The Chad & Cheese Podcast

Get ready to punch the clock because the boys are back, and this time they’re bringing the data to the drama. In this episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, HR’s most dangerous duo sits down with Misty Heggeness, the powerhouse economist and author of Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy.

They’re diving deep into the messy reality of gender dynamics, from the "recognition gap" that leaves women’s best ideas stranded in the boardroom to the strategic masterminding required to navigate a lopsided workforce.

Misty breaks down how women are effectively refining the economy—even when they’re working twice as hard for half the credit—and offers a no-BS roadmap for self-advocacy, networking, and why your personal story is the most lethal tool in your professional arsenal.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Misty Heggeness's Background

02:02 - Family Lore and Early Life in Fargo

04:07 - Career at the US Census Bureau and Academic Role

05:35 - Inspiration Behind 'Swift Dynamics' and Taylor Swift

08:02 - Taylor Swift’s Impact on Women and Business Strategies

10:59 - Economic Impact of Taylor Swift’s Tours and Business Tactics

13:08 - Early Career and Nashville Country Music Scene

15:01 - Women’s Progress in the Workforce and Cultural Shifts

18:05 - Gender Dynamics in Economics and Leadership Styles

21:07 - Women Making Their Own Pyramids and Future Outlook

24:02 - Women’s Earnings, Education, and Top Leadership Barriers

28:04 - Taylor Swift’s Employee Bonuses and Local Economic Impact

31:59 - Pay Equity, Economic Growth, and Corporate Responsibility

36:03 - Where to Find the Book and Connect with Misty

Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/Swiftynomics-Women-Mastermind-Redefine-Economy/dp/0520403118

Cheese is MIA, so Chad bring the ladies in to take over, and chaos follows:

StepStone celebrates record applications… during record job desperation. Spin level: Olympic gold.

AI agent harassment enters the chat.

IBM’s COBOL cash cow meets AI with a chainsaw.

Google’s “CareerDreamer” Copy prompt → paste → profit?

Kombo vs. Humand at 2 am

Tech layoffs are giving Hunger Games energy.

CEOs call unemployment “momentum.” Workers call it “rent’s due.”

AI in hiring: helpful assistant or reputation wrecking hallucination machine?

Stay tuned.

The Shred is a weekly roundup of what’s making headlines in the world of employment. The Shred is brought to you today by Jobcase.

Forget flashy career sites and catchy slogans—if you want to win the talent war in 2026, you need to stop being "attractive" and start being "choosable." In this episode, the boys sit down with employer branding heavyweight James Ellis, founder of Employer Brand Labs, to deconstruct the shallow misconceptions plaguing the industry.

Fresh off the release of his new book, Becoming Choosable, Ellis dives deep into why most companies fail by prioritizing aesthetics over substance. From a scathing critique of superficial Super Bowl ads to a masterclass on the NFL’s global expansion strategy, the conversation bridges the gap between high-level marketing and the gritty reality of talent acquisition.

Whether you're a mid-sized firm or a global powerhouse, tune in to learn how to define your company’s unique core identity and build a talent strategy that actually drives business growth.

Ready to find out if your brand is actually "choosable" or just wearing a fresh coat of paint? Give the episode a listen on the Chad and Cheese Podcast official site or your favorite streaming platform.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Employer Branding and the Podcast

02:17 - Super Bowl Insights and Branding Implications

05:18 - The Catalyst for Writing 'Becoming Choosable'

09:28 - Understanding Employer Branding and Business Growth

13:23 - The Future of Talent Acquisition and Branding Challenges

15:00 - The Importance of Brand in Recruitment

18:53 - Navigating the ATS Landscape

22:00 - The Role of Social Media in Employer Branding

29:58 - Targeting and Brand Messaging in a Holistic World

In the latest episode of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, HR’s "most dangerous" duo is back to slice through the industry noise with their signature brand of snark and real-talk.

This week, the boys dive into LinkedIn’s sudden quest for a personality, questioning if the platform can actually pull off being "funny" and what that cultural shift means for your professional feed.

The conversation heats up as they dissect Google's latest moves to monetize Google for Jobs, a play that could fundamentally disrupt the recruitment landscape and how employers reach talent.

Finally, things get sobering as they issue a blunt wake-up call to white-collar workers: evolve your skillset now or prepare for obsolescence in an AI-driven market. It’s a high-stakes mix of big tech power plays and career survival tactics that you won't want to miss.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Banter

06:46 - Shout Outs and Industry Insights

10:24 - Travel Plans and Events

16:42 - Acquisition of BeApplied by Phenom

24:19 - Market Pressures and Company Valuations

27:51 - LinkedIn's Marketing Strategy Shift

34:18 - Google's Monetization of Job Searches

42:07 - The Future of White Collar Jobs

51:01 - Indeed's Smart Screening Updates