Beer and Podcasting in Las Vegas
We are unleashed this week as, um, UNLEASH America makes its third trip to the states. The boys wax poetic about their time in Vegas, which includes a Chad & Cheese party, a pot party and selfie consultants … don’t worry, it’ll all make sense. News-wise, CV Wallet raised money, Jobcase cuts heads and CEOs are still losing their minds over remote work. Pass the Tylenol, bet it all on black and enjoy this live episode from a Vegas dive bar.
TRANSCRIPTION SPONSORED BY: Disability Solutions partners with our clients to build best-in-class inclusion programs and reach qualified, talented individuals with disabilities of every skill, education, and experience level.
Intro: Hide your kids, lock the doors. You're listening to HR's most dangerous podcast. Chad Sowash and Joel Cheesman are here to punch the recruiting industry right where it hurts. Complete with breaking news, brash opinion and loads of snark. Buckle up, boys and girls. It's time for The Chad & Cheese Podcast.
[music]
Joel: Oooh, yeah. We are live from a dive bar in Las Vegas, licking our wounds from a week at UNLEASH America. Hey kids, you are listening to The Chad & Cheese Podcast. This is your co-host, Joel "What I Did Here Stays Here" Cheesman.
Chad: And this is Chad "Did You Pick This Place Because It Has A Shit Ton of Big Booty Latinas In It" Sowash.
Joel: I don't know what you're talking about. On this week's episode, which is Abbreviated CEO's Gone Wild, Sir Richard Unchains the Blockchain.
Chad: Oh my God.
Joel: And UNLEASH is unleashed. Let's do this. How are you feeling, Chad? Your battery a little low?
[chuckle]
Chad: I'm one of those guys who at first I am energized off of all the engagement.
Joel: Sure.
Chad: And then it just fucking smothers me.
Joel: And it's been a while since we've had this much engagement. We're a little out of shape.
Chad: Yeah.
Joel: We need to get in conference shape again, but it's been a hell of a lot of fun.
Chad: It's been amazing. It has been amazing. Let's go ahead. Let's. Let's jump... We'll talk more about unleash.
Joel: Let's suck it up. Be professionals.
Chad: Whole block of unleashed...
Joel: And do some shout outs.
Chad: Do some shout outs. I'm gonna do a block of LinkedIn shout outs. You ready for this.
Joel: LinkedIn love.
Chad: James Cleaver on LinkedIn. Here's a quote. It's what he posted.
Joel: Yep.
Chad: "I have to mute unleash and chad and cheese. The FOMO is killing me." Next, we have Stephen McGrath on LinkedIn. Quote, "I square to the good Lord, if someone doesn't get me one of those t-shirts ASAP, you're both gonna be in trouble when I see you next."
SFX: Welcome to all things Scottish. Our slogan is, If it's not Scottish, it's crap.
Chad: And then Joe Stubblebine.
Joel: Stubbs.
Chad: I'm gonna save this one for last. Joe posted on LinkedIn, quote, "You've got to hand it to Chad and Cheese. They're... The Chad and Cheese podcast is a master class in staying relevant." This is where I tear up a little bit 'cause Joe was one of the original listeners. I mean he was almost like an advisor at one point where he would call in and say, "Hey, look...
Joel: When we sat down and said maybe 50 people will listen to this and he was one of them.
Chad: He was one of them. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so he was incredibly helpful early on. He's been listening and watching in the background and every now and again he comes up for air and he gives us little gems like this so.
Joel: And helpful in many ways because he was critical.
Chad: Oh God, yeah.
Joel: And sometimes your critics are your best friends. If you listen to them and take their advice early on, I remember him saying you guys should, you know, snap it up a little bit. Don't worry about the F-Bombs and then taking people to task.
Chad: Yeah.
Joel: And we listened. So. Joe, thank you.
Chad: Yeah, we had the usual HR kind of like line coming into us saying, oh wait a minute, you guys need to back it down.
Joel: Oh, you can't do that.
Chad: You're challenging people, you're using the F-Bomb, you're doing these... You just can't do that. And Joe was one of the only guys there was a handful that said, "You know what? Fuck them. Dial it up. Dial it up, because that's what the people want. That's what they're thinking. That's what they want." And when we went to our first SHRM talent, where all the old SHRM HR ladies go.
Joel: The suits.
Chad: Yes, they came up to us and they said the exact same thing. You're saying what we've been thinking for 30 plus years. For God's sakes, keep it up.
Joel: Yeah.
Chad: And thanks to people like Joe for the support.
Joel: Thanks for all the love. We'll get to the actual on site love that we've been getting. But thanks for the virtual love.
Chad: Yes.
Joel: From everywhere. From Scotland to where the hell is Joey Stubbs now? On a boat off of the Italian coast.
Chad: He could be in Budapest. He could be in Italy somewhere. Greece? Who the fuck knows? But that guy's... He gets around.
Joel: Well, Chad, my shout out goes to a special person in my life.
Chad: Oh, yeah?
Joel: When I say Jerry Springer, what comes to mind?
Chad: Cincinnati, Ohio. And who the baby daddy?
Joel: Jerry. Jerry. Yes. Former mayor of Cincinnati.
Chad: Yes.
Joel: I believe he was caught with a prostitute, which is why he was no longer the Cincinnati mayor.
Chad: Big surprise.
Joel: And obviously most famous for The Jerry Springer Show.
Chad: Yes.
Joel: Which in college, while you were battling the communists, I was in a fraternity house with a bunch of guys in our underwear watching Jerry Springer. And years later, I met Jerry in Cleveland, got a picture taken with him. It's out there somewhere. I'll find it. And I said, "Jerry, you got me through college." And he said, "Well, don't send me the bill." And that was my Jerry Springer moment. But Jerry, sadly, has passed away this week at the ripe young age of 79 years old.
Chad: Wow.
Joel: Rest in peace, Jerry. I like to think that Jerry had a little influence on this show. We're not throwing chairs. We're not revealing who the baby daddy is, but we do talk a lot of shit. So, Jerry, this is for you. Shout out.
Chad: For your side of the show. We'll say that's Jerry Springer. Okay, Let's go ahead. Let's jump into events again. We'll talk about Unleash here in a minute, but we have more events coming kids, this is exciting. It's pretty amazing. Our next one is gonna be an iCIMS Inspire Coronado Beach early part of May go to Chadcheese.com/events if you're an iCIMS customer I don't know prospect or maybe a vendor who just wants to come to enjoy check it out Chadcheese.com.
Joel: Vegas to So-Cal Life doesn't suck.
Chad: Does not suck.
Joel: And then you go to Portugal.
Chad: Yeah.
[laughter]
Joel: So I did all the birthdays.
Chad: Oh really.
Joel: Last week for the rest of the month.
Chad: Good. Okay.
Joel: But Plum was here at the show.
Chad: Yes. Oh, my God.
Joel: And they were very supportive.
Chad: Yes.
Joel: I just wanna give a quick shout out for them.
Chad: They fed you, that's crazy.
Joel: For sponsoring.
Chad: Yeah.
Joel: The birthday segment of the show.
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Joel: In case you missed it, everybody.
Chad: Oh, what?
Joel: We were in Las Vegas for the Unleashed America Conference this week.
Joel: You did not miss it. James Cleaver had to mute us.
Chad: We're talking PowerPoints. Plug-in software and pour me another one. Chad, I need a nap. What are your thoughts and takeaways from our time in Vegas?
Joel: I got to say the new venue, as I'd said prior, I'm really excited to see how it plays, right. Because MGM actually has a pretty good setup, but the Seizures Forum is much more business. It's much more focused. The high roller is there for events. They had the night summit. It was pretty awesome. And this is just the first year, they're actually gonna expand next year. I thought the setup, just the venue itself was pretty amazing. What'd you think?
Joel: Yeah. The venue for sure. I love that it was... So typically in Vegas, it's at a hotel.
Chad: Yeah.
Joel: And you end up staying in the hotel.
Chad: Everybody.
Joel: Because it's just a pain in the ass. This one is located where you're basically right at an alley of bars, in and out burger...
Chad: Hotels.
Joel: Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips. So you can walk down this alley.
Chad: Flamingos right there.
Joel: Yeah. And then at the end of the alley, you've got the Vegas Strip, is at your fingertips.
Chad: Yep.
Joel: So I love that the location was great. The Ferris Wheel is a cool visual.
Chad: It is.
Joel: The hotels that we stayed in were right where they needed to be. So location-wise it was fantastic. I think you and I talked about how much, how far this conference has come in three years.
Chad: Yes.
Joel: And they've been a juggernaut in Europe.
Chad: Not even consecutive years, that's the thing.
Joel: Correct.
Chad: Yeah.
Joel: There was a pandemic in there. [chuckle] But I remember us talking when they said, "We're gonna come to America." sort of scoffing and there's so much competition and HR Tech and for Mark and his team in three years to bring this saying to as big of a apex predator as it is, is really, really impressive. And I think the other conferences need to look out, keep an eye at the back of their head because Unleash is coming. [laughter] I'm equally excited about Rec Fest.
Chad: Oh fuck.
Joel: Taking their first step into the United States. These two European...
Chad: Americans got to step their shit up.
Joel: America's gotta step it up.
Chad: Here's the interesting thing. HR Tech was bought by a European company, a UK company. So we might see a little twist this year. Maybe not this year, maybe next year. But it is interesting.
Joel: So you are saying like HR Tech Euro?
Chad: I don't know.
Joel: Europe.
Chad: Yeah. Who knows? But there might be a red light district somewhere. Who knows. [laughter] So we got here, we had a chance to be in the Work human booth four hours yesterday. Kissing hands, shaking babies, giving away t-shirts. I appreciate everybody who stop by. We're gonna have some great interviews that are gonna be popping out.
Joel: And before that, we're on stage with Tex Colonel.
Chad: Yeah.
Joel: Talking vibe build or partner. That was a great segment, which I think we got on record and we'll push that out as a podcast or no?
Chad: Yes.
Joel: Okay. So be on the lookout for that. We got to talk about the Tatio party.
Chad: Yes.
Joel: They're your homeboys and girls. Talk about it.
Chad: Yeah. So, Tatio, little startup out of Israel, two female founders, they are incredibly electric. I don't know how other to say it. Right. I mean they are just incredibly ele...
Joel: Ball of energy.
Chad: I don't know if it's the Israeli culture, and they're all born bred military for the most part, but they are on it. And this is the second party that they've had with us. And this one doubled the last one and we blew out the last one. So it was a great time. We had over I think 125 people who registered, we had over 80 show up.
Joel: Wow.
Chad: That kind of ratio of engagement to actual attendance is pretty fucking awesome.
Joel: And it wasn't easy to get to where we were.
Chad: I'm humbled it was not in the same place.
Joel: No.
Chad: People had to walk 15 minutes.
Joel: So I'm incredibly humbled by the experience. Yes. Love the Tatio girls.
Chad: They're amazing.
Joel: They wear Yellow Jackets, [laughter] which makes me think I'm in Cantons Football Hall of Fame every time that I go, or the old Monday Night football with Howard Cosell and the Yellow Jackets. So it's a nice fashion touch and makes me miss football season quite a bit. But I was saying that this little podcast is on the verge of becoming bigger than... Like a life of its own. And it's incredibly humbling, but it's obviously a thirst that needed to be quenched in our industry. And we are happy to tap the keg and pour the beers people.
Chad: Yes. So then also let's talk about the Evan White experience, shall we?
Joel: Sure.
Chad: We went with hiring...
Joel: Is that talent tok's new name or is this a whole. [laughter]
Chad: So hiring branch had us on day zero after the vendor summit up in the high roller. Yes. That's a Ferris Wheel that... I think the Apex is like over 500 feet in the air. Takes a half an hour for a full turn. We had a bar in there, we had about 25 to 30 people. It was a blast.
Joel: It was a who's who of HR influencers.
Chad: It was a blast.
Joel: For sure. And I love. [laughter] Last call takes on a whole new meaning.
Chad: Oh God. [laughter]
Joel: When you're on the clock and you can see it towards the end. Slowly coming. The rush to the bar was like a college frat party. It was very entertaining.
Chad: It was great.
Joel: But yeah, thanks to hiring Branch. That was fantastic. And then after our party, we did the toque a little bit. I didn't know what to expect. It wasn't a really official, official venue type thing.
Chad: No. Yes. Very informal.
Joel: It was a little bit like.
Chad: Let's smoke weed.
Joel: We were selling fake Rolexes [laughter] and on the carpet on the street, and then when the cops come, you roll it up.
Chad: Okay. Yeah.
Joel: And then you run out.
Chad: I gotta tell a story though. So we're all sitting there because Evan had to go get the weed and then we see him rolling up now Evan has a Chad and Cheese t-shirt on, has this very light jacket. Right. And he looks like he's coming straight from Miami. Straight from Miami.
Joel: Don Johnson is missing jacket.
Chad: Miami Vice. He's walking up, he has this leather Satchel, [laughter] like he was a bank robber in the 1930s. [laughter] He gets up to the point where we are, he drops the satchel, opens it, pulls out a blunt, lights it, takes a puff. Says who's next? [laughter] That was fucking baller.
[laughter]
Joel: Bootlegging and balling is what that was.
Chad: That was baller.
Joel: Wow.
Chad: Yes.
Joel: Evan. Love you man. Love you man.
[laughter]
Joel: So we're in the middle of everything at the Bellagio, watching the water, people enjoying it at certain levels. A lot of curiosity seekers. And then we went to the Museum of Selfies, which is a thing that your wife apparently loved.
Chad: Yes. She did. And they had selfie experts on hand because...
Joel: Selfie experts.
Chad: Yes. Because they have all these different areas where you can take pictures. And there are different modes on your phone that are better for certain selfies.
Joel: Yep.
Chad: So depending on what area you're in, like the exhibit area, they would actually show you which one, like Slow-mo, or Boomerang or whatever the hell, and they would show you how to do it. And it was really interesting. So you didn't just go and get some really cool selfies, you had somebody actually teach you how to use your fucking phone. [laughter]
Joel: Yeah. Unfortunately my flip phone was incompatible with many of the selfie.
Chad: Yes, no. The Nokia. [laughter]
Joel: Yeah.
Chad: No, the Nokia.
[laughter]
Joel: The Blackberry wasn't working for me on that one. And then we had, I don't know, the courage... The liquid courage to then go have more drinks at O'Sheas... Or was there something in between... Oh, In-N-Out.
Chad: Yes.
Joel: We went to In-N-Out, didn't we? Yes.
Chad: My first time.
Joel: No shit.
Chad: My first time.
Joel: You are living now my friend.
[laughter]
Joel: And please tell me you didn't get the veggie, like the lettuce burger.
Chad: I did the... I did a double animal style.
Joel: Nice.
Chad: Yep. I had to go. I'm gonna go.
Joel: Is the hype... Is it up to the hype or do you think it was... It's...
Chad: I think it was really... I love a smash burger no matter what, the Steak 'n Shakes. Yeah. It was good.
Joel: You'll be back.
Chad: It was really good.
Joel: You'll be back.
Chad: Yeah, 'cause there's a possibility.
Joel: Cool. Late night at In-N-Out.
Chad: [laughter] There's a possibility.
Joel: And then, we went to the PandoLogic Museum of Selfies. And then we went and got more drinks.
Chad: Yes.
Joel: And I think that was the end of our night for the...
Chad: That was it. Yeah.
Joel: Most part.
Chad: Yeah, yeah. Then up again in the SAP booth, the UNLEASH SAP booth.
Joel: Four interviews today.
Chad: Four today.
Joel: And the weekly.
Chad: I am interviewed the fuck out dude.
Joel: Yeah. After this I think we're done.
Chad: Yeah.
Joel: For a while.
Chad: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Joel: Yeah.
Chad: No, it's good. It's good. But I also have to give somewhat of a pseudo-shoutout to Pando and my lovely wife, the Disability Solutions. So they actually launched a new product called PandoDIVERSITY. Pretty close to this one. Here's a quote, "PandoDIVERSITY provides access to a robust network of publishers specializing in diverse and underrepresented candidates such as women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. Additionally, the use of AI-based programmatic recruitment technology helps to automate and optimize hiring campaigns, remove bias in the recruitment funnel and enhance data transparency." Again, I'm biased on this kids, but I know what the fuck I'm talking about.
Chad: Most organizations come up with this, and they have literally nothing that is outcomes-oriented. Julie's team literally every single day does nothing but get individuals with disabilities hired into major organizations. And just Pepsi in itself, I think have 3000 plus with higher retention rates than the normal cohort of non-disabled individuals. 20% of those are disabled veterans. So to be able to see something that actually fucking works, has outcomes retention, all those things, and then to twist new programmatic technology into it, I'm pretty excited about it.
Joel: Terry Baker, CEO at PandoLogic told me it took three years to develop this product. So your endorsement is great and his time commitment to this issue is...
Chad: Yes. It means something.
Joel: Is worthy of another...
Chad: Yeah, it means something.
Joel: Not just a pseudo-shoutout, Chad, a real live, legit shoutout is what that deserve. All right. The news keeps rolling on kids. We'll take a quick break, get a refill and be right back.
Chad: Beer, beer here.
Joel: Sir Richard and Beverly are back, Chad. CV Wallet, a skills-based hiring platform that utilizes Web3 a