Episodes

On episode #490 of #thePOZcast, Adam Posner interviews Kimberly Storin, CMO of Zoom, to discuss her career journey, the importance of curiosity in leadership, and the evolving marketing landscape in a hybrid work environment. Kim shares insights on building relationships with finance, defining organizational culture, and the resurgence of experiential marketing. They explore the balance between AI and human engagement, strategies for effective remote work, and the need for nonprofits to communicate their impact. Looking ahead, Kim emphasizes the importance of multi-generational collaboration in the future of work and redefines success as having fun and continuous learning. Kimberly Storin, the CMO at Zoom, where she leads global marketing and communications. Prior to Zoom, Kim held marketing leadership roles at tech companies ranging from SaaS start-ups to Fortune 50 companies, and was an M&A consultant at Deloitte earlier in her career. She lives in Austin, is deeply involved wit…

In this episode of #thePOZcast, Adam Posner speaks with Jason Walker, co-founder of ThriveHR Consulting, about the evolving HR landscape, the impact of AI on talent acquisition, and the importance of empathy in the workplace. They discuss the challenges job seekers face in a competitive market, the concept of 'job hugging,' and the benefits of fractional HR services. Jason emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt to AI while maintaining a human touch and offers actionable advice for job seekers to personalize their approach in a challenging job market. Jason Walker is the cofounder of Thrive HR Consulting and one of today’s leading thinkers in modern HR. Jason is an industry veteran, global speaker, and trusted talent advisor who’s helped companies transform their people practices through massive shifts—AI, workforce transformation, M&A, you name it. He and his partner launched Thrive HR to give organizations fractional, high-impact HR support across exec coaching, DEIB, emp…

On this episode of #thePOZcast, Brooke Dukes discusses the misconceptions surrounding hard work, particularly for women, and emphasizes the importance of intuition and self-care in achieving success. She shares her personal experiences with burnout and illness, advocating for a more balanced approach to work and life. Brooke Dukes — a powerhouse Behavioral Business Strategist, international best-selling author, speaker, and host of Burn On, Not Out. She’s the founder of BMD Consulting, where she helps CEOs and executive teams scale their companies without sacrificing their sanity or their soul. A former Fortune 500 leader turned serial entrepreneur, Brooke brings more than 20 years of expertise in leadership development, sales performance, and cultural transformation. She blends behavioral science, neuroscience, Human Design, and lived leadership to create systems that actually stick because they’re built around how humans really work. She’s the creator of the GRACe™ Communication…

On episode #487 of #thePOZcast, Adam and Jeff Williams discuss the common misconceptions surrounding organizational transformation, emphasizing that while a small percentage of the workforce may be enthusiastic about change, the majority are often resistant or indifferent. He highlights the importance of engaging all employees in the transformation process, rather than assuming their support based on leadership declarations. Williams argues that business leaders must invest more in understanding and facilitating this change among their teams to achieve successful outcomes. Jeff Williams — a global leader in HR and business transformation who has driven growth at some of the industry's biggest names. Jeff is now President and CEO at Aptia, and is helping shape one of the company’s most critical business lines. Previously, Jeff served as Vice President of Enterprise and HR Solutions at Paychex, where he led a $1.5 billion P&L, helped the company become America’s market-share leader …

In episode #486 of #thePOZcast, Adam Posner interviews Kelly McGinnis, a corporate innovator and strategic growth leader at Thermo Fisher Scientific. They discuss Kelly's journey in corporate America, her unique approach to leadership, the importance of self-awareness, and the balance between ambition and personal fulfillment. Kelly shares her insights on hiring for culture, the myth of the 100-hour work week, and the significance of mental marination for effective leadership. The conversation emphasizes the need for trust in leadership, the challenges of delegation, and the importance of redefining success beyond traditional metrics. Kelly McGinnis — a powerhouse corporate innovator, strategic growth leader, and all-around trailblazer redefining what success looks like in business and in life. As President of Business Operations at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Kelly has rewritten the playbook on growth — turning complex challenges into billion-dollar opportunities and driving transf…

My guest on episode #485 of #thePOZcast is Jordan Gaspari, one of the rare people who actually grew up dreaming of becoming an agency recruiter — it’s literally in his DNA. Following in the footsteps of his dad and role model, Richard Gaspari, who spent over 40 years in the industry, Jordan mastered the art of recruitment throughout the 2010s as a top performer at Randstad Technologies. He became the go-to talent partner for Fortune 500 heavyweights like Wells Fargo, McKesson, UnitedHealth Group, and Cigna. Then, just seven days after losing his father in 2018, Jordan honored his legacy by inventing a new word — and a new way to do business: Exclusent — blending “exclusive” and “talent.” Since then, Exclusent has taken off, earning a 2025 Inc. Magazine Power Partner Award and becoming one of the most recognized agencies in the Southwest. Their secret? Merging A.I. and authenticity to transform hiring across their Core 4 focus areas: Enterprise Architecture, Information Technology,…

My guest on episode #484 of #thePOZcast is Joe Nicchi, the founder of CVT Soft Serve — the Los Angeles ice cream brand that started from a refurbished Mister Softee truck named “Charlie” and grew into a national phenomenon. Within months of launching, Joe made headlines for his bold stance on influencer culture and a surprise Bill Murray cameo that helped cement CVT as an LA staple. Today, his soft-serve empire spans from trucks to grocery aisles, with CVT’s first-of-its-kind ice cream pouch named “LA’s Food Item of the Year” by Eater LA and now sold in over 3,000 stores nationwide. His story is one of grit, creativity, and the sweet taste of turning a street-corner idea into an American brand success story. Let’s get into it. CVT Soft Serve is available in grocery stores across the country, including Wegmans, Safeway, Price Chopper, Central Markets, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, and available for delivery nationwide through Healthy Goodness. Find a full list of stores at www.cvtsoftserv…

First aired 7/21/23 I am thrilled to welcome someone that I hold in the highest regard and deeply respect for HOW he conducts himself in the world, Tom Bilyeu! He is the co-founder of the 2014 Inc. 500 company Quest Nutrition — a unicorn startup valued at over $1 billion — and the co-founder and host of Impact Theory. Tom’s mission is the creation of empowering media-based IP and the acceleration of mission-based businesses. Personally driven to help people develop the skills they will need to improve themselves and the world, Tom intends to use commerce to address the dual pandemics of physical and mental malnourishment. Tom is a forever student of life. His obsession with mastering skills has molded him into a well-rounded leader, battle-hardened and unafraid to fire moonshots. He is a relentless agent for change, here to see how far he can push his own potential and the potential of others. Fun fact, Tom's Impact Theory NFT project was the first NFT that I purchased! Check o…

First aired 11/04/22 Perfecto Sanchez is a decorated military veteran with two combat tours to Iraq, who was originally born and raised in NYC by way of a tough Jamaican mom and later, West Point. He has over 10 years of corporate marketing and impact strategy experience, from launching Kraft’s most successful innovation to date, to launching Brooklyn’s first Organic Christmas Tree Company. Perfecto currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Keep The Change; an impact strategy shop that serves a wide portfolio of clients across the U.S. from household name brands and foundations to national institutions and international nonprofits. Not to mention he was the first American to row across the North Sea, a project to raise awareness for Ocean Sustainability. you don’t want to miss it. Learn more about Perfecto and his organization at www.morechange.co

Watch: https://youtu.be/HY24p5cvS5A On episode #478 of #thePOZcast, I welcome Lindsey Scrase, the Chief Operating Officer of Checkr. Checkr is the data platform that powers safe and fair decisions. They are a technology company that helps their customers assess risk, modernize hiring, and cultivate trusted relationships in their workplaces and communities. We go deep into fraud in the hiring process and how to remove bias within, and the reasons behind it. This is a must-listen-to episode for all Talent and HR practitioners alike. Candidates will learn best practices as well. She brings over 20 years of experience across sales, account management, operations, business development, partnership strategy, and growth functionalities. Prior to Checkr, Lindsey spent 10 years at Google Cloud, where she played an instrumental role in growing the business to over six million paying Google Workspace customers and scaling the Google for Startups Cloud Program. Learn more: https://che…

WATCH: https://youtu.be/DsMZz4FvfyE My guest on episode #477 of #thePOZcast is Matt Medved — Co-Founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of Now Media, the award-winning Web3 media and tech company behind NFT Now, The Gateway, and NFT100. Named by Yahoo Finance as one of the top 10 most influential figures in Web3, Matt has spent his career at the intersection of culture, media, and technology — helping creatives thrive in the new digital economy. Before launching Now Media, he led content at Modern Luxury, reimagined SPIN magazine for a new era, and founded Billboard Dance, turning it into the global authority for electronic music. A former human-rights researcher turned DJ-producer, Matt’s story spans global stages from Tomorrowland to Africa’s biggest radio airwaves — all built on a mission to empower creators through innovation. Learn More: https://nowmedia.co/subscribe Follow Matt on all socials at @MattMedved & @NowMedia

First Aired 1/30/21 On E128 of The POZcast, I’m joined by Jordan Harbinger, who hosts the Top Ranked iTunes podcast, “The Jordan Harbinger Show” with over 11 million monthly downloads. Jordan and I kick it off by talking about his early career, and his first endeavor into coaching and helping people learn the art of networking, relationship building and self-improvement. In 2018, Jordan started a new show completely on his own. That same year, he had amassed a huge following which led to his recognition by Apple. Jordan and I discuss some of my favorite interviews that he’s held, as well as some of his most memorable moments. From Kobe Bryant to Anthony S. Luciano recounting mob hits coordinated against the pope, Jordan has dissected his fair share of crazy stories. We also talk about the responsibilities that a podcast host has to their listeners, including the spread of information, when to be objective and when to call out a guest for lack of transparency, and how hosts can be …

My guest on episode #476 of #thePOZcast is Michelle “Mace” Curran — a combat veteran, former fighter pilot, and only the fourth woman ever to fly Lead Solo for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. These days, she’s on a mission to help people flip fear on its head and take bold action. She’s the author of The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear Into Your Superpower, a book packed with lessons from the cockpit about courage and confidence. A LinkedIn Top Voice with content reaching millions, Michelle blends fighter-pilot grit with humor and heart. She’s also written bestselling children’s books, appeared on shows like The Kelly Clarkson Show and CBS Evening News, and inspired audiences at companies from Microsoft to SpaceX. At the core of it all, Michelle’s mission is simple: to help us turn fear into fuel and lead with boldness. Get her book! The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower (which is available now wherever books ar…

My guest on episode #475 of #thePOZcast is Carlos Ventura Jr, the CEO and founding partner of Feast & Fettle, a premium meal delivery company. The Boston Globe recognized them as one of New England’s fastest-growing private businesses. Since 2018, he has led the company’s growth from a neighborhood chef service to a vertically integrated hospitality brand on track to exceed $50 million in annual revenue. Before founding Feast & Fettle, Carlos worked at Citi, Goldman Sachs, and Deliveroo. He serves on the board of College Visions, an organization supporting first-generation college students. In 2025, he was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year New England. Learn more: Feast & Fettle - feastandfettle.com Connect w/ Carlos @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosventuranyc/

#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 recruitin…

The Power of the Recruitment Community: Live @ RecFest USA 2025 Recruiters, creators, leaders — this one’s for YOU. From AI and authenticity to IVs of iced coffee and Ferris wheel dreams, this episode of #thePOZcast Live from RecFest Nashville has it all. I sat down with a few legends doing the work and shaping the industry: Omar Khateeb (CEO, JobPixel) — on why vibe is everything in content, staying authentic, and never chasing algorithms. Allyn Bailey (SmartRecruiters) — on storytelling, brand experience, and using tech to actually connect people to purpose. Jamie Leonard (RecFest Founder) — on what makes RecFest magical, community over competition, and why it really feels like Sunday Funday. Vicky Liu (Juicebox.ai) — on joining a rocketship startup, Series A momentum, and working with a team full of “biggest brains.” Nicky Russell & Dan Lockhart & Shantel Lubinger (Advisor360 + SonderMind) — on quality of slate, rejection done right, and remembering we’re humans fir…

My guest on episode 474 of #thePOZcast is Jay Williams, the Founder—and as he proudly calls himself, the “Big Bird”—behind Free Bird Southern Spring Water. After a 25-year run in real estate, where he developed over a billion dollars’ worth of housing projects, Jay traded boardrooms for bottling lines. With zero industry connections but a whole lot of hustle, he built Free Bird from the ground up to deliver one simple promise: real water, for real people. Sourced from the Blue Ridge Mountains, Free Bird is more than just a beverage—it’s a salute to the backbone of America. No buzzwords, no gimmicks, just damn good water that resonates with those who work hard and live harder. Jay’s story is about reinvention, authenticity, and proving that sometimes the boldest move is starting over. Learn more & connect: https://drinkfreebird.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drinkfreebird/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-williams-a47939159/

Recorded LIVE @ RecFest US 2025 in Nashville, TN. From Amazon to Custom Ink: Real Talk on Recruiting, AI & Career Pivots Four powerhouse voices. One festival. Endless recruiting wisdom. Recorded live at RecFest 2025 Nashville, host Adam Posner sits down with four dynamic guests who open up about career pivots, recruiting tech, AI adoption, burnout, and authenticity in the talent world. Featuring: Tejal Rives (Amazon) – on curiosity, trolls, AI, and motherhood Aubrey Cirillo (Director of TA @ Custom Ink) – on role clarity, scaling hiring, and time protection Heather Colvin (Sr. Technical Recruiter @ Smart Data) – on recruiter ↔ hiring-manager trust and algorithm bias Mike Peditto (Author & Creator) – on reinvention, resilience, and staying relevant What You’ll Learn: - How recruiters can move into product and tech roles - The truth about AI in recruiting (what works and what’s hype) - How Custom Ink keeps hiring human while scaling - Building trust between recruit…

Four leaders. One festival. Zero fluff. Recorded live at RecFest 2025 in Nashville. Adam Posner (#thePOZcast) sits down with: Joey Lee (Head of TA, Panda Restaurant Group) on scaling 3,000+ store roles and “boots-on-the-ground” recruiting Rachel Allen (Head of TA, 7-Eleven) on automating 95% of store hiring with AI while keeping interviews human Brandon Davis (Head of TA, Champions Group) on trades recruiting, sourcing discipline, and quality of submission Greg Russell (VP TA, CoverGenius) on mindset, feedback at scale, and “signal over noise” hiring. Expect pragmatic tactics, spicy hot takes, and real stories from leaders actually doing the work. 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. → Try…

My guest on episode #471 of #thePOZcast is a long time friend and mentor, Claude Silver—the world’s first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX. Claude has made it her mission to prove that when people feel seen, heard, and valued, both they and their companies thrive. Since stepping into her role, she’s helped VaynerX grow from 400 to more than 2,000 employees worldwide, guided VaynerMedia to Adweek’s Breakthrough Agency of the Year, and become a sought-after voice on heart-first leadership, empathy, and emotional bravery. What’s most inspiring is that the very thing she was once told was a flaw—leading with her heart—has become her superpower. From launching an outdoor adventure company and studying positive psychology to building culture inside global agencies, Claude has always championed humanity in business. She’s been recognized by Campaign, Adweek, and The New York Times, and her first book, Be Yourself at Work, is out now! Her mission? To create workplaces where people feel safe to …

Recorded LIVE from RecFest 2025: Nashville, TN I am proud to share the first episode of our RecFest series. And there is no better way than to kick it off than with Juicebox CEO & CO-Founder, David Paffenholz! Recruiting meets AI — and the vibes are HIGH. Join host Adam Posner (#thePOZcast) live from RecFest 2025 in Nashville as he sits down with David Paffenholz, Co-Founder & CEO of Juicebox.ai— the platform is changing how recruiters source, engage, and hire. They dive into the real story behind Juicebox’s rise from a failed recruiting agency to one of the fastest-growing AI tools in HR tech. You’ll hear honest founder lessons, real recruiter success stories, and an exclusive peek at what’s next for AI-driven recruiting. If you work in talent acquisition, HR tech, or recruiting, this episode is your playbook for what’s coming next. What You’ll Learn: - How AI tools like Juicebox are transforming the recruiter’s workflow - Why “human + machine” beats automation al…

My guest on episode 473 of #thePOZcast is Dave Vu, who co-founded Ribbon, the AI voice interviewer that autonomously screens every applicant, uncovers richer candidate insights, and frees hiring teams to focus on the standouts. With 15+ years leading recruitment and people operations across scrappy startups, hyper-growth scale-ups, and a VC firm, he blends frontline hiring savvy with strategic talent architecture. Backed by top venture investors, Dave now channels his deep domain expertise into building technology that lets employers and recruitment teams hire smarter, faster, and bias-free. Learn more: https://www.ribbon.ai/ We’re hiring! Open roles: https://www.ribbon.ai/careers#open-roles

I’m thrilled to welcome Allison Baum Gates to episode 470 of #thePOZcast! She is ann early‑stage technology investor, accomplished author, and future‑of‑work expert who’s on a mission to reshape how we think about career, capital, and innovation. As a General Partner at SemperVirens, she’s raised hundreds of millions of dollars and backed over 70 companies—including nine unicorns, 24 successful exits, and serves on ten boards. Along the way, she’s built her reputation as not just an investor, but a trusted voice in VC—featured in Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch—and as an educator at Columbia Business School and UC Berkeley‑Haas, empowering future leaders to break into venture. Allison’s journey spans high‑pressure trading floors at Goldman Sachs, early roles at Maveron and General Assembly. In 2023, she distilled her experience into Breaking into Venture, a field‑guide‑style book that demystifies the venture capital world and has sold tens of thous…

My guests on episode #470 of #thePOZcast are Kass and Mike Lazerow — serial founders, visionary early-stage investors, and bestselling authors. Over the last three decades, they’ve built and sold companies like Buddy Media to Salesforce for $745 million and GOLF.com to Time Warner. As investors, they’ve backed more than 100 startups, including billion-dollar breakouts like Scopely and Liquid Death, with their portfolio generating over $10 billion in returns. Their debut book, Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success, became an instant New York Times, USA Today, and LA Times bestseller, praised for its raw honesty about what it really takes to build a business. They’ve been recognized as top leaders, game-changers in cancer research fundraising, and sought-after advisors helping entrepreneurs cut through the noise, scale with clarity, and lead with conviction. Join us as I unpack their journey and wisdom. Get their book! Shoveling $h!t: A Love…