster than you can say “thoughtful transition.” Spoiler: if you had job credits, they’re as good as Monopoly money now. 🤡 Jamie & Doug send a painfully boring email instead of showing their faces. JT’s advice? Ditch the letter, pick up a camera, and maybe lose the flannel. 🔥 Job.com update – Turns out “we’re a tech company” means screwing over employees. 💰 Anthropic’s valuation hits $170B by cozying up to Gulf sovereign funds. Nothing says ethical AI like cash from authoritarian regimes! 🧓 ServiceNow’s CEO transforms into Uncle Baby Billy, declaring robots better than humans because they don’t need lunch. Late-stage capitalism, y’all. 🫢 Astronomer pulls a Coldplay Kiss Cam scandal and somehow turns it into a Gwyneth Paltrow-powered PR win. 👉 Listen now before all your favorite jobs get replaced by agents who don’t need to piss in garbage cans. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 06:05 Celebrating the Lionesses' Victory 08:09 Workforce Landscape 14:51 Bold and Job Market Dynamics 25:45 The Challenges of Job.com and Employee Rights 32:26 The Rise of AI 46:41 Lessons from Astronomer

Duration:00:55:01

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Knocking Off Indeed with Meghan Rhatigan

7/30/2025
Live from UNLEASH America 2025, we’re serving up serious talent strategy with Meghan Rhatigan, VP of Talent Acquisition Experience at Marriott—and spoiler alert: job boards are dying, chatbots are rising, and recruitment will never be the same. Inside this episode: 🤖 The rise (and limits) of chatbots 🔍 Why some candidates still prefer search over automation 📉 The slow death of job boards—and what comes next 🌎 How politics and immigration are reshaping DEI 🏃‍♀️ Speed vs. fit: are we hiring fast or hiring right? Meghan brings 15 years of Marriott transformation to the table—tech, transparency, and a big ol’ dose of reality. From authentic brand engagement to building a global, inclusive talent pool, this one’s packed with frontline insights HR pros and tech nerds alike will want to hear. 🎧 Tune in or risk clinging to your outdated ATS and broken career page like it’s 2015. 00:00 - In this Episode 0:27 - Meghan's Elevator Pitch 2:50 - Tech Transformation at Marriott 4:00 - What Has Changed in 15 Year Period in HR 5:55 - What Learnings Meghan Has Got in the Last 5 Years in Terms of Technology 8:56 - Chatbot vs. Search: Understanding User Preferences 10:46 - Difference Between the Application Process 12:10 - Rethinking Spend: The Decline of Job Boards 19:03 - What Marriott Does Organically to Drive Traffic and Brand Awareness 20:30 - Importance of Transparency 25:12 - What Some Political Topics Impact Marriott 27:08 - Future of Recruiting 30:57 - Speed vs. Fit in Hiring 33:08 - Products Meghan Wish Existed Today

Duration:00:39:05

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Europe: Hellowork vs. Indeed

7/28/2025
In this episode, hosts start off with, what else, soccer snark, discussing Chelsea's Trump drama, then a little Tour de France trash-talk. Chad roasts Monster Europe's collapse, blasting Randstad and Apollo as "corporate cowards" ditching workers like bad dates. They dissect HelloWork's lawsuit against Indeed for yanking ATS feeds—Chad calls it a data domination plot, Joel bets on French PR patriotism trumping legal odds. "Buy or Sell" gets savage: MetaView's €30M note-taker? Chad and Lieven sell (no moat, just meh), Joel buys for human touch. Traxlo's €1.6M gig app? Joel and Lieven buy for retail grunt work, Chad sells (automation apocalypse incoming). Ordio's €12M deskless payroll? Joel and Lieven buy, Chad sells (pricing poultry—er, paltry). EQT X snags Adevinta's Spanish ops, InfoJobs included? PE panic—Chad and Joel scream "abandon ship!" And Paris-based Teleperformance gobbles up Agents Only, a Vancouver-based staffing company specializing in online workers for AI data annotation and customer service, which is a fancy way of saying "workers who check expiration dates on milk."

Duration:00:48:08

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Randstad Screws Monster

7/25/2025
On this week's episode, Moe comes out hot and spills on "Coldplay-Gate," that viral kiss-cam fiasco where a couple (turns out, cheating execs from Astronomer) bolted like they saw a ghost. It's not just gossip—it's schadenfreude gold, highlighting how the C-suite plays by different rules. Joel highlights ZipRececruiter's most recent marketing strategy: Embracing old school linear TV by sponsoring a new show on Fox. Chad rants about the new $250 "integrity fee" for US tourist visas—because nothing says "welcome" like a cash grab that could tank tourism before the 2026 World Cup. Ashby news brings the fire, snagging a whopping $50M Series D, doubling customers (now 2,700+ like OpenAI and Shopify), boosting revenue 135%, and barely dipping into last year's Series C. Why more cash? To evolve "at the speed of AI," building all-in-one recruiting magic—sourcing, scheduling, analytics—that users call "beautiful software." No more tool sprawl; it's the startup darling dethroning clunky vets like Greenhouse. Chad's verdict: Finally, an ATS nobody bitches about—refreshing in a moan-fest industry! Then, drama alert: Bold snatches Monster and CareerBuilder assets for $28.4M in a bankruptcy auction (up from a start of $7M). Great domains, SEO juice ... but Bold's predatory paywalls (mandatory sign-ups, fees for full job deets) scream "job seeker trap." Chad's not thrilled—hopes they don't prey harder with that Monster muscle. Randstad? Total villains. They boast $5.8B revenue and 3% EBITDA margins, but screw Monster employees worldwide. Days before mass layoffs, they gutted severance: From 1.5 weeks/year (up to 16) to a flat two weeks. Imagine losing $28K if you're a 20-year vet! In France, it's worse—brutal shutdowns, no support, leaving taxpayers footing unemployment bills. Vendors? Stiffed millions after Monster ran up tabs they knew were doomed. Chad's furious: "Corporate welfare at its finest." Until CEOs like don orange jumpsuits, the little guys get proper f***ed. AI corner: Perplexity's CEO says says recruiter jobs are soon to be a thing of the past, and Salesforce's Mark Benioff probably agrees, as his company is doing up to 50% or more with less. Moe's skeptical: "Hype to sell shares!" Chad sees task automation (bye, scheduling drudgery) but demands AI taxes and UBI pronto. Jobs evolve, but painful contractions ahead? We'll be watching. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome Back 02:21 - Maureen's Disney Cruise Experience 04:04 - Tribute to Matt Lavery 07:09 - Coldplay Gate: The Viral Incident 08:52 - Integrity Fees for Tourists 10:19 - Ashby: A Positive ATS Experience 12:41 - Bold's Acquisition and Job Seeker Concerns 15:59 - Ronstadt's Treatment of Employees 18:29 - The Impact on Vendors and Corporate Accountability 23:23 - Future of Recruitment and AI Integration 32:14 - Closing Thoughts and Dad Jokes

Duration:00:53:50

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Shredded: Bold Holdings, ZipRecruiter, Perplexity, Ashby, Velocity Global, Employment Hero, Seek, & More

7/24/2025
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.

Duration:00:06:01