Épisodes

  • #56- Poker Pro, Media Mogul, Recruiter: Joe Sebok Always goes All In

    #56- Poker Pro, Media Mogul, Recruiter: Joe Sebok Always goes All In
    Dec 12 2025
    *SUMMARY* In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark Willcox sits down with former professional poker player turned recruiter, Joe Sebok, to talk about his wild career journey. Joe was part of the poker boom in the 2000s, playing on televised World Series of Poker tables, running his own media company, and even building an early social media platform for poker pros. But when the online poker industry collapsed in 2011, he had to reinvent himself—eventually landing in the world of recruiting, where he’s now building a thriving business. Joe shares the lessons he’s learned from poker that apply directly to recruiting and business: reading people, managing risk, and knowing when to go all-in. He talks about the power of reinvention, why so many recruiters fail because they avoid doing the actual work, and how leaning into your strengths can give you a real competitive advantage. He also opens up about navigating public scrutiny, handling high-pressure situations, and overcoming mental blocks that hold people back from success. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your career, doubted your next move, or struggled to stand out in a crowded market, this episode is packed with insights on mindset, personal branding, and making strategic bets on yourself. Don’t miss this one! *HIGHLIGHTS* 00:00 - Introduction & Digital Recruiter Newsletter 01:00 - Welcoming Special Guest: Joe Seabock 02:00 - Joe’s Background: From Poker Pro to Recruiter 04:00 - Life After Poker: A Reset in Wine Country 06:00 - Transition to Recruiting & Career Growth 09:00 - The Power of Strategic Advantages 12:00 - Social Media & Content Marketing for Recruiters 15:00 - Joe’s Journey into Professional Poker 18:00 - The Poker Boom & Media Evolution 22:00 - Lessons from Poker Applied to Recruiting 27:00 - Recognizing Industry Trends & Pivoting 32:00 - The Mental Game of Business & Success 38:00 - The Role of Confidence & Commitment 45:00 - Overcoming Setbacks & Navigating Change 50:00 - Social Media Challenges & Haters 55:00 - Recruiting, Market Trends & Career Advice 1:00:00 - Final Thoughts & Takeaways *JOE's BIO* After beginning his career as a professional poker player in 2005, winning several titles and competing in both the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour, Sebok ceased playing full-time in 2009 to make his shift into media and business. He did so effectively, helping spearhead poker’s first televised media reporting program, as well as several of poker’s most popular radio programs across the globe. Sebok joined the recruiting and talent acquisition ranks in 2015 and won awards while at the largest creative recruiting agency in North America before transitioning to work in-house and build several entire teams from scratch. His additional experience in marketing, sales, and operations further strengthens his robust proficiency in understanding clients’ open positions and what is required to staff them both effectively and expeditiously. You can find Joe on LinkedIn at Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 7 min
  • #113- Automation, Culture & The Future of Staffing: A Deep Dive with Paul Champaneria

    #113- Automation, Culture & The Future of Staffing: A Deep Dive with Paul Champaneria
    Dec 5 2025
    SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark welcomes Paul Champaneria, SaaS veteran, staffing agency founder, and the mind behind CallMantra, a purpose-built calling and texting platform for recruiters. Paul’s story is a masterclass in organic innovation: he didn’t set out to create recruiting tech. He just needed a better way to scale his own internal team. What started with solving hiring inefficiencies in his software companies led to the creation of a high-performing staffing agency. From there, Paul built CallMantra, a system that now helps recruiters increase connection rates by 40%, reduce manual work, and deliver better candidate experiences, faster. Paul unpacks how his team retained talent for over a decade, the tech stack philosophy that makes it possible, and why smaller agencies have a massive opportunity if they lean into automation the right way. He also gives a glimpse into the future, think AI voicebots that sound like you and submit candidate write-ups automatically. Whether you’re a solo recruiter or a 100-person firm, this episode is packed with insight and practical direction. PAUL'S BIO Paul Champaneria is the founder of Expert Hiring, a high-performance staffing agency, and the creator of CallMantra, a communications platform designed exclusively for recruiters. He began his career building software companies in the 1990s, including TeleCenter and Focal Point, before organically stepping into staffing through internal hiring needs. His blend of SaaS experience and recruiter empathy led him to develop tools that solve real-world workflow bottlenecks. Paul is known for running lean, culture-forward teams that retain top talent for over a decade. He attributes that success to trust, autonomy, and arming his people with world-class tools. When he’s not building tech or scaling businesses, Paul recharges with daily meditation and workouts, and stays grounded by avoiding the noise of social media. Connect with Paul on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulchampaneria/ and check out https://www.callmantra.co/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 min
  • #112- Why Marcus Quigley Walked Away from a Safe Job and Built a 6-Figure Niche in Legal Staffing

    #112- Why Marcus Quigley Walked Away from a Safe Job and Built a 6-Figure Niche in Legal Staffing
    Nov 21 2025
    SUMMARY In this powerful episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Marcus Quigley, founder of Recruitify, to unpack a raw, real, and inspiring journey from burnout to breakthrough. Marcus didn’t plan on becoming a recruiter, he stumbled into it after falling out of love with sales finance. But what started as a pivot became a purpose-driven career that would eventually lead him to launch his own agency focused on legal and professional services. This episode isn’t about startup fluff or highlight reels. Marcus takes us into the messy middle: the six months of struggle after going solo, the desperation that nearly derailed him, and the $20K loan against his 401(k) that bought him breathing room. From there, he got laser-focused, tightening his niche, his vetting process, and his mindset. Along the way, he racked up 24 placements and found something more valuable than revenue: confidence, clarity, and conviction. The conversation also veers into personal territory. Marcus opens up about losing his father, his five-year sobriety, and the lessons those moments etched into how he runs his business. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re cut out for entrepreneurship, or needed proof that authenticity still wins, this episode is for you. MARCUS' BIO I’m the founder of Recruitify, a boutique recruiting firm focused on legal and professional services. I built this business on being real with people, honest, direct, and straightforward. I don’t sugarcoat things or hide behind buzzwords. My job is to do the right thing for both my clients and my candidates, even when it’s not the easy thing. That’s how you build long-term trust and real results. Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-quigley-a7146ba1/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 min
  • #111- How Ashley Woods Scaled a $10M Desk and Bought Her Time Back

    #111- How Ashley Woods Scaled a $10M Desk and Bought Her Time Back
    Nov 14 2025
    SUMMARY Ashley Woods didn’t just build a successful recruiting desk. She redefined what success looks like. After starting her career at Allegis Group with no prior knowledge of the industry, she quickly rose through the ranks by applying an athletic mindset and a relentless hunger to master her craft. But after hitting big wins including five President’s Club awards, she burned out, left recruiting altogether, and came back on her own terms. In this episode, Ashley shares how she built her $10 million desk at Tema, the systems she used to break the hustle trap, and why she launched Time Rich Recruiter to help others do the same. She and Clark go deep on time audits, the emotional toll of overworking, the role of vulnerability in client relationships, and how to leverage partnerships and automation without losing the human touch. Whether you're scaling or stuck, this is a masterclass on sustainable success. ASHLEY'S BIO Ashley Woods is the founder of Time Rich Recruiter, a coaching platform designed to help recruiters break free from burnout and build systems that scale. A five-time President’s Club winner and top biller at TEEMA, Ashley built a $10M desk while traveling the world. She's trained Muay Thai in Phuket, learned Spanish abroad, and is passionate about helping others build lives they don’t need a vacation from. Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyjcwoods/ or at https://www.timerichrecruiter.com/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 min
  • #110- Mike Bradshaw on Amplifying Recruiters with Automation, Without Losing the Human Touch

    #110- Mike Bradshaw on Amplifying Recruiters with Automation, Without Losing the Human Touch
    Nov 3 2025
    SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark Wilcox sits down with Mike Bradshaw, Vice President of Talent at Pinpoint, a next-gen ATS platform that's redefining hiring for in-house teams. With ERE’s Recruiting Innovation Summit just around the corner, Mike shares a preview of his upcoming talk and dives deep into the urgent challenges recruiters are facing today. As recruiting teams are stretched thinner than ever, juggling a surge in applicants, tighter budgets, and growing expectations, Mike explains how smart workflow automation can actually elevate the recruiter’s role instead of replacing it. From simplifying complex hiring to maintaining candidate empathy at scale, the conversation highlights how Pinpoint's human-centered tech design is helping companies hire faster and fairer. Clark and Mike also unpack what to look for in an ATS, why design and support matter as much as features, and how to evaluate innovation in a crowded HR tech market. It’s a candid, practical discussion on transforming recruiting operations while keeping the human element front and center. MIKE'S BIO Mike Bradshaw is the VP of Talent at Pinpoint, a high-growth HR tech company building software that helps in-house recruiting teams attract, hire, and onboard the right talent. With over 15 years of experience leading People and Talent strategy across early-stage startups, mission-driven organizations, and nationally scaled brands, Mike has built and scaled talent infrastructure from the ground up—guiding teams through high-growth periods and successful exits. Follow Mike on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsmikebradshaw/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    19 min
  • #109- Jim Durbin on Smarter Recruiting, Better Process, and What Most TA Leaders Miss

    #109- Jim Durbin on Smarter Recruiting, Better Process, and What Most TA Leaders Miss
    Nov 2 2025
    SUMMARY In this high-impact episode, Clark Wilcox sits down with Jim Durbin, aka the “Indeed Whisperer”, for a wide-ranging conversation on recruitment marketing, process design, and how to think like a TA consultant in an era of automation. Jim has trained over 10,000 recruiters, led campaigns that delivered 500,000 candidates for less than 30 cents each, and worked across high-volume, executive, and everything in between. They dive into a case study from NHHS Management, where Director of Recruiting Mike Dickinson reimagined the application process for skilled nursing roles in some of the toughest markets in the U.S. What happened next? A dramatic drop in cost per applicant, and better candidate experience. But this episode is about more than just tactics. Jim explains why TA leaders need to stop chasing AI and start fixing broken processes. He shows how reframing metrics like source of hire can mean the difference between strategic credibility and being replaced. This one’s a masterclass in thinking differently about scale, quality, and impact in recruiting. Come for the Indeed insights. Stay for the storytelling, salty takes, and timeless truths about how recruiting really works. JIM'S BIO Jim Durbin is a veteran recruiter, trainer, and recruitment marketing consultant best known as “The Indeed Whisperer.” With decades of experience across staffing, RPO, executive search, and corporate TA, Jim is a rare hybrid who understands both front-line sourcing and strategic TA operations. He’s helped optimize recruitment strategies for companies like Marriott, PSG, and dozens of mid-market firms, often reducing costs while increasing candidate quality. A former headhunter turned high-volume hacker, Jim brings a sharp sense of humor, deep insight, and a hat you won’t forget. Find Jim on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimdurbin/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 min
  • #108- Rethinking ATS, Scaling RPO, and Why Talent Acquisition Needs a Seat at the Table

    #108- Rethinking ATS, Scaling RPO, and Why Talent Acquisition Needs a Seat at the Table
    Nov 2 2025
    SUMMARY Christine Nichlos didn’t set out to build an RPO and HR tech firm that would partner with some of the world’s most complex enterprises, she simply saw a better way to do recruiting. Since launching People Science in 1997, she’s stayed at the forefront of talent acquisition by staying relentlessly curious and customer-focused. In this episode, Christine joins Clark Wilcox to talk about the evolution of recruiting from paper resumes to AI-augmented systems, and what most leaders still get wrong about applicant tracking systems (ATS). They dive deep into how her team developed Hire Gate, a recruiter- and candidate-tracking platform that augments existing ATSs to provide actionable intelligence. Christine explains why TA leaders need better data, not more tools, to make strategic decisions, and how platforms like Hire Gate are helping teams shift from reactive hiring to proactive workforce planning. She also shares why AI alone can’t save you, how her team pilots tools before implementation, and what true recruiter enablement looks like. Christine’s passion is clear: if we don't fix talent acquisition, the economy can’t grow. This episode is a powerful reminder that TA isn’t just back-office HR, it’s mission-critical. Whether you’re an enterprise TA leader, agency recruiter, or HR tech buyer, this conversation will make you rethink your tech stack, your team structure, and your own influence. CHRISTINE'S BIO Christine Nichlos is the Founder and CEO of People Science and Hire Gate, a next-generation RPO and HR tech firm that specializes in solving high-volume, complex hiring challenges. With roots in talent advisory and a sharp focus on execution, Christine’s companies have supported global enterprises like Lucent, Verizon, and others in redesigning how they attract and retain talent. She is a passionate advocate for elevating talent acquisition as a business-critical function, and her firm’s platform Hire Gate helps TA teams plan, track, and optimize recruiter performance beyond what a traditional ATS allows. When she’s not designing systems to fix recruiting, she’s mentoring teams to think strategically and speak the language of business. Connect with Christine on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/cnichlos/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 min
  • #107- How Larry Hernandez is Scaling Recruiter Brilliance with Custom AI Assistants

    #107- How Larry Hernandez is Scaling Recruiter Brilliance with Custom AI Assistants
    Oct 31 2025
    SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast’s ERE Summit Series, Clark Wilcox is joined by Larry Hernandez, founder of Recruiter DNA. With over 25 years in the industry, Larry now teaches recruiters how to build their own AI-powered workflows that boost productivity without sacrificing the human side of recruiting. His approach is grounded, tactical, and built for scale, making AI accessible to recruiters at any level. Larry shares how he trains recruiting teams to use ChatGPT and generative AI as collaborative tools instead of replacements. He introduces the concept of “scaling brilliance” capturing the workflows of your top performers and turning them into custom AI copilots anyone can use. From intake meetings to writing job posts in your brand’s tone, Larry offers a refreshing and empowering take on AI’s role in modern hiring. This is a must-listen for anyone overwhelmed by AI and unsure where to start. LARRY'S BIO Larry Hernandez is the founder of Recruiter DNA, a training and AI strategy firm for modern recruiting teams. With a background spanning agency, in-house, RPO, and consulting roles at companies like Zappos, Microsoft, and Twitter, Larry now helps TA leaders and recruiters build practical, no-code AI assistants using the tools they already have. He specializes in demystifying AI and helping teams scale their top performers' knowledge through custom GPT workflows. Connect with Larry on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/larryhernandezrecruiter/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 min