The TalentTrack Podcast

In this episode of The Talent Track Podcast, Oliver sits down with Nora from Travel Nurse Source (Track5) — though technically just a few rooms apart — for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what’s really happening inside the travel healthcare staffing industry right now.Nora brings a rare dual perspective: she’s on the front lines with agency leadership discussing strategy, while also working closely with recruiters executing day-to-day placements. That top-down and bottom-up view reveals the real story behind today’s market—one that’s stabilizing, but still far from easy.They dive into:Why 2026 feels different from the survival mode of last year—but still demands efficiencyThe truth about AI in recruiting (what’s working vs. what’s just noise)The growing pressure from MSPs and VMS platforms—and how agencies are adaptingCreative strategies agencies are using to win contracts and stay competitiveWhy some agencies are expanding into new verticals (like locums) while others are doubling down on niche specialtiesThe biggest red flags that signal whether an agency will succeed… or struggleThe ongoing disconnect between leadership strategy and recruiter executionAnd why relationship-driven recruiting is still the ultimate differentiator—even in a tech-heavy worldThis episode also pulls back the curtain on what separates high-performing agencies from the rest: mindset, follow-up discipline, and a willingness to actually use the tools and partnerships available to them.If you're an agency leader, recruiter, or operator trying to navigate tighter margins, evolving tech, and a more competitive landscape—this conversation is packed with real-world insight from someone talking to hundreds of agencies every month.Bottom line: The market is shifting. The agencies that adapt—strategically and operationally—are the ones that will win.🎧 Tune in for an unfiltered look at where the industry is headed and what it really takes to succeed right now.

In this episode of The Talent Track Podcast, Oliver Feakins sits down with Jordan Tallman of Wayward Staffing for a raw, unfiltered conversation about building a modern staffing agency from the ground up.Jordan shares his journey from working out of a garage in IT staffing to launching Wayward during COVID and now scaling with a bold goal of hitting $100M by 2030. But this isn’t a highlight reel—it’s a deep dive into the real challenges of entrepreneurship in travel healthcare staffing.Together, Oliver and Jordan unpack what most agencies are still getting wrong: transactional recruiting, broken communication between recruiters and nurses, and the growing gap between automation and true relationship-driven staffing. Jordan breaks down his “radical candor” approach with both travelers and facilities, and why honesty—not hacks—is what actually builds long-term success.They also dig into the messy reality of growth: hiring missteps, losing a major MSP relationship overnight, rebuilding from near-zero cash flow, and the brutal lesson of scaling too fast without the recruiting engine to support it.On the flip side, they explore what’s working—agile small agencies, high-touch recruiter relationships, smart use of job boards like TNS, and why smaller teams can outmaneuver the giants when they lean into speed, grit, and authenticity.If you’re in healthcare staffing, recruiting, or building anything in a competitive marketplace, this episode is a candid look at what it really takes to survive—and win.

Most recruiters don’t have a talent problem.They have a training problem.In this episode, Nora Frumento and Mo Fregia (aka “The HIPPIE Recruiter”) talk about something this industry doesn’t talk about enough:👉 We’ve replaced real training with vibes, shadowing, and “figure it out as you go.”And it shows.Mo came into staffing by accident—but stayed because he realized something most agencies miss:Great recruiters aren’t born. They’re trained. Reps, feedback, repetition.Not:“Sit next to top biller and listen”“Here’s a script, go call”“Why aren’t your numbers up?”Actual training.The kind where:You practice conversations before they matterYou break down calls right after they happenYou run scrimmages, not just meetingsYou learn how to think, not just what to sayAnd maybe the biggest one…If you sound like every other recruiter, you’ll get treated like every other recruiter.In a world of automation, texts, and “quick touches” — the recruiters who can actually connect, ask better questions, and slow down… are the ones who are going to win when the market turns.AI isn’t replacing recruiters.It’s exposing the gap between average and great.This episode is a must-listen if you care about:Improving close ratesBuilding real relationships (not just transactions)Actually leveling up your teamBecause the market will come back.The question is—who’s ready when it does?

Check out our TalentTrack 2025 titled: What's Now and What's Next. The boom is over. The dust hasn’t fully settled. And the rules of travel healthcare? They’ve changed—fast.In this episode, Holly Bass and Kenny Kadar break down what’s actually happening in the travel healthcare staffing market right now—and where it’s headed next. From MSP dominance swallowing 70–80% of revenue, to margin compression, recruiter productivity struggles, and the quiet rise of offshoring and AI… this is the real state of the industry.You’ll hear why “flat is the new up,” why jobs are still there but harder to close, and how the best agencies are adapting to survive (and even grow) in a down cycle. Plus: consolidation trends, shifting care delivery models, declining nurse quit rates, and the long-term supply/demand imbalance that still makes this space worth betting on.If you're an agency leader, recruiter, or operator trying to figure out how to win in a tougher market—this is your playbook.No fluff. Just what’s now… and what’s next.

Influencer marketing isn’t broken.Your approach to it is.From TalentTrack 2025 - After sitting in on a session with top creators in the travel healthcare space, one thing is crystal clear:Most agencies don’t fail at influencer marketing because it “doesn’t work.”They fail because they try to control it.👉 Over-scripted content👉 One-off partnerships👉 Chasing vanity metrics👉 Expecting $50K results on a $500 budgetThat’s not strategy. That’s wishful thinking.Here’s the reality:Creators don’t build trust by sounding like your brand guidelinesAudiences don’t convert from polished perfection—they convert from truthAnd you don’t “control the message”… you borrow trust from someone who already has itThe agencies winning right now are doing a few things differently:✔️ They treat creators like partners, not ad space✔️ They invest in long-term relationships, not one-hit campaigns✔️ They focus on community + connection, not just reach✔️ They understand the difference between awareness and conversionAnd maybe most importantly…They let go.Because the second your content feels like an ad—the scroll wins.If you’re in travel healthcare staffing and still ignoring this channel, you’re not being cautious…You’re falling behind.

Featuring CEOs from TrackFive and Vettted Health: We just wrapped “Job Board Confessional: What We Wish Our Clients Knew” and here’s the uncomfortable truth nobody wants to say out loud 👇🚨 Agencies aren’t losing because of job boards🚨 They’re not losing because of lead volume🚨 They’re losing in the last mile of executionHere’s what actually came up:→ 80% of inbound candidate calls go unanswered→ 15–20% of nurses don’t show up to assignments→ Most candidates get contacted… once (if that)→ Recruiters are acting like marketers, not salespeopleAnd the kicker?Everyone thinks their data is “good enough”… while making decisions on top of broken attribution, messy systems, and half-truth reporting.Meanwhile, the agencies quietly winning right now are doing the unsexy stuff:• Calling leads within minutes (not hours)• Submitting candidates to 5–7 jobs, not 1–2• Building actual relationships (not just texting sequences)• Training recruiters to SELL, not just process• Treating candidates like humans… not pipeline entriesAnd here’s the twist nobody saw coming:In a world flooded with automation…👉 Manual outreach is now the competitive advantage👉 Authenticity is now the differentiator👉 A real phone call is now the outlierLet that sink in.We spent years optimizing for speed and scale.Now the agencies pulling ahead are optimizing for connection and execution.Not revolutionary.Just rare.

In this Talent Track ( 2025) session, top voices in healthcare staffing break down what it really takes to turn social media into a consistent pipeline of quality candidates—not just likes and empty engagement.Featuring experts from Primetime Healthcare, OneStaff Medical, ARM Staffing, and beyond, this panel dives into the real strategies behind social recruiting that actually converts. From Facebook groups still dominating the game to the rise of video, influencers, and authentic content—this is a no-BS look at what’s working right now.Inside this episode:The biggest mistakes agencies make when starting social recruiting (and how to fix them fast)Why “post and ghost” is killing your pipelineHow to balance job posts with content that actually builds trustThe role of authenticity—and why candidates can smell fake a mile awayWhat metrics actually matter (hint: it’s not just impressions)Platform breakdown: where nurses actually engage (and why Facebook still wins)How to stand out without a massive brand or budgetPlus—real talk on what flops (giveaways ≠ quality candidates) and why consistency beats creativity when it comes to long-term results.This isn’t about going viral.It’s about building a recruiting engine that works while you sleep.Because in 2025…Your next placement is probably already scrolling.

Check out one of our sessions for Talent Track's 2025 Conference. In this high-impact session from Talent Track, industry leaders from Atlas Med Staff, Coast Medical Service, Thrive Staffing, and Orange Staffing break down what it actually takes to compete in today’s market. Spoiler: chasing “normal” is a losing strategy.This episode dives deep into the uncomfortable truth—too many agencies are hiding behind tech, over-automating, and creating transactional experiences in a business that still runs on trust. From the rise of the “order-taker” recruiter to the illusion of AI replacing human connection, this panel pulls no punches.You’ll hear:Why agencies stuck trying to “get back to normal” are already behindThe real difference between tech that helps vs. tech that hurtsHow recruiter training (or lack of it) is quietly killing performanceWhy speed matters—but relationships still close dealsThe shift from recruiters to true candidate advocatesHow to balance automation without losing the human edgeIf you’re running a healthcare staffing agency—or building one—this is your reality check.Because the agencies that win next won’t just be more efficient…They’ll be more human.

In this episode of The Talent Track Podcast, Oliver Feakins is joined by Andrew Mathis, Founder & CEO of Elite Sales Training, for a deep, no-fluff conversation on the future of sales, recruiting, and automation.We break down:Why AI-first “no human recruiter” agencies may be missing the pointThe difference between speed tools vs trust-building toolsWhy emotional intelligence still wins deals (for now)How top recruiters actually control the sales processThe real reason most deals die in text-based sellingWhy great recruiters don’t just “sell jobs” — they guide decisionsAndrew brings a frontline sales perspective from years in high-pressure environments, while Oliver challenges how recruiting, healthcare staffing, and automation are colliding in real time.

The healthcare staffing industry didn’t crash post-COVID—it normalized. But for a lot of agencies and recruiters, it feels worse than ever. Why?In this episode of The Talent Track Podcast, Oliver Feakins sits down with industry veteran Peter Leibowitz (37 years deep) to unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface—and why this cycle is unlike anything we’ve seen before.They break down:The “fat and happy” COVID era—and the brutal reality check that followedWhy recruiters who thrived during the boom are struggling in today’s marketThe shift from order takers back to true relationship buildersHow AI, automation, and outsourcing are helping—and hurting—agenciesThe growing divide between transactional vs. relational recruiting modelsWhy speed alone isn’t enough anymore—and how “strategic patience” wins dealsThe uncomfortable truth: most agencies are still measuring the wrong thingsThis episode is a masterclass in what it actually takes to succeed right now—when volume is down, competition is up, and the margin for error is gone.If you're a healthcare staffing leader, recruiter, or founder trying to figure out why your playbook stopped working… this one hits hard.

In this episode of The Talent Track Podcast, Oliver Feakins sits down with Aaron Grossman, CEO of Praos Health, to break down what it really takes to modernize healthcare staffing in a post-COVID, hyper-competitive market.Aaron shares how Praos is rethinking the entire hiring lifecycle—from sourcing to submission to compliance—through a clinician-centric model built around its “digital briefcase.” Instead of outdated, static databases, Praos is building a living, breathing talent ecosystem where clinician data is always up-to-date, jobs are matched proactively, and speed-to-submit becomes a true competitive advantage.The conversation dives deep into:Why the traditional ATS database is broken—and what “Database 2.0” looks likeHow private marketplaces outperform public job boards in speed and efficiencyThe hidden cost of compliance and how automation can save agencies millionsThe real role of AI in staffing today (and where it’s overhyped)Why smaller, tech-enabled agencies may have the upper hand over industry giantsThe future of recruiters as high-value talent advisors, not task managersAaron also shares his journey from building and scaling staffing companies to exiting to Bullhorn—and how that vision ultimately led him to Praos and the healthcare space.If you’re a healthcare staffing leader trying to do more with less, reduce friction, and compete in a VMS-dominated world, this episode is packed with practical insights and forward-looking strategy.This isn’t theory—this is what the next generation of staffing looks like.

In this episode of The Talent Track Podcast, Oliver Feakins sits down with one of the true architects of modern healthcare staffing—Shane Jackson, President of Jackson Healthcare.This isn’t just a conversation about staffing—it’s a masterclass in evolution, leadership, and building something that actually lasts.Shane takes us back to the roots of the industry, starting with his father’s groundbreaking work in physician placement in the 1970s, and walks through the founding of Jackson Healthcare at the dawn of the internet era. From there, we dive into the real story behind building a 25+ year powerhouse—what worked, what didn’t, and what most people still get wrong.And in a deeper turn, we explore the thinking behind his latest book on purpose, fulfillment, and leadership—why today’s workforce is craving more than just jobs, and how leaders can meet that moment. If you’re running, scaling, or rebuilding a healthcare staffing firm in today’s post-COVID market, this episode is required listening.No fluff. No theory. Just hard-earned insight from someone who’s seen every cycle—and is still building through it.

What if your back office never slept… and never made a mistake? In this episode of The Talent Track Podcast, Oliver Feakins sits down with Dries De Coster, co-founder of Meet Dwight, to break down one of the most practical—and disruptive—applications of AI in staffing today: the digital workforce.Forget the hype around top-of-funnel AI. This conversation dives into where the real operational leverage is happening—compliance, credentialing, onboarding, VMS submissions, timecards, and invoicing. The stuff that slows agencies down, kills margins, and quietly caps growth.Dries shares how “Dwight,” a 24/7 digital worker, is helping staffing agencies automate their middle and back office with deterministic precision—eliminating bottlenecks, reducing costs, and unlocking true scalability without adding headcount.

What happens when the easy wins disappear? In this episode, Rich Manuel of RTI Management Group brings a true operator’s perspective—built from 20+ years as an RN, agency founder, and advisor—on what it really takes to win in today’s healthcare staffing market.From rebuilding pipelines and reviving database gold to balancing automation with real human connection, Rich breaks down why agencies must return to the fundamentals: relationships, follow-up, and relentless execution. This is a no-BS conversation on why reactive recruiting is failing, how to actually build a sustainable talent engine, and where agencies are missing massive opportunities right now.If your team is stuck chasing leads instead of building a business, this one hits home.

Offshore recruiting isn’t about cheap labor—it’s about smarter growth. In this episode, Brett Williams of TalentRump breaks down the biggest misconceptions agencies have about outsourcing, why management (not cost) is the real differentiator, and how top firms are using offshore teams to increase speed, capacity, and ROI.From hitting 3–6x returns in under six months to building a true sourcing engine that frees recruiters to focus on relationships, this conversation is a tactical look at how to scale without breaking your team—or your margins.

This was an awesome interview with Candace from Curately.ai . The conversation delves into the critical role of the first conversation in candidate conversion and the impact of AI on speeding engagement, handling candidate engagement during non-recruiter hours and the division of responsibilities between AI and recruiters.