The Alder Hour
The Alder Hour
Podcast Description
Welcome to the Alder Hour, your new favorite way to close out the day. Spend 60 minutes with Matt Alder, the Talent Acquisition titan, the source for sourcers, and the overseas addition to the Purple Acorn family. But he’s not spending the entire hour alone — we’ll hear from HR specialist Jocelyn King, trend maven Rhona Pierce, and callers each week. So punch that clock and let us take you home.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast revolves around themes of talent acquisition, HR trends, and workplace dynamics, with episodes exploring topics such as the impact of tech on hiring processes, workplace relationships, and career trends. For example, Episode 4 discusses tech's influence on tasking, and Episode 3 covers Rhona's predictions on career pre-nups, ensuring timely and relevant content.
The Alder Hour is a podcast that explores the future of HR and Talent Acquisition through honest conversations with people driving change. Broadcast LIVE, we cover the bold ideas and real-world innovations shaping how companies attract, hire, and retain talent. While we don’t shy away from tough or awkward topics—like layoffs, AI ethics, and DEI backlash—our focus is on sharing practical insights, fresh perspectives, and inspiring stories that help talent leaders navigate change and build stronger, more human-centric hiring practices.
Each week, host Matt Alder (of Recruiting Future) clocks in with unfiltered insights, smart headlines, and sharp banter from the frontlines of talent, tech, and the ever-shifting world of work. Broadcasting from the UK as part of the Purple Acorn Network, Matt brings a global perspective to local workplace dilemmas — and he’s never at the mic alone.
You’ll hear from:
Rhona Pierce, our go-to trendwatcher and pop culture pulse-checker,
Jocelyn King, HR operations pro and master of The Situation Room,
Regular appearances from guest co-hosts like John Baldino and Robin Schooling,
And bold conversations with industry leaders — from TA innovators to employer branding experts and wellness coaches.
No topic is too awkward: layoffs, AI ethics, DEI backlash, resume fibbing, hiring influencers, office politics, and yes — whether body cameras belong on retail staff.
So pour a drink (alcoholic or not), punch that mental clock, and spend 60 minutes with The Alder Hour — part news, part group chat, all future of work.
Find out more at https://www.purpleacornnetwork.com
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purple-acorn-network
On this week’s Alder Hour, Matt and Rhona dive into two of the biggest stories shaping the future of work: the controversial new U.S. immigration fee hikes — including a proposed $100,000 price tag for tech visas and $1M for permanent residency — and the key takeaways from HR Tech Las Vegas 2025, where AI, agentic HR, and culture dominated the conversation. Jocelyn steps into the Situation Room with a jaw-dropping story of someone secretly working six full-time jobs at once, and we sit down with Patti Tabris, freshly honored as an AI Champion at the ISG Women in Digital Awards 2025, to hear how she’s blending innovation and people-first strategy at ResultsCX. Plus, we’ll round things out with “Trending or Ending?” — our signature hot-take segment on what’s next in HR tech.
The Alder Hour is part of the Purple Acorn Network. Catch us live, follow us on LinkedIn, or listen back on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your pods.
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Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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