The Marketing Rules Podcast
by ThinkinCircles Ltd
The Marketing Rules Podcast from ThinkinCircles, with your host James Whitelock "The voice of Recruitment Marketing".James takes a deep dive into all things Recruitment Marketing, from strategy, technology and delivery. Talking to leaders and influencers from the Recruitment Marketing space globally. To keep up-to-date with the new "rules" for Recruitment marketing, tune in every week.
Episodes
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Has Employer Branding Lost Its Way With Amit Parmar
Employer branding has become an industry of polished campaigns, expensive EVP exercises and carefully crafted promises. But how much of it reflects the reality of working for an organisation? In this episode of The Marketing Rules, James Whitelock is joined by Amit Parmar, CEO of Cliquify, to...
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Why Working Harder Isn't Helping Recruiters Anymore with Sarah Higgs
Everyone tells recruiters to work harder, move faster and do more. But what if the real solution isn't putting in more hours, but protecting your time better? In this episode, Tayla Veenstra speaks to Sarah Higgs, Founder of Recruitment Angel, about why time has become one of the recruitment...
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Why Recruitment Doesn’t Need Another Tool with Moh Mehrabani
Recruitment technology is moving fast, but that does not necessarily mean recruiters need more tools. In this episode of The Marketing Rules Podcast, Moh Mehrabani, co-founder of Tavi, joins the conversation to explore how AI agents could change the way recruiters work, why search and sourcing…
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Why More LinkedIn Content Won't Make You More Influential with Rhona Barnett-Pierce
Everyone is creating content. AI can write a month's worth of LinkedIn posts in minutes. So how do you stand out when everyone is trying to build a personal brand? In this episode, James is joined by Rhona Barnett-Pierce, founder of Workfluencer Media, to explore what actually builds authority...
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The New Playbook for Talent Acquisition with Adam Gordon
In this episode, James is joined by Adam Gordon, founder of Poetry and one of the recruitment industry's leading technology entrepreneurs. Together they explore the rise of recruiter enablement, why AI is changing the way recruitment teams operate, and what the recruiter of the future might look...
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Is "Culture Fit" Killing Diversity in Hiring with Theo Smith
In this episode of the Marketing Rules Podcast, James is joined by Theo Smith, one of the leading voices on neurodiversity, inclusion and workplace design. Theo has spent more than 17 years working across recruitment, talent acquisition, recruitment marketing and HR technology. Today, he helps...
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Networking Isn’t Dead. You’re Just Doing It Wrong With Andy Dunne
This week on The Marketing Rules Podcast James is joined by Andy Dunn, Managing Director of TEAM, the UK’s largest network of independently owned recruitment businesses. They dive into something that almost everybody talks about, but very few people genuinely understand: networking and community...
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The Recruitment Industry’s Most Overlooked Performance Hack with Michelle Flynn
Most people in recruitment think burnout is just part of the job. Long hours. Constant pressure. Always “on”. But what if the real problem isn’t workload… it’s how we’re operating? In this episode of the Marketing Rules Podcast, James is joined by recruitment leader turned performance coach...
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Why ‘Head Of’ Means Nothing Anymore with Daen Fox
This episode flips one of the biggest assumptions in recruitment on its head. We spend so much time defining people by job titles, CVs and neat career paths. But what if that is exactly what is limiting performance, creativity and growth? In this conversation, I sit down with Daen Fox to unpack…
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AI Won’t Build Your Brand, People Will from The ThinkinCircles Team
In this episode of The Marketing Rules Live, the ThinkinCircles team explores how AI is reshaping recruitment marketing from a marketer’s perspective. We discuss the rise of AI-generated written content, the risks of overusing automated imagery, and the growing challenge of protecting brand...
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The Hidden Risks That Kill Recruitment Agency Sales With Matt Fox
Most recruitment founders say they want to sell their agency one day. But the reality is very different. In this episode of The Marketing Rules Podcast, James Whitelock sits down with Matt Fox, founder of Exodus Advisory, to talk about what actually happens when recruitment businesses try to exit...
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The Truth About Recruitment Content Nobody Talks About With Joel Lalgee
What happens when a recruiter stops relying purely on cold calls and starts building an audience instead? In this episode of the Marketing Rules Podcast, James Whitelock sits down with Joel Lalgee, widely known as The Realest Recruiter. Joel has built one of the most recognisable personal brands…
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Is Your Recruitment Website Already Obsolete With Dave Jenkins
James is joined by Dave Jenkins, CEO and Founder of Wave, who has spent 25 years building recruitment websites and watching them evolve from simple brochure sites to powerful marketing and tech platforms. We get into the future of the recruitment website, the impact of AI, candidate experience…
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AI Isn’t Replacing Recruiters. It’s Exposing Who Actually Scales With Manan Shah
This week, James was joined by Manan Shah, co-founder and CEO of Recruiterflow. They get into what recruitment data really matters, why most agencies obsess over the wrong metrics, and how velocity, productivity, and AI are reshaping how recruitment businesses scale. If you care about building a...
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Why Football Clubs Attract Talent Better Than Most Businesses with Zoe Shackleton
In this episode James is joined by Zoe Shackleton, Head of HR and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Huddersfield Town Football Club. Zoe sits on the other side of the table to most of TMRP listeners, she’s the end client recruiters are trying to win over. They talk candidly about talent...
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What No One Tells You About Selling Your Recruitment Tech Company with Thomas Vose
In this episode, James is joined by Thomas Vose, co-founder of HireAra, to unpack what it really takes to build a recruitment tech business from scratch and successfully exit it. They discuss the challenges of bootstrapping, angel investment, avoiding the VC trap, and what life is really like…
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This is The Marketing Rules Podcast
The Marketing Rules Podcast cuts through the noise to bring you real conversations with the people shaping recruitment, talent, and RecTech. Each episode gives you practical strategies, sharper thinking, and the stories behind the ideas that move our industry forward.
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The Developer Revolution Is Here. Are You Ready? With Rudi Bauer
In this episode, James sits down with Rudi Bauer, someone we’ve wanted on the show for a long time. They explore his journey from software developer to leading Europe’s largest developer community and dig into what developers really want today, how their values are changing, and what skills will...
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Why Everyone’s Talking About South African Talent With Ross Thompson
In this episode, James is joined on the couch, in person, by Ross Thompson, founder of Infinity Staff Global, to unpack how he has successfully expanded from Australia into the UK recruitment market. They get into why he chose South Africa over the Philippines for offshore talent, how cultural…
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Why True Innovation Starts with People, Not Products With Benn Klewpatinond
Every now and then, you meet someone who doesn’t just imagine the future — they build it. In this episode, James talks to Benn Klewpatinond. A designer, engineer, and inventor whose creations blur the line between technology and humanity. From rethinking the rowing machine with his Float Rower...
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Why Most RecTech Startups Fail to Scale with Howard Flint
In this episode, James is joined by Howard Flint, a strategist with over 25 years of experience helping HR and recruitment technology businesses scale and realise their full potential. They explore what it really means to grow from startup to scale-up, the challenges these companies face as they...
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Why Candidate Interviews Are Unfair With Steve Lewis
Joining James this week Steve Lewis, Managing Director at HireGuide. Steve has spent his career at the heart of recruitment technology, from being one of the first employees at TotalJobs, to leading search staffing and RPO at LinkedIn and now driving innovation in interview intelligence. Steve is...
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AI Is Killing Your Personal Brand with Glenn Martin
This week James is joined by Glenn Martin: recruiter, talent solutions founder, podcast host, and all-around people person. With over 20 years in the recruitment game, Glenn shares his journey from Glastonbury to building personal and employer brands, the rise and fall of platforms like Twitter...
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Why Olympic Bronze Means More Than Gold with Chris Skelley MBE
In this episode, James sits down with Paralympic judo champion Chris Skelley MBE. From battling childhood bullying and being misdiagnosed by doctors, to finding strength through sport, Chris shares his powerful journey of resilience, mental health struggles, and ultimate triumph on the world…
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From Chatbots to Candidate Experience with Martyn Redstone
This week James is joined by Martyn Redstone, or as many in the industry know him, Mr. AI. Martyn’s been in recruitment for nearly two decades, with over a dozen years immersed in rec tech, and long before AI became the buzzword it is today, he was already helping recruiters craft smart,...
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Live from RecFest 2025 with Stephen O'Donnell
Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill https://www.rchilli.com/ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Stephen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenodonn/ Learn more about James...
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Live from RecFest 2025 with Stephen McGrath
Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill https://www.rchilli.com/ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Stephen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stmcgrath/ Learn more about James and...
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Live from Recfest 2025 with Sean Allen
Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill https://www.rchilli.com/ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Sean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean1allen/ Learn more about James and...
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Live from RecFest 2025 with Matt Alder
Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill https://www.rchilli.com/ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattalder/ Learn more about James and...
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Live from RecFest 2025 with Mark Chaffey
Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill https://www.rchilli.com/ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mchaffey/ Learn more about James and...
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Live from RecFest 2025 with Jim Berrisford
Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill https://www.rchilli.com/ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Jim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talentattractiontech-hrtech-tech2rec/ Learn…
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Live from RecFest 2025 with Bill Boorman
Recorded live from RecFest 2025 The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill https://www.rchilli.com/ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billboorman/ Learn more about James and...
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Why Podcasting Should be Talent Team's Secret Weapon with Nitin Sharma
This week, James is joined by Nitin Sharma, recruitment entrepreneur, podcast host and the mind behind RecTools. They dive into how podcasting is shaking up the world of talent acquisition. Nitin shares how what started as a simple content idea grew into a full-blown platform with over 70,000...
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The Evolution of Recruitment Tech with Rob Green
In this episode, James is joined once again by Rob Green, Founder and CEO of Rectec Making him one of the rare few returning guests. We dig into the evolution of the recruitment Tech industry the global impact of AI and how companies can make smarter tech choices faster. Whether you're in talent...
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Train to be the best with Kate O’Neill
In this episode, James is joined by the always inspiring Kate O’Neill – recruitment coach, trainer, and now founder of a brand-new rec-to-rec agency focused on rookie talent. Kate shares her journey from falling into recruitment to shaping its future, and offers sharp insights into why the…
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Don’t mention the lads mags with Gail Porter
In this episode, James speaks with Gail Porter, TV presenter, model, author and campaigner about her rise in the '90s media scene, her battles with alopecia and mental health and how she’s now using her story to advocate for others. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill...
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Don't mention AI with Matt Alder
In this episode, we welcome back Matt Alder, a frequent guest and expert in the field of talent acquisition, workplace future and fellow podcaster, for his fifth appearance on the Marketing Rules podcast. Matt and James dive into a discussion on the latest trends in the TA space, with a focus on...
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Has Talent Acquisition become weaker as a function with Katrina Collier
Talent Acquisition teams have faced many challenges over the last few years, from the lack of strategic support, funding and understanding from leadership. Joining me this week is Katrina Collier, author and trainer, who is dedicated to making recruitment better and delivering an excellent job...
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A tech founder's journey into using AI with Mark Chaffey
A lot of tech businesses in talent acquisition and recruitment are now prefaced with the term AI. So as a founder of one of these businesses, when should start this AI journey? Joining me this week is Mark Chaffey, CEO at Hackajob. Mark discusses how and when he decided to make AI core to his...
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The real reason you need a referral program with Sam Davies
Employee Referral programs don't work, so why should we bother them? Joining me this week to discuss this is Sam Davies, CEO at Rea Links Sam talks to James about setting up Real Links as a non-techie, why technology can overcome the perceived issues with employee referral programmes and how...
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How to foster innovation with Chantal-Lawren Welch
Fostering the current and next generation of innovators is a goal for most industries. Its even more critical in the advanced engineering industry where the pressure to innovate is ever-present. Joining me this week is Chantal-Lawren Welch, Marketing Manager at Silverstone Park.Chantal discusses...
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Recruiters get marketing confused with fluff with Alexandra Chirica
Recruitment has had a chequered history with marketing and only in the last few years has it become strategically adopted and started to be seen as a necessity. Joining me this week is Alexandra Chirica, founder of Recfindr. Alexandra discusses her start-up journey and thoughts on what recruiters...
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How to unbias the interview process with Michael Blakley
Interview bias takes many forms, from affinity bias to accent bias and with most biases we can be totally unaware that we are making them and the results will affect the candidate, the interviewer and the employer. Talking to James this week is Michael Blakley, founder of Equitas. Michael…
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Recruitment marketing versus employer branding with Sam Berthoud
For most businesses on a budget, deciding on the best place to spend that budget for talent attraction can mean difficult choices. So which is more effective for talent attraction, recruitment marketing or employer branding? Joining me this week is Sam Bertoud VP of Talent Solutions at hackajob....
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A storytelling mindset with Neil Mullarkey
The traditional view of a leader is serious, stoic and humourless, but are humour, laughter and storytelling the new leadership traits?Joining me this week is Neil Mullarkey, Comedian, author and business coach Neil discusses how to be a better leader through storytelling, laughter, fun and...
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Building a Talent Acquisition Community and Movember with Edan Haddock
We talked many times on the podcast about how communities have become more and more important for brand building, but what if that's not the aim and it is simply to create a community of like-minded professionals? Joining me this week is Edan Haddock, Head of Talent at Movember. Edan talks me...
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How recruiter enablement and recruitment marketing can work together with Sean Galligan
Recruiter enablement is a fairly new concept and definitions are ranging, but broadly it's to deliver resources and assets at the point of need for a recruiter. So how does recruitment marketing fit into this process? Talking to James this week is Sean Galligan, founder of TA Guru. Sean discusses...
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Understanding your strengths with Zoe Clayton-White
Doing any kind of assessment or test can be daunting, but identifying your professional strengths and weaknesses can be even worse. Taking James through his strengths and weaknesses is Zoe Clayton-White development coach and senior talent developer at Very Group. Zoe takes James through his own...
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Live from Job Boards Connect London 2024
In this special episode, James speaks with presenters and attendees from this year's Job Boards Connect London. The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill https://www.rchilli.com/ #MarketingRules #TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing To learn more about Job Boards Connect visit:...
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What does an Ops Director do with Si Bor
As marketers in an SME or larger business, we will probably have dealings with the head of operations, but what exactly do they do? Joining me this week is Si Bor, Founder at Embedded Ops.Si talks me through his years of experience as an Ops Director with several big name recruitment agencies. He...
About this show
The Marketing Rules Podcast from ThinkinCircles, with your host James Whitelock "The voice of Recruitment Marketing".James takes a deep dive into all things Recruitment Marketing, from strategy, technology and delivery. Talking to leaders and influencers from the Recruitment Marketing space globally. To keep up-to-date with the new "rules" for Recruitment marketing, tune in every week.
Hosted by
ThinkinCircles Ltd
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