Community, Curiosity, and the Future of Recruiting: Live from RecFest USA 2025
#thePOZcast Live from RecFest Nashville 2025 – Featuring Steve Levy & Friends! When you bring legends, learning, and BBQ together… you get pure recruiting gold.
Episode #483 of #thePOZcast, powered by Juicebox.ai, captures the heart and humanity of RecFest 2025 — the outdoor festival where the TA community truly shines.
Steve Levy — on curiosity, community, and why great recruiters listen first.
Brian Petroski (EXP) — on scaling engineering hires and keeping it human.
Leslie Harrah & Kim Johnson (Fortified Health Security) — on culture, cybersecurity, and staying connected.
Taylor Hunter (Gaylor Electric) — on tech stacks, ATS headaches, and sourcing hacks.
Carmen Scanlon (Belong HQ) — on startup energy, belonging, and meaningful networking.
This episode is everything RecFest stands for: learning, laughter, and the love of the craft.
Thanks to our friends at Juicebox for sponsoring these episodes. Juicebox helps teams win the talent war—the leading AI recruiting platform that understands who you're looking for. Today, Juicebox powers hiring for 3,000+ customers, including Ramp, Perplexity, and Quora. Level up your team with Search, CRM, and Agents.
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Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast
For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com
CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Welcome to RecFest Nashville 2025
Adam sets the scene and kicks off day two of #thePOZcast live from the Juicebox.ai booth.
00:28 – Guest 1: Steve Levy – The Elder Statesman of Recruiting Wisdom
Steve shares why RecFest stands apart, how it fosters real community, and why curiosity—not automation—keeps recruiters sharp.
02:45 – Learning, Listening, and the Power of Curiosity
Steve drops classic Levy gems: “Two ears, one mouth—use them proportionally.” A masterclass in humility and experimentation.
05:18 – Advice for Job Seekers in a Tough Market
Steve explains why teaching others what you’ve learned and practicing gratitude are secret weapons for staying visible and relevant.
06:57 – Final Word: Community
The legendary recruiter sums up RecFest 2025 in one word: Community.
08:13 – Guest 2: Brian Petroski (EXP)
Director of TA shares insights on recruiting engineers at scale, sourcing tools that work (LinkedIn, HireEZ, Indeed), and standing in line for Nashville’s best food truck.
10:37 – Guest 3: Leslie Harrah & Kim Johnson (Fortified Health Security)
Two powerhouse women in cybersecurity recruiting talk about connecting with people, building culture, and the beauty of the TA community.
12:01 – Pivoting Careers & Finding New Opportunities
Adam shares tactical advice for job seekers on leveraging certifications, curiosity, and career pivots into hot sectors like cybersecurity and clean tech.
12:59 – Guest 4: Taylor Hunter (Gaylor Electric)
Insights on ATS tools, recruiting high-level talent, and how scraping extensions and sourcing hacks make life easier for busy TA pros.
15:23 – Guest 5: Carmen Scanlon (Belong HQ)
On startup life, meaningful networking, and the simplicity and depth that make RecFest so special.
17:26 – Closing: Gratitude from the Field
Adam wraps from the food trucks with final reflections on connection, learning, and community.
