In this episode Tony and Steve attack how to take over a dysfunctional HR department or start a department of one. They coin a new phrase, "Eat the Otterpops", discuss how to build recruiting on a solid foundation, and have a lot of fun along the way. Steve gives some incredible new insights into what demotivates employees with some new research from iSolved, and explains why employees refer their friends to work for the company. Nothing or nobody is out of bounds in this episode.
Link to the iSolved Research the guys discuss: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/resource-center/collateral/sapient-insights-group-survey-voice-of-the-customer-payroll-systems-2024-2025
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steve "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Learn more about our Sponsor at: https://www.megastarhr.com/
A link to the books we've referenced on the podcast: https://thehiringtreebook.com/hr-life-podcast
The guys encourage support of The Thrive Life Project: https://www.thrivelifeproject.org/
Claire Lizear joins the podcast from 6 Mile to talk HR burnout, the trap that many HR professionals find themselves in, who HR should report to, how she screens applicants, and of course, horror stories. All this with Claire's fiery sense of humor and incredible insight. Tony shares a favorite harassment complaint. Claire explains what 8 Mile, 6 Mile, and 5 Mile are near Detroit and we find out that Steve is a recording star.
Viva La Kiss Cam: https://youtu.be/OW5WDT40-Ow
Claire Lizear, SHRM-SCP, is an experienced HR leader with a passion for creating workplaces where people feel seen, supported, and set up to succeed. Known for her thoughtful approach to employee relations and her ability to bring clarity to complex situations, she’s helped leaders and teams grow through change with empathy and accountability. When she’s not in HR mode, Claire gives her time to Pucks for Autism, a volunteer effort that combines her love of hockey with her commitment to community and inclusion.
Find out more about Claire at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clizear/
Nobody cried during the recording of the episode.
Learn more about Pucks for Autism at: https://pucksforautism.com/
A link to our incredible sponsor: https://www.megastarhr.com/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
A list of the books mentioned on the podcast can be found here: https://thehiringtreebook.com/hr-life-podcast
Steve and Tony encourage you to support The Thrive Life Project at: https://www.thrivelifeproject.org/
Alison Avila joins the guys to test the theory that no matter what intro Tony gives about Steve, it will turn out to be true. They also discuss perfectionism in HR Pro's, nicknamed horror stories, and why some staffing companies succeed when others don't.
Alison is the Director of Human Resources at Your Employment Solutions (YES), a Utah-based staffing agency where she has led HR strategy and growth since 2013. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Human Resources from Utah State University, she’s spent her entire professional career in the staffing industry, helping YES grow from a single office to a multi-state operation with over 60 staff and 8,000+ W2'd employees annually. A long-time SHRM volunteer and current Utah SHRM State Council Treasurer, Alison is passionate about compliance, human psychology, and the evolving intersection of law, leadership, and technology in the workplace.
You can learn more about Alison at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-avila-mshr-shrm-scp-csp-2829062b/ and https://www.youremploymentsolutions.com/about-yes/corporate-leadership/
Learn more about Tony Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal Smith" at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Links to books we discuss on the podcast: https://thehiringtreebook.com/hr-life-podcast
Thank you to our sponsor MegaStarHR: https://www.megastarhr.com/
Please support The Thrive Life Project: https://www.thrivelifeproject.org/
This podcast was recorded without the use of slave labor and microplastics added to food.
The guys talk Steve's missing Star Wars ornaments and Vision Mission Values with the Empty Red Seat. Why your vision, mission, and values form a critical component in your recruiting, onboarding, and engagement. This discussion is the central focus of Tony’s consulting services and the bleeding edge recruiting techniques that Steve presents at conferences around the country and in his book.
Why is your mission changeable? What are values and why are they valuable? AND… how does that relate to football? Baseball? Basketball?
Learn more about Tony “Two Weeks’ Notice” Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven “Big Deal” Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Email the podcast at thehrlifepodcast@gmail.com Let us know how worried you are about Steve's ornaments and how the podcast has impacted you.
To help you write the perfect Vision, Mission, Values look for this book: The Culture Engine on Amazon https://shorturl.at/4UTjp ... Or reach out to the guys.
No feelings or animals were hurt in the recording of this podcast.
Support our sponsor at: megastarhr.com
We encourage you to support the Thrive Life Project at: www.thrivelifeproject.org
The guys talk to Steve Jaffe, author of the book The Layoff Journey: From Dismissal to Discovery. The discussion moves from statistics of the increasing numbers of people caught in layoffs, to some of the pitfalls of using an ATS fully screen applicants. Recovering from being caught in a layoff is a journey and this episode looks at it from 100 different angles including HR’s.
Born and raised in sunny San Diego, Steve began his writing journey at San Diego State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication. After a 25-year career in advertising and marketing—including work on the iconic “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” advertising campaign—he has returned to his writing roots. Throughout his career, Steve has built a reputation for creativity, strategic insight, and a deep understanding of human experiences. These qualities shape his approach to both his work and life, infusing his writing with authenticity, empathy, and a genuine desire to connect with others. Steve resides in Altadena, California, with his wife, two children, and a perpetually shedding dog. When he’s not writing or consulting as a marketing expert, you can find him chasing waves along the coast or carving fresh powder on the slopes—always seeking balance and adventure in his professional and personal life. Steve’s journey continues to be a testament to resilience, innovation, and the belief that sharing authentic experiences can inspire growth and lead to a deeper understanding of who we truly are.
Find Steve Jaffe’s book at: https://amzn.to/4pNZ5CZ
Learn more about Steve Jaffe at: https://thestevejaffe.com/
Learn More About Steven “Big Deal Smith” at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Learn More About Tony “Two Weeks’ Notice” Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Thank you to MegaStarHR for their continued support. Learn more at https://www.megastarhr.com/
The guys support The Thrive Life Project. Learn more at https://www.thrivelifeproject.org/
Recorded live at The Work Elevated Conference, this episode will shock you into a smile. After another brilliant introduction, the guys talk to both organizers and attendees at the conference. Rachel Child joins the podcast again and talks about working at the conference, Karisa Stahle then talks about turning over the reigns to Joylynn Jepson who also joined and promised to first release the theme of next year’s conference exclusively on the podcast. Attendee Carl McCain talks to the guys about winning a TV at last year’s conference along with what he learned about being kind to others (in addition to the thrill of talking to Steve and Tony). Sterling Barker sits in the Red Seat from Utah SHRM, talks about serving and why he does it. Then, Scott Key, the breakout networker of the conference joins and talks about his experience attending while looking for work.
Warning: This episode contains light humor and lacks a lot of boring employee handbook knowledge. Listeners should be prepared for humor, sarcasm, and a little background noise. Some listeners may experience uncontrollable smiling, laughter, and a desire to attend next year’s conference.
Learn more about Rachel Child at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelm-child/
Learn more about Joylynn Jeppson at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joylynn-jeppson-a87149142/
Learn more about Karisa Stahle at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karisa-stahle-shrm-cp-23395950/
Learn more about Carl McCain at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-mccain-ab309614/
Learn more about Sterling Barker at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterling-l-barker-mshr-phr-shrm-cp-031bb32/
Learn more about Scott Key at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-key-3297b0193/
Learn More about Tony Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Steve admits his troubled past selling lizards and the guys talk recruiting, interviewing, and the state of HR with Melissa Musgrave. Melissa shares her experience "recruiting Jesus" and some other fun stories. The guys take a few minutes and discuss the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Melissa believes people are the capital, and growth is the return. Founder of Melissa Musgrave People Collective, where she helps leaders, professionals, and organizations unlock clarity, confidence, and sustainable growth. With over 20 years in HR strategy and leadership—including as Chief People Officer for an aerospace startup and Head of Employment at Airbus Americas—she knows what it takes to scale teams, build resilient cultures, and deliver business outcomes through people. My career has spanned hiring 10,000+ professionals, leading high-growth organizations through scale-up and transformation, and guiding executives at critical leadership inflection points. She partners with leaders navigating career transitions, burnout recovery, or next-level growth, teams building trust, alignment, and performance, and organizations scaling sustainably through HR strategy and fractional leadership
Learn more about Melissa at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamusgrave/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn about Steven "Big Deal" Smith: at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
After a shaky start, the guys talk to Diane Fullerton from GBS Benefits about that time she helped save the Work Elevated Conference and her association with Utah SHRM. They also talk the world of benefits, what your broker should be doing for you, and the process of getting benefit quotes. We know... all sexy topics for sure, but it was a lot of fun. Monday was a full participant in this episode.
This episode drops the first day of the Work Elevated Conference and can provide a fantastic backdrop to the wonderful opportunities available at the conference. The guys will be recording live at the conference on Tuesday September 23, 2025 at a vendor booth. Stop by and say hi.
Diane Fullerton is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of success at GBS, where she embarked on her journey in 2007 as Chief Operating Officer and has since risen to the position of Chief of People and Community in 2021. Diane is a trailblazer in building a workplace culture centered around people-first attitudes. Under her leadership, GBS has consistently prioritized the well-being and professional growth of its employees, resulting in a motivated and engaged workforce that drives innovation and excellence. Her visionary approach to employee development and mentorship programs has not only elevated GBS as an employer of choice but has also set industry standards. Beyond the confines of the corporate world, Diane is a passionate advocate for community involvement. She has spearheaded numerous initiatives that have made a positive impact on the communities in which GBS operates. Her dedication to corporate social responsibility has earned GBS a reputation as a responsible and caring corporate citizen.
Learn more about Diane Fullerton at: https://gbsbenefits.com/team/diane-fullerton/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Learn about Thrive Life at: https://www.thrivelifeproject.org/
Learn More About MegaStar HR at: https://www.megastarhr.com/
The guys talk with JD Robinson about Recruiting, the state of HR, making transformative relationships with people, and acknowledge that HR is not your friend... but neither is accounting or marketing. They discuss the value of experience verses a degree and why high performers that nobody likes shouldn't be on your team as well as the greatest recruiting process JD has ever been a part of. (No pets were heard in the recording of this episode.)
JD Robinson is a business and HR executive with 15 years of experience driving organizational performance and profitability. Certified in GPHR, SPHR, and SHRM-SCP (with his PMP certification in progress), he specializes in turning complex challenges into business solutions that fuel growth. JD has helped organizations strengthen retention, optimize operations, and build high-performing teams, delivering measurable improvements in productivity and scalability. Known for his direct style and results-driven approach, he focuses on creating sustainable business success by aligning people, strategy, and performance.
Learn more about JD Robinson at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdrobinson1
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Contact the podcast at thehrlifepodcast@gmail.com
The guys talk to Dan Merkley about his experience organizing and managing the athlete's village for the Olympics. What does it take to create an organization that exists to put on a single event and then disband? How do you staff hundreds of workers and keep them all engaged and working hard until the end of the games? How do you keep them from finding another employer two weeks into the event? The guys find out that culture and chemistry are the secret ingredients.
Dan Merkley is a professional, diplomatic executive / sub-executive of events and venue operations with 25 years experience in planning and operations management of regional and global entertainment and sports-oriented projects. Cross-functional expertise in client relations, teaching, training, project development, commercial development. Negotiator and advocate, having represented the interests of the Lima 2019, Rio 2016, Sochi 2014, Vancouver 2010, Beijing 2008, Torino 2006, and Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Villages to scores of internal and external stakeholders, and international clients. Cross-cultural exposure also includes having lived abroad in Rio de Janeiro (15 mo), Russia (2.5 years), Italy (2 years), Romania (2 years), and Qatar (5 mo).
Learn more about Dan Merkley at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-merkley/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Additional Links: https://worldphygital.org/ https://gofuture.games/ https://valkyrierelay.com/
Send translation of the Romanian phrases to thehrlifepodcast@gmail.com. The first person to do so will receive a free copy of Steve's book, The Hiring Tree.
Careful listeners will note special guest parakeets Natasha Romanov and Phillipa Sue. Tony and Steve want to thank their respective talent agents.
The guys talk to Matt Hilbig from OMC, Inc about the state of HR from the perspective of the job seeker. The discussion covers the current labor market, bad behavior by both candidates and recruiters, the reputation companies develop over time by how they treat applicants, and, of course, the word "strategic."
Guest appearance by Rizzo.
Matthew Hilbig is Executive Vice President and co-owner of OCM, Inc., a 40-year-old career transition services and HR consulting firm. He is president of the Central Utah SHRM Board and serves on the Employment Advisory Council for the state of Utah as well as the UVU HR Advisory Board. He’s also a member of Salt Lake SHRM. Matt had a successful career in sales before becoming a consultant and career coach, where he’s helped over a thousand clients with their job search. He has a BS in Mass Communications (Public Relations emphasis) from the University of Utah and an MBA from Grand Canyon University. Matt is a major bookworm, Jeopardy! Junkie, and Mountain Dew fiend. His latest endeavor is learning Spanish.
Learn more about Matt Hilbig at: https://www.ocminc.com/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
The guys sit down and talk to Josh Brecheisen about working in HR while being religious, recruiting, how to become the best version of yourself and the future of AI in helping people find jobs. Josh discusses the idea that, in the future, AI bots will find everybody a job instead of individuals applying for jobs.
Josh is a recruiting leader, trainer, and speaker. He's recruited for top brands such as Dell-EMC, VMWare, and LogMeIn. His career has been focused on stepping into recruiting teams in difficult situations and establishing recruiting industry best practices, building teams from the ground up, and increasing team performance. He's been a contributor and speaker at SourceCon and the Recruiting Trends conferences. Not to mention he was part of a national championship volleyball team at BYU.
Learn more about Josh at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshblife/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Tony's band, Two Weeks' Notice, will be playing on Monday night of the Work Elevated Conference (September 22) at Big Daddy's Pizzeria in Provo. Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/share/1BNhzqyE7Z/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Register for the Work Elevated Conference at: https://utahworkelevated.com/
The guys leave the Red Seat empty for an episode and talk the lawsuit against Workday and the implications for AI use in recruiting. They discuss how you can protect your company and what to ask vendors to provide when you evaluate their AI products. The guys also talk recent changes in recruiting and the marketing principles associated with them. The current state of HR also comes up, of course, and Tony again reminds everybody that HR owns culture. Rizzo The Dog joins the podcast at the very end and agrees with everything Tony said.
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Rizzo The Dog was born on Wednesday, November 2, 2016. He was named after Anthony Rizzo, who played for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs won the World Series on that day. Steve, of course, is a Cubs fan. (There is some dispute about the date the Cubs won the Series because it was after midnight locally when they won, but prior to midnight in Utah where Steve was watching the game.)
Listeners are invited to Join Steve and Tony at the Work Elevated conference on September 22 and 23. Register at: https://www.utahworkelevated.com/ You can also join the guys on September 22 at 6:00pm at Fat Daddy's Pizzeria (across the street from the conference) where Two Weeks' Notice will perform live.
The guys speak to Xavier "X" Cugnon about veterans, the skills they bring to the private sector, how employers can ask about a veteran's story, and the transition from military to civilian life. Oh... and there's a story about a great big cat.
Xavier Cugnon is the Vice President of Human Resources at Lookout Pest Control. With over 15 years of progressive HR leadership, Xavier blends business acumen with a people-first philosophy that has helped forge best in class HR Teams throughout his career. Beyond the office, Xavier serves as Board Chair of SHRM-Atlanta and has spent ten years guiding hundreds of professionals to certification as an adjunct professor for the SHRM certification prep course. He holds a master’s degree in human resources from Villanova University and proudly carries forward the values forged during his service as a United States Marine, collaborating closely with Veteran Service Organizations nationwide. His commitment to service and community has recently earned him the Warrior Alliance Impact Award and a spot on Atlanta’s Best Self Magazine’s “40 & Fabulous” class of 2024. Offstage, he continues to proudly earn his incredible wife Kristin and is an obnoxious dad to 19-year-old daughter Margaux.
Learn more about Xavier "X" Cugnon at: www.linkedin.com/in/xavier-cugnon
Learn more about Tony Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven J Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Additional Links for Veteran related organizations as mentioned in the podcast:
https://www.veohero.org/ - Veterans Empowerment Organization ( a healing campus that allows veterans to rebuild their lives)
https://thewarrioralliance.org/ - The Warrior Alliance ( connects Warriors with the customized resources)
https://atlvets.org/speakers/zack-a-knight/ - ATLVets (individualized roadmaps for career and business success)
https://vetlanta.org/ - Vetlanta (Connecting Veterans with Community)
Tony and Steve talk to Kate Thompson for a fresh take on HR. Tony rambles on about perfume, and Kate drops some fantastic wisdom. They talk about the benefit of being required to solve problems, self care, finding out who's perfume is overpowering the office, and the definition of boring/bad HR. Steve coins the phrase "Cold Played", and the jokes just never stop coming.
And yes... the email to the podcast is thehrlifepodcast@gmail.com... no matter what Tony says at the end. Send us your guest ideas, topic ideas, and how you first met Steve.
Kate Thompson is an HR Generalist with a strong background in employee relations, ADA/FMLA, and benefits. She currently works at Mountain Land Physical Therapy, supporting 70+ locations in multiple states. She especially enjoys helping managers approach tough conversations with clarity and confidence, and turning feedback into real growth. Kate earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from Utah Valley University. Her early experience was focused in onboarding, compliance, and benefits before growing into more employee-facing work. Outside of the office, she’s a lifelong skier and endurance athlete. Kate finished a full Ironman in November 2024 and still chases big goals (and powder days) any chance she gets.
Learn more about Kate Thompson at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate--thompson/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
In this episode, the guys talk to Rachel Child about her story, how she got into HR, the effect of firing a lot of people on a young practitioner, the generational differences between older and younger workers, and even a story about an HR professional who was answering email while in delivery.
Rachel Child is a certified HR Practitioner, Consultant, and Business Instructor (Weber State) who loves to help people identify their strengths and teach leaders to balance policy and consistency with empathy and inclusivity; building loyal and exceptional leaders and teams.
Learn more about Steven Big Deal Smith: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Have topic Ideas? Want to ask a question? Email Steve and Tony at thehrlifepodcast@gmail.com.
In this episode the guys tackle breaking news with the Red Seat empty. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special treat. Weird Al, you're welcome to cover the song.
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal" Smith at https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Lyrics:
He used to be C E O
A brand new CHRO, he was living the dream
But in the evening, he held her close
Wandering from the life he chose
Deciding to roll the dice
They attended a concert that night
List’ning to the crowd, they sang
Bodies pressed together, then they swayed
One minute, they were not in sight
Rising up, dancing in the light
The camera moved causing an awful scene
Unaware they showed on the screen
She saw the Kiss Cam, and fell in hiding
Cov’ring her face to avoid deriding
He looked up, pulled his hands away,
Hiding himself in what looked like shame
For some reason Chris thought them shy
But once they’d gone, there was never, kissing up on the screen
And that was when they shattered the dream
It was a wicked and wild fling
Social blown up by just one scene
Shattering marriages with all their fun
People couldn’t believe what they had done
Comments filled with so much hate
Wantin’ their heads on a silver plate
So go ahead and toss your rocks at them
All of you who are without sin.
She saw the Kiss Cam, and fell in hiding
Cov’ring her face to avoid deriding
He looked up, pulled his hands away,
Hidin’ himself in what looked like shame
For some reason Chris thought them shy
But once they’d gone, there was never, kissing up on the screen
And that was when they shattered the dream
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
She saw the Kiss Cam, and fell in hiding
Cov’ring her face to avoid deriding
He looked up, pulled his hands away,
Hidin’ himself in what looked like shame
For some reason Chris thought them shy
Perhaps St. Peter will never, ever listen to their pleas
For that was when they shattered their dreams
- Steven "Weird AL" Smith
We'd love your reactions, comments, and ideas for future episodes. Contact us at thehrlifepodcast@gmail.com.
In this Episode we talk to Priscilla Wadman about her story and how she got into HR, her view of the state of the art, and what it means to really support employees. Priscilla gives a fantastic roadmap to building an HR career.
With a distinguished career in human resources, Priscilla Wadman is driven by a commitment to operational excellence, employee advocacy, and organizational integrity. She specializes in building inclusive, legally compliant, and strategically aligned HR practices that elevate both people and performance. Currently at AW Services, she leads a team that provides full-spectrum HR services to more than 2,500 employees across over 30 charter schools and companies spanning industries such as education, steel manufacturing, and construction. She brings deep expertise in employee relations, workplace investigations, regulatory compliance, and strategic talent development. Throughout her career, Priscilla has earned a reputation for balancing business needs with human impact, guiding leaders through complex HR challenges, minimizing legal risk, and fostering cohesive, values-driven teams. Her leadership style is collaborative and solution-oriented, grounded in service, mentorship, and continuous improvement. In addition to her operational work, she has taught HR professionals as a PHR/SPHR instructor, consulted on employee benefits strategies, and led key initiatives in policy development, workplace culture, and compliance. She remains active in the HR profession through board service, speaking engagements, and advisory roles. Outside of her professional life, Priscilla is most proud of her family. Married for over 20 years, she is the proud mother of two sons and treasures the time they spend together. She is deeply grateful for the opportunities, challenges, and growth her career has offered and looks forward to what lies ahead.
You can learn more about Steven "Big Deal Smith" at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
You can learn more about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
The podcast now has its own email so you can tell us how much you LOVE the podcast. Contact us at thehrlifepodcast@gmail.com.
In this episode the guys leave the "Red Seat" empty, recapping the first four episodes and introducing themselves to listeners. Steve shares an incredibly inspirational story of the death of his son and the amazing HR professional that helped him through it. Tony shares the moment his life changed forever when he decided to take debate in high school and the truly unique teacher that shaped the way he saw logic and argument. The guys discuss the recent SCOTUS ruling Ames V Ohio Dept of Youth Services and discuss the reverse discrimination cases coming.
- Steve has been in corporate recruiting since Feb 2005 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Brigham Young University. In 2008 he helped with the foundation of ApplicantPro, focusing heavily on small employers to enhance their ability to manage applicant flow. He consults with thousands of companies in hundreds of industries on sound hiring principles and marketing methodologies to attract applicants through proven marketing, SEO practices, and now, artificial intelligence.
- Tony Benjamin is a unique HR leader with more than 20 years of experience working for some of Utah’s oldest, fastest-growing, and most well-known companies. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trustees at Ashley Regional Medical Center, and the Board of Directors at Utah SHRM. He chaired the Work Elevated Conference (WECon) — the state HR conference — for two years and is a regionally recognized authority on building successful company cultures. Tony holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, and is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR). He is married to a woman out of his league, has three brilliant kids he doesn’t deserve, and lives in Vernal, Utah.
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal Smith" at https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Learn More about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Katey Connell is a force for transformation—on stage, in the workplace, and through her podcast, Become Alive. A dynamic Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at an advertising agency, Katey is known for doing things differently. She pioneered culture-first screening interviews to protect and elevate company culture, helping hire not just for skills, but for core-values. As a former SeaWorld Dolphin and Whale Trainer turned motivational speaker, certified life coach, group fitness instructor, and blackbelt in Taekwondo, Katey knows what it means to evolve—and she’s on a mission to help others do the same.
After hitting rock bottom in her own life, Katey learned to get comfortable in the uncomfortable. “Because that’s where growth happens—and that’s where you truly become alive.” Now living her ‘cloud 9’ life, she uses her personal story as a tool to empower others to realize and reach their full, God-given potential. Her philosophy? “Stop telling yourself you can’t. Make the scary decisions. They’re the ones that lead to real change.”
Katey brings her radiant energy, big smile, and deep conviction into every space she enters—whether she’s recruiting top talent, speaking at national events, or coaching others through their own breakthroughs. She resides in San Diego, California, where she surfs the big waves, hikes mountain trails with her dog, and serves in her local church.
Catch her on the Become Alive Podcast, book her to speak at your next transformative event, or partner with Become Alive: Recruiting to find your next top-tier hire. What sets her apart? She’s the only her. And what sets you apart?
Information about Katey Connell https://www.kateyconnell.com/
Information About Tony Benjamin https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Information About Steven J Smith https://thehiringtreebook.com/