The Purple Acorn HR Morning Show

In this episode of The HR Morning Show on the Purple Acorn Network, hosts Mike Peditto and Serge Boudreau address the compliance landmines and cultural friction surrounding pay transparency, exploring whether open salary ranges foster true trust or heighten candidate skepticism during hiring. The team also breaks down new data on a cooling labor market, analyzing how sluggish hiring, falling turnover, and low worker mobility leave companies and employees in a prolonged state of limbo.
The first feature brings in guest 🏡 Kim Rohrer (she/her), who joins Mike Peditto to dissect the unexpected "theater kid to HR pipeline" and...

Celebrations are in order as The HR Morning Show reaches its landmark 100th episode! Join our fantastic lineup of hosts—Adam Posner, Danielle Farage, Rhona Barnett-Pierce, Joel L., Mike Peditto, John Baldino, Serge Boudreau, Matt Alder, Mervyn Dinnen, and Kyle Lagunas—as they bring you an action-packed, multi-perspective look at the evolving world of talent acquisition, human resources, and business operations. From industry headlines to our signature weather report and dynamic roundtables, this special edition brings together the top voices driving the workplace conversation today.
Our expert host team sits down with an unbelievable roster of featured guests to b...

This week the crew dives into one of the strangest corners of the AI economy: robotics companies paying Indian workers, from waste sorters to homemakers, a few dollars an hour to wear head mounted cameras and capture footage of everyday tasks like welding, stitching, and sorting. That footage is training the humanoid robots built by companies like Figure AI, Boston Dynamics, and Unitree, raising uncomfortable questions about consent, awareness, and whether the people doing this work fully understand they may be helping automate their own jobs. It's a story that sits right at the intersection of labor, ethics, and...

In Episode 98 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Serge Boudreau and Danielle Farage break down significant structural shifts impacting the tech sector and corporate operations. The episode leads off with an analysis of TikTok's operational shutdown of its Nashville hub, which resulted in the elimination of 250 roles as part of a broader industry push to consolidate real estate footprints and centralize technical talent. The co-hosts also examine new data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas showing that despite broader labor market stabilization, enterprise technology firms continue to drive targeted job cuts as capital rapidly shifts toward artificial intelligence infrastructure and operational...

In Episode 97 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Serge Boudreau and Dan Riley dive into the evolving pressures facing modern People Ops professionals, starting with surprising OpenAI research on cross-functional HR scope creep and the delicate protocol surrounding executive resignations. The hosts explore how understaffed HR teams are increasingly leveraged to cover non-HR operational gaps like marketing and finance, alongside actionable career advice on managing public departure announcements without compromising personal brand transparency or long-term reputation.

The episode features dynamic guest conversations spanning the entire workplace ecosystem. AltHR Hive co-founders Mindy Honcoop and Marnie Robbins introduce their...

Welcome to Episode 96 of The HR Morning Show, hosted by Brian Fink and Michael Goldberg, brought to you by the Purple Acorn Network and sponsored by CalendarPA.com and Talent Tech PR. This episode dives into the shifting dynamics of the modern workplace, starting with a look at two major industry headlines. The hosts explore a new SHRM Benefits Study highlighting a drop in mental health coverage alongside a surge in paid parental leave, followed by a startling industry report showing that nearly half of hiring managers are reallocating entry-level budgets to AI over hiring fresh college graduates.

In Episode 95 of The HR Morning Show on the Purple Acorn Network, hosts Brian Fink and Mike Peditto unpack the legal, ethical, and operational friction arising from artificial intelligence in modern workforce management. The headlines segment examines legal landmines across Big Tech, beginning with a landmark lawsuit where 26 Meta employees allege that uncalibrated, AI-driven activity metrics disproportionately targeted workers taking FMLA, ADA, and parental leave. The discussion dives into notable moments regarding the fallacy of "human-only" decision-making when flawed algorithmic scores drive layoffs, followed by an analysis of 4,500 Google employees petitioning for standardized job protections and voluntary buyout options...

In Episode 94 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Adam Posner, Brian Fink, and Danielle Farage break down the rapidly shifting dynamics of talent acquisition and organizational leadership. This jam-packed episode tackles everything from critical regulatory updates to a total paradigm shift in how we view the HR function and executive alignment. Plus, the team previews their upcoming presence at the NAHCR conference. Key

Special guest Jackye Clayton joins the headlines segment to discuss the EEOC’s newly released draft Strategic Plan (FY 2026–2030) and the fast-approaching public comment deadline on July 19, 2026. The expert interviews kick off with JD Robi...

Welcome to Episode 93 of The HR Morning Show, part of the Purple Acorn Network! In this packed episode, hosts Joel Lalgee, Danielle Farage, and Serge Boudreau pull back the curtain on the real motivations behind five-day return-to-office (RTO) mandates, exposing how executive ego and "CEO groupthink" often overrule data-driven productivity metrics. The team also breaks down the heavy legal and compliance implications of highly subjective corporate social media policies, using a recent high-profile lawsuit involving an Alaska Airlines flight attendant to highlight how inconsistent disciplinary enforcement can trigger costly Title VII discrimination claims.

Later...

Hosts Serge Boudreau and Dan Riley tackle the massive legal and technological shifts disrupting the workforce in mid-2026. The episode kicks off with two major headline stories. First, the team breaks down the recent nationwide block of a $100K H-1B fee, which a federal court struck down as an unconstitutional tax—delivering immediate relief to tech, healthcare, and higher education employers. Next, they dive into "The Great Regret," exploring a new report revealing that 55% of employers regret their AI-driven layoffs, with nearly a third quietly rehiring human workers after automated systems failed to manage complex workflows and triggered co...

In Episode 91 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Adam Posner, Brian Fink, and Robin Schooling break down major structural shifts shaking up the HR profession. The team dives into findings from HR Dive’s 2026 Identity of HR survey, revealing a massive pivot away from traditional credentials like SHRM and HRCI in favor of niche, skills-based certifications in areas like artificial intelligence, executive coaching, and workplace neurodiversity. The headlines segment, featuring guest Trish Steed during the "Talk Nerdy with iCIMS" block, also addresses Uber’s massive operational overhaul—a restructuring push cutting 23% of its People and Places division. Strikingly, Uber explic...

Hosts Mike Peditto and Ron Fish dive deep into the seismic shifts currently reshaping global talent networks. The episode kicks off with a critical look at a landmark Oxford working paper that turns popular AI narratives on their head, proving that remote and hybrid work structures—not automation—are driving the massive collapse in entry-level hiring. The hosts also break down the stark reality of the tech sector's "May Mayhem," exploring how over 28,000 workforce reductions in May 2026 alone point to a deliberate capital shift from traditional headcount to AI-driven infrastructure.

The guest lineup brings heavy-hitting tactical strategy to t...

Serge Boudreau and Ron Fish break down the shifting dynamics of corporate work mandates and a startling compensation reality check within the HR sector. The duo explores how Fortune 100 giants like TikTok and NBC Universal are leveraging strict five-day Return-To-Office (RTO) mandates to quietly trigger voluntary attrition. This corporate shift creates a unique opportunity for agile mid-market employers to weaponize flexibility and poach top-tier talent. Additionally, the hosts address a fascinating "meta" disconnect in the labor market: HR and talent acquisition leaders—the very professionals who design internal salary bands—face a massive $42,000 personal wage gap between their own expe...

In this episode of The HR Morning Show, hosts Adam Posner and Ron Fish dive deep into the massive waves of transformation hitting the talent landscape. The team breaks down the latest industry headlines, starting with a leaked internal memo detailing Meta's aggressive restructuring and workforce reductions tied to automating redundant workflows with advanced AI. They also dissect a newly filed class-action antitrust lawsuit alleging that prominent talent platforms Monster, CareerBuilder, and Resume Genius are operating collectively as a single entity, stifling marketplace competition and inflating employer subscription pricing.

Later in the show, Adam sits down with...

AI is no longer just changing the tools HR teams use, it is changing the shape of the workforce itself. Danielle Farage and Dan Riley break down two major headlines this week: Cloudflare cutting more than 1,100 jobs as part of an “agentic AI-first” operating model, and Match Group slowing hiring to fund broader AI tools and training. Both stories raise urgent questions for HR and TA leaders around workforce planning, employee trust, redeployment, reskilling, and whether AI budgets are beginning to compete directly with headcount.

Then, Theresa Hummel-Krallinger joins the show to talk about what “good HR” actually...

This episode of The HR Morning Show tackles the high-stakes intersection of corporate strategy and legal compliance, starting with a deep dive into Microsoft’s recent workforce pivot. As the tech giant ramps up capital expenditure on AI, CFO Amy Hood is prioritizing "high-performing teams" and technical agility over traditional headcount growth, signaling a lean, AI-augmented future for talent acquisition. We also break down the aggressive investigation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton into H-1B visa fraud, specifically targeting "ghost offices" used to bypass local hiring regulations.

Later in the program, we are joined by Lucero Ta...

Join hosts Rhona Barnett-Pierce and Mike Peditto as they dive into the rapidly shifting landscape of HR in 2026. This episode explores the Department of Labor’s new proposed "joint employer" standard and the rise of the "Seduction Era" in talent acquisition, where job security is officially outranking pay for new grads.

Our featured guest is Jocelyn King, Founder and CEO of VirgilHR and host of the By HR for HR podcast. Jocelyn shares her expertise on scaling people operations, moving HR from "order takers" to "trusted advisors," and how agentic AI is set to redefine workforce planning. We...

In this episode of The HR Morning Show, hosts Adam Posner and Trent Cotton tackle the growing disconnect between corporate technology initiatives and employee execution. The discussion centers on the "AI Readiness Gap," featuring data from Docebo that reveals a staggering 85% of employees are unable to apply their AI training to their daily responsibilities. The team also breaks down new findings from Monster regarding the "black box" of automated screening, which has led frustrated job seekers to adopt a "spray and pray" application strategy in an increasingly opaque hiring landscape.

The show features guest Zech Dahms, who...

In this high-impact episode of the HR Morning Show, hosts Adam Posner and Danielle Farage dive into the structural shifts defining the 2026 talent landscape, starting with the move from "filling the funnel" to "Precision Over Scale." The team breaks down recent reports from SHRM, Rival HR, and SAP, highlighting the end of the AI "experimentation phase" and the rise of systematic operational integration. From the burden of AI-generated resume fraud to the evolving role of middle management as "AI steering bodies," this segment explores why human judgment and critical thinking have become the ultimate premium in an automated world.<...

Hosts Joel Lalgee, Danielle Farage, and Brian Fink tackle the shifting tides of the 2026 labor market. The team dives deep into the "AI-driven displacement" trend, analyzing rumors of massive restructuring at Meta where human headcount is being traded for generative AI infrastructure costs. They also break down the latest JOLTS data, which reveals a stagnant talent market where employees are too fearful of "last-in, first-out" layoffs to leave their current roles, making internal mobility a critical business necessity rather than just a perk.

The show features a high-impact guest lineup focused on the future of recruitment and...

In this episode of The HR Morning Show, hosts Danielle Farage, Brian Fink, and Mike Peditto dive into the shifting landscape of entry-level hiring and the broader economic impact of AI integration. The team breaks down recent data revealing that 21% of U.S. companies have frozen entry-level hiring as they pivot budgets toward AI infrastructure, sparking a critical conversation about the future talent vacuum. They also examine February’s unexpected payroll shrinkage, debating whether this "low-hire" environment is a temporary economic blip or a permanent structural shift where human headcount is traded for computing power.

The episode al...

Hosts Joel Lalgee, Adam Posner, and Brian Fink dive into the intensifying intersection of federal regulation and workplace technology. The show kicks off with a look at major headlines, including tech workers’ pushback against Anthropic’s supply chain risk label and the massive Al-driven layoffs at Block. The team then welcomes Michael Smith, a veteran in federal investigations, to discuss how leadership teams can navigate the "Regulatory Life Cycle" and manage high-profile state Attorney General enforcement actions to protect their brand and corporate governance.

The conversation shifts to the evolution of talent acquisition with Ophi...

This episode of The HR Morning Show tackles the complex intersection of artificial intelligence, human judgment, and the shifting power dynamics of the 2026 labor market. Hosts Danielle Farage, John Baldino and Trent Cotton will dive into the emergence of "workslop"—productivity losses caused by low-quality AI outputs—and discuss how HR leaders must shift from simply using AI to managing its ethical and qualitative risks. They will also break down the latest labor market data, exploring a "low-hire, low-fire" environment where employers have regained leverage, forcing TA teams to pivot their strategies toward managing high applicant volumes rather than cand...

In this episode of The HR Morning Show, hosts Brian Fink, Kyle Lagunas, and Trent Cotton dive into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI orchestration and recruitment branding. The team kicks things off with a special headlines-worthy announcement from Kyle & Co before welcoming Gina Alioto of Shaker Recruitment Marketing to discuss the firm's 75th anniversary and modern brand leadership. Trent and Kyle also lead a technical segment, "Talk Nerdy with iCIMS," focusing on the strategic nuances of navigating AI interviewers in today’s hiring environment.

The conversation shifts to the future of talent operations with guest Tracy St...

As we hit mid-February, the HR landscape is grappling with a shift in how we value work. This episode explores the controversial rise of "Peanut Butter" pay raises—where merit takes a backseat to across-the-board increases—and how top-tier organizations maintain culture and storytelling in a high-speed world.

Key Segments & Highlights:

Headline News: A deep dive into the "Spread of Peanut Butter Pay Raises." With nearly 44% of companies moving toward uniform salary increases in 2026 to combat bias and administrative complexity, we discuss if this "flat" approach is a talent retention ticking time bomb.

Gues...

Live from TA Week, hosts Adam Posner and Brian Fink, along with Mike Peditto dive into a high-stakes week for the talent industry. We kick things off with a massive headline: AI giant Eightfold AI is facing a lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The suit claims their "black box" algorithms act as unlicensed consumer reporting agencies, scoring job seekers without their consent or a path to dispute inaccuracies. Is this the legal precedent that finally forces transparency into AI hiring?Later, we are joined by two industry powerhouses to rethink the recruiting workflow. Tracey Parsons...

In this episode of The HR Morning Show, Adam, Danielle, and Joel dive into the murky waters of corporate communication, discussing a new report revealing that 60% of companies may be using Artificial Intelligence as a "scapegoat" for organizational restructuring. We also break down the latest shifts at Meta, where 1,000 jobs are being cut in Reality Labs to pivot toward AI wearables, alongside a shake-up of their internal review system.

We are joined by two powerhouse guests. First, Anna Pozdniakova from Jooble (a global job search platform) joins Danielle to discuss the critical transition into Performance Enablement and...

Hosts Danielle and Serge tackle the unsettling reality of the current talent landscape with a headline segment titled ""We Broke Hiring. Now We're Automating the Damage."" As the industry grapples with whether new tools are solving the hiring crisis or merely accelerating dysfunction, the hosts welcome industry veteran David Manaster (ERE Media) to the show. David shares his critical analysis of the ""frozen"" labor market, debating whether AI is truly replacing the entry-level recruiter or if we are witnessing a fundamental shift in how talent mobility works in 2026.

The conversation shifts to the engine...

Welcome back to the number one spot for all things HR! We are kicking off 2026 with a packed show exploring the shifting landscapes of hiring, legal compliance, and talent strategy.

In this episode, the team breaks down the "Redefining Hiring in 2026" headline, focusing on why skills agility and AI readiness are no longer optional. We’re joined by Vikram Shetty to tackle the complex legal hurdles facing corporate DEI initiatives amid new political pressures, while also making the case for the "Podcast ROI of DEI."

Later, Joey Price and Tami Nutt from Jumpstart HR/Aspect43 st...

Join host Jada Montemarano for a special edition of the Purple Acorn HR Morning Show as we bid farewell to 2025 and unveil bold 2026 predictions with a powerhouse lineup of twelve industry experts. In this fast-paced broadcast, our guests will tackle the eight "Purple Acorn–Approved" prediction categories, debating everything from the "Real vs. Hype" of AI and the "Stack Clean-Up" of HR technology to the "Workplace Plot Twist" of culture and return-to-office mandates. Don't miss this opportunity to "Follow the Money" and get a "Talent Leader Reality Check" as we explore the future of work, candidate behavior, and the bi...

Join hosts Danielle, Serge, and Brian Fink for a news-heavy edition of The HR Morning Show. We kick off with a breakdown of the new Executive Order establishing a national AI policy, effectively limiting state-level regulations. The team also unpacks alarming new data regarding CHRO turnover, which has hit a five-year high as leaders face "transformation fatigue".

Later, we dive into organizational psychology with Colby Nesbitt, who helps us define what "healthy culture" really looks like and debunks common myths about workplace happiness. We also welcome Mike Stafiej and Ben Eubanks to discuss their new research, The...

This episode of The HR Morning Show brings together sharp insights, unexpected stories, and the kind of creative problem solving HR leaders love. We kick things off with a headline rundown before diving into a unique marketing stunt that caught the FDA's attention and reminded us how deeply HR influences corporate identity. Brian Farkas and Tylynne McCauley walk us through the strategy behind their campaign, the role of their beloved dog Churro, and why people operations matter just as much as product when shaping a brand’s public narrative .

We continue with Kara Mignanelli, whose dual leadership as...

Today’s episode is packed with two powerhouse conversations. First, Adam sits down with Dani Herrera for a deep dive into inclusive hiring—from equitable interviewing and accessibility to what talent leaders must consider when buying AI tools. Dani brings sharp predictions for 2026 and a thoughtful look at how healthy cultures and strong candidate experiences actually get built.

Then Rhona chats with Natalie Egan, the serial entrepreneur behind PeopleLinx, Translator, and now Znario. She shares what she’s learned scaling mission-driven tech companies, how her years pioneering DEIB technology shaped her views on belonging and psychological safety, and ho...

Episode 68 of The HR Morning Show is packed with insights from two powerhouse voices shaping the future of hiring and HR leadership. First up, Angela Pointer, MS, BSN, RN shares wisdom from 30 years in healthcare and two decades in recruitment, breaking down her 24-Minute Method and her Meaningful/Reactive/Noise framework. She offers practical, immediately usable tools HR pros can apply to reclaim their time, lead intentionally, and avoid the biggest traps that derail teams.

Then Trent Cotton brings in Matthew Merker for a Talk Nerdy to Me with iCIMS tech moment before the hosts welcome talent...

This week on The HR Morning Show, Danielle and Serge kick off another fast-moving Tuesday with headlines shaping HR across the globe — from market shakeups to the latest workplace policies catching everyone’s attention. Powered by our marquee sponsor Keka, the team digs into why employee-centric design is changing the future of HR systems and how companies are shifting away from fragmented tools toward unified, people-first platforms.

Danielle welcomes Dawn Snyder, a leader in learning strategy and performance improvement whose work spans global teams, higher education partnerships, and deep research into what “good” performance actually looks like. She brin...

This week on The HR Morning Show, the crew dives into the lighter side of leadership and learning! Adam sits down with Jeremy Neuner, founder of Rotorhead Partners, to explore Playsonality—a groundbreaking new assessment that helps teams unlock their play styles at work. Forget DISC and StrengthsFinder—what if learning how you “play” could make your team more innovative, collaborative, and joyful? Then, Danielle chats with Coach Keith Shaw, a leadership strategist who’s shaking up how organizations approach development programs. With over 60% of managers saying they’ve never had proper leadership training, Keith lays out a roadmap for companie...

The HR Morning Show returns with headlines, global trends, and a people-first lens on what’s actually working in talent. Today’s episode digs into the state of recruiting and retention with actionable ideas you can put to work this week. We kick off with The Global Report and the latest market signals, then hand the mic to our first guest, Kate Warman, who shares the inside view of navigating a full TA outsourcing event and what leaders can learn about process, governance, AI tooling, and keeping recruiting human during change.

In our second guest segment, Tricia Hous...

This week on The HR Morning Show, hosts Joel Lalgee, Danielle Farage, Serge Boudreau, and Adam Posner unpack the biggest headlines shaping HR today, from AI in recruiting to burnout and shifting candidate expectations. Special guests Jess Von Bank, Zain Zaidi, and Curtis Germany bring real-world insights on skills-based hiring, aligning finance and IT on HR tech, and what HR leaders need to know right now.

In our Talk Nerdy with iCIMS segment, Trent Cotton sits down with Jess Von Bank to explore how data, thoughtful design, and human connection can work together to create better hiring...

This week on The HR Morning Show, Joel Lalgee, Danielle Farage, and Serge Boudreau dive into the latest HR headlines and innovations reshaping how we work. From the expanding influence of AI in recruitment to new compliance and accessibility challenges, the hosts unpack what every HR leader needs to know to stay ahead of the curve.

First up, recruiting expert Dave Vu joins to discuss his transition from talent acquisition to AI-driven HR tech, exploring how organizations can balance automation with fairness, inclusion, and risk management. Then, Jon Rosemberg, positive psychologist and author of A Guide to...

The HR Morning Show returns with a lively mix of headlines, hot takes, and in-depth conversations shaping the future of work. Kyle, Brian, and Robin kick things off with the latest HR news, from the global hiring outlook to pay transparency debates, before diving into how HR leaders can use tech responsibly without losing the human touch.

This week’s guests bring two powerful perspectives. Robin sits down with Andy Choi from Do Good, a Non-Profit-as-a-Service platform making it easier than ever for businesses to launch compliant nonprofits or add mission-driven initiatives into their existing models. Then, th...