There seems to be a day of celebration for everything and, while we love Donut Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day, and countless others, one in particular caught our eye–International Podcast Day! Podcasts have presented us with a fantastic opportunity to feature conversations that we’ve always had behind the scenes and showcase some equally talented industry experts along the way. Podcasting has quickly become our way of fitting into your busy schedule – whether it be while you are driving to work, working out, or just kicking your heels up with your beverage of choice. As a listener, you can multi-task and listen at your leisure without disrupting your day-to-day life.
We kicked off season one of the DE Talk Podcast in October of 2019, and while we’re still finding our voice, it’s safe to say that we have had a lot of fun along the way. Let’s cut to the chase and dive into the unique conversations we’ve had so far, thanks to the DE Talk Podcast:
Season 1
Episode 1: Invisible Disabilities
Guest: Haley Moss
Aligning with National Disability Awareness Month (NDEAM), we discussed invisible disabilities in the workplace. Haley Moss, Florida’s first openly autistic attorney, joined to share her experience with workplace obstacles, triumphs, and the neurodiverse community.
Episode 2: Veteran Underemployment
Guest: David Muir, Easterseals Veteran Staffing Network
In 2019, the veteran unemployment rate was at an all-time low, but studies reveal that nearly one third of veterans are still underemployed. To better understand how employers can connect with veteran job seekers, David Muir from Easterseals Veteran Staffing Network joined to discuss all-things veteran hiring.
Episode 3: Understanding Accessibility for Compliance & Recruitment
Guests: Jennifer Polcer, DirectEmployers; Ruth Toombs, Recruit Rooster
Career site accessibility is HUGE and its importance was recently reinforced by OFCCP Director Craig Leen during the NILG’s 2020 Virtual Webinar Series. To better understand areas where employers often fall short in career site accessibility and accommodations, Jennifer Policer and Ruth Toombs took to the podcast to share tips and takeaways for creating an attractive career site that is OFCCP compliant and accessible to all.
Episode 4: Ask the Experts: What’s to Come in 2020
Guest: John C. Fox, Fox, Wang, & Morgan, P.C.
Regulatory changes are commonplace for federal contractors, but navigating these changes takes a careful understanding of the current requirements and a forward-looking view. Get the full scoop on what was expected to transpire in 2020 (who knew COVID-19 would be a thing?!) from employment law expert John C. Fox of Fox, Wang, & Morgan.
Episode 5: The ROI of D&I is Greater Humanity
Guest: Torin Ellis, The Torin Ellis Brand
Diversity and inclusion is not just a function of talent acquisition. It’s a company-wide effort that needs to take place in all areas of the business to be successful. Knowing this, we sat down with leading diversity strategist, Torin Ellis, to discuss the importance of D&I and the foundational steps companies need to take to show real commitment to diversity.
Episode 6: Empowering Women in Leadership Roles
Guests: Heather Hoffman, Recruit Rooster; Elizabeth Jennings, National Disability Institute
Women represent nearly 50% of the U.S. workforce, yet only occupy 10% of the top management positions in S&P 500 companies. To discuss how female executives can empower one another in the workplace, Elizabeth Jennings, Acting Executive Director of the National Disability Institute, and Heather Hoffman, COO of Recruit Rooster, joined the discussion to talk about closing the gender gap that exists in leadership.
Bonus QuaranDEAM Episodes
Preparing for a Reduction in Force
Guest: Dana Deason, ArcBest
A reduction in force (RIF) is a fact of life for many organizations. While this is an uncomfortable topic to tackle, it’s essential to take time to plan and prepare carefully. Member Dana Deason of ArcBest sat down to discuss the nuts and bolts to help ensure your organization implements a successful RIF in a manner that is compliant and respectful of the individuals involved.
Recruit Rooster + RocketBuild: Together, We’ll Achieve New Heights
Guest: Jason Ward, RocketBuild
No better time than the present to continue growing! Right as COVID hit, Recruit Rooster acquired Indy’s premier software and application development house, RocketBuild. We sat down with Jason Ward, the Chief Innovation Officer, to discuss future opportunities and their truly stellar technology and development.
Season 2
Episode 1: Is the Future of Talent Acquisition Human or AI-driven? (Recently launched on 9/15!)
Guest: Peter Weddle, TAtech: The Association for Talent Acquisition Solutions
The entire HR industry is seeing a significant (dare we say unprecedented?) shift in the way they interact with job seekers and employees and the technology used. With the rapid introduction of AI and machine learning, what does the future hold for TA professionals? Peter Weddle, futurist and CEO of TAtech, joined the podcast to discuss how we keep humans in the loop to ensure that the human factor remains in human resources.
With so many great conversations on the horizon, we’ll be celebrating International Podcast Day each month as a new episode is sent into the podcasting realm. This season, you can look forward to conversations around disability and certification programs for employers, military spouses and caregivers, OFCCP compliance in 2021, joy-powered workplaces, diversity and inclusion practices, intersectionality and workplace discrimination.
Want to stay in the know? Subscribe to make sure you’re the first to hear when episodes launch each month. Subscribe via email, text message, or via your preferred podcast provider by searching for the DE Talk Podcast. Have a suggestion for an upcoming episode or conversation topic? Sound off below! We’d love your input!
