Chris sat down with James Whitelock (MD of ThinkinCircles & long-time podcaster) to tackle a familiar frustration in recruitment: why roles stay unfilled after 30–45 days — and what recruiting teams can do to turn things around. From rethinking job ads to building brave, human storytelling campaigns, Chris and James break down the process into three powerful stages: Attraction – How to identify your real candidate personas, cut through the noise with authentic video content, and stop playing it safe in the “River of Meh.” Engagement – How to personalise job content, add honesty that helps candidates self-select, and make every touchpoint a great experience. Application – Why broken processes kill great candidates, and how to balance friction, fairness, and flow in your funnel. Candid and practical, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in TA, EB, or recruitment marketing who’s ready to ditch the copy-paste job ad, get creative, and start hiring smarter.