The Staffing Show

Is AI Actually Saving Your Staffing Team Time? 10.08.2026 25min

AI has the ability to improve productivity when it’s used correctly. Welcome back to another episode of the new segment of The Staffing Show. Managing director of StaffingHub, Hilary Baker, is here with David Fowell to discuss all things AI. This time, they’re touching on the promise of AI, what increased productivity actually means, and what’s going wrong if that promise isn’t being delivered. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how AI has affected David’s productivity recently, the danger of pointing AI at the wrong tasks, what the right use of AI looks like, and more. We delve into how to avoid falling into AI “rabbit holes” before discussing why using plan mode is essential before starting an AI project. We even touch on David’s favorite AI models and how to select models as a business owner. Finally, you’ll be inspired to try something new this week to improve your AI literacy, and therefore, your overall productivity. Thanks for listening!

AI and Productivity in Staffing with Steve Farrell 04.08.2026 37min

How can AI help staffing agencies move beyond simply filling roles to becoming true employment partners for their clients? Steve Farrell, COO of Your Employment Solutions and the host of The Staffing Playbook Podcast, joins us to explore how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping the staffing industry and helping agencies deliver long-term value for their clients. Steve begins by sharing the story behind Your Employment Solutions and how his interest in AI evolved into a key part of the business strategy. He then walks us through the early stages of implementing AI; revealing how those efforts ultimately led to more than 1,000 new placements. We also unpack Steve’s practical TCLD framework: a simple, memorable system for identifying where technology can drive meaningful change within staffing businesses. Along the way, he discusses how the role of the recruiter is evolving, what skills will become increasingly valuable, and where he believes the industry is headed next. Tune in for a practical, forward-looking conversation on how staffing agencies can embrace AI to work smarter, strengthen client relationships, and build lasting competitive advantage.

Building America’s Fastest-Growing Staffing Firm with Dan Mastropolo 03.08.2026 28min

What does it take to build one of the fastest-growing staffing firms in the U.S.? In this episode, David Folwell sits down with Dan Mastropolo, Chief Visionary Officer at Shift Fillers, to discuss the company’s technology-first approach to staffing and the strategies that helped it earn the top spot on Staffing Industry Analysts’ 2026 Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms list. Dan shares how Shift Fillers has leveraged automation, referral networks, and operational innovation to scale rapidly, the lessons learned from growing the business, and why technical leadership, AI, and financial discipline are becoming essential for staffing firms. He also offers his outlook on the industry’s future, workforce trends, and the evolving role of technology in staffing. Tune in now!

How Staffing Firms Can Build AI That Actually Works with Lauren B. Jones 03.08.2026 31min

AI is making it easier than ever to build custom tools, but does that mean the traditional staffing tech stack is becoming obsolete? In this episode of The Staffing Show, David Folwell is joined by Lauren B. Jones, Founder of Leap Advisory Partners and The Real AI Agency, to explore what AI really means for staffing firms and why success depends on building the right habits, not just adopting new tools. Lauren explains why many AI projects fail, how operators should approach building and managing AI agents, and why clear KPIs, strong operating systems, and thoughtful implementation matter more than chasing the latest technology. They also discuss the importance of CEO involvement, AI governance, data protection, continuous learning, and the mindset staffing leaders need to thrive as AI evolves. Listen in for practical guidance on using AI to create real value without losing sight of the fundamentals!

The Cost of Confidently Wrong AI 24.07.2026 18min

We all know that AI can be wrong, but as we run it for longer periods of time, it can be harder to catch these errors. During this series, we are sharing what we’re learning about AI and discussing best practices, and on this episode with Hilary Baker and David Folwell, we explore three levels of AI hallucinations and how we can avoid them. Join us as we unpack the cost of AI error and where it is most reliably wrong (and right). David shares the AI systems he implements internally, and we discuss the future of AI implementation and where it might take us. He also offers prompts for staffing owners to try this week, and we explore three moves to lower the risk of confident wrong mistakes. Join us today for a practical conversation about lowering risk.

Measuring AI ROI in Staffing 13.07.2026 21min

How should staffing agencies measure whether AI is actually moving the business forward? In this episode of The Staffing Show, David Folwell is joined by Hilary Baker, Managing Director at StaffingHub, to discuss effective ways of proving AI ROI in staffing. They delve into why usage and time saved alone are not enough, how to connect AI to outcomes such as fill rate, placements, redeployment, and gross profit per recruiter, and where AI tools can help teams prioritize the right workflows. They also explore the role of human judgment, emerging AI-enabled recruiter roles, and why better outcomes matter more than more automation.

Franchising Your Staffing Agency With Jason Leverant 02.07.2026 44min

There are so many different recruitment agencies to choose from, but AtWork’s unique franchise model really stands out in this industry. Today on The Staffing Show, President and COO of AtWork, Jason Leverant, joins us to discuss staffing agency differentiation, AI, marketing, and more. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how Jason got into the staffing industry, what AtWork does, and how AtWork remains unique in this space. We delve into why communication and preparation are key before discussing the power of having physical locations for staffing agencies and why local marketing is so valuable. Jason tells us why he’s such a big fan of looking outside of the industry for new ideas, reminds us why staffing is relationship-based, shares how AtWork’s franchise model differs from other staffing agencies, and touches on how they leverage AI to improve their efficiency. Finally, our guest tells us how he sees the evolution of recruiters/franchise owners in the near future and shares why owners choose AtWork. Thanks for listening in!

Leveraging AI to Empower the Staffing Industry with Taylor Stewart 19.05.2026 25min

How can we make use of specific AI tools to make staffing agencies more efficient? Today on The Staffing Show, we welcome Senior Account Executive at Ringover, Taylor Stewart, to discuss their powerful AI tool, Empower, and how it’s impacting the success rates of staffing firms. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our guest’s career, what Ringover does, how the industry has evolved since she started, and more! Taylor goes on to tell us about Ringover’s new AI tool, Empower, and what it does before discussing some of the biggest operational inefficiencies she sees within the staffing industry, and how a tool like Empower can bridge those gaps. She even tells us about their AI simulation training, Pitch Room, and touches on how other staffing agencies are beginning to adopt the use of AI tools. Finally, our guest hints at what’s next for Ringover and tells us why it’s such a unique organization. Thanks for listening!

Partnering with Digital Workers in the Staffing Industry with Dries De Coster 16.04.2026 36min

What would success in the staffing industry look like if we leveraged the use of AI to save employees time and make them more efficient? Today, on The Staffing Show, we welcome the founder and CEO of meet DWIGHT, Dries De Coster, to discuss how staffing agencies are using AI and how it will develop in future. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Dries’ background, what his company, meet DWIGHT, does, how it operates, and so much more! Our guest explains the danger of agencies “becoming a bank” and how his company handles this issue, before discussing the power of using digital workers with human workers. He even shares some thoughts on how listeners can start to explore these ideas. Dries also touches on points of failure he sees in the world of staffing and AI today, and how to fix them. Finally, he gives us his predictions on the evolution of AI in the staffing industry in the near future and where he sees meet DWIGHT in that equation.

Leveraging AI in Recruitment With Chris Sund and Holly Stewart 13.03.2026 44min

AI is all the hype at the moment, and in recruitment, it’s obvious that it needs to be used, but how it should be used is not as clear. Today on The Staffing Show, we welcome the president and COO of Uniti Med and GQR Healthcare, Chris Sund, and the head of software solutions, technology, and trading at GQR Healthcare, Holly Stewart, to discuss how you can use AI to impact your business and how their new AI recruitment platform, Nebula, can help you do that. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what Nebula does, how it differs from other large-language models, how top-performing recruiters are using AI to save time and recruit different people who may not have otherwise been noticed, and so much more. We delve into where recruiting needs human relationships and why those areas should never be automated, before discussing how agencies can get the most out of Nebula and how they are making the adoption of this tool easier for recruiters. Finally, our guests share their thoughts on the future of agencies that make use of AI tools versus those that don’t. Thanks for listening.

Strategic Workforce Integration for Sustainable Benefits With Carl Stecker and Scott Poeschl 05.03.2026 35min

In an industry where margins are razor-thin and the average data breach costs over $10 million, staffing leaders are moving beyond “good enough” solutions to transform benefits and data security from mandatory requirements into a powerful strategic advantage. Today on The Staffing Show, David Folwell is joined by Carl Stecker, Founder and President of Benefits in a Card, and Scott Poeschl, Senior Vice President of Avionté+, to examine how staffing firms can rethink employee benefits as a strategic lever rather than a fixed expense. They discuss the risks of manual data transfers and why real-time API integration is crucial for protecting sensitive employee information. They explain how good data hygiene supports the use of AI tools while improving security and compliance. The conversation also covers why participation rates matter for staffing owners, the difference between bundled and unbundled benefit plans, and how firms that leverage benefits strategically differ from those that do not. Finally, they share practical steps firms can take to optimize benefits, reduce risk, and improve overall outcomes.

Building a Culture of Accountability With Dan Mori 23.02.2026 45min

Many leaders say they want a culture of accountability, but building that culture starts with how they choose to lead. In this episode of The Staffing Show, Hilary Baker sits down with Dan Mori, founder of Staffing Mastery, the Staffing Dashboard, and the Staffing Sales Summit. Drawing on years of working with staffing leaders, Dan explains why accountability is often a leadership issue rather than a people issue, and how unclear expectations and reactive behavior often result in a culture based on fear rather than continuous improvement. He outlines practical tools to help you clearly communicate your vision and financial targets with your teams, and how to build an environment that allows team members to learn from their mistakes and take accountability. The conversation also explores what leaders should look for when hiring, how agencies are navigating AI adoption, and what separates firms that create lasting value from those that become replaceable. Dan closes by sharing what leaders can expect at the upcoming Staffing Sales Summit and why this moment represents an inflection point for the industry.

Technology, Trust, and Results in Healthcare Recruitment 27.01.2026 28min

Rethinking Staffing Sales in an AI-Driven Market with Dan Mori 08.01.2026 30min

Integration and Management of AI: The Rise of Digital Workers with Brandon Metcalf 11.12.2025 45min

Healthcare Staffing with Jordan Tallman 09.12.2025 21min

Recruitment for travel nursing is incredibly niche, and today on The Staffing Show, we are joined by the founder and CEO of Wayward Medical Staffing, Jordan Tallman, to discuss his incredible healthcare staffing agency and to hear his expertise in this field. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Jordan’s career, what led him to the staffing industry, what makes Wayward Medical Staffing so unique, and so much more! We delve into their approach to AI, technology, brand building, and content strategies before discussing what works when it comes to sourcing. Jordan also explains his strategy of giving and shares some insight into what nursing staff think of healthcare staffing agencies. Finally, Jordan answers our rapid-fire questions. To hear all this and more, be sure to press play now!

Reinventing Staffing Franchises with Cary Daniel 20.11.2025 54min

What if you could own a staffing business without signing a long-term lease, hiring a full team on day one, or pouring most of your net worth into the unknown? In this episode of The Staffing Show, we sit down with Cary Daniel, Co-Founder and CEO of NEXTAFF, to explore how the franchise model in staffing is being completely reimagined for the modern market. In our conversation, Cary shares how he was “coerced” into staffing back in the 90s, how he built and sold his first multi-office firm, and how he went on to launch NEXTAFF and grow it into a multi-vertical staffing franchise. He explains how the industry has evolved from traditional territory-based franchising, what’s broken in the classic staffing franchise playbook, and how NEXTAFF’s virtual model dramatically lowers startup costs and risk. We explore why many recruiters and sales pros are now choosing franchising, the gaps in exit opportunities for mid-sized agencies, and how owners can shift into semi-absentee roles while promoting their number-two leaders. We also delve into how NEXTAFF is leveraging AI agents, what Cary thinks is overhyped about AI-driven hiring, and why humanoid robots could become part of the future staffing mix. Tune in now!