TALKING TALENT - The Brutal Truth About Talent Acquisition, AI & Startup Hiring

RecTalk is coming to RECFEST 2026 - 2nd July 2026Want 30% off your entry? Use code RECTALK30RF at check outWhat does great Talent Acquisition actually look like in 2026?In the first Talking Talent episode of the year, Sean Kennedy is joined by Daryl Benson, Talent Lead at TryHackMe, for a proper, honest conversation about recruitment, TA, startups, employer brand, AI, candidate experience and why the best TA people do far more than just “fill roles”.Daryl shares his journey from the military into agency recruitment, building his own recruitment business, moving into embedded talent, and now leading talent at one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity ed-tech companies in the market.This episode covers:How military experience builds resilience for recruitmentThe difference between agency recruitment and internal TAWhy TA and HR should not be treated as the same functionThe reality of hiring in fast-growth startupsEmployer brand, Glassdoor, and honest candidate messagingWhy long interview processes need to dieHow AI is changing recruitment workflowsThe rise of fake candidates and AI-generated applicationsWhat good stakeholder management really looks likeWhy listening is still the most underrated skill in TAIf you work in Talent Acquisition, recruitment, employer branding, people, HR tech or startup hiring, this one is packed with honest takes, practical insight and a few uncomfortable truths.Featuring:Sean Kennedy — Host of Talking Talent / Sean The TA Guyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Daryl Benson — Talent Lead at TryHackMe https://www.linkedin.com/in/daryljb/Subscribe to RecTalk for more conversations with the people shaping recruitment, talent and the future of work.#TalentAcquisition #Recruitment #EmployerBranding #HRTech #RecTech #StartupHiring #RecruitmentPodcast #TalkingTalent #RecTalk