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 are sold). https://www.amazon.com/Flipside-Invert-Your-Perspective-Superpower/dp/1538768100 Connect & Learn More: https://macecurran.com/

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 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 for free today — www.juicebox.ai

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 first. John Ruffini (Health Trust Workforce Solutions)— on why recruiters have gotten lazy, the lost art of the phone call, and bringing back urgency and empathy. 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 for free today — www.juicebox.ai

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. Watch: https://youtu.be/afN0r8pFOKY 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 recruiters and hiring managers - Mental health, burnout plans & creative careers in TA 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 for free today — www.juicebox.ai

Four leaders. One festival. Zero fluff. Watch: https://youtu.be/IVW42llfy0k 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. 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 for free today — www.juicebox.ai What You’ll Learn: - How high-volume brands (Panda, 7-Eleven) actually scale hourly hiring - Why quality of submission may beat quality of hire as a TA metric - Where AI belongs (and doesn’t) in frontline recruiting workflows - How to coach recruiters on feedback, mindset, and “signal over noise” - Tactics for trades recruiting: schools, military, word-of-mouth, and sourcing discipline

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 be themselves, brave enough to grow, and supported enough to succeed. Let’s get into it with the one and only… My friend and yours, Claude Silver GET THE BOOK: https://beyourselfbook.com/ Connect & follow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casilver/

Recorded LIVE from RecFest 2025: Nashville, TN Watch: https://youtu.be/Fz_U6bi2rjw 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 alone - How founders turn early failures into billion-dollar pivots - The mindset needed to grow as a leader and stay curious. - What’s next for ATS, AI interviews, and recruiting data Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-paffenholz/ 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 for free today — www.juicebox.ai

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 thousands of copies. Fluent (ish) in three languages and having lived across five global cities—from New York and San Francisco to Hong Kong, Paris, and Tokyo—Allison brings a refreshingly global and human perspective to the complex interplay of finance, technology, and the future of work. Let’s get into it. Check out her book: Breaking Into Venture https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Into-Venture-Capitalist-Life-Changing/dp/1264698941/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GROZTJYEQF5N&keywords=breaking+into+venture+by+allison+baum+gates&qid=1681763930&sprefix=breaking+into+venture+by+allison+baum+gates%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-1 Connect w/ her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonbaumgates/

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 Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success https://www.amazon.com/Shoveling-Story-About-Entrepreneurs-Success/dp/B0DY21NS7W?ref_=ast_author_dp Learn more: https://kassandmike.com/

My guest today is a powerhouse in communications, change management, and equity-driven leadership — Amira Barger. She’s the award-winning Executive Vice President at Edelman- Communications, Change Management and DEIB advisory. She is a strategist trusted by some of the biggest names in healthcare and beyond, and the author of the upcoming book The Price of Nice, dropping October 28, 2025 — a bold call to break free from the comfort that keeps us stuck and create real, lasting change. Named 2024 Woman of the Year by Women Health Care Executives and featured on more “Top 50” and “Top 100” lists than I can count — including Business Insider’s 30 Under 40 in Healthcare Innovation — Amira has spent more than 18 years shaping reputations, influencing stakeholders, and mobilizing communities on a global scale. She’s counseled giants like CVS, Pfizer, Genentech, and the CDC, and she’s just as passionate about teaching as she is about leading, serving as a professor at Cal State East Bay and a lecturer at UCSF. When she’s not advising, teaching, or speaking truth to power, she’s road-tripping across America with her family, checking off every single one of our 417 national parks. Amira Barger is here — and I promise, you’re about to see why she’s one of the most compelling voices in the game right now. For more, visit www.amirabarger.com for the book, book tour dates, and more! Follow Amira on all socials at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirabarger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amirabarger TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amirabarger

First aired 4/29/21 My guest on E146 of #thePOZcast, Tucker Max is a four-time, New York Times best-selling author and founder of Scribe Media. His career took off after he started a blog on tuckermax.com, on which he actually created his own genre called “fratire”. New York Times writer Warren St. John coined “fratire” to describe Tucker’s writing at the time, which was mostly stories about the night life of a man in his twenties, all the partying that comes with it, tied together with a talent (or sometimes a curse) to always tell the truth no matter what. Now with Scribe Media, Tucker lives a much more balanced life and helps other amazing people like David Goggins and Tiffany Haddish tell their stories and their truth by coaching them through the process of writing their own books.

My guest on E468 is Aleksandar Svetski— entrepreneur, author, and unapologetic builder of bold ideas. He’s the founder and CEO of Satlantis, a next-gen social network designed for travelers, nomads, and sovereign individuals. Imagine if Instagram and Google Maps had a values-aligned baby — that’s Satlantis. It’s not just a travel app; it’s where your map, your feed, and your tribe all converge. Before Satlantis, Aleks founded and exited one of Australia’s most successful fintech apps. He’s also the author of The UnCommunist Manifesto, a global bestseller, and has penned three other books challenging mainstream narratives. He’s been featured on dozens of top podcasts and platforms, and today, he’s here to share his journey from crypto exchange founder to travel-tech innovator, and why he believes the future of connection is human-first — not AI-driven. Learn more: https://www.satlantis.io/

This week's guest is a true force of entrepreneurial nature. Gregory Vetter turned a family recipe into Tessemae’s — the #1 organic salad dressing brand in the U.S. — and pioneered the ‘fresh condiment’ category, even launching Whole30’s first approved bottled dressings. Greg didn’t stop there. He co-founded Alta Fresh Foods to revolutionize the salad industry, and expanded his entrepreneurial reach with Quenchers Vodka Drinks and Tushees Portable Toilets — proving there’s no category he can’t disrupt. Through his Home Grown Brand Accelerator, he’s now helping others build the next great American brands. Beyond his ventures, Greg is a passionate mentor, board member, and advisor dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders. And when he’s not innovating, you’ll find him enjoying life with his wife and kids on their farm. Greg shares his entrepreneurial journey, from turning a family salad dressing recipe into a successful brand to navigating the challenges of the food industry. He discusses the importance of trusting one's instincts, the sacrifices made to fund his dreams, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. Vetter also highlights his current ventures, including a brand accelerator designed to support other entrepreneurs, and emphasizes the importance of mentorship and giving back to the community. Learn more & Connect: https://www.imundressed.com https://www.gregoryvetter.com

I am thrilled to welcome back one of my favorite guests, Mita Mallick! She has a new book out, The Devil Emails at Midnight: Lessons from Bad Bosses, out on 9/30. Let's dig in! My guest on #thePOZcast is a powerhouse at the intersection of business, storytelling, and inclusion. Mita Mallick is a bold voice in the movement to build cultures of belonging—backed by years of leadership experience at powerhouse brands like Unilever, Pfizer, and Carta. She’s a former Chief Diversity Officer, current Head of DEI and Strategic Initiatives, and the host of the Brown Table Talk podcast, where she and her co-host pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to navigate corporate America as a woman of color. She’s also the author of Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace, a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller that’s challenging outdated corporate norms and helping leaders lead better. She has a brand new book coming out on September 30th, The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn From Bad Bosses that we will dig into and unpack. Whether she’s on stage, on air, or in the boardroom—Mita is rewriting the narrative on what inclusive leadership truly looks like. Let’s get into it. The Devil Emails at Midnight has already been mentioned by Entrepreneur Magazine as Must-Read Career Books to Consider in 2025. Pre-order now (out 9/30): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394316488 Connect with Mita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mita-mallick-2b165822/

First Aired 9/08/23 This is one of those episodes that is so packed with gold that you will want to pause, rewind, and listen back a few times! It's a true masterclass in marketing and career growth. My guest in episode 287 of #thePOZcast is Steve Robinson, former CMO of Chick-fil-A! Today, Steve is a consultant, author, and speaker on organizational culture design and leadership, brand strategy development, and much more. Steve was with Chick-fil-A for over 30 years, and during Steve's tenure, Chick-fil-A grew from 184 stores and $100 million to 2,100 stores and $6.8 billion and became one of the most iconic brands of our time. Prior to joining Chick-fil-A, he served as the director of marketing for Six Flags Over Georgia theme park in Atlanta. Please check out Steve's book, "Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A: How Faith, Cows, and Chicken Built an Iconic Brand"https://a.co/d/79ZNLfV For more on Steve: https://srobinsonconsulting.com/

My guest on episode 466 of #thePOZcast is Chris Kline, the Co-Founder and COO of BitcoinIRA — the company that made history back in 2016 by launching the world’s first platform allowing investors to hold Bitcoin directly in their retirement accounts. Alongside his co-founders Johannes Haze and Camilo Concha, Chris helped pioneer an entirely new financial category. But his vision didn’t stop at Bitcoin. Under his leadership, BitcoinIRA expanded to include Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Litecoin, Ripple, and Bitcoin Cash — giving investors a diversified mix of digital assets within their retirement portfolios. Chris has played a key role in building the company’s secure, full-service experience — from designing the operational processes to forging strategic partnerships — all while keeping compliance at the core. That’s a big reason why BitcoinIRA is now seen as a trusted leader in the crypto retirement space. And when he’s not shaking up the future of finance, you can find him enjoying family time back home in Arizona. Chris Kline, co-founder and CEO of Bitcoin IRA, shares his insights on the evolution of cryptocurrency, the importance of financial literacy, and the future of digital assets in retirement planning. He discusses the challenges of explaining crypto to older generations, the significance of Bitcoin's scarcity, and the need for security in crypto investments. Chris also emphasizes the importance of dollar cost averaging, building a strong company culture, and defining success beyond monetary gains. We unpack his story and so much more! Listen up! To learn more, check out: https://bitcoinira.com/ Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klinec/ Instagram: bitcoin_ira

My guest on episode #464 of #thePOZcast is on a mission to transform how we work — not just tweak it. Jahmaal Marshall is a corporate wellness advocate, certified mental health practitioner, and the founder of Listen Then Speak, LLC. He’s spent over 12 years helping executives, tech leaders, HR pros, and business owners not just survive burnout — but come out stronger on the other side. Through his top-ranked podcast and consulting work, Jahmaal equips high performers with tools to reduce stress, sharpen focus, and reclaim their energy — all while driving real, measurable business results. He’s not about corporate platitudes. He’s about personal transformation — turning exhausted teams into present, purpose-driven people. Learn more: https://listenthenspeak.com/ Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahmaalmarshall/ To book a Discovery Call https://calendly.com/listenthenspeak/30min